[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]

"Of course," he whispers.

Alistair finishes unwinding the rope from Cullen's wrists. That done, he gathers him close; resumes running his fingers through Cullen's hair, gentler now.

Cullen looks...peaceful. Truly peaceful. More content than you'd be from a mere romp in bed. And through Alistair's own contentment comes an aching fondness; an insistent need to protect this moment as long as he can.

"I've got you."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen nods a little. "'Kay." Sleepy. "Good."

He leans his head into Alistair's hand, turning instinctively into him as close as he can get. "Stay," he mumbles again, and trails his fingers briefly down Alistair's chest.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair shivers faintly, but doesn't let go.

"I will," he whispers a second time. He leans his cheek against the top of Cullen's hair. "Rest, love. I'll be here."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's smile lingers as he slides into darkness.

His fingers stay curled against Alistair's chest.

[bringspeopletogether]

They might have to do this more often, Alistair muses, if it makes Cullen this happy. It's far from an unpleasant thought; that was...certainly something.

(It still disquiets him a little, after moments like this, if he thinks too long on how much he enjoys having Cullen at his mercy. It's for Cullen's benefit, he tells himself. It's a way to serve him. To give him peace he can't get elsewhere.

So, as always, he nudges the faintly disquieted thoughts aside.)

In time, his hand slows its path through Cullen's hair, and stops altogether as he drifts off.

[howtoactfereldan]

His mind is blessedly clear, when Cullen wakes. Sunlight streaming in the window indicates it won't be too long before dusk.

He's sticky, and sore, and completely content.

So Cullen resettles his head on Alistair's chest and slowly starts tracing paths up and down his side.

Nowhere to be until tomorrow night.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair mumbles something incomprehensible, but warm, in his sleep. He tightens his embrace a little as if hugging a stuffed toy.

This is nice. Maybe it can stay like this forever?

[howtoactfereldan]

In this scenario Cullen doesn't mind at all being treated like an inanimate object.

He stills his hand, and sighs, soft. No reason to disturb Alistair. Maybe eventually Cullen will even fall back asleep.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Are too," mumbles Alistair, still fast asleep.

(He's smiling.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen opens an eye.

Well. He's smiling. So it can't be bad.

Let's see what happens, he thinks.

[bringspeopletogether]

Whatever follows drifts back into the incoherent, sleep-blurred whispers of before. It might be handsome; it could as easily be hands on.

The sound of his own voice seems to pull him further from sleep, though. Alistair shifts a little, making himself more comfortable, and lets out an expansive yawn a moment later.

[howtoactfereldan]

"You were saying?" Cullen inquires, soft.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm?"

He blinks open his eyes, fixing Cullen with a muzzy (if fond) look.

[howtoactfereldan]

And... well. Cullen's hopeless.

He tilts his head up enough to kiss Alistair, small and sweet.

[bringspeopletogether]

Oh.

His embrace tightens further, reflexively, as he returns the kiss. "G'morning," he mumbles after it breaks.

A beat.

"...Afternoon. Evening? What time is it?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Evening." Cullen lets his eyes close. "Nowhere to be for a whole day."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Perfect."

Alistair steals another kiss, lighter.

"Let's spend it all here. No more leaving than necessary." With a soft laugh: "I'd say this house has already paid for itself threefold."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Hasn't it?" Amused. "We'll note it in the report about whether to settle here for a while."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Make sure to include a footnote about the sturdy headboard."

Serene.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I wouldn't relegate something that important to a footnote, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

Grinning, Alistair circles a fingertip around Cullen's wrist. (Gently; he isn't certain if the rope left any marks.)

"We'll be doing this a lot more often, then?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Color rises in Cullen's cheeks.

But he's placid when he says, "With more research, yes. If you're amenable."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Very."

Cheerful once more.

"Very amenable, ser."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen trails the back of a finger down Alistair's cheek, still blushing, smile gone crooked, real.

"At your order."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's smile warms. Threading his fingers through Cullen's hair, he kisses him again, soft and lingering.

Quieter, then: "I'm glad you enjoyed it."