[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

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen wrinkles his nose, still smiling. "We should eat the less portable things first, I suppose."

It didn't take long for responsibility to rear its ugly head again. Gross.

[bringspeopletogether]

But the lack of responsibility was so beautiful while it lasted. Truly, Alistair will cherish it forever.

"I suppose," he echoes. A pause. "...Though I could also point out that everything becomes portable when you place it in a basket."

:D?

[howtoactfereldan]

"...even the beef stew?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"The stew did make it all the way up here without spilling, didn't it?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"But will it survive the wall," Cullen asks the room, as sonorously as he can.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair makes a great show of thinking this over.

At last, gravely: "I believe there's only one way to find out."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You drop any on anyone's head, I drop the remainder on yours."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair snorts, amused. "Cullen, I would never waste beef stew that way."

Beat.

"...Unless it was funny. But," and he lifts a finger, "trust that I'm hungry enough for that to triumph over a cheap laugh."

[howtoactfereldan]

"That I believe," Cullen says, starting to laugh. "Nothing can ever come between you and your dinner."

[bringspeopletogether]

He beams.

"The sun rises in the east," he says, "it sets in the west, and I always think with my stomach. I'm glad I can serve as such a reliable force of nature."