#fourthage fic

[fourthage]

fic stat game

Rules: Give us the links to your fic with the most hits, second most kudos, third most comments, fourth most bookmarks, fifth most words, and fic with the least words.

I saw all of the posts about the same time, so I'll consider myself tagged by @loquaciousquark , @servantofclio, and @thievinghippo

Following their lead, consider yourself tagged if you read this!

Most hits - Ugly Like a Turian It's (very light) hurt/comfort smut. Of course it's fandom's favorite.

Second most kudos - The Perks of Working Late My first explicit Mass Effect story! I'm so grateful for the original response it got on the kinkmeme. It encouraged me to no end and got me writing more in this fandom.

Third most comments - When I fall asleep it is your eyes that close My one and only soulbond fic! I've started writing the third chapter so many times. I know the part of the problem is that it's a bridge chapter and I really want to be writing what comes next instead. I'm gonna figure it out someday!

Fourth most bookmarks - Krogan Sympathy Has my favorite fade to black and my attempt at realistically addressing the issues of Shepard & Garrus starting a family and the fandom joke that they'll just adopt one of the new baby krogan. I was pleasantly surprised at how this resonated with readers.

Fifth most words - Saudade Written for a Dragon Age reverse mini-bang. I love the Hawke siblings, and indulge myself whenever I can. In this one, it's Carver's time to shine.

fic with the least words - Sign Language I've got three Naruto exactly-100-word drabbles that tie for this. I still love the Temari one the best, so I'll link that one.

[faejilly]

2020 Fic Masterpost

I started and ended the year with my beloved #7kpp, which I know doesn’t mean a lot to most of you, but the thought makes me smile. ❤ I also posted a lot of Shadowhunters, (so many fairy tale riffs), a couple bits for BioWare (including the ten-years-in-the-making finale of my Adelaide Hawke/Sebastian Vael ficlet collection), and even one entirely new-to-me fandom in a The Old Guard gift!fic. Whee!

Most of them are very short, ficlets and flash fiction, which wasn’t the goal going into this year, but... this year broke a lot of people’s plans, didn’t it? And there are some lovely words in there, (hopefully short & sweet!), so... All in all, not that terrible for a year of apocalypses.

The Old Guard

Until The Time... (Nile & Family & Music) [tumblr / ao3]

7KPP

Chaperones

Woodly/Court Lady [tumblr / ao3]

Yvette & Emmett [tumblr / ao3]

Falon & Hana [tumblr / ao3]

Hana of Jiyel

Ink-stained fingers [tumblr / ao3]

Shade [tumblr / ao3]

Theodora of Arland

Rise [tumblr / ao3]

Renown [tumblr / ao3]

Surrender [tumblr / ao3]

Hidden [tumblr / ao3]

Nathalie of Revaire

Harsh Whispers [tumblr / ao3]

Gold [tumblr / ao3]

BioWare

Dragon Age

Adelaide/Sebastian: for comfort (cuddling prompt) [tumblr / ao3]

Adelaide/Sebastian: Adored Finale [tumblr / ao3]

Merribela: Tentacletober (how many of those are there?) [tumblr / ao3]

Mass Effect

OT: Kaidan & The Beacon [tumblr / ao3]

Andromeda: F!Ryder/Jaal (Not Just Loyalty) [tumblr / ao3]

Shadowhunters

Coda-Fics/In-Universe

prequel (Jace & Izzy) [tumblr / ao3]

01x02 (Dorothea) [tumblr / ao3]

01x03 (Alec) [tumblr / ao3]

01x04 (Magnus) [tumblr / ao3]

*Trust Your Heart (01x04 Jace aftermath) [tumblr / ao3]

01x05 (Izzy) [tumblr / ao3]

03x10 (Magnus) [tumblr / ao3]

03x22 (Alec & Clary) [tumblr]

*Ashes of Angels (during the epilogue time-skip pt 1) [AO3]

*Ashes of Roses (during the epilogue time-skip pt 2) [AO3]

Psithurism (Inquisitor Lightwood-Bane) [tumblr / ao3]

Clizzy

tug-of-war [tumblr / ao3]

before the beginning [tumblr / ao3]

Pandemonium (again) [tumblr / ao3]

back-to-back [tumblr / ao3]

Criminal Minds Fusion

School Teachers [tumblr / ao3]

Star-Gazing [tumblr / ao3]

There’s Only One Bed [tumblr / ao3]

Lydia & Alec [tumblr / ao3]

Maia & “Hunt” [ao3]

Clary & “Family” (free space from bingo!) [ao3]

Misc AUs

*ask the always impossible of me (Cinderella) [ao3]

*Our Souls Inhabit (Snow White... ish) [tumblr / ao3]

a lean wind flays (Jack & the Beanstalk... even more -ish) [tumblr / ao3]

transient (Sleeping Beauty) [tumblr / ao3]

mer!Alec AU (of an AU) [tumblr / ao3]

Reticence (Persuasion AU) [tumblr / ao3]

