#de aging original character | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

awardenandacrow · 2 months ago

Text

FANFIC SNIPPET 14

{follows snippet 13 chronologically (although perhaps not directly). This is actually multiple snippets, one from Lucanis’s POV and one from Naimeryn’s. It’s another long one as well.}

[PART ONE: Lucanis sees Rook in the dress he bought, dressed for the funeral.]

CW/TW: Spite might be a smidge thirsty

——————————————————————————

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Harding appeared at the balcony. “I got her a new clip for her hair for the occassion and it proved more challenging than expected to get in.”

“We’re not late yet,” Lucanis said, wondering what could possibly be so complicated about a hair accessory. All such thoughts ceased, however, as Rook appeared behind Harding.

*Mierda.*

SHE TRIES HARDER FOR YOU, Spite snickered. He swallowed hard.

Rook and Harding had piled all of her hair on top of her head instead of in her usual twin braids. A few stray strands framed her face. The hair accessory which had apparently given them so much grief was a black and silver crow in flight, with a pin through its wings, which appeared to hold the entire thing together. Her makeup was subdued from what she usually wore, but her lips were still painted black.

*Mierda, don’t think about her lips.*

COULD THINK ABOUT THEM MORE.

*No.*

He hadn’t realized how long and elegant her neck was. Without her hair on either side of it or armor obscuring it, it was hard to ignore. She wore a simple black choker and a silver chain with what looked like… a halla pendant, which rested on her exposed collarbone. He’d never seen her wear earrings before, but two matching halla hung on either side of her jaw.

And the dress. Maybe he really shouldn’t have bought her that dress.

“Ooooh, Rook,” Bellara jumped up and gushed as Rook descended the stairs. “You’re a vision! Look at you!”

Naimeryn started to laugh.

SHE DOES NOT… BELIEVE HER? Even Spite sounded puzzled. Lucanis reminded himself to breathe.

“You’re too sweet, Bel,” Rook giggled. “Seriously, if I look nice, Lucanis gets all the credit. He picked the dress!”

“A man with style,” Neve commented, taking Rook’s hand and twirling her. The dress flowed around her legs, revealing small black boots with heels just high enough to keep her from stepping on the hem. She might be just a bit taller than him in them, but she looked so elegant she seemed even taller. “I like that.”

Rook’s smile suddenly turned tense. Her eyes fell to the floor and the giggle that escaped her now was strained, nervous. Was that his cue to rescue her from scrutiny? He cleared his throat.

“We should get going,” he said, “I want to check in with Teia, Viago, and Illario before things become too hectic.”

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long,” Rook said quickly, releasing Neve’s hand and crossing the room towards him. To the others, she said, “See you guys in a few hours!”

She waited until they were on the final stairs to the Eluvian room to speak again.

“How are you feeling?”

Lucanis shrugged. “As good as I can be, I suppose.”

“You look…” she hesitated, then took a steadying breath. “You look really good.”

“Well I have to,” he smirked. “I have to stand next to you all day.”

Rook’s smile was… puzzled? When it faded, she looked nervous. She stopped in front of the Eluvian.

“You’re sure you still want *me* to go with you?” She asked. “I mean I know it’s kind of late now and you bought this amazing dress and… but… Neve. Neve rescued you too.”

Lucanis frowned, trying to riddle out what she was really asking, and what Neve had to do with anything.

SMELLS LIKE… JEALOUSY. Spite cackled.

Jealousy? Of what? *Neve?* Why?

“Do you not *want* to go?” He asked instead.

“No!” Her head snapped up. “No that’s not what I meant at all! I want to be there to support you —“

He held his arm out to her. “Then, let’s go. Shall we?”

——————————————————————————

[PART TWO: Caterina’s funeral]

CW/TW: joke about murder, non consensual touch

——————————————————————————

Naimeryn took Lucanis’s arm and let him lead her through the Eluvian. She couldn’t shake the feeling in the pit of her stomach. After all, Neve *had* rescued him too… and if it weren’t for her reaching out to the Crows *about* him, there wouldn’t have even been a rescue. If Neve liked him…

She was Neve Gallus. Who was Naimeryn compared to that?

