#I had orlesian oc but i think it’s time for a new one. I’m ready

[nohr-selphias]

Respectfully, Ri Aeducan did not stick around for the events of awakening… she meant what she said that she would travel w Zevran. Who knows what they’re doing but she’s not sorry that she left an orlesian in charge of the fereldan wardens.

[w-h-4-t]

Oh Sweet Maker, there’s two of them

Basically @mfmoonbear​ has an OC (an elf mage named Yelisavita Lavellan) and so do I (an Qunari elf mage named Fen’Harel Adaar). Now they’re here together in a story. A n g e r y co-Inquisitor AU here. Rivalry +100.

They get along. Sometimes.

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

***

Due to its Andrastian nature, Skyhold was more than just a battle fortress. It was also a tribute to the Maker; the garden was often peaceful as the Chantry mothers swung censures while muttering the Chant of Light. However, Skyhold was also a refuge for all kind of people, including the polytheists of the Dales. 

“DIRTHAMEN’S SHADOWY NUTSACK WHAT THE FUCK”

One such example rang through the courtyard as four pairs of feet kicked up dust mid-run. There was a race happening, as usual, between two very competitive people, both dubbed Inquisitor. Yelisavita and Fen’Harel got along well enough at first. Though their time together in Haven was drought with cat fighting they grew to mutually respect each other.

That, however, did nothing to stop their competitive nature. 

It all started as a simple ‘race you to the War Room’ which was turning into an all-out mage battle royale. Both Harel and Yel made their way up the steps leading to the Main Hall, shoving each other before Harel caught the small elf in a headlock.

“YOU CHEATING BASTARD!” she screamed, making her face as red as her Valaslin, “LET ME GO!!!”

Harel switched her tactic, looping her arms around Yel before throwing her from the steps, “Make a barrier this time else you’ll get some bad bruises!” 

Giggling like an ass, Harel continued up the stairs, hopping over several steps at a time before she felt something cold take hold of her legs. At once, the Qunari elf listed forward before catching herself, attempting to yank her legs from its new icy prison.

“You little fuckin-” Harel started.

“Fucking what? Cheater? I didn’t cheat first, remember?” Yel interjected with a smile as she jogged back up the steps, taking her time before stopping by Harel, “Aw is the Dread Wolf stuck? Do you need help puppy?”

A menacing stare shot from the half-Qunari as her body began shaking. Soon enough, the ice began hissing as little wisps of flames licked out from Harel’s skin, eating away the ice.

“I’m a mage too, you fuck,” Harel growled

Yel simply smiled, coating her hand in a slick sheet of ice before reaching up to pat the angry co-Inquisitor’s cheek, “Uh-huh, I see that. Have fun with that ice, it’s extra reinforced for shitheads like you.”

Flinching at the cold touch, Harel pulled back before focusing to burn the ice away; Yel jogged up the stairs, only turning around for one second to mouth I win.

Oh that fucking does it.

Summoning every drop of magic in her bones, Harel blasted the ice chunks away, scaring quite a few people and earning a far away cheer from someone in particular.

“BEAT HER ASS!!!!” Sera yelled from the tavern rooftop, “SORRY YEL BUT I’M ROOTIN’ FER THE TALL ONE!!!”

Hearing the aftermath, Yel turned around slowly, green eyes shining with surprise. Harel shook the chips of ice from her feet before giving her signature wide-eyed, wide grin. 

“You heard her,” Harel said as she began clomping up the stairs, “I’m gonna beat YOUR ASSSSSSSS!!!!”

Now,  Yelisavita was a powerful and highly dangerous mage. She survived a great deal of trauma and death. Crawling out of Haven’s ruins, she proved she was indeed walking in the Maker’s Light despite being an Alienage elf. 

In that moment, however, Yel was a fennec in the eyes of a hyena. One would think she’d be careful now that she’d angered the other mage.

“Says the idiot caught in a simple ice spell.” Yel antagonized before leaping away, breaking into a sprint. 

Summoning another bout of magic, Harel brought forth ice, Faade Stepping in a blue blur past the stairs and into the Main Hall. Unfortunately for Harel’s dumbass, Yel had caught on, Fade Stepping in tandem past her. 

Varric had to hold down his many Merchant’ Guild letters as the two flew past, his hands gripping the many pages tightly, “HEY! Can’t a dwarf do some paper mache in peace?”

Back to shoving each other, Harel and Yel scrapped with Yel’s hands around Harel’s horns and Harel’s own trying to push the elf away.

“NO!” they shouted together at Varric, on the same page for once.

The black bones of Harel’s horns began to smoke as Yel funnelled fire into her hands.

‘YOU LITTLE SHIT!” Harel said before finally pushing her off, “Did you just try to burn off my fucking horns??!!!”

Harel in turn pushed the office doors open, noticing the absence at the desk before breaking into a sprint. Kicking in the office exit, Harel opened the door just in time to see Yel cracking the War Room entry open. 

Using the opportunity, Yel took off once more, diving through the Ambassador’s office towards the War Room.

“GET BACK HERE!!!!”

Instead of saying some crude quip, Harel continued running, pulling magic from her body once more to Fade Step, meeting Yel halfway as she flew forward in a blue streak. The Alienage elf turned back at the last second, her green eyes once again wide in surprise as Harel leapt forward, grabbing Yel and sending them both tumbling through the door. They rolled, pulling each other’s hair and scrabbling like wet cats before someone cleared their throat.

“Good day, Inquisitors,” Cullen said, raising his voice to cut off the tail end of their argument, “I see everyone is in high spirits.”

For a moment, the two stayed the way they were with Yel’s hands around Harel’s throat and Harel’s hand pushing Yel’s face back. 

Releasing her grip, Yel pushed Harel’s face back, shoving her into the ground before getting up. She gave a great smile as she dusted herself off, moving to take her place at the War Table. 

“Good day, Commander,” she said with a smile, a light blush painting pink shades around her Valaslin. 

Cullen smiled back, gripping the pommel of his sword before looking away, also blushing just a bit.

“FUCKIN-” Harel shouted as she moved off the ground, interrupting what was supposed to be a lovely moment, “I will put my foot so far up your a-”

Another throat cleared, this time, from the very end of the War Table. 

“Harel,” Josephine assuaged, “I will kindly ask that you show a modicum of decorum. Thank you.”

Scrunching up her face, Harel looked between Yel and Josephine, at first settling on the elf’s smug grin before staring at the lovely Antivan. 

“Lucky little fuck,” Harel muttered as she took her place next to Yel, “Damn fuckin lucky that Josie’s here or else I’d-”

“You’d what? Cry at me, wolf?” Yel replied, her smug grin only growing wider.

And once again, the flames of rivalry grew, fanning into an inferno as static crackled in Harel’s palms and fire spun around Yel’s body. 

“YOU ARE NOT CHILDREN” Leliana shouted, clapping her hands, her eyes glistening like vicious sapphires, “So for Andraste’s sake, stop fighting like infants! Behave yourself!”

Yel and Harel differed in many ways but there was one thing they agreed on. Leliana was scary and when that Orlesian had enough of their shit, it was time to stand straight, shut up and do their job.

“E-emerald Graves,” Harel stuttered, looking at Yel, “Thinking we could go to the Graves to do...do that thing…”

Yel nodded before staring at the map, trying her best not to look up at Leliana, “We should go to the Hissing Waste’s actually but sure….sure….The Graves sounds...important too.” 

At the opposite end of the table, Josephine sidled up to Cullen, finishing the last flourish of her letter before whispering, “ Our paramours continue to be interesting, do they not?” she dips the quill in ink, writing another line, “However, it would be preferable if they did not fight so much. It is indeed troubling for our reputation when they scrap in the public eye.”

Cullen sighs as he looks at Yel, watching her brush back a strand of strawberry blonde hair before pushing a map marker away from Harel’s hand, “ They’re not so bad, Ambassador. My sisters and I fought in a similar way, but because we hated each other. I think they’ll be fine.”

Turning away from her clipboard, Josephine looked at Harel who continued trying to pick up the map marker, only to have it shoved away, “Perhaps you are correct. Maybe they are growing to be friends.”

“IF YOU PUSH THAT MARKER ONE MORE TIME I SWEAR ON ANDRUIL’S SWEATY TIT’S I’LL SKIN YOU ALIVE!!!!”

“Oh, you want to lose again, pup? Don’t go crying to your prissy little bedbuddy -I mean no disrespect Ambassador- ” Yel stops for a moment, looking at Josephine before turning to Harel once more, “when I tan your hide faster than you can say Mythal.”

“Inquisitor-” Cullen starts before Harel shoots a glare at him.

“Don’t even try it, Curly!” 

“DON’T TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT!” Yel shouts back, giving the taller half-elf a shove.

And once more, a fight broke out in the War Room as all three Advisors watched the pair roll around on the floor. One would say they were akin to a wolf and a lioness fighting when in fact they were just two aggressive nugs duking it out.

Today was just one of those days where they didn’t get along more than usual. Hopefully, soon they’d be back to some kind of mutual idiocy with Yel on Harel’s shoulders, steering the half-Qunari around by the horns before they’d both fall down some hill.  

Josephine and Cullen, though different in many aspects both thought the same thing as they watched their other halves fight.

Maker help me and my competitive girlfriend. 

[pinayelf]

Cullen’s Revised Redemption - my take

This was previously an undetectable read more but decided to update it and also make it (more) public since people have asked for it. This is very wordy, so grab a bag of chips or something lmao.

Disclaimer and Request (PLEASE READ)

I am putting this above the read more because I need people to see it before they do anything with this post. The reason I had the first version of this basically invisible is I’m genuinely not here for people yelling and fighting in the notes so that being said:

I wrote out the first one so I had something to link to people in the case someone asks me why I’m romancing him with an elven mage

This is a hot button issue and I know people have feelings varying from either extreme sides or in the middle so

If you vehemently hate Cullen and find him irredeemable that is fine and valid, but please do not come onto this post and reply why. To be frank, you won’t make me dislike him considering I hated him initially

If you think his redemption is perfect that is fine and valid, but please do not come yelling at me for this post.

Let us agree to disagree NOW.

I love Cullen. If the URL wasn’t obvious I’m saying it now. But I am also allowed to feel that his redemption wasn’t fully realized and lackluster and wish it didn’t happen off-screen. 

I believe Cullen does want to change. Failing and slipping at first is realistic. What didn’t work is that it wasn’t fully realized. If you disagree that is fine.

Cullen’s PTSD is a reason for the things he did. It is a reason NOT an excuse. Mental illness is not an excuse to do bad things. You can say that while acknowledging his trauma. Said by a person who also suffers from mental illness

“Ellie why do you care so much about a white dude, he doesn’t deserve your time and energy!!!” - because he is a comfort character of mine, he is fictional so I have the ability to make him safer for me and for my OCs and I think that’s more than fair

This is NOT the only right way to write a fix-it for him you can 100% write your own, this is just mine and an example of one

Now...let’s go!

This is meant to have been a longfic, but I can never finish anything I write so you’ll get a condensed version. This is for my worldstate where Imryll (my main Cullenmance) is the Inquisitor, but I also use this same redemption in all my timelines, just tweaked a bit for whoever the characters are.

DAI starts and Cullen has just stopped taking lyrium. He wants to change, , he is full of regret and ready for it but is obviously harder than he anticipated. Especially since the Herald, Imryll, wants to ally with the mages. He and Imryll do not get along, Imryll doesn’t trust him and they have had a couple of public fights. 

Imryll allies with the mages. Cullen is worried abominations might occur. The ones from Kirkwall see Cullen and refuse to interact with him. Some hate him and look at him with disdain. He’s made an announcement saying he no longer operates under the Templar Order and denounces what Meredith did. But they still don’t trust him.

He is frustrated by this and Leliana calls out the fact that he still doesn’t trust them because he believes they’ll turn into abominations, so why should they trust him? Cullen says he’s seen it happen, like in Kinloch, especially if they’re exposed to power. Leliana points out how the same thing happened to Meredith. Cullen snaps out of his frustration, admitting he knows he’s wrong but it’s hard to accept it. Leliana tells him he must accept he is wrong if he wants to really change.

(Note: In my canon Leliana becomes his support for this rather than Cass. I love Cass but she is too static in her beliefs and will just enable or stunt Cullen from growth. They are still close friends but it’s Leliana who he confides in with about this - they both have the same faith but Leliana is more open-minded and will help him grow)

The Templars and the Mages clash at Haven and Imryll demands Cullen to do something about it. Cullen is hesitant and doesn’t do much, he doesn’t want to believe his comrades are acting this way. This sours his relationship with Imryll and the mages.

(This idea is taken from a text post that I can no longer find :c) One of the mages give birth and the others are overjoyed and crying. They need supplies and Cullen offers to help but they all refuse to speak to him until he arrives back with Josephine. Cullen wonders why they are celebrating and crying and Leliana says that most mages never stay with their family because they are separated. Another realization hits Cullen.

Cullen joins Cassandra in looking for rogue Templars and when they encounter the group, Cullen attempts to reason with them but they don’t relent. He sees his old self in the leader and realizes what he sounded like. After dealing with the Templars he and Cassandra see a group of young refugee mages starving and hiding in a small cave. They quiver in fear when they notice his Templar gauntlets and refuse to come to Haven despite them being in near-death from starvation. Luckily, Varric is there and convinces them to come. 

The encounter dawns on Cullen what the Templar Order truly looks like to mages. This haunts him. It is the same fear he had for years after Kinloch - the difference is, the order protected him but no one truly protected the mages. He finally accepts that the order he once romanticized so much is corrupt.

The next time he sees that his Templars are the ones who start the altercations. He does something about it - but at the same time angering his lieutenant. 

During the fall of Haven, the Red Templars show Cullen anyone is apt for corruption, seeing the people he once trusted become the army for a magister breaks his heart. He witnesses the mage recruits give their lives for the Inquisition. He watches Imryll sacrifice herself for the sake of the Inquisition. When have the Templars ever done this? He’s never witnessed this. He must make amends. He must. 

Upon arriving at Skyhold he requests to be judged by the mages and Fiona - the ones from Kirkwall especially. He tells them it’s time he answered for his inaction and the things he enabled. Surprised, Imryll calls Fiona to form a council of mages to judge him. 

Cullen prepares for whatever sentence they are to give him. All the while after owning up to what happened in Kirkwall, the Inquisition loses some support, including soldiers who leave due to their disillusionment in him. The day of trial comes and to Cullen’s surprise they sentence him with reparations. He is to do the Inquisition mages’ bidding and to work with Fiona along with his Inquisition duties.

Besides the loss of support, many begin to look at Cullen differently and turn cold towards him, like some staff and people who have joined the Inquisition. He helps build a mage tower and joins Fiona in doing small missions  to help the refugee mages. While some mages warm up to him, some don’t and while hard he accepts they never will.

One day a missive arrives at Skyhold stating that mages from Starkhaven are taken hostage by Red Templars for a hefty ransom. Josephine insists they pay the ransom and plans to take a loan out from an Antivan bank - however Cullen sees the situation as time sensitive. He is afraid that if they wait too long, the Red Templars will kill the mages. Josephine, and Leliana surprisingly argue against this, seeing it too risky. But Cullen has a terrible gut feeling, and after finding the location of the abandoned keep they are located in, he takes some of his troops who are willing, and mages who are looking to save their brethren.

The raid goes all right, and the troops manage to retrieve the hostages without any casualties, however at the last minute, one of the templars set off hidden explosives that begin to set the the keep ablaze. As it falls into ruin, Cullen makes sure everyone makes it to safety. But then he sees a young mage girl trapped under rubble, and in spite of his lieutenant demanding he leave her, he doesn’t. He runs to her rescue and seemingly dies as the castle crushes both of them.

The troops return to Skyhold with the news that Commander Cullen has died in the rescue. Shocked, the remaining advisors and Imryll set off to find a new Commander.

Surprisingly, Cullen and the young mage girl, who introduces herself as Lyra, survives. Lyra mustered up her remaining strength to put a barrier around them as the castle fell. Cullen and Lyra then set to Skyhold in order to get her to safety. Cullen does everything in his power to make sure she is safe, and shocks everyone at their return. 

