camiaazana

[greypetrel]

Six Song Soundtrack Tag Game

Tagged by @shivunin, thank you so much! late because I was away, but I'm making two to compensate...

If you're tagged, make a new post with links to music and/or lyrics describing the following: 1. An event that defines your character's past 2. How your character sees themselves 3. How others view them 4. Their closest relationship (platonic or romantic) 5. A major fight scene 6. End credits song

A Raccoon with Random Tastes - Raina Hawke

No More Tears - Amyl and the Sniffers ( spotify | youtube )

Ringo Starr - Pinguini Tattici Nucleari ( spotify | youtube )

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen ( spotify | youtube )

Healing Tide - The War and Treaty ( spotify | youtube )

You're Gonna Go Far, Kid - The Offspring ( spotify | youtube )

Hot Patootie - Lea DeLaria ( spotify | youtube )

(the instinct to put Welcome to the Black Parade at number 1 was strong)

Horse Girl Needs Some John Denver - Aisling Lavellan

Take Me Home, Country Roads - The Mountain Man ( spotify | youtube )

The Milk Carton - Madilyn Mei ( spotify | youtube )

Queen of Peace - Florence + the Machine ( spotify | youtube )

The Ramblin' Rover - Siobhan Miller ( spotify | youtube )

Thunderstruck - AC/DC ( spotify | youtube )

Hoppípolla - Sigur Rós ( spotify | youtube )

tagging: @salsedinepicta @ndostairlyrium (DO THE BARBARA), @vitaeplaysda @dungeons-and-dragon-age @melisusthewee

@inquisimer (hello I saw your tag and I didn't forget I swear) @heniareth @whimsyswastry (I just miss ONE tv show I swear the tag got me in a mood of "I've never seen a tv show in my life) and YOU who are reading!

[dreadfutures]

i don't like that solas vallaslin rewrite scene post because a) a lot of solavellan writers have tried addressing that or something similar and it always makes me roll my eyes when we all forget the classic takes and repackage them as new, b) a lot of people on reddit and tumblr and elsewhere have wished for the same thing, c) it always misses the even bigger problem with the vallaslin scene to me.

in that scene, solas stops short of telling you that the gods were evil.

the marks might have been slave markings that were turned, over the ages, into marks of pride and belonging in the culture of the Dalish. and that story is about the Dalish surviving, persevering, and clawing back what makes them connected to their past, when the world would stamp them out.

That's a great story and one that should be respected. Solas acknowledges this twice.

But the vallaslin isn't just a mark of adulthood and a mark of being Dalish. To them, it is not tied to escaping slavery -- because the Dalish don't know that story, until Lavellan finds out in the grotto from Solas that the vallaslin were slave markings.

The vallaslin are dedications to the gods.

To the evil gods who are very much still a threat to Thedas, and very much Solas's enemies.

The more and more we learn about the Evanuris, the more and more the religious practice of worshiping the Dalish gods stands out. The Dalish are very religious. Your Lavellan might or might not be, if you headcanon--and many players aren't religious, or at least are agnostic. Maybe to your Lavellan this is solely about the 'slave marking' part of what Solas tells her in the grotto.

But there is enough dialogue in DAI that Lavellan *can* be very devoted to the gods. And throughout the other games and media, worship of the Dalish gods is important to their culture. With the gods not being locked away forever, not being dead and distant, and being very much evil, that practice feels like the real problem behind the vallaslin scene.

Yeah, I think Solas is "shackled to the past" but not about this. We don't know what his plan really is, we don't know what he really cares about so much in elvhenan that drives him to bring about an apocalypse now. We don't know fully what he thinks was better, or worth bringing back, or worth undoing, besides the 'magic used to be everywhere and we didn't used to hate spirits' bit. There's more to it than that, that we have yet to see.

But we DO know he views the Evanuris as his enemies; we know from him, and from much of the supplemental material (Hi, Hormak) that they were incredibly cruel and monstrous to their people; we know they are not dead, and they are not permanently locked away; we know that they may be unleashed in the future. The Dalish worship them, and dedicate themselves to them, and invoke them in their lives.

We have the very ominous phrase: "Belief makes you more."

From a Bioware-critical/fandom angle, it is uncomfortable to tell a group heavily coded as indigenous and ancient that actually, all of their history is a lie. It's uncomfortable to tell them that actually, Historically Oppressed Group, you were once just as bad as the people who oppress you now.

Sure, you can change the formula of the vallaslin so he can't take it off of Lavellan. Have Lavellan say with even more gusto that now she'll take this knowledge back to her people, so they can truly celebrate all that they've overcome and reclaimed.

That doesn't change that this is a deeply religious group and a religious practice tied to the biggest threat to his past, and to the future.

I think it's a very surface level reading to think that Solas looks at Lavellan and sees 'slave.' She is indomitable, she is Dalish, and he has said before what he admires about her--and her people.

With all that we know, it seems like it's so much more than that. And I think it's pretty shallow to ignore that.

Fans have tried to headcanon this away in a million directions. A popular one: "What if the 'Evanuris' were just really powerful mages who had taken on the names of the true elven gods as an intimidation factor? That way the Dalish aren't ACTUALLY worshiping evil beings, and their whole culture isn't a lie." Sure! then Solas is 'shackled to the past.' If you headcanon that, then the vallaslin and the names of the gods were never really about the Evanuris, so no harm done that the Dalish still worship them. Solas is totally in the wrong for wanting to remove the marks of slavery and god-dedication from Lavellan's face.

There are other options. But yeah I think a lot of these 'rewrites' miss or forget beyond a really surface level understanding of Solas, the Dalish, and religion lol.

[v-arbellanaris]

as an anonymous and mysterious spokesman of the people i would like to hear a refresher on ur lavellans <3 such as their classes and specialisations and who they romance and ummm whatever u consider to be their single most character-defining decision in the game

ohohoho mysterious person, you're asking for lavellan propaganda?? WELL!!!

the first lavellan i came up with was mahanon lavellan, first of clan lavellan. he is very tall, tanned, broad - green-eyed and white-haired; he and his twin sister ellana are "fade-touched", born while clan lavellan made a journey through the emerald graves, being a nomadic clan. han is a somniari and ellana is incredibly fade sensitive herself. seeing as he was caught by templars when he was about 14, it was something he struggled to keep under control and a secret - the templars had enough reason to want him tranquil, without knowing he could kill them in their sleep. whilst in the ostwick circle, han befriended - or rather, was bullied into befriending, another mage by the name of isra trevelyan. she held fast to shem nonsense, even as the self-loathing of it ate her alive, but luckily han was much more knowledgeable about these things, and shared what he knew of the truth of magic and the fade with her. in return for this knowledge, she used what influence she had in the circle to keep him safe. it took an absurd amount of time for han to realise she barely had any influence in the circle, and exactly what these actions cost her - and by then he did, to his own frustration, admire her and care for her quite deeply. in the circle, they were close and affectionate - as affectionate & romantic as circle mages dared to be, anyway - but when the ostwick circle fell, isra chose to stay behind to destroy the phylacteries and han promised to help their friends get out of ostwick alive. when isra didn't rejoin them, han left to find his own clan, at wycome, which is where he stayed until the news of the kirkwall uprising reached them, and the subsequent mage rebellion and conclave. as inquisitor, han is deeply committed to justice, empathy and honesty - principles he sticks to, aggressively, even when confronted by orlais' game. he simply refuses to play, content to leave such things to those who know how to do so, like leliana, or isra, -- or briala, as seen when he gives her everything she needs to rule orlais from the shadows. han lavellan is elven, he is dalish, and he refuses to let anyone forget it or ignore it - he pursues elven knowledge and history, with the intent of reclaiming it for elves. it's probably unsurprising he specialises as a knight-enchanter, reclaiming elven techniques and blending them with his own keeper magic. he doesn't romance anyone, and is most looking forward to returning to his clan after everything is over.

