#i miss how much of a dramatic bitch anders was

[crystalvfae]

Gonna try out sticker sheets for the first time! I wanted to work on a layout that fit thematically.

[stopcallingmescary]

Man, the problem with wanting to do the plot-relevant romances in Dragon Age is that most of my characters would absolutely not fall for these people and I'm having to rewrite scenes in my head to make these work

[isakvaltersnake]

Maybe it’s because I am old, 37, I actually felt more pity towards Omar than anger. Ander has ignored, kept secrets from and belittled him for two seasons, first because of Polo and then because of his illness, so I can understand that Omar had enough. Plus I don’t think that a 17/18-year-old should have to take care of a cancer patient as much as he did, especially without support from adults. In a perfect world he should have broken up with Ander first but how do you dump a cancer patient. 1/2

2/2 Plus Ander told him to have sex with someone else so Malick wasn’t cheating in my eyes. I am not sure if they ever had an exclusive relationship because Omar was ok with Ander fooling around with Polo. I hoped that they would have broken up because Ander told Omar that he treats him like shit because he always comes back which isn’t healthy and Omar seemed to have feelings for Malick so they aren’t really ready to be in an adult relationship.

so a lot happening here and i’ll try to touch on it all and i should start by saying, i am also 31 so i think differing opinions on this stuff probably has more to do with exposures and individual life experience than age.  

one: ander having kept secrets from omar and belittling him. so the first case of secrets was because of his best friend having murdered his other best friend’s sister. i don’t know that i blame him for keeping that one a secret, it’s a reactionary response from a kid who also wanted to keep his relationship, the only area of light he had at that time, completely separate. the next secret being his own cancer, which he was convinced would kill him, a teenager, yea i don’t think i blame him for keeping that one to himself for a while either, who could. as for belittling him??? maybe i missed this but the only thing i can even think that would come close is his internalized homophobia last season which.... bruh, come on, i encourage you to do some self education about internalized homophobia cause it’s a bitch

two: omar having a poor reaction as a teenager who’s partner is diagnosed with cancer. yes, this is actually the opinion here that i’m most aligned with and if it stopped at pushing him away and being reckless or not handling the cancer well then i would be very sympathetic. but instead they wrote him as being completely cold blooded about it in pretty short order. after everything those two had been through for his boyfriend, who he loves, to be diagnosed with cancer and suddenly because he doesn’t feel like fucking right now he’s just out?? it doesn’t make sense in the context of the foundation they’ve built over the past two seasons. not to mention the sudden 180 that happens in the finale. it was just messy, poorly conceived and clearly put together out of a desire to be as messy and dramatic as possible.

three: the open relationship thing. well they’ve never discussed one way or another and both of them throw it out as a last ditch effort to give each other happiness in impossible situations so, i don’t think i’d qualify that as a super healthy open relationship. omar forgave ander for polo, that’s true, and you can argue that it’s because he’d pushed ander away at that point and it could have been interpreted as them having been broken up. i think you’ll find that ander also forgave omar for malick, to the extent that he actually tries to push him away because he thinks it’s what he wants. there are a couple key differences here, one is that ander told omar about polo immediately after it happened where omar lied and was hiding malick, two polo was a one off where malick was not, and three while ander told omar he could mess around omar brushed this off which, if that’s me in that relationship, seems like him suggesting he has no plans to pursue that, and finally the presence of these alleged “feelings” between omar and malick, which brings us to...

four: the development of these feelings between omar and malick. again, maybe i missed it cause all it looked like to me was two dudes who were sexually compatible. we saw next to no emotional development so miss me with that personally. 

ultimately as i said different people consume media differently, but to me their relationship and omar’s character, who had before this season been my favourite, felt betrayed for the sake of cheap dramatics

[pikapeppa]

For the FenHawke prompt. "Love at first sight? What bullshit."

HAH yesss this one was SO fun to fill. I also realized while researching for this that uhhh I’m pretty sure Varric’s romance serial Swords and Shields is based loosely on Aveline and Donnic?? LMAO.

Anyway, enjoy some merry-band-of-misfits fun and some sexual tension! XD

Read on AO3 instead.

*****************

“Varric, I don’t approve of this idea,” Aveline said sternly.

The wily storyteller blinked innocently. “Why not? You of all people should appreciate it.” He gestured dramatically with his hands. “A Knight-Captain and a Guardsman. Forbidden love, political intrigue, and spine-tingling romance. It’ll be a huge success.” He lowered his hands and smiled at Aveline in a wheedling manner. “And it’ll only be very loosely based on true events. And I’ll be changing the whole courting thing a bit.” He frowned thoughtfully. “A lot, actually.”

“You’ll have to completely make that part up from scratch, Varric,” Isabela piped up cheerfully. “Aveline, you’re many things, but a flirtatious vixen you are not.” She elbowed Hawke playfully.

Aveline scowled, a rosy flush creeping over her freckled cheeks. “Shut up, you tart,” she snapped, then turned back to Varric authoritatively. “Varric, no. You absolutely cannot borrow from mine and Donnic’s life. It’s private! What if someone recognizes - I mean-” She coughed, obviously flustered, then took an apple chip from the bowl on the floor and stuffed it in her mouth. “Besides, it will be boring,” she mumbled through her full mouth. “Nobody will read it.”

The Knight-Captain’s face was absolutely flaming red by this time. Fenris smirked and wrapped his arms loosely around his knees as he listened to their exchange. What had started out as Aveline’s very serious training demonstration with Toby had swiftly devolved into a gossip-and-snacks session, and now they were all seated on the floor in the front of the hearth in Hawke’s main room.

Varric looked at Aveline disbelievingly. “You really think nobody would read a story about love at first sight between a Knight-Captain and a Guardsman?”

Merrill clasped her hands together and blinked her big green eyes. “It sounds lovely, Varric,” she chirped. “I would read it.”

Then Hawke groaned loudly. “No way!” she expostulated. “Love at first sight? What bullshit! Don’t write that insipid crap. It puts crazy ideas in people’s heads. Do a sequel to Siege Harder instead! Now that I’d read in a heartbeat.”

