#bronto bite

[ninebaalart]

Tyrannian Food

i love the design of neopets' food so damn much

[hoboblaidd]

[ lean ] sender slowly leans into receiver's shoulder and rests there for a while - from dhavihal but never any pressure <3

Biting cold stung the skin of the refugees fleeing the burning and buried remains of Haven. The Frostbacks were an unforgiving maze of jagged rock and howling wind. None of them were impervious to it, Solas included. The train of survivors stopped frequently to warm themselves and their mounts. Even the brontos paused to huddle together to share their warmth.

Solas guided Dhavihal north. He typically avoided the circle of advisors that had sprung up in the wake of the Breach. He had no desire to act as they did, directing the Inquisition this way and that beneath their Herald. But on the journey to Skyhold, Solas and Mother Giselle found themselves added to the inner circle.

Cassandra and Cullen sniped at each other when Dhavihal approached the makeshift war table, which was little more than a cask with a crumbling map of the Frostbacks laid out. Solas didn't need a map, but he humored them.

This was the typical meeting of the expanded group of advisors. Cullen griped about the pace of their march and the concern over rations. Leliana relayed the reports she received by raven. Josephine was quiet - not much for a diplomat to do but try to fight the cold. Cassandra paced. Mother Giselle preached. And Solas typically sat on a crate, waiting for their gripes to peter down before offering estimates on the time it would take them to reach Skyhold.

Solas inclined his head at Dhavihal and nodded to the spot next to him on the crate. She, too, bore the stinging redness on her nose and cheeks that came with the cold, something he was certain was reflected on his own face. Leliana joined the Cullen-Cassandra fray, and Solas shook his head with a wry raise of his eyebrow.

"If this persists, I expect you'll receive another song from our Revered Mother," he said to Dhavi with a dry chuckle in Mother Giselle's direction. "Best prepare to be sainted again."

He expected the sigh from their Herald, and even the exhausted set of her shoulders, but he did not expect the slump of her head against his shoulder. His smile, unseen from her vantage point, was surprised but soft.

Mother Giselle watched them with narrowed eyes, but Solas returned her gaze without relenting. A challenge. She may attempt to deify this Dalish elf, and the 'Herald' title may benefit from a larger perspective, but here they were all of them simply people.

"It's not long now, lethallan," said Solas gently in Elvhen as Mother Giselle finally looked away. His words were only for Dhavihal. "Take the rest." He did not move to rise, and though he had little warmth to offer, he could, at least, provide a shoulder to lean on.

[kittykattaffy]

LoliRock Dream

I dreamed that I was in some inky black place that had no gravity and looked like it never ended anywhere. Gramorr was there. It was a video game-like tutorial. He explained to me how to summon some kind of weird looking meat thing called a bronto bite and how to attack with it. He stated that there was a ten percent chance of it becoming stone when I summoned it. I could only summon one piece at a time. They would disappear after one hit. He let me beat him a bit in the tutorial before I got into the real part. In the real part, I was beating him up in a forest with the meat. He didn't use any spells and just kept trying to run away and cover his skull so I couldn't kill him. He just kept begging me to stop. The dream ended with no real resolution.

[neopianbiologyproject]

Submission: Some suggestions!

from @todoyamas​! I’ll be putting their message in block quotes and responding as I have comments...

it begins:

i’m just bringing some stuff that i couldn’t find in your wl, and thought it would be interesting to add!

noting real quick, the wishlist is incomplete! it only has items representing presently verified species, so species still under review aren’t yet represented there. maybe i should make an additional wishlist for all items under review?

firstly, there’s the “mixed” petpets, which are crosses between two different species. i’m not sure how they would fit into your categories since they’re essentially “cooked” and not really breeded, but maybe they could eventually breed? i figured it’s worth a try hehe. these petpets are Blooky, Drackobunny, Foobug, Froiler, Gulpfir, Haseepuss, Hooklen, Huggy Bear, Khura, Moink, Moltenna, Noilkeet, Popblew, Romeep 3t3, Slorgclops, Spallard, Spoppy, Spoppy II, Uggazew, Unifox, Uni Bear, Wuzzer, and Zamillion.

the Woo Woo Grub also has a few interesting variations, such as Ha Ha Grub, Chebu Chebu Grub, Mec Mec Grub, Roo Roo Grub, Spoc Spoc Grub, Spoc Spoc II, and Wa Wa Grub.

i also thought it would be nice to include the Everlasting Apple (and possibly the Everlasting Crystal Apple), as well as Munparaberry and Rahkleaf Melon

i’m not sure if these would even fit into the project, but i also bring you Mechagrapes, Punegg, Ranegg, and Yenegg!

(For context, these petpets are made by combining petpets in the Cooking Pot on Mystery Island).

I have the Cooking Pot petpets on my main spreadsheet, but haven’t figured out what to do with them. I’m torn about every Cooking Pot combo item... there are also several fruits and non-organic foods that come from it. Fruits were a bit easier to decide, as a few of them have descriptions that imply they’re commonly found growing around Mystery Island despite only being available from the Cooking Pot, for example the Muntando Fruit, Fundus Fruit, and Scabergy:

(the description of Scabergy also put Erdu Ants on my list, even though there’s no Erdu Ants item or really even mention anywhere else)

I’m probably going to go back to the Cooking Pot items and review my decisions for them individually, but right now my rule of thumb has been that if one of the ingredients is artificial, the item itself may be genuine life but cannot be considered a natural or unique species, kind of like how a robot might be alive but isn’t natural life.

this means all the Grubs besides Woo Woo are disqualified :( for example, the ingredients of the Chebu Chebu Grub are:

this would also disqualify Yanegg, Punegg and Ranegg, but what is going on with Mechagrapes?

I’ve temporarily disqualified all the combo petpets specifically because they give no indication of being naturally occurring, since all their descriptions are combos of the ingredient petpets. but this is really all I have to go off of, so there could be more to work with out there that might change my mind.

and lastly, but more importantly!!! some creatures are mentioned only in item names/descriptions… there’s a food called Lice Rice, which implies the existence of lice in Neopia (although i’m not sure if any other item mentions it), and similarly, there are item mentioning sardines as well (Tin of Sardines, Smelly Sardine Wrap, Sardine Prune Parfait, and Sardine Vinegar Gum), black widows (Black Widow Truffle), tuna (Tuna Sub, Seared Tuna Steak, Yuna Porridge, etc), ducks (Duck Neck), wasps (Wasp Biscuits), and possibly brontosaurus??? (Bronto Bite)

also, a side note: there’s this thing… called Primordial Thing… it’s categorized as food but it seems weirdly alive, so maybe check it out? :0

these and many more are also all being taken into consideration, don’t you worry!

actually why don’t i share a sample of my spreadsheet:

the only thing holding us back here is the time I have to make full-ass posts on the topics at hand

[neopianfreshfoods]

Bronto Bite

Bronto Bites are all the rage, they are beefy, meaty and easy to carry.

[835 NP]

[bottomburt]

bronto and cai are very lovey and "does this feel good?" "are you comfy?" during sex but when they actually fuck they fuck HARD

like im imagining cai going "how u feeling honey?" while brontos biting the pillow and moaning yes into it while he absolutely rails her

both of em like it a lot tho 😌

then after they have a lot of lovey aftercare cause they wuv eachother 🥰

[old-archivist]

Some canon bestiary lore I’m working through as I collect it for my bestiary project:

Giant Spiders are 12ft (365.76cm) in size. Height is not noted but, for reference they’re the same size as a tiger when you include the tail. They are also the same size as griffons who are 12ft (365.76cm) in length.

