[ He'd as good as said "I dare you to check and see if I'm suffocating" and she'd been rather bad at resisting.
Skyhold isn't exactly a private place; it's a world all its own, isolated in many ways, and its inhabitants are awfully prone to gossip. Not all of them, mind, just... most. Cecily likes to think she's been fairly discrete in her budding relationship with the commander, save the flirting that sometimes happened during meetings that was seemingly unavoidable.
They try! Sometimes.
Following a knight of odd, drunken revelry (too few in number, Varric might, and does, say), the Inquisitor had lead Cullen to his chambers, apparently made up some kind of fortress out of his pillows, tucked the man into his own blankets and... collapsed on the way out, absconding with a pillow, herself. She'd woken up in confused embarrassment and slunk out quickly, but their conversation has her at his door, worrying at her lip, trying to practice her "seriously frustrated" faces. ]
Commander Cullen, I'm coming in, and if you aren't trapped in there, then so help me -
[ The Tower office is surprisingly empty for this hour of the morning, but then again a good portion of Skyhold had spent the evening celebrating their most recent victory. Those not on shift were no doubt still in their beds, or at the very least wishing they were.
There is, however, muffled sounds coming from Cullen's loft bedroom. Should she climb up to investigate, the only thing visible is a near mountain of pillows piled atop the bed.
Honestly, did she rob every bedroom in Skyhold last night? ]
[ Cecily peeks her head into the office, squinting suspiciously, and at once hears distant sounds from above her head.
Oh ho. The game has begun. Suppressing a grin, the Inquisitor shuts the door behind her and ascends the ladder, rising to find herself faced with.
That. Maker. ]
I'm not sure, but I think I received some kind of distress call from in this very room. [ Humming to herself, she moves in, shaking her head at the pile that she herself had created. ] Some mischievous woman has managed to bring half the bedding from around Skyhold up a ladder in a state of... questionable wit. At least, that's what I've been told.
[ She moves around the bed, trying to make heads of tails of it, but she actually can't see Cullen for everything on top of him. ]
And, apparently, she's buried a man alive. What am I to do?
[ Despite the fact that she's effectively kept him from so much as sitting up, it's done nothing to impair his aim. Which is why a pillow is sent flying in the general direction of her face a moment later. ]
I should hope you'd help to uncover him, being the savior of the known world and all that.
[ Luckily for everyone, her reflexes are quick. Cecily moves to the side just in time for the pillow to whoosh past her head; her mouth falls open in delighted surprise, but she keeps her voice to a scandalized shock. ]
He had better watch what he throws unless he'd like to stay there forever! [ Never mind that he's been there for... hours? How had he slept like that? It's a wonder he didn't actually suffocate. She moves a little closer, still examining the pile. ]
I'm really not sure where to begin... So...
[ There's a moment of tense silence, and then, she pounces. ]
[ There is a definite oof from somewhere beneath her when she lands on his stomach and immediately hands come up from beneath the pillows to grab her about the waist, his body suddenly appearing with a speed and strength that says maybe he wasn't so trapped after all.
Of course by then, it's far too late and she's flat on her back on his bed with him crouching smugly over her. ]
You villain! [ She laughs breathlessly, grappling briefly with him as he appears from beneath the plush layers, but he's stronger and she's pinned. Cecily resorts to trying to glare up at him, but her deeply amused smile undermines it. ]
Commander, remember what I said: if you were lying...
[ With her free arm, she surreptitiously curls her fingers around a pillow which she then uses to bring up and thwump against the side of his head. ]
[ He laughs and blocks the blow by pillow with a forearm, still smirking down at her as he keeps her pinned. ]
I merely found a way to wriggle out of my cloak before you got here. Good thing too, else it might already be too late and then you'd have to find a new adviser. Think of the headache that would be.
[ She doesn't give up that easily. The Inquisitor wrinkles her nose and continues to rain blows upon his arm with all the force of her affectionate strength. ]
Of course you did. Well, then, I suppose I'm glad to see you alive and well.
