#dragon age survey

[oediex]

The Big Dragon Age Survey! 🎮 ✍️

Hello everyone!

May I present to you a labour of blood, sweat, tears, and love:

The Big Dragon Age Survey!

This is a survey for all lovers of Dragon Age, whether you have played the games yourself, or have watched others play them! I don't care how you engage with the series, if you love Dragon Age, then this survey is for you.

If you know someone who loves Dragon Age, whether on Tumblr or elsewhere, please do tag them and/or send them a link to the survey. The more the merrier!

The survey will be open through the month of May 2024. I will close it once we roll into June. I will publish the results of the survey as quickly as possible, so I imagine that will also be in June, but please be patient, since it's a lot of information!

The survey should take about 15-20 minutes to complete. (But please don't quote me on that.) (In fact, if your experience is different, please let me know and I will adjust this information!)

There are four main sections to the survey:

A section on the Dragon Age series in general, and BioWare.

A section on the three main Dragon Age games, covering many of the choices you make in the game - this, as you can imagine, is the biggest section

A section on Dragon Age and fandom

A section on the Dragon Age fandom demographic.

I want to make clear that no one but me (Oedie) will see the raw data of this survey. Any information that will be shared publicly will be statistics/generalised. I will never share any information that can be easily identified. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to message me on discord (oedie) or Tumblr (@oediex) and I will try to help you in any way I can.

Also, please note that none of the questions are required, although you are encouraged to complete them all. All answers are anonymous and no e-mail addresses are collected for this survey. If you're still concerned, you can always complete this survey in an incognito window!

Alright, so now for the actual link - here it is!

Thank you so much for contributing to this survey and for sharing with people who also love Dragon Age! ❤️🎮

[dalishious]

Dragon Age Romancing Survey Results

Romance is one of the many fun aspects that the Dragon Age games has to offer. I myself have romanced every available love interest throughout all the games at least once, and this led me to question how common that was among other players. Thus, I created this survey to examine the romancing experiences in the fandom on tumblr.

Please keep in mind though, a couple biases: This survey was only circulated through tumblr, and also likely leans towards followers of this blog specifically. As such, the results do not capture the entirety of the player-base! For example, we know for a fact from BioWare’s own shared statistics that Leliana is the most romanced love interest in Dragon Age: Origins. But that is not what is shown from this specific survey.

Dragon Age: Origins

26% of respondents romanced all love interests at least once.

47% of respondents romanced Morrigan at least once.

76% of respondents romanced Alistair at least once.

55% of respondents romanced Leliana at least once.

79% of respondents romanced Zevran at least once.

40% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Alistair the most.

40% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Zevran the most.

14% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Leliana the most.

6% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Morrigan the most.

Dragon Age II

11% of respondents romanced all love interests at least once.

67% of respondents romanced Anders at least once.

59% of respondents romanced Isabela at least once.

75% of respondents romanced Fenris at least once.

53% of respondents romanced Merrill at least once.

18% of respondents romanced Sebastian at least once.

31% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Anders the most.

15% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Isabela the most.

42% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Fenris the most.

12% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Merrill the most.

1% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Sebastian the most.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

7% of respondents romanced all love interests at least once.

29% of respondents romanced Cassandra at least once.

55% of respondents romanced Solas at least once.

43% of respondents romanced Sera at least once.

42% of respondents romanced Blackwall at least once.

57% of respondents romanced Dorian at least once.

47% of respondents romanced Iron Bull at least once.

57% of respondents romanced Josephine at least once.

47% of respondents romanced Cullen at least once.

2% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Cassandra the most.

23% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Solas the most.

11% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Sera the most.

8% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Blackwall the most.

25% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Dorian the most.

9% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Iron Bull the most.

12% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Josephine the most.

11% of respondents who have played the game more than once said they romanced Cullen the most.

[dragonagepolls]

From @nikkikan: I had fun messing around with some friends and getting the most out of the combat mechanics but never see anyone else talk about it on here.

[avoskorm]

Least favourite character in Dragon Age: Inquisition?

The Requisition Officer.

Stop interrupting the party banter for fuck's sake.

[oldandcrusty]

Survey - Analysing Jinx (Arcane) and Anders (Dragon Age 2)

I'm a researcher by profession and an author by aspiration.

I find the similarities between Anders and Jinx interesting, particularly because I experienced their stories quite differently. I therefore wanted to explore how they were written and what writers could learn from these two examples.

Feel free to fill out this survey if you want to help me in my research. You need not have played/watched both pieces of media to complete this survey.

I'll be providing a summary of the findings in a couple of months, once I have enough data to analyse. This will hopefully be insightful to both writers and non-writers.

It will also be very level-headed. I'm not in the business of bashing fans or individuals. I want to see what works, what doesn't work, and what we can learn from it.

[mabaris]

[wickedapostate]

Veilguard Intended Romance Statistics

While of course nothing is set in stone at the moment, I am very curious about who is intending to romance each of the companions of Veilguard. So I've put together surveys for each covering information about the Rook along with the other main characters of the worldstate they're from, excluding the Orlesian Warden-Commander.

These surveys have been put together exclusively on mobile, so if they have any problems that likely is why. Please do inform me though if there are any critical issues or exclusions.

At some point, at maximum the Veilguard release date, these surveys will be closed and I'll be compiling the information from them and posting it here. This is because I'm currently most interested in the pre-release trends and documenting them, I am certain there will be similar surveys after the game is released.

I am looking for as big a sample size as possible, so please feel free to share this far and wide in any Dragon Age related groups and spaces you may be part of.

Without further ado, the surveys. Please take any you feel are applicable to who you are planning to romance in Veilguard.

Bellara

Davrin

Emmerich Volkarin

Lace Harding

Lucanis Dellamorte

Neve Gallus

Taash

Update: October 30th 2024 is now when these surveys will close!

[shem-fatale]

Dragon Age Inquisition: "Canon" Choices Survey Results!

Tell us about your personal "canon" Inquisitor who will make an appearance in The Veilguard? What were their choices? Answers to this short survey were collected via a tumblr post between June 11th and June 22nd 2024. I have since found out which of the choices mentioned will and will not affect DA:TV but I will include all questions anyway. Text version and tags under the cut!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1. Who is your "canon" Inquisitor and are/were they in a relationship with another DAI character? Female Adaar/Blackwall - 1% Female Lavellan/Blackwall - 1% Male Lavellan/Josephine- 1% Male Lavellan/The Iron Bull- 1% Male Trevelyan/Cassandra - 1%

Female Lavellan/Josephine - 2% Female Trevelyan/Josephine- 2% Male Lavellan - no romance - 2%

Female Adaar/The Iron Bull - 3% Male Adaar/Dorian - 3%

Female Trevelyan/Blackwall - 4%

Female Adaar/Josephine - 6% Male Trevelyan/Dorian - 6%

Female Lavellan/Cullen - 7%

Male Lavellan/Dorian - 12%

Female Trevelyan/Cullen - 13%

Female Lavellan/Solas - 33% Added headcanon comment from @spiders-scribbles: Male Adaar/The Iron Bull "Kas is played with the female model cause I hate how bulky the male Qunari body is and also trans reasons" <3 And another one from @doves-wing: Female Cadash/Josephine "i think they have an open relationship and so my quizzy has dated iron bull though that relationship ends before trespasser. she is still with josie though." <3 2. What combat class and specialisation apply to your "canon" Inquisitor?

Warrior/Two-Handed/Templar - 0% Warrior/Weapon and Shield/Templar - 0%

Rogue/Daggers/Artificer - 1% Warrior/Two-Handed/Champion - 1% Warrior/Weapon and Shield/Reaver - 1%

Warrior/Two-Handed/Reaver - 3% Rogue/Archer/Tempest - 3% Warrior/Weapon and Shield/Champion - 3%

Mage/Necromancer - 4%

Rogue/Archer/Artificer - 5% Rogue/Archer/Assassin - 5% Rogue/Daggers/Tempest - 5%

Rogue/Daggers/Assassin - 8%

Mage/Rift Mage - 30%

Mage/Knight-Enchanter - 32% 3. Did the Inquisition form an alliance with the Mages or with the Templars?