Dragonlings, who are recently hatched are the size of a deer. Despite the game models they are not terribly big considering a giant spider as comparison.

Giant Spiders use to primarily feed on large bats according to World of Thedas vol. 1. Which considering the size of a giant spider makes me wonder how large the bags were.

Brontos have multiple varieties much like cattle. They have an oxen equivalent (beast of burden essentially) and a cattle equivalent (food source). They also, apparently have a mount variety, which is faster, surefooted, and has more stamina than the other two.

Druffalo have a variety that is blue-grey with black horns. Which is an interesting contrast to the brown with white horns we get in game.

Giants are more common up north. In world theories range from Tevinter breeding grounds, warmer climates, and the Silent Plains corruption. The last one is not elaborated on.

Giants also favor traveling in or by waterways. They have been seen floating their bulk up/down rivers when traveling.

There are two varieties of Great Bears. The Fereldan ones in the Bercilian Forest and the Orlesian ones. The Orlesian variety is reportedly so fierce that Orlesian nobles won’t hunt them and are reportedly the only thing Orlesians are truly afraid of.

I mentioned in this deadly food post I made before, but um I don’t think I elaborated enough haha. Gurguts can unhinge their jaw and their stomachs will expand to allow for whatever massive thing they just swallowed. However, their primary diet is marsh weeds and fish. So why they evolved to be like that makes me wonder what fish they regularly snack on.

Phoenix. I also mentioned this in that previous post, but their organs are poisonous. Liquify lungs type poison. Which makes me wonder if Thedas has a honey badger like creature to clean up a carcass or if phoenix are cannibals and eat their own.

Pheonix also travel in flocks despite what we see in game. Flocks that carry the scent of death due to the sulfurous gas they spew that smells of rotten eggs and ancient peat bogs.

This is mainly about Phoenix but also for lurkers, varghest, and gurns. But I don’t understand why the predators in the Western Approach and Hissing Wastes have such exaggerated underbites. The phoenix is the worst case and you can actually see it’s jaw become a normal bite in additional media from wot 2 and Heroes of Dragon Age. Less of a fact and more of a confused question here. Like look at this:

Like they be ridiculous and endearing in a way but how is it surviving? My friend here wouldn’t be able to hold onto any living prey, and lore points out they don’t feed exclusively on carrion. My poor land pufferfish is just robbed.

[raventroll80]

I drew some of my tames from ARK today!

Foggy was my oldest tame on the server I play on, she was given to me by another player, who later gave me a bronto who would go on to live on my roof. Foggy was a Pelagornis though the in-game model makes them look like they’re about to drop dead, which is why she has a bald head.

Blackwake was probably my favourite tame on the server, she was the fastest tame I’ve ever had. I got her when one of the long time players left the server and was giving away most of her tames. She was an Aberrant Spinosaurus that I painted a skull onto her face.

Sashimi is one of my two current aquatic tames, while she’s not as fast as Gustave but I still adore her.

The weird line on Blackwake was an attempt at adding a shark bite to her since we’d usually go fishing for my other fish eaters.

[fatale-distraction]

31 Days of Dragon Age

Days 6-8

I’m so behind again T0T

Oct 06 - Favorite Origins NPC

Mother fuckin ENCHANTMENT

How can anyone not love Sandal? He’s a sweetie pie, he’s helpful, he loves his work, and he’s so damn mysterious!! I’m gonna have some serious words if he isn’t even mentioned in Veilguard!!!

Oct 07 - Favorite Origins scene/dialogue

Didn’t even need to think about this one.

Morrigan: You seem so deep in thought, my dear Sten. Thinking of me, perhaps? The two of us, together at last?

Sten: Yes.

Morrigan: I... what did you say?

Sten: You will need armor, I think. And a helmet. And something to bite down on. How strong are human teeth?

Morrigan: How strong are my teeth?

Sten: Qunari teeth can bite through leather, wood, even metal given time. Which reminds me, I may try to nuzzle.

Morrigan: Nuzzle?

Sten: If that happens, you'll need an iron pry bar. Heat it in a fire, first, or it may not get my attention.

Morrigan: Perhaps it would be better if we did not proceed.

Sten: Are you certain? If it will satisfy your curiosity...

Morrigan: Yes. Yes, I think it is best.

The pry bar comment will never cease to crack me the fuck up.

Oct 08 - Favorite Origins lore/codex entry

Correspondence Interruptus

“A collection of embarrassing personal communications between the spoiled wealthy and their objects of obsession.

*****

My darling Reginald,

I burn for you and because of you. Please use the enclosed tincture if our love is to endure.

—Sarie

*****

To Wareth Lowstone,

Age, race, height. I care not for the differences others perceive. But matching your helmet to my tunic for the amusement of standing in line with your new "Silent Sisters" invite attention to where none was desired. I will not suffer your company again.

—Alison Highover

(Scribbled below)

Gonna miss knocking heads with those girls.

*****

A delicate matter,

While I am overwhelmed at the prospect of having you, an unwelcome guest requires that you excuse yourself by the postern of my estate to avoid a mark upon our reputations.

—"M"

*****

Miss Ambrose,

A long, slow grind, the motion careful, aided by generous application of oils. Size is no concern with my equipment, and I am always mindful when stuffing, not risking a burst before every order is fulfilled. My meat goes hand in hand with satisfaction.

Your interest astounds, but it is not my to question a customer's choice in nighttime reading. Three pound sausage again next week? No cheek, of course.

Yours,

—Biller's Butchers

*****

Darling,

When next we meet, I would find it agreeable for you to leave your hat on. And mayhap your boots as well. And trousers. Shirt too. And I shall facilitate said clothed status by locking my door and posting a guard. Duly warned?

—"X"

*****

My elfroot,

The herbalist suggested powdered bronto horn. I was very discrete.

—Your sunflower

*****

Donogan,

On pain of death, you are

Now warned! My father found

The letters you previously

Sent, and is watching as I write

To tell you our relations are

Over! We must remain chaste.

—Patricia

*****

You are filthy! A beast! Such depravity I have never been forced to suffer! How words are so laden when they leave your lips they are beyond decent imagining!

Madam, I love you.

—Ser Augold

*****

My dearest Virginia Trueroyal,

Regarding: Bodice ripped

Enclosed are seven silver and my most heartfelt apologies for said bodice. I would blame the cold ocean spray, the loss of my favorite shirt, the bucking of the stallion, or perhaps the strain of maintaining all such elements while sitting for a portrait, but I was certainly not myself. I hope you will forgive me and not take it upon yourself to find your own determined way in this world.

Yours,

—Ser Rival Grouseman

*****

Dear Ser Jon,

Your ministrations, while well intentioned, hold no promise. Do not despair, for it is not you, it is of me. I require and interval to acquaint myself with the personage you awakened. I'm certain we can maintain an amiable accord and the engagements with our mutual associations will not be awkward.

—"Mari"

*****

To one's paramour,

When last we embraced, one noticed the redolence of another's company, but one was unmindful.

