Alistair (
bringspeopletogether) wrote2017-02-28 03:29 pm
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[sandbox]
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.
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.
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He's breathing, but -- he's putting a little too much focus in that, too, and the rhythm's just quick enough to register as unnatural.
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"Alistair."
Soft. He doesn't reach out to touch him. Not yet.
"What happened?"
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One vambrace thumps unceremoniously to the floor of the tent. Then the other. Alistair strips off his gloves.
He takes a moment to make sure his voice won't do anything embarrassing before he says, even quieter, "If you could just -- come here a moment?" and reaches for Cullen.
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"Right here," he murmurs.
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"I'm all right." Muffled: he's pressed his face to Cullen's neck. "I swear it, I just -- need a moment. I'm fine."
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If he was watchful before, now Cullen is worried. If this is too much for Alistair --
Well. He was already wondering how Alistair would treat the prospect of being separated for a few nights.
"Take your time."
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He's fine. He knows where he is. (The Veil isn't about to tear; not here.) He didn't endanger anyone or make a fool of himself. If they don't find anything on the spot he marked, that's good. That means everyone will stay safe. And if they do find something --
There's a reason Alistair's been assigned to the beginner patrols, frustrating as it sometimes may be.
Gradually, his hold on Cullen eases; his breathing settles. With a sigh, Alistair pulls back.
(Not too far.)
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He quirks a smile.
With forced, ironic cheer: "So, how's your day been?"
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He gets to work on the breast plate's straps.
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(Fussing.)
"I'm all right with plans," he says modestly. "At least that's what they say."
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Breast plate: done. Pauldrons soon follow, then greaves -- and for good measure, Alistair's boots. Not like he has any intention of leaving the tent for several hours, minimum.
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He trails after Cullen, casting an idle glance to the paper before taking a seat next to his desk.
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He stretches, pulling one arm across his chest. "Yes. I've only known one man to have it. Very rare."
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Alistair doesn't make mention of it, though; he just draws up his knees, folding his arms loosely atop them. Still solemn, "Whoever earned it must be a very lucky man, then."
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"There's only one solution," he says. "Pile so many blankets on the bed that it's impossible for one man to steal them all."
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"That would get too warm," he says, wrinkling his nose. "Make walking the battlements all night look like an attractive option."
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As Alistair's rejoinders go, it's terribly weak, but his nerves still feel too frayed to come up with anything better.
He moves where Cullen directs him, willingly, and settles with a quiet sigh.
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(It's the second day of field work. Just the second day. He needs to give it more time before he starts trying to come up with alternate plans. He needs to find out what happened before he starts trying to come up with alternate plans.)
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