#can manfred eat?

[martiancake]

There are ten places set at the table

Does this mean Assan and Manfred eat with the group?

[zarla-s]

you can't do this to him kabu he's a gourmand

[patreon]

[nwdolphin]

von Hamsters

[heymrpiccolo]

davrin and emmrich arguing about their children 😭

[amplexadversary]

It took me reading this for it to click that Nana Morri is low-key on some Manfred von Karma bullshit and I'm here for it.

(I'd argue this take gives her a little more credit for engineering these circumstances than I'd say is fair from what we know but the comparison delights me.)

Nana Morri queen shit for stealing and raising her infuriating neighbour's only daughter, sending her back on a field trip to fuck up his red moon plans, all while grooming her to eventually become the third in her Nana's coven. Revenge is your speciality? You don't say

[emmg]

Emmrich and Lucanis are the sugar daddies of the most deranged, broke-ass group of idiots in all of Thedas. It’s canon because I said it

Bellara doesn’t even know she’s supposed to be paid for work. Like, genuinely confused by the concept

Neve takes jobs from people who are basically paying her in promises and vibes

Harding lost that sweet Inquisition paycheck ages ago and is just scraping by on pure optimism

Taash probably has money somewhere but would rather set themselves on fire than spend a single coin

Davrin has more holes than socks. Assan eats his pennies

My Rook is a certified Lords of Fortune dumbass with the impulse control of a magpie and a “mild” case of kleptomania. She’s in debt to people she hasn’t even met yet

Meanwhile, Lucanis is out here with two mansions, the bougiest assassin rates in Thedas, and Emmrich has what’s basically tenure at Mourn Watch Trump University, walking around dressed like my house down payment. These two are 100% bankrolling this lineup of freeloader chucklefucks

Manfred needs pocket money? Emmrich’s got him, we all know that. Also slipping a little extra to his girlfriend because she’s, you know, decades younger and strapped for cash

Then the rest of these clowns line up like it’s Thedas’ Saddest Payday, Lucanis included (he’s just there to see how far he can push Emmrich)

Emmrich finally sets up a budget spreadsheet, Lucanis whips out an abacus, and Mondays are officially allowance day with Emmrich and Lucanis alternating who’s dishing out the gold each week

This group of morons has turned adventuring into take your sugar daddy to work day

Emmrich and Lucanis are now writing “Weekly Allowance” as a line item in their budgets

[hyperions-light]

woAH I heard people are hating on Neve which is super cringe! Neve positivity time!!

I am in love with her because

1. She has an impeccable sense of fashion, she never misses, could make a paper bag look good

2. Docktown sucks so bad, like major Kirkwall vibes, and she loves it SO MUCH

3. If you give money to the people asking for it on the streets in Docktown, sometimes Neve will check in with them and make sure they have a place to stay it’s so sweet !!!

4. She cannot cook at all. Only eats fried fish. Boils her coffee. Zero domestic skills, completely perfect

5. She loves Bellara so much, she’s such a good friend ;-; She finds all her serials and helps her try to work out the mysteries! She gets her goat cheese! She comes to Cyrian’s funeral ;-;

6. If you wander around Docktown with her in your party you can stop and talk to her regular contacts and she will check in with them <3

7. She works alone because she’s scared that the people who try to help her will get hurt =(

8. She’s not afraid of Spite and she refuses to see Lucanis as a monster or treat him differently, even after he almost kills Illario.

9. She helps Taash figure out their gender stuff and she is so supportive and helpful <3

10. The WAY she talks to people who are hurting… like even though she’s so cynical, personally, she never tells people to give up on others, she’s never sarcastic or scathing when people are in pain. I took her on Taash’s final mission last time, and her voice ;-; She wanted to help so badly, but she couldn’t do anything. She reminded them that everyone was there for them. She loves SO much, so intensely.

11. She does not expect anyone to help her, and especially if you don’t save Minrathous she’s skeptical, but she’s so thankful for Rook’s help when they give it. She’s so fucking lonely, man! She thinks she has to do it all herself, because everyone else in the world and especially in Minrathous has shown her over and over that they don’t care about the people she loves, the people like HER. She’s not rich, she’s not famous or powerful or well-connected, she’s just using what she has to try and help people!

12. Manfred canonically doesn’t like nicknames, but he lets Neve call him ‘Fred

Neve Gallus, the woman you are <3

Edit: When I posted this someone immediately made some rude comment so here’s some more stuff to love about Neve Gallus!

13. She investigated the mystery of the candlehops and she was so serious about it! Just like the wisps in the Lighthouse!

14. When she was a kid she didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up and she HATED it lol

15. She got her best coat as a gift from a grateful client!

16. She keeps her tiny little apartment because they gave her a good deal on the rent and she doesn’t want to lose it

17. Halos keeps trying to give her fish for free but she insists on paying him <3

18. That joke she made to Lucanis about having an extra leg if he needed one lol

19. She misses the sound of the ocean, and sometimes when she wakes up in the Lighthouse she hears it for a moment

20. The way she explains everything so patiently to Taash about Tevinter and Docktown and the way status symbols work; the way she is always trying to use her skills to help the other members of the team!!