my second lavellan is marya, a hunter of clan lavellan - cousin to han, but there's nothing special about her, really. she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. clan politics and relationships with outsiders were for deshanna and han to manage - marya's job was making sure outsiders didn't come close to camp, and that they had enough supplies, and help find any mischievous halla who made for the hills to coaxe them to come back. even her weapon, a bow, is designed to help her keep her distance. her specialisation, assassin, lets her melt into shadows, unseen. one day, she is only marya, and the next, she is the herald of andraste, and then the inquisitor. in the beginning, she's utterly convinced she's being kept hostage with a very long leash, and isn't particularly aware that she has any options - she listens to the council, and noticed they're leaning towards talking to the templars, and so that's where she goes. she conscripts them, uneasy because she's run into templars before and they're never good news for the clan - did you hear that templars in kirkwall wiped out a whole clan at sundermount? - but she doesn't realise until later that she would have been allowed to express that she'd prefer to work with the mages. the politics of thedas often escapes her, and she's disconnected from the world wround her, isolated by her identity - the situation in orlais is presented as a lovers' spat, and she so reconciles them, as you would any pair of lovers, not realising exactly who was responsible for the purge of the halamshiral alienage. the one comfort she held to, the one familiarity, was solas; the way he talked felt familiar and comforting, his knowledge and wisdom, and how he broke it down for her was deeply reassuring, and she became so steadily enamoured by his wonder at the world. where everything was uncertain, being around him felt like he pulled her forward, and made her real. the anchor changed everything about her, bleaching her hair from dark to light, her eyes from brown to an eerie purple, and when he told her to truth of her vallaslin, she declined having it removed when it was all that was left of her, but asked him to come with her to the arlathven, to talk to the clans together. and that's what it's felt like ever since, really - a huge painful truth she begs him to shoulder with her, to allow her to carry with him.

ANYWAY ENJOY UR PROPAGANDA

[herearedragons]

...saw a post saying that we should use poetic/descriptive ship names more, and you know what, why not. let's try making some for my own ships and maybe finally establishing their ship tags in the process

(note: I'm going to be referring to a specific type of ship names as "BG3-like". I know the BG3 fandom probably didn't invent those but that's where I know them from and that's what the post was referencing, so that's the name they get)

Pillars of Eternity

Edér x Selene - I saw "tide and shore" on that character dynamics poll and I don't think I can come up with anything that beats that.

Aloth x Lorenzo - honestly not sure. The best ones I have are "mirror image" (because their dynamic is about The Parallels and also, wizard reference) and a BG3-like "spellsong" (because. wizard and chanter) but I'm not too attached to either of those. More research required.

Dragon Age

Zevran x Kyana Amell - my absolute first thought was "ill omen" because. uh. he's a Crow. and she's ominous. and if you're not from their friend circle seeing them together is probably a sign of bad luck for you, specifically. I could go BG3-like and call them "crowtower", which sounds pretty metal, but a little less personal to me. (I like the name combination method for them better though, "Zevkya" just sounds cute)

Sera x Evelyn Trevelyan - "lightning in a bottle" (Evelyn is a lightning-specced mage; Sera is a Tempest; both have a chaotic streak that feels less like a problem and more like fun when they're together). this one was kind of a stroke of genuis tbh.

Dorian x Neilar Lavellan - "water and wine". this one has layers. the first layer is Dorian being used to Comfort and Civilization and Neil being a Chronically Outside type. the second layer is the religious/miraculous imagery. the third layer is kind of mean because it references their worst moments (Dorian trying to drink away his problems - wine; Neilar losing control to the Well of Sorrows - water), but no one said that the ship names had to be nice. or did we all forget "ill omen" just a few seconds ago

Blackwall(Thom Rainier) x May Cadash - god, I really want to come up with something that would reference the "white king, black pawns" line from Leverage, just for the timeline where she becomes a righteous mob boss. "white queen, black knight"? "black queen, white knight"? kind of a mouthful but the reference is worth it in my book.

...I don't know how to end this post. I'm putting it in the main tags so. uh. reblog with your own poetic ship names and their explanations? I'd read that. it's pretty fun to make these, actually. also if anyone has suggestions for a ship name for Aloth and a death godlike chanter, send help

[braddourifscareertrajectory]

Thank you for liveblogging your Solas romance. My Lavellan was far too much of a lesbian for an attempt, and I didn't have the spoons for another Inquisition run.

lol, I'm glad you've enjoyed it! I feel like I'm the last person in the fandom to play it, and ngl its been fun to see what's inspired such devotion in people for the last 10 years. Still doing Trespasser and I'm going to at least try to get a few screencaps this time, I just have to stop forgetting to load FRAPS for once

[bardspeak]

Chapter 2 of my Hawke's letters during inquisition! | AO3 Link

This one is a letter from my Hawke (purple mage fenrismancer) left to my friend's inquisitor (Rogue Lavellan almost-josie-mancer). They got along really well really fast and in our canon Hawke made the choice for her and stayed behind in the fade. This is his letter to her in the event he didn't make it.

_

Myrna

It’s not your fault. 

There it is! The only thing I have to say for myself in the event that I don’t make it back from any of the hundreds of things we might do and whatever number of things we may fight over my stay here with the Inquisition. I hope you never have to read this, but I also hope that if you do, you’ll listen to me. It’s not your fault. Okay?

I know what it’s like to be put on some sort of pedestal. A hero of myth and legend and all that, when you boil them down a bit, turn into just another person with just another life who are forced to solve - or make - problems far beyond their ken. (Although, if I’m honest with you, Varric was much less effective at making a hero out of me as the Inquisition does you. Which must only make it harder.) 

So many people died in the mess that I and the people I love made - some I know about and others I’ve never even heard of. I ruined people on purpose and I ruined people on accident. I decided things for people I’d never met without even knowing their names. I know how huge and overwhelming it is to feel responsible for a city, let alone a whole world. But just because we can’t help but step on people doesn’t mean you stepped on me. I walked in with my eyes wide open. I always do. 

That’s the thing about me you may or may not have had the chance to learn know. I got so used to having my actions mean something that I run to the next biggest thing in the room. Especially when it’s something I had a hand in releasing. I could have just let Varric keep lying about me, just keep living, but I decided not to. I know that sounds bad, but I think you get it. Or you will, maybe. It couldn’t have been me off living again when I could have helped anybody again. Just once, it’s my turn to die. 

[Page torn here] 

I hope I don’t! But I also hope I helped, if you’re reading this. I hope any of it meant anything. And, actually, I hope you never come to understand. Ignore what I said before. 