—His Most Eminent Ser Fether Hapsmith Osvald III

*****

My love,

I long to dance you beneath the moonlight, our hearts beating like the paired wings of a dove, in concert with the glory of the Maker and the beauty of the world that we must shepherd in his absence. Join me in a purity that will last the ages, when the brothers mark the Chant of Light anew.

With all my soul,

—Erec Denolven

(Scribbled below in a delicate hand)

Otter's pocket! He's earned it tonight!”

[greendragonette]

Ark Survival Evolved: No Engrams Challenge, day 26

Modified the altar a little - added a box with sacrificial sickle, and two torches so I can see what I'm hitting. No bronto for quite some distance from my base, which is interesting as I didn't really hunt them before. Guess no guy for my brontees after all, at least theris are laying well. No pteras either, which is a slightly bigger problem. I want my crate flier, damn it.

Sarco baby finally grew up; offed most of my excessive dinos for levels and took her for a spin/crate hunting. Nothing particularly interesting. In the meantime theris bred again; hatched, baby female got stuffed to the gills with berries and left to fend for herself until I reached base of operation near Carno Island. She survived.

Robbed beavers of more paste, trampled all over Far's Peak chomping on every alpha I could find, and generally looked for trouble; went to Easter Forest, and on the verge of it next to Redwoods found a real high level female ptera; knocked it out in one. Some dinocide later went home without special hurry, started on fria curry, then realised she'll wake up way before I could finish. Grabbed everything for making kibble plus 1,5 stack of biotoxin, and sprinted for her location. Barely on time. During cookout a thyla got too close to sleeping girl, so my ride got a marsupial for dinner. Ptera tamed without more problems, so I brought her home; she has not bad stats so the only wishlist I have for another ptera is for it to be male. Even good weight is still abysmal (because ptera) and I don't have another saddle for a secondary flier, so will have to slice all my backup gear and get Isis the monkey on diet for full speed. The feeling of freedom on first flight of the run is always staggering.

Since can't have mods on my version of Ark - therefore can't pick deployed structures up - I left cooking utensils behind. Maybe will make another use of them at some point.

Looking back, levelling sarco to 300% speed so she's as fast on land as in the water was definitely a reasonable idea. Love sarco as a mount in general; speedy water rides, can both stand and dish out a good punch, climb slightly worse than scorpions, their bite-turn mostly negates their width and makes them very decent forest rides. Easy to tame, too. The only major problem is low bitebox, so dragonflies, flying ants, dimorphs etc. are a terrible nuisance. Imo a good tradeoff.

[gameguy20100]

Ryuko: Unlike you I don’t spend my time Slithering though sewers! 

Viperion: Well a sewer smells better than your breath, Bronto brain!

Ryuko: You’ll get used to it, when I bite your useless head off!

[tsuraiwrites]

"I’m better, now that you’re here.” (for fenders if you have time!)

thank you so much for the prompt @protect-him! for @dadrunkwriting

Fic: Alone No Longer

It’s with no small amount of trepidation that Anders knocks on the door to Fenris’ mansion – and how strange, to think of it as Fenris’ now that the specter of his former master has stopped hanging over it. Before this evening the same elf ripped that former master’s heart out of his chest, only barely refraining from repeating the action with his sister before Hawke interfered. 

In all truth, neither Anders nor Justice had felt compelled to step between Fenris and her impending death, not when the woman had clearly betrayed her brother to Danarius, and for what? He’d never met the magister, only heard of him from Fenris’ tales, and even from that sliver Anders could have told Varania that he would never take an elf on as an apprentice. 

Nevertheless, she had believed it, and led Fenris right into Danarius’ clutches in the process. If Fenris had not thought to tell Hawke about his suspicions, if he’d gone to meet Varania alone…

Justice writhes under his skin, always so angry these days, but the mere thought of Fenris dragged off by a magister is enough to send them both into a towering rage. Anders takes a long, deep breath in an attempt to settle down, but only seeing Fenris has made it back to the mansion in one piece is going to calm him – calm them both.

Anders knocks again, this time with the butt end of his staff in a manner that he knows from experience will reverberate throughout the mansion annoyingly. In the distance, a muffled crash and faint cursing that makes his lips tip up in a smile.

“Damn it, Hawke, I already told you–” Fenris wrenches the door open, pausing halfway as he takes Anders in; a scowl plasters itself across the elf’s face. “Mage. Stop grinning at me, it’s repulsive.” 

“Come on, you know Hawke would have barged in after the first knock,” Anders says, grinning wider and feeling his cheeks begin to hurt. 

Maker, how long has it been since he smiled like this? He feels in good humor, if sore from the earlier fight. Fenris frowns harder, but nonetheless lets Anders push past him into the foyer. He casts a look around, but everything is the same as always, from the cobwebs to the desiccated corpses still littering the entryway. Fenris motions him onward with a jerk of his head, and together they head toward the kitchen – the only room besides the master bedroom Fenris bothers occupying in this dilapidated dwelling. 

“Why are you here?” 

“Well, you didn’t let me check on you after the fight.” Anders has always been bad at lying – some cue constantly giving him away. There must be something in his voice because Fenris looks back over his shoulder with narrowed eyes. Anders hurries to continue. “Also, I wanted to ask you about your plans.”

“Plans?” Fenris stops in his tracks before they can cross the kitchen threshold, so suddenly Anders nearly runs into his back. He takes half a step back when Fenris turns, but the lack of space between them makes Fenris’ burning gaze all the more intense when it lands.

“What you plan to do now.” Anders hums and elaborates: “Your former master is dead and no one is hunting you. You could go anywhere, do anything! You could scrounge up some gold and buy farmland in Fereldan under the King’s new laws, for example.” 

Fenris’ lip draws back in a moue of disgust.

“You truly think I would be happy as a mud farmer?”

“Fereldan isn’t all mud. There are a few places where it doesn’t rain constantly.”

“A few. I see,” Fenris says flatly.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you avoiding answering the question,” Anders teases.

“And I don’t see how it’s any of your business!” Fenris growls, and Anders’ grin falls at the sudden shift in mood. His shoulders draw tight as he fights not to hunch down when the words sink in. 

He knows – he knows it’s been a Maker-damned stressful day for all of them, Fenris especially. But part of him instinctively wants to go back to comfortable anger in response, back to that tooth-baring back and forth they were famous for before they were something– something that apparently doesn’t matter to Fenris in this moment. Wants to snarl back with words he can make all the more cutting for their recent… intimacy. 

“No, of course not,” Anders hears himself say, and turns.

“Mage,” Fenris says, but Anders ignores him, heading toward the door. “Anders, wait,” he calls out, voice rising. 

“No, no, I wouldn’t want to bother you about your business,” he snaps, forgetting his resolve from just a moment ago. “After all, it doesn’t matter to me whether you plan to stay or leave!”

Anders is a terrible liar – his voice cracks down the middle of the statement. 

Mortified, Anders hastens his pace but is hardly surprised when a hand settles on his arm, grip unyielding in turning Anders around. Anders doesn’t fight it, lets Fenris use his momentum to spin him around and press him against the closest wall, one hand fisting in Anders’ robes.

Contrary to the snarl he half-expects, irritation has been wiped from Fenris’ face, his intense green eyes staring into Anders’ with the weight of expectation. 

“Tell me why it matters to you,” Fenris demands, voice low and heated.

