#faerieavalon writes

[in-arlathan]

Writer's Round-up 2022

It's that time of the year again! Time to have a look at what I've achieved and celebrate a bit! <3

Thank you @midnightprelude and @barbex for the tags. Tagging forward to @johaerys-writes, @mogwaei, @serial-chillr, @faerieavalon, @juliafied, @dreadfutures, @baejax-the-great, @thebookworm0001, @rosella-writes and anyone who likes to join.

Let's goooooo!!

Words written (published or not, WIPs included!): So, having a look at my writing tracker, it seems like I've written 110,515 new words in 2022. This includes a lot of WIPs that I started and then put on hold or had to put in the trash because they weren't working. All in all, my writing year looks like this:

Adding to that, I published around 100k words across 4 novellas. I had to edit those original works a lot in 2022, so I'm not counting them as “new words written” but I celebrate the publication of those works nonetheless.

Smut scenes: Like, 4? I think? I'm not really a smut writer, although I do like to write them from time to time.

New things I tried: Hmmm… I'm not sure if I tried new stuff this year. I've continued working on the stories I had already started and picked up writing original works again. But I did participate in exchanges like @dasmutquisition and @arlathanxchange for the first time, which was really cool. The exchanges were a surprise to me and made me write for ships I've never written for, which was a challenge and a rewarding experience at the same time. I also did a giveaway at the start of the year that resulted in 3 fics that were so much fun to write! So I guess gifting others with fics was a new thing I tried in 2022.

Fic I spent the most time on: “The Rebel's Ascension”. This fic was such a massive undertaking and took a lot of time to write and edit.

Fic I spent the least time on: I was talking to @noire-pandora one day on Twitter, and then the silly idea of “A Wolf's Wardrobe” emerged. It took me about 30 minutes to write.

Favorite thing I wrote: No surprise here: “The Rebel's Ascension”. I spend more than 3 years on that fic and I'm super proud of it. I can't believe I finally finished it in 2022.

Favorite thing I read: I didn't read that much fic this year (sadly) but I absolutely loved “Ouroboros” by cedarmoons. I also want to give a shoutout to “An Immodest Proposal” by @midnightprelude, which was a gift I received for an exchange.

Writing goals for next year: All in all, I'm pretty happy with the things I wrote and all the projects I've got planned to write in 2023 including “The Rebel's Ruin”, some other DA fics and more original works. That being said, I really REALLY want to increase my yearly word count to 200k. There are so many stories I want to tell and I really need to get a move on. Let's see if I can do it. :)

And that's it for this year. I wish you all the best for 2023. <3

[midnightprelude]

Last Line Meme

Tagged by @little--abyss, thank you!

Rules: Post last written line, tag as many people as words (or however many you want, I'm not your boss).

Sharing the literal last line of my second original novel, which I just wrote this afternoon. Feels good, man.

“If they’re very, very careful,” Rhys whispered, collapsing into laughter on a bed that still smelled of cedar and would soon be his, too.

I’ll tag 10 people because 20+ is way too many. 😂

@ponticle, @johaerys-writes, @faerieavalon, @dismalzelenka, @sulky-valkyrie, @in-arlathan, @baejax-the-great, @barbex, @bogunicorn

[mogwaei]

IT'S BACK ON MY DASH. TODAY IS A VERY GOOD DAY.

Avalon or Solas or Felassan or Abelas (or any combo of t h i c c thigh boi) building a roundhouse. Bonus points if Felassan was conscripted into helping and disappears at some point. Upon investigating they find Felassan inside sipping on a tasty drink and s n a c c. Ancient shenaanannangians >:D

Oh man, this was a tasty challenge. Here’s a quick mess for your indulgence.

The raised voices broke her peace in the new garden and Ara’lan had to investigate. Construction had been happening in stops and starts ever since the Breach was closed. People still flocked to the Inquisition’s banner and if more of them had pointed ears than others, then at least no one said anything about it. This was more than the sounds of builders, though. She followed it down the path until she came upon a sight that froze her in place. 