21. How she makes sure to check up on that kid whose father was doing demon summoning stuff and make sure that he’s alright ;-;

[rook-laidir]

Codex Entry: Additional Wicked Grace Rules

In Davrin’s handwriting

- No cheating

- No arrows at the table

- No Rivaini rules if we have to get up earlier than midday

- If Assan eats a card, it’s out of play

- Smelling the other players counts as cheating (this includes Spite)

- If you run out of gold, you can still bet something of similar value (just keep your clothes on in front of Manfred)

- Card counting counts as cheating (sorry, Bellara)

- Card counting while being a detective still counts as cheating

In Neve’s handwriting You’re just sore I cost you 10 gold

- Rook’s going to cheat anyway. When playing against Rook, you can ignore up to 3 rules

[rom-e-o]

Imagine Emmrich getting sick or hurt enough he needs nursing for the first time after wifey is in his life.

Ohhh, yes. Emmrich. The always-giving, charitable healer. The eternal gentleman who has built a career on helping students learn, regularly uses his talents to help the dead find peace, risks life and limb to help Rook despite his fear of death, and BUILDS A BODY for a wisp who stays loyally by his side.

That Emmrich, who has pined for love and marriage but never found connection.

That Emmrich, who probably hasn't someone take care of him in decades. Who, if he got sick, always had to tend to himself, despite exhaustion and achiness. When was the last time you think he had someone at his side when he was sick? Probably his mother or father, when he was a young boy.

Maybe Manfred has helped sometimes, but of course, Emmrich doesn't ask much. Maybe for him to make some tea or wake him if someone knocks at the door, but that's not tending to him. But he can fudge it with a cold.

When he is bedbound will illness/injury for the first time since his relationship with Rook, feeling the caring presence of another at his beck and call is probably a little uncomfortable at first. ("D-Darling, I'll get you sick. P-Please don't worry. I-I'll be okay.") He says this while feverish and shaking, a cold sweat casting a sheen over his brow. Yet, he smiles. "Please, g-go enjoy the day, dearest."

He feels guilty of being a burden. He's a man who has always sought connection, and to over-compensate for his 'faults' (and even his age), he pushes himself hard. He likes to feel needed. He likes to GIVE.

So, to be in a position where he is forced to TAKE? He's hesitant. Maybe it makes him feel nostalgia in a horrible, raw way. He strikes me as a man that only feels worthwhile as a person if he's giving his energy (metaphorically or literally) to others. This feeling amplifies as he ages, and especially as he fails to find that love he yearns for so deeply.

Rook, his lovely wife, understands that. So she sets up a post. Manfred helps, of course. They make sure he's comfortable in bed. Plenty of books are placed nearby, even though he mostly sleeps. The window is opened, if the weather is nice-ish. Candles are lit. The fire roars. Plenty of tea is on tap. Even though he can't eat much, Rook brings porridge and potatoes to him.

She brushes his hair, dabs a cloth over his face, and draws him baths when he's strong enough to leave the bed.

"I-I'm sorry, dearest."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"F-For forcing you to care for me like this," he says as she brings a soapy cloth across his face, cleaning the latest sheen of fever-sweat from his brow.

He can't help but feel like an incompetent fool. He hates her seeing him in such a state. What if she sees him looking so weak and pathetic and decides to leave? It's not that he doesn't trust her. It's that his fear of somehow losing her or driving her away is one of the few things that can usurp logic in his mind.

"I don't recall you forcing me," she parries swiftly, lifting one of his toned arms to bring the cloth down the length of it. "In fact, you urged me to leave you and go enjoy my day. You encouraged me to leave with a handsome smile that was almost dashing enough to make me ignore that pesky blue pallor of yours."

He sighs wearily, still unable to look at her. "Even when I'm in such a sorry state, you still bestow those comforting compliments upon me."

"Because you deserve them." She undoes the top buttons of his nightgown and runs the cold cloth over his chest and neck. He sighs in relief, the cold feeling refreshing against his skin. "And you deserve to be cared for. Doted on. Now ... does that feel nice?"

He doesn't open his eyes immediately. Instead, he takes a moment to fill his lungs with air, the shakiness ebbing. Then, his gaze finds hers, hazel eyes blazing more brightly than they have in days. "It feels heavenly."

"Good." She leans down and kisses the tip of his nose. "Not too heavenly, though. I enjoy your company far too much to be without it for long. I'll start clawing the walls."

"Ha! W-Well, I shall endeavor to make a full recovery as swiftly as possible. How could I not, when I have such a sterling nurse?"

That night, Emmrich asks Rook to read to him. He loves the sound of her voice, and he so rarely has the chance to fall to sleep to it. She obliges, of course, reading him "Hard in Hightown", a fast-paced adventure by the infamous Varric Tethras. ("'You harassed a magistrate's widow. And you practically broke down a comte's door.' She turned to glare at him. 'All before dawn!'")  As she reads and acts out the lines with vigor, she hears him react according. He might gasp in shock, or laugh, or roll his eyes at a pun.

All the while, he uses her arm as a pillow, and gazes up at her, the very image of a besotted fool. A besotted fool with some color in his cheeks and a distinct glint returning to his lovely eyes.

[ode-to-fury]

Just Sweet Enough

Pairing: Lucanis x f!Rook

Summary: Rewrite of the relationship lock in scene

Notes: I need them to kiss here and I need it to be sweet and this happened. Bioware please hire me to write a dlc for u I'll do it for free I swear. Spite dialogue in italics.

"Emmrich, I need your help."

Emmrich looked up from the tome he'd been reading. A fascinating history on Arlathan that Bellara had thought he might enjoy.

"Lucanis," he said jovially, glad to see the man was feeling better, looking slightly more rested.

"Rook told me about your little fade expedition," he said. "Is there something amiss?"

