many-unfinished-fics

[many-unfinished-fics]

ok but legitimately i think the reason why kids aren’t taking internet safety seriously is because the people who are telling us not to put our personal information out seem so out of touch. no one acknowledges the possibility of meeting very real teenaged friends online, they always say that everyone you meet is a 40 year old white man in disguise. because they aren’t acknowledging things we know are true, it becomes a lot easier to dismiss the rest of what they’re saying as well. internet safety lessons absolutely must keep up with the times and acknowledge the internet’s capacity for good if you want kids to take to heart warnings about its capacity for bad.

[many-unfinished-fics]

"Waa why aren't fandoms fun anymore" because you keep policing people's headcanons, make fun of cosplayers,make fun of selfshipers, make fun of beginner artists and just make fun of people for having fun 😐

[many-unfinished-fics]

Son of The Dragon (Dragon Age)

Summary/Author's Note: I started writing this whole thing when someone on the internet somewhere wanted to know the backstories of people's Dragon Age OCs and I started writing it like an explanation and it turned into this. Lmao. Anyways, please enjoy!

—•——•——•——•——•——•——•——•——•—

During the events of DAI, his sleeping form is discovered by the Inquisitor and his party - which consists of Solas, Cassandra, and Cole. All of them are not only shocked, but they - at least...three of them - are also extremely cautious. Laying on what appears to be an intricately carved slab of granite is a man with snow white hair in faded and worn black leather armor. Deep, dark purple horns protruded from his forehead and a scaled tail of a similar color out from under him, laying off the slab.

None of them had ever seen anything like this - like him - before. The Inquisitor, Cassandra, and a hesitant Cole were the only ones that stepped forward. Solas was frozen in shock. You see, before Ven had gotten heavily injured to the point of near death in the rebellion, he had been helping his best friend to start and manage it - Solas. So you can imagine the elf's surprise when he see the face of what he thought was his supposedly dead friend with horns and a tail. Sleeping.

The others looked at Solas, confused, asking if there was something wrong the man. He blinked and looked at them, his eyes briefly shifting over to the sleeping creature. Whatever it was, it couldn't possibly be his dearest friend...could it? There was a lingering feeling that this creature was indeed his dear friend, however. One he couldn't shake. Solas closes his eyes - he sensed no evil, and very little magic suprisingly. He shook his head. "No, there is nothing to worry about here - involving magic, that is."

The group looked a little relieved at that and turned their full attention back to the sleeping man. Cole speaks. "He sleeps peacefully on the outside, but his mind is full of nightmares. He's scared, but not for himself and guilty for those he's scared for. Why isn't this working?! This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Run! Seek haven! He's stuck - he's always stuck."

Silence.

That's all there was. It seemed like hours, like time had slowed. For all of them, but especially Solas. He knew what that meant - Cole's ability to peer into another's mind was never wrong. This was indeed Ven, and he was different. He was also suffering greatly. "What should we do with him then, Inquisitor?" Cassandra asks, resting a hand on her sword. The Inquisitor looks lost in thought for a moment. "We take him with us back to Skyhold. If and when he wakes up, we can interrogate him there."

"Interrogate?" Solas raises a brow. He's hesitant on telling them he knows Ven. What if Ven isn't the same as he was before? He maybe sleeping now, but Corypheus or even the Blight could have caught up to him before they even got there.

"Yes, why wouldn't we? We have no idea if he's working for Corypheus or his agents, let alone if he's Blighted or dangerous." The Inquisitor replies. Solas knew his companion had a point, but he continued, "What do you mean by dangerous? And what if he isn't Blighted or working with Corypheus? What then?"

"If he isn't Blighted or working for Corypheus, we'll have to judge whether or not he's dangerous." The Inquisitor answered, "And as for what I mean by dangerous, I mean if he is a threat to the Inquisition or Thedas. Even if he isn't Blighted or working for Corypheus, he could potentially be a new threat to our world."

They pause, noticing the look of worry on Solas' face - and, strangely enough, Cole's. Their lips flatten into a line and they give a small sigh. "And if he's not any of those, then we offer our hospitality and allyship. What he does afterwards is up to him. But for now, let's get him back to Skyhold and wait for him to wake up from his slumber."