I suppose all I’m trying to say is I know how it is versus how it’s supposed to be. I know the guilt that comes from you taking one step and everyone else rushing to finish the mile for you. The different you’s that live neatly constructed in everyone else’s heads. It’s terrible to meet the person you fear you’ll become so nestled into how a stranger thinks of you. People will see you and think they get it. In fact, I’m seeing you and thinking I get it! What if you read all this and scoff? You’re projecting, Hawke. It is, in fact, just you!

And well. That’s all I can hope for, isn’t it? That you weren’t already blaming yourself for my death, or don’t think about the absolutely vast height the fall from that pedestal is. I’m writing all this because you’re a good friend. Because you care. Because I love you. And because I would have really wanted someone to tell me it wasn’t my fault that they died. I never got that, but I can be that for you right now.

Varric gets it and he doesn’t. I’m sure your Josephine gets it and doesn’t, or your… Cullen. The thing is that you aren’t allowed to forget it because of all of them, but you also aren’t allowed to let it drown you. Because I said so, and really I’m quite a bit older than you and therefore smarter, so you should listen to me. Consider it a warning from a man who runs towards danger signs.

I don’t know how to do it. I don’t know how to let myself wake up the next day, and the next, and the next, and keep on doing that without drowning. It’s a point of pretty huge tension in my life currently as of writing this. [I’m in the Inquisition and not making, like, sweet sweet love to my husband. As you can see]. But as much as I see myself in you, I also see a better you, and a better me, maybe. I hope, since you’re reading this, that at least one of us can figure it out. 

Hawke.

[P.S. Meeting you isn’t what damned me. I enjoyed it, in fact! There are many more people out there who will catch you when you fall, because you do it for them in return. You may think you didn’t, but you already did for me.

P.P.S. If you ever get a dog, name it Dog in my honor. Please. Please.]

[voidcat-senket]

20 questions for fic writers

Tagged by @hxhhasmysoul and @subdee!! <3 <3 <3 who are both v lovely go like. look at their blogs. anyway

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

.161

2. What’s your total ao3 word count?

520,484 - 27% of that is one fic looool

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Right now just HxH and SW:Fallen Order series. Sherlock and Star Trek AOS were big ones too

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Closing the Space (Between Us) - again its 27% of my wordcount! It deserves it! the Hunter x Hunter Killugon Reunion fic of my dreams. I am SO PROUD of this one I have handed it to irl friends! On purpose! My partner got me a physical copy for Xmas 2021!

2. Crying Over Yuuri - a Kyou Kara Maou! fic, which is a fandom I am amazed is still being read. It's a Wolfram POV fic where he, you got it, cries over Yuuri. Pretty fluffy ending. I credit the numbers to the fact that not a lot of fic gets written for KKM anymore so it doesn't disappear under all the new stuff

3. Not Unusual - A ST:AO3 Academy Era McKirk. Bones gets a bunch of clues to something going on with Jim... he gets it a little wrong, Jim freaks out because this man has Issues, but it resolves in the end. I wrote this one as a pinch-hit for an exchange back when I was still RPing Jim Kirk @thewinningscenario

4. 5+1: Are They Or Aren't They? - Somehow my Mystrade (Sherlock BBC) still gets hits with fair regularity and I'll never understand why. It's definitely not my best work but it's cute! 5 times people weren't sure if Mycroft and Lestrade are dating, and the time they know (because they receive a wedding invitation!!)

5. One Flew East, One Flew West - a Killugon Modern AU in which Killua and Gon meet at a Psychiatric Recovery Center, with Kurapika as another patient and Leorio as a therapist. written for HxHBB2020. I'm very fond of this one. It makes me cry <3 I'm so happy there's so much fandom diversity in these! (The next 11 are all either HxH or Sherlock, l o l )

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I wish I could say I did! I mean to! Sometimes I am not in a good place so I mean to do it later and then I forget..... whoof. I am so thankful for each and every review, and I want to repay that!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I wrote a LOT of fics in my teens where people died (not all of them are on A03, it didn't exist at the time. I'm not giving you my ff.net ;) ) Surely, one of them! More recently, I wrote a Dragon Age: Inquisition Lavellan/Dorian in response to Dorian preemptively breaking up with me (rude!) that is Pretty Hecking Angsty. It's tagged "hurt no comfort"

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Closing the Space (Between Us) did so much work to get where it was, and they ended up with Everything! My boys <3 (And Alluka)

8. Do you get hate on fic?

Very rarely! I'm pretty lucky in life that I don't get hate generally. Maybe it's because I'm not Out There enough but- who cares! People are nice and sweet and lovely mostly, and I love writing fanfic for/with them :3

9. Do you write smut?

Sometimes it will appear in other fics. I don't really do PWPs, and smut itself is pretty rare because I don't include it unless it's... necessary? Kinda? Like if the story demands it. I personally only read smut in certain moods, so when smut's included I make it easy to skip, but it certainly exists

10. Do you write crossovers?

It depends! In my Sherlock days I had a Sherlock/Stargate Atlantis crossover series and a Sherlock in the HP universe series, but I haven't done any recently.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of! I heard people copy fics over to Wattpad sometimes but I've never looked. I'm not usually in MegaFandoms anyway, so I don't think I'm in any real danger.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

YES!! A few different Sherlock ones! (I guess I was pretty well known in the Mystrade sphere?? IDK that was back on livejournal. Anyone else miss KinkMemes?) I think one got translated to Russian and one to Chinese. Both reached out to me and asked for permission first, which I of course granted! It's very flattering <3

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Way way way back in my teen years I cowrote a few times- one in YuGiOh and one in Fruits Basket with a high school friend. Recently I am technically cowriting a fic with @spyscrapper atm- I say technically because its really an rp l o l (Star Wars: Jedi Survivor Canon Divergent Spyscrapper, it's pretty hecking cool! And painful! :D ) I once cowrote a fic where the other author just like. eliminated my plotline. so. It's not always good, but it's still fun to try!

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

I refuse to pick One. Killugon (HxH), McShep (Stargate Atlantis), Seishirou/Subaru (Tokyo Babylon & X/1999) and any combination of McSpirk (Star Trek) have probably had the most long-lasting impact on me. And

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but probably won’t?

I often feel like I should finish Pulling The Trigger because it's an interesting casefic and I like the thought of a mystery, but... it's 12 years old at this point, so...

16. What are your writing strengths?

Nature-themed metaphors and descriptions! And I feel like I have pretty strong character points of view! Oh, and angst. I'm good at angst. >:)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Planning 🙃 oops what's that. And I use adverbs too much! (but it's fun so I'll keep doing it)

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

It depends why! If a fic is from the POV of Character A and Character B is talking in a language they don't understand, for example, it's fine to use it (though please provide a translation for your reader!) The language switch has to be for a specific reason, and if the character understands it the reader should too. (In One Flew, Gon and Killua sometimes swap to Japanese to disguise their conversations from everyone else- I show that by changing their conversation to italics in most cases.) I definitely wrote a fic as a teen that had all Japanese because I was a weeb and... lol don't do that.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Yugioh, 2001!! It was probably two paragraphs long hahaha

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Closing the Space (Between Us) for sure! God it's so good. I am begging people to read it. If you're going to read One Thing I have written in my entire life-so-far, please let it be that!!