After this event, Imryll begins to warm up to Cullen. They form a friendship as Imryll often spends late nights at the mage tower doing research. Cullen initially stayed there to make sure nothing happened to Imryll (as she was not very popular with his troops or certain Orlesians). Despite them being from separate worlds they find they have a lot in common. 

When asked how he feels about the Dalish, Cullen tells her that in the Circle, elves were not treated differently and it does not matter who you are. Imryll tells him it’s a very blind way to view discrimination, as despite her existence not revolving on her being a Dalish elf, her being a Dalish elf is how people will always view her. Cullen finally understands when he accompanies her to Val Royeaux to deal with Josephine’s assassination contract and he sees how Orlesians treated Imryll in spite of her title. He speaks to her about it, and apologizes, saying he will never understand how it feels, but he will make sure she and the other elven members of the Inquisition feels safe. 

And all the while, Cullen begins to see what protecting those who need it is truly like. 

Cullen opens up to Imryll about his withdrawals. She tells him she supports him not taking lyrium again and encourages him not to. While suffering from a terrible spell, Imryll uses a healing spell to alleviate his headache and it triggers a memory from Kinloch. He freaks out at Imryll, who he scares off. He and Imryll don’t speak for a few days until he goes up to her and explains what happened. Imryll then says that if they are to be good friends they must always remain transparent with each other and learn boundaries and communicate well. Cullen agrees.

Cullen quitting lyrium inspires some of his troops to leave the order and quit lyrium. To be able to cope and deal with it, Cullen asks if they can have a rehab clinic in Skyhold. Imryll agrees.

As Cullen’s friendship with Imryll deepens he realizes he’s falling in love with her. Unsure what to do and already assuming she will never feel the same way he tries to shove the feelings aside despite Imryll showing signs of reciprocating. 

As time goes, Imryll’s relationship with Cullen’s lieutenant worsens because of the decisions she makes as the Inquisitor. The Lieutenant and Imryll get into a fight when Imryll allows the mages to make their own separate army group, as the lieutenant feels it will make them corrupt with power. He calls Imryll slurs and tells her that she has no right being a leader because of who she is. Cullen publicly calls him out, to which the lieutenant responds he is only doing because he wants something from Imryll. Cullen tells him he is doing it because it’s the right thing to do, and that the lieutenant should not speak or Imryll or any elf or mage in the way again. When he refuses to apologize, Cullen kicks him out of the Inquisition. 

Meanwhile, Imryll struggles with learning how to be a Knight-Enchanter. She questions her self worth and her bravery. Cullen comforts her, telling her she is the best person he knows. He tells her she is brave because of how she still continues to fight and to lead the Inquisition, not in spite of who she is, but because of who she is. He offers his support.

During the Shrine of Dumat, Cullen is hurt badly after attempting to keep a Red Templar Shade from Dorian. He refuses care, saying the others need it more. Imryll insists he does and asks if she can use a healing spell to alleviate the pain of his bruised chest. He lets her. Amidst this, they share a kiss and cements their romantic relationship.

Cullen and Imryll’s romantic relationship flourish and for the first time in his life, Cullen feels he’s found someone he can have a healthy love with. He also finds he has friends - real friends, which he hasn’t had in a long time.

During Samson’s capture - memories flash back and threatens Cullen to slip. This makes him realize that his say on the matter is biased and lets Imryll and the others choose what to do with him. (Imryll conscripts him but doesn’t have Cullen handle him, she has another recovering ex-Templar work with him and spend time in the rehab they’ve built in Skyhold).

When Imryll chooses Leliana as the Divine, Cullen shocks his former colleagues when he says he approves of the choice.

After Corypheus’ defeat the idea of the rehab clinics begin to spread and open up in other places - which begins to open conversation about how the Chantry exploits their own Templars.

Following the events of Trespasser, Imryll disbands the Inquisition. With land Cullen inherited from his parents he and Imryll build another rehab clinic as well as a place for former Circle mages to find a home in, and learn how to live lives outside the Circle (this post is Cullen-centric so I’m not gonna write a long thing about it but in my canon Divine Leliana and Vivienne find a middle ground and build centers/schools where abandoned and former Circle Mages can find a home in and learn, without them being prisons)

And scene! If you reached this end thank you for reading all that. A lot of the later stuff is mainly skipped over because this focused more on how Cullen changes - the repercussions from his actions and how he actively shows the changes.

[kessielrg]

[DA+KH] Bashful

Summary: Inspired by @chibi-mushroom‘s Dragon Age AU for the Kingdom Hearts series, in which Anora (OC/KHUX Player stand-in) meets a mysterious Orlesian merchant named Brain and the duo immediately hit it off. [established Ephemer/OC][hinted Brain/OC][pre Act 1 of Dragon Age 2]

Rating: K+

Word Count: 2,015 words

If you like this story, please reblog!

-

Walking alone in Lowtown gave Anora goosebumps. No small wonder, really, what with her being a woman, and a mage, and being about the right size to simply snatch up without a second glance. She had learned by now to keep her coin in a small burlap sack, wrapped tightly around her wrist and close to her body at all times. If worse came to worse, she could use it as a makeshift weapon.

Every hawker shouting to draw attention to their pop up shops made her flinch. It was almost too loud. It was never this noisy in the Circle, and it had been even quieter at the rehabilitation retreat Ephemer had been admitted to for awhile. At least she could still be fairly invisible in Lowtown- assuming no one tried to kidnap her first. Anora did her best to avoid most of the noise. She eventually found herself at a modest stall that held some basic supplies on offer.

The young woman bit her lower lip as she looked over the potions and wares for sale. She didn't notice that the seller of these items was arranging a few more expensive items in the back. She didn't hear the sound of an odd mewling from something inside the stall, drawing the attention of the stall's proprietor. Anora still barely registered when he came to the front of the stall, looking her over without a hint of bias.

“Is there anything I can interest you with, madam?”

Despite being a gentle, warm voice, Anora nearly jumped three feet in the air. She looked up at the merchant with wide, terrified eyes. She was greeted with gentle ones staring right back at her. No shame, no judgment, just a genuine curiosity.

“Oh, no, no.” the young woman stammered, backing a little away from the stall. Her face was starting to grow hot. Why was she blushing? She wasn't that embarrassed. Was she? “I was just looking to sell some excess healing potions I had. Nothing special.”

“Is that all?” the merchant mused with a teasing grin. He fingered the tip of his fedora and tipped it to her. “Well, I could take a look at them for you. I pay pretty fair coin for a good commodity.”

Anora shrunk a little. She did say she was looking to get rid of her excess health potions. This merchant also seemed to be rather nice. When was the last time anyone was that nice to her? Even Ephemer had to hide how much he cared when he was with the other Templars. Despite herself, Anora carefully placed her burlap sack on the counter, ready for him to inspect her potions and poultices.

“Before we do business,” the merchant spoke up, offering his hand to her, “Let's introduce ourselves proper. My name is Brain.”

“Brain?” Anora repeated in surprise.

To this, the merchant gave a light chuckle. “I have many other names, but I wanted to know how that one would sound on your tongue. Ferelden, right? Kirkwall's seeing more of them by the day.”

Still unsure on why she was so bashful, Anora quickly nodded her head in agreement. Her own arm extended to accept Brain's hand shake.

“I am Anora.” she carefully said.

“The pleasure is mine, Anora.” Brain smiled; his hand gently clasped in hers, and it gave it three shakes before breaking them apart. “Now, let's see what you have in that little rucksack of yours.”

There was a polite little nod from the young woman before opening her sack of healing items. Brain let out a low whistle at the sheer quantity of them. The vials that held the potions gave off a warm, comforting glow as the vial itself revealed the bright red liquid inside. The poultices were made with just as much care; each placed inside a steel tin and wrapped with colored cloth- a date written in black ink indicating when she had made that particular poultice.

As Brain looked over everything, a cold chill ran up Anora's spine that made her look over her shoulder. It almost felt like someone was watching her. Sure, many of the Templars at Kirkwall knew she was a mage, and some were sent to watch her while Ephemer trained or was attending to his duties. But she never actually felt them watching her. Some would go out of their way just to escort her from place to place. Perhaps not kindly, but they definitely didn't hide what they were doing. None of them would try to hide from her if they were sent to watch either, come to think of it. Would they?

“These are neatly made.” Brain noted- succeeding in scaring the young woman for the second time that day. “Not perfect, of course. But pure elfroot? That stuff's in hot commodity around here. It'll be potent, if nothing else.” He then set the potion down to look her over. “Almost too potent for a tiny little waif like you. Are you trying to cure a dragon or something?”

A nervous laugh escaped Anora's lips. In a small voice she admitted, “I am the caretaker to one of the new Templar recruits.”

“Ah.” Brain nodded. “May I ask how?”

The young woman shrank a little as she shook her head. “Long story.” she told him- her voice even smaller than before. Brain observed her, slightly tipping his hat upward.

“Very well then,” he decided with a shrug, “I'll be the last person to judge a person's past.”

Anora offered a faint smile in thanks. For a moment, the merchant simply admired her before turning his attention back to her wares. There was quite a bit of silence between the two as Brain looked over everything. Possibly several moments in, Anora started to hear an odd mewling sound from inside the stand, but Brain had ignored it. The mewls grew louder until something suddenly leaped onto the shop counter.

A shriek almost escaped the young woman's lips when all she saw was something gray with black spots. Brain was immediately at attention, but in finding what had jumped up, he laughed at her. Anora took a moment to regain her breath before realizing that the creature was a snow leopard. But… much smaller; possibly not much smaller than a standard cat. It didn't seem like a kitten, though, and it certainly looked like the pictures of adult leopards in the zoology books back in the Circle. Her demeanor easily went from surprised horror to complete bewilderment.

“Are you afraid of animals?” Brain teasingly asked her, petting the snow leopard.

“I... had a sheltered childhood.” Anora informed him with a wary voice. “But I don't remember leopards being so… tiny, though.”

Brain gave her a little smirk, giving the little leopard a rather absent stroke along its back.

“Ragnar's a special case.” he told her with a bemused voice. “All the fun protective natures of a snow leopard, scaled down to nothing more than the size of a house cat. If you'll believe it, he was the largest of his litter.”

Anora cocked an eyebrow at him, turning her attention back to the small creature. At the time, the snow leopard, Ragnar, turned its attention to her as well. The pygmy leopard left its master to better scope out the newcomer. It sniffed at Anora with interest- something that she tried rather hard not to recoil at. When Ragnar started to rub his head against Anora, the young woman very carefully started to pet him. Ragnar seemed to enjoy this; a small purring noise could be heard from the creature.

“Huh.” the merchant wondered. He placed a hand at the back brim of his hat, tilting it upwards a bit. “He doesn't usually take to strangers that easily. Must really like you...”

“Is that bad?”

Brain looked up at her- a small twinkle shown in his eye as he said, “No. Not at all. It just means that you're destined for great things.”

Anora's eyes grew wide as she looked up at Brain. “Y-you're joking!” she stammered. It was a bit hard to tell, but there was a small blush placed on her cheeks from embarrassment. “You're just saying that!”

Brain let out a light chuckle, throwing up a hand in promise. “Swear on my life it's the truth.” he told her. “And on the official adoption certificate from the Black Emporium. Would you like to see it?”

“No thanks...”

“Suit yourself.” Brain teased with a shrug. “Now, where were we before getting so rudely interrupted...”

Brain continued to go through what Anora had brought with her. As he pulled out a piece of vellum, an inkwell, and a feathered pen to write out a receipt of sale, Ragnar gave a disinterested stretch before deciding to take a nap on the counter. Anora kept her attention more focused on the little snow leopard than to Brain- who was trying to tell her how much coin he was about to give her. He laughed when he caught her near grimace, and he didn't break her thoughts as he gently placed what he owed her into her sack.

“Well,” he finally announced as he tied off the sack for her, “I suppose we're done here. It was nice doing business with you, Anora.”

That finally got Anora out of her trance. Was it really time for them to depart so soon?

“How much longer are you going to be at Kirkwall?” she asked, almost a bit too quickly.

“I might be around for another week or two.” he said to her. “I've finally found good help with my main shop in Val Royeaux, so I'm not expected back immediately. If I give them a fair enough warning, I could linger behind for a bit longer.” Brain then tilted his head at her and gave her a sly smile. “Why?”

Anora immediately looked away. “I-I...” she started to stammer, “I was just curious. It gets rather boring waiting for E- my Templar to finish with his training or duties.”

“You can't wait by Templar Hall for him?”

“Another long story.” Anora bitterly informed him. Brain gave an understanding nod in agreement.

“Business in Lowtown is usually pretty slow.” he then informed her. “Perhaps I could put in a request to change locations to the Gallows for the rest of my stay. Those Templars are always buying potions and such- I might actually turn a profit for once.”

Anora's eyes widened in surprise. “You don't have to do that!” she said. But the merchant only laughed.

“Anora-bird, if the street walkers around here were half as pretty as you, I'd reconsider. But as it stands, I could use a change of location. Perhaps we'll meet up again soon. Who knows in a backwards town like this?”

Again feeling her face heat up in a humble bashfulness, Anora offered Brain a polite little nod. She once more wrapped her burlap sack tightly around her wrist -now a bit heavier from the coin he had given her- before starting to head back. The young woman barely looked up as she scurried to Lowtown's main entrance- and it was by accident that she bumped into someone on the way out. She looked up at who she had run into, and nearly staggered back in a horrified shock.

“Knight-Commander!” Anora gasped. “I-I didn't see you...”

The Knight-Commander did not answer her. Instead, he chose to glare at her with an unreadable expression. Anora let out a nervous laughter as she moved away from him, hurrying back to Templar Hall. With an arched eyebrow, Sephiroth watched her leave before turning his attention to Brain. The merchant, who had been observing Anora for a moment as she parted, had turned his attention to the poultices and potions she had given him. As he admired the slightly glowing mixtures in their bottles, he absently gave his pygmy snow leopard strokes along its back. At this, Sephiroth's eyebrows furrowed.

“Interesting.” he decided, in monotone, before also making his way back to Templar Hall. “Very interesting indeed.”

[buttsonthebeach]

prompt: lucius and ashara form a loving healthy polyamorous relationship w/ laurence breadman. ellana and solas find out. GO

SO WHO IS READY FOR THIS

It’s only been 84 years since you sent this prompt but I wanted to finish Reckoning first! (Speaking of which, this has spoilers for Reckoning.)

Tagging @empresstress13 per your interest in Breadman!

My Ko-Fi || My Commissions

Pairing: Ashara Lavellan x Lucius Talvas x Laurence Marchand (OC x OC x OC)

Rating: EXPLICIT! The smut is short but it’s there, and it is a m x m x f threesome. You are warned.

*********

They met Laurence at the party where they themselves reconnected. His cakes were the dessert, and he had run late perfecting them all, so he was still there when they arrived. He was carefully arranging each one on a tiered display, his eyes narrow with focus. He was a big man - broad through the shoulders and soft in the belly - and he very nearly intimidated both of them when they first saw him. Then he saw them sidling up to the table, and his face broadened into a wide grin.

“Ah, pardon my intrusion. I am Laurence Marchand, the baker of these fine goods. I am simply making sure that everything is exactly as it should be. May I tempt you with something, monsieur…?”

“Talvas,” Lucius said.

“Well met, Monsieur Talvas. And this beautiful lady is…?”

“Ashara Lavellan,” she said. She flushed to hear herself called beautiful. Months of war had not left her much time to think of such things.

“Lavellan - I believe your esteemed mother is the reason I am here, mademoiselle. Unless of course it is madame?” From another man the comment might have been leering, but from Laurence it just seemed curious. Warm.

“It’s mademoiselle,” Ashara said, even as her hand drifted to Lucius’s. They’d kissed on the balcony and it had been a kiss full of meaning after two years apart, but they hadn’t tested the depth of that meaning yet. She wanted to leave the party and twine herself around him and never let go.

“Well, you must thank your mother for me again. And if you like the cakes and you want some more, you must stop by my new bakery. We open next week. I think if I have such a handsome man and such a lovely woman present, I’ll be sure to draw customers.”

