[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]

"Circumstances are different this time. Kieran's older. He wants to know you. Morrigan has a very good reason to allow herself to be found by you or Leliana, or both -- Kieran might need you, if Flemeth comes calling. You can ask."

Cullen reaches for Alistair's hand again. "You should ask. For their sake. And for yours."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair runs his thumb along the side of Cullen's hand, still not looking up.

"Someday," he says, wryly, "I'll learn to make pleasant assumptions instead of landing on the bad ones first thing. 'Well, that person left, so now they're gone forever and they'll never want to see me again.'"

[howtoactfereldan]

"The only people who feel that way are terrible people," he murmurs into Alistair's shoulder. "Good riddance to them."

[bringspeopletogether]

His shoulder shakes as he exhales a laugh. "Yes. I'm glad I have you around to remind me of that."

Light as it may be, he says it with full sincerity.

[howtoactfereldan]

As sententiously as possible:

"The Maker has a purpose for every one of us, Alistair."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair groans -- but rather than pulling away or elbowing Cullen in the ribs, he leans more comfortably against him.

"So if yours is to remind me not to bother with terrible people, what's my purpose, then?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"To provide increasingly outlandish and impractical houses for a herd of mabari, of course," Cullen says, very surprised.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Right, right, yes," he muses, nodding thoughtfully. "I'd forgotten."

A beat.

"How do you feel about three dozen tiny stair-less castles scattered about the farm?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Will they interfere with growing things?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Of course not." Cheerful. "We could even grow things on the roofs of the castles if you'd like."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Absolutely not," Cullen murmurs into Alistair's shoulder. "That's asking for trouble."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Nothing too big?" he offers. "Just little herb plots, maybe some flowers?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Who grows flowers on a farm?"

[bringspeopletogether]

With great dignity: "People who want their mabari to be living in the prettiest castles they can, Cullen."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen huffs and flops down on his side. "Fine. Get your own farm next door to mine."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Where's the fun in that, though?"

He sprawls out alongside, propping himself on one elbow, facing Cullen.

"It's supposed to be our farm." Catching Cullen's hand again, "I can compromise on the flowers."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I'd prefer to see some indication that you're planning on doing some actual work on this farm." He shifts closer, leaning his head against Alistair's chest. "Growing things we can either eat or sell."

[bringspeopletogether]

"You could sell flowers, I'd argue." He drapes his arm around Cullen. "But no, you're right, I did promise to help with the actual farming part of the farm, once I'm certain every stalk of wheat I touch won't immediately rot."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen lets out a soft, content sigh. "Wheat's much hardier than that."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Oh, good." Laughter curls around the words. "Might actually be easier to tend than a bunch of flowers, then."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Wheat's far less temperamental than flowers." His eyes are closed.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Exactly."

Taking the hint, he gives Cullen a gentle squeeze.

"Sleep well. I'll do my best not to wake you again."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen mumbles, "You didn't the first time."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Then I'll do my best not to wake you, period, no 'again' to be found."

He kisses the top of Cullen's head.

"Love you."

[howtoactfereldan]

After a moment, Cullen touches the pad of a finger to Alistair's lips.

"Don't watch," he mumbles again. "Stay."