WHAT: Atreus and Dorian in a treehouse, K-I-S-S-I-N-G-- WHERE: Ancient Vallo Forest! WHEN: May 1st, dusk. WARNINGS: None, itâs p fluffy! STATUS:Complete!
Being flung back into the past wasnât too much of a hardship considering, well, Dorian was from what could be constituted as âthe pastâ anyway. He had to learn so many new things about travel, about communication, about culture - and just when he thought he had a handle on how the world worked in the year 2021 (even the calendar was bizarre), he woke up and it all looked and smelled distinctly different.
Regardless. The forest was the forest, kind of a comfort no matter what - earthy hues and trickling streams, blue and white lace. Dappled sunlight amid strong boughs and roots - and while there was still natureâs aroma there was also the typical comfort of birdsong. Not to mention a profound sense of this isnât right - danger lurked around most corners, though he supposed that wasnât any different than before. There were less waypoints, granted, but plenty of creatures to reckon with and things that went bump in the night.
Another constant was that Atreus took well to the forest - and immediately set up lodging in a Maker-forsaken tree which really shouldnât have surprised Dorian. It didnât. He was actually quite fond of his loverâs penchant to be a forest nymph - less fond about having to actually climb up into their temporary (he hoped?) lodgings after a day of foraging and dealing with whatever disaster was afoot.
Disaster: also an aspect that was constant between timelines.
âYou just like seeing my muscles flex,â he noted as he swung himself up onto the branches. Certainly heâd spent his fair share of time camping out with the Inquisition, though that was in a tent not a tree - and this time, he didnât have his staff slung across his back so he had to make do with spells he could cast without using the weapon as a conduit. Alas.
âYeah,â Atreus answered easily, with a grin on his face. Getting thrown into something unusual was par for the course these days, but at least he had good company this time. Atreus just had to ignore the fact that his father wasnât here, which likely made Kratos a danger to most of Vallo if they didnât let him be. âMaybe I do.â
But also it was safest, and Atreus hadnât packed a tent, so-- treehouse. He had taken to the idea immediately, going for his well known method of survival in the forest, mapping out the area that he had once learned as such a familiar piece of him. It was less familiar now, but still felt like Vallo.
And as a forest nymph, he liked the challenge as much as he liked teasing his lover. When Dorian reached the top, Atreus took a break from securing the rest of the roof he was putting in place and leaned over for a kiss. âIf you want, I can build you a nice ladder. Might take me a few hours, though.â
A ladder. He thought he was cute, didnât he? Well. Dorian supposed Atreus was rather cute - even when they were stuck in...wherever in Andrasteâs ass they were supposed to be now, and honestly, he just should be more used to this sort of thing. Heâd time-traveled once before, with Max, but that was what most of the modern era would describe as âa hot messâ (too much red lyrium, too much death and the smell of it) and he didnât have any intention to attempt something like that again. Besides, time magic was a sect in Thedas that was foreign - understood by so few mages, and clearly fucking around with it led to all sorts of hardships.
Truly, he wished he had a library to hunker down in. Perhaps there was one in what constituted the city - heâd have to see what he could find, once he explored more.
âIâll be alright, amatus, Iâm sure,â he said with a half-smile that twitched the infamous mustache a bit as he returned the kiss and added a pleasant smack of another. âI foraged for food though, arenât you proud?â Here was where Dorian offered nuts and berries - things heâd gathered, and eventually theyâd need meat but heâd go out hunting later. âYou need something for fuel, since youâve been working so hard putting a roof over our heads.â
Atreus kept his grin up, going for a little more cheerful optimism than Dorian had on a regular basis. But then that was Atreusâ norm, to fit optimism into his daily basis. He shuffled around the very small wooden room grabbing the few pieces of wooden furniture heâd been building.
It all thankfully felt as stable as it was on the ground, but that was a benefit to the Vanir magic he knew. It was much easier for him to manipulate and build with the forest and trees than it was to try and live in a cave.
âForaging?â Atreus looked thrilled, at the exact same time his stomach rumbled with hunger. Within seconds, he had the little table in place and was sitting on the floor across from Dorian.
It took a few bites of food before he looked a little sheepish at dragging his boyfriend up a tree. âTomorrow morning we can look for something a little more secure. I know this--â He gestured to the wooden walls surrounding them. âIsnât really your thing.â
Dorian settled as well, opening the pouch of berries and reaching inside to pop a few into his mouth - heâd already discerned they werenât going to kill him, so all remained splendid. âItâs not exactly my thing,â he admitted and, well. True - more like vineyards rippling into Nevarra from Tevinter were his thing. Olive and date trees as well - along with the hot winds that rustled curtains at night and stirred up clouds of smoky-sweet sandalwood incense. He loved the glittering mosaic sunbursts too, and the golden platters of dried figs and stuffed grape leaves, even the gardens of his former estate (despite the fact that he had zero touches of a green thumb).
He didnât have any of that in Vallo either, but he had many other wonderful things. Wonderful people too.