"Moving him might not be a good idea." Solas serenely spoke, finally moving closer. The more distance he closed between himself and Ven, the more powerful the traces of magic felt.

"Why not?" Cassandra queried, her brow furrowing as she took a step forward in concern.

"Because he's under a powerful sleeping spell used for extreme restoration and health. Depending on how the spell was cast, moving him may disrupt the spell and harm him." He answered. Cassandra crossed her arms, scoffing. She sighs heavily, one arm falling to the side and the other moving up to her face so that she could rub the bridge of her nose in light frustration. "Then we wouldn't be able to question him."

"Exactly." He smiled. The Inquisitor looked at the elf. "Can you figure whether or not we can move him, or maybe speed up the spell so it's done or something?"

"Let me take a look." He moves closer to Ven, so that he may get a better sense of the spell and it's intricacies. Solas took a deep breath and closed his eyes, pushing a bit of his own magic out in order to scan the spell.

Solas knew Ven didn't cast this spell on himself, as he didn't really use his magic that much - even on the battlefield. He was more of a up-close-and-personal kind of fighter, choosing to fight with all sorts of blades and a sharp tongue instead of a staff. The spell surrounding Ven wasn't cast by an Elvhenan refugee or rebel, the magic was far too strong. That's when the cord was struck, where he recognized the magical imprint from - it was Mythal's. He shook his head slightly, his eyes still closed.

It didn't make sense though. Why would Mythal save Ven's life? And why create a spell that not only altered his appearance but also traps him in his worst memories? What could she have possibly gained from doing that to him? What could he gain from the spell doing those things to him?

Unfortunately, Solas knew that only Mythal could answer those questions and he had no idea where she was. For now, he had to focus. He searched over the spell, seeing if it was near completion or if it would continue to work if Ven was moved. As he was looking over the spell as if it were a book he were holding in his hands, the magic vanished. The air in the catacombs stood eerily still and Solas' eyes snapped open, his body stepping back immediately.

"Solas?" The Inquistor asked, eyes wide. The rest of his companions were now alert. He looked at them, blinked to calm his nerves a bit and let out a breath. "Apologies. As I was looking over the spell, it had completed it's duties. It took me by surprise is all."

"So we can take him with us now?" Cassandra asked to confirm, stepping forward."

"Yes. The spell may be done healing him to full health and strength, but it won't fully wear off for a few days. It should give you enough time to prepare for his interrogation." Solas responded.

Cole tilted his head, inching foward, his hands close to his chest and his fingertips lightly touching. "His mind matches his body now. He's no longer stuck......But it's damaged."

The group froze. "What do you mean by that, Cole?" The Inquisitor asks. Cole looks at them momentarily, then back at Ven. "He tried to help them, his people needed him. He believes he failed them. He thinks that he's the reason they died in that battle. He may no longer be stuck, but it's damaged. Broken."

It rang in their ears and mind like the Winter Palace bell toll. Why isn't this working?! This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Run! Seek haven! Horror and sadness hung heavy on everyone's faces and in the air as they realized what Cole had meant.

He had to re-live his self-given guilt while under a sleeping spell. To them, including Ven himself, it may well have been a curse. They stood in silence for moment, Solas being the first to break it. "Do you still believe he may be a threat to the Inquisition or Thedas?"

The Inquisitior looked at him for a few moments, silently thinking. Solas stood there, the few seconds feeling like minutes as dread and worry for his friend's life hung over him like a bad omen. "How long was he down here?" They finally spoke.

Solas blinked. "What?"

"How long has he been down here? That sleeping spell seemed to have him in a pretty deep sleep, and you looked at the spell. So how long has it been active?" They repeated, adding more details.

He had to be careful in answering. Ven was only a few years younger than him, and he was technically extremely old. "It was active for approximately a decade." He lied.

"A decade, hm?" The Inquisitor takes this new and very false information in, looking back at Ven. "I don't believe Corypheus would have found him a very useful ally in that state and he probably would have had one of his lackeys kill him if they had ever come here."