He'd ached to go and ask Lucanis and Spite about exactly what had been going on with them, but Rook had told him not to. Told him to let them get some rest, so he'd settled for grilling her about it instead, until she'd been all but falling asleep on his shoulder.

He did think sometimes she indulged him a bit too much.

"No," Lucanis said, pulling Emmrich back to the present, "I think we've... reached an agreement. Somehow."

We have. A deal. Spite sounded different. Not happy, persay, but... Emmrich struggled to think of a word for it.

Determined?

The younger man's hand went to the back of his neck.

"With Rook's help, no doubt," Emmrich said. "Remarkable young woman."

"She is," Lucanis said, and Emmrich did not miss the way his voice softened when he did.

"That is... actually what I wanted to talk to you about," he said. He gestured at the couch next to Emmrich.

"Of course, my dear boy, sit!" He scooted over slightly. It was his favourite place to sit, beneath the astrolabe in the library. Oh, he could spend hours on that couch, provided Manfred brought him enough tea.

"Is something the matter with Rook?" He asked.

"No," Lucanis said quickly. "No, nothing is the matter, not that she has told me. I just... want to..." he trailed off, his hands clenching into fists on his lap.

Faintly, Emmrich could hear Spite talking.

Thoughts are too loud when he thinks of her. Feel. Too much. Honey and lightning and home. He's stupid.

"I want to do something for her," he said finally, quietly.

"And I'm sorry to ask you, but Davrin would talk to me in hunting metaphors as if they are even remotely the same thing, Bellara would start talking about something else entirely, and Neve wouldn't know about any of this if it stabbed her in the neck."

Emmrich supressed a grimace. An accurate summary of their travelling companions, if a tad unsympathetic.

"She is- she deserves- " he sighed, he ran a hand across his face in defeat.

"Well, then," Emmrich said, taking pity on him, putting a hand on Lucanis's shoulder. "I'm sure she'd be delighted. If it came from you."

"But that is the problem," he said, almost panicked. "I am an assassin, Emmrich. All I know is death. What could I ever possibly do for her?"

He looked down at his hands, open now in his lap.

"How could I ever thank her for... " he closed his eyes, blew a long breath out of his nose.

Emmrich thought about it for a moment. Oh, there was no question that young Rook was infatuated with him, and he with her. No question at all. But how could they prove it to each other? To themselves?

"Hmmm," he hummed as he thought, and then an idea came to him.

"Surely," he said, his brows raising innocently, "You can think of one other thing you might be good at?"

Lucanis looked at him, lost. Emmrich almost laughed at him.

Good at making. To eat! Slice things! BURN THINGS! HA!

"I think Spite has the right of it, there," he said with a grin. "Sort of."

"Cooking?" Lucanis asked. "You think I should cook her something?"

"I think our Rook has a lot of worries," he said. "I think that she would appreciate someone taking the time to think of her, and do something special. Romance, or whatever you would like to call it, Lucanis, is about the small details."

"I know that," Lucanis replied. "But cooking? I cook every day. Almost every day."

"Do you make something with her in mind? Something to bring her some comfort? It's no small thing, making a meal for someone."

Lucanis sat for a moment, frowning at the floor in front of him, then his expression lifted.

"Emmrich," he said, grinning, "I think you might be right. I'll see you at dinner."

We go to Burn Things! For Rook!

He stood and walked to the door, then turned with his hand on the handle.

"You wouldn't... happen to know a dessert that pairs well with coffee, would you?"

***

Lucanis was just adding the last sprinkle of chopped hazelnuts to the torte when the door opened.

"Rook!" He said, his voice pitched too high. He cleared his throat.

Oh, mierda. He should have put someone outside the door to keep her away. Spite should have told him she was coming. Damned demon.

"Lucanis?" She said uncertainly, frowning at him. She walked toward the kitchen, and he tried to stand in front of the stove so she wouldn't see what he was making.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I was... hungry?" she said, one eyebrow lifting.

"I wanted to see if someone had started on dinner already. What are we having?"

She peered over his shoulder, and he could see her expression change as she beheld the pot, smelled the contents and connected the two things. He'd realised when he'd started cooking that he'd never made anything special for her before. It was always other people asking him for things. Katchapouri for Neve, spiced rices for Taash, turnips for Harding.

She never asked for anything, not even her mother's rabbit stew. It was Orlesian, she'd said, and the library had helpfully provided him a recipe.

A part of him felt ashamed, because it was such a small thing, the simplest thing he'd cooked since getting here, but he'd been so busy thinking about Illario, and Caterina, and Minrathous that he hadn't thought about what it might mean to her to have something from home.

A different part, a bigger part, the part that her presence in his life had woken up, that part was determined to make it up to her, no matter what.

"Wait..." she said slowly, her eyebrows lifting in surprise, "Is that...?"

"You said it was your favourite," he said, and he couldn't help that his voice became soft as he said it.

"In a passing comment weeks ago," she said, shaking her head. His heart broke when she looked at him, because there was disbelief on her face, as if he wouldn't remember everything she'd ever said to him. As if he'd dare forget any little thing that added up to who she was.

"You remembered?" She asked, her dimples appearing as she smiled. Her voice was so small and fragile that he almost couldn't bear it.

"Of course," he said, trying for a grin. "And a hazelnut torte for dessert. It pairs well with the coffee you like."

"You- " she stopped, shook her head. "You made all of this for me?"

"There is enough for everyone," he said, trying for levity. Immediately, he knew it was the wrong thing to say. She wilted slightly.

