#a chance engagement

[storybookhawke]

A Chance Engagement by hollyand

Sir Carver marched towards her, with a look of haughty composure; but even so, Merrill could see his face seemed paler than usual; there were dark circles under his eyes, as if he had not slept. He was holding out a letter, which Merrill instinctively took. ‘I have been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you,’ Sir Carver said. ‘Will you do me the honour of reading that letter?’ And then, with a slight bow, without waiting for her response, he turned and walked away, and was soon out of sight.

If you're a fan of Pride and Prejudice and Dragon Age, please consider giving @hollyand-writes' magnificent AU a read!

[topgunreacts]

PRODUCT TESTING SUPPLY DROP

excerpt

It was dark when Ice came home past midnight, and all the lights in the house were snuffed out—even the one above the sink that Maverick usually left on when he knew Ice’s flight was a red-eye. The only sound in the house came from Bucket and Taxy, who quietly greeted Ice in the kitchen, pressing wet noses into the palms of his hands. By the time Ice wheeled his luggage into the bedroom with a weary sigh, both dogs had already returned to bed, having decided they’d done their due diligence as watchdogs. Now there was only Ice, and a small, softly-snoring lump of warm flesh fully beneath the sheets: Maverick. Ice tiptoed closer, and the scent of bourbon tickled his nose. Ah: a drunk Maverick—that explained the snores.

Ice sat down on the edge of the bed and rested a hand lightly where he assumed Maverick’s head was. He hit paydirt: the snoring ceased, and Maverick emerged from the sheets like a butterfly struggling to escape its chrysalis. Using his right elbow for leverage, he heaved back and forth, trying to prop himself up to look Ice in the face. The bourbon smell intensified the more he moved. To provide additional support, Ice slid his hand down to Maverick’s shoulder and tightened his grip.

“Hello,” Ice said with a grin. “I’m home.” 

“Oh, hel-lo, handsome,” Maverick drawled. “Handsomest. Ooh, let me under that shirt.” One very cold, very shaky hand tugged at Ice’s dress shirt and undershirt until they both came loose from his pants. Slim fingers slipped beneath the fabric and traveled slowly, steadily north. “Those,” Maverick declared. “Are my favorite nipples on earth.”

more at the link

[hollyand-writes]

In this chapter, Merrill, Tamlen and Mahariel go on tour... and decide to stop by Lothering after all. Huge thanks to @storybookhawke for this lovely art – original artwork post (without text) is here.

Title: A Chance Engagement Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Chapters: 57/? Pairings: Eventual Carver/Merrill, background F!Mahariel/Tamlen and F!Hawke/Isabela; other pairings not revealed yet Other characters: Marian Hawke, Bethany Hawke, Leandra Hawke, Isabela, Tamlen, Fenarel, Female Mahariel, Keeper Marethari, Sabrae Clan, Arishok, Pol, Dragon Age: Redemption Characters (Chapters 51 to 53)   Other tags: Alternative Universe – Regency, Pride & Prejudice References, Bethany and Carver Hawke Live, Pride & Prejudice AU, Fluff and Humour, Ballroom Dancing, Secret Relationships, Comedy of Errors, Jane Austen References, Pining, Rejected Marriage Proposals     Summary: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, Lady Leandra Amell tried to impress upon her three children, that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife. However she hoped this wisdom would be received by her offspring, Lady Amell was dismayed to find that it had not had the effect she intended.” Regency AU. When Miss Merrill attends the Kirkwall public assembly ball, the last man she expects to engage in a dance is Carver Hawke – a single man who has just come into possession of a large fortune. This chance meeting, however, sets them both on a path they never expected. READ FROM THE BEGINNING ON ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN

———

The weeks passed away quickly; and the period of Merrill’s much-anticipated travels arrived. The night before, Merrill had been so excited she thought she would not sleep; and on the morning itself she flitted about so happily and exuberantly, that Keeper Marethari could not temper her high spirits if she tried. Merrill believed that even Tamlen and Mahariel were not as happy as she was, even though they themselves were clearly excited and cheerful that morning, given they were setting off in pursuit of novelty and amusement with her. 

Tamlen himself was in such good humour that he even agreed to accompany Merrill and Mahariel in calling on the Hawke sisters before they went – although he insisted that their visit was as brief as possible, for he wanted to cross the Waking Sea and reach Ferelden well before nightfall – and this they did, although Miss Bethany was out again with her mother, and they found Miss Hawke all alone and writing a letter.  

‘Bethany will be so disappointed to have missed you,’ Miss Hawke told them, as she folded up her letter to seal it, ‘but I am thankful you decided to take leave of us before you depart for the countryside. And it is an honour, Mr Sabrae,’ she continued politely to Tamlen, ‘that you decided to accompany your wife and cousin. I bid you all safe travels and adieu, and look forward to hearing all about them when you eventually return to Kirkwall.’ 

‘I will miss you!’ Merrill cried as she hugged her friend, taking Miss Hawke so much by surprise that the latter dropped the folded letter she had been holding. ‘Oh! I am so sorry, Miss Hawke – let me get that for you—’ and here Merrill bent down to pick up the parchment that had floated to the floor; Miss Hawke had bent down for it too; but, in her nervousness at having done something wrong again, Merrill was quicker. 