Priest!Magnus/Demon!Alec [tumblr / ao3]

omegaverse PWP [tumblr / ao3]

Into the Labyrinth (Inception Crossover) [tumblr / ao3]

Let’s Go Steal Some... Magic? (Leverage Crossover) [tumblr / ao3]

I am for you ch 17 [tumblr / ao3]

[tigerpika]

So I came into the mass effect fandom late (all three games had been out for AWHILE) and fell right into the Shakarian feelings pit (as one does) and so went searching for fic. And I found the Shepard and Garrus go on dates series by @fourthage. And I still go back to it sometimes when I need some comfort reading and I found the author on tumblr and now we hang out on each others animal crossing islands because the internet is sometimes a wonderful place. Happy Birthday @fourthage I hope that is a great birthday even though times are strange! Check your animal crossing mailbox <3

[servantofclio]

I can't pick. Have three options! Maeve/Zevran for 25 (exchanging letters), Simon/Dorian for 30 (sharing a bath/swim), or Hawke/Varric for 6 (a kiss of relief).

These are all great options! I went with “exchanging letters” since I haven’t written about Maeve and Zevran in too long.

#

Amora,

You will call me a fool, no doubt, but I already miss you.Even as this ship speeds me across the Waking Sea, my heart still lies with youin Ferelden. When I last passed this way, I had no thought of return in mymind. It is an unexpected pleasure to taste the salt wind again.

The wind is in our favor, the captain tells us, so ourjourney will be swift, and I shall leave this in his hands for his returnjourney. I trust that all is well with you.

Your own

Zevran

You are indeed a fool, my dear. Had you left port even anhour before you started writing? To think I once thought you a hardenedassassin. Little did I know of the prince of sentimentality who lurked beneaththe surface.

I am indeed well. I have made my way to Vigil’s Keep, thoughsome complications have ensued since my arrival. Still, I have already foundsome recruits, and we have the situation well in hand. It is an ancient andimposing fortress, and I am sure I have not found half the secrets in the keep.Howe seems to have been somewhat neglecting it, no doubt as he grasped at othertitles and prizes. I think it shall do very well for the Wardens, and there isno lack of work to undertake.

Of course I miss you as well, but you need have no fear forme. Oghren is even here to take the Joining.

With love,

Maeve Surana

Carissima amora,

Complications? Do tell. Tell me a tale to while away thedull hours as I traverse the Free Marches. Traveling alone lacks the amusementof our busy campsite, though I daresay the food is better. And I cannot helpbut think there may be something of significance behind your words, beloved. Ifyou have a heart, set my mind at rest, and do not force me to worry for you.Say but the word and I shall return as quickly as I can find passage.

Oghren is with you? Maker, how shall the folk of Fereldencope?

Z

 Vhenan,

Behold, you too shall have an affectionate form of address.Of late a former Dalish Keeper has joined us, after her clan was lost, and shehelps me practice the language. It is a joy, indeed, to learn more of Dalishways, especially ways of magic. Lanaya’s clan is far away, and there are somany gems of knowledge they have that are not in any of my books.

I meant to keep you from worrying, but since you insist,there have been some very curious darkspawn attacks in this region. The hordehas broken up into scattered groups, so I expected some presence here, but theyappear rather more organized than I would have expected with no Archdemon togive them purpose. Never fear, though. My new friend Velanna is a formidablespellcaster, and we have Oghren to clear a path for us. Whatever his otherqualities, you cannot question his loyalty, and he never shirks from danger.

I found, too, when I arrived at the fortress, that an oldacquaintance from the Circle was here, and promptly conscripted him before thetemplars could take him off. Anders is older than I, and was always in troublein the Circle, but he tutored me for a little time when I was younger, and I amglad to give him a refuge now.

Nathaniel Howe, an archer, rounds out our party for now, andVigil’s Keep is coming to life again. I have even managed to lure Wade up herefrom Denerim to see to our equipment. We shall get to the bottom of thesepeculiar darkspawn, never fear. So let your worry ease, my love, and trust thatall shall be managed. When you return, you shall find me well and safe and ladyof the castle, as the folk hereabouts learn to follow us. In the meantime, youmust keep yourself safe in your turn.

I have kissed this letter for you; carry it with you andthink of me.

M

 Mi amora,

Not that I doubt your wit or sagacity for a moment, but areyou sure it is wise to keep your enemy’s son at your side? As for the rest, Iam glad you have found able companions.

Darkspawn, eh. I had hoped we were rid of the ‘spawn afterall we did. What sort of peculiar are these, exactly? I have seen none in theMarches, and I suppose they did not make their way so far north. A fool at atavern proclaimed that it was no true Blight at all. I corrected his ignorance.These people have no idea how lucky they are, nor how much they owe you, mybrilliant beloved. As for me, I am making my way to Antiva, as I believe areckoning is owed to certain individuals.

I think of you always, as you know.