Wrong, wrong, wrong! It made her smaller!

Of course he felt like saying something now, Lucanis thought, annoyed. More at himself.

"Well," she said, and he heard how she tried to hide how much it meant to her, crossing her arms in front of her chest like a shield. Mierda, he didn't want her to hide anything from him, ever again.

"As long as they're fine with having my favourite meal."

"They won't complain."

She was quiet for a moment, frowning at the stove.

"You didn't have to do anything special for me," she finally said, quietly.

You are. Making it. WORSE. Make it. BETTER.

"Yes, I did," he said quickly, and she looked back at him. Maker's blood, he was listening to a demon tell him how to talk to her. He wasn't used to this, to holding something as fragile as her heart. "I still don't know how to apologize for... everything."

And there was so much to apologize for. To thank her for.

"And you- "

"You made Orlesian stew, and dessert," she said, cutting him off because she knew, of course she knew he didn't know how he wanted to finish that sentence. She gave him a grin that punched straight through his chest. Mierda, she was still trying to make him feel better.

"Just for me."

"It's nothing," he said, earnestly. Just then, Emmrich's idea felt decidedly laclustre. He felt decidedly laclustre.

"Or, not enough."

"It is."

Her smile was soft. Soft enough that he almost believed it when she said,

"And you are."

And you are.

Then her grin turned more crooked, her eyes sparking with mischief.

"And I'm perhaps too easily bribed by sweets."

"I'll... keep that in mind," he said, smiling back. He realised he could stare at her forever, if she let him. He also realised he'd been doing it too long, and quickly cleared his throat.

"Thank you, Rook," he managed after a moment. "I suppose that is what I wish to say."

"Oh," she waved a hand dismissively, her grin turning decidedly crooked. "What are friends for, if not to break you out of your mind... fade... prison... thing?"

He looked at her, and those weeks of trying to pretend that he felt nothing, that it was just Spite, that he wasn't good enough, that an assassin should not get attached, worried that her kindness and trust was something to be wary of, piles and piles of excuses, all went through his head. Weeks of being so worried about Illario and Caterina that he'd missed the fact he'd never made her dinner before.

For once, he agreed with Spite. Because he was an idiot.

She changed everything. And perhaps the world might end, and he might have to kill his cousin, but just then, looking into her eyes, he wasn't scared anymore. Not of this.

"Friends?" He asked softly.

She blinked. Then frowned at him.

"What else- "

Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.

"You mean- ?"

Then her expression melted, and his heart broke, because before she turned away from him, he could see her write this off as something she didn't deserve, as one more thing that could go wrong. As if there was anything she could do that would change what he felt for her. As if she wasn't the best thing he'd ever been given a chance to know.

"You don't have to- "

Whatever she was going to say was cut off, because he kissed her.

Despite his fears and excuses and dissmissal of his feelings for her, since that first coffee at Cafe Pietra he'd pictured this moment so many times it had almost become rote. He'd pictured it happening in Treviso, at Cafe Pietra. On the beach in Rivain, beneath the stars, or in Arlathan, with drops of rain falling off the leaves they were sheltering beneath. In his dreams, there'd been lightning, and fire and ice and butterflies after he'd said exactly the right things, done exactly the right things, charmed her the way Illario would charm someone, and given her a first kiss worthy of a romance book.

This was not that.

It was a peck, and he hadn't even thought about it, and she was looking at him like he'd grown two heads.

"I want to," he said, breathless. Maker, he wondered if a proper kiss would kill him.

Hesitantly, he cupped her cheek with his hand. To his relief, she didn't pull away.

"You know my mind better than anyone," he said. From this close, he could count the little brown specks floating in the grey of her wonderful eyes. "I've wanted to. But I was... scared. And an idiot."

Her hand came up and closed around his wrist, like she was trying to find something to hold on to.

Or trying to keep him from leaving.

"What changed?" She asked, and if he didn't know any better, he'd say she looked scared.

"You," he said simply. "You change everything."

Rook opens locks.

She smiled hesitantly, and the only thing he could compare it to was the first breath of fresh air he'd taken outside of the Ossuary.

It wasn't in Treviso, beneath the lantern light, or on the beach beneath the stars. He hadn't said the right things, not the way he wanted to, but she'd understood. And when she leaned forward, her soft lips were warm against his own. Warm, and unsure, and sweet.

Not what he'd dreamed. Better. Because this was real.

He wondered where he should put his hands. He wanted to pull her closer, or perhaps run his fingers through her hair, or maybe he should keep a hand on her cheek...?

"What is it?" She asked quietly, pulling away slightly, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

"I don't know where to put my hands," he said, stupidly. But then she laughed softly, and suddenly it seemed nothing else in the world truly mattered.

She took his hands and put them around her waist, and her own arms closed around his neck, pulling him close again.

"I think this is good," she said, and Maker help him, he could smell the lightning on her hair she was so close.

"So?" He asked her, allowing a satisfied grin to steal across his features, "How would you describe the taste?"

She looked up at the ceiling, considering.

"Just sweet enough," she touched her nose to his, then frowned, as if in thought.

"With a hint of hazelnut."

He laughed, breathless.

"You're blushing," she breathed when he stopped, grinning, her eyes filled with wonder, a finger gently tracing along his cheekbone.

"I'm happy," he said, realising he meant it for the first time in a very long time as his hands splayed across her back. "You make me happy."

He kissed the grin off her face, deciding that was a better use of both their breaths than talking.

"Oh!"

Lucanis almost pulled out a knife when Rook pulled away, startled by the noise.