Teia’s gasp as they came into the Cantori Diamond brought her back to reality. Naimeryn made a mental note to murder Lucanis. Teia was most certainly NOT “out-flash”ing her. She wore a slinky, skin tight black dress with a slit to her hip; the neckline cut straight across her collarbone, and it had long, tight sleeves that formed a V over the backs of her hands. The back of the dress was a cowl, leaving her skin exposed. It may have left little to the imagination, but had Naimeryn seen *that* on the rack, she would have considered it far more appropriate for the occassion.

“You said I wouldn’t be overdressed!” Naimeryn hissed at Lucanis in a panic, shrinking back towards the Eluvian. Her hand was still in the crook of his arm, which gave her pause. She couldn’t abandon him, even if she did feel a fool.

“You’re not!” Teia practically squealed. “You’re here as a guest of the First Talon’s grandson; if you were wearing anything else you’d have Crows circling you for lunch.”

“Oh.”

“You have *excellent* taste,” Teia nodded approvingly, circling Naimeryn to study the dress from every angle.

“Lucanis actually chose — *you’re* circling! Should I be worried?”

“Only that I might sweep you upst — neeeevermind.”

Naimeryn missed what look Lucanis gave Teia, but she suddenly stopped gawking at her. A mercy. She was nervous enough as it was.

“I was hoping to check in with Illario before the services start,” Lucanis told Teia. “I want to know if he’s found anything on Zara yet.”

“Lucanis, we’re here to mourn Caterina’s passing,” Teia began.

“And taking out the Venatori witch who killed her is how I will honor her,” Lucanis insisted.

Teia sighed. “He’s in the next room. Don’t take too long. We should start soon.”

“Do you want me to come?” Naimeryn asked.

Lucanis nodded. They passed Viago in the doorway, who gave Naimeryn a withering gaze, nodded to Lucanis, and said nothing.

“What is she thinking?” She heard him hiss to Teia. “That dress —”

“*He* picked it!” Teia cut him off.

Whatever else they said was lost as her good ear turned to the next room. Oh, no.

“There you are, cousin! And you’ve brought your Rook!”

“*My* Rook?”

Naimeryn felt her cheeks color. She could only hope the rouge Harding had helped her pick would hide it. She put on her best smile to greet Illario, but was caught off guard as he swept in, cupped her cheek, and kissed her on the other one, his other hand sliding to her upper arm.

“Oh —“ her whole body stiffened, every fiber of her being screaming to get him off of her. How *this* man was related to Lucanis was beyond her. She pulled back, losing her balance in her heeled boots. A warm hand gripped her right elbow, maybe a little too tight, steadying her. She wanted to sink back into his arms, but forced herself to straighten up and square her shoulders instead. She grabbed for Illario’s wrist, only to find Lucanis’s other hand already there.

“I’m afraid I’m not very familiar with Antivan customs,” Naimeryn said sharply, not much caring if he took offense, “But I’m going to have to ask you not to touch me like that again.”

“You hear that, Cousin?” Illario smirked at Lucanis as they both released her. “Don’t be so handsy.”

“No, I — “ Naimeryn began.

“You know, Rook, you should let me take you sightseeing after this,” Illario cut her off. “I can show you all of Treviso’s best views. All my cousin can offer is the best coffee.”

Two could play his game. Naimeryn made a big show of going starry eyed, and she spun halfway towards Lucanis, pressing her hand into his side. Creators, was he always so *warm*?!

“You promise?” She asked him in her most breathless voice. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Illario bristle.

Lucanis looked a bit startled, but he tore his eyes off of Illario and met her gaze. “Did you like Cafe Pietra, then?”

“I had such a good time last time,” she said with an enthusiastic nod. She was laying it on a little thick, maybe, but it wasn’t a lie. It was the first time she’d seen him look anything but sad, after all. “Could we really go after?”

“I’d be happy to grab a cup before we head back,” he said, seeming to catch on to her game. She hoped he realized she actually… really did want to go get coffee. She’d buy, she decided. He deserved it.

“It’s a date!” Naimeryn smiled. And then she realized what she’d said. “I mean, um. If you want — I’m gonna — you talk to Illario about that thing, and I’m going to be… literally anywhere but here. Catch up in a bit?”