[ Flushed, she finally subsides in trying to beat him over the head. Peering up at him makes her heart flutter and she glances away briefly, lips tight in a pleased smile. ]
I have enough headaches without that, thank you. I'll be keeping you here for as long as possible.
[ But is she talking about the Inquisition or the bed? Who knows?? ]
[ But she gasps sharply at the onslaught, thrashing wildly and trying very hard to get away from him. Unfortunately, he's stronger and bigger and hovering over her like a horrible tickle-golemn and she can't speak but for laughing. ]
Cullen - I didn't - Stop that!
[ But his arms are occupied, so despite the horrible sensation he's inflicting on her, she uses the opportunity to smack him in the side of the head with the pillow she'd grabbed before. All the while, she's laughing, writhing, seemingly unable to avoid wandering, mischievous fingers. ]
Remember that I brought you... safely here, I was... only looking out for you!
[ dAMMIT MAN how do you know all of her weak spots?? ]
[ His laughter is bright and warm, genuine as she starts writhing and giggling from beneath him, finally having mercy and relenting in the torture, despite the fact that she'd just hit him in the head. He'll get vengeance for that one later, perhaps. ]
Is that your account on what happened? Safely, is it?
If not - If not for me - [ Cecily has to catch her breath as he lets up, curling a bit beneath him, giving him a scathing look from where she lies ] Then you might be out on the battlements! What if Varric had found you? Or Sera?
[ HE WOULD BE WORSE OFF that's what ]
You are supremely ungrateful. [ OH NO but she's grinning again, expression softening, warming. She reaches up to pluck at his chin, thumb ghosting across the stubble there. ]
[ He doesn't buy that scathing look for even so much as a second, his grin lingering as he lifts a hand to cup it against hers, holding her palm close against his cheek. ]
On the contrary, my lady. I am extremely grateful. Although there's only one thing I can think of that would have made waking up in my own bed of a pillow fort better this morning.
The smile reaches up to her cheeks; it's hard to act aloof with him, teasing or no. In the time she's spent as the Herald, as the Inquisitor, Cecily has found strength and support in a number of places. The others were all brilliant, kept her afloat in their own ways in all of the many times of trouble.
But, Cullen... well, she hadn't expect to find any kind of romantic relationships within the Inquisition, let alone with the Commander.
She clears her throat lightly, feigning ignorance. ]
Could it be reports of successful missions on your desk? Or is it just that you seem to suffer no ill effects of whatever it is that happened last night?
[ He actually is a little hungover, but the ache in his temples is a passing thing, and so much less than what he judges true misery by. He very rarely indulges in anything these days, but last night had been a celebration, and a special occasion.
....That and he suspected Dorian had kept his tankard refilled when he wasn't looking. ]
No, neither of those. Although I am sure, with the position of the sun, my desk may already be well and truly on it's way to buried. The other... you sound jealous of that, my lady. Are you, perhaps, feeling your own ill effects from last night?
Only the ill effect of having slept on the floor. [ To demonstrate, she cracks her neck, wincing. It hadn't been that bad, really; she'd had one of the pillows and most of the experience had been lost to hazy, drunken sleep. What's left of the night's events is a sort of fuzz in her brain and a throb in her head, but both are manageable.
Particularly at this moment, when she's... distracted. ]
Well, then, I have no answer to your question. You may as well just tell me, else I'll be here all day trying to guess.
Because I didn't have the prescence of mind to climb down the ladder... or, really, maybe the reason I didn't try it was because I did have enough...?
[ She blinks, quirking a brow with an intrigued sort of smile, but she acquiesces, lazily moving to her stomach, stretching languidly and casting him a faintly impish look over her shoulder. ]
[ He gives her backside a playful smack for that before shifting to kneel beside her, reaching out with strong hands and calloused fingertips to start kneading gently at her shoulders, working out the knots of tension lingering in her muscles with a steady, practiced hand. ]
There was plenty of room in the bed, you realize. Or there was, until you tried to smother me in pillows, I would assume.
