#just bullet points talking about solas

[broodwoof]

pls do not include character/ship/game hate on this post, ty! as with all my meta, these are my opinions

Solas' Character and Arc

He is tragic. He is gentle and loving.

He doesn't think he can be gentle and loving - he thinks it's a weakness.

In part this is due to Mythal, yes. That said, he chose to take form willingly at her request. He chose to help his dearest friend. And what they did, they did together. He had autonomy in this decision. He was not forced at any point - he protested, yes, but in the end, he agreed. He did not have to. And there came a time when he no longer did.

Mythal believed in him. Loved him. She needed his aid. And he believed in her. Loved her. Wanted to help her.

I also think it's unclear how necessary their actions truly were, and I think that's deliberate. The true necessity of something like this - especially to avoid war (which I've talked about before, but true full-blown war between the Titans and the Evanuris would have destroyed an unbelievable amount of the world) - doesn't impact the regret of it, the despair, the grief and guilt. It was horrible. They knew it was horrible. It felt like the only or best choice when they only had bad choices.

And when he pulled away, he remained convinced that she'd see his side and join him. But she was wounded. He was wounded. And she did not join him.. but she still listened to him about the blight - which led to her being killed.

And even after that, Flemythal allowed Solas to kill her - something she could have easily stopped. She protested what he was doing, but she followed him this time, let him determine what happened next, even though she disagreed, even though it cost her life. Again. And yes, she found a home in Morrigan - but that was not guaranteed! If Morrigan had denied her, I'm not sure what would have become of that piece of Mythal.

His rebellion saw him becoming colder and more calculating. There were no true successes, no clean victories - every victory was hard-won and punished. The hard choices he and Mythal had made prepared him for this, in a way; but it could never ease the burden on his conscience, or his attempts to protect himself and avoid falling apart by keeping his distance.

He had a plan after waking up. He had a goal. He knew there would be costs, but he had been paying these indirect costs for a huge amount of time - that does not justify them, but it contextualizes his willingness to enact them again.

But even so, he falls in with the people of the Inquisition. Whatever his relationship with the Inquisitor is, he's still close with multiple other members.

Solas is incredibly lonely. And loving. He cares and he cares deeply and he cannot allow himself to, but he cannot help but care when he is amongst them.

I think that's the real reason he doesn't have a following. He can't let himself fall into that again. He feels he cannot afford to care because it would stay his hand. Perhaps he had a following for a time, but realized he could not do it again. He could not have another Felassan trying to stop him. Another Inquisitor trying to get him to stay.

I truly think he did a huge amount of work to try and mitigate the damage veilfall would do. But I think that, at the end, he did not know what would happen.

And even if veilfall itself killed no one - which, imo, is possible - then the social, cultural, and political upheaval likely would. Veilfall would be a massive disturbance. And spirits(/demons) would suddenly be out in force, struggling to adapt to an unfamiliar world.

I don't think veilfall was an entirely selfish goal on Solas' end. Yes, it is about soothing his conscience; but it is also about restoration. And most importantly, it is about protection in one very relevant way.

He hasn't had enough time in the modern world to understand the entirety of its value. He sees some of the worst - spirits like his friend Wisdom being pulled through the veil and bound. But right now, everything is a comparison with him. And I don't think it would be different for anyone else in his position. I don't think someone could irrevocably change the world, end up destroying the very people - the Elvhen - they sought to protect, and then wake up ages later to an unrecognizable world and not feel the need to work to restore it to what it 'should be'.

And the veil is an issue! There are genuine concerns about it!

But the biggest concern, the 'protection' I mentioned above, the issue that was the most impossible to ignore, was the fact that Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain were going to escape.

After their deaths, he can accept that the veil can stay. It is not without its burdens, its difficulties. But it is no longer a ticking time bomb, either.

So, yes, Solas was willing to do something that was an immense disruption, one he felt would lead to death...

But it's worth recognizing that he was doing this not just to soothe his own conscience and guilt, but notably to prevent Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain taking over and blighting the entire planet.

[floralhellscapedatv]

i am probably forgetting/overlooking heinous amounts of obscure lore with this but hear me out...

[Spoilers Ahead]

theoretically it should be possible for at least half the Veilguard to be some flavor of immortal by the end of the game. behold, my list:

Emmrich - Fairly obvious example if you choose the Lich route. We are not talking about the choice itself here, this post ain't about that, this is a "if, then" bullet point.

Harding - There's actual dialogue/party banter that speculates on whether or not Harding is immortal after merging with the Titan Shade. Can't really say if it's true or not, but it could be! Call it a non-zero chance.