She turned away too quickly to see the soft smirk that played across Lucanis’s face as she fled.

“*That* does it for you?” She heard Illario chuckle. The words stung. So he really did have an ulterior motive behind flirting with her. Well, she’d suspected it. And she didn’t like him. So why did it bother her?

“Rook! I was hoping you’d be here!”

“Jacobus!” Naimeryn brightened immediately, cupping the boy’s face as he ran up to her. “How are you?”

“Bored,” he admitted. “I know it hasn’t started yet, but I wasn’t important enough to have ever met the First Talon. I don’t know what I should be doing.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” Naimeryn told him. “I *also* have no idea what I should be doing, and *you* are Antivan. Why not make it your job to keep me from making a fool of myself?” She cringed internally. *Again.*

Jacobus smiled, a lopsided sort of thing, a little mischievous. He looked happy. Given it had not been long since they’d found him, she was glad that something could take his mind off the sting of his own loss.

“In that dress, no one would dare call you a fool,” he told her. She smiled nervously and accepted his arm as he offered it to her. Viago might.

…

Jacobus kept her entertained as the proceedings started, showing her around the downstairs of the Diamond as best he could with the crowd gathered there. She had seen very little of this part of the casino. The Wicked Grace tables had been mostly removed, though a small area at the back still boasted a few, and a roulette wheel. Naimeryn’s made a point to speak to Heir and Fletcher when they came upon them. Once they’d made a full turn about the building, Naimeryn started looking for the others. Surely they’d be starting soon? She’d caught a few Crows eyeing her up and down, and although none seemed eager to approach her while Jacobus talked her ear off, she started to worry they might get the wrong idea, and that Jacobus would suffer for it.

“I should get you back to the Demon,” Jacobus said, suddenly, seeming to read her mind. “I don’t want to be the reason people say you’re a bad guest.”

“Oh, no,” Naimeryn gasped. “Why would they say that?”

Jacobus gave her that mischievous smirk again. “Hanging out with a fledgling like me when you’re here for the First Talon’s grandson. And in that dress?”

Naimeryn grabbed his arm. “Jacobus, you’re supposed to be keeping me *out* of trouble!”

“You picked the wrong guide for that.”

Naimeryn jumped out of her skin as Viago appeared at her elbow. Then she groaned.

“I’m going to owe Lucanis *so* much more than a cup of coffee.”

“That’s between you and him,” Viago rolled his eyes and Jacobus snickered.

“No, that’s — I didn’t mean —“

“I don’t care, Rook,” Viago sounded even more bored than he looked. “Just come with me so we can get the services started.”

Naimeryn followed him quickly, mortified. She should have stayed with Lucanis instead of letting Illario chase her away. Would he be upset with her?

Viago led her past a cluster of Crows, and she spotted him, standing with Teia and Illario. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he seemed to be listening to Illario and Teia’s conversation rather than contributing to it. He looked so tired. Her heart ached. He seemed to catch sight of them out of the corner of his eye, and his gaze met hers. He *smiled.*

“There you are,” he greeted her as she made her way up the stairs with Viago to the Dias where they stood.

“I’m sorry to have been away so long,” she said sheepishly. As she took her place next to him, as indicated by Viago, she added in a hushed whisper, “I certainly didn’t mean to make you look bad!”

“Don’t give Viago the satisfaction of squirming,” he whispered back, shaking his head. “There is nothing you could do that would make me look worse.”

His words struck her as self-deprecating, and she turned her head so she could see him clearly. He had turned his attention back away from her, but she couldn’t shake it. He thought he looked bad? Why? Wasn’t he the fabled Demon of Vyrantium, Mage-Killer, favored grandson of the First Talon, triumphantly returned from the dead? Before she could take a moment to reassure him, Teia began to speak to the gathered Crows.

She’d get to the bottom of this at Cafe Pietra after, she decided.

#fanfic #dragon age the veilguard #dragon age the veilguard spoilers #my rook #dragon age rook #rook x lucanis #dragon age #rookanis #rook #original character #player character #antivan crows #first talon #caterina dellamorte #lucanis dellamorte #illario dellamorte #teia cantori #viago de riva #the cantori Diamond

29 notes · View notes