[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

The letter he finally sends is maybe a little more impolitic than it ought to be, but if he doesn't send something now, he'll still be writing when his Calling arrives.



Fiona,

Ivette Cousland is looking for you. The name might ring a bell. Hero of Ferelden? Slayed the Archdemon some years ago?

Anyway. She's not having any luck, so I thought I'd try my hand at getting in touch.

Cousland's been searching for a cure for the Calling these past five years or so; she even retired as Warden-Commander of Vigil's Keep so she could pursue her research better. She knows your leaving the Wardens wasn't like mine. You didn't just walk away from Weisshaupt: you managed to un-Join somehow, with no ill effects. You're our last, best lead on the matter, so you can understand why she's rather eager to speak to you. It's very likely she doesn't have much time left, what with it being almost a decade and a half since her Joining and living through a Blight.

Frankly, I don't expect I have much time left, either.

Cullen and I are in South Reach these days. I'll always know where to find Cousland, if you'd rather speak with her directly. For all our sakes, I hope you'll be in touch.

--Alistair





Two weeks later, a raven knocks its beak against their window frame.

This is a matter best discussed in person, says the note attached to its leg. I can be to South Reach by the end of the month.

It's signed only with the letter F. Alistair spends the next few hours talking up a nervous storm, hands digging in his hair, half anxious, half furious. (This is exactly what he didn't want: for her to read this as an overture. For her to think she could have any claim to Alistair's time, Alistair's space, outside of giving him and Cousland the information they needed.)

Then he writes a letter to Cousland and sends the raven on its way.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

It would be easy to be flip. Easier to be gruff.

(It hasn’t escaped Cullen, not at all, that for all Alistair’s pushing Cullen toward his family... Alistair isn’t willing to give Fiona a chance at a civil conversation. Telling Alistair I think later you might regret not speaking with her is as far as Cullen plans to go, but he’s also not good or kind enough to refrain from thinking, Not so easy, is it.)

Instead, Cullen pulls off Alistair’s left boot and begins to pick at the laces on his right. He pauses long enough to look up.

No louder: “You deserve it.”

[bringspeopletogether]

That earns Cullen a small, sweet smile.

Gently, Alistair rests a hand on Cullen's head, absently brushing aside a few of his curls.

[howtoactfereldan]

Just a moment’s pause — long enough to lean into Alistair’s touch — before Cullen slowly eases off the right boot, placing it next to the left.

“All right.” Softly. “Let’s have a good lie-in.”

[bringspeopletogether]

"Another brilliant plan, executed with perfect timing."

He sets Geoffrey on the nightstand to keep watch; offers a hand to Cullen to pull him up onto the bed.

[howtoactfereldan]

He hauls himself up with Alistair’s aid, and flicks a very deliberate and obvious glance at Geoffrey.

Then, Cullen very pointedly circles the bed — away from Geoffrey — and flops down on his back.

(Grinning, a little.)

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair breaks into soft laughter again.

"Ridiculous, wonderful man," he murmurs, nestling close to drape an arm across Cullen's chest. "I love you. So much."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen brings his arms around Alistair. Peaceful: “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about, Theirin. Nothing about me is ridiculous.”

[bringspeopletogether]

"Right. Of course not."

He tips his head enough to kiss the edge of Cullen's jaw.

"How could I have forgotten. It's my job to be the ridiculous one."

[howtoactfereldan]

“Too right,” Cullen agrees, and threads his fingers through Alistair’s hair. “All I do are the minor feats of domestic engineering. And those are far from ridiculous.”

[bringspeopletogether]

"True," he sighs, molding himself against Cullen. "Quite the opposite, really. That water pump has become one of the best features of the house."

Beat.

"Not counting your arse, of course."

[howtoactfereldan]

“Of course,” Cullen agrees. “Now, one might argue that my arse isn’t a feature of the house, so much as it is a feature of me.”

[bringspeopletogether]

"And a lovely feature at that." Serene. "It's always a feature of you, but could you argue that it's also a feature of the house whenever you're indoors?"

[howtoactfereldan]

“The house doesn’t have an arse. I do.”

Cullen punctuates this with a tug on a tuft of Alistair’s hair.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair squirms, grinning.

"Bested by your impeccable logic as always." Cullen gets another kiss on the cheek. "All right, then the best feature of the house is most certainly the water pump."

[howtoactfereldan]

“With the bed following a close second.” Now Cullen gently ruffles Alistair’s hair.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm. Yes."

A beat passes, then, all innocence, Alistair adds, "Would you count the headboard as included in the bed, or its own feature worthy of a separate honor?"

[howtoactfereldan]

“Correct,” Cullen says, with an air of surprise. “Amended. With the headboard following a close second.”

[bringspeopletogether]

"Perfect," declares Alistair, and briefly squeezes Cullen for good measure. "This was a very important task, ranking the best things in the house. Thank you for the help."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen gives an exaggerated grunt, because that’s what happens when someone tries to crush you.

“You’re welcome,” he says, melodramatically strangled.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Oh dear. My apologies, so sorry -- "

Obediently, he loosens his grip.

"Better?"

[howtoactfereldan]

“I suppose,” he murmurs, and settles his hand more comfortably in Alistair’s hair. “It’s awfully hard to rest if you’re getting squeezed.”

[bringspeopletogether]

"And so often I don't know my own strength," he sighs. "I think it's a mere hug, and instead I almost crack a rib or five."

He stretches up into Cullen's hand, a little.

"It's terrible. I don't know how you put up with me."

[howtoactfereldan]

With his free hand he covers Alistair’s, on his chest.

“Oh, I don’t know. There are trade-offs.” Beat. “You are remarkably good at sitting around and looking pretty.”

[bringspeopletogether]

He snorts.

"I see. I've only been good for ornamental purposes this whole time. Nothing about my wit and charm and brilliant jokes?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen hms long, in obvious thought.

“Well, you’re rather good in bed, I suppose. That’s not strictly ornamental.”