#he's going to romance zev

[eurydia]

fake romance scenes (3/?) - Zevlor, pt. 2

context

(let's pretend Tav has Cure Wounds/some healing touch spell and Zev can't cast it on himself in this case, lol). I hc if Zevlor can be part of your team, he's the kind of person who's always worrying about everyone else except himself 🥺

I also just love drawing him getting comforted and loved!! he deserves it and more ❤️

[communistfries]

Up at 3 am overanalyzing video game characters

[deliriousreverie]

“I want HoF to come back in DA:V!"

Where I want my HoF to be (also with Zevran because he romanced him):

Tbh I still wish the devs gave us some info about what our HoF could be doing but I'm going to be optimistic and take it as them wanted us to make up our own headcanons🥲

Also Zev's in Antiva because the crows are tired of him+have better things to do than keep hunting him-

+a zoom on Zev because I think he looks good here>:)

[dark-and-kawaii]

⋆｡˚୨୧ A New Beginning ୨୧˚｡⋆

Summary: Zevlor races to be there for the birth of his son. But as the night continues, he’s summoned into the grand throne room where the Queen demands his presence… Only to be met with a decision that will forever change him… And as he walks through the dimly lit corridors, back to his beloved and newborn son… his hands were stained with blood, dark and sticky… Each step heavy with the weight of what he had just done…

₊˚⊹♡ Pairing: Zevlo x F!Tav/OFC

₊˚⊹♡ Content: Angst - Pregnancy - Dadlor - Character Death - Aradin - Comfort - Hurt/Comfort - Zevlor Embraces The Darkness That Lurks Within Him - Zevlor Is The Best Partner xoxo - Protecting - Romance - True Love

₊˚⊹♡ Notes: Do you enjoy angst? Love reading about true love? What about a hot tiefling man protecting you!? Look no further!!!! Bahaha I’ve been working on this for so long and it’s finally done!!! I hope you all enjoy this <33

PRT 1

Each hoofbeat was a relentless reminder of his failure to be there when Lofn needed him most. Guilt gnawed at him, like a ravenous beast devouring his thoughts. He urged the horse onward, whispering desperate prayers into the wind, pleading for her safety.

As the castle loomed before him, swiftly growing in size, Zevlor leapt from the horse, sprinting up the steps and through the grand entrance. 

Inside, beyond their private chamber doors, the air was heavy with anxiety- eerily silent as the servants surrounded Lofn. Their faces etched with concern, “Breathe, my Princess,” one urged, but Lofn could hardly hear over the pounding of her heart. Each contraction felt like a raging fire inside her, a tempest of hope and fear... She had dreamed of this moment, of holding her son... Yet now it felt like the gods- like Asgorath was playing a cruel trick. Clutching her stomach, she doubled over, sweat clinging to her brow just as her sharp cry shattered the silence.

Zevlor's ears rang, a piercing scream tore through the air, sharp and anguished... The sound made his blood run cold, frozen over like Cania... Slicing through his heart like a blade... It was her voice... “Lofn,” he choked, his voice little more than a whisper.

A bellowing roar echoed just outside the castle walls seconds after Lofn's scream. Aetherion, Lofn's precious dragon, sensed her distress- flying above restlessly and agitated, his wings beat against the air, a desperate rhythm that matched the pounding heart of his rider. 

The paladin's vision blurred as his pulse roared in his ears alongside Aetherion's mighty cries. “Lofn,” he pleaded, the desperation in Zevlor's voice raw and painful. Racing down the corridors- running as if he was possessed, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, his feet moving on their own... The screams continued, each one a fresh dagger to his soul... Every instinct demanded that he find her, protect her. Without a moment's hesitation, he dashed down the hall, his eyes frantically searching for their shared room. Until his orange orbs saw them, the two guards that stood outside their chamber.

The guards stood their ground, “Zev-My lord,” one spoke, his tone laced with a warning “None is permitted to enter per orders from Aedri-“

Zevlor snarled, “I'll go where I damnl please!”

Bursting into the chamber, he was met with a scene of chaos, “What in the nine hells is-“ he began, but the words died on his lips as Aedric, Lofn's eldest brother, stepped forward, his blade drawn and pressed against Zevlor's throat.

Aedric's eyes blazed with fury, his voice a venomous growl, “Should she die, I will ensure you live every moment haunted by the blood on your hands, thanks to the thing you sowed within her.”

Zevlor's brows furrowed, his gaze hardening at the prince's words, his lips curled in disgust as he spat back, “that is my wife's child- my son and I will not-“

“My sister,” Aedric interjected, his blade digging deeper into Zevlor's flesh.

“And your unborn nephew,” Zevlor's teeth bared, “The love I have for-“

“Your love has brought her to this,” Aedric's grip on his blade tightened, the muscles in his arms coiled and tense, “your love has been nothing but a curse- a blight upon my sister's life-“

With his hand clutching the hilt of his own blade, Zevlor's anger rose at Aedric's words, his gaze flitting between the prince's sword and the window where Lofn stood hunched over- writhing and crying, the sight breaking his heart... Tightening  the hilt of his own blade, his eyes closed tightly- his breathing became steadier and his grip loosened as he pushed towards the cool steel, his eyes opening and meeting Aedric's stare, “I will see to it personally that nothing shall harm her-“ His eyes found Lofn once more, her face contorting, sweat trickling down her brow, and his voice was quiet, his words a whisper, “even if it means the loss of my son... I will not lose her. Now, step aside. I won’t ask again, Aedric.”

Aedric only scowled at Zevlor’s audacity, and before he could respond, Lofn's voice rang out, “Enough!!”

Her brother’s grip loosened, lowering his sword slightly as he turned to look at his younger sister, her face filled with pain, and yet her eyes were alight with fire.

“Leave us, Aedric!”