Again, it was a comment that might have put Ashara back on her heels if it had come from someone else. But from Laurence it just seemed - sweet. She glanced at Lucius and saw that he had that pleased, embarrassed look he always got when someone praised him, and she wanted to kiss him at once, right there, her Lucius and his sweetness. She was pleased that someone else saw what she saw, even if it was a stranger.

“We’ll stop by,” she said, because the night was full of promise, and she was alive, and she was happy, and so was Lucius, and so was Laurence.

*

Laurence’s new bakery was quite close to the central market square, a prime location that Ashara did not doubt Mamae had helped him secure. Despite his claim that he would need a handsome man and a lovely lady to help draw in business, there was already a modest crowd. There was a selection of fresh rolls and baguettes, and some sweeter additions more similar to what he’d served at the party. He recognized them at once as they walked in, hand in hand.

“Monsieur Talvas! Mademoiselle Lavellan! I am pleased to see you. Come, sit. You must try this coffee I have just brewed and give me your honest opinion. I ground the beans myself this morning. I fear that I ground them too fine and that some made it through the press and into the coffee itself.”

Ashara and Lucius sat, held hands on top of the table, because they did that now, three weeks into this new beginning. This new version of themselves that was an us. Lucius rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand and smiled whenever she glanced his way. The coffee was good, but Laurence was right - he’d ground it too fine, and there was a siltiness to the brew, like river water. He tsked and took the small porcelain cups back.

“I shall try again, if you have the time. And you must try this chocolate croissant with the next batch.”

“We have time,” Lucius said. It was true. They had nowhere else they needed to be. There was a looseness in Ashara’s spine she had not felt in months, and it was the looseness of time.

The crowd had thinned by the time the next batch was ready, and Laurence sat with them as they enjoyed it. This one was perfect. Rich and hot and chocolatey, just like the croissant.

“You will have to tell your mother to come here,” Lucius said. “She would love this.”

“It was her suggestion, in fact,” Laurence said. “She is a very good woman, your mother.”

“She is,” Ashara said, full of pride.

“And she raised a good woman,” Lucius said. He was more bold now than before, at least with such expressions of affection. He seemed to sense how much she needed them after everything that happened.

Laurence looked between them, warmth in his hazel eyes. “We should go out, the three of us. One cannot help but to want to bask in such happiness. And I am still new in this city. What do you say?”

“Of course,” Ashara said, because she was happy, and life was full of promise and sweetness (and she wanted more chocolate croissants).

*

It was after the third time they went out with Laurence - not counting the times they stopped by his bakery, which was fast becoming a favorite among many residents of Enasan - that they first began to realize that he was interested in them. In both of them.

They’d gone out to a pub this time, and they’d drunk expensive Fereldan whiskey, which Laurence promptly declared inferior to Orlesian brandy, but it still made him giddy enough to drape one arm around each of them at different points in the night. To get a high red color on his ruddy face when Ashara leaned in and planted a kiss firmly on Lucius’s neck. They were all a little drunk.

“You are both so lovely,” Laurence had murmured then. Their legs were close to his under the table. “I cannot help but wonder if -”

“If?” Lucius asked.

Laurence looked away suddenly, waved his hand. “It is nothing.”

But Ashara knew it was something. She knew it because she’d started to feel it too, when they were with Laurence. They fit with him in a way they did not fit with other friends, like Haleir. So she decided to be bold when she and Lucius went home, still tipsy. It was a new life. A time to take chances.

“Do you think Laurence intended to ask us to bed tonight?” she asked when they were home. Lucius was already down to his smalls, getting ready to collapse into bed. He paused.

“You caught that as well?” he asked, turning to her. “I thought - well, I assumed it was just the whiskey addling my brain. But it did cross my mind that he might mean that.”

Ashara pictured it in flashes. Her own brain was still addled with whiskey but they were there. They had not known Laurence for long but he was so warm, so confident, so at ease - so different from herself and from Lucius, with their fears and anxieties and constantly moving minds. And he was handsome, and wouldn’t it be an indulgence to have both of them on her, their lips, their hands, their legs -

“And what did you think?” Ashara asked, mouth dry. “Or - what would you think, if he asked some other time, and I said yes?”

Lucius rubbed the back of his neck, cast his eyes down. There was a tenting beginning in his smalls, a rising, a filling.

“Well - I did notice other boys sometimes. In the Circle. But you know me. I was never crazy after sex. I noticed the girls too. But after those first couple of times, realizing I didn’t enjoy it if it didn’t mean anything - and with Tevinter being less open about men loving other men - I  never pursued it. But he is very handsome, and I do -”

Ashara was already in front of him, pushing back on his shoulders so he sat on the bed, kneeling between his legs, taking him in her hand. He gasped, grew to full hardness in her grasp.

“But you might like it?” she asked. “You might like him? If he did this to you instead of me?”

Lucius swore in Tevene. She pumped him, probably a little too quick, a little too rough, but she could feel him pulsing.

“Or would you want to touch him?” she asked. “Do you think he would feel good in your hand?”

Lucius only groaned, gripped the sheets tighter, flexed his hips up and into her touch. She tugged, tugged, kept everything quick and tight, and he came, loud and moaning with every burst of it, his spend hot on her hand. She licked him clean at the very end and he pulled her up, held her close.

“I love you,” he said. “I love you so. I would never want anything to change that.”

“I agree,” she said.

He paused. Then: “But - I wouldn’t mind seeing where it goes. With Laurence. I’m not ready for anything drastic yet. I want to know him better, first.”

“Of course. And I love you, vhenan. So very much.”

Lucius smiled, and he kissed her, and they went to bed.

*

Laurence had been serious, it turned out. He made the delicate overture again, a couple of weeks later, sober this time, while they were all relaxing in one of the parks after taking in a show at the theatre.

“I truly enjoy the time I spend with both of you. I do wonder if - you consider our time together as special as I do,” he said.

For all his bravado and confidence, there was some nervous in him in that moment. Ashara reached out and touched his knee.

“I - I think we do.” She glanced to Lucius, caught his quick nod. “Both of us. I think - I think we’d like to continue seeing each other. To get to know each other even better, maybe. If you would like that.”

Laurence beamed, bright as the coffee press he polished every morning in his bakery.

“Good,” he said.

Something in the air shifted for the rest of the afternoon. The teasing was more romantic. Hands brushed more often than they should have. Ashara kept studying Lucius, anxious for his reactions, and saw that he felt the same giddiness they did. As they prepared to part ways that evening, Laurence took both of their hands and kissed the back of them. He did not do it with a flourish or a simpering air like the Orlesian courtiers Ashara had known. Instead he did it with genuine tenderness. Genuine eagerness.

“I must admit, coming to a new city and managing to find myself falling in love with a couple instead of one person may be the most Orlesian thing I have ever done,” he said. “But for once, I think I am happy to live up to the image everyone has of my country.”

Falling in love.

Ashara and Lucius turned those words over that night, in bed. Falling in love. They made love, and they both imagined him there with them, both came panting and shivering with the force of their pleasure.

This was not what Ashara had imagined at all a year ago, fresh from the horror of Clermont. It was not something she had ever really imagined. It was a little overwhelming at times. She had a million questions about how it would work, what it would mean, what people would think (though she cared about that least of all). But if she had learned one thing in her experiences, it was that she had to take happiness wherever she could find it. And she was happy when Laurence and Lucius were smiling, holding hands with one another. She was happy when she and Lucius woke warm and sleepy and burrowed into their covers to keep sleeping just a little longer. She was happy working at the university.

She was happy, and she wasn’t going to let that feeling go for anything.

**

They waited until Lucius felt comfortable before they went any further than kissing, cuddling, wandering hands. It was worth the waiting. Ashara would never forget the sight of the two of them, naked, marveling at each other’s bodies, so similar and so different. She would never forget the way Lucius asked if Laurence would show him what pleased him, the way Laurence guided Lucius’s hand to his cock (shorter, thicker than Lucius’s own, Ashara wanted to touch it too) and showed him the rhythm he liked best. She would never forget curling up behind Lucius, pressing him between Laurence’s body and her own. She would never forget when Laurence oiled his hand and wrapped it around his cock and around Lucius’s and stroked them both together, how both of them gasped and groaned, how their kisses got more and more sloppy. She would not forget the sound of Laurence’s hand working them both faster and faster, the slick tap tap of it, the way they writhed against each other. She kissed and kissed Lucius’s shoulder, ran her hand along Laurence’s face, told Laurence to keep going, said she wanted to see them come like this.

She would never forget the way they both shuddered and groaned and rutted into each other as they came, the glorious mess they made of each other. The way they rested their foreheads against each other and just studied one another afterwards.

“Je t’aime,” Laurence said, soft, the words only for Lucius this time. They did not spark any jealousy in Ashara, though. Only joy.

“I love you,” Lucius said.

Ashara grinned. She cuddled them close. Her two men.

“I do think, though,” Laurence said. “That we are being very rude right now. Our poor beautiful Ashara has been so patient while we learn each other’s bodies. Won’t you show me what she likes best, amour?”

Lucius smiled, rolled over, kissed Ashara hard on the mouth. He sat back against the headboard and held Ashara between her legs and he told Laurence how to use his mouth to drive her wild, how to lick slow and careful all around her aching clit until she couldn’t take it any longer, until she begged him to suck on it. How to fuck her roughly with his fingers while he sucked her there, until she came, and she did come, she came so hard she keened and left marks all over Laurence’s shoulders, so that his square jaw was covered in her slick when he sat up.

“Perfect,” Laurence said, grinning. “You are both perfect.”

“So are you,” Lucius said. They were both right.

***

It was not always easy, for all that it was perfect. There were language barriers - Laurence struggling to communicate in Trade all the time, wishing bitterly that one of them spoke Orlesian, finding Lucius’s Tevene accent confusing. Laurence’s (admittedly casual) Andrastianism occasionally giving him pause, too. Lucius sometimes wanted time just to himself, and that could be difficult for Ashara and Laurence alike. There was the matter of where to spend each night, how to balance the needs of their various jobs.

And, finally, there was the matter of what to tell family.

Ashara’s parents had gone to live with Clan Lavellan, and they had not been back since. They knew she and Lucius were together, of course, and she had mentioned Laurence several times. Mamae was the one who brought him to Enasan, after all. She was pleased to hear updates on his business, and to hear that he had become part of Ashara’s life. But she hesitated to tell them the true extent of things. Neither of them were terribly judgmental people, of course - but still. Ashara did not know any other lovers quite like her and her men.

But they were going to visit them for a midsummer festival, and so soon there would be nothing to do but to tell them.

Ashara stalled and stalled - what if Papae was just as displeased with Laurence as he had been with Lucius at first? What if the more traditional elders of Clan Lavellan disapproved? - but finally her mother asked if Lucius was coming with her one night while they visited in the Fade.

“Lucius is coming. And Laurence too.”

“Oh? I am surprised he can take time away from the bakery.”

“Well, it’s important for him to come.”

Mamae arched one eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because we’re lovers,” she said. “The three of us. We’re in love.”

Mamae’s other eyebrow went up to join the first. She studied Ashara for a moment. Then she burst into laughter.

“Oh, da’vhenan. You went out and got yourself a Tevene first, and then you got yourself an Orlesian, too? What’s next? A qunari?”

Ashara’s anger was flame-hot.

“This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you. Who cares if they’re both human, or where they’re from - they’re good men and I love them! Laurence is so good at living in the moment, at reassuring Lucius and I, and - Lucius has always been there for me - and we’re very happy, and if you can’t accept that, then -”

“Ashara, Ashara. Atisha. Listen to me. I don’t care at all that they are human. Your father and I both remarked recently that you seem so happy now. I’m just laughing because I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I tell him.”

“He’d better not be mad. Or treat Laurence the way he treated Lucius.”

“Don’t worry. I can’t promise he won’t grill Laurence at least a little. But he’s taken up smoking elfroot now when he gets stressed, you know. I’ll just make sure he has plenty.” Mamae cupped Ashara’s cheek with her right hand. “And I will make sure there is enough room in your aravel for all three of you. I am so happy, da’vhenan. All I want is for you to be happy, too.”

And they were happy.

No one in Clan Lavellan raised an eyebrow at the three of them. Papae narrowed his eyes at Laurence now and then, asked probing questions about his family and his beliefs about alienages and his feelings about the Chantry and about mages. He smoked some elfroot. And then one evening when he was alone with Ashara by a dying campfire he smiled his gentle, quiet smile and said.

“I am happy for you, da’vhenan. And I think you make both of them very happy, too. Hold on to that as long as you can.”

Ashara smiled the same smile back.

“I will.”

And she did.

[visceralcoma]

MEA CULPA, Chapter 1

Relationships: OC/Felix Alexius, OC/Clemence

Story Summary: The first time Paloma felt like she might make a difference, was purely an accident. In all her years on Thedas, it took accidentally steeping the wrong flowers into a tea for her to feel like her life here had meaning or worth, or that she remotely had any power to change anything of what she knew to come.

Chapter Summary: When the Grand Enchanter began negotiations with Magister Alexius, it resulted in the Arl and their servants being run out of the castle. Leaving the running of the castle to the apprentices, tranquil, and Tevinter slaves. Apprentice Paloma and Tranquil Clemence happen to be tasked with running the kitchens when Paloma has to cover for her an ornery mage in delivering breakfast to one Tevinter mage suffering blight sickness.

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When the servants of Redcliffe castle refused to serve the Tevinter Magisters that had all but invaded in their attempt to “talk” with the rebel mages, they were dismissed as quickly as Arl Teagan and Arlessa Kaitlyn had been kicked out as well.

Grand Enchanter Fiona was subsequently too quick to offer the tranquil and apprentices in their place for the remainder of the Tevinters’ stay. Anything to appease their would be allies.

The problem, however, was very few mages had experience on such domestic tasks, as the Circle made them reliant on tranquil and the Templars. Those that did were few and far between. A fact they learned when the mages retreated to Andoral’s Reach, many mages had to take up the task of domestic duties. There were few who had the forethought to grab recipe books from the archives, a few who remembered their youth in their family homes, and those who had lived as apostates. There were the tranquil that came with them of course, but hunting was a necessity in order to supply meat and well…that’s where the apprentices came in.

Nonetheless, mages and tranquil were now tending to Redcliffe castle.

Paloma just so happened to be one of those assigned to kitchen duties. As an apprentice a few years off from her Harrowing when the rebellion began, she had little practical purpose beyond preparing herbs and rote memorization.

“You are awake early.” Clemence greeted as he walked into the kitchens. Clemence had been her mentor on alchemical procedures in the circle. The Tranquil were often used to guide the young apprentices.

The smell of freshly baked bread and a morning stew so the Tevinter guests could break their fast had wafted into the main hall.

“More like I haven’t slept.” Paloma sighed as she kneaded the last batch of dough. She huffed a stray lock of hair from her face, not wanting to stop what she was doing to tuck it back. It persisted to hang in her face.

Clemence came around to her side, expression muted and neutral as ever. He reached and tucked the lock back. His fingers lingering over the curve of her ears, tracing the scarred flesh where he once remembered they were pointed.

“Thanks.” Paloma smiled brightly at him. His face showed nothing, no response, but Paloma didn’t need a physical reaction to know the nod was his form of acknowledgement.

“What kept you from your slumber?” Clemence asked. “Was it the new tincture draft?”

“You read my mind.” Paloma aggrieved as she tucked the dough ball neatly before quartering it, tucking them until they were smooth balls, and setting them into their own bowls for rest with a towel over them. “I think my dried arias are losing their efficacy. The tainted mice didn’t respond as well as the last batch. Plus I need to collect more Andraste’s Grace, but with the kitchen duties…” Paloma tossed the dough on the counter roughly.

“And the increasing level of mage and templar skirmishes.” Clemence reminded.

“Yeah. A lil difficult to head to the Kocari wilds, not to mention the darkspawn alone.  You think they all would have fled back underground with the Breach.” Paloma wiped her brow with her forearm. The stray lock coming loose again.

“It would be negligible to allow you to venture that far south with the increase in darkspawn raids.” Clemence taste-tested the stew and added a pinch of salt and a few more herbs and spices. He stirred once and tasted a sip.