Solas was relieved, but it didn't last long as the Inquisitor continued. "Given how he looks and where we are, we can't rule out whether or not he's been infected with the Blight -"

"He hasn't." Solas interrupts before he can stop himself. All three of his companions turn to look at him with curious eyes. He tenses and continues. "When I was looking over the spell, I noticed it was crafted with a permanent appearance alteration charm as well. I thought finding a solution to his transport was more of a priority so I did not mention it."

"And this supposed charm chose to give him horns and a lizard tail?" Cassandra scoffed in disbelief.

"The charm simply alters the appearance in a small way. The genetics of the individual it is placed on determines how their appearance is altered." Solas states, frowning.

The Inquisitor sighs, running a hand through their hair. "Alright, so he doesn't have the Blight. But even so, based on what Cole said-" They paused, thinking of earlier. "What happened in his mind because of the spell could cause him to at least be a danger to himself. Maybe even others. That said, based on all of this new information, I do not believe he is a threat or enemy to the Inquisition or Thedas."

Solas could feel the worry exit his body and be replaced with relief. The group prepares to take this odd man they found to Skyhold.

---

It's been two days since they got back and Ven still hasn't woken up from the spell. The Inquisitor was scolded briefly by Cullen, who had one of the recruited Grey Wardens see if he really wasn't Blighted. Everyone was extremely relieved when the Wardens confirmed what Solas had said - that he was not, in fact, Blighted.

The Inquisitor had taken notice that Solas was overly attentive to their new sleeping guest, and decided to confront him. They entered his rest area. "Solas, I couldn't help but notice that you've taken up the mantle of looking after the guest we found in the catacombs."

Solas looked up at the Inquisitor from his book with wide eyes. "Well of course. His current condition is simply fascinating, and the spell that he was placed under was incredibly complex. I had questions. If he is to awaken, he needs proper care."

"You know we have people who can do that, yes? You don't have to trouble yourself." They said, smiling softly. Solas pauses. Should he reveal to the Inquisitor that Ven and he were once friends? Would it even be advisable? He was drawn out of his thoughts by the Inquisitor's voice. "Is something bothering you, Solas?"

He looked at them. Then he sighed deeply. "I have a confession, Inquisitor."

They blinked in surprise. "Oh? What is it?"

"I....actually know him. The man from the catacombs, I mean." Solas admitted. The Inquisitor stayed silent for a moment. "...I see. Why did you hide that fact when we found him?"

Solas hesitated - out of fear. "I wasn't really sure it was him at first. Aside from his appearance being a bit...different, the last time I saw him he was dead."

"I see. When did you realize it was in fact him, and why did you continue to hide your past friendship with him after?" They raised a brow, calmly crossing their arms.

"The first moment Cole peered into his mind and spoke," Solas answered. "I knew what he was talking about because I had been there. We were helping our people flee from a terrible fate. We had a plan, we even had backup plans - and they still failed. We lost that battle and most of our people died that day. So when I heard Cole speak from my friend's mind, that how I knew it was really him."

There was a stagnant pause before he continued, "I kept my past friendship with him hidden because I did not know what happened to him after that. Who had placed the spell on him, why, how it would affect him. I also did not know whether or not Corypheus got to him or if he had been Blighted. I thought it better to keep my connection to him distant in case any of those things did turn out to be true."

"I see. And I suppose you're telling me now because he's relatively the same and also out of danger?" The Inquisitor spoke, their demeanor shifting to a slightly more relaxed one. Solas paused, "Well, yes. I also hid my connection to him because I did not want my past friendship with him to allay your decisions regarding what to do with him. I, uh, tried my best not to let them interfere with my help in that matter as well."

"Unfortunately for you, the spell damaged...his mental health, at the very least. And all of us are in the dark about how he shall be as an individual once he awakens. I'm sorry, Solas." The Inquisitor looked over at the elvhenan, who had tensed immediately.

"For?"

"For your past regarding your friend and what has happened to him. And the fact that you had to hide the fact that you knew him for potentially both of your sakes. It must not have been easy." Their eyes softened, concerned care clouding them.

