[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Back to Skyhold. Back to work.

Alistair resumes training with the Chargers a few days after his and Cullen's return; the company got back from Halamshiral just before the Basin group showed up, Bull explains, so he was giving them a rest before picking up exercises again. Krem fills Alistair in on all the details as they're exchanging blows. Some of it is just Orlesian Worst Game Ever nonsense, but since it ends with a whole lot of shamefaced nobles with no mercenaries to their names, Alistair's pretty damn pleased.

(Maybe he can get the new mercenaries in on his plan to dress up the training dummies in Orlesian garb. Hmmmmmm.)

Cullen's in a war room meeting by the time Alistair's done. He throws some water on his face and heads for the kitchens -- maybe he can split a small meal with Kieran before Morrigan's return.

Comments

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair certainly doesn't mind. He gives Cullen's shoulder a small, companionable nudge.

"You'll tell me later?"

[howtoactfereldan]

A wry half-smile.

"As long as you promise not to scold me."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I promise." He holds up a hand. "Solemnly sworn on a wheel of cheese, if need be."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Yelling counts as scolding," he informs Alistair.

[bringspeopletogether]

"So noted."

His smile goes a bit crooked, though it remains fond.

"Does saying 'this is beginning to sound more than a little foolish' count as well?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Yes." Firm.

[bringspeopletogether]

"All right."

Another small nudge.

"Then I never said it." Lower, "You'll tell me if I can help with any of the side effects too, yes?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Well. No. Not after this morning.

"Shouldn't need to." No louder. "They're better than they were. But thank you."

A little too formal. Maybe just a product of being surrounded by people.

[bringspeopletogether]

Maybe.

It's still enough for Alistair to lapse back into silence, after another nod, and turn his attention to Leliana and Josephine.

[howtoactfereldan]

Josephine is fielding song requests, Leliana thinking, testing out quick melodies in different keys.

Cullen says, softly, without looking Alistair's way, "Want to get out of here? We can stay, if you'd rather."

[bringspeopletogether]

He shakes his head. No louder: "Let's go."

It'll be nice to have some privacy. Or something like it, being as the alternative is a crowded hall.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Where to? -- did you make it to the library in the cellars?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair schools his face in time, before anything resembling sheepishness can make its way to the surface.

"Not yet." Mild. "Now's as good a time as any."

And they aren't far from the door leading down to the cellars.

[howtoactfereldan]

They aren't. Cullen drifts in that direction.

"If there's somewhere you'd rather be..." he murmurs.

[bringspeopletogether]

"No," he answers, low. "This is fine."

The music fades to silence as they descend the stairs. Absently, Alistair tucks his arms around himself to ward off some of the clammy chill.

(It's familiar, the same way the green light is familiar. It calms him further: another piece falling away. This'll be over soon.)

When they reach the library, he leans against one of the shelves -- then frowns and sweeps a cobweb off his shoulder.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen stops moving when Alistair stops. He's facing the desk, not looking at Alistair.





"I spoke to Samson today."

[bringspeopletogether]

Well. That explains the talk about side effects.

Alistair close his eyes and knead his forehead. His shoulders rise and fall on a silent sigh.

"All right." Quiet, and level. "Why?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"I wanted to know everything he knew about that orb Corypheus carries. It took some time. But he talked."

[bringspeopletogether]

"And why you and not Leliana?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen doesn't move.





"Is that relevant?" Careful.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair looks away.

Considering you just said you're spread too thin, he thinks, yes, it's damn well relevant.

He's silent.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Giving him a second philter of lyrium daily," Cullen says finally, "was a more effective bargaining chip coming from me than from Leliana."

This is a reason. It's not the reason.

[bringspeopletogether]

"All right." Softer.

Carefully, Alistair pushes away from the shelves. He steps closer; brushes his fingertips over the back of Cullen's hand.

[howtoactfereldan]

Still careful: "Is that good enough?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes."

He's pretty certain it's as much as Cullen will tell him. And Alistair's aware, even more acutely than usual, of how fragile this moment is.

A careful nudge: he slides his hand around Cullen's, palm-to-palm, and links their fingers together.