Zevlor's heart twisted as he saw her clutch her stomach, bending forward, blood soaking her nightgown. In that instant, all thoughts of Aedric vanished, his sole focus was on her- and their unborn child. He rushed to her side, cradling her face with trembling hands, his eyes wide with panic, “By the watching gods, Lofn- wh- what has happened?”

Lofn's gaze fell upon him, and the panic within them was quickly replaced with relief as her tears flowed freely, “I'm fine,” she breathed, her voice hoarse and weak.

“No, you're not,” his very own eyes brimming with tears, “you're- this isn't-“

She cut him off, placing a gentle hand on his cheek.

He gave her a small smile, gently wiping her tears away- his hands glowing a bright golden hue to ease her suffering before turning his attention to the midwives, “By the nine hells, what have you all been doing?! And where are the damn healers?! Get me a cleric-“

One of the midwives stepped forward, her face glum, “My lord, there has been a complication- and her lady refuses the aid of a healer…”

His eyes widened, turning his head towards Lofn, his eyes narrowing, his tone hardening, “What? Why would you not- Are you mad, woman?!”

Lofn’s body writhed as she grabbed his arm to steady herself, “Th-They told me I could lose our son- I will not risk him! Even if it means my life,” her voice cracked, raw with fear. “Zevlor... I will not lose him.”

Her words struck him like a physical blow, his heart twisting painfully. The tears she shed were not from her own pain but from the terror of a mother facing the loss of her child, “No...” he whispered, his voice breaking under the weight of their shared anguish.

Lofn's hair clung to her face, damp with sweat, her eyes heavy with exhaustion… Zevlor had seen the horrors of war, had watched comrades fall in battle, but nothing compared to the terror of this moment- the fear of losing her was a blade twisting in his gut, leaving him breathless.

His heart ached as he gently brushed her hair from her face, trying to offer a smile, a semblance of reassurance. But Lofn knew him too well… She could see the fear lurking behind his eyes, the tremor in his forced smile. “Zevlor,” she breathed, her voice a fragile whisper, yet it held a strength that belied her weariness.

He leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers, drawing strength from their shared closeness, “Yes, my light, I'm here...” Bending down slightly, he pressed his lips to hers, his hands gripping her tightly, as if afraid this would be the last time he would ever hold her. Tears fell from Lofn's eyes, the taste of salt mingling with their kiss, and she felt a deep ache in her chest as he pulled away. 

Gently he picked her up, her head resting against his shoulder as he carried her to their bed, “You shall be well, my dear. We will be a family together… With our son,” he said, his voice wavering, trying his best to soothe her fears and his own, to give her courage, and yet it was taking everything he had to keep his voice from cracking, “I’ll impart the art of swordsmanship to him- and you, you will teach him all that there is about his bloodline.”

A soft laugh escaped Lofn's lips, her eyes closing as she imagined the future they could have, and Zevlor felt his heart lighten at the sound, a believable smile forming on his lips.

“I like the name, Zavrik,” she mused, her fingers shakily tucking a loose strand of his hair behind those pointy ears she loved so much.

“That is a fine name,” he agreed, placing her down on the furs that lay atop their bed.

Time seemed to stretch and blur, each moment an eternity, but through it all, Zevlor remained by her side, his prayers a constant murmur…

Zevlor's gaze drifted to the crib he had lovingly crafted, nestled in the corner of the room. In his mind's eye, he envisioned Lofn standing there, their child cradled in her arms, her face alight with joy. He imagined himself stepping up behind her, wrapping her in his arms, feeling the warmth of their family envelop them. But the image wavered, dissolving into a haunting vision of himself, alone beside the crib, his face buried in his hands, overcome with grief…

Lofn’s scream that echoed through the room pulled him back to the present. 

The midwife's eyes widened with sudden realization, “I-!!! I can see the head!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement.

“By the gods,” Zevlor breathed, awe and relief mingling in his voice as Lofn's hand tightened around his, her strength a constant source of amazement to him. She never ceased to surprise him, her resilience shining through even in the darkest moments, always.

When the ordeal finally ended, the wail of a child's first breath rang out, strong and clear… And Zevlor found himself cradling their newborn son, 

“Hello, little one,” he whispered, just as the babe’s tail coiled around his father’s wrist. 

His emotional eyes found Lofn, the exhaustion evident in her weary features, and yet, she was radiant- her smile the most beautiful sight. She was alive and her son, their son was too, safe and well.

Zevlor could no longer hold back the tears that fell from his eyes, a sob wracking his body as he laid the baby on her chest, wrapping his arms around both, “I thought- I almost lost you- both of you. By the gods, Lofn- you- you were so brave. I am so proud of you- so, so proud- I- I- can hardly- can't put into words- how much I- you both- mean to me.”

Lofn's own tears mirrored his, and she could only nod, unable to speak. She held their son tightly, his warmth reassuring and comforting, and she knew that as long as they were together, everything would be alright.

But the peace was soon shattered by the sudden entrance of Korgus, who bowed deeply, his expression apologetic, “My- lord,” he then looks to Lofn and bows again, “My princess, forgive the intrusion,” Korgus began, his voice respectful yet urgent, “The queen seeks Zevlor’s presence.”

Zevlor's brows furrowed, frustration simmering beneath the surface, “Now? Of all times-“ he started, but Korgus raised a hand, understanding Zevlor's irritation.

“I understand, believe me, but it is the queen's demand,” Korgus replied, his tone firm yet sympathetic for the two.

“No. I won’t allow him to be stripped of this momen-“ Lofn started but Zevlor sighed, turning to her, his heart heavy with reluctance. He leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead as his large hand stroked his son's head, “Let’s keep the peace, I'll return swiftly,” he promised, his voice a soft vow. 

