head-bitch-inquisitor:

I love Dom!Cullen, but also I need more Dom!Cullen where it wasn’t his idea at first. I need him to have a partner who brings it up one day as something they would like to do with him, but he’s afraid. He’s afraid of who he used to be in Kirkwall and letting a life he no longer wants to be a part of bleed into this wonderful, precious thing he finally has.

His partner sees his hesitation and assures him that they don’t have to. He apologizes, because he wants to please them. They insist that he has nothing to apologize for. The subject is dropped. They continue to make love and thoroughly enjoy it.

He doesn’t forget though, because Cullen is a man who commits and puts his whole self into every endeavor, including his relationship. He hears murmurs – gossip – and one day, face beet-red, he approaches the Iron Bull and says he has some questions. Bull is patient, informative, almost clinical, and only chuckles when he promises Cullen for the fourth time that he won’t mention the conversation to anyone.

The next time he sees his love, he tells them he’s been thinking about it. They panic for a moment, assure him that he doesn’t have to feel pressured and they love being with him as they are, but he explains. He wants to please them, he wants to try something new, and, if he’s honest with himself, he’s grown more than a little intrigued at what this might be like.

Tentatively, he produces a silk scarf, suggests a simple blindfold as a place to start. It’s safe, only dipping a toe into this new territory. He needs to do this slowly, make sure he won’t lose himself – lose the man he’s so desperately trying to be – in this sort of play.

His lover smiles and closes their eyes, and Cullen feels a rush at the implicit trust. He – slowly, gingerly – ties the silk over their eyes and asks them to choose a watchword.