Varric folded his arms and grinned at her. “Hawke, I’m surprised. I thought you’d enjoy that romantic shit.”

“No,” she said dismissively. “Love at first sight is another way of saying ‘I’m horny as a nug in heat and I can’t admit it.’” Sebastian choked on his water, and Isabela snorted a laugh, but Hawke wasn’t finished. “Besides, think about how drastically your first impressions can change. Look at Fenris!”

Fenris raised one eyebrow as Hawke gestured in his direction. “He hated me at first. Now he can’t get enough of me,” she said smugly.

Fenris shot the irreverent mage a sardonic look. “I am less than fond of you when you put me on the spot.”

“Oh come on, Fenris, it’s okay to admit that I won you over with my scintillating wit and oozing charm,” Hawke said. “Lots of people don’t like me when they first meet me! Maker only knows why, though. I’m fantastic.”

There was a collective groan from the group. Isabela shoved her until she fell over on the carpet, and Anders threw one of Toby’s chew-toys at Hawke’s head, and Fenris bit the inside of his cheek to hide his smile.

Then Aveline piped up helpfully. “I didn’t like you very much at first, Hawke.”

Hawked gestured at Aveline. “See? And now Aveline adores me! She’s like my second mum!” Then she grimaced apologetically. “Sorry, Aveline.”

Aveline smiled proudly. “That’s quite all right.” The guard-captain selected another dried apple chip from the mostly-empty snack tray.

Hawke turned toward Fenris again, her copper eyes sparkling with what was certain to be another round of teasing digs. He hastily pushed himself to his feet. “I will fetch more snacks.”

Hawke frowned as he lifted the snack tray from the floor. “What? You’re a guest in my home! You shouldn’t fetch snacks!” She rose to her feet as well. “I’ll help you.”

Fenris shot her a chiding look as she took the tray from his hands. “Being a guest in your home didn’t stop you from demanding that I find your missing glove for you last week,” he said flatly.

“And you refused to do it,” Hawke retorted. “See? Guest privileges.”

Isabela yawned loudly and stretched out on the carpet. “If you two are leaving to go fuck in the kitchen, you can just tell us. No need for the clever smokescreen.” She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Hawke shot her a reproving look. “Thanks, Bels,” she said, and Isabela snickered as Hawke made a rude hand gesture in her direction.

Fenris, meanwhile, left their conversation behind and headed toward the kitchen. A moment later, Hawke caught up with him. “So, what did you think of me when we first met?”

Of course this was why she’d wanted to accompany him: to needle him relentlessly. “I was impressed at how readily you handed death to my enemies,” Fenris said matter-of-factly.

Hawke gave a surprised bark of laughter. “Wow. That’s the oddest compliment I’ve ever gotten. But okay, I’ll take it. What else?”

He narrowed his eyes and smirked at her. “Why are you seeking so shamelessly to be flattered?”

“I’m not! I’m just curious!” she protested.

He continued to stare at her, and finally she grinned sheepishly. “Okay, fine, maybe I’m looking for compliments. Can you really blame a girl?” She set the snack tray down on the kitchen counter, then leaned back against it and tilted her head coyly. “I am curious, though. You can be hard to read. What did you think of me, really?”

He sighed. “You are a mage. I was wary,” he said bluntly. But if he was being honest, he hadn’t been as wary of her as he might have been. From his very first time fighting by Hawke’s side, Fenris had known she was different. In Fenris’s experience, mages defined themselves by their magic: they considered it their most valuable trait, and they used it shamelessly to influence and coerce and claw their way to power.

For Hawke, however, magic was just something she happened to have at her disposal, rather than a sign of status to be lorded over everyone’s head. She’d always been special, even then.

Oblivious to the warmth of his thoughts, Hawke shrugged and rested her elbows back against the counter. “Fair enough. And now?”

He gave her an exasperated look. “You really are delving, Hawke.”

“I know,” she said cheerfully. “So?”

He pursed his lips. “And now… you annoy me most days.”

“Yes, that’s true,” she agreed. “What else?”

He folded his arms. “You are far too lenient with blood mages. I hate that.”

She sighed. “Well, this is less fun than I thought it would be.”

He stepped closer to her. Her eyes darted to his face, then widened as he took yet another step closer. “You are… alluring,” he murmured.

A wicked little smile lifted her slowly pinkening cheeks. “Now we’re talking,” she said with relish. “What else?”

Fenris stepped even closer and very deliberately placed his hand on the counter beside her. She was penned between the kitchen counter and his body now, a bare handspan of space between them, and he smiled at the soft little hitching of her breath through her parted lips.

He slowly slid his gaze from her face to the slender scarlet scarf around her neck. “You look very appealing in red,” he growled. “But I think you will look even more appealing in nothing at all.” He was being reckless and he knew it; he wanted to take things slow with Hawke, make sure he was really ready before falling into her bed, and the cautious part of his mind was warning him against this little game.

But Hawke had started it. And Fenris was determined to win this time.

“Damn,” she said faintly, and Fenris noticed the subtle arching of her spine with an almost vindictive satisfaction. “What else?”  

“And… I am not saying anything more,” he murmured.

She exhaled shakily. “Why not?” she complained.

He glanced toward the door. “Because of the gossip-mongers standing right there,” he said loudly.

Just behind the doorframe, there was a startled squeak from Merrill and a raucous cackle from Isabela. Then Aveline’s stern voice floated over from the main room. “I told you two not to listen in! Leave them alone!”

Hawke slumped back against the counter. “Piss right off, you nosy bitches!” she yelled, then let out a rueful laugh as Fenris stepped away from her. “Maker’s fucking balls,” she muttered, then bustled haphazardly around the kitchen pulling out snacks and putting them on the counter.

Fenris calmly refilled the bowls in a careful pretense that he wasn’t as riled up as she was. He picked up the tray and returned to the main room, leaving Hawke alone in the kitchen.

Isabela grinned wickedly at him as he sat beside her on the carpet, and he ignored her. “What is the verdict?” he asked Varric. “Are you writing the romance novel or not?”

“Yes!” Merrill and Anders said.

“No!” Aveline blurted.

“Yes, as long as there’s sex,” Isabela said with relish, while Sebastian shook his head in disapproval.