“Tell you– tell you why I care? Did you miss the whole…” he motions at the scant space between them, the hand still clutching his robe, the way they are already leaning into one another, Fenris’ head raised and Anders’ lowered. They both pause to consider the position, the easy way Anders acquiesced to being pushed against the damn wall by a person easily capable of ripping out his heart with his bare hands. Even in the face of Fenris’ anger, Anders hadn’t felt afraid of being hurt by him for even a moment.

Maker, but he is so fucked. 

Fenris is silent for a moment, watching that realization play across Anders’ face. He has no idea what expression he’s making, but Fenris’ fist unfurls, his grip on the coat gentling until a bare palm lies flat against Anders’ chest. Anders imagines he can feel the heat of his hand through the thinning fabric. 

“I was not sure that you would care. I have heard things from Isabela–” Fenris starts, stops when Anders carefully sets his hand over Fenris’.

“I can guess what you’ve heard. I haven’t slept around casually since– well, not for a long time.” He swallows, hesitates, but forces himself to swallow around the tightness in his throat. “And I know we haven’t… really spoken about it, but this isn’t that.”

“No, it is not,” Fenris murmurs. 

That immediate affirmation sends relief pouring through him, and Anders struggles not to slump against the wall from the force of it. His fingers flex and spread under Anders’ hand, almost inviting, and Anders takes the opportunity to lace their fingers together.

The angle is awkward, but Anders’ fingers curling into Fenris’ warm palm feel almost more intimate than some of their sexual encounters. He can’t bite back the plea in his voice when he asks his next question.

“Are you going to stay in Kirkwall?” With me, he doesn’t say. It doesn’t seem to matter, Fenris clearly understands. 

“Yes,” Fenris answers, and kisses him.

-

Some time later, they lie sated in Fenris’ large bed, a fire blazing merrily in the fireplace across the room.

“How are you doing, really? I mean, the whole ‘sister betrayed you for a scam�� is not something you hoped for when you wrote her,” Anders murmurs against the elf’s sweat-damp brow.

Fenris snorts.

“You tread over sensitive topics with the delicacy of a bronto, but… I am better, now that you are here.” So saying, he pulls the heavy blanket over them, wrapping an arm around Anders’ waist as he burrows his face further into Anders’ neck. “Sleep, mage.” 

And Anders eventually does.

[melisusthewee]

I'd like to know more about your red lyrium fic?

When my drabble about the Titan Guardian wasn't working out, I took the same prompt and pivoted to a different idea - again based on a couple of things that happened during gameplay. I have accidentally stumbled into the Firewater Gardens in the Emerald Graves before I was sufficiently prepared to take on the group of red templars, giants, and their pet brontos. In order to grab the letters needed to further Cullen's side quest about Samson, I would usually try to stealth my way in with a rogue (usually my Inquisitor), grab the codex entry and then book it out of there as fast as my legs could carry me. This turn of events combined with the observation that the Red Templar Horrors will sometimes shoot out pieces of red lyrium as if peppering you in bullets and while it's obviously just a gameplay mechanic, that sort of ability or attack within the lore ought to be *extraordinarily dangerous.* I mean, can you imagine these creatures just out there embedding their enemies with red lyrium? What would happen?

So I started writing about it and it's now a 3k monstrosity and growing. I've been writing it in bits and pieces when inspiration or the mood strikes me, taking my time with it and not trying to force or rush anything out. And it's ended up that I've written about parts of Quinn and his companions that I don't tend to write a lot about which has been fun. This is the first fic that references his specialization (Tempest) and sees it used in action:

There was no time to think of a proper plan. Quinn’s hand flew to his belt, grabbing the nearest vial he could and throwing it at the creature. It screamed as the glass shattered, erupting in flame that Quinn knew wouldn’t actually hurt it but would hopefully confuse it enough for him to make his escape. He knew the other six templars and three - or was it four?! - already angry giants would now know he was there, but Quinn didn’t have time to dwell on how bad things were about to get. He ran.

The fic features three companions that - at the time I started writing it - I had barely ever mentioned in stories and didn't have a lot of experience writing them or their relationships with Quinn: Blackwall, Sera, and Solas. It's added a bit of variety to the usual cast of characters.

It features field-surgery... albeit one aided by magic which has been both fun and difficult to write as I am a terrible person to my poor OC.

Solas looked grim and resigned as he nodded towards Sera and the two of them began to unbuckle and pull away Quinn’s belts. He tried to help, but every time he moved, hot pain shot up his side. He’d bled through the shredded leather of his vest - bollocks, it had been such a nice one - the long tailcoat, and the sash wrapped around his waist.

“Do we have any brandy?” he asked as two hands took him by the shoulders and rolled him carefully onto his right side.

“We have a stick,” said a gruff voice he recognized as Blackwall. “Bite down.”

I got to write a fever dream as Quinn fights off the red lyrium infection which was a lot of fun to just explore and play around with the prose. And it unintentionally ended up that while there was always going to be a intimate gentleness between Quinn and Solas (which was sort of the beginning of Quinn viewing Solas as a friend), you could say it launched every other piece of ambiguous Solas/Quinn writing I've completed since then.

Solas looked strained and tired and he was speaking softly to himself in Elven. The meaning of the words were lost to Quinn, but the tone was soothing, as was the gentle lull of magic that rippled through the air. One of Solas’ hands hovered over his bandaged side, the other brushed against his marked hand every now and then.

The dream was fading quickly, and Quinn struggled to hang on to bits and pieces of it. Flowers like lyrium, the heat of his earlier fever, and the feeling of something in the palm of his hand. Quinn absently curled his fingers, watching the mark on his hand flare up and die down almost rhythmically.

I don't know when the whole fic will be done. And at the rate I'm going, it's likely to be closer to 5k when completed. Oops!

(WIP Meme!)

[magneticmage]

A Web of Betrayal

This is an excerpt from yet another fic I will probably never write. I have a lot of those. Anyways, enjoy!

Cw for sexism, plans of poisoning and Canon death of named characters. Also a discussion of how Orzammar's sex-based system is stupid and artifical binaries do not work in real life because nonbinary and transpeople exist. And enforcement of such a binary system hurts people who do not fit within its demands.

Valda Aeducan was lucky.

She was a princess in Orzammar. Daughter of the King and his noble Queen. Noble Caste and wealthy. Desirable and beautiful.

And yet she felt strangled in unseen webs at times for it.

She had seen her father's favoritism from a long time ago. He favored his sons, particularly his eldest two. It was not that surprising in retrospect, she supposed. Bhelen had been born from a casteless concubine-which had further soured her parents' then already-strained relationship. She had been born a woman, and thus should have inherited her mother's noble caste, not her father's royal one. But her mother had convinced the King to break from tradition for her daughter's benefit. Perhaps with the potential a future alliance of marriage could bring him.

The whole caste system was sexist, really. She had recalled the few times her cousin, Firenze, had broken down in her arms sobbing because they had not fit between their mother's noble caste and their father's casteless one since they did not wish to be male or female. Their brother, Rethan, had been assigned their mother's caste as a noble and he lived in fear for the discovery of his true self and being forced down amongst the casteless, to live in squalor and disease and refuse until he died. Both had gone off into the Deep Roads one day and neither returned. Rumors said that Rethan had escaped to the surface and Firenze had joined the Legion. But they were only rumors.

The caste system was killing them, bit by bit.

