There it is again. On anyone else it would be a smile. On Cullen it's still a smile it just doesn't belong there. It's like if he saw one of his old teachers smiling at him. If that had ever happened he would have just started running before they could say a word and it's tempting to do the same here. But he does maybe have some dignity left that could be ruined by running screaming from the dining room when Cullen is just sitting there. And he can't pretend he's not curious.

If it's not alcohol or a head injury and Alistair himself isn't dreaming - a fact he tests by pinching himself surreptitiously under the table - then.... What is going on? His confusion is not at all helped by the fact that the source seems just as uncertain as he is. But at least the smile is gone. That's a good thing. Or is it? He can't tell any more.

"Wrong? Depends on who you ask." According to the Chantry? Definitely. They were very enthusiastic when it came to discouraging unnecessary levity among their templars. And all levity was apparently unnecessary. "You are acting weird."

Or so he thought. They didn't actually know each other that well but given how their first meeting had gone? He's pretty sure they're not at the 'laugh at Alistair's sparkling wit' stage yet.