[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]

The smirk softens. "Of course," he agrees. "No need to worry about that."

Ah-hah! There it is. Rope in hand, Alistair sauinters back to the bed, looking rather like a cat stalking its prey.

"I'd be interested in...anything else Bull might have said about it."

[howtoactfereldan]

I will not look nervous, Cullen thinks, and tilts his head to the side.

"You could ask him yourself," he says, not even trying to sound anything other than bratty.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair stifles another laugh. He kneels on the bed, straddling Cullen again.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather tell me yourself?" he inquires, politely, as he begins unwinding the rope.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Something about how good Dorian looked bound and leashed." Dry. "If you wanted to discuss another man, we should talk about that first."

[bringspeopletogether]

...Yeah, Alistair can't contain the laughter this time.

"No," he manages. "No need for that. You bound and leashed, on the other hand..."

He stretches the rope to its full length.

"That might look nice."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's blush extends all the way down to his chest. Yet he continues, doggedly, "And what would you do with me then, exactly?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Bound, leashed, and blushing. Yes, Alistair decides, that would look quite nice indeed.

"Mm. Well." He catches one of Cullen's hands; carefully begins to wind the rope around his wrist. "Right now I expect I'lll take you in my mouth a while. Make sure you're nice and hard before I fuck you properly, just in case I decide I'd rather ride you for a bit instead. Damned shame if I wanted to switch and you weren't ready, after all."

The corner of his mouth curls again.

"Unless you're wondering what I'd do with you outside our bed?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Well. That's certainly enough to get Cullen to spring to attention. Alistair had better not delay in getting his trousers off.

He nudges up against Alistair to make sure he gets the message. Higher-pitched than he'd like: "That's good too."

[bringspeopletogether]

Perfect.

Unfortunately, because Alistair is history's greatest monster, he merely rocks his hips against Cullen's, smirk broadening, before tightening the rope around his wrist. (Not too tight.)

"What if," he says, low, "I led you through town like this? Your hands bound; me holding the rope. Like you were my pet. I'd command you to follow behind me to show them how well you behaved."

The headboard has a loose slat near the top. Alistair threads the rope through it, pulling Cullen's arm above his head.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's still got an arm free; he lightly touches Alistair's elbow.

Quiet, a little (only a little) regretful, he says, "Back to the other thing would be better. I'm -- just for you."

It's -- it's the shame. It would be one thing if they were admiring him, praising Alistair. But the shame --

[bringspeopletogether]

Ah.

Alistair's demeanor softens; he catches Cullen's hand, giving it an apologetic squeeze. "All right," he murmurs.

He follows that with a gentle kiss.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen cradles Alistair's cheek as best he can with his one hand, leaning into it. I'm still in this, he wants to say. I'm still here.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair breaks the kiss with a soft sigh -- and a soft smile as he regards Cullen. He smooths a hand over his hair.

And then, gently but firmly, he grasps Cullen's free wrist to bring his other arm over his head as well.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen would do -- well. A lot. He'd do a lot to have Alistair look at him like that.

He bites his lower lip as Alistair works, holding still. Being obedient. His heart might be pounding loud enough for Alistair to hear it; that's what it feels like, anyway

[bringspeopletogether]

"There we are," he murmurs once Cullen's other wrist is bound to the headboard. He sits back a moment, admiring his work -- admiring how Cullen looks, half-naked, arms trussed above his head. "Good man."

He'd definitely look better full-naked, Alistair decides.

So finally -- mercifully -- he finishes undoing the laces of Cullen's trousers, working them (and Cullen) free.

[howtoactfereldan]

A small sigh of relief. He runs his tongue briefly over his lip, where his teeth had purchase -- and laughs, softly. (A little self-consciously.)

"Well, Theirin?" Low. Throaty.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm."

With a wicked smile, he eases further down the bed, taking Cullen in hand...and then, as promised, in his mouth, licking a long stripe from base to tip.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen hisses, sharply -- and then curses, as the bed jerks.

He'd wanted -- he'd wanted -- to sink his fingers into Alistair's hair. He tried.

He's bound.

"Oh dear." There's a slight edge of hysteria to his laughter. "I seem to be immobilized, Alistair."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair stops for a moment, resting his chin on Cullen's belly.

"You are?" he asks, mildly. "Oh, dear. Whatever shall we do."

Struggling not to grin, he returns to work with a vengeance.

[howtoactfereldan]

And at first, Cullen is too caught up in how to properly participate with his hands unavailable to take the opportunity in front of him. But then, breathing going ragged, he sees Alistair at work.

Alistair's lips gone swollen, and wet, and red.

Alistair preparing Cullen for his own use, to his own liking, to his own standards. Alistair giving him the gift of being able to serve. To please.

His own mouth hangs open as he struggles to keep his hips from pumping; Alistair will expect discipline from him. Some self-restraint to go with the actual restraint.

And when the feel of Alistair's tongue is so nearly too much to bear --

"Stop, stop if you want me, I'll come, I'm coming -- "

[bringspeopletogether]

The instant the word stop is out of Cullen's mouth, Alistair stops. He looks up with a flash of concern -- but when it becomes clear that nothing's wrong (rather the opposite, really), he laughs, softly, and runs his hands over Cullen's hips.

"I do want you." He kisses Cullen's belly. "In a moment. Let me find the oil."

He should have thought of that while he was digging out the rope, but his mind was a little preoccupied at the time. Rising from the bed, he finally shucks off his own trousers and returns to his pack.

[howtoactfereldan]

He closes his eyes and shudders, heart pounding.

(This means, alas, he misses the view.)

Plaintive: "You won't be long?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Warmly amused, from across the room: "Not long at all, love."

The bed sinks as he kneels on it again, vial of oil in hand. He keeps it cradled against his palm as he cups the backs of Cullen's thighs.

"Legs up," he instructs.

[howtoactfereldan]

Another small shudder. It's not unpleasant.

"At your order," Cullen murmurs, and obeys.

[bringspeopletogether]

That garners a pleased chuckle. He caresses Cullen's legs before drawing his hands away.

Alistair uncaps the vial. Oil for himself; some for Cullen as well, gently exploring and teasing with his fingers. A little more. A little closer.

Then -- slowly, carefully -- he guides himself in.