The small journey to the throne room was filled with a sense of unease, a foreboding that settled in Zevlor's gut. As he entered, the vast room was eerily empty, save for Aradin standing in the center, with Lynnania beside him.

Confusion etched across Zevlor's features as he approached, “What is the meaning of this? Why is he here?” he demanded, his voice echoing in the silence.

Lynnania stepped forward, her movements deliberate and poised while Aradin's voice cut through the air, dripping with vengeance, “It's your turn to be the one on the ground knocked out cold- only this time you ain't getting back up horns.”

Zevlor's heart raced, the realization dawning upon him. This was a setup, a twisted game orchestrated by the queen herself… He knew some here had their reservations about him, but to go this far and right after his son was born…

Lynnania approached, her hand reaching for her beloved dagger at her side. Zevlor instinctively reached for his own blade, but she remained unfazed, extending the sinister weapon towards him, “Prove you have what it takes to be a part of this family,” she commanded, her voice a chilling whisper.

The mirror dagger was a weapon of nightmares, constructed from a broken mirror, the dagger's surface shimmered with the tormented faces of souls trapped within. A prison of those who were slain by the blade, a testament to the queen's dark power.

“Show me that you truly are my daughter's shield,”Lynnania continued, her words a venomous challenge. Slipping the weapon into Zevlor’s hand, she turned to Aradin… The adventure had caused a scene within her kingdom- an attempt to get her people to turn on not only the man her daughter loved, but her own daughter as well… A cruel smirk played on her lips, before leaning in to whisper in Zevlor's ear, “I won’t ask twice.”

Her heels clacked against the marble floor as she departed, leaving Zevlor alone with Aradin. High above, hidden in the shadows, Bane- disguised as a wood elf, watched from a concealed balcony, alongside Aedric and Korgus.

Zevlor's heart sank, his eyes wide with dread as he stared at the dagger. He understood the queen's demand, understood what it meant for Aradin. The weight of the decision pressed down on him…

…

….

As he entered the quiet chamber, his hands stained with blood, dark and sticky, the metallic scent clinging to him like a shroud. Small splotches dotted his face, a reminder of the darkness he'd come to embrace for the sake of his family. At first his steps were heavy, but as he walked, he noticed the weight slowly lifting…

Lofn lay sleeping, her breathing soft and steady with Zavrik nestled against her. The child's small tail was wrapped protectively around his mother, a picture of innocence and peace.

In that moment, the throne room, the dagger, the blood- they were all shadows fading into the periphery of his mind. All that mattered was here, in this room, with the two beings he cherished above all else…

With gentle care, Zevlor crawled into bed beside his family. His arm comes to wrap around them, drawing them closer to his chest… The blood on his hands was no longer a stain of shame but a promise to do anything to protect what mattered most…

He had crossed a line, embraced a part of himself he had long kept at bay. But for them, for his family, he would become whatever was necessary.

No longer would he allow the world to dictate his happiness. Whatever dared to interfere, whatever threatened the fragile peace he had found, would be met with death... Erased from existence, leaving only the sanctuary he had built with Lofn and Zavrik…

[hyperions-light]

I keep seeing links to/discussion about that video where some of the BW crew is talking about Zevran circulating, and while I do think it's disappointing that one of the devs does not seem to know who he is/remember him, I feel like the response is maybe a little out of proportion, considering the two people who say they "don't remember him," and he "looks like he has Daddy Issues," almost certainly don't work for Bioware.

Explanation below the cut bc it got long. Speculation/possible spoilers for DATV.

If you look at the post that EA made about their SDCC panel they say it will be moderated by someone named Lucy James, who works for Gamespot. You can see her with her nameplate in front of her (although it's hard to make out) in the picture that BW posted to their blog. Watching the video back, I think she's the person sitting across from the four BW people. If you look her up, you can see she makes videos with the Managing Editor of Gamespot, Tamoor Hussain, who I think is a decent guess for the person holding the ipad.

The background of the video makes it likely that this was filmed at the Fandom Party event that took place at SDCC this year, so if we look at the people who BW confirmed they sent to the convention, the other people here are Ali Hillis (blond woman), who is a VA and plays Lace Harding. I wouldn't expect her to know/have opinions about DA:O characters.

The person next to her is likely Ashley Barlow (check the panel photos against the video), the BW Creative Performance Director, who says the thing about the red flags. That's the most disappointing/concerning to me, because it means Zev probably isn't in the game (again), since she likely would have directed the performance.

The top row is Corinne Busche and John Epler, the Game Director and Creative Director respectively. You can see them clearly in the companions video IGN put out last week and cross reference them with the SDCC video. Busche seems to be familiar with him, and Epler says nothing.

I agree it was shitty of them to make those comments about the only romanceable POC in DAO, and I'm sad we're probably not going to see him again. I'm not trying to say anyone shouldn't be upset, but it seems like people might be confused about which people in the clip are BW devs. Just made the post to clarify any confusion; not going to argue with people in the comments over it.

[pisscrossiant]

Part two of my dragon age: origins headcanons because It's my current hyperfixation 😋

I'm honestly just writing these down here when I think of em

Oghren will stop doing whatever he's doing if he sees the Warden just to wave at them like a goof, he could be in the middle of fighting for his life and he stops to wave to them.

Morrigan can go MONTHS without bathing and look exactly the same as she did the last time she took a bath. She doesn't smell either she smells like roses 24/7 and no one knows how she doesn't smell after not bathing for like three months.

Leliana puts ribbons around her boots to make them prettier

Zevran tends to linger behind the party when walking somewhere just so he can stare at their asses without it being obvious.

Alistair keeps cheese in his pockets at all times, he has like three big ass cheese wheels in his tent at camp so he will take little pieces of cheese off the wheels and put them in his pocket so he has a snack later.

Wynne cooks the most out of everyone, she always takes requests from the party members so she can make them their favorite dishes for dinner so they can enjoy something during the blight.