Mages - 86%

Templars - 14% 4. Who was left behind in the Fade?

Alistair - 5%

Loghain - 9%

Hawke - 29%

Stroud - 57% 5. Did the Inquisition give the Wardens a second chance?

Yes - 89%

No - 11% 6. Who rules Orlais?

Gaspard - 1%

Celene - 10%

Gaspard as Briala's puppet - 14%

Truce between all parties - 32%

Celene and Briala - 43% 7. Who drank from the Well of Sorrows?

Morrigan - 48%

The Inquisitor - 52% 8. Who becomes Divine Victoria at the end of DA:I?

Vivienne - 7%

Cassandra - 18%

Leliana - 75% 9. What happened to the Inquisition at the end of Trespasser?

The Inquisition continues in the service of Divine Victoria - 17%

The Inquisition was disbanded - 83%

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A big thank you to:

@themightynej

@rotaryshakes

@slothsoep

@ladyotakukiut

@ellie-shy

@spaaace-ace

@infinitediversities

@missrosequeen

@re-venge

@tokyopewpew

@ennayeliah

@alesdaer

@what-ever-this-is-man

@maintitle

@doves-wing

@filbert-weevil

@robinthewarden

@flashyxtemplar

@0rzammar

@bonniemikaelson

@darthbootchie

@gugle1980

@hawkgirlriot

@huneybumble7

@onelessvenatori

@stillpanicking

@stuckyonbucky

@wildefiction

@animusrisunovatur

@anulindale

@azinareens

@cullens-babe

@energeticbasilisk

@fadejumper

@humonster

@joyfulpolicehologram

@krampus236

@maleficarmage

@mortalitasdeeznuts

@soft4sana

@themagnusbane

@thereiswarathand

@touchofweave

@tyralily

@witch-light

@witchybullshit

@littleballofanxiety

@precious-gem-of-a-cat @onlypartiallystars

@spiders-scribbles @titanwolfackerman @nervousparsnip @sowrongbutsowrite @argonian-at-heart @too-caught-up-in-moves @yjannu @lilywasx and also to everyone who didn't want to be tagged, plus everyone who spelled their user names wrong! I figured out some of the typos but some of you left me some crazy riddles hehe. <3

[seireiteihellbutterfly]

Hello! I was wondering, if you'd like, could you write a hc for Toshiro, Shinji and Shunsui (and if you'd like to add any other characters), dealing with a fem!reader who just won't confess her love, even though it's very obvious? It can be fluff or smut, whatever you prefer. I would love to see what you come up with! Thank you very much in advance! 💗

Bleach Men and Shy Reader

Hello! Sorry it took me a while to get to this! I'm always struggling to keep characterization accurate which is why this took forever. I love this request btw. So I just didn't get a HC feel for this because I felt like half the fun was in the dialogue of getting reader to confess. So I wrote scenarios instead. Hope you don't mind! ^_^' All fluff, slightly suggestive at places but mostly harmless.

icons by @/pfpanimes and @/xoxomyseriesxoxo

Toshiro (aged up)

"Y/n, I think we're good. We got all the information we need."

Toshiro runs a hand through his hair, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as he takes in their surroundings one last time. Their surveying mission had gone well and he was hoping to get back to Soul Society before the sun sets.

"Y/n...?"

He looks around, then his face turns into a look of exasperation as he sees you petting Hyorinmaru like a puppy. Even Hyorinamru seemed to be enjoying the attention, eyes closed, making a loud rumbling noise which he supposed could be comparable to a cat purring.

You were some distance away so he starts to walk over to you as you press your forehead against the large ice dragon's face. It was perplexing why Hyorinmaru behaved the way he did around you, but of course, zanpakuto were mainifestations of their owners. Hitsugaya's face relaxed slighty and took on a softer expression as you continued to play with Hyorinmaru. He was also uncomfortably aware of the way his heart beat a little faster when you were around. Perhaps that's why his zanpakuto behaved similarly.

You were cooing at the large blue dragon. "You're such a good boy. The best ice dwagon...yes..."

You press a kiss to Hyorinmaru's face. Softly, you then say, "I wonder if Hitsugaya taicho feels it when I kiss you..."

Hitsugaya freezes, wondering if he should say something. He didn't feel it, but wouldn't it be wondrous if he could?

"Y/n," he calls out, making you jump. Your face turns red, and you quickly try to compose yourself.

"Hitsugaya taicho! I apologize, I didn't hear you. Are we done with our mission?"

"Yes...I believe we are." He hesitates before saying, "What were you telling Hyorinmaru before?"

You feel your heart racing and try to brush off his question. "It's nothing! I was just being silly. He's a very sweet dragon."

"Yes, I suppose he can be..."

A moment of awkward silence passes between you both before you say, "We'd better get back to Soul Society huh?" Trying to pass over your awkward exchange, you slip past Hitsugaya and start walking back. Hyorinmaru vanishes a minute later as Hitsugaya follows you.

After a few minutes, Hitsugaya quietly says, "I can't feel it."

Your heart skips a beat. Surely you must have heard wrong. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I can't feel it when you kiss Hyorinmaru."

A jolt of electricty runs through you. Had he heard that?! "Oh, well good. That would have been weird."

"Yeah I guess so...but...would it be a bad thing?"

"Would what be a bad thing?"

"If I could feel it."

You feel like your heart may leap out of your chest. A nervous laugh bubbles out of you. "Well you can't so...I guess we'll never know!"

"I mean you could just tell me."

Your words catch in your throat. When you talk again, they come out shaky. "Tell you what?"

"If it's good or bad."

A very palpable, tense, moment lingers between both of you. All that can be heard is the rustling of your robes and your footsteps as the both of you continue to walk.

"I guess...it wouldn't be...too bad, right?" You offer.

"No, I don't think it would be." Hitsugaya looks directly at you. "Those words weren't meant for Hyorinmaru to hear excusively were they?"

You look away. "Well I wasn't saying it out loud intentionally if that's what you mean."

"What's the worst that could've happened? If you had said those words to me?"

"You may have gotten the wrong impression of me..."

"Wrong impression? So you don't like me?"

Well you had kind stepped right into that question. "I...I..."

Why was it so hard to admit your feelings? Your eyes squeeze shut.

"Hey, y/n. It's ok." Hitsugaya pats your shoulder reassuringly. "How about this? I'll bring out Hyorinmaru. You can tell him whatever you want. If that makes it easier."

You look at him with gratitude in your eyes. You knew you weren't getting out of this one until Hitsugaya had a satisfactory answer.

With a small swish of reiatsu, Hyorinmaru appears in front of you. You look into the striking blue eyes of the dragon, so similar to its owner, and take its face between your hands.

"Hey Hyorinmaru," you say softly. "So, I just wanted to say. I think I like someone, and he knows it. But...I'm scared to admit my feelings because...deep down...I feel like he's worthy of someone more talented and special. So if you have an answer to this, please let me know."

Warm hands wrap around your waist and to your surprise, Hitsugaya pulls you against him, resting his cheek on the back of your head.

"Is this enough for an answer?"

You take a deep breath, cheeks pink as a peach.

"Yeah. More than enough."

Shinji

You and Shinji trudged back to his quarters after a particularly tiring mission. It wasn't uncommon for you recuperate in his quarters because his place was simply the closest to the gate when getting back into the Seiretei. And after a long gruelling mission, questions about appropriateness get tossed out the window.

Your muscles ache and you feel your reiatsu pulse as you force yourself to walk. The comforting feeling of the courtyards near Shinji's quarters fill your senses.

"Not too far along now y/n. You can shower first this time."

You look at Shinji side eyed, remembering how the last time he'd hidden the soap when you had made a dash to the bathroom to shower first.

Clearly he was remembering it too because he smirks at you and says, "How about next time, you bring your own soap, you freeloader?"