Lucanis - This is my first real Hear Me Out example, but listen. Listen. As far as we know spirits/demons don't die natural deaths. So what's the deal with abominations? We don't have a lot of examples and Lucanis and Spite are particularly unique what with the whole Lucanis not being a mage thing, but... I'm going to call this another non-zero chance. We just don't know what the biological effects of Spite are on Lucanis. We do know that spirits can inhabit corpses, so there's some more morbid speculation to be done there but I won't be doing it here. Anyway I think it would be really funny if Mr. "Why Would You Want To Be Immortal?"/"Everything Dies" was little a immortal, as a treat. (For me, the treat is for me, Lucanis would hate it.)

Rook - Specifically for elf Rooks, sorry other Rooks. Listen, it's a major lore fact/plot point that elves in DA used to be immortal. The Veil cutting off their connection to the Fade also cut them off from their immortality, this is one of the reasons Solas feels he owes it to them to tear it down. And then Mr. Dread Wolf Immortal Elven God himself does a tiny bit of blood magic specifically to link himself to Rook so he can do dream projections in their head. After which Rook proceeds to spend months living in the Fade itself, plus running around the Crossroads shedding blood everywhere doing a bunch of fighting. What I'm saying is there are multiple reasons to assume that an elf Rook could be considered as re-connected to the Fade, so theoretically it's possible they have elven immortality and just don't know it. Maybe Solas didn't realize that'd be a potential side-effect, maybe he didn't consider it relevant to mention with everything else going on, maybe he thinks it's funnier to let them find out on their own, or maybe he just straight up forgot to tell them, who knows! All I know is that this sounds like a perfectly plausible consequence of Solas' questionable choices to me.

Based on that last point i do think there are (admittedly much weaker) cases to be made for Bellara and Davrin to also possibly have re-linked to the Fade and unlocked elven immortality, but I think an elf Rook being confirmed to have been linked via blood magic to an immortal elven "god" is more compelling evidence.

do i think all of this is canon? no, probably not. do i think there's enough wiggle room to come up with fun scenarios, headcanons, and AUs? yes, that's what i'm here for.

[feysandarcheron]

Spoilers for the HOFAS bonus chapter with Bryce Nesta and Azriel and some vague HOFAS spoilers. Basically analyzing the songs’ meanings and going crazy over elriel

Omg the fact that all the elements of the Stone Mother story connect to the plot. (The second and last bullet points in this section have vague HOFAS spoilers)

Grieving mother. They all just got done talking about their mothers. Ember being separated from and grieving for Bryce. The Archeron mother would roll in her grave to see Nesta now and she treated Feyre terribly. Feyre being a perfect mother. The potential for Nesta to be a mother. Azriel’s mother being “anything but terrible”. And of course The Mother is like god in acotar.

Separated and fighting children. *HOFAS spoilers* Helen and Silene separated forever after a battle. Also reminds me of the 7 courts of Prythian that were separated after Theia’s rule.

Separated Man and Woman. He goes up to the sky and she stays on a mountain, which reminds me of The Embrace statue from Crescent City which is Solas and Cthona, the sun and the mountains. Also, she turns to stone on the mountain, which stone reminds me of the prison and of course the significance of the 3 mountains, and what could be beneath them.

Theme of the story is peace over violence. CC is fighting for a better world, and in ACOTAR they are trying to keep the fragile peace in place after the war.

There is also a poem called Stone Mother about indigenous lands stolen by colonialism and climate change. The Asteri are described as colonizers, and *vague spoilers for HOFAS* also Helen and Silene did something to impact the land in ACOTAR and Midgard. Also water is a big point in the Stone Mother, and *more vague spoilers for HOFAS* something happened with the water in Midgard.

So it’s just crazy people think the part about how Woman came to be with Man won’t also have a connection to the plot 😭

Good Man is lonely and wants company. Azriel being alone all this time and emo

Woman wants to be with Man but is married to Bear… an ugly beast if you will !

Bear gets into a fight with Woman and she kills him. Potential for blood duel.

She searches for Man and when she finds him she hides and just watches him, but he sees her foot prints. Reminds me of how shy Elain is and how Azriel is the only one who sees her and vice versa.

Woman reveals herself and Man sees she’s afraid so he speaks to her kindly, which reminds me of ACOWAR elriel

He offers her FOOD !! Mates hello

She accepts the food and each night sleeps closer to him until they eventually get married, which reminds me of how elriel have just been continuously building slowly with each book

PLUS the only other song mentioned is from a CC ballet called the Glass Coffin which is a Brothers Grimm version of Sleeping Beauty (!!!) (The third and last bullet points have vague HOFAS spoilers)

A man uses magic on a woman he wants to marry (a fake bond??), waking her with enchanting music (lightsinger connection !?)

The magic pins her to the bed so she can’t move, and she doesn’t like his magic, so she rejects his proposal by remaining silent. Reminds me of Elain with Lucien.

In anger he puts a spell on her and traps her in a coffin and enchanted her land to make it all barren. *vague HOFAS spoilers* barren land turning fertile again comes up in HOFAS, both Midgard and ACOTAR.

