[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]

"How do we do it?"

Hoarse. A little despairing. Cullen has shifted a little -- enough to rest his head in the crook of Alistair's shoulder.

"How are we supposed to -- build a life like this?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"The same as anyone else."

Quiet; steady.

"We all die eventually. Wardens aren't the only ones who die young; at least we get a little warning before we do. But everyone in Thedas has to try and make a life knowing it'll end."

He leans his head against Cullen's.

"So we'll build as much of one as we can, for as long as we can. Cullen, I don't know how much time I have left, but I know I don't want to spend it like I'm waiting for an army to come over the horizon."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I've -- never lived any other way," he says, a little surprised, a little miserable. "Maker's breath."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Would you be willing to try?" Alistair murmurs. "If you can't -- it's all right if you can't. But if you're able to try..."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen stiffens. "Of course I want to try. I just -- how?"

[bringspeopletogether]

It's like trying to describe color to a blind man, thinks Alistair helplessly.

"You know how to be with me," he says, still soft, still calm. "Really be with me, I mean. I know it's difficult, but you've done it before. It could be a place to start?"

[howtoactfereldan]

How do you make a mind trained for nothing but how to project and respond to a violent future... stop it?

Cullen shifts fitfully. "Like the time you shouted because I wanted to see to the laundry?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair winces.

"With far less yelling, but -- yes, something like that."

[howtoactfereldan]

His fingers curl into a loose fist near Alistair's collarbone. "But -- there's laundry. There will always be laundry to see to. I can't just -- we can't just hide from everything."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I know," he murmurs. "But we can do our best to think about the laundry when there's a full sack of it to be done, not when there's a single dirty shirt on hand."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Half a sack." Suspiciously. "When did you get enough to merit a full sack on your own?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"I didn't."

A smile tugs at his lips.

"I was counting your laundry and mine together."

[howtoactfereldan]

"That's still not a full sack."

[bringspeopletogether]

"The coat's at least a quarter of a sack on its own," he points out.

[howtoactfereldan]

"The coat's a special case. And I don't wear it any more regardless."

[bringspeopletogether]

"All right, all right."

He presses a kiss to the top of Cullen's head.

"We can think about the laundry when there's two-thirds of a sack to be done. How about that?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"I'm washing my socks more frequently than that," he mumbles. "Socks are a special case."

[bringspeopletogether]

A quiet laugh. "I'll allow that as well. Just because I love you so much."

Beat.

"And so your feet don't smell."

[howtoactfereldan]

"More the latter than the former, I'm sure." Cullen settles down again. "Enlightened self-interest."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I promise to love you even if your feet smell," says Alistair, loyally, "but I will admit non-smelly feet are a nice bonus."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Mm."

He tucks his face tight against Alistair's neck.

"Does this mean we can wash now?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes." With a fresh thread of laughter. "Absolutely."

Another kiss to Cullen's brow; another soft squeeze before he eases back.

"Come on."

[howtoactfereldan]

Now, finally, Cullen stands. "And speaking of laundry -- where's my clothes? If I've got to haul water I'm not doing it naked."

[bringspeopletogether]

"More's the pity," sighs Alistair before gesturing to their packs. "They're over there."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's not quite in the mood for grinning. He does manage a pretty good smirk, though.

He pulls his shirt over his head. "We can't all be exhibitionists, Alistair."