Even when one's gender did not affect things, one's caste certainly did. She was a noblewoman and was expected to be chaste and honorable. She had more bodies hidden under her stone caverns to be fed to her spiders and spilled more dwarven blood than quite a few members of the Warrior caste. She had been denied male lovers unless her father had approved of the match. Gorim was proof of that.

It rankled her. Coated her veins in venom and she was not surprised to find her growing disdain was matched with an increasing skill in actual poison and its antidotes.

She saw how Bhelen held the same doubts and frustrations. He was chided and ignored by their father, only gaining attention when he failed drastically. While she was praised for her own combat skills, it was because it was rare and often discouraged for women to become warriors due to the looming threat of broodmothers. Or so her father had explained when she had picked up her brother's sword to practice. She had batted her lashes and played on her father's soft spot as his only daughter and the family's precious jewel, to be safeguarded in Proving fights and not in true Deep Roads expeditions, when she was allowed to fight at all. She had been forced to maintain that image for years. She was as harmless as a nug as far as many nobles were concerned when really all she had been doing was weaving webs of influence and manipulating court intrigue to her family's benefit.

It had only been a matter of time before she had learned of Bhelen's ambitions. He had begun to be more reserved at family meals. But Trian was busy being groomed for heirdom and Barran-her own twin- was focused on both supporting their brother and learning the ways of war for the day he became Commander of Orzammar's armies. Whatever was left of them. No one else noticed the growing frown in their younger brother's expression. The faint hint of mockery in each laugh. The deep exhale of relief the moment he had a moment away from his brothers' shadows.

But she did.

And so she waited.

She did not strike when he took that lovely redhead as his lover. Trian had scoffed and demanded she be kept to her rooms like the dirty casteless woman she was. Barran had scowled and offered to find him a better match when he had time. Bhelen did not listen. Valda did not need to see the tender looks and small touches they hid before each parting to know how deep the affection ran. She even helped the woman by sending her gifts of food and small trinkets in passing over the years-always discreet, of course-and let her presume Bhelen had been the one to send them or whatever she wished to think of them. And her little brother did notice and gave her a questioning look between meals every once in a while after each present arrived. But she only smiled and went back to discussing the ways the various Houses were quarreling again as she cut delicately into her bronto steak.

She did not strike when she saw Bhelen begin to make moves in Dust Town. To ally with the Carta bosses to do his dirty work in exchange for some of the wealth and finer adjustments in life. Trian did not notice a few of his silver buttons went missing and blamed it on the servants as thieves. One poor girl had been beaten so badly that Valda had stepped in and offered the girl a new job instead of cleaning her brother's laundry: to make sure her spiders were fed. She had agreed and despite the healing wounds causing her some delay in being able to work, she had grown extremely adept at managing the caves and the spiders had learned not to harm the girl, even when she took a few of their eggs and venom for herself. Valda did not mind nor ask after her blatant thefts. Being a woman of any rank was hard enough when the men of the noble caste were as inconsiderate and selfish like her eldest brother.

Still she did not strike when Bhelen began to put his plans in motion. He had quietly orchestrated small quarrels between a few noble Houses, pitting them against each other in Provings to test his skills at coercing the upper classes. Barran had bested them all and drawn himself as a target after he ended the conflict through diplomacy. Their father had held a feast in celebration. Trian had all but secured Lady Helmi's daughter's affections by then, bolstering the traditionalists' favor in the Assembly despite Barran's rising own status and favor amongst the reformists and Warrior castes. Bhelen seethed over his wine that night. Until she had slipped him a note with the location of a warehouse full of food and medicine and scraps of old unused fabric and metal from her many, many gowns and armor. He had put the warehouse to use and it was empty within a fortnight, it's contents gutted and distributed amongst his followers.

He had thanked her but did not reveal his plans further.

But they both knew where the rot lay. And they both knew what measures would be needed to remove it.

Still, the entire system did not need to be torn down like he wished. Rebuilt and reconstructed, but not demolished.

So she struck at last.

It was the eve of the expedition and the feast was in full swing. Trian was complaining until his eye had wandered to some lovely noble women wishing to dance and flirt with the heir to the throne. Barran glowed with pride and swagger as he roamed the hall before disappearing with a pair noble-hunters, one on each arm. A third had been sent to Gorim's quarters and Valda did not pretend to hide her jealousy when the woman left with a smile later that night. Luckily, her handmaidens had been more than happy to help calm her anger by giving her tasks until it was time to move. She was still human, after all. She still held regrets sometimes.

If she were not who she was, she might have been able to have him. But the castes were absolute and the Assembly and her father and Harrowmont all valued tradition. Some more than others.

She was waiting alongside his concubine when Bhelen returned to his room, the two of them happily chatting about various skin and hair care regimes and the frustrations of the world's expectations with her future sister-in-law and herself. There was no doubt Bhelen would do anything for his loved ones.

And so would she.

"Sister, I....I did not expect you." He frowned and crossed his arms as he made his way across the room towards the two women.

"I know," She savored her last sip of wine for the evening before setting the glass down, "And I have a proposal, dear brother. I will be blunt since it is time we be honest to, at least, each other."

Bhelen's brows furrowed and the canny intelligence he took great pains to hide gleamed bright and open in his eyes then. "I'm listening."

"I know some of what you have struggled with these past years," She ran a finger around the rim of her glass, letting the sound breathe into the air for a moment before she continued, "Our struggles may not be the same, but we understand that our home is being destroyed by more than the darkspawn. It is being destroyed by ourselves."

Bhelen sat down across from her, gently taking Rica's hand and kissing her knuckles, "Would you mind preparing a bath for me, love? I need a moment to discuss some things with my sister."

Rica nodded and curtesied, "Course. My lady, excuse me."

Valda waved her off, "None of that, my dear. You will be Queen one day. Bow to no one but the ones you love."

Bhelen blinked in surprise and Rica smiled, as pleasant and easy-going as ever, "I will keep that in mind."

As Rica left the room, Bhelen leaned forward, fingers dipping out of view to no doubt reach for his knife sheath. "Queen, sister? Whatever gave you-"

"Honesty," She reminded him simply, "You and I both wish to change the face of Orzammar in our own way. And I believe we can help each other do that."

He leaned back and lifted his hand to stroke his beard for a moment. The gesture was so very much like her father and brothers that she had to bite back a swear. Bhelen, of course, noticed the slip in her mask and smiled, "Yes. Let's be honest, sister. Tell me how you wish to change Orzammar for the better."

"I believe you've had enough of listening to others tell you their goals, brother. " She smiled and set her hands on the table, palms up, "Tell me yours."

There was a pause as Bhelen seemed to weigh his options. Finally, he shook his head, "You will not help me. You do not have the heart for it."

"I have no more heart than you." She countered, "Our brothers are fools, my twin included. If they must be removed to ensure we get where we need to go, then so be it. That is what you planned for with that ex-warrior caste, isn't it? To move the Aeducan shield so you can set them up against each other."

He frowned, "Why would I wish them dead?"

"Because Trian does not respect you and would never change what needs to be done. Barran attempts to help but does not understand the causes of our sufferings."

"And what sufferings are those?"

Valda let her eyes drift towards the screen that separated the running water room of the bath, "You and I were not meant to be what we wish, Bhelen. Your ambition is to do better for the dwarven people, for your lover and your child."

He scowled, "You seem to know a great deal, sister. However did you come across such things?"