Varric grinned at Fenris. “The jury’s out. I’ll put it on the back burner for now.”

Aveline sighed in relief. “Thank you, Varric. I hope you keep it that way.”

Then Hawke wandered back into the room, and Fenris forced himself not to laugh as she deliberately walked past him and sat beside Varric instead. “What did I miss?” she asked vaguely.

Varric smiled at her. “Your wish for a Siege Harder sequel might be granted. But if I do write the romance serial, what should I call it?”

“Umm…what about…” She trailed off and scratched the back of her head, still looking distinctly flustered, and Fenris studied her with a hot rush of satisfaction. He usually came out worse for wear in their teasing back-and-forths, but it was quite clear from her pinkened cheeks that he’d deflected her sexually-charged sally extremely effectively this time.

As though she could sense his gaze on her face, she shot him a dirty look, and Fenris couldn’t stop himself from grinning. He turned to Varric. “I know what you should call it,” he said. “Swords and Shields.”

[ramblesofadreamerofthestars]

Therapy? In The Final Season of  The 100??

It’s more likely then any of us ever thought??????

Spoilers of course for the 100 7.07

Dr. Eric Jackson said “is anyone going to treat Literally Everyone for the trauma we go through” and had to wait seven seasons before giving up and doing it himself. I fucking love him and I Adore that Madi is getting therapy and that they are CONFRONTING WHAT HAPPENED TO A LITERAL CHILD. Jax read one (1) psychology book and decided he was now a licensed therapist and you know what? good for him. 

Someone....let me at Madi’s wardrobe. Babe looks like she rolled up fresh out of Amity from the Divergent movies and like...killing it but What was the inspiration. I am So Happy she gets to play soccer and have therapy sessions and just be a regular kid for what is apparently, the first time in her entire life. I Miss her and Clarke and i wish Clarke was here to see Madi starting to flourish because that dynamic has been pushed So Far to the side this season and I just miss them. I Love that they finally addressed how fucked up it was putting the flame in Madi’s head i seriously love love love it. yes it was necessary but it was also extremely traumatic and not something a child should have to go through and I’m so happy they talked about it (for at least a moment anyway)

Lindsey Morgan and her team said You get to deal with trauma, and you get to deal with trauma, and you - . No but for real, I was pleasantly surprised with the things that got addressed this episode- The flame, Octavia beating up Bellamy, the beginning of Becho. Not as good as Bardo lore but we take what we can get.

(Also shout out to Ms. Morgan for an incredible directorial debut, what a talented queen) 

I Loved Octavia saying outright how fucked up it was that she beat up her brother It’s been 84 years too many seasons of waiting for it, her growth this season? Incredible. That being said, literally What The Fuck was that comforting scene between her and Echo I’m. “You’re my family too” bitch Where. I understand Octavia trying to comfort someone she knows her brother cares for, and I know that Octavia saw how lost and angry Echo was, and this is just my own thoughts but probably recognized something in Echo that was reminiscent of her when she lost Lincoln, at least in her eyes, but it came out of no where?? These two have Never had a good relationship and while part of it is obviously Octavia’s growth the scene felt a little stilted. 

So. Echo. First thing right off the bat (as always, this should literally be the expectation but for the people in the back) THE ACTORS ARE NOT THEIR CHARACTERS, THEY ARE REAL PEOPLE, AND PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GODS LEARN TO SEPARATE THE TWO. I have so much respect for all the actors and crew who are trying their absolute best and making this show something I look forward to watching.

I had Such high hopes for Echo. And honestly the tiny little rat part of my brain that never lets things go still wants to hope for a satisfying end to the spy’s story. I Want her to reach a point where she can look at herself with clear eyes, and come through to the other side. I Want her to have happy ending where she understands that though loyalty is admirable, there has to be more in your life, that you cannot dedicate yourself to one person entirely. The realistic part of my brain that has watched this fucking show for years knows better. Tasya Teles is doing an excellent job of Echo’s continuing downward spiral, 10/10 choices. But all the lighting and framing and crazy intense gaze do Not bode well for Echo’s sanity and her carving the Azgeda marks into her face was I think the point of “no return”. Which makes me sad, to see this end for the character, but it is a path I can see Echo going down, as much as it sucks.

“We got shaved Bellamy but at what cost” makes me cackle but honestly, I liked the Ring flashback. Setting aside how late it is to be Doing ring flashbacks, I think it was a Very interesting look at Becho. Echo on the ring is so cute sorry not sorry, like I Love seeing that girl happy. Her and Bellamy’s little banter reminded me of their earliest dynamic which I enjoyed seeing because I do think those characters have an interesting relationship. Also, Bellamy using his own experiences of the dangers of blind loyalty to try and help Echo, love to see it but her “it’s not real” right before he kissed her...the implications. They knew what they were doing and I think it was a needed perspective into their relationship because we have barely anything except for people saying things about it which is Not The Same Thing.

Moving On! HOLY SHIT Y’ALL HOPE AND DIYOZA I FUCKING LOVE THEM THE ACTRESSES WERE INCREDIBLE, THE DYNAMIC WAS AMAZING, BEST STORYLINE OF THE  EPISODE BY FAR. I seriously just Loved watching their scenes, their relationship is So Good and I loved them trying to figure out the new dynamics they have to work through and the way they don’t really know how to act around each other in the beginning but at their core they’re still mother and daughter and Hope’s broken “they took my mommy” almost had me in tears seriously These Two Y’all. 

Hope thinks of Dev as her father...I’m soft :’)

I’m tired of Nikki. That’s literally all I want to say about her this episode like I’m so tired of the Sanctum storylines and I just do Not care about her little revenge plot. Nelson joining her side is stupid but he was in a very emotional place at the moment so I Guess. 

Emori tried So Hard to make things better on Sanctum and I want to give her all the things it’s what she deserves what a queen. (Luisa d’Oliveira an actual goddess I’m so happy she got a chance to shine this episode). Memori consistently being cute and domestic af love that for them, seriously these two fit so well together “ besides, you’ve been worshiping me for years” when I tell y’all I screamed. Also I’m not like, super convinced about the Emori is pregnant theory and don’t really know how I feel about it but “maybe it’s the palace life giving you that glow” was a...weird choice of words. 