“Hey, that’s going to be a bit too strong.” Paloma came around to stop him.

“Tevinter cuisine preferences are heavily reliant on spiced sauces and stews.” Clemence informed.

“Really?” Paloma came to a pause beside him. “Can I try?”

“If you wish.” Clemence intended on grabbing a second spoon to allow her to taste, but she grabbed the one he had sipped from. He blinked in surprise. “Ah.”

“Ooh.” She moaned. “That’s got some heat! A much better addition.”

“Is it?” Clemence looked down at the vegetable stew.

“Yes! It’ll go perfectly with the rice.” She praised.

Clemence was unused to receiving praise. The Templars only cared for when his potions and cooking was done. A tickle in the back of his mind had him wishing he could smile in return, even if he did not feel the same excitement. But alas, the Rite prevented that.

The kitchen door opened with a disgruntled grunt from Linnea as the milk buckets sloshed and barely remained upright as she slammed them down. “Next time, you’re collecting the ram milk.” Linnea hissed at Paloma.

“Hey, you drew the short stick.” Paloma tutted as she grabbed the buckets to fill the milk churns. One for the larder and one for butter.

“I wasn’t joking.” Linnea growled as her hand lit with flame. “I’m not getting near that thing again.”

Paloma shared a disbelieving look with Clemence.

“Perhaps I should inform our Tevinter guests of your unwillingness to cooperate as a cohesive kitchen unit?” Clemence didn’t blink, merely continued to stir the stew with his monotone voice even. It wasn’t a threat if you heard it in passing, but Paloma knew it to be a threat. There was no tone or inflection, but the words were clear enough to her. And thankfully to Linnea.  

“Tell your Tranquil pet to be quiet.” Linnea barked and left the kitchen.

“Hey! He’s not my pet! And you’re supposed to be bringing up the young master’s tea!” Paloma called out the door into the hall, yet Linnea turned a corner down the stairs. “Shoot.” She eyed the tray she had prepared for it. She still had another batch of dough to prepare.

“I will deliver the tea.” Clemence stated. “You have much to do and you arrived before us.”

“No you don’t. The last time you showed yourself in the great hall, they took great offence. I can’t imagine if you did in Magister Alexius’s private quarters.” Paloma tutted and pushed Clemence back to the hearth. “Just begin preparing the servings. I’ll be quick.”

“If you insist.” Clemence stepped to the iron stove where a cauldron had been sat filled with freshly cooked rice. He carried it closer to the hearth and besides a stack of wooden bowls. With a wooden spoon he quickly filled each bowl. Half with rice. Half with stew. It was packed and set on the serving carts.

Paloma on the other hand was opening a jar with a dried tea powder concoction. She measured out according to a tacked up piece of parchment, exactly three scoops into a parchment pouch and tied it off before adding it to a kettle. As it boiled, she sprinkled in lyrium dust and stirred. It took five minutes to prepare, then she let it simmer for ten before serving it into an enchanted teapot to keep it warm. She set it on a special tray, where Clemence also placed a bowl of rice and stew, freshly baked bread roll, a cluster of grapes, sugar cubes, and lemon slices.

Paloma eyed the grapes, plucking the withering and wilting ones, before nodding. Utensils and linen napkin set on, it was ready to deliver.

“I’ll be back down.” Paloma pushed the door to the stairs open with her hip.

“I await your return.” Clemence watched her go. He stared at where she’d been kneading dough long after she had left. If the efficacy of her arias were waning, it would do well to jar them for preservation, much like they did the berries and fruits.

“Clemence.” Lysas knocked as he entered the kitchen, beside him was another elven mage who was slight and young. “I bring you Banon. He will be assisting you in the kitchens. He has only just arrived. Grand Enchanter Fiona requests he be given simple tasks for now until we can place him in the library.”

Banon stepped in after Lysas. Clemence took one look at him, and then down to his hands. Soft skin, ink under his fingernails, and paper cuts.

Where was a mage still performing archival duties as to have ink under his nails? He squinted but nodded.

“You can assist with the fruit preparation.”  Clemence nodded and directed Banon to the precision knives.

“Fruit preparation?” Banon asked with a frown.

“The Tevinters prefer the fruits are presented for breakfast as such.”  He pointed to the image Paloma had drawn. A cornucopia of grapes, assorted imported bananas, mangos, and berries.

“How queer, so much effort when you can just grab the fruit from a pile.” Banon huffed.

“They are particular in their aesthetic appeal of their foods at banquets and in personal.” Lysas smirked. “Some would say they are worse than Orlesians.”

Banon shivered. “No one can beat the Orlesians in that respect.”

“You will be surprised.” Clemence droned.

“I leave you in his care, Clemence?” Lysas’s gaze flicked toward Banon’s hands with meaning.

“Of course. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, including under your fingernails before handling the fruits.” Clemence stared long at Banon.

Banon looked down at his hands.

“You don’t really expect me to take orders from a Tranquil?” Banon spoke up.

“I expect you to aid where you can in these trying times while the Grand Enchanter negotiates with the Tevinters on our behalf.” Lysas leveled him with a stern look, daring Banon to talk back.

“Hmph.” Banon frowned before moving to the sink where he cleaned.

“Besides, Clemence gives no orders.” Lysas smiled softly.

Clemence pulled the other needed fruits from the larder.

“Oh…” Banon looked between them. “Well good.”

“I only remind of that which needs to be done. Be it by you, me, or the others.” Clemence expressed. “It matters little on who performs it, only that it is done.”

Banon wiped his hands dry. “Right…”

“Here are the fruits. Please prepare. The breaking fast banquet will begin soon.” Clemence set the fruits down and returned back to plating the rice and stew, with bread set.

They lulled into silence as they worked. Clemence noted Lysas’s continued presence. He was looking around the kitchen and then down the hall.

“Is there anything else, Enchanter Lysas?” Clemence questioned.

“Where is Linnea?” Lysas frowned.

“Linnea left in a fit of rage after having had to milk the rams this morning.”

Lysas looked down the hall. “And where is Paloma?”

“She has gone to deliver the young master’s tea.”

Lysas frowned, his body rigid as he quickly paled. “Oh dear.”

Paloma ascended the steps carefully, slowing when needed. She reached the third floor of the castle and walked down the hallway.  She didn’t know exactly which room only that it was the one opposite the library in the royal wing. Paloma adjusted her grip on the tray as she passed a Tevinter slave standing guard. She wore little save for the spiked collar around her neck, some cloth underneath that leading down to her chest in a criss-crossed fashion, a belt and long loincloth, leather gloves, and her shoes. Her sun darkened torso and thighs entirely on display. She stared ahead without a helmet to hide her face.

“Um…” Paloma tried not to stare as she passed. They slaves were not allowed to speak to the mages, so she knew not to ask them. But that didn’t mean the slaves didn’t stare. “I need to find the library.” She squeezed out around a held breath.  

The slave stared long at her. Paloma considered just opening each door, until the slave turned her head and stared at a door three down from where they were.

“Th-thank you.” Paloma smiled and plucked a few grapes from the tray and held them out to the slave. As soon as the slave grabbed them, Paloma was quick to keep moving. Else the slave end up in trouble.

She found the door and peeked inside to confirm it was the library. Lifting the tray again, she went to the other door, feeling that slave’s gaze hard on her as she knocked. It was quiet, until she heard a faint invitation to come in.

Paloma pushed the door open and walked into the dark stale smelling room. The only light being from the hearth and a bedside candle. She didn’t dare look, instead wishing to drop the tray off at the table and retreat, but a cough had her looking toward the bed, toward Felix.

He was a lot paler than she recalled.

He let out a wheezing cough as he caught her gaze with his incredulous one. “You’re new.”

“Oh- I…” Paloma wanted to apologize but the young man devolved into a coughing fit as he tried to climb out of the bed. He gripped a bedpost to steady himself.  

Quickly she poured his tea and crossed the room to his side. “Please sit, drink your medicinal tea.” She gently guided him back into bed.

“You shouldn’t come close.” He wheezed as she set the blankets over his lap.

“Why?” Paloma already knew why that was. “Are you sick?”

He gave an amused huff. “Yes, very much so.”

“Oh dear.” Paloma deadpanned, looking from his pallid complexion, reddened nose, and bloodshot eyes. “I hadn’t noticed.”

Felix’s grin was wide as he laughed, which turned into coughs as he clutched his chest.

“Drink your tea.” Paloma tutted as she helped raise the cup to his lips. His grimace told tale of how awful the taste was, but he drank it all. “Yes, I’m sure it’s quite bitter.”

“But its taste is a marked improvement from the powders.” Felix sighed as he settled back on the bed. “I find I can’t quite stomach to swallow them without liquid.” He muttered. “The tea’s texture is much more preferable.”

“You should consider having the powders pressed into capsules.” Paloma suggested as she stepped back finally. “Are you wishing to break your fast in bed or the table?”

“Bed please.” He spoke automatically but was caught on one word.

Paloma grabbed the tray.  Her fingers working quick to pull the legs out to prop it up on the bed.

“Capsules?” Felix squinted.

“Pardon?”

“What are capsules?” Felix questioned again.

“Oh.” Paloma froze. Had she mentioned something they didn’t have yet? “Ah… using the uh powders, if you press them tightly with binding agents, they’re much easier to swallow whole instead of ingesting powders.”

“Huh.” Felix squinted. “I don’t believe my father has tried that yet.”

“Well I certainly hope he may. Will that be all for this morning.” Paloma wanted to return to the kitchen quickly.

“No. Uh…” Felix looked at her and then smiled. “I must say you are certainly a sight better than the last serving girl.”

“Linnea does take some getting used to.”

“She was rather brusque.” Felix mused. Silence lapsed between them.

Paloma looked toward the door. She had so many more duties and things to bake for supper and then evening meal. And she desperately wanted to discuss with Clemence alternative methods of prolonging the efficacy of her herbs. “If that is all?”

“I don’t believe I caught your name.” Felix asked at the same time.

“Pardon my manners, sir! I am Paloma Belpre.” Paloma gave an overly formal bow with a playful smirk. Felix chuckled at her antics.

“I am Felix Alexiu-” He introduced himself but stopped when Paloma’s smile grew wider. “And you already knew that.”

“Almost all the rebel mages are aware of who you are and…” She trailed off and winced.

“Ah I take it my condition has been the subject of gossip?”

“Well...I don’t wish to get anyone in trouble, but...the walls have quite a lot of ears.” Paloma didn’t want to get anyone in trouble just because she knew many facts of things to come and things that are.

“And they whisper quite readily.” Felix sighed and eyed the tray of food. “Thank you for the morning meal, and my tea.”

“It was no trouble, sir.” She nodded, gave a quick bow and left.

Paloma walked down the hall quickly only to see Lysas coming down the other way hurriedly.

“Thank the Maker, there you are.” Lysas huffed as he jogged to her and checked her over.

“What’s the issue? Is something wrong?” Paloma asked.

“No...I…” He paused and looked at the female slave watching them. “I just need to make sure you return back to your kitchen duties.”

“Oh. Of course.” Paloma eyed him. His shoulders tense and his skin paler than normal. They walked down the stairs and back toward the kitchens. “Care to explain?” She asked once they were within eyesight of the kitchen.

“While the Grand Enchanter negotiates our potential alliance with Magister Alexius, she has urged that no apprentice, especially an elven one, be left alone with any Tevinter magister.” He spoke lowly.

Paloma stilled. “I am not an elf.” She stated simply. “But I do see the danger in apprentices being alone with any magister.”

Lysas bit his tongue, not wishing to correct her initial reaction. He was well away of her self-disfigurement. But it was neither the time or place to handle that. “Thank you. I will speak to Linnea on her abandonment of her duties. In the meantime I will have Keili assigned to the kitchens with you.”

“Keili?”

[kirkwall-on-fire-blog]

In-Character Interview

Rules:

1. Choose a character

2. Answer as them

3. Tag 5 people!

I consider myself tagged by @allisondraste because yes.

I will probably be returning to this later on because, honestly... I have too many OCs and love to talk about them all.

I’ll tag: Uhhhhhh I don’t actually know how tagging works?? (RIP me). An also I feel like I’m so late to this that everyone has done this already, so... I’ll tag whoever wants to be tagged! Because honestly that’s how I ended up doing this so might as well, right? Spread the OC love! <3

Elisse Cousland is up first~!

What is your name?

"Elissora Eleanor Valerie Margaret Cousland! Or, um, Elisse for short. Yes, Elisse will do just fine! Honestly...”

Do you know why you are named that?

"Father had a penchant for overly long and complicated names, I suppose? I do notknow, to be honest. Fergus likes to tease that he, Aedan, and I were all named this way so our first initials spell FAE, but... That cannot be true, right? Right?”

Are you single or taken?

"Umm both? Maybe? I am uncertain. It’s... a tad strange, being in a relationship with a spirit-- Ah, former spirit, sorry Cole! Still, I would not trade him for the world. Whatever the state of our relationship, I am quite content with it.”

Have any abilities or powers?

"I can shoot really well! It’s funny, I picked up a bow after the whole ordeal with Arl Howe because it reminded me of Mother, but after a while I felt... empowered? Yes, that is the word. It feels good to be able to protect yourself for a change, and protect others, too. I will not be a child in need of a rescue again.”

Stop being a Mary Sue!

"Why, I would never! What has Mary done to you, anyhow!? You leave her alone this instant! If you have a bone to pick with me, that is one matter, but I will not have you dragging some poor girl’s name through the mud! Humph!”

What’s your eye color?

"Blue. Mother used to say that mine looked like a calm midsummer lake, while Aedan’s looked like ice. ...Fergus has brown eyes. Teehee.”

How about your hair color?

"Hazel brown, thank you very much! All Couslands are brunettes, though I happen to have the lightest shade of hair between my siblings. Too much time spent in the sun, Mother used to say.”

Have any family members?

"Plenty! Is... what I would like to say, but at this point... It’s just Fergus and me. He’s doing rather well with his new wife, so maybe there will be more little Couslands running around soon? It would be lovely to hear children’s laughter in the old castle.”

How about pets?

"Leo offered to give me Aedan’s old Mabari, Pup, but somehow that doesn’t feel right. He chose her as his new master, you know? I wouldn’t want to break that bond. But she did promise me a puppy as soon as the new litter is born, so hopefully someday soon!”

That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like.

"Tight spaces. Dungeons. Fire... Those things bring back some bad memories. I’m sorry.

Also, Queen Anora. I really, really hate Anora. Humph.”

Do you have any hobbies/activities that you like to do?

"I practice my archery skills quite often. Sometimes Sera and Varric join me, and Mahariel showed me a few neat tricks that one time. Other than that... Pulling pranks with Sera is quite a bit of fun, though it does get us into trouble a lot... I spend much of the remaining time in the infirmary. I may not have magic, but my first aid skills have improved considerably since I joined the Inquisition.”

Have you ever hurt anyone in anyway before?

"I... hope not. I’ve tried my very best to leave no reason for anyone to be upset with me, and yet... I am certain there is someone, somewhere, who was hurt by something I - or the Inquisition - have hurt. Inquisitor Adaar says it’s unavoidable, but still, it’s not a pleasant thought.”

Ever…killed anyone before?

"Yes. Out of necessity only, and never out of selfishness or greed. I will not allow myself to sink to the level of Howe and his men.”

What kind of animal are you?

"A hawk. Aim far, strike fast, spread your wings and fly away from things that hurt you.”

Name your worst habits.

"I, uh, may stick my nose where it does not belong... I just can’t help it! What if someone is hurting and I don’t know about it? What if someone is upset at me!?”

Do you look up to anyone at all?

"Oh, plenty of people, of course. I am still young, still inexperienced, and thus I have much to learn from people greater than me. My parents and my brothers were my greatest source of inspiration growing up - and still are, in many ways. Warden-Commander Amell is another, and so is Inquisitor Adaar, and the Hawke twins, and Lady Vivienne, and Dorian, and... Oh, but I’m rambling, am I not. Sorry.”

Are you straight, gay, or bisexual?