âBut - itâs not so bad. Especially with you,â he went on. âI donât mind making this our temporary home? Surely we wonât be stuck in the wrong time period for...too terribly long.â Hopefully. He wouldnât make assumptions but he didnât anticipate those who thrived off of hot showers and electricity would simply decide to get used to this.
Atreus wished he had more of an answer for Dorian, instead all he was left with was a shrug. He knew there were powerful magic users here, ones that actually specialized in time magic and portals. Atreus did neither.
âIf Jormie were here, I could ask him. Having a giant snake that can time travel is handy sometimes,â But not when they were stuck. âBut if I know Sabrina and others that are here-- theyâve been trying.â
He knew something Dorian would like, and his eyes lit up a little as he looked over. âI wonder if they have a library here? In uh- town? You can put that brilliant brain to work while I trade for more furs and soft bedding to keep you happy.â
The fact that Atreus was willing to even try to make him happy - well, Dorian always appreciated such gestures. Atreus knew what did make him happy too; clearly he had been paying attention all of these months of their relationship - it had been awhile, hadnât it? Since that first time shapeshifting in the forest. Since burrito blankets. And when theyâd tried âspeed datingâ and seemed to just end up with each other anyway.
In Snowglobe Vallo, when it had been Dorianâs birthday - his lover managed to make it as nice as could be, and turned the situation around, despite how they were stuck in a desolate wasteland. Yes, Dorian very much loved him for that - and his thoughtfulness.
âI was hoping something similar as well,â he chuckled, reaching over and clasping Atreusâs hand in his own. âI wouldnât say no to doing some research and reading all I can. Also checking in with Beketh - I know that coven has its root deep in history, and they have a presence here.â He and Sabrina had been welcomed by them - not very warmly, mind you, and it took a lot of negotiating and bartering and information exchange to build a sense of trust.
But by now they both knew the secret code to get in, so. Dorian was hopeful theyâd be welcomed again, in a different time period.
Furs sounded nice as well - he would always want to revel in lavish accommodations, no matter where he was; it was just a part of his personality. Yes, and so thatâs what he would do - heâd read, heâd write Gilmore a note in the journal, heâd wrap himself up in warmth and perhaps get in a few winks once it was safe. See? Not so bad. âI love you, you know,â he added, fully expecting an oh, I know as a response along with a cheeky grin - but that was just part of Atreusâs charm.
Atreus lifted Dorianâs hand so he could press a kiss to his boyfriendâs wrist before he returned to eating his portion of the berries. âBeketh likes my magic, if you need company there. I won them over with baked goods and protection charms once before--â And heâd hooked up with one months before Dorian had even arrived at Vallo.
Even if he was sure that wouldnât bother Dorian, it probably wasnât a way to win him brownie points however many years in the past they were. They were a standoffish people, and Atreus had always respected their boundaries and earned their respect in turn. âWeâll leave it to just those two things,â he flashed back his own cheeky grin.
He couldâve teased right back, as Atreus stared across. It was what they did, in between unbearably sweet moments of softness and sap, the teasing came out in full force. It kept things interesting.
But instead of the full teasing, the softness set in, and Atreusâ grin fell away to a telling smile. âI love you too, you know. Even if you prefer to keep your feet on the ground.â
Just those two things. Yes, Atreus didnât need to drop his trousers for Beketh - not this time, anyway. Things werenât that dire. Dorian almost threw a juicy nut at his boyfriend but decided to eat it instead - it was sweet and delicious and heâd make sure to get more when he went out again, in search of meat perhaps. His fire spells were decent after a hunt - made for quick cooking, anyway.
âSave for when you sweep me off my feet, of course,â he pointed out, teasingly stroking his mustache - a bit of preening, because thatâs what he did.
His expression became thoughtful - not in a gloomy way, just something that meant the wheels were turning and he wasnât sure how to broach what he was considering. Not because he thought Atreus would react badly but because heâd never really asked someone this before - and it was enough to make even Magister Pavus a wee tad nervous. In that delightful heart pounding, rib-splattering way.
âSkyhold recently gained a couple of new residents,â he started. âNot that itâs crowded, but it just got me thinking...â And he was happy for Max - Dorian wasnât some selfish ex-what-have-you. When you loved someone you wanted what was best for them, and even though it wasnât romantic toward Max anymore he still cared. Not to mention it was nice seeing him so stupidly happy too, and look at someone with such googly eyes - Maker knew he deserved that, especially after everything else heâd been through. âI wouldnât ask you to move, I know you donât want to leave the Sanctuary. But if I were to...find a place to sleep there? With you? On a more permanent basis?â
How was this proposition going? Probably oddly, but he was in it now so he had to just keep going.
That made Atreusâ eyebrows shoot up. His face was expressive even when he was an animal, of all things, so when eyebrows were added to the mix-- well any sense of subtlety was out the door. Heâd seen all of the moving, had of course appreciated the extra heads around Skyhold when he was up there, brought baked goods to share..
But Dorian wasnât wrong, when he spent the night, he was gone before dawn so he could get all of his work done. The Sanctuary was a lot, and incredibly fulfilling, but could involve animal emergencies at any point. He didnât like to stray far, and often would go out of his way to cook dinner for Dorian and convince him to stay the night there.