"I'm a rookie shinigami, taicho. I hardly make enough to afford luxuries like soap." You respond sarcastically.

"You just wanna use mine because you like the way I smell. Admit it. You get off on having my scent on your skin." Shinji says teasingly, giving you a shit-eating grin.

The color rises in your face and you look away. It was true but you couldn't admit that. Instead you say, "As if. Like I enjoy smelling like your cheap deodarant."

"And how would you know my deodarant smells cheap? Have you been going through my toiletries y/n? Like some kind of pervert?" Shinji nudges you playfully.

"Why I might have to start hiding my boxers, in case I find you in my room sniffing around at night."

"Eeewww," you say, wrinkling your nose. You start to walk faster so that you're ahead of him, not wanting him to see how fantastically red your face is getting.

Chuckling, Shinji sprints after you, grabbing the back of your shihakusho, and bringing you to his side, arm draping possessively around your shoulders so that you can't move.

"Taicho," you say through gritted teeth. "What would happen if someone sees us this way? It's very unbecoming of a captain."

"Strange, I don't seem to recall you saying that whenever you crash at my place after a mission." Shinji stops walking and turns so that he's facing you, blocking your way, a hand on each of your shoulders.

You can't look at him now, and drop your gaze. "That's...different. I sleep in your spare bedroom. We both know that and would say the same. But this kind of behavior...out here in the open...someone might mistake us..."

"Mistake us how exactly?" Shinji presses, not relenting at the fact that you're barely able to keep your head up now. "Mistake us as...lovers?"

He drawls the last word and you squeeze your eyes shut. Your heart races and you can't seem to think of a comeback. He was so close to you and his hands were holding on tight.

"N-no," you stammer, trying to keep calm.

"No? What else could they mistake us for that's gotten you so red?" Shinji takes a step closer to you and grasps your chin, lifting you face up to look at his. Helpless, you look into his brown eyes which are looking at yours with amusement.

When you fail to reply, he continues. "There's plenty of reasons they could mistake us for lovers, y/n. I mean, we cuddle on the couch."

"That's because-"

"We've eaten together so many times I've lost count." He barrels over your objection. "Your toothbrush is in a cup on my bathroom counter. Do I need to keep giving you more examples about how unconventional our relationship is? It definitely isn't a captain-subordinate one anymore."

Caught, you try to jerk your face out of his grip which only tightens. "Well, doll? Because if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're living with me, but you seem to be trying to convince yourself otherwise."

"I-that's-" you sputter, trying to retort. "How about the fact that we don't feel that way about each other? Doesn't that count for anything?" you say desperately, hoping for a final chance to keep your heart from getting hurt.

Shinji's expression changes from amusement to thoughfulness. "Don't feel that way about each other...hmm...so...why am I teasing you this way? Why do I allow you to cuddle up to me when we're watching TV? Why am I here, forcing you to look at me, and making my intentions known if I don't feel that way about you?"

Your heart skips a beat and you quit struggling. He couldn't possibly...?

"And why are you blushing so much when I say all this? Why haven't you stopped looking at my lips this whole time?" His voice becomes a soft timbre and his hands drop from your shoulders to your waist, pulling you closer to him. "Why are you so resistant to what you're feeling towards me?"

Your chest swells with emotion as his words wash over you. For the longest time, you'd hidden your feelings, hoping he wouldn't notice. Because how embarrssing and cliche? A subordinate falling for her captain?

"I...may...like you as more...than my captain..." You admit grudgingly.

"There we go. Now was that so hard?" Shinji rests his thumbs on your cheeks, stroking gently. "For the record, I'm not playing around. I'm serious."

You peek up at him. "Promise?"

"Well...I'm not a fan of making promises I can't keep- OUCH!" Shinji lets out a yelp of pain as you shove him hard in the ribs before scurrying off towards his quarters.

Humbled, he quickly chases after you. "Y/n! I am dead serious! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!"

When he hears you laughing, his eyes narrow.

"Very well then doll...I suppose I'll have to torture the confession out of you while hiding the soap again...maybe this time after you've gotten in the shower..."

Shunsui

Your eyes roam over the voluptous shinigami talking to Shunsui. He certainly seems to have a type. You sigh and try to focus on your own work. Being an aide to Shunsui has been insightful in terms of getting experience but also an eye-opening period where you would see how many women seem to sidle up to him for attention.

Shunsui chuckles at the woman before she saunters out, hips swaying. He fixes his hat and stretches, the neck of his shihakusho slipping down to reveal his toned pecs.

Such a slut you think to yourself as you try to finish your paperwork. Although, truth be told, you weren't sure if that was entirely true. Women went up to him all the time, sure. How many of those women made it back to his quarters was another question entirely. Not as many as people thought, according to Nanao.

Shunsui glances over at you, a cheeky smile widening over his face. "Enjoying the view?" he teases, as you suddenly flush, realizing you'd been staring shamelessly at his chest for the past minute.

"N-no," you stammer. "Just wondering how brazen you must be to have your shihakusho practically untied while in the office."

"Not as brazen as my subordinate who's been visually feeling me up," he shoots back with a wink.

You quickly look back to your paperwork. Was it your fault he was an attractive looking man for his age? You heart thuds in your chest and you take a deep breath to calm down. This does not go unnoticed by Kyoraku who puts his face on his palm, leaning on his desk looking at you.

"Let's get a drink tonight."

Surely you misheard him. "...What?"

"I know you heard me y/n." He chuckles, a rich, low, rumble emanating from his throat. "And based on what I've seen, I think you've imagined more than having a drink with me."

Your throat goes dry. "You got that...from a one-off look?" Your words come out like a croak.

"Well darling, you've been making eyes at me all evening. Thought I'd save you the trouble." He gets up from the desk and wanders over towards you.

Your brain goes into panic mode. "I-I can't. Busy today."

"Ah hm...I see." Shunsui says in that lazy way, getting closer to you. "Busy. So very busy. Tell me. What plans do you have tonight that you're too busy to get a drink with your captain?"

Your mind blanks out at his question. Seeing the look of disarray on your face, Shunsui offers you a sympathetic pat. "I can give you a minute if you need to come up with an excuse. Maybe pretend to watch the birds outside?"

Your cheeks burn at his suggestion. "Unnecessary. Clearly I don't have one. Apart from I don't want to."

"Now why's that? I like you, and you seem to return the feeling. I've been around long enough to know when a woman is interested in me. So what's the problem?"

"I'm your subordinate. And with your reputation I don't wish to be another statistic in your book."

"Statistic?" Shunsui looks at you with sharp eyes. "Darling, how many women do you think I've been with?"

"I don't know. 2000 years is a long time."

He looks stunned at your words then sighs deeply. "I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm not thinking of making you a 'statistic'. I actually like you."

Your heart races. "Say that again."

"I like you. I'm not too proud to hide how I feel. Now how about you stop insulting me and admit you like me too?"

You take a deep breath. "I'll have a drink with you."

"Well that's a start I suppose."

"And tie up your damn shihakusho."

"And miss the chance to have you stare at me all night?" Shunsui's eyes glitter with mischief. "I think not."

[oediex]

There's something I didn't include in the Big Dragon Age Survey (now closed) that I meant to, so I'm going to make it into a poll now, especially with the new information regarding romance in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

I think both are valid, so let's be nice to each other, and keep note not to refer to the first option as "playersexual".

[dalishious]

Dragon Age Romancing Survey

Okay. In light of me just now finding out I am an outlier in having romanced every single companion in every single game at least once, I am curious to know who of those companions has and hasn't been romanced by the fandom to what degree. So, I made a little survey!

It should only take about a minute to fill out. If you've played any of the Dragon Age games at least once, please share your experiences with the romance aspect!

I'll share the results in a week from now (on 6-July-2024).

[felassan]

BioWare: "Have you ever wondered how BioWare plays #DragonAge? We conducted a survey of our game team, and the results are in! Check out our favorite classes and tell us which build you’re most excited to play. 🎮" [source]

Text in image reads, "Game Team's Top Picks. Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Favorite Class to Play". Rogue wins, with Mage coming second and Warrior third. There is also a breakdown of the popularity of each specialization.

