[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

[howtoactfereldan]

For a moment, when it breaks, he buries his face in the crook of Alistair's neck, breathing in.

(It's the only way he can admit to himself that talking about -- the end -- rattled him.)

Then, slowly, Cullen kisses his way up Alistair's neck, observing in between, "The children are easy."

[bringspeopletogether]

His eyes fall closed as his head tips back.

"Mm?"

(Alistair's a little too distracted to say more than that.)

[howtoactfereldan]

"Dragging you -- "

He nips at Alistair's throat.

" -- to another bookshop, I'm afraid."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's breath hitches; escapes as a whimper.

Plaintive: "Right now?"

[howtoactfereldan]

That elicits a low laugh from Cullen -- the kind that rumbles. (The kind that's entirely too knowing.)

"You said you were willing," Cullen reminds him, and nips him again. He spreads his palms open over Alistair's back. "It was your idea."

It wasn't Cullen's intention to get into torture, really. But it's important to recognize opportunity when it appears in front of you.

[bringspeopletogether]

"That was before you -- "

That sentence ends in another swift intake of breath. His fingers tighten in Cullen's hair. One leg slides along his, wrapping around Cullen's calves.

"You're a bad man."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen slides a hand down to knead at Alistair's hip. "Slander," he whispers in Alistair's ear. "Not a good way to get what you want, ser."

[bringspeopletogether]

He shivers, leg winding tighter around Cullen's.

Hoarsely: "What do I need to do?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"You could... retract your statement."

Cullen grips Alistair's thigh, the better to pull Alistair flush against him.

"You could accept some consequences. Which I would determine."

He pauses long enough to give the divot between Alistair's collarbone and throat some attention.

"You have to tell me what you want."

[bringspeopletogether]

Trying to decide what he wants -- aside from what Cullen's doing right this very instant, Maker -- proves rather difficult. Alistair tries to stifle a groan, with no success, as his chest rises and falls.

"I want -- " His fingers dig into Cullen's back. "I want this. You. Please."

(He doesn't know how much time he has left. Maker willing, he'll see Cullen nearly every day of it. But -- )

"I want what no one else gets to see of you. Please. Show me."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen arches his back, hissing a little --

Which doesn't stop his brow from furrowing again.

Bewildered: "Alistair -- you have it. You've always had it."

[bringspeopletogether]

That's --

-- not the response Alistair expected to get.

His grip eases; he pulls back a little, blinking, as he runs through the last few seconds of their conversation. (Well. "Conversation.") After a beat or two, he smiles crookedly.

"That was stupid of me to say, wasn't it," he murmurs, light.

[howtoactfereldan]

He can't quite stop himself in time:

"What do you think I'm holding back?"

As soon as the words are out he pulls away, shoving a hand through his hair.

[bringspeopletogether]

Yeah. This is definitely not the response he expected.

"Cullen, that isn't how I meant it." He shifts away a little, too. "I meant like -- "

(Like what?)

"I don't know how I meant it." Alistair can feel his shoulders hunching inward. "I got lost for a minute. I wasn't thinking."

[howtoactfereldan]

After a moment, Cullen lets go. His hair would be standing on end, were it not... listing to one side.

Low, wry:

"I suppose I can count that a compliment, then?"

He leans against Alistair.

"Given the circumstances."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair cracks a smile. He wraps his arm around Cullen's shoulders, drawing him closer.

"A high compliment, yes," he says. "You're very skilled at what you do, ser."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Evidently." He touches his lips to the hollow of Alistair's temple. "Now, the next step is to work out how to shut my mind down once I've got yours done."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I suppose I'll just have to be more diligent about returning the favor."

Serene.

[howtoactfereldan]

"And take away the satisfaction I get from seeing you squirm?" Mock outrage. "Cruel."

[bringspeopletogether]

A tiny snort of laughter.

"The cruelest," he agrees, leaning his head against Cullen's. "I might even leave my shirt on while I'm doing it."

[howtoactfereldan]

"How could you," Cullen laments. "After I brought you a single bag of almonds that one time."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair dissolves into snickers.

"For every bag you bring me, I'll take off another piece of clothing?" he suggests.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Deal," Cullen says promptly.

[bringspeopletogether]

He beams. "Excellent."

And plants a firm kiss on Cullen's cheek.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen wrinkles his nose a little; he's still pleased, though.

"Do you want to go out? I'm afraid I still ought to find something to eat."