Neither of them had heard footsteps, and he realised belatedly that the door was still open from her earlier entrance. Sloppy, dangerous, but just then he'd never felt further removed from Caterina's strict lessons on discipline.

"Bellara!" Rook said, staring at the elf, who was staring at them. Lucanis watched as a blush spread across her cheeks, and couldn't help but feel a strange pride at it's appearance.

"We were just- " she looked to him for help.

"Finishing dinner," he said, aware he was still smiling, aware he still had his arms wrapped around her, aware he didn't care, not in the slightest.

"Oh, that's ok!" Bellara said, striving for casual and not achieving it in the slightest.

"I'm... gonna go. And come back later!" She said, "And definitely not tell Neve!"

She was gone before either of them could say another word, the door closing behind her, leaving them alone together in the firelight.

Rook turned back to him, her head dropping onto his shoulder as she laughed tiredly.

"Who's blushing now?" He asked her softly.

She lifted her head and levelled a playfull scowl at him.

"Shouldn't you be cooking?"

He grinned, pulling her closer to him.

"In a second," he murmured, before he kissed her again, and somehow, every time, it seemed to get better.

[kirain]

Emmerich using his alchemy (and other knowledge) to help a sick Rook.

could be romance, could be friends-whatever you feel. I have a chronic illness/autoimmune disorder, so any caretaking or sick fic I enjoy

I hope today is a wonderful day for you, @sweatermonster5736 !

The study basked in a golden haze, the late afternoon sun streaking through towering windows and shedding languid beams across stacks of disorganised books. Emmrich adjusted a tome on the second shelf, casting a sideways glance at Vae, who was perched on a step stool nearby.

She'd been working tirelessly for days, barely stopping to eat or sleep, and Emmrich's growing concern had ripened into a quiet despair. Much to his dismay, she had caught him in the midst of one of his chronic cleaning frenzies and offered to help, and though he wished for her to rest, he knew that denying her would only send her elsewhere, where she'd undoubtedly drive herself to exhaustion all the same.

"Would you hand me the third edition of Necromancy Unveiled, please? It belongs over here."

"Of course," she rasped, her words heavy.

The moment the book entered her hand, he regretted asking. Her left wrist, injured weeks ago during a particularly brutal encounter, was still stiff, quaking under the weight of two hundred and twenty-seven pages. She'd wince when she thought no one was looking, but Emmrich had seen it more times than he cared to count. He quickly snatched it from her grasp, if only to dampen her pain, then watched as she continued with her task, oblivious to his feelings.

As he stepped closer, he noticed more troubling signs: her flushed cheeks, ragged breathing, and a slight tremor in her frame. Earlier, she'd complained about the room being uncomfortably hot, but now he knew that was a lie—one he kicked himself for not challenging sooner.

"Vae," he started, his voice tinged with worry. "You've been pushing yourself too hard."

She chuckled, pulling another book from the pile beside her. "I'm fine, Emmrich. You're imagining things."

"Am I?" he groaned, his eyes narrowing. "You've been swaying all morning, and your wrist—" He hesitated, then confidently added, "I may not be a healer, but I am an expert on anatomy. I can tell when something's wrong."

Vae paused, then turned to him with a sly grin. "Should I be flattered?"

"I'm afraid I don't follow," Emmrich huffed, annoyed by her propensity to shift subjects when they turned dire. "Flattered by what?"

"That you're paying such close attention to my... 'anatomy'."

A deep blush painted the older man's face, his responses catching in his throat. "You—! That's not—! Why must you always—?"

Vae laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Relax, Emmrich. I'm fine. Really."

He sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "You always say that." Then he turned away, hoping the heat in his cheeks would fade. "Just... take a break, if you need it. That's all I ask, darling."

Vae smiled, continuing her work—but as she looked up at a higher shelf, she stumbled, her feet slipping off the stool. She shook her head, trying to steady herself, but fighting the fog that clouded her vision only made things worse. Suddenly, her breath hitched, and a nauseous moan she couldn't stifle pierced Emmrich's ear.

"Vae?" he said, peering over his shoulder.

His eyes widened. Before he could cross the room, she collapsed, tumbling to the floor with a hard thud.

"Vae!" He was by her side in an instant, gently rolling her onto her back and cradling her in his arms. She didn't appear injured, but her skin was clammy, her cheeks burning against his palm. "Oh, Vaelyn... darling, I knew you weren't well."

Manfred, who had been dutifully dusting the statuettes, clattered over with a fretful hiss, his bony fingers twitching with panic. He and Vae were, much to Emmrich's delight, inseparably close, and he knew that seeing her in such a state—not understanding the concept of illness—could break him.

"Manfred," Emmrich said firmly, but in a way that soothed the gentle spirit. "I need you to fetch ginger, feverfew, coriander seeds, and two cardamom pods. Can you do that for me?"

The startled skeleton looked down at Vae, then nodded, his skull bobbing as he bolted from the room. Once he was gone, Emmrich scooped Vae up off the floor and carried her to his bed; a modest but cozy setup he kept hidden behind the winding staircase. As he laid her down, she stirred slightly, her eyes batting open.

"All right..." she croaked, her voice barely a whisper. "You can say 'I told you so'."

"Don't be ridiculous, I don't care about that," Emmrich said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her sweaty face. "Do you feel dizzy?"

"'Little," she admitted. Then she frowned. "Sorry... for scaring Manfred. And you."

He shook his head, his expression forgiving. "You have nothing to apologise for. Not right now."

