[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]

As he eats, Alistair traces his thumb in idle circles at Cullen's hip.

There's still a little bit of jam on his finger; just as idle, he licks it off before returning to the apple.

[howtoactfereldan]

The spoon clinks against the jar.





Softly:

"Ought I to ask about parading around all elf-blooded?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Ah..."

He waves the half-eaten apple in a dismissive gesture. The rueful note to his smile returns.

"I was joking, is all. Haven't really been announcing it while throwing confetti about, or anything of the sort."

[howtoactfereldan]

"It doesn't quite..."

Cullen's searching for words again. "Mm. It doesn't feel the same as the rest of what you say. It's -- sharper. Does that make any sense?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"...I suppose."

He doesn't sound doubtful. More like he got caught doing something he shouldn't.

(Alistair's very aware of his tendency to joke away deeper hurts, or serious concerns. Apparently -- without being quite cognizant of it -- that still includes the other half of his heritage.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen is terrible with emotions. That doesn't mean he's incapable of recognizing when it's a good idea not to press further.

He leans his forehead against Alistair's temple. Softly, he says, "You could finish fortifying yourself."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I could." He tries for a smile: it's steadier than before. As he squeezes Cullen's waist, "Might avail myself of some more bread. Do you want any?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"And ruin this perfectly good jam? No thank you."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair snorts, and turns enough to kiss Cullen's cheek. Warmly, "I know. How dare I ask such a ridiculous question."

He slips free to cut more bread for himself -- and, after a moment's consideration, unwraps the cheese wheel to slice off an accompanying bit.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen watches this.

Smug:

"I had a bet with myself, and I just won."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Oh, did you?"

He's trying for bland, but can't hide his amusement that well.

"What did you win?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"The satisfaction of knowing there was no way that wheel would make it to Skyhold intact."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair pulls a mild face.

"I'm still savoring it, I'll have you know." He points to Cullen with his newly cheese-ified slice of bread. "Just...getting a bit of a head start on that savoring."

[howtoactfereldan]

"That's fine," Cullen says cheerfully. "I still win."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Hmph," declares Alistair, and takes an enormous bite of bread.



Oh, Maker, that's delicious.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen says, very sorrowfully indeed:

"I remember when I could make you look like that."

(It happened a few hours ago.)

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nearly chokes on his bread. Hastily, he presses his forearm to his mouth until he's swallowed; then he's laughing, low and helpless and fond.

"Don't worry," he manages. "You'll always come first in my affections."

(A bold statement indeed, when faced with such glorious cheese!)

[howtoactfereldan]

"Doubtful." Cullen shakes his head. "How could I, compared to... that...?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Still laughing a little, Alistair slings his arm around Cullen's shoulders.

"Is there a way I could convince you?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Finish your dinner," Cullen tells him. "And then you can experiment."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm. I like the sound of that."

He polishes off the rest of his bread. (So much for savoring.) Juggling the half-eaten apple into his free hand, he makes short work of that as well, setting the core aside.

"So...let's see..." Both arms wound about Cullen's shoulders now, he presses closer. "I could keep it siimple, I suppose. Point out how you're much more handsome than a block of cheese and like my prattling far better. But you'd just say -- " He puts on his best Cullen impression. "'Low bar to clear, Theirin.' So perhaps not."

His fingers delve beneath the collar of Cullen's robe.

Innocently, "On the complete opposite end, I could steal your jam and set to work licking it off quite a few other places besides your nose."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen squirms a little as he hooks his fingers together at the small of Alistair's back.

"But I need it all to cleanse my palate after that dreadful impression of me."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I'll find more." Cheerful. "Or find a substitute. Honey, maybe?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"You're trying to leave me to the ants," Cullen accuses.

[bringspeopletogether]

"I would never," says Alistair, mock-affronted. "In fact, ill protect you valiantly from any ants who try to steal you away."