He also knew his little house wasnât- optimal for multiple people. It did at least have a comfortable bathtub that Dorian liked. And a bed. But not exactly much room beyond that, because Atreus hadnât required it.
So he was quiet for a second, and tilted his head. âYou want to move in with me? I know-- I mean, I donât have a library. Or a comfortable reading chair--â
His head tilted again and he looked at a knot in the tree behind Dorianâs head. âBut I could build one. That wouldnât be too hard.â
Honestly, Dorian spent many nights at the Sanctuary, in the little house that Atreus had built (theyâd celebrated its creation, thoroughly, on the floor - before there was even furniture within). He already considered it home, in a sense.
Besides that, Atreus himself was home - that was the most important thing.
He laughed, fondly, a warm and rich sound. âNot much is hard for you, amatus,â he complimented. âTrust me, Iâd bring the chair with me.â That piece of furniture was infamous - and he didnât want anyone elseâs ass to grace the glory of one of his favorite places to read. âBut yes. I want to move in with you - if youâll have me.â
Perhaps to sweeten the pot, he leaned in and kissed Atreus - framed his cheeks in his hands, kissed him like the world stopped and started with his mouth alone. Fire and intensity, like heâd shared the mother of all secrets. Just for Atreus to know.
Atreus tried not to be distracted with the kiss - it was impossible, Dorianâs mouth was on his and then the world ceased to exist - but for once his brain had run away with an idea, and he was torn between the two. Now he was busy thinking about cohabitation. Heâd only ever lived with his parents before, as far as other people were concerned.
That would be an adjustment. But he liked a challenge, and he liked adventure. And there was very little Atreus would say no to.
It was telling that he was already planning on where the extra room in his house would go. A sitting room - a lot of light, under the blue arch of the Yggdrasil. Enough room for the chair - of course Dorian would bring it - and a few bookcases, and room for them both to fit.
âYeah,â he breathed the agreement out, between kisses. âLetâs do that. Chair and all. Câmere--â With that he cut himself off to pull Dorian across the table, sending them both tumbling to the floor.
Makerâs bloody balls (a ghastly image, perhaps), they always did seem to end up on the floor, didnât they? It made Dorian wheeze out another laugh as he was tackled - and he certainly wasnât protesting. For someone whose golden skin was so delicate and nary a day went without proper moisturizer (except for recently, woe - perhaps Beketh would also be willing to share skincare secrets) he had no qualms about ending up in a heap of limps with his boyfriend. It was so rough and carnal - and while he still appreciated many things about Atreus, his enthusiasm was quite up there on the list.
He made a sound like oof and chuckled, ensnaring Atreus in a squeeze between his thighs and in his arms - a happy hold, as it were. âChair and all,â he concurred. This would be a good thing - at the very least, Blackwall wouldnât have to keep going back and forth to Skyhold as often, though likely Dorian would keep bringing him so he could frolic with the other massive pups at the fortress. âThank you, by the way. Iâm sure youâve been told what a fantastic warrior you are recently, but besides that - youâre also a fantastic person.â
To him, with him - they were good together. Neither of them were perfect (oh, that was difficult for Dorian to admit) but Atreus always put the work in to make this a functional relationship. Dorian wanted to do that in return for him too.
The smile that grew from Atreus with that compliment was near blinding, but it complimented the flush that came up on his cheeks at the same time. He had already been laughing at their landing, and then distracted by-- well, their landing. Compliments didnât happen much in his life, unless it was from Dorian and friends and-- well, there was that age old praise kink.
It warred with the desire to repay compliments in kind, and Atreus pressed a kiss to Dorianâs neck, and up, up, up, trailing his way up. Until he reached Dorianâs ear, where he nipped and kept his voice low. âItâs easy to be with company of the same brand.â
It was also on the tip of his tongue to joke about that company being Blackwall, or any other number of his animals, but the thought made him worry-- he shouldnât. His father was back home, Shiro was back home. Things were handled-- and Atreus sighed lightly against Dorianâs neck. âWorry is setting in, how do you feel about showing off your distraction skills?â
âPositively,â Dorian responded right away, and he didnât wish for Atreus to fret very much - if they both fell into that hole, it would just be depressing all around (especially because there was nothing to be done about it, nothing to necessarily fix). Neither of them were well-versed in time magic (heâd dabbled, but they needed more than just a little bit of reckless dabbling in this situation) so they had to focus on keeping their wits about them. Making the best of the whole thing, and keeping it together for the sake of their other loved ones back in the present - whom they, luckily, could still communicate with.
So with a flex of muscle he shifted a little, a move to swap positions and get Atreus flat on his back - which left Dorian as something resembling a predator, and the next kiss he went for included teeth to show for it. Just a bit of a nibble. âThey are one of my more valuable skills, my darling.â
Atreusâ returning grin was sharp and teling, matching the growing heat in his eyes. He hadnât been considered prey in a long time, but when he was stretched out under Dorian, he didnât mind.
His hand came up to run through his loverâs hair, messing it up before giving it a tug to pull Dorian back down to him. âIâd argue that you have a lot of valuable skills, but I benefit from these ones the most.â