Z

 Beloved Zevran,

I don’t know, my dear, it is wise to keep an assassin swornto kill me at my side? As many would call me foolish for that, surely.

I am afraid I have not much time to write of late. Besidesthe whole matter of the darkspawn, the local folk have begun bringing us casesfor judgment, and we have also needed to root out some of Howe’s oldsupporters. The younger Howe proved invaluable in this.

I was glad to accept Vigil’s Keep for the Wardens, but as itturns out, I had not thought enough about how to be lord. I encountered littlein the Circle to help me learn how to judge ordinary people’s affairs in thatway. I have done what I could, but I am not always certain that I made thecorrect judgment.

Another kiss, my love, and I trust you will take care ofyourself.

Your

Maeve

 Amora,

A palpable touch! I bow to your wisdom. If you trust thisHowe, I shall trust you. And may I say that I have no doubts about your abilityto pass a fair judgment? You have come far since your days in the Circle, andhave seen somewhat of the world. Call me partial if you must, but there arenone so clever and prudent as you.

I am quite charmed to imagine you sitting as lady of themanor, in fact. In a fine chair, perhaps, wearing robes of judgment. Quite afetching image – one day soon we shall be reunited and I can admire you in fullglory – until then I must distract myself with my imaginings.

In love and faith,

Z.

 Amora,

I cannot but notice I have had no letter from you in sometime, unless perhaps one is on its way and shall cross this missive in itspath. Do send to me when you can; Antiva grows dull without you, and I long forsome word from you to provide diversion. I cannot imagine that even the mostpeculiar of darkspawn would challenge you for long.

Z.

 My love,

Apologies for my delayed reply. The tale is too complex forone letter; suffice it to say that both the fortress and the city were attackedunexpectedly. I am unhurt, though I cannot say as much for all under myprotection. Though we fended off the attack, I am left with as many questionsas answers.

I apologize again for my brevity, but there are many demandson my attention. I shall write again as soon as I may.

With all my love,

M

 Amora,

No need; I am on my way.

Z.

[tarysande]

Something Right

A drabble (a genuine 100-word drabble!) for @fourthage <3

#

Shepard knows Garrus’ intensity well. He sees details through a scope, magnified, waiting for the perfect shot; a sniper in his bones.

Somehow, she’s still caught off-guard when his attention—implacable, fervent, devoted—turns to her.

Something right. Just once.

Tongue against the pulse of her throat. Long-fingered hands encircling her waist. Eyes fixed on hers as he enters her. The hitch of his breath betrays how much control it takes to remain still, to wait.

She rolls her hips. Something. Catches his groan on her lips. Right. Doesn’t look away.

She is a sniper too, after all.

[miceenscene]

Do you have any fic recommendations? Any fandom or length :O

DO I???

(Actually I have too many for just one post so I've gone through my Ao3 bookmarks and selected a few. And I think all of these are one shots. Love me some short stories.)

Shakarian

Rest Easy by showmeyourtardis [Garrus and Shepard sleep together but in the literal sense and oh my god it's everything i ever wanted]

The Eve Of by @theherocomplex [I feel like of all of hero's truly phenomenal canon, this one gets slept on. but it's got killer prose and i'm a TOTAL sucker for Garrus' 'oh. oh.' moment]

Not a Lot of Money by Skeli [Nervous Garrus is Best Garrus and everyone can FIGHT ME on that]

Krogan Sympathy by @fourthage [this is just... GOD. i've never loved Wrex more in a fic than I do this one. also like, i'd kill for a follow up chapter, i know the story is done but I love this idea so MUCH.]

right here, with me by Sasskarian [Garrus and Shep nearly get together before she dies the first time and it will crush your heart into a million tiny pieces and you'll be GRATEFUL]

Stardew Valley

Case History (series) by @loversandantiheroes [Do you want to fall in love with a heart-wrenchingly sweet doctor man and also read some of the best smut ever? Look No Further! It's just a delight to read and may awaken somethings in you fair warning]

Try, Try Again by lordy_lou [Time is a flat-circle and the farmer is both villain and victim--but make it romance. It's just mmmmmmmm.]

Mandalorian

you were my new dream (and you were mine) by @keeper0fthestars [prose goals. also romance goals. and just a little bit of bitter at the start to make the sweet sweet ending absolutely perfect. i love this fic so much.]

Also, if I may humbly plug my own stuff here at the end:

Star-Crossed [Mandalorian, soulmate au, but like... a lil bit sad cuz it's me]

'tis the damn season [Triple Frontier, childhood friends to lovers, ...also angsty but sweet I promise]

First Contact [Shakarian, sequel to Son of Palaven, not abandoned tho it's been a minute since I updated. but i wrote a chunk yesterday, I swear!]