"It wasn't, but I managed. And he lived." Solas replied, looking up at the ceiling wistfully.

"How well did you know him?" They asked.

"We grew up together. He was my childhood best friend up until that very last battle. I knew him very well. Now....I'm not so sure. Much has changed - he may have changed. As a person, I mean." He chuckles, referring to his friend's new appendages. The Inquisitor gives a small laugh. "Go with what you already know about him - do you believe he'd change? That he'd be a threat to himself and possibly others because of the mental damaged that spell caused?"

Solas thought for a moment before answering. "No, I don't believe so. Before that battle and his supposed death, he was....well, I won't say he was nice, but he cared about people who were good, innocent people. He had his own strict set of morals and followed through on every single one no matter the consequences, which he accepted every time he received them. And when he truly cares about someone - on a personal level, I mean - he is always there for them."

The Inquisitor smiled brightly. "I see. I hope that when he wakes up he is the same friend you once knew, then."

Solas smiled back. "As do I. He may be a bit blunt, abrasive, and a little aggressive at times, but he has never once let me down."

The Inquisitor looked at him, turning their head sharply. "But he thinks he did. You heard Cole in the catacombs. He believes the failure at that battle was his fault."

Solas froze in his chair. It never occurred to him that Ven thought that as well. He sighed deeply with worry. "Let's hope he is the same when he wakes up so that I may ease his guilt."

The Inquisitor goes to speak, only for a shrill scream to interrupt their conversation. They look at each other and bolt from the room in the direction of the scream.

--

The scream had come from a maid and in direction of the room where Ven, the Inquisition's guest, had been kept. The Inquisitor and their Inner Circle, along with their ambassadors, burst into the room to see Ven, awake, holding the maid who had screamed and was looking terrified, down on the floor with his left hand gripped ever-so tightly around her throat.

"What in the hell is going on here?" The Inquisitor exclaimed. The maid's eyes were wide and pleading silently for help. Ven looked up at the group of people that had just come into the room he had woken up in.

"You tell me - where the hell am I, who the hell are you, and how the fuck did I get here?" His ice blue eyes narrowed with both suspicion and caution.

Silence echoed in the room before Solas gently pushed himself to the front. "You are in Skyhold, Ven."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Solas?"

"Yes, now can you please," Solas gestured to his friend's hostage.

Ven blinked quickly, before looking down at the maid and getting off of her, helping her up. "Sorry about that," he apologized, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly before frowning. "Although to be fair, I did wake up to you hovering over me and smiling, which was extremely unsettling for someone who just woke up. Still, I'm sorry for uh...scaring you and basically throwing you to the floor and choking you."

The maid turned red from embarrassment, looking down at her shoes. "M-Many apologies about how you awoke, ser. It's just your horns - I wanted to see if they were real..."

Ven blinked slowly at her. "Uh...what?" Lightly shaking his head as if he didn't hear her, he looked at her, perplexed. "First, it's never okay to touch someone without their consent, especially if they're unconscious. Secondly-"

He took a deep breath while closing his eyes, his hand pressed together and held over his nose. He exhaled deeply, bring his hands down from his nose, still pressed together. He opened his eyes and smiled at the maid, looking at her with an incredulous look in his eyes.

"MY WHAT?!"

They all looked at him in disbelief. Did he not know? Could he not feel them? Did he even know about his tail?

"Y-Your horns, ser? Y-You have a tail, as well." The maid pointed shyly. Ven's eyes widened and the group watched as he turned his torso halfway to check for the tail. Then they heard him curse in what sounded like Dalish. Josephine took this opportunity to turn to the maid and silently dismissed her.

"How - what - huh?! Solas?" Ven turned to his mage friend with pleading eyes, hoping for answers. Solas sighed softly, gesturing for him to take a seat, which Ven does.

"Ven, what's the last thing you remember?" He asked. They all watched as Ven's eyes darken and his lip press together. "....the battle. I had been hit, trying to get everyone to safety. Took six blades to the chest. I remember bleeding profusely and telling our foe that if I was going to die, I'd be damnded if I wasn't taking one of 'em with me. Then next thing I know there's this searing bright light and it's starting all over again. Like some sort of sick joke. Except somethings off about it."