"Tag 20 people:" that seems like a lot hahaha uuhh @spyscrapper @avtorsola @mmuffncakes @nightingalesighs @etoiline @iwishtocountthestars @unicorncoalition @shalnarkonice @missinkylace @thefledglingdm 10 is a reasonable number. but tbh if you wanna do it, do it, I wanna read ur response!

[lasatfat]

dadwc prompt list/info

general info:

I'm most familiar with the Inquisition roster, and I've played Origins enough to get a handle on those guys, I think. DA2, I haven't played as much. I'd avoid Awakenings and Absolution for now, because I haven't got around to them yet.

Please specify the prompt list you're using, if you can, so I can link back to it. Don't worry if you can't.

I'll be reposting stuff to AO3 by default, but if you'd rather I didn't repost for your prompt, I will absolutely respect that.

OT3/poly prompts are welcome, cracky ships are welcome, rarepairs are welcome. "LI swaps" are welcome (e.g. my Surana romances Alistair in my game, but you can request her with Morrigan, for example. Or a non-romanceable character. Anything you like). Nothing really grim, though, please.

If you send me prompts for platonic interactions, I will love you forever. I will give you a little digital kiss/hug/handshake/high five/wave.

If you send me something that I have a real mental block against for some reason, I will let you know and you can send in another prompt, if you want to.

If I combine prompts, I'll post one with a screenshot of the other(s), and privately answer the other ask(s) to link you up.

prompt fills

Blood of the Crow || Two Hands Longing (For Each Other's Warmth) || Tempting Fate || An Unfriendly Wager || Shadows and Tall Trees || Sanctuary || Easy Like a Sunday Morning || Scathefire || A Rose Upon a Thorn || Let Me Walk (Before They Make Me Run) || Risk My Hands to Pick Up Shards || Fair Game || Safe Under Cover || The Beginning of All Things || The Safest Place to Hide (NSFW) || You Will Find Him Next to Me || Don't Look Back Into the Sun || The Nug King's Prize

prompt lists

I have a whole tag for story prompts and ask games HERE; this is just a selection of various types and topics. Again, please include the name of the list if you can, but don't panic if you're on mobile or just forget.

dragon age artefacts

unusual words and Raleigh's lost words

adventuring party dialogue pt. 2 and pt. 3

50 wordless ways to say "I love you"

touches ask game and romance of hands and touch

five love languages

smut prompts and dirty talk

platonic sentence starters

fluffy sentence starters

hurt/comfort dialogue prompts #1

angsty sentence starters

two-part drabble game

my ocs

canon protagonists:

Eireann Surana, Hero of Ferelden - City elf mage, arcane warrior and spirit healer, wielder of Spellweaver. Mother of Farah. Radically kind, values honesty, wishes she didn't have to keep so many secrets. A good tactician. (she/her, bisexual)

Rian Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall - Human hedge mage, force mage. On the diplomatic side of sassy, or the sassy side of diplomatic, depending on your view, but always aims for compassion. (they/them, pansexual)

Gideon Lavellan, Herald of Andraste - Dalish storm mage, Knight-Enchanter. Twin brother of Athim, brother of Aisling. Cunning, and good-hearted, a great believer in uplifting the downtrodden. His title is a burden, but he tries to use his power for good. (he/him, gay)

my other characters (I made characters to try out most of the Inquisition romances, and ended up shoving them all into my canon for funsies):

Athim Lavellan - Dalish mace-and-shield reaver. Twin sister of Gideon, sister of Aisling. Honest and inventive, good with problem-solving. Shares her brother's dry humour. (she/her, bisexual with a preference for men)

Kali Lavellan - Dalish dual-dagger tempest, sketches anything and everything. Perpetually anxious, and hides it well until she doesn't. Always goes the extra mile. (she/her, bisexual)

Sigyn, the Lady Archer - City elf mage of the Kirkwall Circle, escaped at the age of fifteen. Mother of Camile. Isn't used to being around people. Angered by injustice, will always protect those in need, but still building her social confidence. (she/her, grey-ace)

Farid Adaar - Tal-Vashoth mage, shapeshifter. Level-headed and kind-hearted, until a game board or cards come out. A friend to all living things. (he/him, aroace)

Basvaarad Adaar - Tal-Vashoth rift mage, freed saarebas. Says little, and chooses his words carefully. Painfully shy, but loves deeply and well. (he/him, they/them, bisexual)

Nanna Adaar - Half-dwarf Vashoth, two-handed warrior, non-verbal. Brash and hot-tempered, but easily mollified. A lover of all physical contests. (she/her, lesbian)

Torunn Adaar - Vashoth archer and midwife. In-game she's an artificer, but in my heart she's a bard. Emotionally intelligent and always eager to learn new things. (she/her, bisexual greyromantic)

Farah Surana - daughter of Eireann Surana and Alistair Theirin. Gregarious and inquisitive, she could make a friend in an empty room. (she/her)

Camile - adopted daughter of Sigyn. Shy and quiet, but always eager to help. (she/her)

Aisling Lavellan - baby sister of Gideon and Athim Lavellan. She's brought to Skyhold to live with them after their parents are killed in the fighting in Wycome. Still finding her feet, but curious about everything. (she/her)

my 'ships

As I said, I'm up for trying most any ships, but these are all the ones I have in my verses:

oc/canon:

Gideon Lavellan/Dorian Pavus

Eireann Surana/Alistair Theirin

Eireann/Alistair/Kali/Cullen

Kali Lavellan/Cullen Rutherford

Rian Hawke/Anders

Rian Hawke/Varric Tethras

Athim Lavellan/Solas

Rian/Athim/Varric

Sigyn/Blackwall

Basvaarad Adaar/the Iron Bull

Nanna Adaar/Sera

Torunn Adaar/Raleigh Samson (quasiplatonic)

Torunn Adaar/Cullen Rutherford (Lion and the Hind AU)

Kali Lavellan/the Iron Bull (FwB or LatH AU)

Basvaarad Adaar/Cassandra Pentaghast (LatH AU)

Gideon Lavellan/the Iron Bull (FwB)

canon/canon:

Carver Hawke/Merrill Sabrae

Cole/Krem Aclassi

Fenris/Isabela/optional Zevran Arainai

Josephine Montilyet/Leliana

Raleigh Samson/Ser Thrask/Ambra

probably more I can't remember right now

[pellelavellan]

The Journals of Pelle Lavellan

14 Justinian, 9:34 Dragon

I'm scared my secret might get out. I don't know what to do. People can't find out. I'm supposed to get married to Finni in the autumn. I know that she knows my secret, but nobody else does. And for good reason too. I'd never live it down. It would be social suicide. What would my parents say? Or worse, Mallas' dad? I know he's not my dad but he really does like make sure I don't forget how much he doesn't like me.

Anyways, Faris scared me today in the woods. Jumped right out of the bushes and shouted at me so loud. I was so scared I fell over. But then he did something weird. He just like...he was just leaning over me with his hands on the grass on both sides of my head staring at me. I don't know why I thought he was going to beat me up, but I just had a bad feeling so I held my breath and waited for it.

He asked me to breathe, and cursed before telling me he wasn't going to hurt me and how jumpy I was. I guess he's right, I could stand to be a bit braver but fuck what was I supposed to think when he came out of the bushes shouting and pinning him to the ground?