[queen-scribbles]

Lisa Shepard vs Batarians

Behold, a meta about Lisa I’ve long wanted to write, inspired by this post about Torfan(got kinda long for just a reblog) and motivation provided by @fourthage‘s Mass Effect giveaway. (I’m much better about finishing things when I can give it a deadline, lol)

----

Lisa is my Colonist/Ruthless Infiltrator Shep, and let me tell you, that background combo made her really interesting to play(through the first two games, at least; my computer crashed before I had a chance to import her to ME3, rip) bc she has this big, glaring problem with batarians. The tl;dr is Mindoir was deeply traumatizing and no batarian ever did enough to counter the extremely negative image she has of their race as a result. (apologies for slight stream-of-consciousness rambling, I tried to rein it in, but I think I was only partially successful >.>)

So we start, obviously, on Mindoir. Lisa’s the oldest of four with three younger brothers; Justin, Finn, and Connor, and had two best friends; Javier and Laura. Life was routine and uneventful and the only thing she cared about the larger galaxy was getting to explore it with Javi and Laura after they all graduated.

And then the batarian raid happened. Lisa didn’t see her parents die, but she did see friends die in the initial attack, as well as Laura’s dad. She had to watch Finn and his best friend(Talitha) get dragged to a shuttle. She, Javi, and Laura hid in a storage shed with their remaining younger siblings(one of Laura’s sisters was gone, too) in hopes of keeping them safe. They spent the next three days in there. They were found by a few batarian patrols, somehow managed to kill them all with bare hands and makeshift weapons(or stolen, Lisa got a pistol off one she killed), even as their own numbers got picked down, younger sibling by younger sibling, and then Laura, and then Javi, until.Lisa was the last one left, memory etched with hearing her best friends and younger brothers, brothers she’d promised her parents she’d look out for, die very terrible deaths. 

She was found by a couple soldiers from the rescuing Alliance patrol, and actually attacked them when they first came in the storage shed. They had to calm her down, and one went so far as to pull off his helmet so she could see they were human and weren’t going to hurt her. He introduced himself as Gabe and guided her out of her personal hell, both literally and figuratively. After everything she’d witnessed and heard and knew had happened to the colony, to her home, at the hands of the batarians, Lisa didn’t feel the least bit guilty for being glad the Alliance killed every last one of the slaving bastard scum they found. She’d lost everyone in the world she cared about to those monsters, she had every right to be glad they paid for it.

The soldier, Gabe, stuck with her until she’d made it back to Earth and escorted her to the foster home that had agreed to take her in. checked up on her a few times, offered to let her live with him and his roommates(another man and a woman, all three of them soldiers) if she wanted to. She took him up on that, and by the end of the third or fourth month, he was big brother and best friend rolled into one. Being on Earth meant she didn’t really have much(if any) direct interaction with batarians, but she was still working through her trauma and every time she heard them mentioned in news reports it was batarian pirates attacking a civilian vessel or batarian slavers raiding another colony--human, turian, whatever, all it did was reinforce her hostile view of them as a race.

She joined the Alliance military when she turned eighteen, feeling it was the best way to act out her gratitude of them saving her. She still missed her family and friends, of course, but she was healing and adjusting and while batarians still get her hackles up, she wouldn’t go out of her way to cause trouble with them. Largely because that would reflect badly on the Alliance, and she doesn’t want that. She proves to be an excellent soldier, tech genius, and near-unparalleled sniper, which is what gets her the rec for N-school(courtesy of Captain Anderson, who was Gabe’s CO. Gabe introduced them the day she enlisted). She excels in N-school(she’s always been the sort to thrive on challenge) and is clearly going to graduate with flying colors, so she and Gabe work it out--he’s coming for the ceremony, they each manage to get leave for the following week, they’re gonna spend time catching up and celebrating and just get to see each other face to face for the first time in... over a year. 

And then, the week before graduation, Gabe is killed rescuing a diplomat’s kid from, you guessed it, batarian pirates(he’s one of only three KIA on that mission, which doesn’t make it sting any less)..That is when they cross the point of no return in her eyes. Two separate groups of batarians are responsible for the deaths of her family twice over. Clearly this was not a “few bad individuals” thing; this is a failing of them as a people(A people who have enslaving others enshrined as part of their culture to the point of calling it discrimination when they’re not allowed to practice it). 

She is a driven, pragmatic, determined individual who wants to represent humanity and the Alliance well and so works just fine alongside every other race in Council space. She’s always willing to help, also always willing to make the hard calls to get a job done bc she learned early that people die. You can’t save everyone every time. You still try your damnedest to do it, but sometimes you can’t. And sometimes people die as a result of your decisions and you have to be able to live with that. She can. 

And then TORFAN. Well, first Elysium, and then Torfan. By this point, she’s N4, risen to Commander, and absolutely willing to push her squad however hard it takes to accomplish their goal. (In any circumstances, these just happen to hit a tad closer to home than usual) The fight through Torfan’s tunnels to the pirate base is brutal, and there are several times her men point out maybe they should turn back. But she pushes on bc their mission is to take out this group of pirates. In her mind, batarians are already a threat, given their culture of slaving, piracy, and utter disregard for life and others in general. If they get away with attempting a full-scale attack like they did on a world like Elysium, they’ll be exponentially more dangerous. So there have to be repercussions and they have to be swift and they have to be brutal and unflinching and if she’s the one who doles that out so be it. 