Solas stood on a rock, looking from the building to a parchment in his hands. From the depth of his frown, she could tell he wasn’t pleased. It was his voice she heard, bickering in sharp tones with Abelas. The former Sentinel and his old friend Avalon were bare to the waist, impervious to the chill biting in the air as they worked. While the elders argued, the younger seemed quite content to continue packing clay into the woven wood walls. He was whistling a happy little tune, too. The structure was growing to be a simple mud hut with a strong, peaked thatch roof. A couple of small families would be kept warm and safe inside through the mountain winters. 

Why they were the ones doing construction, and why they were arguing about it, was too interesting a puzzle to pass up. Ara’lan crept quietly closer, ducking behind a boulder to listen in.

“The entrance needs to be at the south wall,” Abelas grumbled. “Facing east will catch the wind and drafts will linger.”

“I have enough experience building in this climate to know differently,” Solas offered back a bit louder than before. “These plans have been used for ages without concern.”

“Respectfully, there was magic to secure the entrance then. We are lacking in that luxury now.”

“We will not be once I enchant the walls. Unless, of course, you never finish constructing them.”

It was so ridiculous she had to clap a hand over her mouth to hold in a giggle. Whatever possessed them to take on this project, she couldn’t guess.

“They’re a mess, aren’t they?”

He whispered so close to her ear she felt his breath on her neck and squeaked in surprise. Turning quickly, she caught Felassan’s grin as he peeked around the edge of her hiding place.

“What are they doing?” she whispered back.

“They got into an argument about human and dwarven construction techniques. Gatsi dared them to prove him wrong.” Felassan shrugged. “They’ve been at it for hours.”

“How did you avoid being involved?”

He laughed softly. “Oh, I’m helping. I was sent to get snacks and water.”

She narrowed her eyes at his completely unrepentant grin. He was carrying no such supplies. “And where are they now?”

“I got hungry on the way back.” He winked at her and produced a cookie from one of his many pockets. “Last one if you want it.”

[elveny]

For Lyssa and Solas: 8. A cheek pressed into a raised palm, a thumb slides in gentle movements under an eye, a sweet caress turned even sweeter as the other turns their head to press a kiss to the center of their lovers palm

// Also for @storyknitter who gave me the same prompt ❤ //

She could sense him before she heard his steps, so soft as to be nearly imperceptible. Bare feet on the sun-warmed stone, not the strange golden-looking armor he had worn at their last meeting. She should feel sad, or angry, but instead, the only emotion running through her was happiness. That warm shiver caused by the softest of touches, by petals falling from trees or a whisper against skin.

“Vhenan.”

It was barely more than a whisper, but now, there was an actual shiver running over her. His voice curled itself around her, caressing her just with that one word, and Lyssa had to consciously pause to take a breath before she turned her head to look at him as he stepped up beside her.

“Ma’lath,” she answered softly.

Solas smiled, and there was a world of pain and happiness tucked into the curl of his lips, plucking at the strings around her heart. Before she could think better of it, she reached for him with a hand that only existed here, in the Fade, cupping his cheek. She brushed her thumb over his skin, and she felt him beneath her touch, warm and real. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat, and she realized she hadn’t been quite sure whether it was actually him. Not until now.

He laid his hand over hers, turning his head to place a kiss into her open palm. A spark sizzled down her arm and all over her body at the intimate gesture, and a sigh fell from her lips. For an endless moment, they stood like this, connected by something that no longer existed, something that had been both his and hers, and that he had sacrificed so she could live.

 A bitter-sweet scent was carried by the wind around them, leaving the faint taste of salt on her lips.

 “Why Skyhold?” he asked eventually, curiosity in his voice.

Lyssa smiled sadly, her hand sinking down again. Then she looked up at the ancient keep that had been her home for a mere few years. A few years that had changed everything.

“Because it was yours. And here in the Fade, the walls still remember you.”