He let me sit up, but he was still staring at me and I didn't know why. Because I'm a glutton for punishment I asked him why he'd even pinned me to the ground in the first place if he wasn't trying to hurt me or if there wasn't someone else hiding in the bushes waiting to do something embarrassing to me. He didn't answer me of course, he just gave me another shove and told me not to get any funny ideas.

That was the first instance I started to worry that he knew something. What funny ideas could I possibly get? Okay--a lot. I'm a teenage boy and some guy I've been crushing on just pinned me down and made direct eye contact with me. OF COURSE my mind was going all kinds of places that I would absolutely keep to myself. Faris is too old for me anyways , he's older than Nara, and she's four years older than me.

He's cute sure...and muscular, and cocky, and loud, and really good at sparring he always wins. Sure I like to watch him--for science. But I'm just looking right? What's wrong with watching? I can't believe I'm trying to justify having a crush on one of the hunters to a piece of paper right now. That's kind of weird of me, but I guess it feels like I'm talking to someone that can't answer or tell me how weird I am. Paper's a good listener, I wonder if paper ever feels a way about always being told people's deepest thoughts and just having to keep it a secret?

That doesn't really matter. Anyways, he put his hands back next to my head after he shoved and he accused me of liking him. I denied it of course. He doubled down, 'you're not a fighter Sibs, you don't have any good reason to watch me with the amount of attention that you do.' I wasn't giving in though. I told him I didn't like him, might have even told him to fuck off. What was I supposed to say? Yes, I think about you a lot and I like you a lot? I'm not that stupid.Or I didn't think so because he decided to challenge that answer.

I still can't believe this happened even writing about it, but he leaned down and kissed me, and my stupid fucking ass kissed him back. He laughed at me, not in a nice way, in that mean way people do when they've caught you in a lie and they're going to gloat about it. And he did. It was awful, like all the things that seemed so cool about him were suddenly gone and he was just mean. I don't think I've ever changed my mind about someone so fast. My face got so hot I felt someone was holding a lit match to me and passing it over my cheeks.

As if it couldn't get any worse he asked me 'Are you sure about that?' I'd really had enough of it. I had two options, wrestle him to set myself free or cry, which I was about ready to do but I'd be damned if I cried in front of him because he fucking sucked. So I pounded on his chest until he backed off and I ran home, ignored my mother when she called my name when I walked past her with the sour face I probably had on, and crawled under the covers and hid from the world.

She tried to talk to me. I told her I wasn't feeling well so she advised me to get some rest, said she was always willing to talk if I wanted to. It's been a few hours now. I didn't talk her. I didn't even really talk to Nara when she came home and asked me what was wrong as I'm sure my mum told her I was acting strange.

I haven't really talked to anyone actually all day. I only got up to make dinner for everyone and eat with them, then I went back to bed. I don't want to talk about it really. Telling people would mean I would have to explain things I'm not ready to talk about, not yet. And fuck, if I told anyone what would Faris do to me? I don't wanna think about that either.

I think I hate him. I hate him so much.

[the-rebel-archivist]

Fanfic Writer Questions

Tagged by @kittlesandbugs, thank you so much!

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 24, but there are a lot of things that I've only posted on reddit or kept in a document, I've been trying to upload some old works recently though!

2. What's your total AO3 word count? 47,945

3. What fandoms do you write for? Dragon Age mainly, but also Fallen Hero, some Baldur's Gate 3 (not posted to AO3 yet but there is... a decent amount), a bit of Mass Effect and a bit of The Exile

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Some of these are at the top simply by virtue of being older and/or with more popular pairings

Stay - Dragon Age Inquisition, Cullavellan, early work, Cullen's perspective on a late evening reviewing paperwork in the Inquisitor's quarters. He makes a scandalous suggestion: forging her signature

Eloquence - Dragon Age Inquisition, Cullavellan again, also Cullen's perspective, set earlier than the one above. It's very cute, early work but full of words unspoken and gentle teasing

Deliberations on the Inevitable - Dragon Age post-Origins, Morrigan/Amell, from Morrigan's perspective. A mouthful of a title. The Warden is convinced to leave to find a cure for the Calling after Kieran tells him his blood sings louder

Amell Family Letters - Dragon Age Inquisition-ish, letters between the Warden, Kieran, and Morrigan while he's out trying to find a cure and they're at Skyhold

Motherly Love - Dragon Age post-Inquisition, Cullavellan, early work, Lavellan has difficulty bonding with her daughter. The story itself I'm considering retconning but it was really personal to write

5. Do you respond to comments? I try to but I have a habit of bursting with joy when I read them and telling myself "I'll respond when I get to my desk" and then forgetting that I should

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Most of my fics usually end reasonably positively even if the path they take to get there can get rough. I think maybe I am cursed, maybe I am gifted might be the angstiest overall, the PTSD of a war criminal Exile commander still towing the party line before exile

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I don't know if I have any that aren't at least a little bittersweet, but of them A Father's Legacy is probably the happiest. Colonist Shepard has a long-needed talk with his parents and has a chance to try to learn from their mistakes with his daughter

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not that I've seen

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Only for fun in private with friends. There's some truly silly smut on my drive that will never see the light of day publicly

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? Also only in private with friends, but only once. A satirical TWC crossover into FHR

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? No I don't think so

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Nope

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not really, I've started a few collaborations but they didn't get very far

14. What's your all time favorite ship? Anything with Morrigan. It's always great, there's always a little edge to it even in extremely loving fics (as there should be!)

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Raynda and Tamaris's Wycome Adventure, a pre-Inquisition short novella-length fic. It's mostly there, kind of. Needs refining and editing and at this point probably a rewrite

16. What are your writing strengths? Period novel-like prose, describing impressions, established npc voices, and I'm really good at writing child POVs

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Plotting a longer work, or rather coming up with a compelling problem that will build tension toward a satisfying climax. It's why I trend towards short in-between ficlets instead

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? If I know the language maybe, it just has to have a purpose beyond obfuscation and I'd rather not use google translate

19. First fandom you wrote for? Dragon Age

20. Favorite fic you've written? I'm torn between Deliberations on the Inevitable and The Queen but I think it may be The Queen. The courtly love and the metaphors are things I'm still proud of. It also comes as no surprise but both fics feature strong women, Morrigan and Anora.

I'm not sure who hasn't been tagged already so I'll tag @ohmypawsandwhiskers @wolfs-dawn and @plisuu but if you see this consider yourself invited to fill it out

[smiletimeisrunningout]

ROLEPLAY HISTORY!

The rules are simple! Post characters you’d like to roleplay as, have roleplayed as, and might bring back. Then tag ten people to do the same (if you can’t think of ten, just write down however many you can and tag that number of people). Please repost, don’t reblog!

