[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

No Orlesian nobles pounded down their door to demand their hound back, so when Alistair and Cullen left Halamshiral, the newly-dubbed Gruyere happily trotted alongside their horses.

A few weeks after -- which included some quiet conversation, a few orders placed with a few merchants, and almost an entire extra pack of gifts slung over one of their mounts -- Gru just as happily trotted along as they turned for South Reach.

Years of correspondence led Alistair to build an elaborate image of Cullen's family in his mind; Mia, perhaps, more fully realized than the others, but everyone with a name and a voice to match their letters. They're...not wholly inaccurate? But Mia's definitely shorter than he expected, and one or two of the children a little louder.

(Mia's voice, however, adopts exactly the pitch he imagined it would when Alistair brings up the whole I'm-your-brother-in-law-now thing.)

It's a nice place. Just the right kind of rambunctious, with all the kids running around; just the right kind of homey.

If only Cullen weren't -- well, reacting more or less precisely how Alistair worried he'd react to the reunion.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen nods a little, and stills. He could press. He could ask about it.

But words aren't quite connecting. A complete thought hovers just out of reach. It's far easier just to sit here, feeling his own pulse slow down to something less frenetic.

[bringspeopletogether]

"I have some tragic news."

He whispers it with the outsize affected sorrow that warns of an incoming joke.

"Gru got to taste a bit of his namesake today, and he hated it."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Another argument in favor of him being my dog, and not yours." Amused.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair chuckles; tugs lightly on a lock of Cullen's hair. "Maybe he'll appreciate a nice cheddar instead," he says. "You never know. Anyway, he's our dog, remember?"

Gru wags his tail.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen huffs, amused. "If he likes cheddar, then that should be his name."

[bringspeopletogether]

Lofty: "No, no, it's far too late for that. He's been Gru for nearly an entire month. We can't confuse the poor dog further."

Boof, agrees Gru, quietly.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Your dog after all," Cullen sighs. "Just as well, then."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Take heart," murmurs Alistair, and kisses Cullen's brow. "If you build a small trebuchet and use it to play fetch with him, you'll win his loyalty forever."

[howtoactfereldan]

"That," Cullen says, "is actually a brilliant idea."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair beams.

"And just think of all the calibrations you could test," he says. "Accounting for whether it's a stick, or a ball, or a wadded-up piece of paper..."

[howtoactfereldan]

"So we're going into town for supplies tomorrow, is what you're saying."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes." Warm; laughing. "As early as you'd like for as long as you'd like."

If Cullen has something else to occupy his mind, maybe that'll stop him from hunching into himself quite so badly. (Or give him something to talk about with his siblings that isn't so, hey, how've you been the last fifteen years?)

[howtoactfereldan]

"I suppose I'd better get to bed, then, if we're to leave before dawn."

He is about eighty-five percent kidding.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nearly chokes, but quickly schools his expression.

"As you wish, my love." Serene. "Though that would require us moving."

[howtoactfereldan]

"It builds character." Cullen kisses his forehead.

[bringspeopletogether]

Solemnly, Alistair says, "Truly, no other trial or tribulation in my life has strengthened me like moving somewhere else when you're sitting on top of me."

He winds his arms more securely around Cullen and starts to lever himself up.

"All right, Gru," he adds to the mabari. "Bedtime."

Gru whines, disappointed, but gets to his feet as well.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen hastily untangles himself. "I didn't know you meant right now."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Well," just as serene, "you seem to be in a hurry to go to sleep so we can get your trebuchet supplies tomorrow..."

[howtoactfereldan]

"And I look forward to making you rise in two or three hours," he returns. "It's more the standing up without warning."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I see." He slips an arm around Cullen's waist. "My apologies for putting you through such a trial as well, then."

Gru steps closer, nudging Alistair's free hand; chuckling, Alistair gives him a thorough scratch behind the ears. "All right, yes, goodnight to you as well," he says to the dog. "Sweet dreams."

Satisfied, Gru trots to the door. Alistair lets go of Cullen just long enough to let Gru out -- his bedroll being stationed like a guard post a few feet from the threshold -- then shuts the door and returns to his husband's side.

[howtoactfereldan]

He's pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes. Then he stretches. When he looks up at Alistair, Cullen's smile is a little tired again.

"You seem happy here." Soft.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair returns the smile; takes one of Cullen's hands, slipping their fingers together.

"I am." Not much louder. "It's a nice vacation. Finally meeting everyone is -- fantastic."

(Among other things, he didn't expect to get on with Bran as well as they have. Cullen's brother has an excellent sense of humor.)

Then his smile dims, fractionally. Alistair hesitates a beat before venturing, even quieter, "You...don't seem as happy?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen shrugs a shoulder, averts his eyes. "Doesn't matter."

He doesn't expect it to work, mind. Not on Alistair. If he has to, he'll point out that at least he's not saying I'm fine.

[bringspeopletogether]

"You know it does to me."

He squeezes Cullen's hand, gently.

"You don't have to talk about it, love. But you can if you need to. Any time."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's face crumples a little. He nods. Steps in. Slips his arms around Alistair, clinging.