She had expected him to follow her gaze, but when she looked back at him, she found him watching her instead. The smile was still in the corner of his mouth, but she could no longer see the happiness in it, just endless grief.

“Vhenan,” he whispered, a barely concealed quiver to his lips. “It cannot change anything.”

The silence seemed to stretch forever and beyond as he waited for her judgment, for her grief and anger to wash over him, and she could see him steel himself.

Lyssa just looked at him, reading all the things he didn’t say in his posture and face, in the shimmer in his eyes and the slight movement of his fingers.

“I know,” she finally answered before she took a step towards him and took his face into her hands. “I know.” Leaning her forehead against his, she sighed, their breath mingling. “But I had to try. And you had a right to know.”

A shudder ran over him, and then his hands touched her waist, carefully, unsure of himself, of her. When she didn’t shy away from his touch, they wandered to her back, pulling her close. Their kiss was soft, lingering, whispered endearments passed from tongue to tongue without sound, just lips, and breath, and love. Lyssa didn’t close her eyes, didn’t dare to. As if he could disappear the moment she did.

Time was fickle, and more so in the Fade, and what should have lasted an eternity was gone in a second.

When he let go of her, slow as it was, she knew their stolen moment was over again. But before he left, she held him back, her fingers closing tightly around hers.

“Solas,” Lyssa whispered, her voice plea and question in one.

Solas looked at her, the tiny hesitation enough to encourage her.

“His name is Nerian,” she told him, and a shuddering breath left him. He pressed his lips together, closing his eyes for a moment, and she knew that whatever he wanted to say, whatever he wished for with all of his heart, he put away again as the shadow on the wall changed into that of a giant wolf.

“I’m not giving up on you,” Lyssa said, and the smile he gave her was enough to give her back some hope, desperate as it was.

“Thank you,” Solas said, touching her cheek for a last time.

Wake up.

[feralrosie]

Six Sentence Sunday

Tagged by @faerieavalon, thank you! I’ve finally started working on my longfic for my Dragon Age ocs, so I do wanna share some parts.

Tagging some people who I know have something going on, but of couse it’s just a game @madamsnark @angstofdestiny @zevranstattoos 

From my yet untitled WIP 

“Eryn, welcome. Please take a seat, I would like to introduce you to someone.” started the First Enchanter, not making much of a ceremony on the matter, “This is Veela Surana, she just arrived at our Circle. She will be at your mentoring for now”

It was only when Eryn got to one of the two large armchairs in front of Irving’s desk that she noticed someone else already there. A young elven girl with bright ginger hair and tattoos all over her forehead and cheekbones was sitting grumpy-faced, staring at her own knees.

Thank you again for tagging me, it actually inspired me to work a lil bit more on this first chapter ❤

[roseategales]

For Eludysia/Solas: What was your Inquisitor’s first impression of their partner? What was their partner’s first impression of them? How did your Inquisitor react to the gossip about their relationship, if there was any? Does your Inquisitor regret anything about their relationship with Solas? What do they wish they could tell him?

INQUISITOR + ROMANCED COMPANION ASKS.

thank you for sending this in! both of the solas questions were answered here.

1. what was your inquisitor’s first impression of their partner? what was their partner’s first impression of them?

eludysia’s and solas’ relationship started as one founded on pragmatism. she needed to know more about the fade and the magic that literally landed in her palm, he needed to right his wrongs and find out if the woman dubbed divinely chosen would abuse her power. naturally, her first impression of him was that he was a knowledgeable man and a skilled orator, commendable for lending his expertise under such trying circumstances. his first impression of her was that she was driven, inquisitive, and surprisingly solicitous about others, though she could be cautious and deflective if she felt the need. it’s only a little later that they see how prideful each other can be. solas calling the dalish children and eludysia deciding it wasn’t worth the time arguing with someone who suddenly picks a fight and all that.