It costs her 3/4 of her squad, but they do it. They fight the pirates to the point of surrender and then Lisa shoots them anyway. Her mission was to eliminate the enemy, and she’s A) worried the batarians are surrendering as a show, with no intention of actually being prisoners, and B) convinced even if they did surrender, the Hedgemony would demand their return as “political prisoners” or something, with good odds they’d be released after just enough time this  “incident” will have faded from people’s memory, and she doesn’t want to risk either. So the dozen-odd surrendering batarians still.die. And while she didn’t take pleasure or satisfaction in doing it, she doesn’t regret it either. Her thought process is somewhere along the lines of “These are sadistic, murdering, slaving scumbags, who have the audacity to ask for the mercy they would never in a million years show their victims. The galaxy is better off without them.”) She doesn’t care it gets her labelled “The Butcher of Torfan” and that people look askance at her when they know her record. She got the job done, the galaxy is just that much safer, and she’s not going to lose any sleep over batarians.

She makes N7 and gets the Spectre nomination bc she pushes herself just as hard as anyone under her command, always gets the job done, and--aside from batarians--has no issue working with other races. When it comes to anyone else; turians, asari, hanar, whoever, she’s all too happy to follow Kaidan’s “jerks and saint, just like us” philosophy and judge them on an individual basis, but--and I’ve actually had her say this in fic--”If you ever find a saintly batarian, let me know and I’ll pin a medal on their chest my-damn-self”. Between what’s known of batarians as a race and culture and her own first or second hand experience, there is nothing redeeming about them in her eyes. (And it’s a very good thing she didn’t run into any during that... week after the Talitha encounter in ME1, bc she probably would have ripped them to shreds with just her bare hands and her omnitool after hearing what that poor girl went through.) She’s not going to go out of her way to gleefully/vindictively slaughter them, but she’s not feeling too charitable or sympathetic toward them, either. If I may make a cross-franchise reference, Lisa’s feeling on batarians are very similar to how Fenris feels about mages in DA2, only unlike him, she hasn’t gotten any examples they’re not all Like That(TM).

As of the end of ME2, she has not seen any evidence to counter her view of batarians, so it’s a view she’s gonna go into ME3 holding(whenever I get around to completely redoing her game), and I don’t see her changing it much at this point. It’s a flaw, and it’s one that’s going to persist probably her entire life, but it made playing her so much fun. (especially since my two previous Shepards were 98% Paragon ANGELS who are best described as bleeding hearts. xD) 

[fourthage]

I should give myself a day to sit on this, but this story is pure id and I just want it out there for other people's iddy delight too. I am cackling to myself at how unsentimental both of them are about the soul bond, and how it's going to bite Garrus in particular in the ass next chapter.

[loquaciousquark]

Today is @fourthage‘s birthday--HAPPY BIRTHDAY, darling! I think I told you recently when I went back and reread a ton of your Mass Effect stuff in a sudden binge, but glancing over the list now, I’m reminded of how much I love your Vega in The Perks of Working Late. I mean, your Shepard/Garrus stuff is always excellent and always right, especially in the mature pieces, but your Vega in this fic is funny, hot, and bewildered in a perfect storm that always, always makes me laugh. Plus, y’know, because it’s you, it’s got that perfect bittersweet characterization stinger right at the end to make it that much more perfect to go out on.

Non-smut-wise, Nothing Left But the Dying is one of my favorite Shepard introspections ever, and even though it’s short you pack so much into it that every time I read it I pick out something new. It’s just so sharp and strong and Mordin’s voice is WONDERFUL, and I love rereading it whenever I get that itch for Shepard death thoughts (more often than you’d think!)

Thank you for always sharing this stuff with us--it’s a perfect hit-the-spot read every time, no matter what I pick, and here’s to another year of reading your stuff again and again! I hope it’s wonderful for you in every way! <3<3<3

[eirstohter]

Happy birthday, dearest @fourthage 😊 Your fics were some of the first I read in the Mass Effect fandom all those years ago and they had a major part in getting me invested in the whole fandom community, because with quality content like that, how could I resist?

All you writing is excellent, but the one that still (after at least seven years and I don't know how many re-reads) stands out to me is Ugly Like a Turian. It's so vibrant and emotionally spot-on that just reading the title brings me right back into the scene.

Thank you for your writing and for being an all around excellent person and a joy to be around. I hope you have a lovely birthday, and that you feel as loved and appreciated as you deserve ❤️❤️❤️

[faejilly]

@thepalehorsevictoria replied to your post “Happy birthday! Hope you have a lovely day and get everything on your...”

It’s your birthday? Happy birthday!!!

IT IS. I AM 40 TODAY! 

@fourthage replied to your post “Happy birthday!! I hope it at least brings you decent food Thank...”