Before she could respond, Manfred returned, his hands stuffed full of the requested herbs. As Emmrich took them from him, he rattled nervously, eager to help in other ways, but Emmrich gave him a reassuring pat.

"Good work, Manfred!" he yelled. "Now, leave the rest to me."

Both Vae and Manfred watched as he moved to his workbench and poured water into a large, metal bowl. Next, he grated the ginger, picked a few feverfew leaves, split the cardamom pods, and ground the coriander seeds into a fine powder. Before adding anything to the water, however, he hovered his hands over the bowl and chanted, "Spirits of the flame, I call upon you in my hour of need. Hear my voice and lend me the mighty power of your vocation."

Suddenly, green fire burst from his fingers, swirling around the bowl until it brought the water to a rolling boil. Only then did he add the herbs, the earthly aroma swiftly spreading through the room—and Vae cooed, the scent alone doing wonders for her aching head.

"Tea?" Manfred buzzed, his skull tipping.

"Not quite. This is medicine," Emmrich explained. "A little more potent, a little less enjoyable. But it will aid in Vae's recov—" He stopped himself, searching for simpler words. "It will help Vae feel better. But she can't drink it like this, it's far too hot."

With another wave of his hand, a block of ice formed in the water, melting gradually. When the heat was bearable, he dipped a cup into the mixture, filling it to the edge. Then he moved carefully to the bed, using one hand as a saucer.

"Here, darling." As he took a seat next to Vae, he slipped an arm behind her back to support her. "Small sips."

Vae reached for the cup with trembling hands, but he pulled it away.

"No, no. I have it. You just drink. Don't move a muscle."

He steadied her, his grip firm yet tender as he brought the cup to her lips. She wasn't used to being coddled, but she didn't have the strength left to argue. Her eyes fluttered closed as he tilted the rim, the warm liquid gliding down her throat. At first, her brow furrowed, the rich flavour overwhelming, but Emmrich gave her time to adjust, letting her breathe between each mouthful.

"That's... surprisingly not bad," she muttered.

"It's the ginger," Emmrich beamed. "Just a little more, darling. You can do it."

With each sip, her breathing grew less and less arduous, and the colour in her cheeks seemed to brighten ever so faintly. It took a while, but Emmrich's patience was unparalleled, holding the cup until she finished. Once empty, he set it on the nightstand and eased her back against the pillows.

"There you are, my dear. Lie still, I'll be right back."

He was gone only a moment, then returned with a wet compress, which he draped over her searing forehead. The cool sensation, though jarring at first, soon sent a pleasant chill through Vae's body, her eyelids twitching.

"...Emmrich?" she moaned.

He leaned closer. "Yes?"

"Thank you."

He smiled, but before he could reply, Manfred dangled another cup in his face.

"Drink!" he cried. "Vae—drink! Drink, drink, drink, drink, drink!"

Vae giggled as her eyes flicked to the jovial skeleton. "Well, look at that..." she said, her voice weak. "Manfred the healer."

Manfred clapped his hands as Emmrich accepted the cup���a dry, hollow sound that made Vae feel safe and cared for.

"Excellent, Manfred," Emmrich praised. "But we mustn't over indulge when it comes to medicine. Vae doesn't need anymore, not just yet. What she needs right now is rest."

Manfred glanced at Vae, then pulled the covers up to her chin. "Rest. Vae—rest."

Vae smiled. "Thank you... Manfred."

He bowed, then returned to his duties dusting the statuettes.

"He's adorable," she choked, her voice shallow. "Just like his father."

"Shhh, enough now. Please," Emmrich hushed, caressing her cheek. "I meant what I said, you need to rest. No more jokes."

"All right," she relented. "I guess I could... take a short break."

"Or a long one," he said, leaving no room for argument.

Vae sighed, a frail smile tugging at her lips.  "Fine... you win."

As she began to drift into a much-needed sleep, Emmrich took her injured wrist in his hands. He whispered a small incantation to warm his fingers, then gently began massaging the stiff tendons and muscles, his touch as precise as a craftsman shaping delicate glass.

"You're good at that," Vae mumbled, her voice slurring.

"I know," Emmrich grinned, a feeling of peace settling in his chest as he watched her slip away. "I told you, I'm an expert on anatomy."

[catgirl-catboy]

Which Ace Attorney characters can you beat in a fight:

Phoenix: I know he looks like a weakling, but this man has canonically gotten into a fistfight before and the other guy died right after. Even after the death, he was still PISSED. Do not fight Phoenix Wright. Not only would you lose, Phoenix would not stop punching if you went down.

Maya: You can easily win- Maya learned how to fight from anime and it shows. You'd think spirit channeling will help you out, but it takes time and focus, neither of which Maya would have when she's busy eating pavement.

Edgeworth: You could win, but it would not be worth it. He would file charges for assault, and you'd have to deal with Gumshoe hating your ass for the rest of your life. Can you imagine having to explain having Gumshoe as an enemy? That being said, before you take the dive, be sure to ruin his dumb ass cravat. You're doing him a favor.

Gumshoe: I don't think he'd fight back unless he's on the clock, but he absolutely could beat you.

Franziska: 100% my most controversial opinion on this list, but I like your odds. She has a whip, but I doubt she has actual fight experience. Who would fight the daughter on Manfred Von Karma? You, that's who! I also think you'd avoid the legal charges you'd have to deal with from Edgeworth, because Franziska would want a rematch.