"Neither. I am proudly asexual, thank you very much. After everything that happened to me in Howe’s dungeon... I think I would prefer to relationships of the mind and soul, and not the body.”

Did you attend school?

"When I was a girl, I was taught by Aldous, the old historian in my parents’ employ. After the Blight, Cousland sent me on an exchange program to a girls’ school in Orlais. The education was... decent, but the company rather horrid. They thought me strange when I refused to wear a mask and went out to practice my archery! Hmph! Stuck-up aristocrats!”

Ever want to marry and have kids some day?

"That’s... I know it’s expected, me being a noble and all, and if Fergus cannot produce an heir then it will be up to me to fill that role, but... I would rather not. Have kids, that is. At least not at this time. There is too much turmoil in the world, and I would not want my children to suffer the way my brothers and I did simply because the world is not a kind place. As for marriage... Maybe, someday. I admit, the thought of walking down the aisle in a while gown does make my stomach fill with butterflies...”

Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

"Do supporters of the Inquisition count? I know those are not strictly mine - if anything, they cheer most for Inquisitor Adaar and Felandris - but still. I have received several offers of marriage recently, but those hardly count, no?”

What are you most afraid of?

"Sometimes I think that this is all a dream. That one day I will open my eyes and I’m a little girl again, alone in Howe’s dungeon. Except this time, Leo doesn’t come barging in through the door to rescue me, and my brother doesn’t kill the Archdemon, and I will just die in that dungeon, without anyone ever knowing where I am or what became of me...”

What do you usually wear?

"If there is anything good about Orlais, it’s their scout uniform. It’s so sleek and yet so practical!”

What is one food that tempts you?

"I would die for just one more taste of Nan’s home-cooked pig roast. No one makes it quite like she used to.”

Am I annoying you?

“No, of course not! What would make you think such a thing?”

Well it’s still not over!

"I’m ready and willing to answer all your questions!”

What class are you (low/middle/high)?

"Technically, the second highest after the King and Queen. The Cousland family is quite renowned, and quite close to the Crown, after all. Especially after all Aedan did to save Ferelden from the Blight. We live in a castle, we have servants - all the typical assets of a noble family.

“But as for myself, I would like to think I can live a middle-class lifestyle quite well. I don’t much care for the fanfare and ceremony of the upper class. Especially the Orlesian upper class. Ugh.”

How many friends do you have?

"Good question... Does the entire Inquisition count? They are all such good people, and they have been so kind to me this entire while... And of course there’s Leo, and Alistair-- er, King Alistair, and all of Leo’s Warden recruits, and... even Teyrn Loghain, I suppose. Okay, I know he supported Howe and what he did to my family, but still... He died a hero. And that’s what counts. Aedan believed in him, I think, so I will too.”

What are your thoughts on pie?

"Mmm, pie... Oh, dear me, I didn’t mean to drool!”

Favorite drink?

“Lemonade! It’s so refreshing in the scorching heat of summer.”

What’s your favorite place?

"Back in the day, there was this tree in the back of Highever Castle. The branches up high were bent in a weird way, almost like shelves. I used to climb up there and watch the servants scurry around trying to find me for hours. Aedan was the only other person who knew about how I hid up there, and he used to sneak me snacks and random things to play with. It was almost a second room to me.

“Nowadays, I like to sit on the roof of Haven. Watching the Inquisition members from up there is just as entertaining. Aedan is gone, of course, but... Sera and Cole bring me snacks now.”

Are you interested in anyone?

"W-Well, I...! Maybe...? It’s... quite complicated, but... A-Ahem, might we change the topic, please?”

That was a stupid question…

"Aww, don’t feel bad! It was a cute question! i’m just... not good with being caught off-guard, you know?”

Would you rather swim in the lake or an ocean?

"A lake. I’ve done so quite a few times when visiting Redcliffe, too! The ocean, on the other hand, looks quite terrifying, and far too deep for me to ever hope to find a foothold. What if it carries me off? I am quite fit, but not to the point of being able to swim for days!”

What’s your type?

"The slim kind with feathers at the tip to silence its movement through the air! You look confused. We are talking about types of arrow, aren’t we?”

Any fetishes?

"Nope. End of topic.”

Camping or outdoors?

"What fun! I can run around outside for hours! Or, at least, until I trip over something, or a branch whacks me in the face... But I do love to camp.”

[thuviel]

OC Interview Meme

I was tagged by @anarchyduck, thank you!

I’m tagging @szczypiorku, @sssamson and anyone else who wants to do it ^^

I’ll do the interview for my newest DA:I OC, Ailis! :D

1.       What is your name?

“Ailis Trevelyan.”

2.       What is your real name?

Her eyes narrow. “I know what you’re asking, and no I’m not telling you, that name is dead to me. If you really wanna know, go look up some registry of House Trevelyan or whatever.”

3.       Do you know why you were called that?

She smiles. “Not many people get to choose their own name, you’re all missing out on how wonderful it is. After I left home, I was taken in by a Chantry sister in Ferelden. She told me of her mentor, Mother Ailis, who aided King Maric during the rebellion against the Orlesians, and later tutored his son, the Prince. She sounded like the most remarkable woman, and I wanted to be like her, so I chose the name Ailis for myself.”

4.       Are you single or taken?

“Taken by the best scout I’ve ever met, she taught me everything I know about scouting and showed me so much more about life, I owe her so much.”

5.       Have any abilities or powers?

She smirks. “I can hit the bulls eye of any target anywhere with my arrows before you’ve even found your bearings.”

6.       What’s your eye color?

“Kind of a light amber? Well, my left one anyway, as you can see, my right eye is very pale, it’s nearly blind.”

7.       How about your hair color?

“Black, runs in the family. Well except that one weird uncle I rarely meet, we all used to gossip that he was the stable master’s kid really,” she trails off into a chuckle.

8.       Have you any family members?

“Well the Trevelyan noble house is huge, I have more relatives than I can keep track of. But for my immediate family, there’s my parents and my younger sister... and brother.”

9.       Oh? What about pets?

“I have my beautiful girl of course! Never been a more clever scout mabari in all of Thedas!”

10.   That’s cool I guess, now tell me about something you don’t like.

“Oh there’s a lot of things I don’t like. Oppression, injustice, betrayal.. Oh, you mean like food? Red meat, can’t stand that stuff. Well, unless you cleverly hide it in a reeeeally good stew maybe..” 

11.   Do you have any hobbies/activities you like doing?

“I love reading books! Especially history books. Especially history books about Grey Wardens. Grey Wardens and thrilling heroics..” she looks away shyly, suddenly embarrassed.

12.   Ever hurt anyone before?

“Oh yes, but they all had it coming. You don’t hurt others, you got no problem with me.”

13.   Ever… killed anyone before?

“... when it’s necessary.”

14.   What kind of animal are you?

She looks perplexed. “I mean, I’d say I’m a human.. but if you’re asking me what animal I would want to be, definitely a griffon! Can you imagine that? Being able to soar through the skies, with strong talons to rip any threat apart.” She gets a dreamy look on her face. “Well I guess it’s almost the same as a dragon I suppose. But griffons are fluffier!”

15.   Name your worst habits.

“Aside from always trusting the wrong people? I don’t know, I tap the table or tree or whatever I’m sitting next to quite a lot, apparently that annoys people.” She suddenly realises she’s been tapping the table for the whole interview and looks at her hand. “-oh! Sorry!”

16.   Do you look up to anyone at all?

“I look up to Mother Ailis a lot, as I mentioned before. And the Grey Wardens, I really want to be as brave and heroic as them. And since joining the Inquisition I’ve met plently of new people I look up to, there’s the Inquisitor, and of course my beautiful Lace, I hope to be as good a scout as her someday.”

17.   Sexuality?

“Bisexual!”

18.   Do you go to school?

“Well not since I was 18. Also I kind of don’t live at home anymore, haha. But I miss learning, our teacher was such an enthusiastic person. We used to get into hour long discussions about some historical figure or another..” she gets a wistful look in her eyes.

19.   Do you ever want to marry and have kids one day?

“I’m not sure I would ever be ready to raise a kid, but I would like to marry one day I think.”

20.   Do you have any fanboys/fangirls?

“I had this stable boy follow me around for two whole years back at the Trevelyan estate. He always kept asking me questions about everything I did and learned, almost a bit too disrespectfully when talking to a noble, but that never bothered me. I think he wanted to be like me?”

21.   What are you afraid of?

“Betrayal. It’s my biggest fear. I’m so afraid of trusting people, anyone at all, because I’m terrified of being betrayed again.. going through that pain again.”

22.   What do you usually wear?

“Some good leathers always go a long way! Slim trousers and some leather armour is perfect for scouting, none of that big clunky metal armour to slow me down.”

23.   Do you love someone?

“Yes,” she smiles. “Never thought I would dare again, but Lace showed me that I can still trust people after all of this, and I am always grateful for that.”

24.   When was the last time you wet yourself?

“Excuse me? What kind of interview is this? How is it even relevant? Anyway, I can’t remember any time I have actually.”

25.   Well, it’s not over yet!

“Please be over soon, though.”

26.   What class are you? (High class, middle class, low class)

“I used to be a noble. Then I was homeless and living off scraps. Now I’m doing well enough with a job and a home in Skyhold, so I’d say I’ve been part of every class at this point,” she laughs.

27.   How many friends do you have?

“A few. Less than I used to, but more than I thought I could have again.”

28.   What are your thoughts on pie?

“I love pie! Oh please say you have a pie hidden somewhere! You can’t just specifically mention pies and not have one for me!”

29.   Favorite drink?

“Tea, it’s so calming. A nice, strong smokey black tea, it makes any foul day better.”

30.   What’s your favorite place?

“A library. Any library really, but the one back home was the nicest one. It has a cozy little reading nook and candles everywhere, oh I could spend hours in there.”

31.   Are you interested in someone?

“I have all I need right here, why would I be interested in anything else?”

32.   What’s your bra cup size and/or how big is your willy?

She gets thrown off by the question, and then she glares. “You are lucky I agreed to this interview by insistence from Josephine, or I would punch you in the face. I suggest you steer away from questions like this, or this interview is over.”

33.   Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?

“Both are fine, the ocean is pretty cold though, so I prefer lakes.”

34.   What’s your type?

“I don’t have a type.. I think?”

35.   Any fetishes?

“Yes, it’s called How about you stop asking invasive questions?”

36.   Top or Bottom? Dominant or Submissive?

“Seriously, I’m warning you.”

37.   Camping or indoors?

“Indoors. I like being out in nature, but the indoors is much more comfortable. Not to mention all the damage the outdoors does to my books.”

38.   Are you wanting the interview to end?

“Please tell me it’s over.”

39.   Now it’s over!

“Oh, thank the Maker.”

[vhyral]

I am new here, and I would like to meet these purported ocs of yours. Tell me some things, please. :)

!!!! GLADLY

I’M SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT, SO SORRY. Are you ready, this is going to be long. (Please excuse the lazy doodles. I wanted to do better but the past few days turned out very busy.)

The ones I love/think about the most are my Inquisition kids, Fahlron and Feynras Lavellan. 24 years old in the beginning of Inquisition. They’re twins and Feynras is the Inquisitor. The both of them were sent to spy on the Conclave together.

Fahlron’s a hunter, a rogue and he’s a brutaly honest kind of person.Can’t stand laziness or incompetence. Takes good care of the people close/important to him (secret mother hen type). A worried brother but not to the point of suffocating his sister. Tries his best to assist her and the others even though he’s grumpy by nature. Doesn’t get as angry as fast as one would think by staring at his face. Velvety voice. Learns to write during Inquisition (thanks Dorian).

Feynras is an elemental mage with fire affinity that has trouble controlling her fire and thus has developed a more physical fighting style. A+++ shields, knight enchanter that prefers to turn her staff into a spear by materializing a blade on its top. Spirit healer™. Left her clan at the age of 16 to see the outside world through a dalish underground network that collects information from human cities to keep the clans informed and protected. Can speak three languages.A nice, bright girl that tries her best to remain happy despite all the shit she has been through.

My Surana! Calassyria is a prodigical mage with an affinity for force magic and entropy. She undertook the Harrowing at the age of 17, proceeded to get into Jowan’s mess against her will and was forced to flee Kinloch Hold with a blood mage even though she had never wanted to leave before. (She doesn’t remember anything of the outside world since she was taken to the Circle at the age of four. In my worldstate, Duncan never visited Ferelden’s Circle.) 

She and Kellen (said blood mage) roamed Ferelden’s villages for a few weeks, trying to gather info about where the Chantry keeps the enchanters’ phylacteries in Denerim but soon decided to flee to Kirkwall because of the Blight. There they signed their first few assassination contracts and travelled to Orlais for a little bit to undertake bigger jobs for orlesian nobles. They returned to Denerim later during that year, after having gathered solid info about the phylacteries but ended up taking part in the Battle of Denerim as well. Burned down the Chantry’s catacombs while the fight raged. Kind of resurrected Calas’ cousin in the Alienage (the Tabris origin).

Joined the Inquisition for a tiny bit as independent agents under Leliana’s orders (dirty, dirty work, we don’t talk about it). Are currently two of the most well paid assassins in Thedas and pretty in demand in Tevinter.

She has force punched a dragon. She and Bull are very good friends.

A read more cause this is getting long.

MY HAWKE, I LOVE HIM

Garrett Hawke, 26 when he fled to Kirwkall, 36 in Inquisition. Has two extra sisters, both younger than him cause I’ve merged worldstates with friends. Still has his father’s mabari, Her Higness Ma'am Barkly the First, a very old, slobbering, friendly dog.

Probably possessed by a greed/lust demon that makes him eat everything that’s on plain sight or at least that’s the rumor in Kirkwall. Thunder mage. The biggest bean, the best bean. Everyone’s best friend, always there when you need him. Suffers from intense self blaiming/loathing. Had to make Carver a Grey Warden. He punched Cullen (a couple of times) when Bethany was taken by the Templars. Romanced Anders.

He stayed in the Fade in Inquisition, willingly.

My Warden! Evianna Cousland. 19 to 20 in Origins. 1.85m tall (6ft 7??? I’m not sure when it comes to feet and inches, sorry!) An obedient daughter that was granted quite a lot of freedom for a noble lady. A great rider, a Rohirrim-level rider.

What motivated all the way to slaying the archdemon was a very, very intense sense of spite. The need to take revenge for her family. SPITE cause Loghain left them behind to die and she could see the tactical advantage of that specific choice but he appeared so blindsighted during the entirety of that year that she was not going to have that man claim her country’s throne or let it get consumed by the Blight.

Asexual (biromantic). Would do anything for a griffon. Most of all she misses Sten and Shale (Zevran too but him she sees a lot more often than anyone else.) In a shared worldstate with warden Aeducan and warden Mahariel. Current whereabouts, unknown.

Characters that could do with some more development but are still here with solid backstories:

Antony and Lycoris Trevelyan: Siblings, 26 and 29 respectively. Half Nevarran, half Free Marchers (half asian from their father’s side). Lycoris is a bard, an old friend of Josephine’s, while Antony is/was a Templar and one of the first to join the Inquisition. She had arrived at the Conclave as her family’s representative and he came as one of their older brother’s, the Ostwick’s Grand Enchanter’s, escorts. Lycoris works as an intermediate between Leliana and Josephine, mostly taking care of the Inquisition’s supplies and foreign affairs. Josephine’s right hand. Antony is there to offer his fire power to a cause he believes in and to be the soul of Herald’s Rest whenever he’s in Skyhold.

Nehn Alerion: A wandering dalish, member of the Guides, the group Feynras joined when she became of age. He is one of the dalish elves that spent years roaming human cities, gathering info and making sure nearby clans are aware of guard patrols, templar routes, the safest roads to migrate, etc. Mage, has his own unique style of combining hand to hand fighting techniques with his magic, a tradition he inherited from his clan of origin, clan Alerion. (He is actually a very distant cousin of Merrill.) Has saved many mage children from alienages.

Hahl’enan: Half-blooded Qunari (father was an elf), the first qunari grey warden. Visits Skyhold after the Inquisition accepts the Wardens into its folds. Once the Warden Commander of the Anderfells. 40 years old. Usually seen with Muffin, his fennec fox, on one of his shoulders or between his horns.