For Rogue, it's Veil Ranger, Saboteur, and Duelist in that order. For Mage, it's Spellblade, Death Caller, and Evoker. For Warrior, Slayer, Reaper, Champion.

[grandeoatmilklatte]

Midnight Excursion 🌙 (Ominis Gaunt x F!MC)

This fic was born after simping with @damn-it-a-hogwarts-legacy-blog over the Ominis voice lines when you use Alohomora in front of him. Enjoy!

Warnings: smut || NSFW || p in v || f!ng3ring || they go at it on a classroom desk || characters are aged up, over 18 and in 7th year || mdni || (1.8k words)

The dungeons were completely still at this time of night, providing a menacing vibe to a part of the castle that was already eerie during daylight hours. It was shortly after midnight now, and the only sound to be heard was the soft taps of the girl’s footsteps as she tried to keep as quiet as possible. There was no one else around, although she swore she could hear another pair of footsteps following closely behind her, despite seeing no one every time she turned around. She eventually shook the worry off, chalking it up to nerves. 

She continued walking, passing the dragon statue before finding her destination on her left - a single locked door. She pointed her wand to the lock, whispering “Alohomora” at it. But as the lock popped open, a voice seemingly out of nowhere caused her to jump and drop her wand.

“Breaking in, are we? What is it that you’re up to?”

“Ominis!?” She exclaimed, as she watched the Slytherin boy materialize in front of her as he removed his disillusionment charm. 

“What are you doing sneaking about the castle this late at night!?” He snapped. She knew he couldn’t actually see her, but she could still feel his eyes digging into her skin. 

“What does it matter to you, Gaunt?! And you’re here too, meaning I could ask you the same question!”

Ominis huffed. “I’m NOT sneaking about. I was sitting in the Transfiguration Courtyard getting some air after not being able to sleep. I heard someone use the floo point in the courtyard and realized it was you, so I followed you. And it matters to me because I’m well aware of the sick interest you and Sebastian share. If your little midnight excursion has anything to do with the Dark Arts I swear on Merlin I will-”

“OH for the love of Merlin this is NOT about the Dark Arts! I haven’t thought about the Dark Arts since fifth year! I’m actually doing a favor for Mr. Moon.”

“Oh yes, that’s believable. Helping the groundskeeper with a task after midnight. Do you think I’m an idiot?!”

“Ominis you are incredibly annoying! If you must know, Mr. Moon has asked me to retrieve various statues that are scattered all over Hogwarts. They’re statues of Demiguise, and they only appear at night. Now are you done interrogating me?!”

Ominis’s scowl softened, but only slightly. “Fine. But I think I’ll stick around until you retrieve your statues, just to be sure.” 

The girl rolled her eyes, picking up her wand and pushing the unlocked door open. As she entered the room, she looked over at Ominis. His head was tilted downwards, but his wand was drawn, pointing at her, its red tip pulsating. He was studying her. She knew that this was Ominis’s way of studying a person or an object, him and his wand sharing some kind of mind connection she wished she knew more about, but didn’t thanks to their rocky relationship.

She knew Ominis hated her ever since fifth year, when their mutual best friend, Sebastian’s obsession with the Dark Arts almost got him killed. Ominis often blamed her for this, claiming that she “egged Sebastian on”, when she truthfully had nothing to do with it. It was a shame because she didn’t actually hate Ominis. She thought of him as a kind and loyal friend. She also found herself enamored with him, although she knew there was no way the feeling was mutual.

After they closed the door behind them, she went looking for her demiguise, while Ominis used his wand to survey the room. As her eyes locked on the statue, Ominis spoke. 

The Muggle Studies classroom? Odd choice for your statue to reside.”

She ignored him, picking up the statue. “Mine now, Demiguise.” she proclaimed as she shrunk the statue down and stored it away in her pocket. 

“Okay, I got what I came here for. Happy?” She began to walk back towards the classroom door when Ominis spoke again.

“You know, in my seven years here, I’ve never stepped foot in this classroom. My parents would never allow me to take this class. They see muggles as a plight to society. But, I don’t agree with that. They’re not bad people, they’re just misunderstood.”

She turned towards Ominis, a look of surprise on her face. Throughout her time at Hogwarts she had heard whispers about the Gaunt family and their disdain for muggles, as well as some claims that they even tortured and killed muggles. She had a hard time believing the torture claims, her attraction to him providing a bit of bias, but truthfully, she knew very little about him. Any attempt made to get to know him was shut down due to his distrust of her. 

“That’s surprising to hear, considering everything they say about you.”

“Everything they say about you.” Ominis scoffed. “Of course, you’re one of those. You believe every rumor that floats around about me! Yes, my family is full of muggle hating pureblood fanatics, but I am nothing like them! Bearing the Gaunt name is a curse and I have worked so hard to prove myself better than them, but still people would rather treat me like I’m a monster, and…why am I even defending myself to you! Nothing I say will ever change how you think of me!”

She was used to Ominis shouting at her for silly nonsense, but this was different. She could feel the pain in Ominis’s voice. Normally, she would have kept her feelings to herself, as she had this entire time, but the exasperation in Ominis’s bright blue eyes made her drop the filter she had placed on herself. 

“I don’t think that way about you! I never have.” Her sudden words caused Ominis to recoil in confusion. 

“I’ve always believed that deep down you’re a good person. It’s like you said about muggles - you’re not a bad person, Ominis, you’re just misunderstood.” She internally cringed at her own words and almost stopped talking entirely, but something compelled her to keep going.

I’ve always wanted to get to know you, maybe become your friend, maybe more than friends.” 

Regret filled her. If she didn’t already say too much, she certainly had now. She brought her gaze, which had previously been on the floor, up to Ominis to find a soft expression on his face. 

“More than friends?” he repeated softly as he approached her, closing the gap between them. 

A soft “yes” was all she could muster as her heart began to race, but that “yes” was all he needed.

Without a second of hesitation, Ominis’s hands grabbed her cheeks, pulling her into a rough kiss. Her brain needed a moment to catch up before she returned his kiss with the same level of passion, as she threw her arms around his neck. Ominis moved his hands from her cheeks to her hips, picking her up slightly so that she’d be seated on the desk she had been standing against.

Her legs spread on their own, allowing him to slip his body between them to get closer to her. She felt like she had been Imperio’d with the way her body was moving on its own, her hands coming down to his chest to rid him of his robe and tie, and then moving lower to begin unbuttoning his shirt. He finally pulled away from her, leaving her lips red and swollen as his hands worked to remove her robe, shirt, and tie as well. His hands then shot down to her hips as he frantically removed her skirt, tights, and underwear all at once. 

For a moment, she felt a little embarrassed to be so exposed, in a classroom no less, but all her inhibitions faded when Ominis’s lips latched on to her neck, biting at her skin as his hand slipped between their bodies, easily sliding two fingers into her cunt. She wasn’t shy with her sounds as loud moans fell from her lips, extremely grateful that they were in the dungeons, far from any prying ears. 

Ominis roughly pumped his fingers in and out of her as he continued to bite and suck at various spots on her neck, marks beginning to form on her skin. After a few more moments of Ominis’s delicious assault on her body, he pulled away, which earned him a groan from the girl. 

Ominis let out a dark chuckle. “Oh, don’t worry, we’re not finished yet. Lie down, my darling.”

She did as she was told, lying back on the desk, a tingle coursing through her at his tone. She watched as Ominis removed his trousers and underwear, his hard, leaking cock springing free. She squealed when Ominis roughly grabbed her hips, pulling her down the desk slightly, before he lifted her legs up, lined himself with her entrance, and pushed himself inside.