Leliana often has auditory hallucinations and the most common one she has is of a woman screaming bloody murder, she'll jump a bit and if no one reacts to it she just carries on with what she's doing while waiting for it to stop.

Alistair has insomnia most of the time when he's "sleeping" he just lays in his bed roll and waits for sun rise, sometimes he'll talk to Zevran or Leliana if they get up before everyone else.

Zevran has Paranoia and has visual hallucinations, though they don't happen all that often, they still freak him out. He mostly see's shadow people which freaks him out alot because he thinks they could be assassins, watching him.

Oghren will pass out sometimes from his drunkenness, thankfully this doesn't happen during fights.

After Zevran got mad at the warden saying "there are other things to do besides me, go do those." The Warden gets upset and goes to sit by their tent and shale see's this and tries comforting them by saying "Would you like me to crush the painted elf" which actually does make the warden feel better.

Zevran and Leliana are polyamorous and wouldn't mind being in a poly relationship.

Leliana has a FAT crush on Morrigan, even if the warden romances her she can't help but fall for the tall lesbian.

Zevran has a crush on Sten, not in a romantic sense but more so he's attracted to him because Zev loves tall people.

Alistair is a bisexual in denial, he thinks he's straight but when he sees men without shirts on he gets all flustered.

Wynne reads 24/7 and she reads smut. Like hardcore smut. She reads it with a straight face.

Once Alistair asked what she was reading and she handed him the book to read the synopsis outloud and he became so embarrassed about it, Zevran and Morrigan made fun of him for it for weeks, he still can't see Wynne the same way again.

Elfroot is like weed, that's why it's called Elfroot because ancient elves would smoke it.

Leliana will wash and style Zevran's hair for him, during his time with the crows he didn't get to have his hair all nice and clean and styled properly so he doesn't really know how to take care of it all to well, so Leliana does it for him.

Zevran gets jealous easily believe it or not, if he sees another person flirting with the warden he gets mad and will go up to the Warden and interrupt their conversation. At first when he doesn't realize he's fallen for the Warden he keeps thinking he's stupid for it and tries to ignore it.

Leliana doesn't have a tendency to get jealous but if someone is getting too touchy with the Warden she'll just stand behind the warden glaring at them to get them to back off.

Morrigan can be very possessive of the Warden even if the warden hasn't romanced her she still will be very possessive especially if the warden is around someone she doesn't like (like Alistair)

Alistair gets jealous but doesn't show it or anything he's more tame and doesn't act on it or anything.

Morrigan is a raging lesbian she has no romantic interest for men, the only time she'd even sleep with a man would be for her to have a child. But she doesn't try to pursue any romantic relationship with women due to her pushing the people she loves away.

Oghren misses Branka before she left him but is glad to be a part from her at the same time.

Shale pets your Mabari 24/7 she loves animals especially dogs

Zevran is very weary around dogs, there were stray dogs all around Antivia City and they'd attack a lot unprovoked, he's been attacked by them numerous times so he was of course nervous when joining the warden's party seeing they had not just a dog but a wardog. Over time though he grew to actually like the dog alot however.

Leliana is a cat person, she's fine with dogs but she loves cats. But if she did have to choose between a Nug and a Cat she'd ofc choose a Nug.

Alistair is a major dog person, when he was living with the Arl he would usually hang around the kennels rather then being around people. When he says "I was raised by dogs" he wasn't actually that far off.

Morrigan doesn't like Dogs or cats, she's a bird person. She only tolerates the wardens Mabari because she knows the warden loves him.

Oghren is actually fond of dogs believe it or not, he hates cats though he says "they're stuck up"

Sten doesn't have a preference between cats or dogs however he respects dogs alot more then he respects cats.

Wynne is a cat lady, like if the tower let her she'd have like 20 cats.

Alistair has elf ears but not like how full blooded elves have, half elves have small points to their ears, they look like human ears but have a point to them instead of being rounded fully.

Leliana has a tattoo of a sun on her right shoulder.

Zevran has tattoos all over similar to the ones on his face, but he also has a tramp stamp that says " amor ''

Morrigan at first meeting her has no tattoos, I mean where would she get them living in the wilds. Once she leaves though she does get a tattoo of a raven on her left arm.

Alistair got drunk and got a tattoo of a dragon on his back, he thought it was cool at first but now that he's having to fight dragons and the arch demon he hates it.

The circle doesn't let mage's have tattoos so Wynne doesn't have any.

Sten does not have any tattoos because the Qun does not allow it, he does put markings on his body with face paint however.

Oghren has a tattoo of two beer mugs clanking together in between his shoulder blades.

That's all for now I'm most likely gonna do another part because I actually like writing these it's just nice to do when I'm not doing anything. Also the first part did pretty well and got a decent amount of attraction so definitely gonna do more 🤭

Plus I love fueling the dragon age fandom I wish there was a lot more stuff ab it 😭

[monabee-draws]

My Dragon Age elves! Each of them wears a token from their lovers.

(Theron is a sweet poly boy and yes, he does drag Zevran along into the Eluvian to raise Kieran with Morrigan. Kid is lucky he has three great parents.)

Some notes if anyone is interested:

Theron Mahariel - a Dalish mage who loses out on being First to Merrill because of his heritage. Romances both Morrigan and Zev, does the Dark Ritual, goes after Morrigan with Zevran and all three spend time together in the Crossroads raising Kieran. They also travel the world as a family, keeping the Crows off of Zev's back, and during Inquisition Theron and Zev go off to find a cure for the Calling, while Morrigan protects Kieran and waits for their return. Morrigan and Zev aren't romantically involved but they do share some gestures and sexytimes eventually (its canon she finds him attractive so 😉.)