Another man finds the coffin and frees her, they get married, and the land turns fertile again (*vague HOFAS spoilers* again something like this with the land happens in HOFAS), which reminds me of Azriel potentially freeing Elain from the spell of a fake bond, and I think we will also see something like this with land in acotar 5.

Anyways slay elriel foreshadowing. I will edit this to fill in the HOFAS spoilers parts once the book comes out!

[nerdieforpedro]

WIP Wednesday and Thursday

So…my brain has gone horny and then too many WIP ideas (when isn’t it?!) and then starting more bullet points. This is Nerdie and her WIPs. This is their story: (Dun Dun! If you know, you know. 😆)

I was tagged by @604to647 and @secretelephanttattoo Wednesday, ran into Thursday. They touched and agreed that this is totally fine. 😀

Preview One: From my Marc Spector fic I’m writing slowly 👀

“Oh, you’re awake. Hold on, I’ll grab your glasses, carino (sweetheart).” The same velvet voice she’d heard earlier spoke to her and soon appeared above her face and slipping on her glasses. “Hey, how do you feel, Stelle? Can you move at all?” A calloused hand touches her cheek and she leans into it, sighing from relief. Happy to be touched and that Marc could still have this effect on her after not seeing him for years, Estelle shuts her eyes and tries to calm herself through her deep breaths. Marc watches her, it's transparent. Did she always react like this to him? He doesn’t remember touching her much during their service but he’s never seen her like this. She can’t think he’s her husband. Marc had found that during his search as well, about his death. This is why Khonshu was worried, how could that old bird have known?

I’ll put it on Tumblr one day. lol

Preview Two: I had a thot where an OFC is a client of Oberyn Martell as a sex worker. 🤔 For reasons.

“I’m here to give to you my queen. You have to accept it. Don’t worry about time. We have all we need. I’ll not have you leave me unsatisfied. The provocative cloth will be the last barrier between us. We should let your most cherished hole get some air, no?” Pushing Selene’s legs forward, Martell pulled her panties off and they were thrown with the other clothes. He was greeted by her glistening cunt leaking into the sheets of the mattress. “Such a vision, the temptation to drive right in is great, but I am a man of my word. Fingers first, then I’ll taste you.”

I feel like he would talk like this, I’ve only written Oberyn once and it wasn’t modern. So…here we are.

Preview Three: I blame this on a flurry of ideas that @angelofsmalldeath-codeine and I messaged about a few months ago, one stuck and now we’re here.

“Because I love you I want to put a baby in you. Maybe two or three, we’ll see how the first one goes. You know I’d take care you and our kid right? Aisha you’re one of the few good things I have besides my Kit Kats, sobriety and my robe.” He turns to lay on his side and kisses her breast then forehead. “Now if you want me to continue, that nightgown is coming off, you’re keeping your legs open wide and I’m kissing both sets of lips.” Bringing the two fingers he had inside of her, Dieter licked them slowly as she removed her nightgown and tossed it on the floor. Wordlessly, Aisha slipped a leg under Dee’s side and put her other one on his hip to flip him from his lateral laying position to on top of her.

Yeah…the smut was strong with Nerdie this week 💀💀💀

Preview Four (because this week is going hard - all puns intended): In a galaxy long, long ago @alltheglitterandtheroar asked me about a Din who was a little rough. Well…I dunno how inspiration came for this, but it can stay. It’s bullet points and dialogue- not really written out. How my notes normally look 🤣🤣🤣

Sola begins to remove her dress, but Din brandishes a knife from his boot and pulls at the neck of it, cutting down to her hip.

The dress falls to her feet and she’s exposed with her bra and thong. A shudder from the air chills her body and he sets a hand on his, staying his knife.

“I can remove the rest Mando. Will I see your body as well?”

“Not this first time. Sit.” Has her sit in the large armchair with her legs spread on each arm of the chair.

Slices her panties off. “Such a soaked cunt of the people. Were you like this after your late meeting today? Dripping at the thought of me arriving in your home?”

‘Cuz again horny reasons. Just horny hours and reasons.

Preview Five (if you’ve read this far, I love you and I give you the head pats 💖): I promised myself I was gonna be nice to Frankie, next time just give him something nice. I guess. 🤗

His baseball cap shook along with his head, “It’s fine miss. Should I put your box inside?” Hazel nodded again and showed him the counter to which he set the box down. “My name’s Frankie. I live three doors down. I was coming out to see which old man was winning chess when your scarf caught me in the face.” He snuck his hands in his pockets, contemplating asking but the worst she could say is no. “Did you want to meet some of your neighbors? If you need some rest, that’s fine too. They’re out in the common grounds most days. Only if you feel up to it.” He added that last line so she won’t feel pressured. She already has some man she doesn’t know in her apartment.

