Alistair can't say nice things without Cullen objecting. So he often teases instead, as affectionate as he can.

(But Alistair -- for whom words like witless, obnoxious, terrible have barely registered as insults for years -- sometimes has difficultly judging what's affectionate teasing and what's...not.

He's aware enough to know that much about himself.)

"What was it?" Quiet. "All of it?"