[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

[howtoactfereldan]

"Do you know," he murmurs, eyes still closed, "how close I was to asking if I had something on my face? And the only thing that stopped me was knowing that you would do this, and then yell 'me!'"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair bursts out laughing, thunking his head back onto Cullen's shoulder.

"You know me -- so well -- " he manages.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen carefully pats Alistair's head with a gloved hand. "To my everlasting delight." Solemn.

[bringspeopletogether]

"And mine." Still snickering. "I love you."

[howtoactfereldan]

"And I love you.











"Until the point you try that on me at any point in the future."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Damn. All my dreams -- " is all Alistair gets out before losing it again.

[howtoactfereldan]

"At least I warned you," Cullen says, entirely too cheerfully. "You've been notified."

[bringspeopletogether]

After a long moment to compose himself:

"I appreciate the kindness. Thank you."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You're very welcome." Cullen looks entirely too pleased with himself. "I try to be considerate, you know."

[bringspeopletogether]

"One of my many favorite things about you."

(Cullen's -- happier. It's a relief. That might contribute to some of the laughter, too.)

[howtoactfereldan]

"It would be much easier to be considerate if I wasn't wearing armor." He glances over his shoulder toward camp. "Though I hate to go in."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Then let's stay out here a little longer." He kisses Cullen's cheek. "Enjoy the air."

A beat; his next huff of laughter is wryly amused.

"Now all I can think of is what Morrigan used to do when we'd make camp. We'd kindle a fire, set the tents around it...and then she'd walk fifty paces away to set up her own camp away from us reprobates."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...begin to see her point, do you?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"A little. Maybe." He grins, rueful. "The older I get, the more I seem to say that about Morrigan."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Appalling." He squeezes Alistair. "Just awful."

[bringspeopletogether]

"The worst thing that's ever befallen me, for certain." Very solemn. "Forget the Blight and the Fade. I actually agreed with Morrigan."

[howtoactfereldan]

"It's like I don't even know who you are any more."

[bringspeopletogether]

"And it only took three minutes to go from you knowing me well to me being a complete stranger." Alistair sighs, mournful. "Morrigan still ruins everything."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Does she?" Cullen arches an eyebrow. "It seems to me as though it presents us with an opportunity for me to make a very thorough investigation."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Hmmm." His hands wander a little lower down Cullen's back. "A fair point. Where would you like to start?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Lower: "It starts with getting this damned armor off."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair laughs next to Cullen's ear, very soft. "The best sentence man could ever speak."

He presses a kiss to his neck.

"Had your fill of the air, then?"

[howtoactfereldan]

A pleased mm.

"They've got air lots of places."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I hear," says Alistair, gravely, "there's even some in our tent."

He steps back -- not without reluctance -- and snags one of Cullen's hands.

"Come on, Commander."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Lead on, Double Commander." Cheerful.