Sheihedea shut up forever challenge. Seriously why does anyone let him speak?? The bitch is so dramatic when he starts going on his “I can give you want you want” speech just walk away from him?? Like what’s the bitch going to do start yelling after you?? And let everyone know how desperate he is to get people on his side and also that he only has one real strategy of getting people on his side?? I think the fuck not. Honestly though, he has one (1) method of getting people on his side and it’s psychoanalyzing them while they play chess which goes on ForEVER btw (like this post w h o o p s) i’m so tired of him. Murphy calling him on his misogyny was certainly a highlight of the episode though, good for him.

And Finally, that ending though. Wow I’m super shocked that the shepard is Bill Cadogan. What a surprise. Never saw it coming. I thin the ‘plot twist’ still worked ish mostly because everyone fucking forgot about his existence but idk it was what I expected and I just Don’t Care? You have crystal giants outside and you want me to care about some musty ass white man who’s been in the freezer for thousands of years?  

I genuinely thought (because I’m a dumbass) for half a second that the old dude in the freezer coffin was Bellamy because I though Anders was going to do some dramatic reveal of where he was stashing our king and the rage I felt in that split second when I thought they really had the audacity to do that. But no it was just Another Plot we get to explore :)))))

ALRIGHT CLOWNS YOU MADE IT TO THE END SO. HOW ABOUT THAT BELLARKE CRUMB WE GOT. Can’t believe I Still can’t retire my clown makeup, please just Give Them A Break. Ms. Morgan really did that though, the framing close up of Clarke, the Bellarke theme in the background, all the other characters looking right at Clarke as she breaks on the inside ( and holy shit kudos to Ms. Eliza Jane for that scene, the sheer heartbreak and almost feral desperation in one expression was Everything). I know I said I love parallel’s and who does parallels better then them but I feel like the “they do this every year” audio, just let them be together for more then Five minutes without some new crisis blease. 

Next episode will be a prequel (?) set up (?) which will be...interesting. Going to be real honest I don’t really care about the premise but Becca scenes are always a plus. More of the Diyoza women please, Clarke and Octavia deserve to have a (better) moment grieving over Bellamy together thanks, let Miller say more lines, and p l e a s e let Bellamy and Clarke be on screen together soon I miss them. 

Friendship ended with Gabriel now Levitt is my only friend

[sky-scribbles]

I made this so long ago why am I only posting it now.

Anyway... I love the combat and ambient dialogue in Dragon Age, and I love the fact that your own character will shout things in the middle of battle or if you click on them. To some extent, the dialogue is suited to your character, especially in DA2 where it changes depending on what temperament your Hawke has, but I thought to myself... how about going one step further and writing some completely unique dialogue sets for my OCs?

I’m starting with Dalton and Bryony Hawke, because DA2 is the best game for dialogue-during-gameplay. Hopefully I’ll branch out into my other DA characters soon, plus some from other games. Feel free to request a character for me to do this for!

Dialogue sets are under the cut because this is loooong. Turns out there are a lot of gameplay dialogue options in DA2. If anyone else wants to do this, I can make a blank template.

(I apologise in advance for not including Sebastian in my Hawkes’ reactions to downed companions, I don’t have his DLC yet. Gotta amend that...)

DALTON HAWKE

(Diplomatic mage. A soft-hearted, shy disaster who’d much rather be at home with a book.)

COMBAT

Entering battle: ‘Oh, no. Not again!’ | ‘Everyone, look out!’ | ‘Get behind me!’ | ‘Oh, Maker… come on, Dalton, you can do this.’ | ‘Right… time for some lightning.’ | ‘Something tells me they’re not going to talk about this.’ | ‘I am not alone!’

Engaging demons: ‘You keep away from my mage friends! … And from me too, I suppose.’ | ‘Have you ever thought of entering into a mutually beneficial contract with - no, no, clearly not.’ | ‘Your preying on our world is over!’

Engaging darkspawn: ‘This is for Bethany!’ | ‘I’ve grown since Lothering!’ | ‘You creatures won’t hurt the people I love again!’

Engaging a dragon: ‘Oh, dear Maker…’ | ‘All right. Slay the dragon, Dalton, you can do it!’ 

Engaging boss: ‘Look out! This one’s big and that’s never good news!’ | ‘I think this’ll be a tough one!’ | ‘This’ll be a challenge. We stand together!’

Combat ongoing: ‘Mind the fireballs!’ | ‘This is a fight right out of the tales!’ | ‘Get away from my friends!’ | ‘It doesn’t have to be this way, you know!’ | ‘Focus, Dalton, focus!’ | ‘Right, I think I’ve got this!’ | ‘For Kirkwall! That sounds dramatic, right?’ | ‘I’m a mage, you know, this really isn’t a good idea!’

New enemy wave: ‘Look out, everyone – there are more of them!’ | ‘Dear Maker, more! Just when I thought we were done!’ | ‘I hope everyone’s up to facing another round!’

Successful kill: ‘There! Done!’ | ‘Another one falls.’ | ‘I got one! Did you see that? I did it!’ | ‘One down. Whew.’| ‘Return to the Maker.’ | ‘I’m sorry, but you left me no choice.’

Unsuccessful attack: ‘Maker, why isn’t this working?’ | ‘No effect! Don’t panic, don’t panic, don’t panic...’ | ‘Well, that, um, didn’t work.’ | ‘Right, that doesn’t hurt it! Not good!’ 

Out of range: ‘My spells are falling short!’ | ‘I’m going to need to get closer! Wish me luck!

Stealthed enemies: ‘Keep an eye on the shadows!’ | ‘Enemies in the darkness! Watch each other’s backs!’

Combat ended: ‘Is anyone hurt?’ | ‘I have a few healing spells, if anyone needs them…’ | ‘I can stop pretending to be the mighty warrior now. It really doesn’t come naturally to me.’ | ‘We made it! … Of course we did.’ | ‘We’re alive! I should have a bit more faith, shouldn’t I?’ | ‘Good work, everyone!’ | ‘… Who buries these people? The bodies always seem to vanish.’

