[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]

There's the quiet scuffling of paws in the other room, punctuated by a soft growl or boof every so often.

And, eventually, a whoosh of the basin being upturned outside the door.

Beyond that, both Alistair and Gru are behaving themselves -- though Alistair throws a glance to the bedroom door every few minutes, in spite of himself. A few more minutes, he decides, and then he'll poke his head back in there again.

[howtoactfereldan]

He should pull on a shirt.

He should -- do a lot of things.

A shirt is probably the simplest. Cullen gets to his feet, swaying a little, and pads over to his pack.

[bringspeopletogether]

The door eases open a little more.

Cullen's moving around. That's -- good.

"Hey," says Alistair, softly. "Do you need more of a moment?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen shakes his head. "I'm fine." Faintly.

He pulls the shirt over his head.

[bringspeopletogether]

He doesn't really look it, but -- Alistair has to take Cullen at his word.

He eases the door shut behind him. Crosses to the bed, taking a seat on its edge as he watches Cullen.



"Good thing there's a lot of spare linens," he offers, awkwardly.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I'll do the laundry tomorrow." Softly, without looking up.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods. He runs a fingertip over the crisp corner of the new linens.

"I'll try not to let Gru jump on me after he's rolled in the mud between now and then."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen nods and folds his arms as though cold.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Come here?"

Even softer, as he holds out a hand.

[howtoactfereldan]

He drifts closer. There's not far to go.

[bringspeopletogether]

Once Cullen is close enough, Alistair touches Cullen's elbow, lightly.

"I didn't want you to do all the work yourself," he murmurs. "But if you need to keep busy, I won't interrupt next time. I'm sorry."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen freezes.

Nods.




And sits next to Alistair, leaning his forehead against Alistair's shoulder, and nods again.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair wraps an arm around Cullen's shoulders, leaning his cheek atop his husband's hair.

His free hand seeks out one of Cullen's and twines their fingers together.

[howtoactfereldan]

Alistair isn't angry with him. That -- that's what matters. Alistair is his purpose. That should be all the purpose Cullen needs, until -- well.

Until it isn't an option any more.

(He could go to Cassandra, then. They don't need him here. They welcome him, but they don't need him.)

His shoulders hitch once -- but only once.

[bringspeopletogether]

"I love you," Alistair whispers. He rubs Cullen's shoulder, as if to quiet the hitching. "I love you so much."

We're going to get through this, he wants to say. It's all right.

But when the way through ends in Alistair's likely death -- well. It's not all right.

[howtoactfereldan]

He tightens his grip on Alistair's fingers in reply.






Then, hoarsely:

"We need a real place to settle."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods.

"Close to here?" Not much louder. "Or somewhere else?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Here's fine." He shifts a little in Alistair's arms. "I -- I need something constant. Quiet. Either -- work all the time, and don't think, or make a place it's -- safe. To think."

[bringspeopletogether]

A soft mm of understanding. He keeps pressing slow, gentle strokes into Cullen's shoulder.

"And we'd both prefer you not work yourself to exhaustion every day, I expect," he murmurs. "We can use the time we've rented this place to look for a more permanent one. Does that sound all right?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen nods.

Mumbled:

"Too old to haul all that water. Something modern."

[bringspeopletogether]

A quiet laugh rumbles his chest. "Yes," he agrees. "And until then, I'm sure Gru would be happy to fetch a few buckets from the well."

[howtoactfereldan]

Alistair rumbles; at the sound, Cullen relaxes, just a little.

"Were you planning to rig the winch for him?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Of course. Maybe set it up like a spinning wheel -- you know, a little pedal he can trod on to turn the crank. I'm sure the neighbors wouldn't mind."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen blinks.

"All right." Softly.

[bringspeopletogether]

"You can tell I've no idea what I'm talking about, can't you." Gently amused. "Ah well. Point is: yes, there will be no more need to haul water, whether that's because we live somewhere modern or because of our helpful dog-in-waiting."