Happy birthday!

THANK YOU 😍

@jadesabre301 replied to your post “@oranges8hands replied to your post “Clizzy POV for the writing...”

RUDE

is it tho? IF YOU’VE EARNED IT?

ALSO VALID

see!

literally me this evening: [singing in my room] gonna write some sad fanfiiiiiiiiiiiiic toniiiiiiiiiiight but maybe they'll make ouuuuuuuuuuuut we'll just have to seeeeeeeeeeeeeee~

I wrote sappy fic, you are so much worse than me 

:-b <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

ilu2 💕

@ladyarrowhead replied to your post “adored”

i am so so so proud of you for finishing it! Seven Years sounds like a perfect DA2-fanfic time span, that's almost poetic! Congratulations! <3 <3

THANK YOU! 

I am still quite immensely delighted. By them and for them and also because I finished a thing! 

💖

[servantofclio]

15 with Simon and Dorian!

15 was “hope we don’t get caught kiss.”

Dorianwas not only awake for this blasted morning strategy meeting, he was actually early. This was a mark of something,though he hadn’t made up his mind what. Newfoundresponsibility? Dedication to the cause? Simply the fact that he’d fallenasleep over his books early the night before, rather than reading by magelightinto the still hours of the night?

Whatever thecause, the entire experience felt profoundly novel, as if Dorian had gone andbecome a new man, one who embraced the chill of the morning air, so long as italso brought sunshine and singing birds and all that rot.

... ah,perhaps he hadn’t entirely become a new man after all.

He was,however, early enough to catch the Inquisitor heading toward the council room,alone. Dorian’s heart quickened along with his steps ashe made to intercept him. It was a rare opportunity for a private word or two,at this early hour, with people only starting to stir and most of those awakestill at breakfast.

A week ago,even, Dorian might have held back, mindful of watchful eyes and chatteringtongues. That was before the Inquisitor had made clear what he thought of suchtalk, thoroughly discomfiting the disapproving Revered Mother. Before they’dtaken their game of flirtation a step further and lent truth to thosescurrilous rumors. Before Dorian had made so bold as to kiss the man, at last.The Inquisitor. Trevelyan. Simon, since Dorian had utterly failedat keeping his distance, no matter how good his intentions had been.

“Good morning,” Dorian sang out now, oncehe was drawing close enough for conversation.

Simon stoppedshort and turned toward Dorian, a smile already breaking over his face. “Goodmorning, yourself. I’m surprised to see you about so early.”

“I’m perfectly capable of rising early,”Dorian said haughtily.

“Far be it from me to suggest otherwise.You’re generally a quarter-hour late to morning meetings, that’s all.”

Dorian couldn’tdeny the truth of that. “I’m merely signaling my disapproval. Morning meetingsare detestable. Can’t you use your Inquisitorial authority to move all strategysessions to a civilized time like afternoon?” He waved his hand around at thegreat hall vaguely, encompassing the idea of authority.

Simonsnorted. “And ruin Josephine’s detailed dailyschedule? I wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, Cullen and Cassandra would haveconniptions.” He started off toward the council room, Dorian falling into stepbeside him.

“I knew that habit of early rising you’ddeveloped was a bad one,” Dorian said.

They passedthrough the door into the corridor, and Simon paused. “Why,Dorian, you’re not attempting to use that undue influence over me, are you?”

“And what if I were?” Dorian countered.That playful tone of voice had a deeper undercurrent, one that he’d quitehappily allow to carry him away.

“You might have to give me a better reason,”Simon said, his voice low.

For onceDorian found himself without an immediate rejoinder. They stood, side by side,Simon’s eyes warm and serious in spite of hissmile, and Dorian’s imagination was quite carried away, indeed, fueled by thememory of that kiss. He was no blushing youth, to let one kiss make him weak inthe knees, and yet it had, unleashing the storm offantasizing he’d barely been keeping in check over thelast few months. “I’m certain I can come up with a better way to spend amorning,” he retorted, a beat too late.

“Mmm.” Simon smiled, sly and full ofpromise. “I’m sure you can.”

He lookedaltogether too pleased with himself, as they started down the hall again. He’dhardly even done anything, and yet Dorian was entirely off-balance, not at allthe way he preferred things. Striking out in search of advantage, he said, “Ihad a dream about you, last night.”

Simon’ssteps faltered as he shot Dorian a quick, startled glance. “Did you now?”

“A good one,” Dorian added, satisfied withthe response. Let him not be the only one whose imagination was running out ofcontrol.

“Do tell,” Simon breathed, turning again toface Dorian.

“I would,” Dorian said — in fact he onlyhalf-remembered the dream, but what he did remember was promisingly filthy. “—but there’s this morning meeting, I hear.”

The dawning,wide-eyed outrage on Simon’s face gave Dorian all the satisfaction hecould have wished for. This was nearly worth waking early for. He smirked back,counting himself victorious.

“You’re an appalling person,” Simoninformed him.