Low health: ‘Is anyone free to heal me?’ | ‘I… I think this is it for me…’ | ‘Well, if I die, at least it’ll be dramatic!’ | ‘I’m losing blood, and that’s usually not a good thing!’

Low mana: ‘I can’t cast! Oh, this isn’t good!’ | ‘I’m losing focus here!’ | ‘Can’t concentrate…’

Injured: ‘I don’t suppose someone could patch me up?’ | ‘I need to treat this, or I’ll slow you all down.’ 

Revived: ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’ | ‘Don’t worry about me, I’ll be all right.’ | ‘Sorry to leave you in that alone, everyone.’ | ‘All right, Dalton. For future reference: duck.’ | ‘I’m not dead! That’s… that’s a good start!’ | ‘Bethany… seems you’ll have to wait for me a bit longer, little sister.’

Party member knocked down: - Carver : ‘No! Carver, hold on! I won’t let them take you!’ | ‘Don’t leave me, brother! Not like this!’ - Aveline: ‘Aveline?! Is she actually… Maker, we’re all doomed!’ - Varric: ‘Don’t die on us, Varric! We need you!’ - Anders: ‘Anders, no! You can’t die! Please!’ | (Romance active) ‘Anders! No – stay with me, love!’ - Merrill:  ‘Merrill! It’s all right, I’ve got you!’ | ‘Hold on, lethallan, I’ll help you!’ - Isabela: ‘We’ve lost Isabela! Someone cover her!’ - Fenris: ‘Fenris is down! Keep them away from him!’

Taking a potion: ‘I’ll study more healing later, I promise.’ | ‘No one else needs this, do they?’ | ‘Good thing I like the taste of elfroot!’

GENERAL

Stuck: ‘Um… I may need some help here, I can’t move!’ | ‘Is anyone free to give me a hand? I’m stuck!’

Offering help: ‘Perhaps you need the magic touch.’ | ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ | ‘I’ll have a stab at that, if you like.’

Disabling trap/opening lock: ‘There, all done!’ | ‘Oh! I didn’t think I’d be able to do that.’ | ‘Is there anything else I can help with?’

Failing to disable trap/open lock: ‘I can’t work magic, you know. Uh, I  mean, I can, but…’ | ‘Um… Varric? Isabela? Someone not me?’ | ‘I could… possibly melt it. But not finesse it.’ | ‘Sorry, I, um, don’t think I can.’

Given unsuitable weapon: ‘This is… pointy? Maybe give it to Fenris, he likes that sort of thing.’ | ‘I’m good with a staff and not much else, I’m afraid.’ | ‘If I try to wield that, I’ll just hit myself, I know it.’

Spoken to while idle: ‘Oh! Um… sorry, lost in thought.’ | ‘What? Oh, hello. Sorry, I was watching that spider. It’s making its web in a very interesting pattern…’ | ‘Have you heard the Dalish tale of Melana the Wise? I was just thinking that this reminds me of the part where she… sorry, I’m rambling, aren’t I?’ | ‘I hope this doesn’t last long. I was reading a good book before we set out.’ | ‘Do you need my help with something?’ | ‘Is something wrong? Are you hungry? I brought cake with me.’  | ‘Cheer up. I’m making scones when I get home, you’re welcome to them.’

AREA-SPECIFIC

Spoken to while idle in -

Hightown (Day): ‘Keep an eye out for pickpockets. I can’t help but admire their skill, but… losing purses is a bad idea.’

Hightown (Night): ‘Does anyone ever wonder where all these street gangs appear from? They just seem to drop from roofs. I wonder if we could learn to do that…’

Lowtown (Day): ‘Maybe I should drop in on Gamlen. He might be in a good mood for once, it’s always worth a try.’

Lowtown (Night): ‘Keep your eyes on the shadows. Night plus dingy alleyways equals people with knives, and that’s never good news.’

Elven Alienage: ‘I love how the elves decorate the Vhenadal. I wish we painted our houses like that.’

Docks (Day): ‘I’ve spent hours looking out over the sea here. Ferelden’s out there, across the water. I miss it.’

Docks (Night): ‘Look at the moonlight on the sea! It… dances. Light on water is one of the most beautiful things there is.’

Darktown (Day): ‘Keep an eye out for cats, everyone. Anders is still looking for one.’

Darktown (Night): ‘It’s dark here, isn’t it? I mean… yes. It’s called Darktown. As in, a town that’s dark. I should probably stop talking.’

The Hanged Man: ‘I think we’re breathing more alcohol than air right about now.’  

Viscount’s Keep: ‘Merrill says there are sparrows in the rafters here. Do you think this place should get a cat, or maybe a trained hawk? It wouldn’t do for there to be bird droppings falling on the nobles.’

Chantry: ‘This place looks strong, but sometimes it feels so… fragile. Or is that just me?’ | ‘Maker, if you’d listen to an apostate’s prayer… help us. Help the mages. We need you.’

Qunari Compound: ‘Look! Qunari! Actual Qunari! Incredible! All right, Dalton, don’t stare.’  | ‘I have to include a Qunari character in my next book. Their culture is fascinating.’

Wounded Coast: ‘Anyone want to try skimming stones with me? … Maybe later, I suppose.’

The Bone Pit: ‘They should rename this place. Call it… the Sunshine Pit. No, doesn’t work. Nothing with pit in it sounds nice.’

Dalish Camp: ‘The Dalish are fascinating. I’ve spent hours reading about their traditions, but it’s not the same as actually walking among them.’

Inside a cave: ‘Caves in the books always seem to contain treasure, or dragons. Or dragons guarding treasure. Once there was a dragon made of treasure. Ah, that was a brilliant book.’

Inside a ruin: ‘This place feels full of history. Of course, it’s probably also full of demons and undead, so let’s not stop to take notes.’

Inside a warehouse: ‘I’ve read all kinds of stories about people smuggling mysterious things in crates. It would be interesting to search them, but… I expect they’re all full of fish.’

~

BRYONY HAWKE

(Sarcastic warrior. Uses sass as a coping mechanism for absolutely everything.)