Eirelan: Obscure dalish(?) hunter that moves between clans and wears an unknown red vallaslin. Always using a bow and arrows but some dalish whisper about him being a shape-shifter. Origins unknown.

I hadn’t talked about some of them for so long, this was such a good chance, thank you??!! I love them all and I really hope you enjoyed reading all this random info about them. :D

[long-liv-prairies]

Neither Angels, Nor Demons, Nor Powers

Chapter 106 - In Camp - 8,057 words - AO3 Link 

Big thanks to @ladydracarysao3 for letting me use her OC Abner from her fic, In Love, Serenity, for this chapter! It was super fun to work with you to bring her into my own world. Everyone should read her fic!

Cullen strolled through the camp, sweating slightly in the damp heat. He couldn’t understand why it was so hot this far south, when winter had just started. There had been reports of strange weather across Thedas ever since the Breach opened. The early spring in Skyhold, freezing in Sahrnia, and now a lengthy summer in southern Orlais.

It meant the leaves were still green and clinging to trees, and the underbrush was thick and difficult to fight through. At least the warmer temperatures meant his soldiers weren’t freezing, and they could spend less time chopping firewood and less resources on food to keep people warm.

People were everywhere, setting up tents, unloading wagons of supplies, stacking weapons and armor in stockpile ready for distribution. A line of people were still spilling into the forest, and they likely wouldn’t stop trickling in until sundown. Mages and healers were setting up stations for healing, and the horses were being seen to by Dennet and his stable hands. Cullen quickly looked away from the brown old man as he found himself seeking Naomi’s tall frame and brown head among them.

They were not ready yet, but by the next day he would be sending units into the forests after Corypheus’s red Templar army, hopefully putting an end to them, finally, after so many months.

Cullen approached the table where Leliana and Josephine had already gathered, taking the map he was handed from Leliana.

“My scouts have been mapping the forest,” she said with her Orlesian lilt. “There are few paths through the trees, but they have marked the easiest routes. A shallow river cuts through the forest a few miles north. It is where the bulk of Corypheus’s forces have been moving.”

“And Corypheus himself? Samson?”

“There has been no sign of them.”

Cullen frowned. He had expected the blighted magister and his general to have arrived. But perhaps it was a good sign. Corypheus had not yet found what he sought in the elven ruins scattered among the trees.

Cullen studied the crudely drawn map, mind racing through possible approaches to the battle. “The battlefield is spread too far,” he said, placing the map back on the table so the women could see. “There is no way to concentrate our attacks for maximum impact.”

“Morrigan believes they are searching the forests for this eluvian,” Leliana continued. “The red Templars have been pushing deeper each day. My agents have harassed them, slowed them down. But that meant driving them apart, where their numbers could be better handled.”

Cullen nodded. It had been their plan, after all, to slow the advance of Corypheus’s forces until they could arrive to stop him. But now they were here and so was Corypheus. “It’s time to start bringing them back together,” Cullen told Leliana. “Have your agents begin herding these far flung groups back here,” he said, indicating the area to their north, centered over the river. “Our troops will be better able to handle a more concentrated target. I’ll send some units out myself, to start squeezing them in. We don’t want any surprises coming at us from behind.”

Leliana nodded. “I’ll send out my runners immediately.”

Cullen turned to Josephine. “Any new developments from our allies?”

“Gaspard’s chevaliers should be here by tomorrow, and Celene arrived earlier today. She would like a chance to speak with you and her captains to coordinate battle plans.”

Cullen nodded, pleased. It would make the campaign easier on his own troops having the support of the Orlesian army and the returned chevaliers. He thanked the Maker Nassella had managed to bring these factions of Orlais back together before this point. He was starting to feel more optimistic about their odds.

“Is there anything else?”

Josephine fiddled with her ledger, then sighed. “Yes, there is one other matter.”

“Which is?”

She pursed her lips, then abruptly turned to walk away. “Perhaps I should just show you,” she said over her shoulder.

Cullen stared at what she had wanted him to see, not entirely certain he could believe his eyes. In front of him, coming down the path that had led them into the forest, was a line of trebuchets.

He turned to Josephine, realizing his mouth was hanging open. “What is this?” he asked.

Josephine shook her head slightly, though a small smile crossed her face. “I called for our allies in Orlais to respond to our needs in this battle with supplies, gold, or men. The Comtesse d’Argent sent these.”

Cullen looked back at the trebuchets, now closer and even larger, the tops of their arms brushing against the low hanging branches of trees. “Does she realize we are in a forest?” he asked.

“I am sure the Comtesse realizes the Arbor Wilds are forested.”

Cullen shook his head, then rubbed at his temples. “And what does she expect me to do with siege equipment in a forest?”

Josephine sighed. “I’m sure she expects you to use them.”

“She would have been just as helpful sending me… puppies,” Cullen grumbled. He looked at the trebuchets once more time then turned away. Orlesians. Absolutely useless, all of them.

“Yes, well, I am certain she meant well.”

“You can tell her it was a waste.”

“I can do no such thing,” Josephine said. “The Comtesse is a close ally of Celene. I will not insult her over a few trebuchets.”

A man in clothes far to fine for a remote forest and wearing a gilded mask approached, bowing to them both. “I am Belmont d’Argent, delivering this gift from my mother, the Comtesse d’Argent.” Cullen doubted this man, more a boy based on the tenor of his voice, had ever been outside his mansion in his life. He certainly hadn’t dressed as if he had, and he probably didn’t know the proper use for a trebuchet any more than his mother. “She hopes your Inquisition will put them to good use.”

“Thank you,” Josephine said, stepping in graciously where Cullen could not. “I am sure Commander Cullen will find a good use for them.”

Cullen shot an unbelieving glance at the Antivan woman, but she glared right back, with a look that suggested he should be polite, or suffer consequences. He could only imagine the number of teas she might make him attend in order to make up for any slight he caused the Comtesse.

So he turned back to the boy and attempted to wipe the frown from his face. “We will use them here, in our main camp,” he said. “Should the red Templars break through our front defenses, they will be invaluable for defending our base.” He had no intention of wasting energy lugging the things through the trees. He would find a spot for them and let them rot.

“Merci,” the boy, Belmont, said with another small bow. “My mother will be pleased.”

“Thank you,” Josephine said to Cullen once Belmont had left. “That is one less political wrinkle I will need to smooth out.”

Cullen got a better look at the trebuchets as they moved past. They looked brand new, and they really were as useful as a litter of puppies in this jungle. At least puppies would grow into Mabari, he thought. “She would have been better off sending the money it took to build these.”

“We cannot always choose the aid we receive,” Josephine replied. “But please, cheer up Commander, I trust that a single Comtesse’s inability to send appropriate aid will not ruin us.”

Cullen let out a long sigh. It could be close. He was feeling more confident in the upcoming battle, but there was still much that could go wrong. “I hope not.”

Cullen returned to his tent late, exhausted from the day of marching, followed by the set-up of the camp. But this exhaustion was not body permeating, and had not threatened to disrupt his ability to function during the entire day. He had finally been able to sleep, for days now, and it made his days significantly better.

And he had Naomi to thank for that. Removing the demons from his mind had not entirely removed the nightmares, but they had been sporadic ever since that night she found his dream, and nowhere near as terrifying or disruptive as they had been for years. He might wake with a start, but he always managed to fall back asleep.

It made being away from her just that much more painful. He wanted to tell her, show her how she had helped him. Apologize, again, for reacting the way he had. Instead, he found himself spending these new nightmare-free and pain-free nights alone.

He was still longing for her body next to his when he prepared to crawl into his bedroll. He always longed for her when they were apart, so used as he was to her presence, and his body responded to those memories of her, to the expectation he now seemed to have of her touch before falling into sleep.

He had never been one for pleasuring himself. When he was younger, yes, he had taken himself to hand, but privacy was sporadic in the dorms, and while that had not stopped many of the other men around him, Cullen had never been quite comfortable without privacy. After he moved to Kirkwall, there had been many years when any thoughts of sexual release were far from his mind.

That was now changed, and Cullen did not hesitate to unlace his breeches and remove his half-hard cock, wrapping his hand around the shaft and stroking until he was fully erect. He closed his eyes and brought an image of Naomi to his mind, naked and lying on their bed, her mouth parted to let past low moans of his name, her hand between her legs. He wondered if she might be in such a position even now, thinking of him while she pleasured herself, just as he thought of her while pumping his length. He wanted to know how often she did it, put her hand between her legs and worked at the center of her pleasure, her fingers growing wet with waves of her arousal, sank those fingers inside her sex to rub along the sensitive walls, imagining the whole time it was his hand there, or his tongue, or his cock…

Cullen bucked his hips, hand sliding from head to base. He gripped himself tighter and did it again, Naomi now straddling his hips, wrapped around his cock, riding him, rolling her own hips languidly at first, but quickly picking up pace. Cullen bit back a moan as be thrust into his hand, imagining instead the hot clench of Naomi’s sex around him, saw clear in his mind her breasts bouncing with every jerk of his hips, her nipples darkened and pearled in the midst of their love-making.

He circled his thumb over the head of his throbbing cock and groaned, pushed over the edge by the friction and fantasy. His body tensed and he spilled hot on his stomach, stroking his cock to prolong the pleasure. Eventually he softened, and he released himself, taking a moment to soak in the glow the exertion had left.

But he quickly grew cold, colder still because Naomi’s body was not pressed hot and similarly spent against him. She was not whispering her love in his ear. It was a release that left him empty instead of full, and Cullen was never entirely satisfied. He would not be satisfied until she was back in his arms.

As he cleaned himself up Cullen wondered if he had overreacted, if perhaps he shouldn’t have kept her from coming with them. They had met no red Templars along the way to the Arbor Wilds, and the main camp here in the woods would be well defended. Naomi could have been safe. He didn’t have to be alone.

But that was selfish. He had no delusions about the upcoming battle; things could go wrong, and this camp could be overrun. Even if they weren’t overrun they could be attacked. Naomi was better off not being there, no matter how much Cullen wanted her in his bed. He loved her far too much to risk her life for better sex before sleep.

He desperately wished to hear her voice though. He wanted, in those moments as he tried to drift to a nightmare-less sleep, the talking devices Naomi had once told him about from her world. With such technology it wouldn’t matter how far apart they were. He would still be able to hear her voice, tell her about the day, the journey, regale her with the story of the trebuchets, hear her laugh, hear of her own days spent in the mountain fortress. He could tell her he loved her every night.

But they weren’t in her world, they were in his. So he imagined all those things instead, and drifted into sleep.

He ran his hand over smooth skin, supple muscles clenching beneath the touch. She giggled and turned a smiling face toward him, bright blue-green eyes meeting his. “That tickles,” she whispered.

He did it again and she giggled louder, back shying away from the touch. “Seriously Cullen,” she repeated through a laugh.

But he didn’t want to stop, so he moved his hand from her back to her side, brushing his fingers along the dip of her waist, then up to her chest, skimming just over the swell of her breast, ending with his hand pushed into the crook of her arm. Her body jerked, a loud laugh falling out of her mouth, and he rose to his knees so he had better access her body to tickle, his other hand joining the fray.

She rolled to her side, attempting to distance herself from his hands, pushing against him. She curled her knees toward her stomach, entire body shaking as she laughed. “Stop!” she cried through her giggling, hands grasping at his shoulders. “Cullen please!”

But he kept going, moving so he could straddle her body and pin her to the bed, running his hands over every sensitive inch of her body that he could, laughing himself at the way she was snorting and gasping, face pinched and teeth flashing white.

And then a hand were flying toward his face, and Cullen was smacked across the cheek with the rogue limb. He sat up, ending his assault and bringing a hand to his face. “Oops,” Naomi gasped, her stomach still heaving beneath him. Then she laughed. “I’m sorry liefje.”

Cullen chuckled back, the slight smart already fading. “I suppose I deserved that.”

She continued to giggle, face radiating happiness as she looked at him. “Yes, you did.”

Cullen leaned down and placed a kiss on her laughing lips, smiling when her arms circled around his back, pulling his body down into hers. After a moment he pulled back and looked into her beautiful eyes, shining with joy.

And he felt happy, and warm, and he thought his body might burst because of the love that filled him looking at her. Everything felt right, felt complete.

“I love you Naomi,” he said.

She reached to stroke his face. “I love you too.”

Cullen woke well-rested and pain-free, his entire body buzzing with a soft warmth. He took a moment to stare at the ceiling of his tent, contemplating what had happened while he slept.

He’d had a dream. That in itself might not be significant, except for the fact that he didn’t dream. He had nightmares, but he didn’t dream.

But the night before he’d dreamt. Of Naomi.

Instead of demons and death, it had been Naomi in his mind. The dreams had been nothing special, just simple flashes of joyful moments, most not even memories, just times when they might be content and happy together. But for Cullen, it was huge. It was everything.

He hadn’t had a dream so good in years. He couldn’t remember the last time it had happened. It was impossible to even consider what it might have been about. Cullen felt a tear slip down his cheek, and he raised a hand to wipe it away, hand shaking slightly. His chest started to ache, and he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

He needed Naomi there. He needed to pull her into an embrace and tell her what had happened, kiss her and thank her for bringing him such happiness, for loving him. It was not a coincidence that she had removed a demon from feeding off his mind, and days later he was dreaming of her instead, the Circle for once just a memory. It was not a coincidence that his first dream was of her.

Cullen sat up and rubbed a hand over his face, his body still longing for the woman who wasn’t there. For the woman who had fallen in love with him, despite his shortcomings, took it upon herself to find a way to alleviate his symptoms, even cure him, and fought for him at every turn. This woman who he loved, more deeply than he had ever loved anyone, and was too far away for him to tell her.

He missed Naomi so much, with every fiber of his being. It was almost painful to consider how much longer it would be before they were together again.

Even more painful when he considered the possibility that he might never see her again. He was preparing to enter battle, and he knew he could die.

He had never feared death as much as he did in that moment. For the first time in years he had something in his future to anticipate, and someone to share that future with. And he couldn’t accept that he might die and leave her alone. Not after everything else she had endured.

Wanting Naomi reminded him of something she had given him, and he crawled to his bag to dig through its contents, until he found the small envelope she had pressed into his hand the morning he left, her eyes bright with unshed tears. He ran his hand over the slightly creased paper, remembering what she had said when they had parted. She had kissed him, desperate, then begged him to come back, to not leave her alone. Against his better judgement, he had promised. She had given him the letter then, telling him to read it when he needed to feel better.

Cullen ripped open the envelope, slipping the thick letter out and carefully unfolding it, eyes skimming Naomi’s rounded and slightly messy script. Then he settled back to take in her words.

 Cullen,

I couldn’t fall asleep after you dozed off, so I decided to write this letter, to make sure that even while we’re apart you have something to remind you of me. I’ve never written anything like this before, but I need to try. You know I love you. I tell you every day. But after tonight, I want to make sure that you understand just what having you in my life has meant for me, and that fighting doesn’t change how I feel about you.

Being brought here was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I was mourning, not only my brother, but the loss of my entire life. I didn’t know yet that the rest of my family was dead, and at one point thinking of them, and knowing they would want me to fight, was the only thing that pulled me back to myself. I actually thought about dying, and that it might not be so bad. That was the only time that has ever happened to me, and it still hurts to think about it. I hate to think of how broken I was in those first few weeks.

Not that things got much better after that. I’ve never been more lonely than I was in the first few months of being here. I made some friends, but aside from Nassella, I was terrified to get close to anyone. And I was still very lost. I loved working in the stables, but it wasn’t what I had imagined my life would be, and it was hard for me to imagine a future here.  All I could focus on was catching up, on learning enough to pass for a citizen of this world, and learning enough so I could survive without the Inquisition.

There were also my dreams to deal with, and the fact that they terrified me, especially after Alec made his intentions known to me in Haven. Sometimes I think I should have died a long time ago because of the way I dream. It was only Solas that helped me through and kept me alive. I know you don’t really like the way I dream, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit sometimes feeling the same. I have found things to love about my dreams, but I know they are dangerous, and I wish that I didn’t always have to be so on guard. Sleeping next to you helps me feel less afraid, knowing that my body is safe.

