Chapter Text
“Are we having a slumber party? Had I known, I would have brought Bull and Varric! We could stay up all night drinking wine and gossiping.”
Uava’s head snapped up at the voice, but she relaxed and grinned when she saw who it was. So focused on her problem, she hadn’t heard Dorian knock. Or let himself in.
“I’m so glad you came. I wasn’t sure if you’d still be awake,” she said to the mage as he crossed the room.
“I’m not about to turn down a nightcap with my dear Inquisitor. Though you look ready for bed,” he replied, raising an eyebrow at her attire.
Uava looked down at her nightgown and sheepishly smoothed her hands over her loose braid. “I was…then I ran into a problem.”
Dorian blinked at her, his grey eyes sliding toward the bed. Laid out on the blanket were three dresses. He gestured at the garments, raising a brow.
Sighing, Uava nodded.
“You live in leather, Ava. Why do you have dresses?”
Uava wrinkled up her nose. “I want to…host a private evening of drinks and conversation, and I want to…look…nice?” As the words left her mouth, she felt ridiculous saying them. She couldn’t even get the statement out confidently. “Please don’t laugh at me.”
Dorian’s lips were twitching beneath his impeccable moustache. “I would never. But you know Cullen won’t care what you wear. He would likely prefer you wear nothing at all.”
“You aren’t helping, Dorian,” grumbled Uava.
“Well, I’m not sure what you want of me. I don’t wear dresses. Don’t have the shape for them,” he replied with a smirk.
“I trust your opinion on fashion. You’re always concerned about looking good, and I don’t know the first thing about what looks good. Help?”
Dorian crossed his arms, shifting his weight onto one leg. “Are you sure this wouldn’t be a better question for Leliana? Or Josephine?”
“Leliana…scares me a bit. And I don’t want Josie to make a big deal out of this. I’m already doing that on my own…Besides, they both already tease Cullen enough.”
“Fair points.” Dorian sighed, turning his gaze back to the dresses. “Fine, I’ll help. But only because I’m so fond of you. But you must tell me what this is truly about.”
Uava pressed her lips together. “It’s ridiculous. I don’t even know why I’m doing this, honestly.”
“Uava,” warned Dorian.
She knew she was blushing, and she knew how silly this whole endeavour was, but she wanted to do this for Cullen. If she could calmly tell him how much she cared about him, that she loved him, she could bloody well show him a side of her he never got the chance to see.
She blew out a breath, making a tendril of hair hanging by her face flutter.
“Cullen is…very particular,” Uava began, realizing Dorian wouldn’t stop staring at her until she answered. But he didn’t need the whole truth. “And very busy. If I can even catch him for a meal, it’s always in his office over reports. There is always something that needs attention—I know this better than anyone. I enjoy whatever time I can get with him, but the few minutes we get together…most of the conversation is about the Inquisition. And when it isn’t, well…Now, I’m not sure how familiar you are with Cullen’s office, but it isn’t exactly private. If things go smoothly without interruption, we have to stop to climb up to his loft. His freezing loft. There’s a hole in the roof, Dorian. And no fire.”
Dorian held up a hand, cutting her off. He was vibrating with constrained laughter. “Ava, love, that’s enough. You aren’t painting our Commander in a very endearing light.”
Uava sulked. “That wasn’t my intention, and you know it. I love Cullen, but—”
“You want a leisurely, romantic evening in front of the fire, finished Dorian.
“Yes.”
Clicking his tongue and shaking his head, Dorian put a supportive arm around Uava’s shoulders. “I don’t think you need to try so hard, Ava. Doing something so out of character might worry the man.”
The woman sighed, glancing over at her friend. “I thought of that, but…isn’t a little surprise a good thing?”
“A surprise is a trinket or a small treat. This is, to him, an entire personality change. I didn’t even know you owned clothing not made of leather, hide, or scales.”
“I had my mother send them. I may have grown up with four brothers, but I was still expected to wear dresses at gatherings and events. I don’t wear them all the time because they aren’t practical. Breeches are much easier to move in. That, and I don’t have the first clue what looks good. My outfits were always set out for me, so I never had to worry over it…If I’m not expected to do anything, I have no objections to wearing dresses and gowns, just don’t ask me to wear a bodice.”
Dorian nodded. “So, you want to treat the Commander to a gentler side of the Inquisitor?”
“I…suppose. But, as I said, I have no idea what would look good for a casual evening of drinks. So…I’m stuck.”
Dorian and Uava looked down at the offending garments. The first was a high-necked, long-sleeved, austere thing of deep violet. No adornments or detail other than a hundred tiny buttons up the back.
The second was a buttercup yellow piece with a very low, square neckline, puffy sleeves, and white laces up the front. The hem was adorned with patterned embroidery.
The third was a silvery-coloured, high-waisted gown. The neckline was low, but not inappropriately so. The short, slit sleeves would sit precariously on the shoulders when worn, nearly falling off.
“Well, you can’t go wrong with silk,” Dorian said, indicating the silver gown. “Unless you’re meeting with Chantry sisters for tea, or frolicking in a field of flowers…”
“Do I look like I frolic?” deadpanned Uava.
“If you put on that yellow thing? Yes. Oh, but do me a favour, Ava?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t wear it around Bull.”
Uava arched a brow, looking at the yellow dress. She hadn’t realized just how severe the neckline was. “Oh, Andraste, no! I would never!”
Dorian chuckled. “Good woman. Jealousy doesn’t look good on me,” he said with a wink.
Smirking, Uava shook her head, nudging the man with her hip. “Thank you, Dorian. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this.”
“I’m not sure how much help I’ve been, but you’re quite welcome. Though you look beautiful in your usual outfit.”
“Flatterer.” Uava kissed his cheek. She was glad to have him, Varric, and Bull. She could be herself with them, and not just the Inquisitor. And Cullen, too, of course.
“Now, about that nightcap…”
“Actually, I need one more favour.”
“Wine is important for a romantic evening,” Dorian replied knowingly.
“I just drink whatever’s around, so I don’t have much of a preference,” Uava said, crossing the room to the little table by the sofa. As she passed by the fireplace, the light shone through her nightclothes, outlining the silhouette of her body.
“Now, Ava, I don’t claim to know how our dear Commander things, but if I might make a suggestion?”
Uava looked up from the goblets she was filling. “Of course! I’ll take all the help I can get.”
A mischievous smirk curved Dorian’s lips. “Well…”