COMBAT

Entering battle: ‘Why, hello there, dead people!’ | ‘I have a friend you need to meet! She’s called my sword!’ | ‘Oh, look. More fools who want to commit suicide.’ | ‘Here we go!’ | ‘Damn it… did I leave the fire going?’ | ‘Shield, check. Sword, check. Recklessness, check. I’m ready!’

Engaging demons: ‘Go back to Fade, you don’t belong here!’ | ‘So you want to stay in our world? We charge for demon tourism, and you haven’t paid!’ | ‘Your illusions can’t stop a sword.’

Engaging darkspawn: ‘That’s for Carver, you sons of bitches!’ | ‘I’ll spill your Tainted blood!’ | ‘Remember Lothering, bastards?’

Engaging a dragon: ‘For want of a better word... shit.’ | ‘I call the head! I’m going to mount it over the fireplace.’ 

Engaging boss: ‘Ooh, look. A big one. Wonderful.’ | ‘There’s a tough one coming, get behind me!’ | ‘Look out! Seems this one’s large and in charge!’

Combat ongoing: ‘Maker take you!’ | ‘Watch out! Small blonde thunderbolt coming through!’ | ‘See this sword? It’s gonna take you down!’ | ‘And down you go!’ | ‘Ostagar couldn’t kill me, and neither will you!’ | ‘For Kirkwall! For my friends! And for the stiff drink I’m having when I get home!’

Taunting enemies: ‘Over here, melon head!’ | ‘I’ve known stick insects tougher than you!’ | ‘Bring it on!’ | ‘Come and get me!’ | ‘Face me, coward!’

New enemy wave: ‘More of them! Where do they all spring from?’ | ‘Aaaand, more of them. Honestly, no consideration for our poor sword-arms.’ | ‘More? I should have checked under the bushes.’ | ‘They brought friends! Wonderful, let’s have a party!

Successful kill: ‘The name’s Bryony Hawke! Got that? Because it’s the name of the one who killed you!’ | ‘Go to the Maker’s side, if he’ll take scum like you!’ | ‘Look at that move! Except you can’t, you’re dead.’  | ‘Thank you, thank you, I will be signing autographs at the Hawke household this evening.’

Unsuccessful attack: ‘Take that! Nope, not working. Take… something else!’ | ‘All right, new plan. Where’s Varric? He’s good at plans!’ | ‘My trusty sword, you have failed me! Bad sword!’ | ‘Not working, damn it! And that’s one of my favourite moves!’

Out of range: ‘My sword’s a beauty, but she only reaches so far!’ | ‘What do you want me to do, throw my shield at them?’ | ‘I can’t reach that far! Perhaps if we all formed a chain of people…’ | ‘From this distance, all I can do is throw lethal glares at them!’

Stealthed enemies: ‘Eyes on the darkness, we’ve got tricksy little backstabbers.’ | ‘They’re attacking from stealth. Not very sporting!’ | ‘They’re stealthy, these ones! You watch my back and I’ll watch yours!’

Combat ended: ‘We live another day. Thank you, Maker.’ | ‘Are you writing all this down, Varric?’ | ‘Right, this fight’s going into the scrapbook.’ | ‘Ugh, there’s blood in my hair.’ | ‘I shouldn’t bother polishing my armour, should I?’ | ‘Maker, watch over us always as you did in this battle. Also, send us alcohol. Lots.’

Low health: ‘I’m lightly dying over here!’ | ‘Look at all the pretty blood. Except it’s not pretty, and I’m dying!’ | ‘Not going to make it. I’ll take a few of them with me!’ | ‘Maker, help me!’

Low stamina: ‘Breathing is good, Bryony… breathing’s good…’ | ‘S’all… spinning…’ | ‘Out of breath. And out of fancy moves.’

Injured: ‘Anyone ever heard of health potions? Because I could really use one right about now.’ | ‘Soooo… you’re just going to stand there and let me suffer? Good to know!’ | ‘Oh, I’m fine. Don’t mind me. Just bleeding profusely. No big deal.’

Revived: ‘Ow! My… everything!’ | ‘Ugh, my spleen hurts.’ | ‘My life is flashing before my eyes, and there’s not enough time spent in taverns.’ | ‘If Varric tells people about this, I’m going to throw him into the harbour.’ | ‘I’m up! You can all stop panicking.’ | ‘I want a refund for this armour!’ | ‘Carver?’

Party member knocked down:

- Bethany: ‘No! Not my sister! Not my sister!’ | ‘Bethany! Hold on, I won’t let you down. I won’t!’ - Aveline: ‘Aveline’s been taken down! The fabric of reality will break apart any moment.’ - Varric: ‘Varric, I’ll buy you a drink if you get back up!’ - Anders: ‘Anders! Damn it, we’ve lost our healer!’ - Merrill:  ‘I’m coming, Merrill! Just hold on!’ - Isabela:  ‘No, Isabela! You bastards, you’re not taking her!’  | ‘Isabela! Oh, that is it, you do not hurt a girl’s best friend!’ - Fenris: ‘Don’t you dare, Fenris!’ | (romance active) ‘Fenris! No, I’m not losing you too! I’m here! I’m here!’

Taking a potion: ‘Bleeeech.’ | ‘Anders, where are you? Your potions taste disgusting!’ | ‘Drinking solves everything!’

GENERAL

Stuck: ‘Oh, sodding… I’m stuck!’ | ‘Aaaand I’m stuck. Very smooth, Bryony.’ | ‘I could do with a hand! Or some replacement feet. Feet that aren’t stuck.’

Disabling trap/opening lock: ‘And there we have it.’ | ‘I am a genius!’ | ‘Come on, you little… got it!’ 

Failing to disable trap/open lock: ‘Do you want me to just break it? That would be more up my street.’ | ‘Here are things I am not good at: patience, dancing and anything lock-related.’

Given unsuitable weapon: ‘And what exactly do you expect me to do with that? | ‘Why would you give me this... thing?’ 

Spoken to while idle: (hopelessly out of tune) ‘And there's Andraste's mabari, by the Holy Prophet's side. In the fight against Tevinter, that dog would never hide...’  | ‘We planning on standing around yammering all day? I’m not exactly complaining if we are.’  | ‘Ugh, my boots are wearing thin...’  | ‘Onwards, my loveable misfits!’ 