9. how did your inquisitor react to the gossip about their relationship, if there was any?

there was gossip before eludysia and solas were even officially together (although, according to josephine, there was gossip pairing her with almost everyone, since undertaking the role of inquisitor.) her initial reaction was concern. concern for solas, concern for the inquisition and what it would mean to thedas. two elves, mages in addition, would not make for kind conversation. when solas expresses that same concern for her, though, her worries melt away. they learn to ignore the gossip, then embrace and use it.

[allisondraste]

10. what’s a line of dialogue you’re particularly proud of?

Hi there!! Thank you for the ask  I appreciate it. ^.^

This isn’t exactly one  line, but it makes more sense all together.  It’s some slightly drunk Solas being savage in this work. “Do tell me how you intend on showing the Inquisitor her place,” he said sharply, placing an arm protectively between Niamh and the drunken man, forcing him to release his grip on her chin, “If you have the vocabulary.”

“You dare insult my intelligence,” the man shouted as he recoiled from Solas, drawing the eyes a a few bystanders, “You have no idea who you are dealing with!”

“Clearly, I am dealing with someone foolish enough to assault  someone with powerful ties to the Chantry and more than a few powerful people in Orlais and Ferelden,” Solas replied “I am not insulting your intelligence; I am simply describing it.”

[johaerys-writes]

Thank you for the tag @noire-pandora! This is so fun :D

When you get this, reply with your favourite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love.

I'm going to try and list only one shots or works of mine that are finished and not one my main updating fics, even though I love those dearly too. I'll also be listing one fic per fandom, because I'm in quite a few now, haha (Patroclus and Achilles get two because they are best boys)

1. Fall Into Your Tide (TSOA, Patroclus/Achilles, Gen)

This one is so sweet and summery and always reminds me of the sea, and merman!Achilles and sailor!Patroclus live in my head rent free. I'm so soft for them 🥺

2. The Stars Will Guide Us Home (TSOA, Patroclus/Achilles, Modern AU, E)

This is one of my absolute faves, and one I keep going back to more than a year after posting. I poured so much of my heart in it and I still get emotional whenever I reread it, and I WROTE the damn thing lol. It's just one of those fics that will always be important to me.

3. Enchanted (DA, Dorian Pavus/Tristan Trevelyan, E)

This was incredibly fun to write, it was an idea I'd had for a while and was so happy to finally put it into words! Plus, writing these two falling in love all over again in a different AU was SO satisfying and emotional. All that yearning and sweeeet, sweet angst 👌

4. If The Stars Align (Voltron:Legendary Defender, Shiro/Keith, E)

This was my first earnest foray into writing Sheith even though I've been a fan for a year or so, and I enjoyed it SO much!! It's angsty and emotional and (very) smutty, it's pretty much my current ultimate hurt/comfort fic and was very cathartic to write.

5. Where Blood Roses Bloom (Castlevania, Trephacard and Lenector, E)

This is the only work in progress on this list, but it's by far my favourite CV fic I've written so far. It's got a lot of the things I wish I'd seen in s4 (basically, ALL the cuddles and h/c for my boy Alucard, and a deeper exploration of Hector and Lenore's relationship) and I've had so much fun working on it. It also feels like some of the most personal writing I've done and it just has a special place in my heart.

Tagging forth to @in-arlathan @midnightprelude @mogwaei @serial-chillr @faerieavalon @pikapeppa @pinkfadespirit @tevivinter @dafan7711 @hexcore-juggler @juliafied @aymayzing @inquisitoracorn @glimmerofgold and anyone else who would like to share!

[in-arlathan]

WIP Wednesday

@midnightprelude tagged me for Six Sentence Sunday but since I was already too late to post on the weekend, I decided to do another WIP Wednesday instead.

Last week has been a right shitshow on my end. I had an accident on Tuesday that included a short trips to the hospital and a couple of days in bed afterwards. In other words: There was not much time to write. But once Sunday rolled around, I was able to focus enough to start working on Chapter 1 of "The Rebel's Ruin".

