howtoactfereldan | (no subject)

(no subject)

You'll have to make a decision quickly. Either don't come home and meet me in Halamshiral, or come home and have a day or two before turning for Orlais. They've called an Exalted Council. Josephine, Lavellan, and I must speak for the Inquisition in front of Orlais, Ferelden, and Divine Victoria. Two of those parties appear to be hostile to our continued existence. I will leave it to you to contemplate which two.

Be safe, Alistair, and go with my love.

Cullen doesn't bother signing it.

The library is silent. No one is in the rotunda -- Solas's rotunda, he thinks, even after all this time. There are always people in the yard, but many fewer than before.

(It's downright lonely, when Alistair travels. Cullen will never complain to him. Not after the last few years.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(He notices. On his next downward stroke, Alistair presses a bit more firmly.)

"There could even be..." A dramatic pause. "More than one flavor of jam."

Cullen snorts. "I dare not hope," he says, dry. "Mm. You could keep that up, though."

"As you wish," he murmurs, and kneads the heel of his palm against Cullen's back. "...I could give you a proper back rub if you wanted?"

"You've only just come home," Cullen says, after a pause that's a little too long. "By rights I should be doing that for you."

Alistair continues rubbing Cullen's back, quiet for a beat or two.

"Tell you what," he says. "You can fuss over me all you like in the springs. For now...what would you like me to do for you?"

He still feels a sick pit in his gut whenever Alistair asks him that question. He's become better at combating it, but there's always a few seconds of thinking that he's about to be struck down for the temerity to want things.

After a long moment, Cullen reaches for Alistair's arm and tugs until Alistair's on his side.Then Cullen fits himself against Alistair with a shaky sigh.

Alistair curls around Cullen, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

"I love you," he whispers in his ear. "We'll make it through this."

"I might be a bear," he warns, not entirely evenly. "I'll try not to be."

"You're forgiven in advance."

A slight smile.

"I'll try to keep my fussing to acceptable levels."

"This is good." Soft. "Lots of this."

Alistair nods, just a little. "As much as you want," he agrees.

"You could also look menacing should Josephine receive any more requests for my lineage."

That's a little hopeful.

Alistair huffs a quiet laugh.

"Of course. No need to ask, love," he says. "I'll even kiss you in public if that'll help drive them off."

Dry, now:

"They'd ask you to join in, Theirin."

"Whereupon I'd hiss, 'No! Mine!', sweep you into my arms, and run as far away as I can."

Cullen starts laughing quietly.

"Yes. Good. That's the level of fussing I want."

"Wonderful." He kisses Cullen's forehead. "I'll make sure it happens within two hours of our arrival. Three at the most."

"That would make the whole thing much better." A crooked smile. "But no more than three. Please."

"You have my word."

He returns to running his hand up and down Cullen's back, slow.

Cullen relaxes, tucks his head against Alistair's chest, closes his eyes.

"You're very good at looking after me," he mumbles. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, love." Soft, and warm. "You've needed some spoiling, too."

"Maybe a little," Cullen allows.

In other words: yes. Very much.

"Just... nudge me when you're ready to face what's outside."

"Mm. Five more minutes, I think."

He patterns a circle at the base of Cullen's spine.

"Some terrible things lurk outside, but so do jam toast and cheese toast."

Cullen considers this for a moment.

"I want both."

Alistair laughs. "I think I do too. Plus those eggs. Maybe we can investigate the meat stores, too."