[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]

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."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You remembered."

No louder.

"When we -- about how to do it right. I -- that was... just right."

[bringspeopletogether]

And --

It feels like ages since he's been able to give Cullen precisely what he needed. No mistakes; no uncertainty.

He did it right.

"I'll -- " He sounds wondering; relieved, almost. "Be sure to do that again, then. Next time."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen closes his eyes and nestles closer.

Barely audible, he says, "Thank you."

[bringspeopletogether]

"You're welcome, love," he whispers. Gently, he runs a hand down Cullen's back. "It was my pleasure."

[howtoactfereldan]

A laugh, near silent.

"I'd noticed."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm. Yes."

Laughing a little, too.

"Your keen powers of observation miss nothing, I see."