for insurgoaltus

[killedwithlove]

Cole had said he would go to Val Royeaux when they next went there.

It happened sooner than anticipated. Cadash returned from her expedition in Valammar and, as Cole had predicted, Varric was heart broken, the betrayal a step beyond what he could take, even from his beloved, elusive Bianca.

Cadash promptly announced they were going as a group to Val Royeaux. Not just her and Varric, but anyone and everyone who wanted to come and sort out business. Uniforms needed making for this ridiculous ball, Varric needed a cheer up which meant new bow components, Solas was complaining about a lack of the pigments he wanted, and in the end Cadash had just yelled a lot and bundled up everyone who might want to go or be needed.

They made a long, straggling caravan trail of horses, nugalopes, dracolisks and foot soldiers. Cole, still unable to ride on his own, had hopped up onto Dorian's horse for most of the trip, wandering away and back as he was called to help.

But as they drew closer, he went quiet, cuddling into Dorian's back and watching the great, White Spire with an apprehensive gaze. He wanted to make new, better memories to wipe away the fear of his last trip to this place, but that didn't make facing it now any easier.

Comments

[insurgoaltus]

Dorian himself suffered on the ocean voyage - Maker did he hate traveling by sea - but now that they were riding towards Val Royeaux he seemed to have lost the green tint to his skin. He adored the ocean, just that his stomach just couldn't seem to take the waves...

Cole gripped him tighter again, and Dorian looked away from where he was cheerfully bantering at Varric, because honestly the man needed to be poked at (and gotten completely trashed, if Dorian had any say about it.). He looked before him, then up, to the White Spire.

His grey eyes narrowed, and his fingers closed around Cole's, squeezing before he stated blandly to Varric, "Did you know that Cole is going to let me get him a new hat? I am still working on him for the feather. You should come along, I know that coat has seen better days and I for one would love to see you in green, Cole in blue ..."

And on he nattered about clothes, just to distract the two of them.

[killedwithlove]

It took Varric a moment to pull from his own thoughts, but a glance at Cole hunkering down defensively behind Dorian was enough to prompt him into chatting not about the clothes, but the processes and importing of the dyes used to make said clothes.

Cole listened for a while, tucking his cheek to rest on Dorian's back as they rode.

"Dorian said he would put me in blue shirts and snug pants so he could see-"

"Kid!" Varric sounded exasperated rather than scandalised. "Think that wasn't meant to be shared."

[insurgoaltus]

Which of course, Dorian found fascinating because he was fascinated by everything, asking Varric a few questions here and there behind the alchemy of dyes. He could feel Cole loosening behind him, just pressing his cheek against Dorian's back, a nice, lean line of warmth.

... of course now he was equally warm, faintly out of embarrassment. He sighed, heavily, before looking over his shoulder, "Have I ever told you that you have the subtlety of an amorous bogfisher?"

[killedwithlove]

But both of them had forgotten completely about being worried or sad. "I'm going to get a new knife. Dart's tip broke in the behemoth and it can't be reforged back on without leaving a weakness."

He paused. "They aren't very subtle."

[insurgoaltus]

"Ye-es, which is fitting, since neither are you." Dorian's reply was wry, but had that fond exasperation that simply stated 'you're adorable.' Varric, he could hear, was laughing besides him.

"Oh, don't get any ideas, Master Tethras. Else I'll let him continue on why I wanted him to wear snug pants."

[killedwithlove]

Cole pouted a bit and rested his chin on Dorian's shoulder. "Do I smell like a Bogfisher? Bogfishers smell awful, I wouldn't want to smell like that."

"You don't smell like Bogfisher, kid," Varric assured him quickly.

[insurgoaltus]

"Tut, you do not smell like a Bogfisher at all." Dorian reached back so he could stroke the young man's cheek. "I would not say you smelled of flowers and sunshine ... but you do not smell as bad as that."

[killedwithlove]

"You better get him scrubbed clean before you take him clothes shopping," Varric pointed out.

"I had a bath when we left," Cole grumbled.

"No, you scrubbed off from a bucket of water before we left."

Cole gave a small shrug, not arguing that point.

