[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]

"Already you're taking her side," he mumbles.

[bringspeopletogether]

A soft laugh. "Am not."

Lightly, he tugs on Cullen's hair.

"I can admit someone said something smart and still be on your side. Just like I always am."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen wrinkles his nose, and gently prods his shoulder.

"No, you're both going to gang up on me at every opportunity. I know how this works."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Keep in mind," murmurs Alistair into Cullen's ear, "that we've been writing to each other for years and have yet to gang up on you. You have my word I'll defend you."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen laughs softly.

"Welcome," he says with fatalistic cheer, "to having siblings. Famous last words."

[bringspeopletogether]

It's Alistair's turn to wrinkle his nose. "I suppose you do have more expertise in the area."

He settles his arms more snugly around him.

"But you're still my favorite, and favorites get preferential treatment."

[howtoactfereldan]

He lets out a small, content sigh.

"Oh good," Cullen mumbles. "For once I'll take it."

[bringspeopletogether]

His smile broadens.

"I'm glad," he whispers, and kisses Cullen's temple.

[howtoactfereldan]

"So no scheming," he mumbles.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Not a one." Warm. "Any conversations I have with Mia will be scheme-free."

A moment's quiet passes.

"Was there -- anything else you talked about?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Like what?" Still mumbled.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair shrugs. (Not too much -- it wouldn't do to disturb Cullen where he rests.)

"You coming home, I suppose." He smiles, faint and rueful. "Or something less fraught. Or nothing at all if you'd prefer to tell me to shut up."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen traces a light circle on Alistair's shoulder. "I'd ask you to talk about something else." Small smile. "Have I ever said that in earnest? I don't think I have."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Maybe not."

He squeezes Cullen, lightly.

"Strongly implied it a time or two when we fought. Never said it, though."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Oh."

Cullen deflates a little. Much more subdued: "I'm sorry."

[bringspeopletogether]

A soft sigh. (Perhaps he should've kept playing along, rather than answer honestly.)

"It's all right," he murmurs, smoothing Cullen's hair.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Not really," he mumbles. "Honestly, Alistair. What would you say if I'd done that to anyone else?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Lightly musing, "Well, I suppose if you were saying it to someone like Rainier -- "

Apparently, it's Deflect O'Clock again.

[howtoactfereldan]

"But I'm not."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair looses another long, quiet breath, turns his gaze to the ceiling, and doesn't answer.

There's no fresh tension: he isn't upset. Just -- very much aware, in the moment, of how useless any further deflection would be.

[howtoactfereldan]

He could pull away and make things worse. But it would be counterproductive.

(Cullen is well aware of what's really bothering him. It's not knowing what to do about it that's the problem.)

So instead Cullen does his best to slip his arms around Alistair -- to cling in some fashion -- and says, barely audible, "I want you as yourself. Always have. Always will."

(Cullen gets to say 'always.')

[bringspeopletogether]

Carefully, Alistair rolls to the side -- not to shake Cullen off, but to give him more room to cling.

And to cling back in kind, a little.

"Even when I'm insufferable?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"If you were truly insufferable," Cullen points out, insufferably, "I wouldn't have suffered you in the first place."

[bringspeopletogether]

He huffs a laugh.

"Slain by your infallible logic once again," he murmurs, warmly, before he kisses Cullen.

[howtoactfereldan]

"'S why you keep me around," Cullen mumbles into his mouth.