[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]

"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."

[howtoactfereldan]

"How much did they pay you." Very, very stern. "I'll double it. Unless it's cheese."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Shame, then, because they offered whatever they could carry out of the cheese shop down the way." Alistair shakes his head, sadly. "And you know ants can carry quite a lot. But -- "

He gently prods Cullen's chest.

"I said, 'no, no, not even for all the cheese in Orlais would I hand over my love.' Might have struck a dramatic pose while I was at it. Sunlight at just the right angle and everything."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...you'll be drawing this scene later, I hope, as I'm very sorry to have missed it." Stifling laughter.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Of course." He beams. "I'll even frame it if you'd like."

He drops a light kiss on the tip of Cullen's nose.

[howtoactfereldan]

"We do need some additional portraits in our room."

Cullen wrinkles his nose. "Are you fixated?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"No, just making sure I didn't miss a spot."

He grins.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Oh, yes." Dry. "Of course. Have to make sure we're properly fortified and prepared."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Clean slate and all." Solemn. "Emphasis on the clean."

He whispers into Cullen's ear, "Makes the ensuing mess more fun."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Before you get too excited about that," Cullen whispers back, "remember it's your turn to clean up."

[bringspeopletogether]

"A small price to pay." His teeth graze Cullen's earlobe. "One I'll pay gladly."

[howtoactfereldan]

He'd fully expected Alistair to complain, or backpedal a little at the very least.

Cullen's shiver is a little more pronounced; his fingers dig reflexively into Alistair's flesh.

"Gladly," he repeats, half a question.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm-hm."

He presses closer.

"Have to come up with something worse than washing a few sheets to scare me away, Commander."

[howtoactfereldan]

"A challenge." Starting to smile, a little. "Let's see. Orlais is all around us."