Solas blinks, surprised. "What was off about it?"

Ven shook his head, giving a slight huff of frustration. "I didn't notice it at first, but everytime it would start over, and I'd be losing the battle all over again...except every now and then an enemy would be slightly weaker. A refugee would actually make it and escape. The only thing that never once changed was how I died."

The whole room fell silent once more. This time it was Dorian Pavus who broke it, gesturing at Cole as he spoke. "Cole here told us you had some incredibly depressing thoughts while under that sleeping spell and everyone here thought the spell was the cause. But I'm guessing that's not the case, is it?"

Ven tilted his head in confusion. "Eh? What the hell are you talking about?"

Dorian calmly and slowly walked up to him, kneeling so they were both at eye-level. "Blaming yourself for what happened?"

Ven clenched his jaw, looking away. "How would you know that?"

"Cole has the interesting hobby of being able to peek into people's brain. I've been told he can't control it, unfortunately." Dorian replied. Ven spared Cole a glance before looking back at Dorian. He stared at him for a moment before standing up and turning away.

"Whatever I may or may not feel about my part in that battle is irrelevant. We lost. It's in the past and there's nothing we can do about it now." He said bitterly, tersely adjusting the straps on his armor. Dorian raised an eyebrow at him. Before the Tevinter could say another word, the Inquisitor steps in. "This has been very....enlightening, however now that you are awake perhaps we can discuss what comes next."

Ven looks at them. "You still never told me who you are."

The Inquisitor chuckled. "Ah, yes. My apologies. This is, as Solas said before, Skyhold. It is the home of the Inquisition; and I am the Inquisitor."

"I see. And what are you doing with this Inquisition?" Ven looked over at Solas with a raised brow.

"I am assisting them in stopping a creature named Corypheus from potentially destroying the world." He responded. Ven's eyes widened as he blinked in shock. "Woah. That's...what do you mean 'potentially' destroying the world?"

"We don't know what his plans are. All we know is that he's searching for a lot of magical power and whatever he plans to use it for -" Leliana started, stepping forward.

"- can't be good." Ven finished for her, nodding in understanding. "Damn. I really jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire, didn't I?" He chuckled.

Solas smiled softly. Seeing his friend like this, knowing the spell nor the memory loop it caused didn't change who he was, relieved him. Ven placed the edge of his right palm on his chin and turned his neck left and right, cracking it.

"Does this mean?" The Inquisitor looked at Ven hopefully. The horned elvhenan looked at them with a somewhat shocked, yet neutral expression. "Well, I'm not just gonna sit around and wait for some asshole to destroy the world. Seems like that be a shitty thing to do anyways. Besides, I need to fight someone new for change."

He side glances towards the wall. "I have no idea how long I was asleep for, but I fought the same people from my memory more than I can count and if I see their faces again I might actually finish what they started."

Tension filled the air this time. Ven looked around the room before throwing his hands up, "I was being sarcastic, I swear!"

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief as Ven murmured to himself, "Kind of, anyway."

"Well then, welcome to the Inquisition, Ven!" The Inquisitor said cheerfully.

Ven grinned, "Pleasure's all mine."

The group slowly began to disperse and Josephine stepped foward. "Ser Ven, please feel free to use this room as your personal quarters."

Ven smiled, chuckling halfheartedly. "Thank you, but I doubt I'll be sleeping anytime soon. I think I've had enough of it to last me at least a few months."

She chuckles, bows and leaves. Soon everyone is gone but Solas and Ven. The moment the door closes, Ven spins around at an incredibly fast rate and briskly walks over to Solas, eyes narrowed at him. "Solas, you've been my friend for ages, so tell me everything. Now."

Solas chuckles. "Ven, do you honestly think I would have kept everything from you?"

"Then why didn't you tell me as soon as I woke up and you found out?" Ven asked, arms crossed.

"Take a guess." Solas frowned, barely containing a snarl. He breathed deeply as Ven took that moment to assess. His eyes widened a bit. "They don't know about you."

Solas nodded. Ven sighed, dropping his arms and sitting down. "And why not?"

