[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]

Cullen doesn't pull away.

"The next time I tell you how bad things were in Kirkwall," he says, even lower, "would you do me the courtesy of believing me? Or at least acting like it?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes."

No louder.

[howtoactfereldan]

Slowly, his fingers curl around Alistair's.

(Just because Cullen knows what choice he'd make, every time, between Alistair's wants and his own integrity -- it doesn't make him unafraid of the cost.)

[bringspeopletogether]

"I don't agree with everything Lavellan's done." Still quiet. "Or will do. Or might do. But if I didn't think she was doing as much good as possible, I wouldn't've joined the Inquisition -- or wanted to stay."

He squeezes Cullen's hand.

"The same goes for this. And you."

[howtoactfereldan]

After a moment Cullen nods a little.

"I've said it before." It's less steady than he'd like. "I don't want you to feel -- trapped. In this life. I'll -- try to remind myself it's a... choice you're making. And not, not just a bad habit."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I'll remind you as often as you need."

He lifts Cullen's hand so he can kiss his knuckles.

"I love you."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen lets out a shaky breath, and covers Alistair's hand with his free one. "I love you. I was -- frightened."

[bringspeopletogether]

A wobbly smile.

"So was I," he admits.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Does this mean you'll buy your damn cheese so we can huddle up in here for the rest of the day and leave before dawn?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair splutters a weak laugh.

"At this point, I'm ready to skip the cheese and move straight to the huddling."

[howtoactfereldan]

"And you're sure you won't regret it tomorrow?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair opens his mouth to reply.







"Give me ten minutes to get that brie I was eyeing earlier."

Very sheepishly.

[howtoactfereldan]

"...as I thought," Cullen says, satisfied. "Go on, then."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Right. Yes."

Still sheepish -- but starting to laugh a little as well. Alistair pushes himself up, then leans across the table to catch Cullen's mouth in a quick kiss.

"Back shortly," he says before dashing from the kitchen.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen is exasperated to realize that he's... blushing.

He makes a noise associated most closely with Cassandra and rises himself. If they're leaving early, he ought to start gathering his things.

(And estimating how much weight his new texts and treatises will add to his saddlebags.)

[bringspeopletogether]

All praise to Andraste, the brie is right where he left it a few hours earlier. Putting his coin toward that instead of a room on the other side of the university quarter: much more preferable.

He jogs back to their rooms with the paper-wrapped package under one arm, feeling lighter than he has in days.

Much as he'd like to break into the cheese immediately, he probably ought to store it in the kitchen until tomorrow morning, if only so their bedroom doesn't take on the smell. He deposits it there before moving on to the bedroom.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen, still in his shirtsleeves, is by the window, fiddling with one of the straps on his breastplate.

(He's also humming one of the Orlesian drinking songs from last night.)

Other articles of clothing are neatly and tightly folded to exacting standard. It's a shame that the stack of paper in the window seat seems quite... high. Pity Cullen's horse.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Cheese destiny fulfilled," announces Alistair. He snags the letter to Cousland -- that'll be going in the fire later, thank you -- and shoves it deeper into his pack, piling some of his clothes atop it. "Let the huddling commence."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen glances up with a small, warm smile.

"I'm almost afraid to ask for details."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Not many to share."

He joins Cullen at the window, leaning his shoulder on the frame.

"It's staying in the kitchen tonight. Less temptation and less smell." He nods to the stack of papers. "Need to load some of that into my bags?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Mm. Perhaps."

Tentatively he moves behind Alistair, resting a cautious hand on his hip. "Not much left of it to do."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair smiles. He covers Cullen's hand; guides it slowly around to his abdomen, leaning back against Cullen as he does.

(It feels -- remarkably nice. Like they've spent far longer than a day and a half apart.)

"Shouldn't take me long to do the same. I might put it off 'til morning."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen leans his head against Alistair's, bringing his other arm around.

"If you sleep until midmorning, let's see... that'll put us on the road by sundown, if we're lucky."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair wrinkles his nose.

"I swear upon my freshly-purchased wheel of cheese," he says, gently prodding Cullen's hands, "that I'll be awake before sunrise."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...meaning if you're not," Cullen says with slow glee, "I can throw out whatever atrocity it is you brought home?"