"People talk about interesting rumors all the time," Valda responded crisply, "Beyond that, we both know that I cannot name my sources without risking their lives, now can I?"

He chuckled and waved a hand, "You are such a spider queen, sister. If I did not know better, I would say you would much prefer the throne yourself!"

"No." She said.

There was a pregnant pause.

He arched a brow, "Truly? You could have all the power you wish. Any man you want. The Assembly would happily support you."

"The Assembly are old and do not speak for all of our people," Valda looked at her nails. The paint had chipped away a bit somewhere. "I wish to remove the caste system where it harms people. But I cannot be the one to do that."

"And why not?"

"I do not want power, Bhelen. I want people to be able to choose what they are in this world. What we Dwarves become. We cannot do that if a symbol of the old ways does that."

"Elaborate." His brows furrowed as he turned his head to the side to glance at the baths.

"Many people view me as either a copy of my mother or an extension of my brother as his twin." She smiled bitterly, "It is how I have managed to go unnoticed on my own all these years. So, no, I cannot be the one to change our people, but I can help the one who does."

Bhelen shook his head, "You want me to be King?"

"I want to help my brother," Valda corrected quietly, "Because I believe that he will do what he needs to in order to better help our people. All I ask is that I am listened to and my requests are accepted when I have them."

Bhelen met her gaze, "And what requests would you have?"

"A voice of my own to say what I wish, agency to decide things for myself be it marriage or other life prospects, and the dignity of any dwarf has been granted in your new rule."

"That's vague," He pointed out, "What will you do with these favors, if I grant them?"

"Serve our people by ensuring the old nobles do not interfere too much with your work, for one," She brushed aside her ringlets from her armored shoulders, "Ensure the casteless are fed and respected and the darkspawn driven back. Forge alliances and trade. All the same things you are already planning. And a few you haven't accounted for."

"Like?" He questioned.

"You'll find out eventually. You're smart enough, brother. And we promised honesty to each other." She held out her hand, "Now, do we have a deal?"

Bhelen glanced at her hand and seemed to think it over a moment longer. Then he clasped her forearm and they shook, "Very well, sister dear. I will do what you ask so long as you do not betray me."

[blogangels140]

Ark Survival Evolved Unlock Hairstyles

Here are the commands from the wiki (for the hairstyles): And here is a list Press J to jump to the feed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. After you have unlocked the hair style, you need to craft some scissors, equip them and use them on yourself by right clicking (pc). An UI opens where you can choose your hair style and hair length. When you click on accept, you will cut your hair short, don't worry, it now grows into shape by time.

Ark Survival Evolved Hair

Ark Survival Evolved Hairstyles

Braids Head Hair StyleConsume this to permanently unlock the style!Consumable (values pertain to Humans)TypeHairstyleItemAdded inv257.0

Spawn Command

cheat giveitem 'Blueprint'/Game/PrimalEarth/CoreBlueprints/Items/Consumables/BaseBPs/PrimalItemConsumable_UnlockHair_Head_Braids.PrimalItemConsumable_UnlockHair_Head_Braids' 1 0 0

The Braids Head Hair Style is a Hairstyle that can be accessed via Scissors once it is unlocked.

A quick video explaining how to unlock all hairstyles in ARK Survival Evolved.' Perspectives' Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons. Mohawk, Moustache Gamma Ascention - Requires that you beat all three bosses at Gamma Level, go to the volcanos Tek Cave Entrance, and get to the end of the cave to accend to Gamma. You can use the code below to summon all the items you'll need to unlock the ascention.

Obtaining(edit | edit source)

This skin can be unlocked by completing the Maximum Survivor Achievement.

Maximum Survivor

Reach the maximum survivor level.

Gallery(edit | edit source)

100% length, female character

100% length, male character

v·d·eSkinsBase Game

Clothing

Alpha Raptor Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Araneo Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • ARK Tester Hat • Birthday Suit Armor (Pants, Shirt) • Bone Helmets (Rex, Trike) • Bonnet Hat • Bunny Ears • Captain's Hat • Chieftan Hat • Clown Mask • Corrupted Armor (Boots, Chestpiece, Gloves, Helmet, Pants) • Cupid Couture (Bottom, Top) • Dilo Mask • Dino Ornament Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Dodo Pie Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • DodoRex Mask • DodoWyvern Mask • Easter Chick Hat • Easter Egg Hat • Fan Ballcap • Felt Reindeer Antlers • Floral Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Giga Poop Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Halo Headband • Headless Costume • Hockey Mask • Hunter Hat • Jerboa Wreath Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Love Shackles • Marshmallow Hat • Meat Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Nerdry Glasses • Onyc Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Party Hat • Pilgrim Hat • Santa Hat • Scary Pumpkin Helmet • Survivor's Hat • T-Rex Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Top Hat • Turkey Hat • Turkey Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Ugly Sweaters (Bronto, Carno, Chibi) • Uncle Sam Hat • Vampire Dodo Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Vampire Eyes • Werewolf Mask • Winter Beanies (Blue, Gray, Green, Purple, Red) • Witch Hat • Wizard Ballcap

Costumes

Bionic Creatures (Giga, Mosasaurus, Parasaur, Quetzal, Rex, Raptor, Stegosaurus, Triceratops) • Bone Creatures (Bronto, Carno, Giganotosaurus, Jerboa, Quetzalcoatlus, Raptor, Rex, Stego, Trike, Wyvern) • Brachiosaurus • Megaloceros Reindeer • Procoptodon Bunny • Stygimoloch • Styracosaurus

Saddles

Dino Bunny Ears • Dino Easter Chick Hat • Dino Easter Egg Hat • Dino Glasses • Dino Marshmallow Hat • Dino Party Hat • Dino Santa Hat • Dino Uncle Sam Hat • Dino Witch Hat • Parasaur Stylish Saddle • Rex Stomped Glasses Saddle

Weapons

Bow & Eros • Candy Cane Club • Chocolate Rabbit Club • Christmas Bola • Fireworks Flaregun • Fireworks Rocket Launcher • Nutcracker Slingshot • Pitchfork • Teddy Bear Grenades • Torch Sparkler • Turkey Leg

Scorched Earth

Clothing

Manticore Armor (Boots, Chestpiece, Gauntlets, Helmet, Leggings, Shield) • Safari Hat • Wyvern Gloves

Saddles Weapons

Scorched Weapons (Spike, Sword, Torch)

Aberration

Clothing

Aberrant Helmet • Bulbdog Mask • Chili Helmet • Cute Dino Helmet • Otter Mask • Reaper Helmet • Scary Skull Helmet

Saddles Weapons

Extinction

Clothing

HomoDeus Armor (Boots, Gloves, Helmet, Pants, Shirt)

Genesis: Part 1

Clothing

Corrupted Avatar Armor (Boots, Gloves, Helmet, Pants, Shirt) • Master Controller Helmet

Weapons

Genesis: Part 2

Clothing

Federation Exo Armor (Boots, Leggings) • Poglin Mask Skin

ARK 2 Promo

Weapons

Event

Clothing

Crab Fest Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Easter Egghead • Fish Bite Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Hawaiian Shirts (Bulbdog-Print, Gasbags-Print, Ice Pop-Print, Jack-O-Lantern-Print, Reaper-Print, Sea Life-Print) • Ichthy Isles Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Jack-O-Lantern Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Reaper Swimsuits (Bottom, Top) • Sunglasses