"Blame, mostly. A lot happened after your supposed death." The two spoke for awhile, Solas catching Ven up to the current events up from when he was put into the sleeping spell. Ven stared at Solas in disbelief when his friend had told him what he did with their enemies and what this world now called 'the Veil'.

"...You unbelievable dumbass." Ven spoke.

"What was I supposed to do Ven?" Solas huffed, glaring softly at his friend, who raised his hands in exasperation.

"I don't know, how about literally anything else?" Ven exclaimed. "Literally anything else would have been a better solution than, 'Let's trap our enemies in a magical realm I created without a way to undo it without destroying the world!' - how about that?"

He paused, looking at Solas before sighing heavily. "But I can't wholly blame you."

Solas cocked his head in confusion. "You can't?"

"Of course not. I was put in a deep sleep - and I'm usually the one who tells you when one of your ideas is absolutely stupid. If I'm not there, of course you're bound to do something dumb as fuck." Ven grinned, teasing his friend a little.

Solas chuckles. "Yes, I suppose so."

The two laughed and chatted more, before Solas was called away for Inquisition business. Ven took this opportunity to look around Skyhold - coming across the Inquisition's library. Solas can only tell me so much of the world as it is now, this will be where I can learn what he has not, Ven thought, his fingers gently scraping the spines of the books.

"Looking for something in particular?" Ven spun immediately towards the voice, noticing the human mage from earlier. He was leaning against the end of the bookshelf.

"...Something about the land I am in and it's people, preferably. Solas can only tell me so much." Ven cautiously answered. The human mage pushed himself off the bookshelf and walked towards Ven, hand outstretched. "Apologies for earlier and the lack of introductions. My name is Dorian Pavus, of House Pavus, most recently of Minrathous."

Ven grasped his hand with a gentle, yet firm grip. "Ven, though I belong to no house nor anyone."

Dorian threw back a laugh, "The introduction is merely to cement what family I come from."

"Does your surname not do that for you? Or are humans where you're from that dull that they need a secondary indicator of your family?" Ven asked, albeit a little bitterly.

"Unfortunately, yes. In that way, they do seem a bit dimwitted. Here," Dorian held out a book for the elvhenan. "This should be informative for you."

Ven took the book, looking over the cover. The cover was dark blue and had golden lettering on the front. "Yes, this should work for now. You seem to know your way around this library."

"It is where I spend most of my time." Dorian replied. He glanced over at Ven. "....it's odd."

"What is?" Ven asked absentmindedly, opening the book and tucking his snow white hair behind his slightly pointed ear.

"I'm sensing a bit of magical energy from you." Dorian answered. "Perhaps it's residue from the sleeping spell you were under."

"It's not." Ven commented nonchalantly, reading the book. Dorian blinked in surprise, looking at him. "So you're a mage?"

"No." Ven shut the book, looking up at him, his snow white hair slipping from behind his ear.

"But you have magical energy - meaning you can do magic." Dorian said, confusion sprawled on his face.

"I can do magic, yes. But I don't use it. I prefer not to, so I don't use it." Ven commented.

"Ah. I see. May I inquire as to why?" Dorian continued.

"I've never been good at using my magic - regardless of who tried to teach me. Much like most mages find ease to do their magic, my blades are like that for me," Ven shrugged. "Fighting with daggers are like second nature to me, ever since I picked one up."

"Fair enough." Dorian gave a nod, stopping when the book he gave Ven was shoved back into his face. He looked up in confusion, noticing the elvhenan looking away - his face red. Hm? What's this? Dorian cocked his head curiously. "I, uh....can't read the language in the book." Ven mumbled, his face slowly getting redder with embarrassment.

Dorian chuckled. "If you like, I can read it to you."

Ven's eyes widened and he looked at Dorian. "I...no, I couldn't ask you to do that."

"It's not a problem, I assure you." Dorian smiled. He sat down, patting the seat next to him.

"I....alright then." Ven relented and sat down, crossing his legs. Dorian opened the book and started to read, Ven's icy blue eyes focusing intently on him. Without Ven realizing it, he had started to stare at the human mage's lips as he read.