[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]

Mostly mournful, and only a little surly:

"Has telling me not to worry ever worked once?"

[bringspeopletogether]

That draws a quick breath of laughter out of Alistair.

"I'd a feeling you might say that." He draws his fingers through Cullen's hair. "Had to try, though."

After a moment, quieter and more serious: "But I mean it. It's -- not about how things were 'supposed' to be. I'm glad you told me all this. Truly."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I didn't-- " Alarmed. "I didn't plan this. I swear."

[bringspeopletogether]

"No, I know," he says, just as swift. "I know you didn't. But...you still trusted me enough to tell me at all."

With Cullen being so private, so prone to brushing his inconvenient emotions aside -- Alistair's under no illusions how rare this is. No matter how much Cullen trusts him.

"It's a heavy thing to carry on your own."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen sniffles.







Finally, soft:

"You were there."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I was. Yes."

He keeps running his hand along Cullen's back, slow, steady.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I don't have to explain. I can just... tell it."

He's not sure whether that makes him feel relieved or miserable.

"You're the only one."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods, a little.

"Does it help?" he whispers.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Not talking about it helps." That, at last, is a little dry. "Talking about it less is almost as good."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair huffs another near-soundless laugh.

"It's something, at least," he agrees, and kisses Cullen's hair.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Alistair?"

Bewildered.

"Why are you naked?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair sputters out a much louder laugh.

"Too lazy to get a robe after my bath," he manages. "That's all."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's mouth twitches; he looks at Alistair with one red-rimmed eye. "It would have added five steps to your journey, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

"No, no." Lofty. "That's much too far. Especially when the alternative is this."

He punctuates that with a gentle squeeze.

[howtoactfereldan]

"...which you often do while clothed anyhow."

[bringspeopletogether]

"At every available opportunity." Peaceable. "Though to be fair, we're often in much colder climes than this one, too."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen rests his head against Alistair's chest with a soft sigh.

After a moment, he murmurs, "The correct answer, by the way, was 'to awe and delight.'"

[bringspeopletogether]

He chuckles; resumes running his hand along Cullen's spine.

Thoughtfully, "That might involve more posing. Maybe some flexing. Just as a nice bonus."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Always so thoughtful." He presses against Alistair's hand.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Anything for the love of my life," he murmurs.

Once he reaches Cullen's upper back, he kneads the heel of his palm into the spot, searching for any knotted places.

[howtoactfereldan]

(There are plenty to choose from.)

Cullen sighs softly. He's also turned a robust shade of pink.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair might be a little smug over turning Cullen pink. Just a little.

Rather than say anything to that effect, though, he works his fingers along Cullen's shoulders, slow and methodical. Each knot gets his full attention for a few minutes before he moves on to the next.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Might be easier if I turned over," he mumbles. "You don't have to do this, you know."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I want to," he answers, not much louder. "Though...hm."

He pauses in his work.

"I think I ought to follow that strategy, coming from the master tactician as it does." Alistair kisses Cullen's brow. "Roll over for me?"

[howtoactfereldan]

He swallows a protest -- something along the lines of I don't want to be any trouble, don't give me things I haven't earned -- and does as he's told. For just a moment, Cullen's eyes are too bright again.

Then he rests his head on his folded arms, turning his head away.