“I’m well aware,” Dorian said. “And yet youassociate with me anyway —”

“So I do,” Simon said, and stepped in tokiss Dorian before Dorian could say another word.

The kiss wasswift and soft, rather on the chaste side, and yet Dorian’sfirst flash of thought was alarm, as Cassandra or Cullen or Josephine or anyonemight come trooping into the corridor at any moment. As if he’d sensed thethought, Simon broke it off quickly, leaving Dorian with only the barest taste.

No, thatwouldn’t do at all. Dorian leaned in before Simonhad retreated more than half a step, for a proper kiss. His heart pounded,listening with half an ear for any sign of footsteps approaching the door, buthe made it a kiss worth having anyway: deeper, lingering, a little thrillrunning down the back of his neck.

He pulledback as soon as he perceived voices growing louder. He took an entire stepback, in fact, and they both stood still, eyes fixed on each other, for thespace of a heartbeat or two. Dorian felt entirely out of clever words, and morethan a little out of breath.

Thenthe door swung open, admitting an entire cohort of Inquisitorial advisers, halfof them already debating what they were intended to be discussing for the nexthour. “There you are, Inquisitor,” Cullen calledout, and Dorian took another step back. He fell in with the tide of people asit caught up with them, and pretended not to notice Leliana’s inquisitive gaze.

[meggannn]

hi megan! ive finally been getting into dragon age since i now have access to a pc set up to play games but i was wondering if you have any recent recs for some fenris/f!hawke fic and/or authors you enjoyed reading da stuff from in general if its not too much trouble? thank u in advance and i hope u have a wonderful day!

hey sorry for the late reply!

so for recent recs, i’m afraid not, it’s been a long time since i’ve read dragon age fic consistently. i’m sure there’s lots of good stuff that’s come out since i was active in this fandom. fenris/hawke and varric/hawke are really my biggest ships and i have tons of fics saved i loved of both in my ao3 bookmarks. i went through my bookmarks for this post and so here are some fics/authors i remember really liking, with an emphasis on fenhawke

fenhawke

A Thousand Winter Mornings by aban_asaara

In Need of a Haircut by Hawkeye733 – as you can guess from the title, fenris needs a haircut, and hawke provides.

Semantics by DancingMantis – this one is cheating cause it’s unreq varric/hawke on the side from varric pov, but, still so good

Minor Chords by @theherocomplex​ (who has also written lots of fenhawke but i remember just falling in love with this fic when i first read it so it’s the one i mention here!)

Find Your Own Way Back Home by locketofyourhair – post-da2, fenris and hawke are separated. fenris reads hawke’s old journals while he doesn’t know if he’ll ever see her again.

Ivory by @spirrum​ – marriage fic

Now by srshawke – fenhawke first time

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) by magesamell – post-alone, fenris debates his relationship with hawke

Hospitality by Azzandra – hawke and her difficult relationship with leandra, and she crashes at fenris’s place for a while

hawkes and hounds by twigcollins – a series of act 1 stories pre-romance between rogue!hawke and fenris

Medela by mahuika – fenhawke kid and varania reunion fic

Getting the Picture by etamiss – m!fenhawke, fic of hawke teaching fenris to read and fenris’s polyglotism

The Company You Keep by jenny_of_oldstones – m!fenhawke, fenris and his relationship with hawke’s champion title

No Sanctuary by Bullfinch – m!fenhawke, fenris and hawke on the run post-da2, plot fic where fenris gets captured by slavers

da2 general

Sisters By Choice by @fourthage – fenhawke in the bg, but this is a fic that focuses on hawke and bethany’s relationship and i love love love it

Rosemary Bread by @todisturbtheuniverse – how fenris and donnic became friends

[tarysande]

I was tagged by @barbex! <3

1. How many works in progress do you have?

Fic-wise: A Handful of Dust, Any Four Walls, Unshaken by the Darkness, and a whole ton of prompts I really want to get to because they are awesome.

Original-fic-wise: the book (series) Nista and I are working on---and several of my own projects that have charming working titles like: Angelbook, What the Thunder Said, BeautyandtheBeastBook, RaisaBook (and RaisaBookSequel). All told, there are probably about six or seven of my own things, and at least two or three ideas that’ll probably want to be books sooner rather than later. Also, there’s a play. And maybe a screenplay I need to revisit.

2. Do you/would you write fan fiction?

Yes. (And, frankly, I kinda hope I one day write original things that make others want to write fanfic because stories.)

3. Do you prefer paper books or ebooks?

I love both. Nothing beats the tactile feel of a paper book, but the portability of ebooks is a boon to someone who moves as much as I do/have done. You’ll find no snobbery here.

4. When did you start writing?

According to my mother, as soon as I figured out words. I wrote my first novel at 11, though, and have been pretty single-minded about writing since then.