CURRENT MUSE(S):

here on smiletimeisrunningout but also previous blogs:

Emma since before 2012. Though she kinda counts like more than one muse considering she has several main universes and then adaptations to other shows lol

on my multi savingthrcw but they are all either severely canon divergent or even alternate universe versions or ocs, with only a few exceptions:

Sarah Walker (Chuck) (closest to canon)

Jenny II (Doctor Who)

Stella (oc)

Terra from (ff6)

AU Jemma Simmons (Agents of SHIELD)

Kate Austen (Lost)

Ana Lucia Cortez (Lost)

the Book and Tvshow versions of Alina Starkov (Grishaverse) (may sorta be put on hiatus soon because I didn't write them as soon as I added them and I feel I'm forgetting how I meant to write them lol)

Ellie Bartowski (Chuck) (like Sarah she's close to canon but has canon divergent verses)

Alex McHugh (Chuck) (like Ellie)

Solona Amell (DAO) modded player's character

Neria Surana (DAO), player's character

Lily Tabris (DAO) same as Neria

Ellana Lavellan (DAI) player's character

Lex (BG3) player's character

Tauriel (The Hobbit)

Rose Tyler (Doctor Who) Bad Wolfed version

Emma Swan but nearly closed (OUAT)

Clarke Griffin (The 100)

WANT TO WRITE:

(But will not write for sure because I don't have a grasp of 'historical' English language and I could never write the correct dialogue for them, and I'm not going to butcher canon characters making them speak in an unjustified modern way)

Penelope Featherington (Bridgerton)

Young Queen Charlotte (from Bridgerton universe)

Mary Woodhull (Turn WS)

Yennefer (The Witcher)

(But I will not write because I don't think I can channel them properly)

Inej Ghafa (Shadow and Bone tvshow)

Parker (Leverage)

Claire Littleton (Lost)

Daisy Johnson (AoS)

(And I might write)

ocs I'm picturing in my head

HAVE WRITTEN:

Bucky Barnes (MCU) around 2012 when characterization didn't really matter and we were tremendously ooc but having fun

Ruby and Belle from OUAT, same as Bucky

Maria Hill/Robin Scherbatski as mentioned above

oc inspired by Lara Croft

other versions of canon Emma Swan (OUAT)

Snow White and her mother Eva (OUAT)

Elizabeth Swann (POTC)

canon Jemma Simmons and more canon divergent versions with their own (surprisingly long lived) blogs

Britta Perry (Community)

Lily Evans (HP)

more that I have forgotten

WOULD WRITE AGAIN:

my oc Ada

tagged by: @honorhearted and @pagetreader tagging: @retrograderesemblance @writtenxbeginnings @annastrxng @hqlfbloods @trcstme @serpcntes @gccdstories @forthewinn and anyone who wants to jump in!

[greypetrel]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you @theluckywizard for the tag! It's been fun to compile :3

1. how many works do you have on ao3? 6

2. what’s your total ao3 word count? 356,534 (from last October. It's higher since I haven't upload a lot of ficlets I wrote here, oops)(But! it's my AO3 birthday, yeeeeh!)

3. what fandoms do you write for? Dragon Age, there's a crossover with LOTR/Silmarillion. I don't know if I'll ever write anything solely on Tolkien lore, I tend to reason per OCs in stories and I feel slightly bad in treating other's characters as my own.

4. what are your top five fics by kudos? - Home Was Never On The Ground (CullenxLavellan, long fic)(also known as Monster Fic) - She of Many Names (CullenxLavellan, a Dragon Age and LOTR - crossover) - The Night Before First Day (Some CullenxLavellan but very on the sidelines. it's Solas acting as Santa. And it rhymes.) - One For the Road (FenrisxLavellan, Angst is over 9000, 2 chapters.) - Death and All of His Friends (HawkexMerrillxIsabela, I'll get on with it but everything is on hold because I want to get Monster fic done before the year ends)

5. do you respond to comments? Oh yes, of course! Jumping on my seat and being very happy about it. I'm wordy, so chances are that comments will be answered with more lore.

6. what’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Death and All of His Friends, right now.

7. what’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? The Night Before First Day.

8. do you get hate on fics? Not that I know of. The worst hate I got in the fandom were some assholes who commented on an adoribull fanart here on Tumblr. I didn't want to learn how to say "F*ggot" in Russian, but I did. They didn't expect me to understand and reply in Russian, and they never got back.

9. do you write smut? if so, what kind? … Tried to. I'm self-conscious about my writing, so it never got posted. I don't know if it ever will. It was just to see if I could, but for now I'd rather keep it personal.

10. do you write crossovers? what’s the craziest one you’ve written? Yes! I love making connections between things and fiction and see similarities and who inspired some others. I have She of Many Names, which is a Dragon Age with Lord of the Rings crossover. There's some Silmarillion, but as long as highlighting characters background goes. A person on Instagram commented on one artwork of my Lavellan (miss cinnamon "I cry if you tell me that there are kittens under the rain" roll) asking me if she was Sauron. I laughed so art imagining her as an evil overlady that I HAD TO write it. "It's all a big misunderstanding".

11. have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know of.

12. have you ever had a fic translated? Nope.

13. have you ever co-written a fic before? I haven't, but I'd love to!

14. what’s your all-time favorite ship? You'll pry HawkexMerrillxIsabela from my cold, dead hands. HawkexFenris has the best ANGST. FaramirxEowyn. Been there since I was 10, will probably die on that hill. I see the fascination of Solavellan, but Cullavellan is there above, of course. And, MaharielxMorrigan. I am surely forgetting something, but it's one case of "I am asked what's my favourite movie and suddenly my brain thinks we never saw ONE movie in our life".

OH OH OH EnjolrasxGrantaire. I SAID IT.

15. what’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? I have another chapter half blorted down for One For the Road but I'm not feeling it. It's sliding towards a triangle and it's losing all the appeal to me.

16. what are your writing strengths? Oh shit, that's difficult ahahahahahah. As above, I'm self conscious about my prose. I'll try, tho.

Dialogue (been writing my own comics for years, those are just dialogue. I have exercise on that, ahahahah)

… angsty, emotional scenes?

People crying. watches Aisling

17. what are your writing weaknesses? Language and mispellings. English is not my first language, and as every person who speaks more than one, I have a very confused brain. I re-read my own writing again but there's always something missing. I also tend to write prose without a precise plan: I started writing fanfiction after YEARS of not writing prose after some comments that caught me in a moment when I was particularly fragile and convinced me my prose was never going to be ok. In order to ease me back into it, I started writing Monster Fic purposefully without a plan of action or a plotline not to stress myself too much and convince my brain it's just a hobby to relax. It worked, but in long fics I prefer having plans, I read it again and I think it shows that there's little planning ahead. When synthesis ability was being distributed, I was trying to pet a dog.

18. thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? Uh, English not being my first language counts? xD Beside that: I wrote some SIMPLE lines in wannabe-Latin, some words here and there in French. If it's something long, tho, I'm against it. Personal preference, I'd rather have my readers understand what's being said if it's important, rather than showing that I know more than one language. Personal preference, I also tend not to like movies that are all done in dead languages that nobody speaks, with subtitle. Glad the writer can master ancient Latin, here's a cookie, now what.

19. first fandom you wrote for? … Inuyasha in middle school. I drew small comics for my friends over it. And, I drew a parody comic of the Iliad in my first year of high school, which is the first fandom with a COMPLETED fic.

20. favorite fic you’ve ever written? … Still with the difficult questions AHAHAHAHAHAH. These two because I got to use friends' blorbos and I was so nervous but also had the best of times: - Three Cards Trick [ Maria Hawke becomes the official third Science Sibling. They adopt a skeleton. ] - Saving Grace [ Aisling as a companion for Kerry Hawke in DA2. She refuses to pay for elfroot, but will find a way to acquire "some" from the Templars. ]

- Could be Worse. [ Mahariel, Morrigan, and Aisling becomes Ghost Hunters in modern time New York. It should have been a scam. ] I live for quotations and it set my head on fire and it's yet another modern AU I'll get back to sooner or later.

