[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]

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."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Your soup did seem awfully neglected when I left." Gentle. "Poor, sad soup. Let's go out and devour its brother."

Giving Cullen one more squeeze, he disentagles himself.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen looks at the opposite wall.

"That's remarkably disturbing," he says, thoughtful.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Let's...go have a nice dinner that involves no devouring of anyone's brother?"

More sheepish.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Let's go get something suspect off a cart so we can investigate what to send our relations," Cullen clarifies, getting to his feet.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Much better." He grins. "Onward, then."

The university quarter doesn't have what you'd call a night life, but the crowds have picked up a little. Alistair catches Cullen's hand as they walk. Not because he's afraid of losing him -- the crowds are nowhere near thick enough for that -- but just because it's nice, walking hand-in-hand with him as they move between the carts.

There's some very suspect-looking meat on a stick near a stall piled high with apples. Alistair slants a glance toward Cullen, eyebrow raised.

[howtoactfereldan]

The purveyor will not tell them what kind of meat it is, but does promise that it isn't horse, dog, or demon. Cullen buys two and holds them both in his free hand.

"Books," he says, after taking his first very large bite.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Books," agrees Alistair. "Any sort you had in mind, or will you know when you see it?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"A good atlas. A bestiary. The Black Fox, or something like it. All illuminated."

That is a lot of money Cullen is talking about.

"And... I don't know, some kind of treat that will keep until it arrives. That's the children sorted."

[bringspeopletogether]

It is. Alistair's eyebrows go up a little at the all illuminated bit; he's still smiling, though.

"Dried, candied fruit of some kind?" he suggests. "Or -- hm."

He eyes a pasty cart as they go by, gaze lingering on a row of crisp, curved cookies so thin that they're almost translucent.

"...No, maybe not. The wafers would keep, but they'd open the parcel and get a lapful of wafer dust. Much less appetizing."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Something they can't get in South Reach," he mutters. "There's a confectionery somewhere around here. Might be closed by now."

[bringspeopletogether]

"No harm in checking." He squeezes Cullen's hand. "Shall we?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"You just want to see if they have more almonds." Alistair gets a brief, crooked smile.

[bringspeopletogether]

Mock-affronted: "Of course I don't!"

Beat.

"I want to see if they have cheese-filled pastries."

:D?