As she picked up the sheet of paper, which was full with Miss Hawke’s handwriting, Merrill caught sight of the words:  

I will submit to any thing you may command me—but cease to respect, to love and adore you, I never can or will. 

Read more on AO3...

[wanologic]

Don’t think. Feel.

[shrimpchipsss]

the professors shen should never have been forced to share an office

wasn't professor shen the senior being associate professor shen the junior's PhD advisor enough?

[welcometogrouchland]

(ID in alt) this is national news to me

[ruporas]

cheers to the future of humanity (and the future of us)

[ID: Digital illustration in color of Vash and Wolfwood from Trigun. The illustration takes place during the ship/home arc, specifically chapter 21. At the center, Vash is grabbing Wolfwood by the collar and pulls him into a kiss in the middle of a celebration. The pair is colored in vibrant warm hues while their surroundings are colored in cooler colors like green and teals. Luida, Brad, Meryl, and Milly are shown amongst the crowd, occupied in the celebrations as Vash and Wolfwood share a moment by themselves at the center. END ID]

[hadesisqueer]

I like how Violet is so used to having dramatic ass children that Francesca marrying with no drama was too odd to her lmao. And thinking about how her story will unfold is actually kinda hilarious because it's gonna be like:

Violet: Well, that's it. John is a very good man and Francesca is comfortable and happy with her choice and if this is what she truly wants, it's all that matters💜

Violet: Also, it's kinda refreshing to finally have a normal child that doesn't do any dramatic or scandalous shit.

Francesca a few seasons later after her husband passes: *fucks and falls in love with her husband's cousin -who is a woman-*

Violet:

Violet: Honestly, I should've seen this coming, none of my children will actually ever be normal.

[athina-blaine]

for my money, labru is head and shoulders above other ships involving them simply due to the unmatched yap potential, i imagine them feeding off each other's energy like they're slipstreaming in mario kart until they start going fast enough to break the sound barrier

[frogintheair]

HAPPY PANDREO (AND PANETTE) DAY IN FEH!!!!! 🍞✨

[canisalbus]

I have pondered about sending this ask, believing I would bother you. But I love to receive compliments, so I think you would too. Your artworks have a softness to them, the most intimate moment are quiet and filled with warmth. You have a way of conveying emotions through body language, down to the smallest of fingers. When pain is shown, it is burning, rough and powerful. You are my biggest inspiration, I always am eager to discover and rediscover your artworks, be it sketch or fully rendered art.

Aw gosh, thank you for your kind words! The way you worded it sounds so poetic, I'm flattered ;_; 🧡

[storybookhawke]

I've been reading @hollyand-writes's Pride & Prejudice AU called A Chance Engagement, and quite frankly it's one of the best fanfics I've ever read. It's so well thought out, flows beautifully, and is captivating and entertaining in a way I haven't felt in a very long time. Please give it a read sometime!

[topgunreacts]

Time for wax play

[redrobin-detective]

Something I wonder about Simon and Betty's relationship is how long they were together before the whole crown ordeal. But they were engaged, you say. My aunt (in)famously met my uncle and had a ring on her finger in 8 weeks. We've seen that both Betty and Simon were both weird outcasts, crazy determined and a pinch insane. I would not be surprised if they decided they'd met their one true love and got engaged super quick.

My point being, Betty's shifting to revolve around Simon and Simon's rose colored glasses of their relationship feels very much like New Love. They're people who love each other and love being a couple but still haven't quite figured out how to coexist together, as two people in a partnership. I feel like if they'd known each other longer, lived together longer, some of the issues we're seeing would have probably self resolved.

I don't think their relationship is toxic nor is it totally perfect. It's two lonely, most likely neurodivergent people in a relatively early relationship still figuring out how it works. Everything that happened afterwards: the crown, the seperation, the time travel, the magic/madness/sadness just exemplified issues they had both as individuals and as a couple.

[blaithnne]

I KEEP FORGETTING TO POST THE ART I DID FOR @deerfoxbard’s WONDERFUL SHOWSTOPPING AMAZING SONGS THAT YOU NEED TO GO LISTEN TO RIGHT NOW

[hussyknee]

I'm really not a villain enjoyer. I love anti-heroes and anti-villains. But I can't see fictional evil separate from real evil. As in not that enjoying dark fiction means you condone it, but that all fiction holds up some kind of mirror to the world as it is. Killing innocent people doesn't make you an iconic lesbian girlboss it just makes you part of the mundane and stultifying black rot of the universe.

"But characters struggling with honour and goodness and the egoism of being good are so boring." Cool well some of us actually struggle with that stuff on the daily because being a good person is complicated and harder than being an edgelord.

Sure you can use fiction to explore the darkness of human nature and learn empathy, but the world doesn't actually suffer from a deficit of empathy for powerful and privileged people who do heinous stuff. You could literally kill a thousand babies in broad daylight and they'll find a way to blame your childhood trauma for it as long as you're white, cisgender, abled and attractive, and you'll be their poor little meow meow by the end of the week. Don't act like you're advocating for Quasimodo when you're just making Elon Musk hot, smart and gay.