[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]

Alistair laughs, low. "Very astute of you, Commander."

He kisses Cullen's hair again.

[howtoactfereldan]

A small, content sigh.

"Could I draw you a bath?" he murmurs. "When you're ready?"

[bringspeopletogether]

His smile warms.

"That sounds perfect," he says. "Yes. I'd like that very much."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Tell me when."

Cullen closes his eyes.

"And if I'm asleep, promise you'll wake me." Pause. "I have every intention of spending tomorrow sleep-deprived and miserable, Theirin. If you'd care to join me."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Hmmm."

Slowly, he runs his hand up and down Cullen's back.

Gravely, "It sounds like a very dangerous plan. I could never let you undertake it alone."

[howtoactfereldan]

"One of the many reasons I love you." Peacefully. "While I'm at it, I might note that we don't have to return to Skyhold tomorrow. If we have matters occupying us further, we could delay another day or two."

[bringspeopletogether]

His eyebrows creep higher. Half-laughing, "Is that a promise?"

The best way to spend time in Orlais: holing up inside with the man you love and completely ignoring all of Orlais.

[howtoactfereldan]

"We might like to send out for supplies," Cullen returns, grave. "But yes. It's a promise."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair sighs, happily, and snuggles closer.

"You're the best."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You want to know what's better?" he murmurs. "I told my adjutant I'd be leaving tomorrow. No meetings. No work. I don't see the need to inform her of the change, do you?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Slowly, Alistair brightens like the rising sun.

"Absolutely not," he says, before pulling Cullen the last few inches to kiss him, hard.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen slips his hand into Alistair's hair with a hum of pleasure.

If something dire happens -- dire enough to require his attention -- it won't require any great sleuthing to find him. And Cullen's willing to bet on the probability that nothing like that will occur.

[bringspeopletogether]

When the kiss finally breaks, Alistair tucks his face into the curve of Cullen's neck, still smiling.

"My favorite." Soft. "My love. You take such good care of me."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen traces Alistair's ear with his thumb. "Anyone who could fail to love you," he murmurs, "is either unpardonably stupid or my mortal enemy. Or both."

His tone is light. His meaning... not so much.

[bringspeopletogether]

And at that --

Unexpectedly, Alistair finds his eyes stinging. He closes them; sighs out another long breath as he hugs Cullen a bit tighter.

(It's not the end. Not yet. Alistair's already -- overwhelmed, a little, and he can't give voice to how much it means to have this port in a long, long storm. To know it isn't as fragile as he so often fears.

Cullen loves him. Cullen thinks he's worthy of love.)

[howtoactfereldan]

He settles his hand behind Alistair's head, matching the curve, lightly stroking the side of Alistair's neck with his thumb.

"So you could take that to mean that I like you." Cullen touches his lips to Alistair's forehead. "Very much. A great deal. Unless there's too much cheese."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair huffs a laugh against Cullen's neck.

"You know," he says, "I wanted to ask if we'd be including cheese in those provisions we're getting, but I didn't. That's how much I like you."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen shivers pleasantly. "That, and you've got an entire wheel of the stuff in the kitchen."

[bringspeopletogether]

"...I'd nearly forgotten," he says, with a more fully-formed laugh. "So many distractions."

[howtoactfereldan]

Low, and warm, and rumbly:

"It's right next to the purgative."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair groans, loudly, and pokes Cullen in the ribs before dissolving all the way into laughter.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen yelps, and then rolls over on his back. He's laughing, too -- unselfconscious, free.

"I'm concerned, is all."

[bringspeopletogether]

And Maker, is it good to hear Cullen laugh like that.

"Don't be." Grinning. "It's my last wheel of Orlesian cheese for a while. I've every intention of savoring it, not wolfing it down in one go and causing a...situation."

[howtoactfereldan]

"So we shouldn't send out for some, is what I'm hearing."

[bringspeopletogether]

A doleful sigh.

"Much as it pains me," he says, laying his head on Cullen's chest, "I have to agree that we're all right for cheese, as far as provisions go."