So here are the first few paragraphs of that chapter. This fic will have OCs en masse, gosh darn. Please bear with me! XD

“I don’t understand. They should be here by now.”

Felani lowered her looking glass and drew in a long breath. The air was hot and stale, thick with the scent of dying grass. Summer had claimed the steppe earlier than usual, burning away all traces of humidity. The bushes withered, and the grasses turned brown under a scorching sun. 

No wonder the People had started to call this part of the empire Suin’duralas – the Silent Plains. There was no movement whatsoever in the vast expanse of grassland that stretched out before her. Even the animals had fled to find water and sustenance elsewhere.

Ninaise pushed herself up on her elbows and looked at Felani. “What do we do now?”

And that's all I got for you today.

Tagging forward to @mogwaei, @johaerys-writes, @serial-chillr, @faerieavalon, @noire-pandora, @yolebrat, @musetta3, @baejax-the-great, @dreadfutures, @pinkfadespirit, @starsandskies. Feel free to join in or skip. As always, I'm happy to see your WIPs on my dash.

Take care everyone. <3

[fiadhaisteach]

Things I’ve Read This Week* - 2021.12.18

🎊100th TIRTW!!!🎊

...and last TIRTW*, but not last TIRTW. 😝

The weekly TIRTW* posts have been starting to feel more like a chore, rather than fun, so I think I'm going to switch to a more "standard" recommendation style posting. I've been getting better at commenting, which I think will help, and I'm not going to pressure myself to post something every week, which will definitely help.    🔸 If anyone wants to suggest themes, I'm certainly open to those and my ask box is open.

New Stories

Dalishious Elvhen Dictionary by dalishious (@dalishious) - Elvhen Dictionary - 3,628 words - WIP

Rereads

Unwritten by UnrealRomance - Solas/MGiT - 390,434 words - WIP

TheFall of Arlathan by Psalacanthea (@psalacanthea) - Solas/F!Lavellan - 38,525 words - HSE WIP (I did read my favorite bits of Schooling Pride too, but didn't have the emotional capacity for the full angstfest 😊)

Tumblr (re)Reads

😈 Claim prompt by @rosella-writes - Solas/F!Lavellan

Subscription Updates

Love Comes Home, Wolf's Pride by jasna - Solas/F!Lavellan (Ch. 18)

Wicked Things, What a Wicked Game to Play by Cracking Lamb (@crackinglamb) - Solas/MGiT (Ch. 69-70)

Love's Worth Running To, Love Run by JessTalksAlot (@jessitasquirrel) - Solas/F!Lavellan, background Iron Bull/M!Lavellan (Ch. 22)

Ma Ghilana Mir Bellanaris, Dir'vhen'an by oxygenforthewicked (@oxygenforthewicked) - Solas/NB!Lavellan (Ch. 22)

Chasing Ghosts, Heirloom by WickedWitchoftheWilds (@wickedwitchofthewilds​​) - Solas/OFC (Ch. 11)

She's Lived a Good Life by Kinako - MCiT (Ch. 31-32)

Kintsugi, Fragile World by angelslaugh (@skyerie) - {Solas/F!Lavellan, Felassan/F!Lavellan, F!Lavellan/TBD} (Ch. 27-28)

Eunoia by RosellaWrites (@rosella-writes) - Solas/F!Lavellan (Ch. 18)

Elvhenan: Tales from the Elven Empire, The Rise & Fall of Fen'Harel, The Rebel's Ascension by InArlathan (@in-arlathan) - Solas/OFC (Ch. 25)

Dreams, In Waking Dreams by AParisianShakespearean (@a-shakespearean-in-paris) - Cullen/F!Trevelyan (Ch. 93)

Vena Eolas: The Journey of an Elvhen Spirit, Sule Tael Tasalal - Until We Meet Again by faerieavalon (@faerieavalon) - {Solas/OFC, Felassan/OFC, Solas & Felassan}, past Abelas/OFC (Ch. 70)