Hey! [ She laughs, but before she can launch a counterattack, he puts his hands against her back, rolling at her tensed shoulders. Cecily hitches her breath, somehow surprised, but melts gradually into his touch. ]
You - mmph. [ Maker. How did he get to be so good at this? ] I - What? Yes, I did, only... I don't know, clearly I didn't know what I was doing.
[ Her mind's a bit far gone right now; she stretches, cat-like, grateful for what he's doing. She clearly keeps enormous tension and it shows in her neck and shoulders, as he'll notice. ]
Honestly, it wasn't much. [ And that's why it's so embarrassing, dammit. ] It's just that I don't... overindulge very often, and I suppose I was caught up in things, and... well, you know. The pillow fort and all that.
[ She inhales sharply as he kneads at a particularly sensitive knot. ]
But it's good to know that if I'm ever out of sorts that I might stay here rather than attempt the climb up to my quarters...
[ His voice is fond and gentle and there's the faintest hint of a chuckle in the sound as he takes care with that knot, attention fully focused on her reactions letting that guide him on where to press and what to focus on.
Having her melt into a puddle in his bed is certainly a nice side effect. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I'm doing the thing!
and thank goodness for that!!
Skyhold isn't exactly a private place; it's a world all its own, isolated in many ways, and its inhabitants are awfully prone to gossip. Not all of them, mind, just... most. Cecily likes to think she's been fairly discrete in her budding relationship with the commander, save the flirting that sometimes happened during meetings that was seemingly unavoidable.
They try! Sometimes.
Following a knight of odd, drunken revelry (too few in number, Varric might, and does, say), the Inquisitor had lead Cullen to his chambers, apparently made up some kind of fortress out of his pillows, tucked the man into his own blankets and... collapsed on the way out, absconding with a pillow, herself. She'd woken up in confused embarrassment and slunk out quickly, but their conversation has her at his door, worrying at her lip, trying to practice her "seriously frustrated" faces. ]
Commander Cullen, I'm coming in, and if you aren't trapped in there, then so help me -
bwahahaha
There is, however, muffled sounds coming from Cullen's loft bedroom. Should she climb up to investigate, the only thing visible is a near mountain of pillows piled atop the bed.
Honestly, did she rob every bedroom in Skyhold last night? ]
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Oh ho. The game has begun. Suppressing a grin, the Inquisitor shuts the door behind her and ascends the ladder, rising to find herself faced with.
That. Maker. ]
I'm not sure, but I think I received some kind of distress call from in this very room. [ Humming to herself, she moves in, shaking her head at the pile that she herself had created. ] Some mischievous woman has managed to bring half the bedding from around Skyhold up a ladder in a state of... questionable wit. At least, that's what I've been told.
[ She moves around the bed, trying to make heads of tails of it, but she actually can't see Cullen for everything on top of him. ]
And, apparently, she's buried a man alive. What am I to do?
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I should hope you'd help to uncover him, being the savior of the known world and all that.
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He had better watch what he throws unless he'd like to stay there forever! [ Never mind that he's been there for... hours? How had he slept like that? It's a wonder he didn't actually suffocate. She moves a little closer, still examining the pile. ]
I'm really not sure where to begin... So...
[ There's a moment of tense silence, and then, she pounces. ]
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Of course by then, it's far too late and she's flat on her back on his bed with him crouching smugly over her. ]
Good morning, Inquisitor.
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Commander, remember what I said: if you were lying...
[ With her free arm, she surreptitiously curls her fingers around a pillow which she then uses to bring up and thwump against the side of his head. ]
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[ He laughs and blocks the blow by pillow with a forearm, still smirking down at her as he keeps her pinned. ]
I merely found a way to wriggle out of my cloak before you got here. Good thing too, else it might already be too late and then you'd have to find a new adviser. Think of the headache that would be.
