[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

[bringspeopletogether]

"We can dream." He turns enough to kiss Cullen's temple. "A dream where I don't spend the rest of my day dripping rainwater everywhere I walk. I like it."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen leans his head against Alistair's, eyes closing for a moment. "I've got one where you and I stay in bed all day."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm." He slips a (still somewhat damp) arm around Cullen. Softly, "I like that one too. Mia might get a little worried, but we'll slide notes out from beneath the door every so often."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen lets out a quiet breath. He leans into Alistair, damp be damned.

More hesitantly:

"What would you think if -- if we tried to find a place to let for a month? Or even a few days? We'd still be close, it just wouldn't be -- all the time."

[bringspeopletogether]

Without hesitation: "I'd be all right with that."

He smooths a hand along Cullen's back.

"Bit much to plunge into the middle of it after so much time away."

[howtoactfereldan]

"It's -- a lot." Quietly fervent. "And it would be much easier to spend the day in bed every now and again."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes." A crooked smile. "Especially a day in bed without worrying about children knocking on the door or concerned siblings asking after you."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Which does put a damper on the mood." Wry. "A significant one."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair laughs, softly. "My thoughts exactly," he says, before pressing another kiss to Cullen's hair. "No time to address even one of my compliments, let alone the full list of compliments and suggestions."

[howtoactfereldan]

"A full list?" Cullen raises his eyebrows. "Apparently I need more of your... direction... than I thought."

[bringspeopletogether]

"It's mostly compliments." Low; sweetly serene. "The direction may turn to 'Maker yes keep doing that' after a few minutes."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen closes his eyes for a moment.

No louder:

"At your order."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair has to draw a careful breath, eyes closed in turn, to keep from shivering.

"Later," he murmurs, and caresses Cullen's cheek. "Once we're guaranteed some privacy."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen leans into his touch with a small, appreciative smile.

"We could walk into town." Softly. "Start making inquiries."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Let's." He chuckles. "I think the horses will be in good hands without us. Or paws, I suppose."

He links his fingers with Cullen's again.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Oi!" bellows a voice. "Quit caboodling, you'll sour the milk!"

Branson is passing on the other side of the stable, carrying a bale of hay on one shoulder and grinning.



Without thinking about it, atavistic reflexes kicking in, Cullen pulls a face and makes a very, very rude gesture in Branson's direction as he wanders away, cackling.

[bringspeopletogether]

"I could send Gru after him." Thoughtful. "Knock him into a puddle. No one would ever fault us."

[howtoactfereldan]

"So," Cullen says, mildly, even cheerfully. "We were saying? About finding a place?"

His mouth twitches as he tugs Alistair in the direction of town.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair snorts, amused. "For our sakes and the milk's, apparently," he says, freely allowing himself to be pulled along.

It's a nice enough day for a walk: clouds dot the sky, but none of the angry sort that foretells rain. And as much as Alistair enjoys the chaos of the Rutherford household, there's a lot to be said for a stroll with just his husband, sans inquisitive relatives or overeager children.

[howtoactfereldan]

And, fortunately, it's a short walk. Cullen knows to check at the tavern.

Even more fortunately: no one recognizes him. Cullen can go straight to the barkeep and ask if anyone's letting rooms, or a cottage. In return, she hands them a short, poorly-scribbled list.

"Shall we walk?" he murmurs to Alistair. "We could look. Or we could try to find an agent to do it for us."

[bringspeopletogether]

He smiles. "I could do with a walk."

Alistair peers over Cullen's shoulder to get a better look at the list.

"Any chance some of those will have space for Gru, too? If not -- he can always get to know his cousins a little better while we're away, I suppose."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen glances back at him, eyebrows raised.

"You think I'd abandon our dog?"

[bringspeopletogether]

It's a small thing, but hearing Cullen say our dog instead of your dog warms Alistair's heart.

"No, I didn't think you would." A quick kiss to Cullen's temple. "So we'll need something with at least two rooms so he doesn't ruin the mood either."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen leans back against Alistair for just a moment.

Then he taps a listing. "Cottage. I think we walked past it. Shall we?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes," he declares cheerfully.

They double back a short distance. The cottage, once located, proves to be modest -- a small kitchen, a separate bedroom, and little else -- but they don't need much more than that, in truth. And the kitchen table (just big enough for two) rests next to a sizeable window, the better to take in the sunrise over a cup of tea.

You know. If one was inclined to wake up early enough to watch the sunrise.