AREA-SPECIFIC

Spoken to while idle in -

Hightown (Day): ‘Good morning, Hightown! Make way for the ragged bunch of heroes who save your sorry behinds on a daily basis.’

Hightown (Night): ‘If you see something lurking in an alleyway, blink once for ‘cat’ and twice for ‘evil bandit with knives.’

Lowtown: (Day): ‘Ah, Lowtown. What a joyous place. What sarcasm I speak.’

Lowtown: (Night): 'And the Maker said, what could be worse than Lowtown? And, in sadistic glee, he realised - Lowtown at night! And it was so.’

Elven Alienage: ‘Perhaps the people of Kirkwall feel better about living in a shithole if they force these poor sods to live in a deeper shithole.’

Docks (Day): ‘Salt, fish, and incredibly sweaty workmen. Why didn’t I bring something to block my nose with?’

Docks: (Night): ‘I need to go back in time and tell the ancient Tevinter how incredibly disturbing their statues look.’

Darktown (Day): ‘Who names places in Kirkwall? ‘Oooh, this place is high, let’s call it Hightown! This place is dark, let’s call it Darktown! Had they not heard of imagination?’

Darktown (Night): ‘I’m going to count how many seconds it is before someone tries to mug us. Record is three hundred and twelve seconds. One, two, three...’

The Hanged Man: ‘Now this is more like it!’

Viscount’s Keep: ‘I feel underdressed. When did I last cut my hair?’

Chantry: ‘Hey, Maker. It’s me, Bryony. You’ve got my back, right? Yup, yup, good to know.’

Qunari Compound: (Act 1) ‘Damned beasts, sitting here, longing to tear us apart. Just like that monster back in Lothering. What are they waiting for?’  | (Act 2) ‘You know, I think I misjudged these people. Seems they don’t want to be here any more than we want them to be. I can’t say I blame them.’

Wounded Coast: ‘... or the aching cove ... the suffering shore... the profusely bleeding strand...’

The Bone Pit: ‘Ugh, this place is the pits. (Pause) Get it?’

Dalish Camp: ‘If the people of the Dales are the Dalish, why can’t humans call themselves the Townish? Cityish? It would be much more fun.’

Inside a cave: ‘I call dibs on any treasure we find!’

Inside a ruin: ‘Something moved! Just there! ... Ha, got you. Nothing moved. Or did it?’

Inside a warehouse: ‘Someone remind me why we’re here?’

[honeycut-a-blog]

VERY LONG CHARACTER SURVEY.

RULES. repost ------ don’t reblog. tag ten people. tag your mom. tag your wife. tag my cat, roger TAGGED BY. @persevercnce TAGGING. @mageright @hornsfirst @somnivr @sacrificedmore @emperorjade / @blackwine @blackshadowed @bladedrawn @mortedistelle @crownviper @freedomdweller

BASICS.

FULL NAME: marian elizabeth hawke. the first two spoken in unison are not unlike a horrible, unparalled, cream-of-the-crop curseword to her. you can thank leandra for it NICKNAME/S: hawke, champion, chuckles AGE: 25 (beginning of act 1) / 35 (inquisition) / 37 (trespasser). BIRTHDAY:  august 20th. ETHNIC GROUP: french-chinese. NATIONALITY: fereldan. LANGUAGE/S: common tongue, mandarin, french. SEXUAL ORIENTATION: bisexual. ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: biromantic. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: verse dependent. single by default, though she has a sexual history with certain companions back in kirkwall. CLASS: that girl with enough riches to bless the rains down in africa but her lifestyle and personal choices say otherwise.  HOMETOWN / AREA: lothering, ferelden ------- birthplace unknown. CURRENT HOME: kirkwall. PROFESSION: a legend laid to rest. an ex-member of the red iron. before kirkwall, she and her father were travelling bards, sent on missions to spy and collect information. and sometimes kill.

PHYSICAL.

HAIR: black, silken, always messy yet somehow still in place. EYES: white-blue. striking. monolids with medium-length lashes. usually clouded with dark, smoky makeup. NOSE: low nose bridge, sticking prominently from her face; rounded tip, flat nostrils. mixture of the “greek” and “mongolian” types.  FACE: sharp, square jawline, sloping gently to the chin. high cheekbones, plush cheeks. riddled with freckles. one beauty mark sitting on the curve of her upper lip. a scar also runs through her left eyebrow; bar fight, 9:32.  LIPS: thick, dark, and rounded. upper and lower lips are the same thickness. little to no cupid’s bow. always chapped, sometimes with bloody patches from where she chews the skin. a light pink in color beneath her lipstick.  COMPLEXION: very light in tone, scattered with small freckles and moles all over the body. burns easy. nose + cheeks + ears turn red in the slightest chill. itchy in winter.  BLEMISHES: what’s the occasional stress pimple at age 35? SCARS: a whole body littered with ‘em, mostly odds and ends, scratches and divots. the most prominent is the long, dipping scar along her abdomen where the arishok skewered her on his blade. some are also self-inflicted.  TATTOOS: unspecified red heraldry on her left bicep.  HEIGHT: 5′11 WEIGHT: 169 lbs. BUILD: tall and very much pear-shaped. slight shoulders that drop to a medium chest, padded ribs, plush belly, wide hips, breakneck thighs, strong calves. it becomes more noticeable in her older age (inquisition verse +). she was slimmer throughout DA2, more toned in the biceps and abdomen, though her stomach was never perfectly flat and her hips were never small.  ALLERGIES: none. she’d love to say she’s allergic to cats just so anders will leave her the fuck alone. sadly not the case. USUAL HAIRSTYLE: short, uneven and choppy throughout DA2; easy to work with on those busy days of airing out everyone’s laundry. fairly outgrown by inquisition, all the layers having grown to relatively the same length. drops to her mid-back. she’s chopped her bangs to be more straight-across, but sometimes she lets them grow out to the familiar wisps that hang in her eyes. USUAL EXPRESSION: something sardonic and roguish. a slack, cocky smirk that never quite makes a smile. catty eyes and arched brows always make for more of an intimidating look, even when she’s not being particularly harmful.  USUAL CLOTHING: rogue champion armor during excursions and other heavy quests. otherwise, usually seen in the typical assassin’s mantle on any given day in kirkwall where there’s no immediate threat to her life beyond a few bandits. skyhold was different; a cold-as-shit wakeup call to remind her of what she both missed and hated about ferelden. she arrived in a long, form-fitting, fur-hooded coat with dark pants and boots underneath, cinched at the waist with her father’s old belt and other carry-on packs.