Pearl: It'd be tough, but you'd win. Cartoon logic aside, she's eight and wouldn't know any of the classic dirty tricks. Since you have longer arms, I think you could prevent her from doing too much damage. That being said, the fact that it was close at all would make you a laughingstock. Also, Morgan would go all Karen on your ass for fighting Pearl, even if she started it.

Mia: There's no way to sugarcoat this, but you're going down. Mia can and will fight dirty- that magatama would get jammed into your eyes if we're talking a serious fight. Redd White, despite running a blackmail company and looking much stronger than her, opted for a weapon and so should you.

Godot: Out of all the people on this list, I'd want to fight him the least. Hot coffee directly to the dick, and then he'd start bludgeoning. Depending on what point in the timeline, he's been in prison too, so fight experience is a given. Your only hope would be to say something ??? enough to make him decide a battle of words is the better option.

Apollo: His perceive ability would give him an edge in a fight, but he's such a butt-monkey it wouldn't even matter. You're winning this, but like Edgeworth, he's going to get legal about this. He's too poor to afford a good lawyer, so I wouldn't be too worried though.

Kristoph: You can win, but you'd die of a mysterious poison two weeks later. We just don't know what could have happened!

Klavier: You can easily win, but for the rest of your life you're going to be known as the asshole that beat up beloved rockstar, Klavier Gavin. Its social suicide. Just take the dive and maybe destroy his career after if you're vengeful.

Trucy: She absolutely knows how to kick your ass, but she's socially astute enough to know when it is better to take a dive. My gut says that she'll probably let you beat her up, then talk about how her entire family is made of lawyers so you settle it out of court. Even if you win, you lose.

Ema: You have about 50/50 odds, but unlike most people, Ema has no limits. This isn't about pride, its about morbid curiosity. Realistically, this is the second most dangerous fight after Godot, since who knows what chemicals she has on her?

Athena: Simon absolutely taught her how to fight. That being said, she isn't in the right headspace for fighting, and I imagine it would remind her of the UR-1 incident. The fight would be with her past, not with you. That being said, Athena can and will tell everyone present about about why you are so bloodthirsty, which is worse, actually!

Juniper: Mess with Juniper and you get Athena.

Simon: He'd kick your ass, but he'd do it in a way where you're pretty much fine the next morning. He'd be fair about it and not hold grudges. Pretty enjoyable fight experience overall.

The Phantom: easy L, you've signed your death warrant. Even if you somehow win this, you're still dead. This isn't even a fight, this is assisted suicide.

Nahyuta: I know he looks like a twink, but with his background he can and will kick ass. That being said, I think you should fight him anyway because it'd be good for his pent up frustration.

Kay: I think its pretty safe to say you'd lose. She was raised by a cop, and would fight dirty. Still a 50% chance of getting sued by Edgeworth, even though Kay begged him to let it go.

Sebastian: He's a joke character. He'd win, because him winning a fight is the funniest thing that could have happened. He probably didn't even realize you were fighting. And if you're talking post AAI2, I think he'd genuinely be able to beat the average person with his baton. It'd be close, but he'd win.

Ryuunosuke: I know he has a sword but still one of the easiest fights on this list. Do it. You know you want to.

Susato: This one is a pretty canon no.

Kazuma: No fucking way, and after what he did to the Payne family you shouldn't even try. Sword aside, he could do this unarmed.

Van Zieks: This may be controversial, but unless you happen to be British he's too busy thinking racist thoughts to notice you punching him in the gut. Not only should you fight him, I think you're morally obligated to do so. Steal some of his wine while you're at it it'll be wasted otherwise.

Sherlock: He wouldn't fight back because he finds the concept boring. Bring him a bear to fight, maybe then you will see the powers of a great detective!

Iris: Ignore everything I said about Pearl, this isn't even a fight, this is a massacre. Not only will she beat you within an inch of your life, she'll over you tea right after so you think the two of you are cool. Do not be fooled! The latest edition of Sherlock Holmes needed a fight scene, so your shame is broadcast all over the world!

Gina: Regardless of if you win or lose, you're losing your wallet.

[sinnabum45]

Vampire AU 👁👁✨ The Edgeworths and von Karmas are vampires! Edgeworth was so caught up in his work that he forgot to drink blood.

I was obsessed with Karin when I was a kid, so this is highly inspired by that! If the wrong human finds out, the vampires will have to leave before they are hunted. At least, that's what Edgeworth thinks- vampire hunting mostly went out of practice over a hundred years ago. He just heard stories of them (from Manfred, probably). He's mostly crying cuz he thinks Phoenix will hate him now 😭

Vampire Lore: Vampires can go in sunlight in this AU! They're just more sensitive to it. They get migraines and their eyes will hurt. Sunglasses and a hat will help! They can eat food, too. They just have to drink blood every so often (or else this situation can happen) 👍 And when vampires drink blood from a human, they don't kill the person. They have about a cup of blood every other day. Max vampires can go without blood before losing control is about 1 week.

Here's the video version of this comic!

Link to help Palestine and other resources!

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - January 15, 2024

🎊 - As we embark on another journey around the sun, I am thrilled to bring you the first newsletter of the year, packed with inspiring, informative, and sometimes downright amusing stories.

1. Marijuana meets criteria for reclassification as lower-risk drug

Marijuana has a lower potential for abuse than other drugs that are subjected to the same restrictions, with scientific support for its use as a medical treatment, researchers from the US Food and Drug Administration say in documents supporting its reclassification as a Schedule III substance.