Into the Cosmos, Into the Chaos by Pakhet (@shiver-the-tiefling) - {MGiT~MBiT, Solas/MGiT, Solas~MBiT} (Ch. 83)

Dissonant Verses, Dread Wolf Guide Us by Alexis_Trvlyn (@itsalexistrvlyn) - Solas/F!Lavellan (Ch. 17)

A Whole New World by RogueLioness (@roguelioness) - Solas/MGiT (Ch. 143)

» side note - multiple chapters may mean multiple updates; or might just be me refreshing my memory, reorienting myself in the story, or rereading some for fun.

*TIRTW & can recommend (previous weeks & TIRTW Key/Legend)

[oftachancer]

Ao3 Questions

Tagged by @midnightprelude and @johaeryslavellan - my two trusty co-writers; thank you for the tags! And tagging on @onionjuggler @fandomn00blr  @dismalzelenka @blarrghe @faerieavalon @in-arlathan @suliswrites @leafylost @serial-chillr @tessa1972 anyone else who would like to do this!

How many works do you have on Ao3?

32

What’s your total Ao3 wordcount?

924,518

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

tell the angels (DAI, Part two of my Here In This Moment series following my Inquisitor Aran Trevelyan) - 56

it’s the promise you made (DAI, Part one of Here In This Moment) - 55

watching you (DAI, Part 3 of Here In This Moment) - 51

Underneath the Bough (DA AU, Victorian AU, Dorian/Anders/ OC Almila, co-wrote with @midnightprelude) - 42

I... I am (DAI, Part 4 of Here In This Moment) - 37

Pour Forth Thy Soul In Ecstasy (DA AU, Dorian/Ril origin story, co-wrote with @midnightprelude​) - 29

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Honestly, not as much as I should. I spend so much time writing that I let a lot of the social aspect of things fall by the wayside. Fortunately, I co-write everything except my own little series, and my co-writers are phenomenal communicators who make up for my introversion. I do go through batches at a time and try to answer people when I can think of anything relevant to respond with; sometimes that takes me a while..... But I really appreciate comments! Even if they’re just little “adiubasuidgaibda”. :)

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Ummmmm...... Hmmm. They mostly all have angsty beginnings..... Maybe Pour Forth Thy Soul in Ecstasy. Or Crash (still being posted, but finished writing). 

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

By The Earnest Stars has a nice ending (spoilers, finished writing, not finished posting). Excess of Joy Would Wake Me is a sweet ending to a one-shot (I actually have accomplished a COUPLE of those!) 

Do you write crossovers? If so, what is the craziest one you’ve written?

I have a few crossovers in the works and mixed into Here In This Moment into other writers’ Dragon Age universes, especially in my continuing series “travels in time” which deals with my time/world hopping Inquisitor. 

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Hmm. Nope. No hate. And there have been a few things I’ve written where I was a little worried about it, honestly, because I write pretty viscerally about things. But. Yeah. No hate. Just love or silence and some thoughtful constructive criticism. 

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yup! All kinds! Mostly M/M, but also M/F and F/F. Lots of kinks, lots of play, all consensual except for one scene for one specific reason and I labeled the heck out of it. 

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not as far as I know.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! Many! Lots! Love it! Finding a rhythm with another writer is so fulfilling and I really love it. 

What’s your all time favourite ship?

.......Oof. I mean. Honestly, my favorite ship at any given moment is the one that I’m writing if the flow is good. If I’m looking up fics to read, I usually look for Dorian-centric stories. 

What’s a WIP you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

travels in time. I have it all plotted out, but there’s years of it and I’m beginning to think it might be better not to show everything that happened in the missing time interim. Mystery is more interesting. However, if you read it and there’s a particular part of the journey that you’d like to see detailed, let me know. :) 

What are your writing strengths?

