(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

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair laughs.

"Strong, quiet, and good at protecting people, I'd say," he corrects as he flops alongside.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Cold and unfeeling?" He stretches.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Until it gets some sunlight."

He drapes an arm across Cullen's chest.

[howtoactfereldan]

"And then it's lazy and unmoving." He ruffles Alistair's hair.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Exactly." He grins, and only wrinkles his nose a little at the hair-ruffling. "See? A flawless metaphor."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen heaves a sigh. "Of course. Perfection." Dry.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair kisses Cullen's cheek.

"You've much better hair than a stone wall, though."

[howtoactfereldan]

"That is an extremely low bar to clear, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

"You're much softer than a wall?"

He punctuates that with a gentle squeeze.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Also a low bar." He smooths his hands along Alistair's back.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair hums, considering his options.






"Climbing you is much more fun than climbing a wall."

:D?

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen bursts out laughing.

"Fine," he manages. "That'll do."

[bringspeopletogether]

Victory!

Alistair beams, slips his hand to the back of Cullen's neck, and draws him into a kiss.

[howtoactfereldan]

An appreciative hum. He tightens his arms around Alistair, his hands seeking bare skin at the small of Alistair's back.

(His hands, for the record, are still cold.)

[bringspeopletogether]

A muffled yelp. Alistair pulls back, laughing.

"Give me those a moment," he says, reaching behind himself to grab Cullen's hands.

[howtoactfereldan]

"What?" Cullen is grinning. "Didn't you say something about me being a cold wall?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes, and I could argue -- "

With minimal contorting, he brings Cullen's hands in front of him, folds them between his own.

" -- that, being the ray of sunshine in your life that I am, it's my sworn duty to warm the wall."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen groans. "Awful."

[bringspeopletogether]

"You love it."

He kisses Cullen's knuckles.

"Most of the time, anyway."

[howtoactfereldan]

"The vast majority of the time," he agrees. "Between us we make one man with an appropriate sense of humor. Keeps us in balance."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes." His smile softens. "Better together, as you're fond of saying."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen, smile crooked, leans up for a brief kiss.

(Alistair has his hands trapped. He'll point that out when he needs to. But he doesn't mind it at all.)

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's still smiling when the kiss breaks. Gently, he kneads Cullen's hands to warm them further. His thumbs follow the pattern of thin scars crisscrossing his fingers; pauses to circle the crooked knuckles.

He tips his head after a moment to watch himself work. To study Cullen's hands more closely.

(It's funny, how well he knows them now compared to a few short months ago.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen watches this, bemused but pleased.

Whatever Alistair's doing -- he's not inclined to interrupt it.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Did you know," he murmurs eventually, "this was how I knew I was really back?"

He keeps circling his thumb around one of Cullen's knuckles.

With a brief chuckle, "Most of the day's a blur. But I remember this. You took my hand and I thought, 'No demon would put that much detail into his fingers.' It's how I knew you were real."