[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]

"Mm." Cullen takes a moment to consider this, and also to finish off his apple.







"No."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair droops.

"Aw."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Don't sulk," Cullen murmurs. "It's not an adequate apology if it's an everyday occurrence, after all."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Fair enough, I suppose."

He draws Cullen a little closer; sets his chin on his shoulder as he closes his eyes.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen leans his head against Alistair's, settling hands only a little apple-sticky on Alistair's.

"Aren't you glad," lower, "we've nowhere to be at sunrise."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Extremely," he murmurs in Cullen's ear. "Extremely glad."

He weaves his fingers through Cullen's.

"Still ravenous?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"The edge is gone." Cullen's turn to close his eyes. "It'll do for now, if you've something in mind."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Well..."



Of course, Alistair's stomach chooses that exact moment to rumble. Of course.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen laughs softly. "Oho."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I want it known," says Alistair, eyes still closed, "that food is not what I had in mind. But it seems the beast must be appeased."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I have a vested interest in you keeping up your strength, you know."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Why?" Wide-eyed with mock innocence, as he moves around Cullen to grab an apple of his own. "Are there going to be feats of strength soon?"

...Hm. Wonder if there's still some of that bread and jam left.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I rather think that's up to you, isn't it?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"I suppose." Serenely. "But: dinner first, dessert later."

He cuts off a slice of bread, slathers it with jam, and returns to Cullen's side.

[howtoactfereldan]

"If I hadn't just established that I don't deserve presents, I'd be more put out that isn't for me," Cullen says. "You did leave me some, didn't you?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"'Course I did."

He holds the bread up to Cullen's lips, one inquiring eyebrow raised.

[howtoactfereldan]

Without further ado, Cullen chomps.

Probably more than is either polite or advisable.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair yelps in surprise, then dissolves into laughter. Some of the jam threatens to fall off the toast; he catches it with his forefinger.

And promptly smears it on the tip of Cullen's nose.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen laughs aloud.

"You make the mess," he informs Alistair, "you clean it up."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair grins. "I was worried you might not ask."

He winds his arm around Cullen's neck, pulling him close so he can lick the jam off his nose.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen yelps. "You are a mabari!"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Grr," he deadpans. "Woof."

Alistair lightly nips Cullen's' nose, still grinning, then gives him a firm kiss.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen winds his arms around Alistair with a contented hum. One hand, still juice-sticky, slips into Alistair's hair.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair has every intention of doing nothing but kiss Cullen for a while.

Unfortunately, his stomach -- apparently put out that there is both an apple and jam bread right there which Alistair is ignoring in favor of other pursuits -- growls again, more insistently. Alistair breaks the kiss with a rueful laugh, leaning his forehead against Cullen's.

"Right. Dinner first."

[howtoactfereldan]

"How responsible of you," Cullen murmurs, kissing the corner of his mouth. "If it wasn't to do with your dinner, I might think I'd had some influence."