[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]

"It would be nice," Cullen mumbles. "So stop being so comfortable, so we can bring ourselves to move."

[bringspeopletogether]

“I’m not sure I can.” Sorrowful. “Not unless you want me to roll over and unceremoniously dump you on the floor.”

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen heaves a sigh and makes himself sit up. "Monster."

He stretches -- that this involves some inconvenient writhing on Alistair is a nice bonus -- and slips to his feet, drawing his robe about him with great dignity.

"I think I shall steal all the blankets," he says thoughtfully, and saunters down the hall.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair’s jaw drops. Laughing, he scrambles off the chaise, tying his robe as he hurries after Cullen.

“Don’t you dare.”

[howtoactfereldan]

Airily, over his shoulder:

"What if I do?"

[bringspeopletogether]

“I’ll be very sad,” he says, appropriately mournful. “And possibly die of cold, which would make you very sad.”

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen drops on the bed and wags a finger at him. "That only works at Skyhold. Or in other places above the tree line. You wouldn't freeze."

[bringspeopletogether]

“Famous last words before I wake up encased in a block of ice.”

He flops next to Cullen.

“But should that happen, I trust you’ll put me to good use keeping the meat stores cold.”

[howtoactfereldan]

"Mm."

Cullen makes a great show of considering this.










"Paperweight," he declares finally.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair cracks up, burying his face against Cullen's shoulder.

[howtoactfereldan]

"A very large and noisy paperweight," Cullen continues with satisfaction. "Everyone needs one."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Only noisy if the ice melts." He kisses Cullen's cheek. "Which it might not if you keep it on your desk at Skyhold. I'm afraid I can't do much about the size, though. Your reports will be...very secure."

[howtoactfereldan]

"What more could a man want?"

Beat.

"Besides all the blankets."

[bringspeopletogether]

Promptly: "Fifty mabari. Possibly sixty."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I couldn't possibly give them enough attention," Cullen says mildly, "and then I'd have dozens of very sad mabari on my hands. There's nothing more depressing."

[bringspeopletogether]

"And while I'd help were I not frozen in a block of ice," says Alistair with a sigh, "I am frozen in a block of ice. Clearly, then, if you don't want fifty sad mabari on your hands, you should share the blankets."

:D?

[howtoactfereldan]

"That's the best argument you've ever made, Theirin," Cullen says, smile expanding into a wide grin.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair beams.

"I've been practicing," he says, serene, before leaning up to kiss Cullen properly.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen takes the opportunity to roll onto his side and fling an arm over Alistair.

If he cannot steal the blankets, Alistair will just have to be a giant cushion.

[bringspeopletogether]

O CRUEL FATE.

-- wait, no, the opposite of that. Alistair is totally fine with being a cushion.

He snuggles close, one hand finding its way to Cullen's hair to tangle there, loosely. He lets out a contented sigh.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Should've got under the blankets first," Cullen mumbles sleepily.

[bringspeopletogether]

In response, Alistair shifts onto his side, loosening the tie on his robe. Once it's undone, he drapes one side of the robe over Cullen as if it were a blanket.

"There you go." Cheerful.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Now you'll be that paperweight I didn't want."

Cullen is possibly disgruntled that Alistair moved.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Best for both of us that we get under the proper blankets, then. Come on, Commander."

He kisses his forehead, then draws back just enough to start worming his way under the quilt.

[howtoactfereldan]

Still grumbly, as he follows suit:

"Not the Commander right now. Can't command anything."