[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]

"Brie is not an atrocity," says Alistair, mock-affronted. "It's delicious. Haven't you ever had it with jam?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Pitched low, right in Alistair's ear:

"You won't convince me it ought to be eaten, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair hums; it trails into a soft laugh.

"More for me, then." Beat. "Unless I wake up after sunrise, I suppose."

[howtoactfereldan]

"And then none for you." Content.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Precisely."

Slowly, with care, he slides a hand to cradle the back of Cullen's head. His fingers loosely tangle in his hair.

"Though I have to say -- " Laughter still trails through his voice. " -- you sound a little too pleased by the prospect, ser."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen sighs, quiet, happy.







"When we're back home," he murmurs, "you might go a full day without mentioning cheese."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Seeing as I won't be able to run around the corner to get a fresh wheel whenever I want, instead of digging up whatever Skyhold's got in the kitchens..."

He works his fingers a little deeper into Cullen's hair; begins kneading, gently.

"It seems likely."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I can't begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to it."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair snorts, amused.

"That doesn't mean you're free of all my prattling, you know."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen tightens his arms around Alistair for just a moment. "Nor would I want that to come to pass."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Good."

Softer, as his hand slips back down to cover Cullen's. He closes his eyes.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen lifts his head long enough to kiss the very tip of Alistair's ear before settling back down.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair shivers a little.

A few moments pass, in contented silence, before he slowly turns in Cullen's arms. He rests his arms on Cullen's shoulders and links his fingers together behind him.

Then he leans in for a sweet, gentle kiss.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen laughs quietly, and leans his forehead against Alistair's.

"Theirin." Warm.

[bringspeopletogether]

"What?"

Smiling.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I'm acknowledging your presence." A kiss at the corner of his mouth. "I find I quite like it."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I'm glad."

(Relieved, too. A little of that finds its way into Alistair's voice, try as he might.)

He wraps his arms more firmly around Cullen's shoulders. "I missed you."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You mean you missed my scintillating opinions."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes." Solemn. "Even the wholly incorrect ones about -- "

Um.

"...that...dairy-related thing I shouldn't talk about."

[howtoactfereldan]

"What, our herd of cattle?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"We've an entire herd now?"

He starts to laugh again, low and fond.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Things that need jam also need butter, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Hm. That seems like a remarkably correct dairy-related opinion." Thoughtful. "I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen takes the opportunity for a kiss.

And says, lightly, "Sorry, what was that? I got distracted."

[bringspeopletogether]

"...my cue to shut up and look pretty, then?"

Not that Alistair minds terribly.