Looking back on all of this, I realize now just how much you helped me, even in the beginning. We didn’t know each other then, but ever since you brought my brother’s Bible back to me, I’ve felt that I could trust you. And even though we didn’t talk, I think part of me always knew that if I really needed help, if I was really in danger, you would not have hesitated to help me. You don’t know how much easier it made those first few months, knowing that you were in Haven, always just a few yards away from the stables.

And all of that only grew once we came to Skyhold and we actually started to get to know each other. I think I started to fall in love with you that night you found me on the battlements and we looked at the stars. I hadn’t talked like that in so long, about the things that I love and had studied on Earth. I had accepted that I might never talk about those things again, and then you showed up and listened to me. I felt more like myself that night than I had in a long time, and because of you, I realized that maybe I didn’t have to give up everything I loved just because I was in this new world.

We kept talking after that, mostly because I was teaching you some English, but I looked forward to those few hours I spent with you every week more than anything else. It was awkward sometimes, but I still loved it because I felt safe, and because I could be myself. You laughed when I tried to tell jokes, and I guess I laughed back at yours. And playing chess was so much fun, even if I’m a terrible player (I’m still not sure why you kept agreeing to play with me. I really am so bad, haha).

You became one of my best friends last winter. Though I didn’t really think it would be anything more until that day you threw your lyrium kit. After we talked I realized you wanted to kiss me, and I’ll admit it was terrifying. I thought about running away, like I’ve always done in the past. But even after what had happened with Alec (or maybe especially because of what had happened), I knew I couldn’t let this chance by. In you I saw someone I trusted, who allowed me to be myself, and who had been there for me, on more than one occasion, to be sure I didn’t get myself killed in this new world. I finally found the courage to try and move past everything that had happened to me, and I don’t think I could have done that with anyone but you. And I couldn’t have asked for someone more understanding, more patient and gentle when it came to dealing with my past. If nothing else, I will love and thank you for the rest of my life for what you gave me, for what you allowed me to find in myself. Physical intimacy was always something I wanted, and it was because of you that I have been able to experience it, in so many ways. A year ago I would not have imagined spending a night like the one we just had.

Learning about your struggles with lyrium also gave me new questions to find answers for. I know that you can endure anything it throws at you, because you are one of the strongest and dedicated people I have ever met, but I hope that I have been able to help you, even if in just some small way. And seeing this problem, and with the confidence you give me to pursue my interest in science, led me to working with Dagna to make a microscope and return to research. Having a purpose like this again, something to work toward, is more important than I can adequately put into words.

This has already gotten longer than I expected, so I will try to wrap it up. I’m not entirely sure why I wrote out everything that has happened to me over the last couple of years, but now I can see more clearly just how much you have changed my life. Yes, coming to Thedas was horrible, but at every step you have been there to make it better, to push me forward so that I could find a way to make a life here. Even if it was just being a presence that I could count on for my own sense of security, to bigger things, like holding me and letting me cry when I found out my family had died in the Fade, or kissing me when I had finally let my cousin’s actions hold me back long enough, you have shown compassion and understanding and love that I needed.

I love you more than I have ever loved anyone, Cullen. You have always been there, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am now without you. I wouldn’t be the person I am now without you. You are one of the kindest people I have ever met, and one of the strongest. I am in awe of what you overcame after your time in the Circle, and that even if it took time, you decided to return to the good person you have always been. You make me want to fight for my life here, to fight to make it better for both of us, and for everyone else. I will miss you every day that you are gone, and will probably think about you constantly. I can’t help worrying that you won’t return, but I will pray and hope for it to happen with all my heart.

So please, stay safe, and come back to me. It hurts right now, in my chest, to even imagine that you won’t. It’s entirely selfish, but I don’t want to lose any more people that I love.

You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, in either world I have ever known.

With all the love I can give,

Naomi

 Cullen let the letter fall into his lap with slightly trembling hands, amazed he had managed to finish at all with the way his eyes were spilling tears down his cheeks. He wiped at his eyes for the tenth time, drawing in a few deep breaths to calm the racing of his heart.

He had been crying nearly from the beginning, from the moment he had read about her thoughts of dying during those early days back in Haven. He had worried about her then, he knew, but knowing now just how deep into mourning she had fallen, he wished he had tried to do more for her. She was a stranger then, but part of him felt that he should have realized what she would one day mean to him, and fought to make her grief and transition into her new world easier.

But it was foolish to think like that. He had been focused on his work, on the task of building an army from nothing. It was no surprise he had paid little attention to a random woman, even if she was from another world.

How things had changed, over these years. Naomi was now more important to him than any other person in the world. Her well-being was more important to him than his own.

And he was the same to her. He knew he was the first man she had opened herself to, and that he made her feel safe. But he hadn’t realized that he was part of the reason she had returned to her studies, that because of him she had been inspired and confident enough to take up research again. It was perhaps what he found most satisfying about her letter, that he had not only helped her move forward, but that he had helped her be the person she already was.

It was so similar to how he felt of her. She inspired him and encouraged him to move forward, to keep to his course to leave lyrium behind and forge a new life free of the Templars. But she had also reminded him of who he was before the lyrium and the fall of the Circle. Someone who was happy, who was optimistic about the future, who saw the world as a place filled with hope, with light, with a promise that things could be better.

Yet she accepted him as he was, even when he failed. She said he was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Cullen felt just the same, and he realized, looking at her words, wishing even more desperately that they weren’t so far apart, that there was no reason for him to continue to wait.

He wanted to marry her.

He had felt it for a while, this growing surety that Naomi was the woman he should marry. But he had put off the thought, and therefore any decision, making excuses about wanting to ensure she would have a future, make sure that he could promise he would be there.

But he no longer wanted to wait. Should he survive this battle, he needed to be sure that Naomi understood that he wanted her in his life just as she wanted him. That he was ready to devote himself to her forever. If he waited for a perfect time, when the world was entirely at peace, it would likely never come. He had already nearly lost her more than once. He didn’t want to wait any longer.

Cullen looked back down at the letter, heart starting to race again. This was it, his waiting was over. He had met the woman he was going to marry, and he was going to ask her.

James felt a small wave of relief when the camp came into view, and he adjusted the body he had draped over his back. He stepped over the last few roots until he was free of the trees, dodging a horse that was being led around the edge of the camp. The rest of James’s unit started to disperse, and he made his way toward the healer’s tent, the man on his back groaning slightly.

“Don’t worry Denis, we’re almost there.”

The man groaned again. “Took you long enough.”

James shook his head. The man had been irritable since the night before, ever since James had hoisted him on his back to carry him back to camp. Not that the man had been especially cheerful before his leg had been bent and broken during their last skirmish with red Templars, but he’d been especially insufferable afterwards.

“We walked all night to get you back,” James said, ducking inside the tent.

“Not fast enough,” Denis moaned as James slipped him off his back to the floor. Denis’s leg was bloodied and James realized, guiltily, still bent slightly out of shape. One of the healers joined James at Denis’s side, shooting James a small smile.

“Back again I see,” the woman said. James shrugged and the woman chuckled. “You never seem to need any healing. Not even a scratch.”

“I’ve been lucky I guess,” James said.

“Or good,” another women’s voice added from across the tent, in a thick accent James had never heard before. He glanced over his shoulder to see a petite woman with bronze skin and long dreaded hair having her hand looked at by a mage. She gave James a sly smile. “You travel with the Inquisitor. That means yer good.”

James cleared his throat. The dark geometric tattoos covering the woman’s face did nothing to hide how beautiful she was. He wasn’t often distracted by a pretty face, but something about the way this woman was smiling at him made him feel… warm.

“Yeah, I work with Nassella,” he told her. “But that doesn’t mean I’m good.”

“Not many people work with her,” the woman with tattoos said. “Either you know how to fight, or yer sleeping with her, and since I’m pretty sure she’s sleeping with that bald elf, I’m gonna say you know how to use those muscles of yers.” That statement was followed by a generous sweep of her brown eyes over his body, covered in armor, dirt, and blood as it was.

James desperately hoped he wasn’t flushing red. He was pretty sure the woman was just joking, and that she couldn’t really know how he felt about Nassella, but he didn’t like how close she was getting to the truth of his feelings. “Yeah, I know how to use them,” he told her.

She smirked. “I bet you do.”

Before James could process exactly what she meant with that comment, the healer inspecting Denis was pulling on his arm to get his attention. “Quit your flirting and help me straighten his leg.”

“I wasn’t flirting,” James mumbled. But he moved to hold down Denis’s shoulders so the healer could set the broken bone.

Denis cried out in pain the moment his leg was touched, and thrashed out with his good leg, forcing the healer to retreat. “You need to stay still,” James told the man.

“It fucking hurts!” Denis yelled.

“Of course it hurts,” James said through gritted teeth. “But we still need to straighten it.”

When Denis couldn’t keep still during the next attempt, James seriously thought about knocking the man out. “Let me help,” the tattooed woman said, now healed. She grabbed the man’s good leg and nodded at the healer. With a few tugs, the bone was straightened, Denis screaming profanities the entire time.

James was glad to get out of the tent, away from Denis and his complaints. He knew he couldn’t entirely blame the other man; his leg was badly broken, after all. Still, he figured the man might be better at keeping the pain better contained.

“Should have shoved a stick in his mouth for him to bite on,” the tattooed woman said as she followed him out of the tent. “My ears are still ringing.”

James chuckled. “His leg was broken pretty bad.” He looked down, surprised at just how short she was. The human woman was barely taller than Nassella, though he could tell she was packed with muscle. This close, he could see the dark metal ring that looped through the septum of her nose.

The woman scoffed. “I’ve had worse injuries after a turn in the sheets.”

James frowned. “Really? That shouldn’t be… painful.”

The woman laughed. “It can if yer doing it right.” James didn’t know what to say to that, though he was sure she must be joking, at least a little. She laughed again. “So you heading out on another patrol?”

“Not until tomorrow,” James told her.

She grinned. “Perfect.” Then she walked away with a wink, hips swaying slightly as she did.

James rubbed the back of his neck. He hadn’t intended to flirt, but she certainly had been. He watched her disappear behind a tent, staring at the swing of her ass the entire way.

Maybe he should have tried to flirt back.

But they were in the middle of a war camp. It wasn’t really the most appropriate time to try and pick up a woman for a night. He didn’t even know where they would go.

He went to find Cullen and give him a report on the mission. The blonde man was leaning over a map, surrounded by scouts and officers, just as he had been every day since they had arrived. James joined them around the table, Cullen giving him a small nod to acknowledge his arrival.

“Our attacks are working. The red Templars have been steadily moving toward the river valley. Tomorrow we will begin our sweep, before they can reach that temple deep in the forest in force. Start putting into place your plans for the assault.”

The scouts and officers trickled away, and Cullen stood tall, placing his hand on the pommel of his sword. “You’re back,” he said, giving James a small smile. “How was the sweep?”

“It went as planned. We actually destroyed the entire camp and all the red Templars that were there. No casualties, though we had one broken leg and a few flesh wounds. Everyone should mend just fine though.”

“Good, good,” Cullen said, moving a few metal pieces on the map. “Any sign of Samson or Corypheus?”

“We didn’t see them,” James said. He pulled a scrap of paper from his belt and handed it to Cullen. “But we found these orders from Samson to the men in the camp. He’s out there somewhere.”

Cullen glanced over the paper, frowning. “Yes, he’s here…” He looked back at the map, shaking his head slightly. “But nowhere we have been.” He moved a few more pieces. “He must be deeper in the forest then, where we haven’t been able to reach.”

“We’ll find him when we start pushing deeper in tomorrow.”

“Yes, I imagine we will,” Cullen said, standing straight again. “Thank you James. Take the night off. Once we attack tomorrow, it will be some time before you will have a chance to sleep, much less relax.”

“Will do,” James said, turning to walk away.

“Wait!” Cullen called after him. James looked back at the older man, who had started to blush, and was rubbing at the back of his neck. “I had a… question,” he said.

James stopped. “Yeah?”

Cullen kept rubbing at his neck, staring back at the map. “It’s about a custom from your world.”

“Ok…” James responded, returning to the table. “What kind of custom?”

“This is… personal,” Cullen continued, avoiding James’s question. “And I would appreciate it if you kept this between us.”

“Sure,” James said, wondering why Cullen seemed so nervous.

“Right,” Cullen said. Then he took a deep breath and dropped his hand to his side. He met James’s gaze. “How would a man ask a woman to marry him on your world?”

James felt his mouth drop open. “Marriage?”

Cullen started to turn bright red. “Yes, I… intend to ask Naomi to marry me, and I wanted to do it in… a way that she would recognize. So if there is something specific I should say, something I should do, I would like to know.”

It took a moment for James’s thoughts to clear from the shock, during which Cullen shuffled nervously. “You… want to marry Naomi?”

Cullen stopped his shuffling, and a small smile turned up the corner of his mouth. “Yes.”

“Wow,” James said, leaning his hands against the table. Cullen wanted to marry his sister. His sister was going to marry Cullen. Cullen was going to be his brother-in-law…

“I hope that will not be a problem,” Cullen said. He had started to look worried.

“No, no of course not,” James said, realizing that his reaction was not exactly ideal, that he was coming across as upset. “I was just surprised. I think this is great. I’m happy for you guys.”

And he was. Naomi deserved to be happy. She deserved to be with someone like Cullen. Someone who clearly loved her.

“Good,” Cullen said, relaxing. “So… what do I do?”

James wondered why Cullen was wanting to do this now, when he was preparing for battle. Though, James realized it was probably because they were preparing for battle.

“Well, first you’ll need a ring.”

James found himself relaxing by a fire that night, sitting next to Bull, the rest of the Chargers scattered around, along with an assortment of people he didn’t recognize. They’d long since finished the stew that had been kept warm by the flames, and were now just enjoying the company of friends before they entered one of the largest fights of their lives.

“Ready for tomorrow?” James asked Bull.

The giant Qunari chuckled. “I’ve been ready for days. No more of these tiny skirmishes, I’m ready to get my axe stained with some red Templar blood.”

“That’s one way to look at it,�� James said.

“You feel different?”

James took a deep breath. “I’m ready to destroy these bastards and stop Corypheus. This is how we have to do it, so I guess I’m looking forward to that.”

Bull chuckled again. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to that too. But you might as well enjoy the fighting along the way.”

“Yeah, I guess,” James responded, watching the pulsing glow of the embers in the fire. He didn’t think he would ever enjoy fighting as much as Bull did. The Qunari relished every battle, every kill that he made. James could never love it like that, but he did appreciate the rush of adrenaline that came with every altercation, when he got into the flow of battle, and let his training and instincts take over. It felt natural now, after so many months, and he enjoyed that feeling. The feeling that he was good at something, that he could contribute.

“You know that woman?” Bull asked.

James looked away from the fire, his night-vision thrown a little off. “What?”

“There,” Bull said, pointing his chin across the fire. “She’s staring at you.”

James followed the gesture, and saw across the fire the tattooed woman from earlier that day, her dark eyes fixed on him. When he met her gaze she smirked, then stood and started making her way around the fire. James hadn’t even noticed her arrive.

“So… you know her?” Bull asked again.

“I met her earlier,” James said, watching her as she got closer, still grinning.

The woman reached them and abruptly turned, squeezing into the seat between Bull and James on the log. “Fancy meeting you here,” she said, looking up at James through her eyelashes.

“Same,” James replied. He tried to smirk back. She really was very beautiful. “I’m James,” he told her. “I don’t think we exchanged names earlier.”

“Abner,” she replied, smiling a little broader. “I was hoping to run into ya tonight.” She moved her leg, pressing it into his. James felt his face flush. And the rest of his body.

“And why was that?” he asked her.

Abner’s smirk was nothing short of mischievous. “I wanted to see these… muscles of yers in action.”

James frowned. “Well, you’d be better of waiting until tomorrow, when the fighting starts.”

“Oh, I think we could find some way to use them tonight.”

“I don’t know, it’s dark…”

Abner laughed, then placed her hand above his knee, squeezing slightly. She turned toward Bull. “Is he always this thick?”

