[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]

Silence.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair heaves a big enough sigh to lift Cullen an inch or two.

"Horrid," he declares again.

[howtoactfereldan]

"How dare I do precisely what you ask me to," Cullen agrees.

[bringspeopletogether]

"How do you sleep at night, ser."

Starting to laugh anew.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Usually the bedroll's much less lumpy."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I suppose that means I shouldn't stuff your actual bedroll with cheese any time soon, then?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Only if you want me to go throw all of it down the nearest well."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair gasps in affected shock.

"Poor cheese." Mournful. "I might have to dive after it to rescue it all."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Thus proving you'd rather spend time in the company of cheese than in bed with me."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Now that's just a rank lie, Cullen."

He elbows him gently in the side.

[howtoactfereldan]

"The cheese is rank."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I wouldn't be so cruel as to put smelly cheeses in your bedroll!" he protests.

[howtoactfereldan]

"All cheese smells," Cullen says, patient.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair wrinkles his nose. "But there's a difference between a nice mild cheddar and something so pungent even I wouldn't eat it."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen considers this.

And says in Alistair's ear:

"Tomorrow, you're allowed to say the word 'cheese' ten times. No more. If you exceed that limit, there will be consequences."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair turns just enough to squint at Cullen.

With exaggerated hopefulness: "Fun consequences?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"No." Ominous. "I'll cut you off."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's mouth falls open.

"Cruel, Rutherford," he says, and starts to roll to one side like a boat about to capsize.

[howtoactfereldan]

Looks like Cullen has two choices. He can abandon ship... or he can cling tightly to Alistair in order to make it impossible to merely shrug him off.

It's true, however, that Cullen doesn't want to ruin his good work with a scuffle. Man overboard it is, then.

He rolls onto his back and stretches.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair shifts to the side a little so he can keep rolling, turning nearly a full circle to face Cullen.

Whereupon he promptly flings an arm over Cullen's chest with another contented sigh.

[howtoactfereldan]

"The lumps have migrated," Cullen observes. "Frightening."

[bringspeopletogether]

"And they seem to have attached themselves to you as well." Solemn, as he rests his head on Cullen's shoulder. "Extremely frightening."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Ah, well."

Cullen closes his eyes.

"It was a good run."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I promise," says Alistair loyally, "I will always love you no matter how many lumpy you might get."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Can't do this any more once they take over," he points out.