Marin Lavellan - a simple Dalish hunter who struggles finding a reason to stay with the Inquisition to start with. Was sent to the Conclave to find an old clan member who became a warden, eventually meets and falls for Dorian as they save the world, and comes to love the people there. He and Dorian are apart for a few years while things in Minrathous settle, but eventually join up with some Eluvian help and adopt a child together named Davhalla (Little Gift.)

Silea Lavellan - Her clan's First, and a lover of history. Silea spends most of Inquisition trying to uncover the truths behind the relationship between elves and humans, and falls immediately for Solas' soft voice and wisdom. She chooses to keep her Vallaslin because its been thousands of years, and they don't represent what they used to in elven culture anymore - she is still proud of how it makes obvious her pride for withstanding human greed and expansion. Meeting Solas in Trespasser is awful because she appreciates that the world is what it is, and should only move forward. But, she's hopeful she can redeem him. Whether he is still in her heart by Veilguard is... on the fence.

Emmaline Bellin - a Tranquil mage from the Circle of Antiva City. She leaves the circle after a few years and is taken up into the Crows where she makes a fine blade - doesn't complain, survives off of minimal money as she doesn't covet nice items or tasty food, and an immediately underestimated face due to her mark of tranquility. She is saved by a kind Spirit Healer a few years after the cure is spread post-Inquisition (that healer MAY be Anders.) Now she loves life, is very boisterous, and indulges every whim - violence, hunger, greed and avarice. If she weren't now 'immune' to possession, she'd be a fantastic target.

[vigilskeep]

wait when were zev and anders called slurs? :o i haven't played any mlm romance!

homophobia banter highlight reel i guess. shoutout to seb for making it on here because varric has something deeply wrong with him and is exclusively homophobic to the one of like two not openly bisexual people in his friend group

in general my point is that like. this was homophobic. if people didnt. uh. clock that oghren’s violent reactions and references to manskirt-wearing freaks were that. i’m using oghren as my main example because he’s the most overt. (generally orzammar’s dedication to lineage throughout the castes seems to give it more rigid gender and sexuality roles; there’s also significantly more overt sexism.) with zev and anders, it’s also compounded by fantasy racism and prejudice, in particular that male elves and male mages are both seen as effeminate in southern thedas. this isn’t just oghren. uh, for example, if a male hawke romances anders or fenris, gamlen, who iirc is as directly homophobic as it gets in da2, will make the comment “i guess i don’t have to ask which one of you’s the girl”. he’ll also make a fetishising comment about female hawke and isabela

otherwise. uh what might people not have clocked. zevran only flirts with a female warden in his introductory scene, due to his real, not unfounded concern that it will make a male warden more uncomfortable with him and, let’s not put too fine a point on it, thus more likely to kill him. zevran’s discussion of being bisexual himself is incredibly loaded and as i recall involves a fair bit of internalised something. from my delvings into the toolset, if you romance him as a man, you seem to have countless opportunities to break off the relationship specifically saying it’s because you’re both men and you can’t do this, including as late as the second time he offers you the earring. generally the male warden romancing zevran has a lot of internalised homophobia coded dialogue options when you ask him about his sexuality and when others ask you about the relationship—you can express dismay that zevran has told anyone, for example, while asking leliana not to say anything—and it’s fairly heavily implied that you’re likely to be more unfamiliar with such things

with anders, the most glaring example off the top of my head is that he doesn’t tell female hawkes about karl. a lot of the gendered differences in the anders romances are from homophobia/biphobia on a writing level as well, but considering that we’re not buying into “playersexual” nonsense i think it’s also fair to read this in-world as anders choosing not to bring that up to a woman who’s interested in him/someone he doesn’t know he has this in common with. the dialogue again treats anders as more experienced and gives male hawkes the opportunity to act surprised/uncertain even when they are the one to flirt first

this is basically just. if you didn’t clock that, that’s going on here! in general, heterosexuality is an assumed norm in thedas, and particularly characters coded as andrastian and fairly naive/inexperienced like alistair or bethany will express surprise or confusion about it and not pick up on implications. particularly noble characters will be expected to continue bloodlines and make political unions, for example, the inability of a female warden to marry anora or a male warden to marry alistair, even though it’s possible to do the m/f version of those political marriages without any kind of romance. that’s a pragmatic concern about the succession in a world that values bloodlines and thus comes with a certain heteronormativity. at the same time, there’s not so deep a stigma as you might expect if directly translating from our world, so to speak; it’s much more about the hope of continuing families and the importance of that in this world than there seeming to be any kind of explicit religious stigma? although it should be noted that the andrastian story focuses on andraste and the maker in what is treated as an m/f marriage and might be considered an ideal

for example, leandra will make an offhand, semi-teasing comment about finding hawke an opposite gender spouse, which i think is her hope of hawke managing to settle into kirkwall noble society and continue the family line when there is, in most worldstates, little to no hope of the other surviving hawke sibling having children. but at the same time, she’s casually accepting of hawke being in a queer relationship, will lightly mention it in dialogue, and makes no comment about anders or merrill moving in. i’d take that as kind of a baseline level of understanding for southern thedas, though it also varies from nation to nation, culture to culture, person to person, and class to class

i hope that makes it clearer ??

[sotc]

I know u r shifting into dav mode, but I just gotta say! it makes me weirdly happy that you got the whole "I romanced Zevran in origins what do i even do now bring him back" experience in the year of our lord 2024 🤭

It's sooo crazy because a decade back when I tried Origins and gave up halfway I remember liking him and especially w/ the fandom arts and stuff. But it was always like kinda lowkey since Origins didn't stick with me. I was a different gamer back then okay, lol, I didn't appreciate the gameplay style. 😩

But after finally doing a proper playthrough back in August he has utterly BEWITCHED me!!! I LOVE HIM!!!!! I fell in love with the Warden and my Tabris' story, Zevran's and their romance and no one COMPARES DUDE!!! Going into DAII and DAI afterwards with a zev/warden romance was agony barely getting scraps I can only imagine zevmancers going thru those game's releases and experiencing that live lmao.