- Death and all of His Friends. [ Raina Hawke, human disaster but mildly successfull trash raccoon, fucks up royally at the end of Act 2.] Originally prompted by salsedine but I'm linking the polished AO3 version. Raina Hawke won the lottery of having issues similar to mine, and writing her has always some form of therapy. But I did it, I like the three parts, and I completed it and posted it anyway.

- Not the Years but the Mileage. [ Booby traps in the Temple of Mythal. Cullen breaks stuff that should be in a museum. ] And this one because again, quotings. Arbor Wilds (that mission is flawed, but the environment? Not.). And that piece of dialogue where Aisling can't talk and Cullen just understands her mumbling.

- Something Fishy. [ Raina and Garrett Hawke, loyal knights at the court of the Red King of Amaranthine, gets sent on a... Fishy mission.] This was probably the funniest to write, and nothing. I thrive in angst or in absurd crack fics, and this by now is my peak crack.

... I wrote for years and I hope it was remotely interesting.

TAGGING BACK: @shivunin @ndostairlyrium @heniareth @oxygenforthewicked @rosella-writes @scribbledquillz @star--nymph @zenstrike and YOU who are reading.

[bluewren]

Character Song Tag Meme!

ohhhh👀Thanks for the tag!!! @nirikeehan I've so many songs that I love from Tali's playlists but never share enough. So here goes!

The rules are: Choose one of your characters and list songs that fit them.  

I have three playlists for Taliesen Lavellan, one for herself, one for Taliesen/Solas, one for Taliesen/Sera

For Taliesen, the builder told to wage war:

ONE OK ROCK - Stand Out Fit In

I know they don't like me that much Guess that I don't dress how they want I just wanna be myself, I can't be someone else Try to colour inside their lines Try to live a life by design I just wanna be myself, I can't be someone else Someone else

Paramore - Pressure

Now that I'm losing hope And there's nothing else to show For all of the days that we spent Carried away from home Some things I'll never know And I had to let them go I'm sitting all alone Feeling empty

One of Taliesen's biggest struggles as Inquisitor is that she is she felt disgusted at being the leader of religious organization for a goddess that she isn't a believer in. Another moment that her oppressors got to decide who she is. So she lashes out a lot while feeling trapped inside the cage.

Taliesen/Sera: Chloe Moriondo - Strawberry Blonde

Her hair isn't dark, strawberry blonde And when I'm with her, nothing is wrong Takes my hand in hers when the lights aren't on Smaller than mine and oh God I am gone I wanna be with her all day (all day) I'm a bitch to everyone else anyway It's hard to keep a tight leash on my head All I wanna do is kiss her lips in my bed

There's a funny bit of wordplay for this song, Sera and Tali are both blondes. 😆 So the lyrics can apply to both of them. For Taliesen, Sera was the first one that told her that she didn't owe anything to the world and she can be happy for herself.

Taliesen/Solas: SVRCINA - Meet Me on the Battlefield

No time for rest No pillow for my head Nowhere to run from this No way to forget Around, the shadows creep Like friends, they cover me Just wanna lay me down and finally Try to get some sleep We carry on through the storm Tired soldiers in this war Remember what we're fighting for

Solas is the first friend that Taliesen made at Haven, they were the types to instantly get along. 🥺Her own beliefs about elves needing their own culture in the present, meant that they didnt have much to argue on that topic. Solas became the only person who allowed to be just nerd out to in the beginning. That built instant trust between them.

Tagging: @wailing-willow | @cleverblackcat | @noire-pandora | @oxygenforthewicked | @rakshadow | @musetta3 | @weatheredlaw | @truebluedreamer

[saltybiowarefantears]

The ever lovely @vakarians-babe tagged me to make my ocs in this picrew and how can I ignore such a thing 💖

It's the terrible trio of my Dragon Age ocs starting from the top left: Diana Cousland, Lysandra Hawke, and ending with Evahala Lavellan. Bit more scatterbrained today, so they didn't turn out exactly as I wanted, but I also didn't want to forget about doing it.

As always don't feel pressured to do it but I'll tag @emmavakarian-theirin @pinacoladamatata @alchemyarchetype @ashabellanars @razz-berry @rozhevisny to continue the train. They definitely don't need to be DA ocs either, I've just had the same ones for years and haven't moved on with my life.

[spainkitty]

The Fiona is Secretly Alistair's Mother Scenes Part 2

Lanil's Pieces Masterlist

Her advisors talked over her head, and she let them. Their voices were a familiar and by now comforting backdrop. In her hands she read over the missive from King Alistair. His missive wasn't long, nor terribly eloquent. At all. It made Lavellan like him despite their first and only meeting. A little bit. He seemed like someone she could be friends with. Or at least laugh with in between wanting to slap him upside the head.

...I'm hoping you'll help. Something something grateful something. Wait... did you just write that? You scribes do this on purpose, don't you?

She grinned and shook her head. Even his scribes and staff teased him. Despite the circumstances they were all in, despite the request he made now, he did seem... happy. Or well. Perhaps just well. But he was definitely and completely himself, with no pretenses and an easy humility that didn't make him weak. Just... human. The common king, that's what they called him, right? Would King Maric be proud of him? Would Fiona... want to see this?

"Leliana," Lavellan said, before she could think about it.

"Yes, Inquisitor?"

She held up the paper. "This is a copy, right?"

"Yes, I keep the originals in a locked box for a short time, and then I burn them. The more incriminating, I burn sooner."

Lavellan blinked. "Have you burnt the original of this one?"

"Not yet. It's not especially--"

"And he signed it, himself?" She waved the paper where Alistair's name was obviously not a personal signature.

"Why, Inquisitor, are you asking for the king's autograph?" Leliana asked, smirking. "I know him quite well. I'm sure he'd be delighted to send you something more personal."

"Oh yes, I'm absolutely enamored of him," Lavellan drawled. "Didn't you know I love them Ferelden, human, and forgetting to put their crowns on before they burst in and yell at me. I especially love it when they're already married and infamously besotted. I'll kiss his autograph good night and dream of elf-blooded princes and princesses."

Josephine and Leliana were already laughing by the time she got to the kissing part.

"I don't think the Hero of Ferelden would like it much," Josephine said. "I hear she's quite fierce with a bow."

"Please, flirt with Alistair as obviously as possible. He'll get so confused and then maybe Aleandria will come back from wherever she is," Leliana teased.

"Yes, the danger of getting shot with a bow so you can flirt with a married man sounds greatly appealing," Cullen noted dryly.

Lavellan's lips twitched as Josephine and Leliana laughed again.

"But truly, could I have the original? I..." She looked down at those last few lines. "I think I know someone who would like to see this. It would mean a lot to... them."

"Do you trust them not to forge his signature or lose it?" Leliana asked, although she looked like she wanted to do anything but say yes.

"She--They'll probably burn it themselves just so that wouldn't happen. I think. Yes, I trust them." She nodded decisively.

"That fills me with confidence, Inquisitor," Leliana said with a frown. Lavellan grinned. "As you wish. But if Ferelden is suddenly filled with remarkably good forgeries of King Alistair's autograph, I'll tell him who's at fault."