Costumes

Ghost Creatures (Basilisk, Bulbdog, Direwolf, Mantis, Reaper, Rex, Snow Owl)

Weapons

E4 Remote Eggsplosives • Flying Disc • Grilling Spatula • Sweet Spear Carrot • Water Soaker

Hairstyles

Head

Afro • Braids • Dreadlocks • Mohawk • Ponytail • Romantic • Viking

Facial

Curly Beard • Dread Beard • Goatee • Moustache • Mutton Chops • Romantic • Viking Beard

Emotes

Unlocks

Air Drums • Air Guitar • Archer Flex • Belly Rub • Bicep Smooch • Bunny Hop Dance • Caroling Emote • Dance • Evil • Flirty • Food Coma • Happy Clap • Heart • Hungry • Knock • Mosh Pit • Nutcracker Dance • Panic • Scare • Snowball • Turkey • Zombie

Retrieved from 'https://ark.gamepedia.com/Braids_Head_Hair_Style?oldid=473905'

Ark: Survival Evolved, developed by Studio Wildcard, is an action-adventure video game. Styling your ark coiffures is not a difficult task in this game. Though there are certain requirements that you need to follow in the game of ark hairstyles.

Being stranded on the island, players must survive in this game along with hostile human players, natural hazards, prehistoric animals, and roaming dinosaurs.

Ark Hairstyles are obtained by searching for Explorer Notes and as rewards for completing achievements.

All the survivors in this game can use scissors to cut other hairs or their own hairs in order to achieve real human hair. You can also color the hairstyle with dye. But remember that facial hair and head hair are dyed separately. You can access this from Scissors UI. With the best ark hairstyles, you can also try popular bandanas to enhance your appearance.

Different Types Of Facial Hair Styles (Male Ark Hairstyles)

There are different types of facial hairstyles that you must know in 2020. All of them are listed below,

Default Facial Hair

By default, this hairstyle is available for all male players. You don’t need to complete any task in order to achieve this hairstyle. This facial ark hairstyle is automatically set as default.

Moustache Facial Hair

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. However, after completing Gamma Ascension Achievement, you can unlock this skin hairstyle.

Goatee Facial Hair

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing Beta Ascension Achievement, you can unlock this hairstyle.

Romantic Facial Hair

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing Map Maker achievement, you can unlock the skin.

Dread Beard Facial Hair

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing one task, you can unlock this hairstyle.

Mutton Chops Facial Hair

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing Artifact Archaeologist Achievement, you can unlock this hairstyle.

Curly Beard Facial Hair

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing Maximum Survivor Achievement, you can unlock the skin.

Viking Beard Facial Hair

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing the Perfect Explorer Achievement, you can unlock the skin.

Ark Survival Evolved Hair

Different Types Of Female Ark Hairstyles

The below listed are the different types of female ark hairstyles that you must know,

Default Hairstyle

By default, this hairstyle is available for all female players. You don’t need to complete any task in order to achieve this hairstyle.

Mohawk Hairstyle

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing one of the tasks, you can unlock this skin.

Afro Hairstyle

Ark Survival Evolved Hairstyles

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing the Beta Ascension Achievement, you can unlock this skin.

Romantic Hairstyle

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing the Map Maker Achievement, you can unlock this skin.

Dreadlocks Hairstyle

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing one task, you can unlock the skin.

Ponytail Hairstyle

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing the Artifact Archaeologist task, thee can unlock this ark hairstyle.

Braids Hairstyle

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing the Maximum Survivor Achievement, you can unlock this skin.

Viking Hairstyle

Once it is unlocked, you can access this hairstyle via scissors. By completing the Perfect Explorer Achievement, you can unlock the skin.

Read Also:

5 Reasons You Should Try Clothing Rental in 2020

The Final Thoughts

You can twist your way in the ark by completing different types of achievements that are required to obtain ark hairstyles. You can get more hairstyles and grow your hair fast in the ark game via scissors.

It usually takes five hours for hair to grow in the ark because your hair grows in real-time. You can cut the survivor’s hair via scissors to make it short and giving different types of ark hairstyles. Besides, you can also have a look at the best peacock dress that will amaze you for sure.

On the other hand, you can also color the survivor’s hair by using dye. Therefore, these are the ways by which you can learn to unlock different hairstyles by completing specific achievements for males and females.

[lesetoilesfous]

"you obviously can’t be trusted to take care of yourself, so let me do it for you." with fenhawke or hawke/isabela please!

AH I am currently romancing fenris for the first time so, I gotta

(If you’d like me to write you a dragon age fic, send me a prompt from here!)

@dadrunkwriting

Pairing: Fenris/Garrett Hawke

Characters: Fenris, Garrett Hawke

Tags: Hawke is an idiot, Fenris survived three years on the run by himself somehow, who let Hawke near a cooking pot, Fenris is exasperated and in love and exasperated by the fact he’s in love, post All That Remains

Rating: Mature

“You obviously can’t be trusted to take care of yourself, so let me do it for you.” 

Garrett scowls, crossing his arms defensively across his chest and not moving away from the charred remains of what was meant to be a honey-roasted bronto haunch. “I can look after myself, Fenris.”

Fenris raises his eyebrow. Hawke unfolds his arms and resolutely does not look at the blackened chunk of what could no longer, even charitably, be called meat. Between them, Dog watches with interest, transparently waiting for an opportunity to salvage the haunch. Fenris steps back, and gestures for her to take it. Then he looks up at Garrett, who is in turn watching somewhat mournfully as Dog smears grease and ash across the red rug spread over his floor.

When Fenris speaks, he does so in a deliberate drawl. “Clearly.” He narrows his eyes as he looks at Hawke, noting the creases around his mouth and eyes and the thinness to his cheeks, the way his tunic hangs lighter than it usually would. His skin is pale, too, even in the bronze light of the fire. “When did you last eat?” Hawke opens his mouth, and Fenris scowls at him. “What passes for ale at The Hanged Man doesn’t count.” Hawke shuts his mouth. 

Fenris tries very hard to resist the urge to sigh. Of all the men in Thedas, why did it have to be this one?

Then he marches briskly out of the main hall and towards Garrett’s kitchen. He doesn’t wait to see if Hawke will follow. After six years, Fenris has come to learn that despite his better judgement and all sensible social norms, Garrett Hawke will follow him without question, anywhere. Fenris tries not to be overwhelmed by the enormity of that. 

“Fenris, you’re not seriously planning to cook for me.” Hawke’s voice is loud, and bounces off the empty stone walls of his family home. Not for the first time, Fenris wonders how well he is truly acclimatising to the sudden emptiness of the Amell Estate. It was clearly not built for solitude. 

Dismissing his concerns for now, Fenris throws his comment back over his shoulder as he swings open the door to the library and steps through it. “That depends, were you seriously planning not to eat?”

He crosses the library quickly - unable to resist throwing a brief, hungry glance at the shelves. (”They’re yours, you know. All of them. Take as long as you need.” Hawke’s chin had rested lightly on his head as he’d said the words, arms wrapping loosely around his belly. Fenris had wanted to call him out on his magnanimity - to point out that he could not possibly mean such a generous promise. But too much of him had been seized by the sudden, powerful hope that he meant it, and the unwillingness to risk the possibility that he didn’t. So instead he’d said nothing - only reached out, reverently, and brushed his fingers along the soft red leather spines of the Amell family library.)