Ominis’s pace was rough and unforgiving as he worked her to orgasm with each snap of his hips. Two sets of moans bounced off the walls of the classroom while the desk rattled loudly from the force at which it was shaking. Her legs wrapped around Ominis’s back in an attempt to pull him even closer to her as her walls began to tighten around him. She let out a cry of his name as her orgasm hit, her mind going completely blank. Ominis never let up his pace, a cry of her name falling from his own lips only a couple of thrusts later as his orgasm filled her. 

–

The two sat side by side at the desk after they had come down from their high and gotten dressed. They held hands as they sat silently, both of their brains still trying to register what had just transpired between them. 

The girl broke the silence first, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on Ominis’s lips before she spoke. 

“We should probably head back, get ourselves some sleep after the eventful night we’ve had.”

Ominis laughed as he stood up, taking hold of her hand once again as they walked towards the classroom door. But as they approached the door, something caught the girl’s eye, causing her to stop.

“Wait one second.” she said as she approached a small gold chest. Upon opening it, she discovered several gold coins inside. She pocketed the coins and turned back towards Ominis, a smirk on his face. 

“You’re quite the covert little thief, aren’t you? Well done!”

The tone in which Ominis said the words sent another tingle coursing through her. She ignored the ache forming in her due to the roughness at which Ominis had fucked her, as she took a hold of his hand, and sat back on the same desk..

“On second thought, it is still pretty early in the morning. We still have some time to enjoy our privacy down here before we need to head back.” she said with a tone that made it very clear to Ominis what she was suggesting. 

“Oh, well let’s make the most of that time then, shall we?” Ominis said as he repositioned himself back between her legs, roughly kissing her once again.

[ohnoitstbskyen]

hello ! do you have any thoughts about the new dragon age game and the info that's come out for it?

Some. Based on the limited footage I've been looking at (and for context, I haven't kept up with the promotion beyond the 20 minute snippet of gameplay footage they showed after the disastrous first trailer), it looks like it's trying to follow the legacy of Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age 2 in terms of gameplay structure. Mission-based, fairly linear, constructed around setpieces and combat encounters with relatively minimal exploration and puzzles.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age 2 are the best games in each franchise - but I also get a sense that the combat gameplay has been streamlined down the point that it's functionally indistinguishable from any other standard 3D action hack-and-slash (somewhat in the mold of FF16), which feels very much like a play for mainstream triple-A broad audience appeal.

In the context that BioWare is pretty commonly considered to be on the EA chopping block should their next games flop, that feels like they didn't choose that combat style because it's what they really wanted, or what their core audience is interested in, or even because it's what's best for the game and its narrative and feeling. It feels like they chose it because they need John Gamer™, who buys 2-3 big triple-A game titles a year and who's never touched an RPG before, to spend some money on their game by convincing him that it's a cool fantasy hack-and-slash all about doing badass backflip jump slashes with a tone like Guardians of the Galaxy, and not a big, cheesy, lore-heavy fantasy soap opera / horny dating sim with a combat system bolted onto the side.

It feels like a creative decision pushed by someone in a suit jacket and graphic tee citing the need to be "data informed" about design decisions, and who, up until the moment Baldur's Gate 3 came out, was convinced that hard systems-driven RPGs were a niche product for a tiny audience that could never make real money because they surveyed 6000 Call of Duty players who said fantasy is for queers and losers.

Perfectly happy to be wrong about all of this, mind you, and since it'll be on GamePass, I will obviously be playing it, because even when Dragon Age is not very good, it is still Dragon Age and that's my goddamn trash right there.

[muffinlance]

Prompt: Azula joins Zuko on his Avatar hunt instead of Iroh. I don't know why, I don't know how, but I'm certain to be entertained by whatever follows.

Ozai and Ursa were already dead by the time Iroh arrived home. He stepped from his ship into the palanquin, and rode past the places of their execution, holding the urn of his son’s ashes. 

He had no time to entrust them to the Fire Sages before his father summoned him. He brought them along, because this was an easier thing than setting them down. And perhaps Lu Ten’s grandfather would like to see him once more, outside of the family shrine. Iroh would have given anything—

He placed the urn on the floor next to him. It did not kneel when he did. Fire Lord Azulon surveyed him from behind the flames.

“Rise, my son. It is good to have you home.”

They did not speak of Lu Ten. His father had always been a man to look to the flames of the future, rather than the ashes of the past.

* * *

They hanged Ursa, as befitted her attempted crime, and her past station.

They burned Ozai, as befitted his. A child of Agni should always return to the flames.

The children of the traitors had been stricken from the family line. Had been placed in the capital prison; bait for the trap. Azulon was keeping close eye on those who expressed concern for the offspring of regicides. Ozai had expected support for his position; it would be Iroh’s second task to sift through the court, and discard the chaff. 

His first task was a more practical resowing. Azulon had already selected a handful of candidates: women of suitable birth and known loyalties. The wedding date had been set, pending selection of the bride.

“Thank you, father,” Iroh said. 

Lu Ten held his silence.

* * * 

Azula had never liked the servants who’d fussed at her hair and clothes, who’d pulled and tugged until she was perfect, like perfect was a thing outside of her for others to bestow. She only had to look at Zuko to know how far tailored robes and well-oiled hair could take one.

She couldn’t see Zuzu from her cell. Her robes were too cold against the stone and every tug to wrap them tighter just made them worse, she could see it in the guards’ faces, the way they’d stared when she’d first arrived and looked a few days after and now they barely even saw. No one would talk to her, no matter her demands. They didn’t even stop their own conversations anymore; just slid in her food and kept walking and batted away her fires and it was cold here.

There were things crawling in her hair that her nails couldn’t dig out. Sometimes she thought she heard Zuzu yelling, but she couldn’t be sure. And it would have been undignified to yell back. She was a princess. She was fifth in line for the dragon throne. 

Fourth, now that Lu Ten was dead.

Third, because father was, too. 

He’d yelled and then he’d screamed and it hadn’t done anything but make the crowd jeer. Fire Lord Azulon had been silent. Poised. In control. She was his namesake and she would be too. 

She was nine.

* * *

Zuko yelled until his throat burned. The guards didn’t care, they didn’t listen to him, which was nothing new. He shouted and shouted and his own ears hurt. Maybe that’s why he never heard Azula calling back.

Grandfather had made them watch when he’d killed father and, and—

If grandfather had Azula killed, he would have made Zuko watch that, too. Azula was probably just better at being a prisoner than he was. Maybe the guards even talked to her.

He was eleven.

* * *

Iroh’s new wife was a third his age. A flower just coming to bloom. She looked like his first wife; Azulon knew his preferences. She was young enough to be Lu Ten’s sister. She smiled and laughed each day with the other court wives, and came to his room with lists of possible dissenters to discuss in their marital bed. It was not the pillow talk he was used to, but it was charming, in its way. She liked to lay on her stomach and kick her feet above her as they traced the web of treachery with his dead brother at its center. She was here to have his children—a task at which she worked with admirable diligence—and to be the acting Fire Lady. She had not had to struggle and flaunt herself for his affections; she had been picked from a line-up, her expectations realistic, her motives aligned with his. It was the least romantic relationship Iroh had ever been part of. It was… refreshing.

On the day the palace doctor confirmed their newly budded line of succession, the Fire Lord called them both in for congratulations. And for pruning.

* * *

Zuko had turned twelve, but had not realized it. Azula had turned ten. She’d counted the days.

Iroh had not been able to visit them in prison; only to inquire as to their treatment. Individual cells, regular meals of reasonable quality, no abuses. He’d moved his own people into position to ensure the last. 

Azulon had moved them back, after a delay for his soft-hearted son’s conscience. They could not waste loyal men on cuckoo-vipers. And Iroh could not waste his father’s good will. Not when it would be needed in the future, for the most important request.

* * * 

“And your wife agrees to this?” asked the Fire Lord, behind his flames. 

Iroh’s wife had not been directly addressed, and so did not reply. She sat in polite and perfect seiza, her head raised, as befitted the woman currently running her half of the court. Azulon had never seen fit to replace his own wife, after all.