"Oh good, I'll finally be able to meet the true love of my life again. Tell him I pine for him, will you." She set the copy of the missive on the desk and turned to walk out.

"If you like, I could send him a scented handkerchief along with our reply!" Josephine suggested.

"Do you think he prefers pine trees or horse sweat?" Lavellan asked over her shoulder. "I'm sure you know what's best. Also, I don't have a handkerchief."

"Perhaps I should leave the meetings early. I'm starting to regret taking my time," Cullen muttered under his breath as he gathered up his papers.

"Of course, dear Commander. But just think, you would've missed such crucial information," Leliana said, eyes dancing wickedly.

"That you three can't be serious the moment someone brings up romance?"

"Ferelden. Human. Well, that's two out of three, isn't it?" Josephine asked Leliana innocently. "Leliana, isn’t the Commander Ferelden and human?"

Paper scattered over the floor and the large, heavy, war table skidded over stone when Cullen bumped, hard, against the edge. He winced and bent over double, muttering to the Maker.

"Why yes, Josie, I think he is. Perhaps he also would like a handkerchief scented with pine trees and horse sweat?"

"I definitely regret staying longer."

...

The original message from King Alistair was on her bed when she went up after training to wash before dinner. It was an innocuous little roll of parchment, tied with a pink bow, but Lavellan was sure of what it was before she even opened it. His name at the bottom was a messy scrawl, wide, loopy, and hurried. His big A was written the same way she wrote them, and she didn't know why it was such a jolt to see.

Leliana said once that Lavellan's writing looked Chantry-educated. King Alistair must've been, too, like Cullen. She rolled the parchment, tied it off, and decided she'd wait to wash. She wanted to give this to the right person immediately.

The library was hushed and serene, the smell of parchment and paper and ink like a soothing balm. She wasn't much of a reader, so she didn't know why she liked it so much, but she did. Her hand trailed along the bannister as she made her way to the former Grand Enchanter.

"Inquisitor, it is a pleasure," Fiona greeted, her husky voice sounding genuinely pleased. "It'll be time to dine soon. Would you care to join us this evening?"

Lavellan blinked. "Oh. That sounds like... a really good idea, actually. Does Dorian join you sometimes?"

"Yes. He's always amusing. There are a few that..." Fiona broke off with a guilty frown. "A few that are uncomfortable with a Tevinter, after... everything. But he has charmed most."

"That sounds like Dorian," Lavellan agreed, grinning. "But I didn't come for that, but I will, if the offer is--"

"Any time. You are always welcome among us. You are our Inquisitor, savior, and sister in magic."

There was something about that. Something that eased a tension inside her. She had made the mages her allies, she felt no shame or regret about it, but she'd been so careful to keep them at arm's length. Not wanting to show a distinct favoritism when hundreds of soldiers were ready outside to die for her, and she hadn't had to prove much of anything to any of them. Well, she had, but it hadn't been on purpose.

But she was a mage. And the idea of spending an evening among them, her other people and just as integral to who she was, was impossible to resist.

Lavellan took out the scroll and handed it to Fiona. It was even easier than she thought it would be, although Leliana's uncertainty and suspicions still echoed in her head.

"What's this?" Fiona unrolled it, eyes scanning the short text. A hand raised to her mouth to stifle the almost silent gasp.

"It's the original, so he signed it himself. I thought... I couldn't introduce you, maybe it is too late, but maybe you'd like that." Lavellan shrugged, discomforted by the sudden pallor of Fiona's skin.

Maybe it had been a bad idea after all.

"Da'len, ma serannas."

Lavellan startled at Fiona using Elvish. She was just as startled at the swell of emotion that throbbed throughout each word, making her thick Orlesian accent even thicker.

"Excuse me, that was... inappropriate." Fiona rolled the paper back. "He is... exactly like his father. I can hear Maric in his words. How... extraordinary." She was smiling her placid, gentle smile, but Lavellan could see a tremble at the corner of it. "Thank you for this." She held out her hand.

Lavellan took the scroll mutely. Fiona bowed her head, a minute gesture of respect, then turned away. Her steps were not hurried, her posture relaxed. But Lavellan had no doubt the mage was heading somewhere private.

She knew that look.

Lavellan glanced down at the paper. Leliana would be relieved and pleased to have it back. It was, in fact, better this way.

But in her room, hidden in the corner of her pillowcase, the only two messages from clan Lavellan she'd ever have were wedged tight. A crumpled ball immovable, unreadable, but there.

"Grand Enchanter," Lavellan said, striding across the floor. There was an almost imperceptible pause before Fiona turned.

"Just Fiona is acceptable, Inquisitor."

"Uh. Right. Here." She grabbed Fiona's hand and shoved the message there. She then quickly backed up, hands clasped behind her. "To remember your friend. To remind you his son is well. And happy."

"Inquisi--"

"I have to go wash up and get changed if I want to be on time for dinner. I'll see you then." Lavellan spun on her heel and fled the tower.

Fiona glanced down at the slightly mangled paper. Then, she slipped it into her pocket, eyes a little too bright.

To Part I

[crossdressingdeath]

tbh the exalted council never really made sense to me as it is because you can... play an inquisitor who doesn't want to be there. who doesn't want to lead the inquisition. this is their chance!! my lavellan would've jumped at the chance to finally go home and away from the chantry. like hands down, first day, inquisition disbanded before anyone learns of the qunari invasion byeeee.

so to deal with this i have a headcanon: "disbanding the inquisition" is just a fun choice of words. the actual choice at the council is "continue as it was before" or "allow the inquisition to be absorbed into fereldan or orlais". it's free military who wouldn't want it lmao.

quiz being blackmailed into still leading the inquisition is also fun!! especially if the divine they helped appoint is in on this and is willingly participating in the blackmail or tries to mitigate it's consequences on the quiz, except it still drives a huge wedge between her and quiz.

exalted council and the inquisition are fun if you forget bioware's input skdjdkjsk

The trouble is that it's made very clear that Ferelden just wants the Inquisition gone; they really do want the Inquisition disbanded! They don't want a Chantry-affiliated military on their land, and they definitely don't want an Orlesian military (which is what Orlais wants the Inquisition to be). The Fereldan monarchy is smart enough not to trust a Chantry-affiliated military as far as they can throw it, while the Orlesians are used to the Chantry basically existing to prop them up.

But yeah, if you're playing an unwilling Quiz the only real explanation for the Inquisition's continued existence is that they're being forced into it. The Inquisition is no longer needed and Quiz didn't want to be the Inquisitor to begin with, so why is it still going? And the only Divine who (potentially) isn't involved in blackmailing, threatening, or otherwise forcing Quiz into continuing as Inquisitor is Vivienne! Cassandra and Leliana were both involved in it from the start, and so at the absolute minimum would as Divine know that Quiz would not want them delaying the Exalted Council that could lead to an end to their suffering. ...Actually, just in general the concept of Leliana or Cassandra fighting to delay the Exalted Council despite knowing that Quiz is actively looking for a way out of the Inquisition is. kind of messed up actually. Anyway though! Yeah, so much could've been done with the tensions of the Exalted Council, especially for a Quiz who wants the Inquisition to end. Which is probably why Bioware chases the player out of it as fast as possible!