[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Skyhold gets quieter and quieter as the days move on. It's not a complete stand-down; there's cleanup to do, stragglers to round up, the same sort of business Alistair remembers from the months after the Blight. The Thaw, as Wardens call it. Thedas is thawing again, but the fortress only grows colder for it.

He won't lie: he'd feel warmer if Kieran and Morrigan were still there.

When Cullen suggests a vacation, Alistair lights up, only to deflate slightly when he realizes they'll be "vacationing" in Orlais. There's business to attend in Val Royeaux -- not the sort of business that'll keep Cullen occupied from sunup to sundown, but enough to require an in-person visit for a week or so. On the one hand: Orlais. On the other: he can't argue that time away from Skyhold, especially in Cullen's company, will help.

...So will the cheese, probably.

(Look, as Alistair has said many a time, he is a very predictable man.)

They room at a small place in the university quarter that's downright plain for Val Royeaux. Libraries for Cullen, a cafe around the corner for both of them, limited contact with people trilling about whatever stupid, petty scandal's hit the court this week -- it could be far worse. Alistair takes to writing his letters at the cafe, usually accompanied by some flaky pastry or another.

Today, they're cheese-filled. It's hard to descend too far into a personal funk when you've got a cheese-filled pastry.

Comments

[bringspeopletogether]

"Well, no, it's not like I did, either." He's laughing, a little. "And in hindsight it should've been no surprise at all. But at the time, yes, it was a very nice surprise when all this began. This us business."

[howtoactfereldan]

"That's a rather different matter from choosing presents that aren't terrible."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Perhaps." Comfortably, as he fishes out another almond. "But you still surprised me with it. And it was a good thing. So..."

He holds the almond to Cullen's lips.

"You do have the capacity for good surprises."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Just for that..."

Crunch.

"I'm finding you the worst, most Orlesian scarf that exists in this wretched city. And I expect you to wear it."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair dissolves into laughter as he leans his head against Cullen's shoulder.

"Then I reserve the right to take a pair of scissors to the worst bits of it," he says. "Or wear it somewhere that's not around my neck."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen chokes.

And coughs.

It's hard to tell what's coughing and what's laughter.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair just beams, the picture of serenity, and eats another almond.

[howtoactfereldan]

Hoarsely:

"What an excellent way to never get me to touch it ever again. Costumes."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I love you too," says Alistair, still with that unholy cheer, before kissing Cullen on the cheek.

[howtoactfereldan]

"You're vile," Cullen announces, "and I hate you." Then he aggressively ruffles Alistair's hair.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair yelps and tries to squirm away, to no avail.

(Not that he's trying particularly hard. That'd mean squirming away from Cullen entirely.)

Pretty soon he's laughing again as he tries -- also in vain -- to smooth his hair back down.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen watches this process, amused; if he's got a much firmer hold on Alistair now, what of it?

"Exactly what do you think that's going to accomplish?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"It's good to have a dream, Cullen," he says, as solemnly as he can. (So: not very.) "And my dream is having hair that stays un-mussed for five seconds."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Such as that five minute stretch between the time I came in and the time you left the cave?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's eyes widen in mock-delight.

In a reverent whisper: "My dream did come true!"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen pats Alistair's shoulder wordlessly, and then attempts to smother himself with a pillow.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair cracks up.

"Oh, no," he manages. "The Commander's ventured too far into the Blanket Caverns and been attacked by the Pillow Beast. There's only one way to guide him to safety!"

He shakes the bag of almonds right next to Cullen's head.

[howtoactfereldan]

Muffled: "What if the Pillow Beast and I are friends?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Then the Pillow Beast can come along as well, I suppose," says Alistair. "It's allowed one almond. But only one."

[howtoactfereldan]

The pillow comes up a fraction.

"And if I'm its designated proxy? Does that mean I get two?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Practical: "That seems only fair to me."

The bag gets another jostle.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen very slowly slides the pillow down, hugging it to his chest.

Dignified:

"We've achieved an accord, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

He grins. "Wonderful."

And plucks two more almonds from the bag to feed Cullen.

[howtoactfereldan]

Crunch. Crunch.

"All right -- assuming cheese is ongoing, and you'd like another surprise or two from me before we return to Skyhold... anything else you want to do in the next few days? Things we ought to get?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Hm."

Propping himself on one elbow, Alistair fishes out some almonds to chew on as he thinks.

"Finding something for Kieran might not be a bad idea. I owe Mia a letter, so if you've any interest in picking out something for her or the children, we could do that as well."

(That last bit is a little hesitant.)

"And much as I'd like to climb the highest structure in town and fling overcooked porridge down on the most absurdly-clothed passerby we find, we should probably save that for another time."