howtoactfereldan: (to rest in the warmest places)
Cullen ([personal profile] howtoactfereldan) wrote2016-07-09 09:35 pm

(no subject)

Cullen doesn't care for Morrigan, and it's wholly mutual. Fortunately he has little enough reason to venture into the Skyhold garden, with the exception of prearranged chess matches with Dorian.

He's seen the child before, watching wide-eyed as people move around the garden on business, or just to rest. The child doesn't talk to anyone -- doesn't want to be a bother, Cullen guesses. He speaks respectfully to Morrigan, as far as Cullen can tell, and it's clear that Morrigan loves her son.

Still. It must be lonely.

***


Dorian went to the Hissing Wastes with some of the Chargers, to take out a nest of Venatori. Cullen forgot.

The chessboard is already set. Morrigan's boy is watching by the well. Cullen beckons him over, introduces himself.

"I know," the boy says. "The collar marks you. My name is Kieran."

Cullen laughs, quiet. "Well, Kieran -- do you play?" At the boy's headshake, he asks, "Would you like to learn?"

He's a quick study. Maybe not today, but soon -- Cullen will start throwing games.
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-18 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Carefully, Alistair eases himself down onto the edge of the bed. There's not really anywhere else to sit. Maybe the chest off to the side there, but the bed's a little more comfortable.

(It's four steps from the bed to his weapon. Three, maybe, if they're big steps. Call it a second and a half before he has the knife on hand, if need be; sitting on the chest would push it to two seconds.)

"It'll get easier." Very quiet. Add that to the other refrains he only believes half the time: it's okay; it's safe.
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-18 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Alistair wraps the fur around himself. (He won't admit it, but he was starting to get a bit cold.)

"Yes," he mumbles. The next smile doesn't have much humor to it. "I even promise to define 'close' as 'within a foot of the bed.'"

Unless he needs to get the knife.
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] and hope has fled)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
Alistair breathes out a laugh; there's only slightly more humor to it than the smile. He looks away.

"I'm sorry to make you do all this."
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] and hope has fled)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
A quiet sigh. "I know."

He kneads his temple. After a moment, his fingers creep higher to rub at his hair: just a small section, back and forth.

"And I -- I appreciate it. I do. Maker knows how much worse this would be if you weren't around."
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] and hope has fled)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
Just when he thought he'd finished pushing the tears back.

Alistair breathes out; pinches the bridge of his nose as he works to regain his composure. His throat's gone so tight that it aches every time he swallows. He nods, after a moment, but it takes a bit longer before he can speak.

Once the ache's died down, he clears his throat to get rid of the last of it, then leans over to pat Cullen's foot. "Get some rest, Commander."
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
His snort of laughter sounds a lot more real this time.

Alistair bends to unlace his boots. Once that's done, he toes them off and swings his legs up, scooting back to make himself comfortable against the headboard. There's nothing in the shadows; it's safe to tip his head back and look at the starlight filtering through the gaps in the roof. (And the gaps in the tree's leaves.) Just for a bit.

It really is a nice view.
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
"If -- "

He turns a startled look down at Cullen.

Hesitant, "If...you're sure. That it's all right. I -- thank you. I might do that."
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 02:50 am (UTC)(link)



"All right."

He still looks a bit lost, like Cullen just dropped a sack of gold in his lap with no explanation -- but he smiles, a beat later, small and full of gratitude. "Thank you," he says again.

Alistair wraps the fur more snugly around his shoulders.
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
Alistair leans his head back again. A breeze stirs the tree branches, hiding and revealing bits of the constellations above. The stars in the Fade -- when there were even stars to see -- would wink out like that sometimes, but they never reappeared in the same spot. It's...good to see the lights remain steady enough that he can actually pick out a constellation here and there.

He counts his breaths. Counts Cullen's. Listens to the wind.

You're safe.
Edited 2016-07-19 03:14 (UTC)
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-19 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Alistair's fallen into a doze. At some point, he drew up his knees to huddle completely under the fur; all that's visible is his head and neck.

As soon as the bed shifts, he jerks awake with a quick intake of breath. A moment to orient himself -- he's in Cullen's room, he's at Skyhold, he's fine -- and he blinks down at Cullen.

"All right?" he asks, very quiet.
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-20 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
Of course.

Alistair's all prepared to sigh despairingly at Cullen's choice of pastimes, but, as he follows Cullen's gaze to the sky, the impulse silences itself.

Instead, no louder: "Does it help?"
bringspeopletogether: ([warden] look to the sky)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether 2016-07-20 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
No surprise there, he thinks; like the sigh, the words stop before reaching his mouth.

"There's also the option of going for a walk. If the work will keep. Or -- " A shrug, which is more of an impression of a shrug thanks to the fur, and a crooked smile. "I could wake you back up when you inevitably fall asleep at your desk?"

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 14:02 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 16:20 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 16:36 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 16:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 17:42 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 17:58 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 18:16 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 18:50 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 19:07 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 19:19 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 20:02 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 20:12 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 20:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 20:44 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 21:11 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 21:25 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bringspeopletogether - 2016-07-20 21:33 (UTC) - Expand