Does tenacity count? I’ve been told that I have a knack for creating visceral scenes that evoke the feelings of the characters for the readers really strongly and that is my goal. To bring the reader into the scene. I love sinking deep into a point of view and focusing on the particular lens of the narrator. I also really love building out the bare structures of largely sketched in canon characters, like Rilienus and Karl Thekla. 

What are your writing weaknesses?

One-shots. Getting to the point quickly. Fight scenes - I hate writing them. Arguments, I love, but action sequences are really difficult for me for some reason. Apparently they actually turn out pretty well? But I find them very stressful to build. 

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I do it. I like it. I like reading it. There are some images and ideas that are communicated better in other languages. And when there are characters switching between languages for the sake of privacy/community/shared history/etc, I find it more satisfying to allow them to actually switch languages rather than continuing to point out when they are and are not speaking in a language that might be understood by those around them. I use Polish for Nevarran, French for Orlesian, and Latin for Tevene. I also use the much debated Elvhen Lexicon, in conjunction with other Dalish sources online. 

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995). That’s right! I was and still am a hardcore Trowa/Quatre shipper and I refuse to feel bad about it. My first poly-triad fix was Duo/Trowa/Quatre and it got a lot of good feedback on Livejournal (remember that, back in the day?) and that was before poly was a thing people actually talked about. Still proud of that.

What’s your favourite fic you’ve written?

I cannot possibly answer this adequately. I’m proud of them all in different ways. The series Everything Will Be Okay that I’ve written with @johaeryslavellan has the most original characters and is a modern AU and is basically just our own world with touches of Thedas along the edges and I’m really proud of the relationship between the two original characters; it’s very real and unique and strange and fun and painful. I’m also really proud of Pour Forth Thy Soul In Ecstasy, which I wrote with @midnightprelude, because I feel like we really just caught the sail of what the Tevinter Imperium is like and absorbed and explored that world really well from a single setting, and also we did some killer magic exploration that is still really fun to re-read. And solo-wise, I’m still the most proud of “my window through which nothing hides” which is pure, unadulterated smut from Cole’s POV and I had so much fun working through how he would interpret physical sensation and living in his brain and body for a minute. 

[mogwaei]

@faerieavalon OH MY POOR HEART I'M DEAAAADDD you nailed Maori's character omg.... I'm tearing up here! I am so in love with Ara'lan's kindness and wanting to teach Maori how to actually be...just be. She's never danced or enjoyed luxuries, she hasn't known kindness nor friends...and the lute is so bittersweet but she would absolutely sit with Ara'lan and teach her, to replace bad memories with happier ones. Gods and the liquor is such a Maori trap i can't even XD

FLOWER CROWNS AND SWEETROLLS MAORI JOIN HER ALREADY JFC

Thank you for writing this @faerieavalon. It's so beautiful(😭)and I can just feel the warmth and tinge of sadness in the setting. Gods I'm so weak for Ara'lan's gentle nature, coaxing my rough little mage out of hiding. *ugly sobbing in elven* ILY THANK YOU SO MUCH I'll stop rambling now hahaha❤❤

So I’ve always had this thought that Maodrid and Ara'lan could have almost met once. But since they didn’t have an AU idea where worlds cross just enough.

——————————–

The cross beams above her head creaked and she smiled. Her visitor made no other sound but she knew she was there. Ara’lan pulled the shutters closed over the windows and latched the door as she would any other night. Humming softly under her breath, she poured a second glass of thick, amber liquid and set it, and the bottle, across the table before taking her seat. The fire in the hearth kicked up slightly with a wave of her hand, bathing the room with a soft glow and warmth. 

“Could you imagine that you would ever look back and think that life was simple once?” She laughed softly and shook her head. “It was for me. I had that luxury. When Mythal tired of my presence I was permitted to live as I saw fit. I naturally attracted many of your compatriots, brothers and sisters in arms, but never you. So independent, so committed to your path, you did not find the need for rest or healing at my door. I wish you had.”

Ara’lan lifted her drink to her lips, sipping the potent liquor slowly. Her face twisted slightly, grimacing at the burn as it raced down her throat.