“She does,” Iroh spoke for her. “We have spoken on the issue at length, and believe it best. Our family is small, and cannot afford to be smaller. The children are young; too young to have been in their parents’ confidences. With proper guidance—”

“And how would they place in the line of succession?” Azulon asked. “How would they chafe, how would they plot, with a decade’s experience over your eldest?”

Lu Ten’s own connections at court had been built while his cousins were still in diapers. But he was no longer Iroh’s eldest.

“We believe—”

“No,” his father interrupted again. “I will not allow their adoption. Not by you, where they could smother your own babe in the cradle, and certainly not by someone I trust less.”

Which was everyone, since the night his daughter-in-law had served him tea sent by his son.

“Father,” Iroh began, and his wife shifted her elbow just so, the only indication that she wished to dig it into his ribcage. “They are young, and innocent. They are my beloved nephew and niece. Your grandchildren. We cannot in good conscience—”

‘Good conscience’ had never factored into his father’s policies. Iroh had… begun to realize that, of late. His wife let out a small sigh, deliberately audible only to the man next to her. She had cautioned very strongly against a—how had she put it?—a feelings-based approach to this situation. Feelings rarely factored into her own decisions. She had been hand-selected by his father, after all. 

His wife went into a half-bow, her head lowered. “May I speak, my lord?” 

The flames crackled. The shadow of his father inclined its head, just slightly. 

“To kill the children is wise, and I admit, would set my mind at ease for my own child’s sake. But my husband feels strongly on this matter, and so I support him, for his happiness is my own. May I suggest a compromise? To place them outside the court, where they cannot build influence, nor harm your son’s heirs. A position from which you can judge their characters and value to the nation as they grow.”

“You suggest banishment,” the Fire Lord said.

“Not unstructured, of course. To leave them roaming freely would invite those that would take them in. Perhaps a military commission? As they are commoners, they should begin from a rank befitting their station, of course. Let them prove their worth on their own merit.”

Iroh could not see through the flames, but he knew his wife’s small smile was reflected on his father’s face. 

“A naval position,” the Fire Lord said. “On a ship that does not frequently make port. The frontlines would be the best place for them to prove themselves, wouldn’t you agree?”

Iroh closed his eyes.

“Father,” he said. “Please,” and he could feel his wife willing him to stop talking. The Fire Lord had already agreed to spare their lives. A banishment could be undone, so long as he and the children both outlived the man before them. “I… thank you for your wisdom in this ruling. But perhaps, if they complete some feat worthy of our line, they could be allowed to return?”

The flames were hot against his face. His new wife was still and silent against his side. His father… his father laughed, a low exhalation, the wheeze of a humorless old man.

“Let them bring me the Avatar,” Fire Lord Azulon said, “and I will welcome them home with honor.”

* * *

Zuko didn’t know why they’d pulled him from his cell or scrubbed him down or taken his old clothes. They’d been dirty but they could have been cleaned. His new clothes were scratchy, and too big, and they looked like a common soldier’s, and… and—

And they’d shaved his hair. 

* * * 

It had gotten rid of the bugs, Azula admitted, in the privacy of her own mind. Still. She memorized the faces of the woman who’d held her down and the man who’d shorn her. For future reference.

They hadn’t bothered sizing her new outfit for a child. Azula noted the quartermaster’s face, as well.

* * *

They were put on a ship. It was the first time they’d seen each other in nearly a year.

Zuzu looked at her head, and wisely said nothing.

She raised an eyebrow at his, and graciously granted him the same.

It was hard to tell them apart. They had their mother’s face. And their father’s.

* * *

Their captain’s name was Zhao. He invited them to dinner in his private quarters, once the Fire Nation was behind them. Zuko fidgeted. Azula didn’t.

The captain spoke on how much potential he saw in them, under a commander who saw their true value. 

Together, they could go far. Very far, indeed.

Azula smiled and said all the things she thought father would have said. Zuko scowled. 

Zhao brushed over their arms with his own while reaching for things. He served them more when they said they were already full. He squeezed their shoulders when he brought them back to their rooms, which were next to his, even though the rest of the lower crewmen slept together in the same big cabin. Zuko scowled harder. 

Azula was invited back. Zuko wasn’t.

* * *

Zhao was… Zhao wasn’t a good person.

“I know that, dum-dum. But do you want to stay banished forever?” 

“Uncle said—”

“Uncle’s going to change his mind, when he has his own heir and a spare. We’re threats, Zuzu. And Zhao knows father’s old friends. He’s one of the smart ones.”

The dumb ones had already been executed. 

“I… I think he wants to—to tie himself to the royal line.”

“Eww,” she said. “I’m ten. If he wants to get engaged, I’ll just break it when we’ve got the throne. It will be too late for him to retract his support, then.”

They’d barely left port before Zhao had made his first move. He didn’t seem like a man who waited. 

Azula was ten, but Zuko was twelve. Being twelve was almost thirteen, which was almost a teenager, which was almost an adult, and adults understood things that ten year olds didn’t.

They had to get off this ship. They had to go home.

Zuko had to find the Avatar.

* * *

(This ficlet is now posted on AO3.)

[mrs-elsie-barnes]

The Old Gods and The New - Chapter 10

Goddess In Distress | Loki x Reader

With the help of the Avenger's intel Loki is able to find you, but is rescuing you too easy? And why do your captors wear such a familiar sigil?

Warnings: 18+, violence, suggestion of drugging/medicating the reader, death (no main character deaths), bamf Loki taking no prisoners.

Divider by @firefly-graphics

Series Masterlist | Loki Masterlist | Masterlist

It felt like an eternity had passed before the jet finally touched down on the rugged coast line, below the silent engines the waves crashed into the cliff face sending fine sprays of salt water up into the sky, dancing on the slick rocks and making rainbows dance even in the grey light.

“This is it,” Tony lifted his hand to flick a few switches above his head, the jet slowing to a dull hum as the wheels met the soft grass and Loki jumped from his seat to look out through the cockpit window, hoping to see some glimpse of you, a suggestion that you were still okay. 

He knew it though, deep in his soul something thrummed, a power that was not his own, it called to him, seeking his support, seeking his own sedir to lean upon. But he couldn’t see you. 

Set back from the edge of the cliff face, all he could see was a ruined tower, a majestic swirl of pale white stone weathered with age and veins of lichen. Across the remaining intact walls were a series of high narrow windows, anything larger than an arrow slit was also adorned with rusted metal bars spoiling the Romantic aspect with the knowledge that this was no defensive position, this was a prison. 

Whoever was behind this had either little imagination of they were truly ancient, for it was clear the castle hadn’t even been inhabited in centuries, although Friday told them it had once been a stronghold protecting the coast Loki was concerned that a stiff breeze might finish it off, judging by the tumble of rocks at its base. 

“Where is she?” Thor looked at Loki, expectant. “What is the cunning plan, brother?” Thor’s hand clapped Loki on the shoulder. Loki was taken aback, it was a rare day that Thor would defer to him. “We have a castle to storm, but it’s your Princess we’re saving.” Thor gave Loki’s shoulder a squeeze, his eyes glinting with the anticipation of battle.

Loki reached his hand out and gripped Thor’s forearm in thanks, a silent conversation between the brothers. The moment was spoiled only by the sound of Tony’s suit whirring to life behind them and his sharp cough. 

Loki rolled his eyes, addressing Thor and ignoring the Avenger and the crass clanking of his outfit. 

Instead he allowed that ancient feeling to once more well inside of him, to guide his thoughts, it washed over him, picking him up like a summer wave and pointed him towards you. The tower, how cliche. Thor followed his gaze and grinned, he had no doubt that Loki would set you free, but how amusing that you were truly locked in the tower. He wondered what kind of dragon would be guarding you. 

“She’s high,” Loki stated, he could feel the brine in the breeze that chafed your cheeks, so there was a window at least. “Probably the tower, but perhaps the battlements.” 

Loki allowed his magic to eddie around him as he spoke manifesting his Asgardian leathers in one golden swirl. The weight of his broad sword a sudden and reassuring presence.