And now VG is around the corner and I am putting my clown mask on hoping and praying for his return alongside the rest of the zevmancers once again 🙏

[icescrabblerjerky]

30 Days of Dragon Age Day One: Introduce Your Warden

Here’s Alim Surana. He was not my first play through or even my sixth - he turned up in a fic I wrote about one of my Couslands and before I knew it he was my fave. Alim is one of a set of identical twins - his sister Neria stayed in the circle while Alim became the hero of Ferelden. Alim is trans, romanced Zev and became a blood mage in order to save Anders’ life. He’s lost some of his sunny disposition over the years of duty and responsibility but he’s easy going, really.

[elvhenmage]

17 for maerin/zevran?

17. kisses as a promise

oh man i haven't written anything of substance in So Long but i had fun with this :] tysm anon! gonna get through this writer's block eventually!

also! for context: this takes place in my own canon where my HOF is the warden contact for here lies the abyss - and because they romanced zevran and are canonically with each other during dai anyway, he is naturally sticking to maerin's side no matter where they go <3

No sooner has the limp body of the Pride Demon collapsed into a heap on the ground than Maerin is already planning the next step, gears whirring at such a speed that Zevran can almost see the steam coming out of their ears as they pace.

“Thought your men could use some help up here,” says Everett to the Inquisitor, her tone a mixture of exhaustion and triumph from their small victory amongst the chaos of Adamant Fortress.

The familiar feeling of a hand on their lower back halts them in their tracks, furrowed gaze lifting from the rubble underfoot to meet Zevran’s eyes.

“Breathe, mi amor.”

Head cocked, they listen intently as Nailah instructs Everett to protect the Inquisition’s troops, then nods in agreement. They’ve only been in the Fortress for what feels like a handful of minutes, but the weight of it all presses in on them already, a dull headache curling up the back of their neck. 

“You have to stay with Hawke.”

For a single beat, Zevran's caught off guard. “Pardon? Surely you aren’t-”

“You have to,” Maerin says firmly. The grip on their daggers tightens. “I have to go with the Inquisitor. There are still Wardens here I might be able to talk down and Maker only knows what Clarel is doing in the meantime, but Everett needs backup here. We can’t lose the battlements and we can’t lose the soldiers.” Their expression softens along with their voice. “There’s no one I trust here more than you, Zev.”

“You flatter me,” he replies, though his deadpan tone and creased brow suggests he’s still uncomfortable with this plan. 

“We need to move, Maerin,” Nailah calls anxiously over the dull roar of the fighting all around them.

Maerin waves to show they’ve heard her, but their eyes, intense but strangely calm given the circumstances, are locked on Zevran’s. Nothing steels them quite like the duty of being a Warden does.

“Please. Watch their backs.”

Hands on their waist and close enough that only they can hear him, with eyes so full of concern that they nearly lose their resolve, he asks, “And who will watch yours if not I?”

They choose not to answer. For so long it’s just been the two of them against the world - Maerin isn't happy about splitting up either. But it must be done.

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Promise? Are you sure you don’t have any grand plans to kill yourself fighting a dragon without telling me?”

Despite the circumstances, Maerin scoffs out a laugh. You act self-sacrificial one time…

Daggers slot neatly into sheathes as Maerin threads their fingers behind his neck, tugging him towards them in a swift but sweet kiss. When they pull away, they stay close enough to rest their forehead against his, eyes closed for a second of rest.

“I promise.”

Stealing another quick kiss, Zevran releases them. “Go, then. I will catch up as soon as I can.”

——

“You said there would not be dragons!”

“I said,” Maerin drops into a crouch to avoid a swipe from a Shade, and Zevran takes the cue to vault over them to tear into it with his daggers, “I wouldn’t kill myself fighting one.”

“And with every second I find myself believing you less. Behind!”

Daggers high, Maerin whirls on their heel, bringing their blades down diagonally on another Shade that lets out an ear-piercing shriek as it melts into the ground. 

Nearby, the Inquisitor and her team take down the Pride Demon and like a flipped switch, Warden Tabris snaps to attention, scanning the battlefield for what to do next. 

“Stay here with the Wardens. I don’t trust this Fade tear not to spit out more demons.” 

“Leaving me behind again? For shame.”

“I don’t like it either, but I have to deal with Erimond and Clarel.”

Zevran gestures, displeased, at Erimond’s dragon circling high above like a vulture. “And the dragon?”

“Still won’t kill me,” Maerin says, their natural cockiness peeking through their professionalism. “I promised, right?”

“You are impossible.”

“You love it.” Rolling their shoulders to ease the ache, they prepare to sprint after Nailah and company.

“More than anything.” He cups their face tenderly. “Come back to me.”

Maerin turns their head to kiss his palm. “Always.”

[eff-plays]

Ok so my main Warden is an Amell but I have this personal headcanon where Amell and Tabris both got recruited. And my Amell died in a big heroic sacrifice etc etc. But my Tabris is just chilling with Zev. So I guess that's what I'm gonna go with?

Mainly cuz I don't want to have an all-human world state, it seemed fun at the time (esp when I pretended they were all related lmao) but now that it's four main PCs in a row who are humans it's like ok. Let's spice it up. And because you can't be a non-human Hawke and I'm too attached to my Trevelyan, I guess my Amell will get the theoretical boot. But she's dead anyway so it should be fine. Rip in pepperonis Alistair you really are the world's wettest saddest meow meow. I am taking your wife.