2. South Korea passes law banning dog meat trade

The slaughter and sale of dogs for their meat is to become illegal in South Korea after MPs backed a new law. The legislation, set to come into force by 2027, aims to end the centuries-old practice of humans eating dog meat.

3. After 20 years in a tiny cage, these 'broken bears' are finally feeling the grass beneath their paws

These bears, termed "broken bears" due to physical and psychological trauma from years of abuse, are treated at the Tam Dao rescue center with individually tailored diets, physiotherapy, and medical care. The bear bile trade, which involves extracting bile for traditional Asian medicine, has been illegal in Vietnam since 2005, but a black market still exists.

4. France just got its first openly gay prime minister.

Gabriel Attal is France’s youngest-ever prime minister at age 34 and the first who is openly gay.

5. Australian ‘builders without borders’ repairing war-torn homes and schools in Ukraine

Manfred Hin, a 66-year-old builder from Townsville, Australia, spent most of 2023 volunteering in Ukraine to rebuild homes and schools damaged by Russian attacks. Having contributed to over 50 house and a dozen school renovations, he worked with Ukrainian charity Brave to Rebuild, mentoring young volunteers and sourcing three tonnes of donated tools.

Inspired by Hin's story, Tasmanian carpenter Hamish Stirling also joined the efforts, learning Ukrainian, traveling to Europe, and volunteering for three months to help rebuild homes.

6. The age-standardized death rate from cancer has declined by 15% since 1990

The age-standardized death rate from cancer declined by 15%

Cancer kills mostly older people – as the death rate by age shows, of those who are 70 years and older, 1% die from cancer every year. For people who are younger than 50, the cancer death rate is more than 40-times lower (more detail here).

7. Germany Reached 55% Renewable Energy in 2023

In 2023, 55 percent of Germany’s power came from renewables — an increase of 6.6 percent, according to energy regulator Bundesnetzagentur, reported Reuters. Europe’s biggest national economy has a goal of 80 percent green energy by 2030.

---

That's it for this week :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation here:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Also don’t forget to reblog this post with your friends.

[niceminipotato]

No but Neve saying that all she wants is to have a nice hot bath and to read her case notes had my brain coming up with all of these little scenes.

Like:

Rook goes to check on Neve and Neve tells her what she wants.

Rook goes to Lucanis to help with some sort of finger foods.

Rook then makes her way to the Caretaker to make it so there’s a hot bath in her room away from everything and everyone.

Rook going to Bellara so that she can help her distract Neve long enough so that Rook can sneak into her room to gather some of her notes.

Rook balancing Neve’s journal and notes alongside a tray of Neve favorite snacks and Tevene wine while Assan and Manfred follow after her.

Rook setting everything up and running back to Neve’s room before the resident detective throws a fit at the wisps for misplacing her notes.

Rook squirming under Neve’s gaze while she explains she took her notes.

Rook apologizing to the wisps at Neve’s command because Rook wasn’t quick enough and Neve had indeed been fighting with them for misplacing her notes.

Rook finally getting Neve to come with her.

Rook opening her door to find Manfred kneeling by the tub watching the swirls of steam and making happy hissing noises.

Rook almost pushing Manfred out the door with apologies while Neve chuckles from the corner.

Rook managing to explain the reason for the bath and the snacks and the notes while turning three shades of pink as Neve watches her struggle with an amused grin.

Rook excusing herself and turning to leave so Neve can have alone time only for Neve to take hold of her hand and stop her.

Rook feeling her heart almost beat out of her chest while Neve kisses her for the first time after the docks.

Rook stumbling over her pants while Neve waits for her in the tub because why do this alone when she can have her lovely whatever-Rook-is-to-her-at-the-moment (Neve wont call her girlfriend just yet and we know why 🙃)

Rook and Neve spending the evening in the warm tub legs intertwined. Eating, drinking, going over Neve’s current case, talking about anything and everything, and just enjoying each other before they’re inevitably called again to continue on to save their world.

Hehe yeah those sparked ☺️

[writingjourney]

ahh man, lich emmrich romance to me is the tragic ending that never really ends, the non-acceptance of what he was supposed to accept, the price of immortality suddenly a new lurking terror, a miscalculation in the plan, thinking he could accept, memorize, immortalize his love for rook. realizing he can't, that memories aren't enough. thinking he could face his fear of death but instead it transformed, shifted, a love so vast he understimated his control on it. affection turned to obsession. it's the race to finding a way not to lose them, not in this or any other world, limited time, the blink of an eye. working against what he achieved, against the nature he acquired, against what lichdom means at its very core. how can he accept their death now that he knows it's not the only way? he has new powers, why are they not enough to save them? lost manfred, faced his own death only to come back, not wrong but changed, short-tempered, powerful, reckless, full of potential, but instead of inner peace he gained an even deeper fear of loss. someone outside of himself. a mourning that never ends, pre-mature grief that drives him away from the scraps of his humanity he somehow clung to. his father's knife, organs in an urn, butchered like the animals he wouldn't eat, and he loses himself. there is rook and he needs to protect them, needs to keep them safe until he finds a way to make it last. suddenly their days are numbered in a different unit, not his age but rook's, borrowed time, counting down to the beginning of a new eternity. eternity without them, eternity by himself, the hourglass filled with his grief and endless regrets. how short a human life is, how fragile. and how does it hurt rook, when he tries to preserve them, when he loses the warmth he carried, manipulating, bending reality to his will? will the others force him away once they notice? how many exceptions to tyranny? so much pain, so much longing, so much sadness.