[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair surprises himself: he adapts to the Basin a lot quicker than he expected.

The camps feel -- snug, he decides. In a good way. Trees overhead, a limited number of egress points, a vantage point so high it puts every night by the ladder to shame: they're not the stone walls of Skyhold, but maybe they're the next best thing. After an initial restless night or two, he sleeps soundly.

(Knowing he's surrounded by lots of people with sharp, pointy weapons? Also helpful.)

Joining the patrol rotations seems like a decent next step. No point in being in the field, especially after all that training with Bull, if he's just going to twiddle his thumbs all day.

Comments

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair kisses Cullen's temple. Keeps moving his fingers through his hair, slow and gentle.








"Want to go back to bed?" he asks in a low murmur. "Or we could walk a bit. It's nice out."

For a Basin-given value of nice.

[howtoactfereldan]

"We could walk to the lake."

It's -- enough like making rounds to satisfy.

[bringspeopletogether]

"All right."

In which case --

Alistair wraps Cullen in a firm embrace, just to get that one last little bit out of his system, and kisses the top of his head before letting go.

[howtoactfereldan]

Breastplate, pauldrons, greaves, gloves, vambraces, sword belt, coat.

Half a smile in Alistair's direction. "Just think," he says, lightly, "soon you can peel all this off of me."

[bringspeopletogether]

"One of my favorite pastimes." Cheerful.

Alistair's opted for a woolen coat -- not necessary for a quick dash for dinner, but more necessary for a longer walk. Before they step out of the tent, he catches Cullen's hand in one more quick squeeze.

There. Now it's all out of his system. For now.

At least the man who'd been idly whistling to himself decided he had better things to do than keep eavesdropping.

[howtoactfereldan]

Yes, well. Once they're out past the palisade, Cullen reaches for Alistair's hand himself.

The lake isn't far. Almost all the light is gone from the sky -- almost. Far out beyond the mist, there's still a bruise-colored glow; by the shoreline, Cullen stops, regarding it with pleasure.

[bringspeopletogether]

It's dark enough for Alistair to spend a few extra moments surveying the lake, less in pleasure than in vigilance. Eventually, he looks to Cullen with a small, warm smile.

Gently, he disengages his hand so he can slide his arm around his waist -- then pauses, midway through the action.

Soft: "Is this all right?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"I suppose," Cullen says, grave, mirroring the action.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair chuckles -- faint, a little self-deprecating -- and settles his arm in place.

After a moment, he leans his head against Cullen's.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen breathes in, appreciating the sharp edge of cold in the air, and lets it out slowly.

And squeezes Alistair, brief. Quiet: "All right?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods, just a little.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," he says, no louder. "Or get you in trouble, I suppose."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I appreciate it." Not joking. "Things loosen a little at night, as I'm sure you remember. You and I are both visibly working during the day, so that's fine. And as I said once -- secrecy and privacy are two different things. We're not a secret. But -- "

His mouth has tightened. His voice is darker.

(He's thinking about Halamshiral, and very carefully not thinking about other things.)

" -- I won't put on a show for the camp. Any kind of show. Four eavesdroppers, you said?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's mouth twists at the note to Cullen's voice. (So does his stomach, a little.)

"Yes." Reluctant. "Still hoping that one man just really likes whistling."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Three, then."

He lifts his head long enough to kiss Alistair's temple. The moon is waxing -- a few more days until full, he notes absently. A good time for an expedition into the Basin.

Quieter: "You have my love regardless of anyone's need for gossip."

[bringspeopletogether]

He breathes out another small laugh. "That's good to hear."

His arm tightens a fraction around Cullen.

"Still -- I'm sorry. For the discomfort. I like knowing you're close, and I know I...cling, sometimes. But I don't ever want to make things more difficult for you."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You'd have an easier time of it if you'd landed on someone with less responsibility." That's just a little dry. "But since you didn't... we must find some sort of balance. One that's different than what we've got at Skyhold. Or other places that have the benefit of real walls."

Beat.

"Of course," Cullen says, thoughtful, "you could throw me over for Kenric. Or Colette, if you'd prefer."

[bringspeopletogether]

That spurs a more fully-formed laugh out of him. "Never. You've seen Kenric's hat. I'd spend too much time trying to snatch it off his head and burn it. And I like you far better than Colette."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Given your training, and his training, burning his hat shouldn't take too long." Cheerful. "Shall I do another introduction before my next round of reports? It's on the way."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair wrinkles his nose. "No more work tonight. You already snuck in another batch of reports while I was getting dinner."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen... raises his eyebrows.

But he says, mildly (maybe too mildly), "If I need to work, Alistair, I'm going to work."

[bringspeopletogether]

Which is a quick way to wipe the teasing, affectionate look off Alistair's face. He returns his head to Cullen's shoulder, gaze landing on the lake.

Eventually, lower: "I know."

A man can dream, he almost says, but stops himself in time: the last thing he wants is for Cullen to take it the wrong way. (He's caused Cullen enough discomfort already.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Do you, though? Cullen doesn't say.

They've had that conversation: as long as Corypheus exists, Cullen cannot and will not put Alistair before the needs of the Inquisition.





"I'll give you all I can, Alistair."

It comes out tired.

"I'm sorry. For those times I fall short. We should assume I'll continue falling short until we return to Skyhold, if not longer."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I know," he says again: gentler, this time. He squeezes Cullen's waist. "It's not a vacation. I...suppose it feels like one, occasionally, because I've been stuck at Skyhold so long. It's more fun being out in the field again."

A bird-shaped shadow circles near the lake; rockets downward; flaps skyward again, a fish wriggling in its talons. Alistair watches the ripples of its brief landing extend through the water.

"But you're here to work. And I'd much rather see you briefly than not at all." Soft, "It's all right."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen closes his eyes.








"If you feel stuck at Skyhold," he says, no louder, "then we have a larger problem."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's brow furrows.

He lifts his head, turning his full attention to Cullen.