PSYCHOLOGY.

FEAR/S: spiders, open waters, drowning, her own magic, her failure to protect the ones she loves.  ASPIRATION/S: to help those who need it most. to protect the little people who don’t get a say. to find balance within herself.  POSITIVE TRAITS: funny, charming, resourceful, intelligent, helpful, trustworthy, loyal/doting if in a good, committed relationship. NEGATIVE TRAITS: aggressive, undependable, irresponsible, self-hating, self-mutilating, cynical, manipulative, gossipy, has been known to make misogynistic and casually racist comments (no actual slurs, but follows stereotypes). she’s grown a bit more conscientious by end of act 3 / inquisition times, but she’s not perfectly correct just yet. MBTI: infp. ZODIAC: leo. TEMPERAMENT: choleric; aggressive, passionate, and leader-like. SOUL TYPE/S: leader ( 14 ) hunter ( 12 ) creator ( 12 ) ANIMAL: dragon. VICE/S: smoking,  excessive drinking, hypersexuality.  FAITH: it’s difficult. she denies andrastian faith for the harm that’s come of it, but believes more in ... certain forces of nature, somewhat. for instance: the wind is a woman who doesn’t like her, hence why it turns her cheeks red in the cold. it’s a bit of a joke to her either way. GHOSTS? yes. AFTERLIFE? she believes that the dead do ... something, somewhere. she believes they can be contacted through direct prayer ---- not through andraste ---- and that their spirits watch over the ones they left behind.  REINCARNATION? yes, but you don’t get a choice on what to be next. ALIENS? nah. POLITICAL ALIGNMENT: fuck the big hats, religion is used as an excuse to oppress, kill the corrupt, find justice in vengeance.  ECONOMIC PREFERENCE: all the money in the world could not make her happy. SOCIOPOLITICAL POSITION: n/a. EDUCATION LEVEL:  home-schooled, as far as actual “schooling” goes; she’s multilingual and knows how to read and write, let’s put it that way. she was also trained by her father, a jack of all trades, in knife-wielding and lute-playing. 

FAMILY.

FATHER: deceased; died of a natural illness before the fifth blight. she was closer to him than anyone else and competed for his attention constantly. he taught her everything about his culture, or at least what he chose to believe in, and she held up to it more than her other two siblings.  MOTHER: deceased; killed by the blood mage quentin. their relationship was very strained. even though hawke resented her mother, she was still very struck by the grotesque manner of her death, and took it as a personal failure to protect. was more a matter of pride than heartbreak.  SIBLING/S: carver and bethany hawke; both deceased. hawke was particularly closer to carver, who was denied his father’s attention between quests with marian and training bethany, but the border between them ---- carver believing much less in their father and the culture he brought ---- consistently threw them into arguments. bethany was better about it. she got along with both her parents equally, and thus was more agreeable with her big sister. EXTENDED FAMILY: uncle gamlen, her cousin charade, and her cousin amell.  NAME MEANING/S: variant of marion, a french diminutive form of marie, which is derived from the hebrew miryām, a name of debated meaning. many believe it to mean "sea of bitterness" or "sea of sorrow." however, some sources cite the alternative definitions of "rebellion," "wished-for child," and "mistress or lady of the sea." HISTORICAL CONNECTION: n/a.

FAVORITES.

BOOK: Hard In Hightown.  MOVIE: she’ll say Wayne’s World, but in reality, it’s P.S. I Love You. 5 SONGS:  rich / the yeah yeah yeah’s, dreams so real / metric, juicebox / the strokes, elastic heart / sia, the wreckoning / boomkat DEITY:  her father. MONTH: august. SEASON: autumn. PLACE: lothering.  WEATHER: warm and red-skied. SOUND: someone talking to her while she falls asleep. SCENT/S: hickory burning in the firepit - wind in the grime of her hair - wine on her breath - smoke on her clothes.  TASTE/S: the spice of cooked meat - the sweetness of chocolate cake - peaches and cream in spring - creek water in lothering - blood on her lower lip - metal in her lungs.  FEEL/S: dirt clotting under her nails - tightness in her chest - eyes straining into the distance - sweat in her father’s boots - magic like fire under her skin - the worn grip of a reliable dagger - the silk of her sheets - a well-ridden climax. ANIMAL/S: dogs, bunnies & reptiles.  NUMBER: 1. COLOR: shades of red.

EXTRA.

TALENTS: domination, persuasion, stealth, flirtation, adaptation / singing and lute-playing / knife-wielding and trap-setting. she can master almost anything she tries; jill of all trades, just like her father. BAD AT: magic, deadlines, loyalty within contract, social correctness, self-restraint, prayer upkeep, physical upkeep, empathy for the unjust, respecting personal spaces, self-healing. TURN-ONS: strength, consensual aggression, rebellious behavior, wrists in knots, somewhere public, someone sweet, someone mean, someone who loves her, someone who hates her. TURN-OFFS: sappiness, bigotry, religion, unwanted hands, pick-up lines from gross men, condescension, ownership.  HOBBIES: eating and drinking. mostly eating. TROPES: alpha bitch, biker babe, black widow, cool big sis, daddy’s girl, dragon woman, lady in red, the lady’s favor, samus is a girl AESTHETIC TAGS: DRAMATIC TIMING & GOOD HAIR.

FC INFO.

MAIN FC/S: mylene jampanoi. ALT FC/S: chloe bennet, mostly used in something more teenagery. OLDER FC/S: none YOUNGER FC/S: none VOICE CLAIM/S: jo wyatt. GENDERBENT FC/S: fuck off with ye