“How do you know where the kitchen is, anyway?” Hawke asks, mildly, taking the door when Fenris holds it open for him, and stepping back to let Dog come bounding through, her claws skittering on the stone. 

Fenris resists the urge to sigh - choosing not to resurrect the old argument of whether Garrett should hire servants as he clears away the dusty surfaces and begins to search the pantry for something edible. Garrett would not have purchased something, but Leandra was a sensible woman. She would have bought stores to last. The connection between Leandra’s death and Garrett’s sudden inability to feed himself is one Fenris is unsure how to examine yet. But he knows he will be there for Hawke, when he is ready to discuss it. It is the best, and the least, that he can do.

Fenris’ hand tightens around the pan in his hand. 

It is, at least, not the only thing he can do.

As he prepares the meal, he looks up to see Hawke watching him, curiously, still waiting for an answer. Fenris carefully begins dicing onions. “You are aware that poisoning is a popular method of assassination.”

“Yes?” Hawke drags out his answer as he props his hip against the counter. Fenris tries not to sigh again, and resists the childish urge to laugh at his lover as he mixes the onion and garlic with olive oil in the pot and lights the stove beneath it.

“Understanding a building’s layout is fairly standard procedure when securing it from possible assassins. The kitchen -” Fenris manages to light the fire and steps back as it rises with a huff, carefully closing the clay door to the oven, “- is crucial.”

When he looks up, Hawke is frowning at him, one hand resting on Dog’s head. “Fenris...” Hawke’s voice holds a note of warning that Fenris has come to appreciate and resent in equal measure. He resists the urge to cross his arms.

“What?”

Hawke’s eyes tighten. “It’s just. All this...The security, cooking for me. You’re not...” Hawke trails off, biting the inside of his cheek, and impatience quickly wins the battle over affection in Fenris’ chest, hastened on by a strange kind of anxiety.

“Not what?”

Hawke meets his eyes then, lifting his chin. “I’m not another Danarius to you, am I?”

Fenris blinks. Then he raises his hands. “Oh no, dread magister, I live in fear of your terrible magics.” He snorts, then, and lowers his arms - feeling a stupid bubble of affection rising through his chest at the fact Hawke had thought of such a thing at all. It drives him in a sudden wave of boldness to kiss the unhappy frown on Hawke’s brow, though his lover doesn’t smile when Fenris comes down from his tiptoes, so he chooses instead to flick his nose lightly with his finger and thumb. That does elicit a small laugh from Garrett, and it’s only when it does that Fenris realises how much he’d missed it, these past weeks.

Having successfully discovered stock, water, white wine and dried peas, Fenris returns to his meal, dumping the ingredients into the pan unceremoniously and shifting it into the centre of the hot plate until the mixture begins to simmer. The smell of cooking onions and oil fills the kitchen, mixing with the light, heady scent of cooking wine and the salty, moreish taste of the stock.

Fenris stirs it a few times before turning back to his lover. “No, Hawke, you are not another Danarius. For one thing, i do not fear you.” It as true now as it had been the first time he’d come to Hawke’s bed, three years ago. It still seems like the most impossible gift.

Fenris is afraid of intimacy, certainly. He is afraid of trust. He is afraid of losing this man who holds so much of his heart to death or worse, and he knows too well the shape of the many fates worse than death the world might hold for a man like Garrett Hawke. But Fenris is not afraid of the man himself, and it is that, he has found, that has made all the difference.

Garrett, for his part, gestures to his broad chest with a look of mock affront. “Not afraid? Of me? I’ll have you know I’m the Champion of Kirkwall, serrah.” Fenris snorts, and Garrett warms to his part, shifting away from the counter whilst the risotto bubbles wetly next to Fenris. Dog begins to bark, excited, tail wagging as she does so. Hawke raises his hands into the air. “I defeated the Arishok himself in single combat. The Arishok. He’s twenty feet tall.”

Fenris smirks at him. “I hear he shoots fire out of his eyes.”

Garrett gasps. “He does! His roar is enough to make a grown man soil himself. But not I! My loins are girded with iron!” Fenris raises his eyebrows and Hawke falters, arms falling from where they’d been raised as he flushes. “Alright, that one got away from me.”

Fenris shakes his head and steps forward, running his fingers over the cool silk of Hawke’s tunic. “No, no. Tell me about your iron loins.” He grins up at his lover then, teasing, and Garrett grins back.

“You’ certainly keep me humble, love.”

Garrett bends and kisses him, then, and his beard scratches against Fenris’ chin, soft and familiar. Fenris sighs and lets him, and resists the urge to answer that he doesn’t. Garrett does that well enough himself. He always has. It’s one of the things Fenris loves about him.

Between them, Dog whines, and they break apart breathless as teenagers. Fenris feels his face flush and returns quickly to the meal, checking on it before searching the cupboard for any kind of hard cheese. 

A little later it’s ready, and Fenris spoons the mixture into a fine silver bowl for Hawke, who takes it gratefully as he leans against the counter. “Where’d you learn to cook?” Hawke pauses to eat a spoonful of risotto before groaning in a way that is positively obscene and, Fenris thinks, only a little exaggerated. “Maker, that’s good.” With sudden, honest gusto Hawke begins to wolf down the rest of the mix. Fenris stops worrying about what he’ll do with the excess.

Instead, he leans against the counter opposite Hawke, stepping back and away from the heat of the oven and poking at his own rice. “I taught myself. After I left Danarius.”

Hawke grunts, and swallows, gesturing with his spoon. “What is this? It’s so good.”

Fenris ducks his head, and tries to stifle the stupidly shy smile pulling at his lips even as heat burns its way up into the tips of his ears. “It’s...nothing. A Tevene peasant recipe.” Hawke watches him, patiently, and Fenris feels his cheeks burn, tossing the words between them like an embarassed kind of offering. “Risi e bisi.”

Fenris quickly shoves a spoonful of the rice into his mouth before he can do anything worse. The mixture is salty and sweet, rounded out by the stock and cheese. He lets it warm him, and takes a moment to appreciate the simple pleasure of having access to hot food as and when he needs it. 

Hawke, meanwhile sets down his empty bowl with a satisfied sigh. “Risi e bisi.” His Fereldan accent butchers the language. Fenris doesn’t care. “I’ll have to remember that.”

There’s a little more colour in Hawke’s cheeks now - brought up by the warmth of food, laughter and flirtation. It paints him ruddy and warm, and there’s a smile lingering around his lips as he bends to scratch Dog’s great sandy head. Fenris feels a small coil of satisfaction curl in his gut as he watches him.

He is safe. He is well. He is happy.

Fenris did that.

Carefully, Fenris sets down his own bowl and steps forward, reaching up to touch Hawke’s cheek. Garrett’s hand catches his gingerly. He always stares at him with such poorly hidden wonder, when Fenris touches him. Fenris smiles at him, and is struck for a moment by the image of a raven chick, fluffy and awkward and fragile, cradled in his hands. Hesitantly, Hawke smiles back.

Fenris gets up on tiptoes, and presses a long, slow, chaste kiss to Hawke’s lips.

“Let me take care of you.” He smiles at Garrett, and runs a thumb over his tanned, weather-beaten cheek. “That is what lovers do, isn’t it?”