(no subject)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen is fine in the field. He can set up a tent, build a fire, find water safe to drink, make something edible. But he hasn't traveled enough to get the knack of what's wise to bring.

These days it makes little difference, given his status: he helps to set up camp, but there are runners and adjutants to find and fetch things. And there are few enough of them, this time -- not the massed force of the Inquisition, but a patrol's worth of soldiers and scouts and accompanying support -- that in the evenings, Cullen finds himself... restless.

It's akin to the reason he doesn't frequent the Herald's Rest, but there's no office to hide in, and no paperwork to justify staying in the tent.

At least tomorrow he and Alistair will peel off to where Honnleath used to be, to spend the night and rejoin the rest again late the following day.

(This may also contribute to his fidgeting.)

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

"...at which point, they couldn't rightly be called the Deep Roads any more. Just roads."

He shrugs off the breastplate, and adds it to the neat stack along one of the walls of the tent.

"So what you're suggesting is to get rid of the Deep Roads altogether?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes." Firm. "Erase them completely off the map. No spiders, no darkspawn, no Blights -- "

No Calling, he doesn't dare say aloud.

[howtoactfereldan]

(It's not as though Cullen doesn't know. Hasn't thought about it. There's also no guarantee he stopped the lyrium in time to preserve his mind. And there's also no guarantee Corypheus won't destroy Thedas tomorrow, or some other eldritch nuisance too vain for sanity.

Cullen made his choice. And he doesn't regret it.)

"Only a handful of dwarves might object, really," Cullen muses.

[bringspeopletogether]

"So it's settled, then."

He slips an arm around Cullen.

"We replace every map of the Deep Roads with lots of violent scribbling and overturned inkwells."

[howtoactfereldan]

"And that will fill them all with steaks and flowers, will it?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Of course. Everyone knows that."

He grins against Cullen's hair.

"Each time you cross something off a map, a field of daisies and a butcher's shop instantly spring up."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Mind teaching that trick to Leliana's cartographers?" He leans heavily against Alistair. "We could use it."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I'll get on that immediately, Commander."

He squeezes Cullen, lightly.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Thank you," he murmurs. "Steak for breakfast, then."

[bringspeopletogether]

A small, contented sigh. "I can think of nothing better."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...really? Nothing?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"You, me, steak for breakfast -- oh, maybe a mabari in there as well -- "

He thinks this over.

"Yes, I think that's everything I need."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I knew you'd like our mabari more than you like me."

[bringspeopletogether]

"How does that mean I like the mabari more than you?" he asks, laughing a little.

(It's a serious question, despite that.)

[howtoactfereldan]

"Because your sacred vision isn't complete without one."

[bringspeopletogether]

"It isn't complete without you, either," Alistair points out. He's gone a little quieter. "And you'll notice I nearly forgot to include the mabari."

[howtoactfereldan]

"But then you didn't," Cullen says peaceably.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair sighs -- it sounds good-humored enough, fortunately -- and leans his head against Cullen's.

"I'm putting it on record right now," he murmurs, "that I love you more than any mabari. And always will."

(Somewhere, ten random Fereldans just gasped in horror and didn't understand why.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen almost says a likely story, or until we actually have one, that doesn't count.

But then he remembers what happened the last time Alistair told Cullen he loved him, and Cullen thought he was joking.

So he doesn't say anything.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair turns his head to kiss Cullen's temple.

"What was it you said once?" His smile grows. "Plenty of mabari, only one you?"

[howtoactfereldan]

That forces a smile out of him; he colors, a little.

"Something like that." Quiet. Warm. "All right."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair chuckles. His hand moves to the back of Cullen's neck; he draws his thumb along one of the spots that's prone to cramping.

Soft: "What do you need from me tonight?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen lowers his head -- this time because it feels good.

"Mm."

Pause.

"Don't steal the blankets."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Done."

His other thumb joins in the massage.

"And should I accidentally do it in my sleep, I grant you permission to shove me and steal them back."

[howtoactfereldan]

"You know I won't." Smiling. "I'll suffer in silence. With my frostbite."