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Of course you did. Well, then, I suppose I'm glad to see you alive and well.
[ Flushed, she finally subsides in trying to beat him over the head. Peering up at him makes her heart flutter and she glances away briefly, lips tight in a pleased smile. ]
I have enough headaches without that, thank you. I'll be keeping you here for as long as possible.
[ But is she talking about the Inquisition or the bed? Who knows?? ]
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[ His smirk turns sly at that, because he's caught her and now there are Consequences to be had.
Namely the fact that he starts seeking out her ticklish spots a moment later. ]
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[ But she gasps sharply at the onslaught, thrashing wildly and trying very hard to get away from him. Unfortunately, he's stronger and bigger and hovering over her like a horrible tickle-golemn and she can't speak but for laughing. ]
Cullen - I didn't - Stop that!
[ But his arms are occupied, so despite the horrible sensation he's inflicting on her, she uses the opportunity to smack him in the side of the head with the pillow she'd grabbed before. All the while, she's laughing, writhing, seemingly unable to avoid wandering, mischievous fingers. ]
Remember that I brought you... safely here, I was... only looking out for you!
[ dAMMIT MAN how do you know all of her weak spots?? ]
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Is that your account on what happened? Safely, is it?
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[ HE WOULD BE WORSE OFF that's what ]
You are supremely ungrateful. [ OH NO but she's grinning again, expression softening, warming. She reaches up to pluck at his chin, thumb ghosting across the stubble there. ]
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On the contrary, my lady. I am extremely grateful. Although there's only one thing I can think of that would have made waking up in my own bed of a pillow fort better this morning.
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The smile reaches up to her cheeks; it's hard to act aloof with him, teasing or no. In the time she's spent as the Herald, as the Inquisitor, Cecily has found strength and support in a number of places. The others were all brilliant, kept her afloat in their own ways in all of the many times of trouble.
But, Cullen... well, she hadn't expect to find any kind of romantic relationships within the Inquisition, let alone with the Commander.
She clears her throat lightly, feigning ignorance. ]
Could it be reports of successful missions on your desk? Or is it just that you seem to suffer no ill effects of whatever it is that happened last night?
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....That and he suspected Dorian had kept his tankard refilled when he wasn't looking. ]
No, neither of those. Although I am sure, with the position of the sun, my desk may already be well and truly on it's way to buried. The other... you sound jealous of that, my lady. Are you, perhaps, feeling your own ill effects from last night?
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Particularly at this moment, when she's... distracted. ]
Well, then, I have no answer to your question. You may as well just tell me, else I'll be here all day trying to guess.
[ And that would just be horrible, wouldn't it? ]
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And there you have it. Why in the Maker's name would you have slept on the floor?
Roll over. [ He commands her a moment later, making a circular motion with his finger to accompany the order. ]
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[ She blinks, quirking a brow with an intrigued sort of smile, but she acquiesces, lazily moving to her stomach, stretching languidly and casting him a faintly impish look over her shoulder. ]
Woof. [ She admits, lip curling to a smirk. ]
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There was plenty of room in the bed, you realize. Or there was, until you tried to smother me in pillows, I would assume.
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You - mmph. [ Maker. How did he get to be so good at this? ] I - What? Yes, I did, only... I don't know, clearly I didn't know what I was doing.
[ Her mind's a bit far gone right now; she stretches, cat-like, grateful for what he's doing. She clearly keeps enormous tension and it shows in her neck and shoulders, as he'll notice. ]
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Perhaps I should be asking how much you had to drink last night?
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[ She inhales sharply as he kneads at a particularly sensitive knot. ]
But it's good to know that if I'm ever out of sorts that I might stay here rather than attempt the climb up to my quarters...
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[ His voice is fond and gentle and there's the faintest hint of a chuckle in the sound as he takes care with that knot, attention fully focused on her reactions letting that guide him on where to press and what to focus on.
Having her melt into a puddle in his bed is certainly a nice side effect. ]
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