ANYWAY I think I want to play a mage qunari next? I'm thinking someone who's very scholarly and excitable, sort of a Merrill-ish vibe? Not really my go-to with these games as I do love angst, but I'm kinda up for trying something else. Depending on what the game allows, of course. And I'll get to keep my favorite combo of a mage-warrior romance with Davrin (I assume he's a warrior?). And also huge but squishy mage qunari and short king warrior elf is top tier. To me. Like he offers Rook a boob shoulder to cry on but he has to get a box to reach. Ya know?

[aricr0cs]

Okay yall. I finished origins.

That was both completely different to how I expected my first playthrough to go and also A COMPLETE TRAINWRECK AND I LOVED EVERY STEP GNGBGG

So I watched my gf play and developed my own thoughts and feelings as to the choices I'd make and how my warden would react and I was so wrong about every single one of those choices.

I tend to simp for Sten so I figured I wouldn't romance anyone. My gf figured id get ninjamanced by Leliana. I in turn got ninjamanced by both Alistair AND Zevran gbgbg...... and bestsies with Leli bgbgbg

I thought I'd power femme Anora as queen. Instead when I thought about how my warden would feel, I got emo cuz she'd think he'd make a great king and chose him knowing she wouldn't be able to be with him anymore.

I thought I'd tell Morrigan to fuck off on the dark ritual because I personally find it reprehensible. Instead I spent like ten minutes holding my controller and crying like a baby because technically the relationship ended on good terms and my warden will love the King until she dies and would do ANYTHING to make it so that he doesn't die.

Followed by emotional whiplash because I got to talk to all my companions before marching and zevran fuckn GAVE ME AN EARRING I GOT NINJAMANCED BY HIM TWICE LMAOOOO

Don't know if I've ever mentioned it on this blog but Zev is my second favorite character in the entire franchise. I just adore him. Precious absurd murder bean.

Hell I got emotional when he chose to not betray the warden (even tho I assure you I stuffed cake into that glorious bastard like I was a cake factory but I STILL happy cried about it ynhnhh).

So I had to look SO ridiculous. Snot crying but then shrieking and laughing because of how ridiculous Zevran is. Homie didn't even wait for the warden to wash the new kings smell outta her bedsheets gnhnhg

[bluerose5]

[sticks leg out] may we see ur warden(s)/custom hawke(s)/inquisitor(s)

and if u feel like it how would any of them fare if dropped into Faerun (with or without Fenris/Zev)

Ohhh don't get me started!

Garrett Hawke, my beloved, although I hc him as elf-blooded. Ironic enough, in Thedas, "half-elf" or "half-blood" is used as an insult iirc, so imagine his expression to hear people use the term half-elf so casually in Faerûn. Just a little aside.

For him, he is your typical purple mage Hawke, so I'd definitely say he'd bring that type of energy to Faerûn, no matter what time in his life he's in. He'd be excited as fuck to be in a place where he can use his magic openly without worry, and he would take the adventure in stride, even while he's screaming on the inside. (Still, none of this is as bad as Kirkwall in his opinion. 😆) Somehow gets everyone to fall for him without even trying. Not his first merry band of bi/pan misfits that he's had to deal with.

Then, there is HIM.

Darrian Tabris. My Warden. My Warden-Inquisitor. Love of my life. My angry rebel. The Dark Wolf himself! I djdbdhsbdfkf 😍💖💞💖💞

Sorry, but he was a character I loved writing so much. Maybe I'll return to his story one day, but my energy has been more devoted to one shots and shorter works these days. It just suits my current habits and lifestyle better than going full multichap.

Darrian is a rogue/mage multiclass thanks to my setup on pc where I utilized the game's console commands and such. He's faced a lot of hardship in the Alienage and puts his people (elves and mages) first. He's also not above using less than savory means of achieving his goal (ex. the power of blood is a badass concept, coating his blades in his tainted blood to seriously fuck up his enemies, this is one of my favorites). He's also not above committing crime to get what he wants, but he grows into being a leader. In one AU I have, he even serves at Alistair's side as king (a poly relationship in this one). He also becomes Inquisitor and demolishes the status quo by encouraging rebellion where he can, so there's that too. 😂

So, with that in mind, how does he fare in Faerûn? Probably thinks it's too cushy compared to Thedas. His temper is his biggest flaw because he's so damn passionate that anything that angers him can set him off. Will be ready to fistfight any oppressive gods or former masters at the drop of a hat because he values freedom above all else. Could probably take Cazador out on his own ngl 💀

And of course Zevran was his romance (surprise, surprise). I don't think they'd necessarily act different around each other in Faerûn, but Zevran’s opinion would hold a lot of weight for him.

Also, semi-related, but I have so much art commissioned of these two. I didn't have my thoughts organized for this post at all so if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

[ruushes]

Would love to hear your Zevran thoughts <3

original and ultimate babygirl 🥺

first impression: so i actually knew he was gay romanceable before starting origins and went in with the intention of gay romancing him pretty much solely bc i thought it was cool you could be gay in a video game. i didn't really know much else about him going into it, so his intro was like, holy shit i'm in love with him 😂😂 and i only liked him more and more as the game went on, I’ll admit I took a lot of his humor and bravado at face value at first and the depth of character that unfolded was unexpected and really cool

impression now: it might seem like i love him a normal and reasonable amount given that i don't draw or post about him that often but that's just bc the more i like something the less and less i talk about it out of embarrassment 😅

favorite moment: so so so hard to choose 😭😭 maybe the dialogue after you kill taliesin if you push him to make the decision of what he'll do next himself:

cautiously testing unfamiliar agency.... the look for validation... 🥺

idea for a story: gestures vaguely at the complete origins novelization and chronicle of whatever weird thing he and ailill have going on that exists perfectly in my mind and materially in unconnected 500-word scraps of dialogue that don't even amount to anything you could call a wip 🤦‍♂️i think the last thing i worked on was a bit about how on the morning after zev's recruited he has another chance to finish the assassination and kind of commits to the idea of staying instead