  “She’s trying to get her thoughts through.” He squinted against the pain piercing his skull, each throb of your telegraphed magic like the beat of a heart, making light dance in front of his eyes. He pushed back, sending hope and calm down whatever bond your magic had formed, and the throbbing dulled. 

“Brother?” Thor looked concerned and Loki realised he’d been pressing his hands into the sockets of his eyes to try and alleviate the pain. 

“I’m fine, it’s fine,” Loki brushed a hand through his hair and surveyed the castle again. “We should circle the walls, find a high room, we have the element of surprise, but we don’t know how many guards we might be facing. 

“Three,” Tony said, tapping the faceplate on his suit. “Two  in the main courtyard and one up there.”

Tony pointed at one of two remaining towers that flanked the corners of the otherwise ruined castle. Like its counterpart, it was roofed with grey slate and wooden batons. Trying to send that same hum of calm towards you, Loki focussed his thoughts. You were praying again, chanting his name quietly and like a siren you called to him, he took a few slow mesmerised steps forwards before Thor slapped a hand on his chest. 

“That doesn’t seem a lot?” Thor looked confused, “it looks like a trap.” Loki gave Thor an incredulous look. Concerned as he was, Thor was still grinning, positively giddy at the thought of a fight.

“She’s definitely in there, she’s alive, she isn’t hurt, but her vitals suggest she’s been starved and there’s something in her system. A sedative maybe,” Tony kept reading from Friday’s scans. “And it really is just the three of them.”

“So she doesn’t have her magic?” Thor looked between Loki and Tony, “but Loki, you could feel her?” 

Loki rubbed his temples again, the headache was back. The pressure of you trying to reach him pressing down like a lead weight.

 “She’s trying, she’s fighting it. If they’ve managed to control her magic, stop her accessing it somehow, it doesn’t mean it isn’t still there. It’s searching for her, I can feel it pulling at me. She is strong, but she is unarmed against three suspected Asgardians. One of them has some sort of magic, that must be how they left Norway. The other two are at the very least cruel, if the machine’s statistics are to be trusted.” Loki waved his hand at Tony’s suit and earned himself a raised eyebrow. “We must be quick and fast, we can not risk them moving her again.” 

 We must act with the element of surprise. Quick, fast.” Loki’s twin daggers flashed in his hands and he gave them a theatrical twirl before placing them in their scabbards. “I will find her.” 

Tony and Thor took guard positions, the God paced the outside of the walls while Iron Man hovered around the empty battlements. 

Tony had wanted to blast in and out but Thor stopped him, hand on his chest “let him do this. Let him be the hero for her” and Tony, to his own surprise, softened. Maybe he was getting romantic in his old age, maybe he couldn’t be bothered with arguing.

“Fine. 10 minutes then I blow a hole in the wall and get this over with.” 

“Stark you cannot blow a hole in the wall, if these are Asgardian men…” Thor’s protests faded in Loki’s ears as he took his opportunity to sneak away, swift and sure across the  grass he made his way to the base of the tower and peered around into the open courtyard behind it. 

There was a single guard seated by the wooden door at the base of the tower, slumped forward in his seat, his arms folded. 

Loki frowned, it was almost insulting, the man was asleep. With another look behind him to make sure that Thor and Stark were still occupied with their squabble Loki crept closer, running his hand over the guards forehead to try and encourage a deeper sleep, but he felt nothing. Instead only an odd, empty sensation was returned, but the guard slept on. 

Ignoring his suspicions, Loki picked his way across the courtyard, the nagging sense that this was all too good to be true nipping at his heels. 

The door creaked open, its heavy hinges straining on the hard, frozen ground beneath. The stones that should have paved the interior were worn and had been taken over by writhing tendrils of ivy and moss making his steps softer but the tread slippery. 

A heavy footfall told Loki there was another guard above, so he paused, listening to the rhythm of their boots descending the stairs and biding his time. With a flick of his wrist he sent out a bolt of magic, hoping to disable the guard and merely saunter past him but there was no flicker of gold or hum sedir in the air. 

The steps echoed closer. 

Loki shuffled on his feet, fading back into the shadows with his stealth and experience alone, waiting for the guard to pass before, slowly, carefully, he pounced. 

He held his sword aloft and, with a swift swing of his arm Loki brought the pommel down onto the back of the guard’s head. He crumpled instantly, and Loki lowered him to the ground as quietly as possible, regretting the promises he’d made during the flight. 

Loki had promised to play by the Avenger’s rules, no unnecessary casualties, no avoidable deaths, but he’d seen them drop buildings, even whole cities, what was one guard. Especially one who had given his ásynja such terrible, awful pain, swirling nightmares and torturous days. 

There was no time for regret, he could feel your magic tugging at his chest. 

Loki didn’t look back at the blood soaking into the dirt, only up into the dim grey light of the tower trying not to think about the sigil he wore. The Vanir. 

It was another day in the tower, another day waiting for torture and another opportunity for you to irritate your capture. You had begun spending your days recounting your favourite TV shows which had the dual purpose of being entertaining and distracting, making the long day just a little shorter, as well as annoying whoever was placed as guards. 

Through the metal bars of the window the weak afternoon light cast a shine on the ridiculous material of your outfit, shiny and satin today. 

“And then Nick pulls her back by her sleeve and kisses her. Don’t you think that’s romantic?”

“No,” the man flicked his knife and let it land, point down, in the table again before yanking it back out with a creak of splintered wood.

“Really? Well. It is in the show. But her boyfriend, sort of boyfriend, is still there. So it’s awkward, you know?” You sat back down on the bed, the skirts of your dress parachuting around you. 

“No I don’t know,” flick, thunk, creak, repeat, the knife twirled in the air. 

This one never manifested the vision of Loki, he used only the knife to intimidate you with. 

“Maybe you’ve never had a romantic kiss. A good kiss, is that it?”  You taunted, staring at the ceiling and conjuring memories of Loki’s lips on yours, insistent but soft, coaxing them apart until he slid his tongue against yours -

“I’m finished with this conversation now. Shut up.” The knife made its final exit from the table and lay flat on the guard’s lap, his hand curled around the handle. 

“Okay what about Jake and Amy, have you seen Brooklyn 99, when he proposes and…”

“I said shut up,” the knife flew across the room, the point embedded into the wood of your headboard, mere centimetres from your cheek. 

You took a breath, slow and steady and collected yourself. You wouldn’t cry, you wouldn’t be upset. 

“Unnecessary. Arsehole. I’m bored, I’m trying to entertain us.” You snapped, angling your hand up to pull the knife out, hoping to get a good grip before he realised that he’d handed you a weapon. 

“How about I just shut you up,” he stood out of the chair and took two long strides across the room.

You flinched, pressing your back further into the headboard, your heart hammering and fear brimming. So far he’d only threatened you with the knife, your torture had been purely psychological. You assumed because whoever was keeping you wanted you alive and well eventually, but now you weren’t so sure. 

“Nothing to say now?” He snarled, yanking the knife out, his knuckles brushing your cheek. You flinched again, turning your head away and closing your eyes, expecting a blow.

But it didn’t arrive. Your breathing was loud in the room, your chest heaving. 

Then you opened your eyes slowly and met Loki’s stormy gaze as he towered in the small doorway. He put his finger to his lips and winked, the picture of calm and control to anyone else, but you could see the tick of his jaw as he surveyed your room.

“It’s time someone taught you a lesson, Estrid.” The guard growled, “you’re supposed to be behaving, if you and that conniving mother of yours just followed the plan then we wouldn’t have to be here. This is your fault.”

Your mother? What did your mother have to do with this? Surely he was the one keeping you here, no one else. Your mother had wanted to keep you safe, surely she wouldn't have been involved with anyone this cruel?

You didn’t have time to question the man’s words further. Loki strode into the room, instinctively putting his hands, palm out, on either side of his body expecting his short swords to appear. Nothing. 

Torn between keeping your eyes on your captor and trying to make a run for Loki, you squirmed on the bed. The guard grabbed at your ankle, yanking roughly until you cried out, and dragged you to the end of the bed where your legs dangled from the tuft of your skirts. 