5. Do you have someone you trust that you share your work with?

A few, yes. Most have different functions. When I’m feeling shitty about my work, I have the friend who’ll give me positive cheerleading. Other friends, I trust to tell me where the holes are. Some are great sounding boards. I used to be much more precious about sharing my work, but honestly? Writing is telling stories. Some people will love them, some won’t. Learning how to take (and process) feedback is a pretty vital part of writing. Also, sharing gets easier the more you do it. So does criticism. So does editing.

6. Where is your favorite place to write?

I don’t know that I have a specific place. I have a home office that’s very me, these days, but I also love coffee shops and getting out of my own comfort zones, especially when I’m feeling stuck.

7. Favorite book as a child?

It’s probably a toss-up between O.R. Melling’s The Singing Stone and Robin McKinley’s Beauty. 

8. Writing for fun or publication?

Both---but I could never focus on publication to the exclusion of fun. Fun has to be part of it, or I’d go do some other job with much, much, much higher financial returns on the amount of effort necessary.

9. Have you taken any writing classes?

Some, yes. I had some really great, formative experiences in my teenage years. Took a few formal classes in university (mostly screenplay-related). I’ve read quite a few books. I think classes are great for collecting tools, but have no interest in listening to people claim they have all the answers (or that story/genre X is Good and story/genre Y is Bad).

One day, I’d like to run a sort of class/mentorship program, I think. Partly to share tools, partly to give support, partly to address some of the psychology behind writing.

10. What inspired you to write?

As long as I’ve been conscious of the existence of stories, I’ve wanted to tell them. I was the kid on the block who spun elaborate ghost stories (complete with seances and supplementary material). I was the kid who involved her siblings (and anyone else she could rope into it) in plays she wrote and starred in and directed and costumed. I’ve always written novels. I’ve often tried to include friends in the creation of stories. In my bones, I am a storyteller. It’s who I am.

As for what inspires me now, I pluck inspiration from all sorts of things and all sorts of places. A resonant line of a song. An image. Dreams. Movies and TV shows and video games and books (for fannish things, obviously). There are stories everywhere. Things I’m passionate about: great characters, psychology, love, found families, mythology, magic, great arcs, things that make me feel.

tagging: @dearophelia, @faejilly, @fourthage, @thornhands, @ferociousqueak, @paxveraque... if you want. Or anyone else, if you want <3

[daremixfest]

Remix Masterlist

The DA Remix Fest was a huge success, far beyond anything the mods anticipated when we started it. Thank you to the ~20 talented authors who participated, both for creating your amazing remixes and for offering up your fanfic for remixing. It was wonderful seeing what you created... and getting introduced to new-to-us existing fic along the way. 

The fest produced 30 wonderful remixes, and in case you missed any of them over the packed two-week posting window, we’ve gathered them all up into this handy alphabetical list, presented below a cut for the sake of dash scrolling. 

Afterimage by celeritassagittae

Alchemy by trulycertain

At Dawn by anonymous

Better than Fiction by thewindysideofcare

But, there, the silver answer rang by celeritassagittae

Candid by celeritassagittae

crown her in flowers (over and over) by chocochipbiscuit

Decorum and Grace by cherieofthedragons

Easy as Breathing by fireferns

Heart’s Shelter by cherieofthedragons

Immolation by aphreal42

keep your heart close to the ground by trulycertain

A Larger Rift by fourthage

The Light of the Sun by sqbr

Living is Harder by aphreal42

A love letter written on skin by chocochipbiscuit

A Merchant’s Tale by crisontumblr

Mr. and Mrs. Tabris by celeritassagittae

an ocean away by aphreal42

Opportunities Insufficiently Guarded by skogrr

Push and Pull by lavalampelfchild

Riding the Veilstorm by celeritassagittae

The Right Thing by trulycertain

Sans Voir by celeritassagittae

Some Kind of Courtship by fanfoolishness

To feel, still seeing by hornkerling

to the sea by elfroots420

While Away the Hours by lavalampelfchild

Wise Enough Not To by aphreal42

Worthy of Poetry by h1bernate

[tarysande]

A lot of the well-knowns who write great fic are pretty well-represented when you sort by kudos, like @servantofclio @madamebadger, @fistfulofgammarays damalur, anonymous_moose (who is @mystery-moose, here), @theherocomplex. HOWEVER, there are some authors whose amazingness is not reflected in kudos count. Off the top of my head, @w0rdinista @dearophelia (openended on AO3) @todisturbtheuniverse @loquaciousquark @fourthage.  I’m definitely forgetting people. There’s a lot of great fic out there for Mass Effect (and for Shepard/Garrus in particular).

Oh! You might recognize @orchidcactus from Lucifer, actually (I knew her originally from Mass Effect!) ((Please come back, darling, we miss you!!))

I haven’t been reading much in the fandom recently, so doubtless some new names and faces have popped up. My tara recs things she likes tag has lots of Mass Effect. I’ve written a lot of fic about the same Shepard, which is listed by mostly-accurate continuity here.

also i started playing mass effect for the very first time which is something i blame completely on @tarysande and the video game chat on discord