unpopular opinion: i think understandably and naturally people tend to focus on positives when making fan material (i do it too like 90% of my sketches are cutesy shipping art lol) but i'd also like to see more of him being flawed? like i feel like a big part of the appeal of him as a character is the 'healing from trauma and starting anew' theme, and healing is so difficult and messy and nonlinear, not something that gets resolved by falling in love over the course of like nine months, you know? but i don't really fault people for not exploring that, it's just something i'd be interested to see more of (':

favorite relationship: zevwarden naturally😌 especially in the context of wardens with a similar desire to die, where they can sort of figure out how to want to live again together

favorite headcanon: i've been poking around in the toolset and looking at the differences between the m and f romances and i think there's a case to be made for a reading where there's an element of internalized homophobia and/or trauma impacting how he looks at relationships with men that goes beyond generally preferring women. his gendered dialog with men tends to be more physical than emotional, there are instances where suggestive gendered dialog alludes to violence with m wardens and not f, he makes some skeptical comments abt the idea of being in a relationship with a man. i don't have evidence at hand and i certainly don't think everyone Should think this way or anything, i just find it interesting to think about preferences and how they can be impacted by experience in the context of being bi, and how it could both complicate and enrich an mwarden relationship

[ivyprism]

Werewolf Skeleton Boys (Info Dump)

Warnings: Fighting, death, wolves, for halloween!

Wolfsbane - Fellswap Carnelian Werewolf Papyrus

Personality: He's a tough, but cool, character. He has a fiery temper and isn't hesitant to express himself. He enjoys children and looks after them whenever possible. He is concerned about others and frequently acts like a huge sad puppy when friends or loved ones are hurt. He is highly lively and enjoys playing practical jokes on people. Many people look up to him. He is really pleasant and charismatic. When it comes to protecting his family and loved ones, he is ruthless. Many werewolf romances irritate him because they are entirely inaccurate.

Appearance: He is a skeleton werewolf with a tail. He has five large scars on his right eye. He also has a golden tooth. He can change into a skeletal wolf. He likes his choker as an accessory. He has deep red eyes.

Zev - Fellswap Carnelian Werewolf Sans

Personality: He is a cruel and ferocious skeleton. He is a fiery man who goes for the throat. Despite this, he is exceedingly courteous and well-mannered. While he despises it, he is extremely manipulative with individuals he considers threats. He adores and deeply admires his older brother. He will fight anyone who considers him inferior. He can be nasty and straightforward most of the time, unless he is afraid of hurting a friend or partner. He is extremely protective of his loved ones and will go to any length to protect them, including murder. He becomes really soft after spending time with him.

Appearance: He is a skeleton werewolf with a tail. He has two large scars in the shape of his left eye. He can change into a skeletal wolf. He has deep red eyes.

Ammonite - Fellswap Carnelian Werewolf Gaster

Personality: He is an extremely protective and aggressive individual. He is stern and unyielding. He is not afraid to go to any length to protect his family. He has become more relaxed and cold. He is straightforward and unafraid to express himself to others. He's a decent hunter that works hard. He looks after his family. He is really quiet and serene. He adores his sons and his new acquaintances. He's not afraid to bite back, and he's a fantastic hunter. Surprisingly, he always returns with a large amount of food after hunting. He is very good at taking care of others and loves kids.

Appearance: He is a skeleton werewolf with a tail. He has four large scars. He has two under his left eye and two on the top of his right eye. He can change into a skeletal wolf. He has deep red eyes.

Vermillion - Underfell Werewolf Papyrus

Personality: He's a caustic and combative character, but he's also quite silent. He is respectful and regal. When it comes to the threat to his family, he is aggressive and cruel. He is fiercely protective of his friends and may look confrontational in order to defend them, but if accepted, he is a sympathetic and sweet person. He will gladly carry you if you ask. He is in charge of cleaning up after his brother and the Royal Guards. He has a nasty temper and refuses to accept crap from anyone. He fights fiercely and may be quite nice and gentle to his buddies, yet he frequently begins cold and polite.

Appearance: He is a skeleton werewolf with a tail. He has four scars on his right eye. He has bright red eyelights. He can change into a skeletal wolf.

Harrier - Underfell Werewolf Sans

Personality: He's a peaceful and tranquil skeleton with the ability to quickly beat someone down. He is fiercely protective of his loved ones and would go to any length to protect them. He's tough with a flirty side. He has a very quiet and cool temper that he never loses unless pushed. He is worried about his friends and family, but he keeps his feelings hidden. He can be a little rude and chilly at first, but as you get to know him, he is often really kind and friendly to you. He has a hard exterior that he normally softens. He enjoys assisting others and has a soft spot for animals.

Appearance: He is a skeleton werewolf with a tail. He has bright red eyes. He has five scars on his eyes. Two on his left and three on his right. He has two golden teeth. He can change into a skeletal wolf.

Dendritic - Underfell Werewolf Gaster

Personality: He's strict and cold. He is a kind father who goes out of his way to help his children. He would give his life to protect his family. He is quiet but thoughtful. He has the highest LV of his boys when his family is threatened. He is also authoritative and demanding. By slightly increasing or lowering his voice to dangerously quiet levels, he can persuade anyone to listen to him. He is continually concerned that he did not pay enough attention to his sons. His sons adore him, and he tries tirelessly to make good relationships.

Appearance: He is a skeleton werewolf with a tail. He has bright red eyes. He has five scars on his eyes. Two on the bottom of his left and three on top of his right. He can change into a skeletal wolf.

------

@kioko-noodles / @kiokodoodles @miscneilleaneous @und3rwat3r-a5tr0naut @hearty-dose-of-ranch @caycanteven @didderd @miscneilleaneous