Loki swallowed down his panic again, he’d been relying on his magic to get you both out of the tower easily and safely. But there was something holding it back, stopping him from accessing his weapons, keeping his sedir at bay. His eyes roved the room, searching for whatever poison they were using on you, perhaps he’d touched something when he’d crossed the courtyard, the plants maybe, his mother had been able to do the most incredible things with plants. 

But then his eyes lit upon a series of runes etched into the wall. They were faint now, worn down with age, but clear enough. There would be no magic here. That’s why the guards were so confident, that was fine by him, if he couldn't use his magic he'd just have to get his hands dirty instead.

“Get a move on,” Tony crackled in Loki’s earpiece. 

The god watched as the kidnapper leant down to whisper in your ear and Loki reached, silently, into his boot and pulled out the dagger he had hidden there, clenching his teeth. He’d regret threatening his Asynja.

Before the man could act any further, Loki’s  arm was around his throat, the other around his middle pinning his arms to his sides. The golden dagger between his fingers pressed into the guard's neck, bobbing imperceptibly along with his quickening pulse.

“You’re lucky you’re in front of a lady or I’d paint the walls with your blood for your insolence alone.” His voice was like lava, all the anger of the last week bubbling over, fierce and red hot, stalling anything in its path and holding the guard still with fear. Loki’s gaze moved to yours, slowly, checking for injuries before settling on your face, his eyes softened and those plush pink lips you’d been dreaming about parted. “My darling,” he cooed, “what would you have me do with him?” 

The way his tone changed was frightening and you felt your heart race at the sound of it. The Princely command dropped to his more familiar lover's call, to the voice he used just for you, a shiver ran up your spine, goosebumps erupting on your skin. It should have been horrifying, to see your lover transformed like this, but you couldn’t deny the thrill that shot through you at the sight of his wrath. 

You lounged back on the bed, allowing the chiffon and silk to surround you, every bit the Princess contemplating her next command, surveying the men waiting before her, friend and foe. 

“Don’t hold back on my account.” You smiled, looking at your guard one last time before allowing your eyes to meet Loki’s, focusing on the blue grey swirl around his pupil while a speck of blood appeared beneath the sharp tip of his dagger. 

“Are you sure, my darling?” Loki knew what it was to kill, to watch death. It was a hard thing to come back from, he was already concerned about you being trapped away for weeks, he didn’t dare think of the damage this could do to you wellbeing. 

Ignoring the man writhing in Loki’s grasp, you continued to get lost in his eyes, the nightmares and hunger that had consumed you fading away at the sight of him, the bruises on your legs and arms no longer sore, just a passing feeling, as long as he carried on looking at you like that, like he would burn the world and hand you the ashes on a silver plate if you wished it. 

“I’m sure.”

You tried to trick yourself into thinking that your smile was because you were free, and not because Loki had kept his eyes locked on yours the entire time. 

In the blink of an eye, Loki shifted his dagger to the other hand, sliding it in and out of the guard’s back without a blink. Loki pushed him away, ignoring the heavy thud of his body when it hit the hard floor.

Heat pooled in your belly, your eyes following Loki’s hand while he wiped the blood from his dagger on the guard’s cloak before sheathing it back into his boot. 

“Princess,” his voice was low, some might even say nervous, but he never took his eyes from you, afraid to even blink lest someone steal you away again. He dipped slowly, bowing formally and taking your hand.

“My Prince,” you curtseyed, squeezing his hand and a flash of a memory returned to you both, of Asgard, of so many dances, so many formal introductions.  

“Your Prince, is it?” Loki allowed the spell of formality to break, his smile wide as he scooped an arm around your waist, moulding your bodies together. 

“Always.” you whispered in return. And then you were kissing, his taste so familiar and lips so comforting, you allowed yourself to fall into his embrace, leaving all of the loneliness behind in favour of the adrenaline pumping through your veins. 

“You came for me,” he could feel your smile against his lips and couldn’t help but return it, “I’m so glad.”

“I could hear you calling for me, how could I resist the prayers of my Goddess.”

Your smile grew wider, your hands at the base of his neck flexed, pulling him back for another kiss as your cheeks warmed at the thought, you were his Goddess and he had come for you, despite what they had all said. He had killed for you, just as you knew he would. For as much as you were his Goddess he was your God and would answer all your prayers if you just believed. 

The feeling welled inside of you, bright and brilliant, as hot and bubbling as your magic had ever been and you could feel his sedir returning its call, building and building, silver and gold and green and blue filling the room with light until…crack. One of the runed stones above the door cracked, splinters of rock raining down on you both. 

“Please, let’s get out of here,” you begged, your lips only as far from his as they needed to be to form words, brushing against his with every syllable. “I miss my magic and I’ve missed you.”

Loki looked up at the broken stone and down at the golden magic curling around his fingers, “it should start coming back to you, now that the spell has been broken.” He pointed at the hairline crack travelling through the stones. “But Stark has also suggested that you may be drugged or poisoned and as much as I think the man is an idiot most of the time, those scans of his have proven very useful. So we should ensure one of his Midgardian doctors looks at you as well as an Asgardian healer.” Loki’s face was full of fury at the mention of you being poisoned, he’d come so close to losing you that the thought of reliving your pain in one of the Avenger’s horrid little hospital rooms was making him sick. 

Loki turned you towards the door, supporting you through your many layers of fabric, but you pulled away. 

“I can’t go out there like this,” you gestured at your torn dress, your knees below speckled with grit and softened by bruises.

“The depths of my magic haven’t returned yet, my darling, we have to conserve our energy for our escape.” 

You bent forward and ripped the bulk of the pillowy petticoats from the bodice before testing your magic. That bubbling sensation hadn’t faded and, sure enough, when you focussed hard, your bare legs became covered by Asgardian leather, tall, boots encased your feet, a navy blue tunic replaced the satin and silk. 

Loki marvelled at the silver shimmer of your magic, so strong even when poisoned and held back with ancient spells. He couldn’t help but notice that your clothes were Asgardian, a mirror of his own with a hint of both emerald and the midnight blue that you favoured.

“You, my asynja, are incredible.” He took your hand again, “and when we are safe I promise you all the care you need, whatever your beautiful heart desires.” 

You smiled, glad to be free of the restrictive dress and looking forward to requesting another one of Loki’s luxurious baths, perhaps he’d join you this time instead of sitting by the side. You could almost feel the hot water running over your skin, slipping against his own bare chest. 

Loki released his cloak from the gold epaulettes at his shoulders and swung it around you, pulling it tight over your chest against the cold. 

“Warm enough, my darling?” He smoothed his hands down the buttery leather, willing it to become softer, warmer, lined, anything to stop the imperceptible shivers that you were trying to hide.

“Yes, thank you.” You smiled, but couldn’t help but look at your wrist sadly. It shouldn’t matter that your bracelet was lost, you had Loki and that was all that truly mattered. 

Noticing your glance, Loki reached into his breast pocket and pulled the delicate gold chain out, taking your wrist gently in his hands and fastening the bracelet again. The movement made the matching ring on Loki’s finger flash in the pale light and it filled your heart with happiness.

“I didn’t mean to lose it, I was trying to drop my glove or something but -” 

Loki cut you off with a quick kiss and, as your eyes met again, you suddenly felt shy. “I think we should definitely leave now,” Loki whispered into your ear and kissed your forehead, “can you walk?”

“I can walk,” you  muttered,  “I’m just, I’m tired.” You lent your weight into Loki’s side and allowed him to wrap an arm around your waist again.

“Let’s get you somewhere safe”

<< Chapter 9

Chapter 11 >>

A/N:

Loki sees a sigil for the Vanir and I deliberately didn't describe it because I don't think that's really a thing, please chalk it up to artistic licence.

The Vanir: giving their name to the realm Vanaheimr, the Vanir are a pantheon much like the Aesir. They're associated with fertility, wisdom and prophecy.