[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 laughs, quietly, and touches his lips to Cullen's temple.

"See?" he murmurs. "I can be trained."

[howtoactfereldan]

"To be fair, I knew that." Comfortable. Content. "'S what makes you a qualified adjutant."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm. Then I suppose I'm glad I've lived up to expectations."

He winds a curl of Cullen's hair around one finger.

[howtoactfereldan]

A soft sigh escapes him.

"Exceeded," he mumbles.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's smile softens. He smooths down Cullen's hair; lets his hand rest atop his head.

"Get some sleep, Commander," he whispers. "I'll be here. Very quietly."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You should -- go out. If you want."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I might later." Still soft. "Already did a little bit of celebrating before I came back. But I ought to go check on Kieran eventually, if nothing else."

Another breath of laughter.

"He ran off with the healer's apprentice. 'Don't wait up, Alistair, I'll find you if I need you!'"

[howtoactfereldan]

"How... she's how many years older than him?" Cullen starts to laugh.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Not that much, I don't think." But Alistair's laughter is turning more fully-formed to join Cullen's. "Three years? Four maybe? There aren't many other children here, I'm just glad he found someone who's less than a decade older than him."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Has the obvious occurred to you?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes." He wrinkles his nose. "Yes, it has. And I am putting that firmly in Morrigan's hands to handle however she sees fit once she's back."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Then we'll hope he doesn't experience heartbreak before that happens." Cullen is laughing again. "Though I'd pay quite a lot to see you counsel him through it."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair assumes a patient, sympathetic tone, as if he were speaking to Kieran. "Did you start with a rose and unending declarations of love? Mm. Yes, I see. I think that's where you went wrong. Next time, save that for a few months in. It'll give you more time to work on the cheesy speech anyway."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...technically, didn't you also wait and do it a few months in?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Shifty look.

"Mmmmmmmmaybe?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Both times?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"To be fair," says Alistair, with all the dignity he can muster, "we were already together when I gave you that rose. It wasn't my opening sally."

[howtoactfereldan]

"So what you're telling me is that it never actually works, and you're not disclosing that to Kieran?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"I'm saying," says Alistair, and gives Cullen a gentle prod in the side, "that timing is everything. I seem to remember you being quite happy about the rose. Those men who walked in on us probably remember it too."

[howtoactfereldan]

"So he ought to hope that she's the type to be swayed by roses, then?"

This does not seem like a great strategy to Cullen.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Or find something she is swayed by. Who knows, maybe she likes snakes. Find her a nice snake and come up with an appropriately cheesy speech to go with it."

[howtoactfereldan]

Silence.






Barely stifling laughter:

"He's far too young to be pulling out his snake, Alistair. Even if she does like them."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Cullen -- "

Alistair socks him in the arm before burying his face against Cullen's shoulder, laughing helplessly. Something that sounds like a squeaky didn't mean it like that, dammit!! escapes.

[howtoactfereldan]

"This is why I said I'd pay to see you give him advice."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Awful man," he manages, still laughing, before planting a firm kiss on Cullen's temple. "Maybe I'll send him to you for advice, then."