“I was never strong like you. Or nearly as brave. My purpose was to inspire. To give hope when it was presumed lost. So that is what I would offer you then. A place to rest. Remind you of the good things you fight to save.” She giggled. “Like flower crowns and sweet rolls.”

The beams creaked again, this time closer than before. Ara’lan sat and stared at the fire, sipping her drink until it stopped. 

“I would offer it still, if you ever have the need. We can drink and compare Wolves and men that never listen or tell stories no one else would believe. Or say nothing at all. I would teach you how to dance outside of combat. You might show me how to play the lute.”

Ara’lan shook her head and rose from the table. She left her empty glass on the table with the untouched one. One quick glance up let her see the shift of fabric just on the edge of shadows. Her guest remained silent.

“You have a great burden, lethal’lan. Running straight into the fire, dancing from the dark. Should you need a reminder of why you fight, I will be here.” She laughed softly. “An'eth'ara bellanaris, asa'ma'lin. What is mine is yours. Just remember to lock up before you leave.”

[johaerys-writes]

WIP Wednesday

I've been tagged most recently by @noire-pandora and @faerieavalon, thank you! Always great to see what you've been working on ❤

Some of you may have already noticed, but I've fallen in love with some space boys (namely, Shiro and Keith from Voltron: Legendary Defender) and they're all I've been able to think and write about over the past few weeks. The following excerpt is from one of the fics I've been writing for the @shirosaveskeith week, which is almost here and I'm SO excited:

“I have an important mission coming up soon," Keith says. "I’ll probably be off the grid for a while.”

“What sort of mission?”

"Intel gathering, mostly.” Keith shifts in his chair, fidgets with the hilt of his blade. “I'll tell you the specifics once it's all done." 

“I see,” Shiro says quietly. He follows Keith’s movements as he sits up, preparing to leave, and something within him withers. 

When will I see you again? he wants to say, but he bites the words back. It somehow doesn’t seem appropriate right now to ask; if anything, it’s a little desperate, a little self-centred. Keith has a lot on his plate, and so does Shiro. Whatever pockets of free time they both have, crammed in between missions and meetings and training, are miniscule as it is, and this is no time to get sentimental. Saving the universe is a full time job, after all. 

Keith leans forward, reaching for the button to end the call, when Shiro speaks up. 

“Keith?”

He blinks, hesitates. Something kindles in his eyes, fleetingly; almost like hope. “Yeah?”

“Just… Be careful out there. Okay?”

“I will." The slow smile that blossoms on his lips is fond. “You take care of yourself too, old timer.”

Shiro chuckles softly as the screen goes dark, then disappears. For a while after, he just stands there, playing the last few minutes of their conversation in a loop in his mind. It’s as if he wants to relive it, to savour it, to soak it all in. 

He doesn’t know how long it’ll be until he hears Keith's voice again.

Shiro’s steps ring hollowly in the empty room when he turns to leave. Allura must already be waiting for him to go over the plans for the new coalition. Keith’s words linger, gentle and meandering through his thoughts, like foam-lipped eddies formed by swift currents, as he makes his way to the bridge.  

There is a lot to be done.  

Tagging forth to (no pressure, as always) @in-arlathan, @elveny , @inquisitoracorn , @mogwaei @serial-chillr @dafan7711 @hexcore-juggler @tessa1972 @tevivinter and anyone who'd like to share their work!

[fiadhaisteach]

WIP Wednesday

tagged by @oxygenforthewicked​ & @noire-pandora​

I mixed up WAY too much black resin for the jawbone mold and had to scramble to figure out what else I could make with the leftover. 😝

tagging: @himluv​, @mogwaei​, @queenaeducan​, @sidhelives​, @elvensemi​, @dreadfutures​, @rosella-writes​, @jessitasquirrel​, @serial-chillr​, @faerieavalon​, @bubble-bones​, @psalacanthea​, & @mrfancyfoot​