[insurgoaltus]

"Mmm. You make an excellent point, Master Tethras. And no Cole, sluicing off with water is not bathing. We shall get our rooms in Val Royeaux, and you are going to have a nice hot bath. Then I shall put you in all manner of clothing until we find something we both like." He glanced over at Varric, "You are welcome to join us - I plan on finding a tavern afterwards and getting gloriously drunk."

[killedwithlove]

"I scrubbed!" Which is clearly the point here. Or not.

"Will you wash my hair? I liked when you did that." He sighed softly and relaxed into Dorian's back more. The tension of before had, for now, been forgotten.

"For the tavern, sure." Varric nodded at the gates. "Not sure I want to be clothes shopping with you two."

[insurgoaltus]

"Scrubbing is not bathing." Dorian stated firmly, arching an elegant eyebrow behind him. "And I will absolutely wash your hair - only to make sure it was done properly."

Now, they both seemed more like themselves, before Dorian sniffed. "You should - we could get you new shirts. Better cut across the shoulders, show off more of that manly chest hair."

[killedwithlove]

"It makes you clean." Scrubbing removed stains and muck. That was what mattered.

"But still in reds and blues, deep colours," he commented about the shirts. "Purple. Gold woven around the neckline, it brings out the gold of his hair."

"Who was that from," Varric asked.

"Nadezdha. She likes your hair. Not just on your head."

[insurgoaltus]

"Clean is relative - and I need to find you relatively cleaner." Was Dorian's reply, before it melted into a faint smirk. He looked over at Varric, who looked, dear Maker, almost blushing?

"Well then clearly we'll need to see you in some purple there, Varric."

[killedwithlove]

In an amazing show of tact, Cole pressed close to whisper to Dorian. "She watches, thinks if only the men in Orzammar were half what he is, she's a bloody idiot for throwing all that away for an arranged marriage. She's so angry at her, for her betrayal. Because she dared to betray him like that."

[insurgoaltus]

Dorian's eyebrows rose, as he glanced sideways at Varric and his, 'Well shit I really don't want to ... ' and firmly interrupted.

"Varric, honestly. Don't be ridiculous. Looking handsome is not something you should avoid because you're a confirmed bachelor. Besides - having a woman admire you would quell some rumors in some corners, yes? Why not just take tea with her a few times. You can hardly say she's hard on the eyes."

[killedwithlove]

"She likes not having to crane her neck to talk to you," Cole cut in, helpful as ever. "Hand aches, nice to not have to make my neck ache too."

Cole could be manipulative. On occasion.

[insurgoaltus]

"Which to me sounds like someone who might enjoy you in purple ... so what do you say? We meet after we bathe?" Dorian asked with a purring note, as he squeezed Cole's leg.

[killedwithlove]

"We can come and find you," Cole said suddenly, because he knew Varric wanted to say yes and wanted to find an excuse not to.

Varric's sigh was the confirmation he wanted. He squeezed Dorian happily.

[insurgoaltus]

Dorian smirked with pleasure, before he winked over his shoulder at Cole. Oh well done, sweet boy. They had him exactly where they wanted him.

And now he got to dress two people. Could today honestly be any better?

[killedwithlove]

Cole gave a small smile and snuggled in against Dorian's back, arms wrapping firmly around him.

"And you can buy me a new hat." He made no promise to wear it instead of his hat, but he'd be happy to have another hat.

[insurgoaltus]

"The most dashing hat I can find. It will even have a feather in it." For who didn't like hats with feathers? No one.

[killedwithlove]

"Why with a feather? I don't need to attract a female."

A couple of guards who were probably defected Templars watched them go by. Cole shrank down against Dorian further.

[insurgoaltus]

"... may I ask why a feather would be something in which you would try to attract a female with?" Dorian asked dryly, even as he squeezed Cole's hand reassuringly as they rode by.

[killedwithlove]

"That's why the birds grow the pretty ones," he whispered, face hidden against Dorian's shoulder and neck. He relaxed a bit more when they were past the guards.

[insurgoaltus]

"I see ... well no worries, you have enough plummage for me without you needing anymore." He murmured with comforting words, as they headed down the main road of Val Royeaux. He did think to call out, "Oh Inquisitor? I trust we are not staying at a hovel where the fleas have fleas?"