Bull chuckled. “When it comes to his… muscles, yes.”

James glared at Bull, but the Qunari just winked. Abner’s hand moved a fraction higher, and James felt blood start to rush toward his groin. He spread his legs a little wider to relieve the pressure, which just brought the limb in closer contact to hers.

He knew exactly what Abner was talking about. He just wasn’t sure it was what he wanted. Though his cock would disagree, the way it was half-heartedly starting to strain against his breeches in interest.

“I’m not thick,” James told the Qunari. Bull snorted and Abner laughed.

“Something tells me that’s not true,” she snickered.

James flushed even more, realizing immediately what his statement sounded like. “That’s not what I meant,” he mumbled, staring back at the fire.

“Course not,” Abner said, still laughing.

“No need to be modest James,” Bull said. “I’ve seen your… muscles. Nothing to be ashamed of there…”

“For the love of… Bull!” James said loudly. “You don’t need to tell her that!” Abner was cackling.

“You could just show her,” Bull offered, still grinning.

James groaned, then made the mistake of meeting Abner’s gaze. She was smirking at him, her eyes burning with suggestion. Then she raised a single eyebrow higher, and dropped those dark eyes lower, landing for a second on his crotch.

And he wanted to show her. He wanted to spend that night with someone like her, lost in the pleasure of another person instead of fretting over the next morning’s battle. She certainly wanted the same.

“Yeah… maybe I could do that.”

Her eyes glinted with amusement, and James’s face burned red. He looked back at the fire, remembering that Bull was still there. He didn’t actually like flirting with an audience.

“You show me yer… muscles, and I’ll show you mine,” Abner said quietly, squeezing his leg again.

James looked back at her eyes. He wanted to say yes, but something in him hesitated. The one other time he’d gotten close to sleeping with another woman, he’d backed out at the very end, unwilling to find himself in another situation as the one with Mayra. He didn’t want someone else to get attached to him, when he wasn’t ready to do the same. “I’m not sure,” he told her.

Abner sighed, then stood, stretching toward the sky, angling her ass toward his face. She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Right. Well, if you decide you don’t want to spend yer last night before ya might die alone, come find me.”

With that she walked away, backside still swinging enticingly.

“What are you doing James?” Bull asked before she was even out of the fire’s light.

“Nothing,” James said.

Bull let out a long breath. “Obviously. But why? You’re clearly into her.”

James ran his hand over his face. “I want to avoid another Mayra. It would need to be casual…”

“Mayra wasn’t looking for casual. She wanted to have sex, but she didn’t want casual. But Abner just wants sex James. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“And how do you know that?”

“She basically told you,” Bull rumbled. “So if you want something casual, she’s a good bet.”

“I don’t know…”

“Go have fun James. She’s right, you know, you might not make it past the next few days. If you don’t want to be alone, then don’t be alone.”

James looked back toward where Abner had disappeared. Bull was right, of course. Abner didn’t seem like she was looking for anything beyond a night of sex. James didn’t need to worry about finding himself in another Mayra situation.

He should go. He didn’t need to worry about hurting another woman because he wasn’t over Nassella, because this woman didn’t want anything beyond one night.

And James wanted to have fun. He didn’t want to be alone.

So he stood and left Bull behind, hurrying through the camp, until he saw the telltale dreads and short stature of Abner.

“Hey!” he called after her. “Abner!”

The woman stopped and turned toward him, smiling while she placed a hand on a cocked hip. “Change yer mind handsome?”

James grinned, allowing his eyes to travel down her body, slender, but packed with muscle. His hands itched to touch them, now that he had committed himself. “If you agree to show me yours first.”

Abner laughed, then reached to take his hand and dragged him through the camp.

[rhetoricalrogue]

For all OCs or for the first that comes to mind: How does their personality shift when someone gets to know them well? Do they prefer time alone, or with other people? How do they show affection with loved ones?

Oooh, good one! I’ll put most of this behind a read more for length, because I did ALL my current OCs. (I really hope the read more link works or else there’s gonna be a wall of text, I apologize in advance)

Wardens

Moira: she tends to show more affection once she gets to know someone. She’s a very touchy-feely person by nature, so there’s more arm touches or hands on shoulders. Once she’s befriended someone, there’s plenty of hugs. She likes spending time with people the most, but she’s okay being by herself. She likes giving practical gifts tailored to individuals as a way to show her affection.

Aiden: the surly exterior is really a set of armor he’s put on to protect himself from losing anyone else he cares about. Once people get to know him, they realize that he’s quick with a clever (or not so clever) joke and has a sunny disposition. He also likes spending time with people, but can read who would rather be alone and who would welcome his company pretty well. He shows affection with small, thoughtful gifts with loads of sentimental value.

Iona: Iona’s guard comes down and she smiles a lot more once she’s friends with people. She’s a loner who would rather spend time by herself or only a few select people at a time. You know she cares about you if she cleans your armor or sharpens your blades. You know she loves you if she asks you to braid her hair, since this is something only family members or Tamlen had done for her. She returns the favor by braiding or playing with others’ hair as a way to show affection.

Elsa: are you hungry? Have you eaten? When was the last time you slept? Elsa turns into a mother hen when she knows you better and shows her love through food. She’s happiest surrounded by friends and holding three different conversations all around a dinner table.

Gavin: my poor trash son. He pushes the people he cares about the most the furthest away from him. He believes that he’s cursed and that everyone who cares for him will die, so he tries to cut everyone off at the pass. Once people get to know him, they can see his behavior for what it is, but it’s rare that anyone sticks around long enough to do so. He likes being alone, believing that it’s better that way.

Inquisitors

Ravena: she comes off as being a snooty intellectual, but once people get to know her, they realize she’s just a big history nerd. She likes spending time with others and shows her love through doing little things that make life for the people she cares for a bit more comfortable.

Ada: Ada is the shyest of my OCs, but once she’s comfortable enough with people, she offers herself as a sounding board. She’s one of my knitters, and her loved ones get everything from hats and scarves to pillows and blankets once she gets a good yarn stash going. She’s another loner who prefers spending time with one or two people at a time than a large group. She also shows her love via flowers, so friends will be gifted with potted plants and herbs that made her think of them.

Elora: Elora’s been an outsider for the majority of her life, so she’s not really sure HOW she should be with friends. She also doesn’t realize just how touch-starved she is, so once she knows it’s okay to do so, she usually leans on friends or has an elbow in contact with their elbow. Being with so many people who accept her at once is overwhelming at times, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Rolfe: Rolfe shows his affection through music. He’ll write a quick little tune for friends, but he’ll take his time and compose ballads for those he loves. He also loses a little of the brash, devil-may-care armor and show his more caring side to those he considers friends. If anything, he looks out for his friends in his own way, like teaching Elora enough Orlesian that she knows who’s insulting her behind her back or personally training Ada with daggers because he’s horrified that his cousin doesn’t know how to defend herself. He’s at his best surrounded by people, but he also likes to spend a bit of quiet alone.

Vincent: he will Dad you without even realizing it once he gets to know someone. He’s also a bit of a poet, so he shows his love by writing down the words he somehow can’t get across while talking to people. He’s an introvert who likes being alone, but he’s happy spending time with people while they do their own thing in the same room.

Next Gen Heroes

Tristan: he’s a smart guy with a dry sense of humor, but he hides it until he knows you. He’s also an introvert who likes to be alone, but shows affection by touch. He’s big on hand kisses.

Grace: another mamma bear, she’ll defend her friends to the death once she’s decided to adopt you. She also carries snacks in her pockets and will knit you a scarf, even if she wants to strangle you with it sometimes. (Alex, I’m looking at you.)

Gabriel: do you like puppies? I’m gonna talk about dogs and show you the newest puppies I’m training. Gabe is a quiet guy who likes to be left alone with his dogs, but is a brilliant chess player. If he likes you, he’ll let you win.

Alex: You get what you see when it comes to Alex. He’s my sweetest cinnamon roll and loves everyone. He’ll also break anyone’s nose who talks bad about his friends or family and shows how much he cares about people by trying to cheer them up or by being there for them when they need him. Like Rolfe, he’s happiest around a large crowd.

Marian: my sweet murder daughter. She had some tragedy in her life and now only lets a select few see underneath the Ice Queen facade and is a loner by nature. She laughs more around those she cares about and usually shows her feelings by way of “I found this book and thought you might like it.”

Shepards

Delores: She’s sort of like Vivian and ready to fight anyone who looks at her friends wrong. She’s a loner who usually shows how she cares by way of card games and drinks.

Noah: Noah likes spending time with friends and is another what you see is what you get sort of upbeat, positive guy. He usually likes to spend time with individual people and buy them model ships or whatever goofy souvenir keychain he might come across.

Juliana: Jules likes to spend time alone, but once people know her, they’ll wonder how they would have ever been intimidated by this goofball. You know you’re in if she invites you to watch old movies with her and you know she loves you if she has movie recs for you and throws quotes at you.

Sole SurvivorsSam: she likes being around lots of people and will start mending clothes or fixing gear once she gets to know someone. She usually shows her affection by slipping in little treats to her companions’ bags or finding things for them when on salvage runs.

Olivia: she’s a loner who makes time for only special people in her life. She does thaw out (pun intended) and be more caring once she gets to know people, and she usually shows affection by sharing little mundane tidbits of her pre-war life. She’s also a snuggler and another touchy-feely type character.

[wanderingalonelypath]

OC Interview: Lyanna Rivens

Nobody tagged me, but I just want to do it, so I’m doing it!

The rules: Answer the following questions as your OC of choice.

1. What’s your name?

“Lyanna Elleanor Rivens.”

2. Do you know why you are named that?

“I had a great aunt Lyanna who...fought in some war? I honestly don’t remember what my father told me about her, except that she was very valorous. My mom wanted to name me Elleanor at first, but they agreed Lyanna was a better first name.”

3. Are you single or taken?

Her hand drifts to the dragon tooth on a string around her neck, and she smiles softly. “Taken.”

4. Have any abilities or powers?

“I’m a Winter mage, primarily, but I also know a few spirit spells. I’m currently studying as a Rift mage, which is equal parts fascinating and terrifying.”

(Omitting #5)

6. What’s your eye color?

“Light blue. I like to think it’s because of my winter magic, but my mom had blue eyes.”

7. How about your hair color?

“Redhead. I don’t know where I got it from, both of my parents had black hair, but Bull loves it.” She smirks slightly.

8. Have any family members?

“As far as I know, my parents and younger brothers are still around Ansburg. It’s been 15 years since I’ve seen them though, so I doubt we’d even recognize each other. They’re not my family anymore. But it’s ok.” She gets a wistful look on her face. “I have a new family now.”

9. Oh? How about any pets?

“We weren’t allowed pets in the Circle, and I hardly have time to care for one now. Maybe once all this is over, I could get a cat? Or perhaps a fennec...”

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like.

“The Chantry. I’m all for religion, I’m Andrastian myself, but the Chantry is corrupt and twisted from its purpose. It feeds off the adoration of the masses while letting mages suffer any number of abuses. And I’ll stop on that note, as I doubt you came for a rant.”

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?

“Reading and learning, but that’s a given for any mage, I think. I like taking walks in nature, stopping to meditate in peaceful places. It helps me focus my magic, and reminds me that I’m free.”

12. Have you hurt anyone in any way before?

“Many people. It’s unavoidable in my situation. Before I became Inquisitor? Templars that attacked me for being an apostate. Bandits who preyed on the group I travel with.”

13. Ever… killed anyone before?

“As I said before, it’s unavoidable, especially during combat. I try not to execute prisoners, though. There’s usually something more useful or just to be done with them. And I find I’m quickly growing tired of death.”

14. What kind of animal are you?

“Now there’s a question. I think I’d be a Crow. Deadly, but free.”

15. Name your worst habits?

“Irrational anger at every Templar I meet. Working with Cullen was a bit...difficult at first until I got to know him. Logically, I know not all templars are abusers, just like not all mages are blood mages, but I was showed a...skewed end of the spectrum in my time during the Circle. Nearly every templar did awful things to the mages and tranquil, and those that didn’t were bystanders, which is almost worse. I try to keep an open mind, but it’s difficult.”

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?

“Cassandra. Our opinions on some things may differ, but she is driven, and passionate, and determined, and a strove of other things I wish I could be. I don’t think I would’ve stayed in the Inquisition, in the beginning, if it weren’t for her true desire to make things better.”

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?

“Rather narrow list, isn’t it? I’m pansexual. Attracted to pretty much anyone who’s a good person. The only people I can’t seem to be attracted to are human men, for...reasons I don’t particularly want to share.”

18. Do you go to school?

“The Circle gave a thorough general education, but my magical education there was a bit...stiff. Traditional. Solas and Dorian teach me many new things about magic, and I’m always willing to learn more.”

19. Ever want to marry and have any kids one day?

She becomes quiet, looking pensive. “As a mage, I never thought I’d get the chance. Even now, everything is so dangerous and uncertain. I think...I would like to, someday. Get married at least, I don’t think I’m ready to be a mother, though. Perhaps years from now.”

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

She laughs. “You wouldn’t believe the number of marriage proposals I get from Lords and Ladies all over Thedas. Josephine has taken to using them as kindling in her fireplace.”

21. What are you most afraid of?

“The Circles reforming. All these people I’ve met, things I’ve experienced...my first night away from the Circle, I slept in a tent, on the rocky forest floor with no bedroll, and a rip in the side letting in the smell of pine and fire smoke. I cried at the beauty of it all. If the Circles are reinstated...” She stops talking, a fearful look in her eyes, before continuing on resolutely. “I won’t go back. They won’t get the chance to take me back there alive.”

22. What do you usually wear?

“My armor, mostly. I’m out in the field more often than I’m not. In Skyhold, I usually wear a tunic and breeches, with knee-high boots. Sometimes I’ll throw on a vest or an overcoat if it's particularly cold.”

23. What is one food tempts you?

“Those little Orlesian pastries, filled with custard or jelly? Those are the best! Other than that, I’m fond of shepherd's pie and bacon.”

(Omitting #24 & #25)

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

“Before, as a mage, definitely the lower class. I came from a family of farmers. But now? Barely anyone uses my name, they all call me ‘Inquisitor’ or ‘Herald’ or even ‘Your Worship’. So I’d say I’m securely in the upper class.

27. How many friends do you have?

“A lot. I’m close with my advisors, and a good deal of the inner circle. Dorian, Solas, Varric, Cole, and Bull are probably my closest friends. But they’re all dear to me, even the ones I don’t have much in common with or agree with all that much.”

28. What are your thoughts on pie?

“It’s pretty good! I love pumpkin the best, but fruit pies are good as well!”

29. Favorite drink?

“Spiced wine. It makes me feel warm and safe, for some reason. I like drinking it at night, with Bull, and just talking, or doing our own activities in silence. Just being together.” She gets a bit of a dreamy look on her face.

30. What’s your favorite place?

“In the world? Probably the Emerald Graves. The forest is beautiful, and it goes on for miles. I could wander there for weeks. In Skyhold, I actually really like my quarters, especially at night. I have a loveseat I can move in front of the fireplace, and it’s the perfect spot to curl up with a book. On warmer days I like to leave the balcony doors open to let in the mountain breeze. There’s nothing better.”

(Omitting #31 and #32)

33. Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?

“A lake. You never know what’s floating in an ocean, or how deep it goes.”

34. What’s your type?

“My type?” She laughs. “I don’t really have one. As long as you aren’t a Templar, you’re probably my type.”

35. Any fetishes?

“Hm. For all how experienced Bull is, our sex is skewed toward the vanilla side of things. Does having sex in odd places count as a fetish? We do it on my desk, against the wall, one time on the war table.” She grins. “Now that was a good time.”

36. Camping indoors or outdoors?

“Outdoors. I can’t get enough of the outdoors, being that I was deprived of it for 15 years. I love sleeping in a bed just as much as the next person, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something about going to bed to the sound of crickets and a crackling fire that reminds me I’m alive.”

(I omitted the ones that ‘broke character’, but I’m sure you can find the full list if you search in the dragon age oc’s tag!)

I tag: Anyone who sees this and wants to do it! @ me if you do, I’d love to read them!)