I swear nice to Frankie (I sometimes have written his PTSD) 😭😭

Last preview- Seven? No Six. I lost count 😭😭 Javi G and Sadie meet at Star Wars in Orlando. Aboard a certain vessel: also bullet points. Bad Star Wars puns are imminent!

Sadie begins flipping buttons saying it’s what she’s seen Han and Rey do in the movies. Javi tried to make a Chewbacca noise and it sounds way too much like a growl. 👀 Sadie grips one of the levers very hard and has her mouth slightly open.

“My name is Javi, what’s yours hermosa (beautiful)?” He knows that look, he was going to try and entice her after they got off the ship but The Force is with him today.

“I-It’s Sadie. Nice to meet you Javi. Is that short for Javier?” She needs to distract herself. Sexy eyes should not be made in a Millennium Falcon, even in a fake one. But he also smells like sandalwood, sweat and hints of jasmine and rose. He has no business looking good and smelling good. He’s gotta be a con artist or swindler or just a bad dude right? Those are the men she finds.

“Sí. When this ride is over? Did you want to go on another one with me?” Sadie blinks and Javi grins, “Maybe in the DeathStar. To see that one critically weak spot it has.” Her friends may dumb choices and hooks ups all the time. Hell, she couldn’t sleep in her own bed last night. He could be an axe murderer. But they smell bad and they’re bald. He’s got a full head of hair and smells like a dream so maybe not?

So silly and ridiculous 😆😆😆 I cackled when writing it.

So finally at the end, if you made it here, I’ll love you a long time, take a nap and get back at it 😘😘😘

NPT: @megamindsecretlair @soft-persephone @soft-girl-musings @inept-the-magnificent @mysterious-moonstruck-musings

@connectioneverywhere @lotusbxtch @avastrasposts @maggiemayhemnj @magpiepills

@westside-rot @rosecentaur1916 @djarinmuse @pedroshotwifey @tinytinymenace

@chaithetics @goodwithcheese @msjarvis @joelmillerisapunk @fhatbhabiee

@frenchiereading

[cynicaldesire]

Dragon Age: Veilguard - The imprint of the correct answer still visible on the page if turned in the light

"In my most flattering recommendation I can compare it to a time when one of my students erased their correct answer and turned it in blank, preferring to be wrong by omission than the possibility of being wrong on accident. The imprint of the correct answer still visible on the page if turned in the light."

I beat Veilguard last night. I was more than a little displeased. I prefer Inquisition for a lot of reasons. I put about 73 hours into this playthrough, completed all the sidequests I could. There were treasure chests I didn't loot and Dread Wolf statues I didn't follow and Evanuris shrines I didn't tap and all my factions were at 3 stars but not 3200 strength, but I cleaned out my quest log between conversations with Solas.

My husband wants to be more favorable, respecting Bioware and their work, but also not wanting to reward them for a less-than-stellar entry into their catalog. He wanted to give it a 7.

Thoughts below the cut. Mostly neutral to negative, but I'll still give the game like a 6.5.

My husband wanted to play it but he has a lot of work and other games to play, so I bit the bullet and started playing it for him to watch to save him the time. He ended up playing the Dragon Quest 2 HD remake and scored that lower than the original as well.

My first major issue with Veilguard was that it's not designed for spinning hard drives. Nor is it designed for keyboards. It's a console game. Thankfully, I was able to connect a PS5 controller to the PC and that made it a lot more comfortable to deal with. The spinning disk issue manifested as massive load times and texture pop-in. Most of the time this was kinda funny, easily mitigated by faffing about on my phone. It warned me that the game was designed and optimized for an SSD, which is my OS drive, but HDDs are so much cheaper, that's what I have for my games. Apparently that isn't optimal anymore. The speed of technology has caught up to me, I suppose.

Before we played this, my husband played Yakuza 8. That game not as good as Yakuza 7, suffering from spending too much time with a previous protagonist and trying to weave together two stories that needed their own games to breathe in properly. Characters were lambasted or just felt wrong. There was way too much content. It was generally an unpleasant experience. But one of the major failings is that it relies on the players having been in the series, it doesn't explain much. The game expects you to know Kiryu and his reputation, overshadowing the protagonist of Ichiban and his story.

DA:V does something similar in that it doesn't spend a lot of time explaining the world of Dragon Age/Thedas to you. If you're playing Veilguard, you are here because you're a fan of the series. I mean, Inquisition has been GOTY and out for long enough and gone cheap enough that you should've, at some point, played it, right? Veilguard is a direct sequel after all.

The story goes on for a very long time, your companions all have quests with multiple parts, but I don't feel like I got to know any of them. The one guy I chose to romance, I chose because of the very first outing you have with him and then it was all downhill from there. The performances for a lot of the other companions are all over the place. Some of them are really great, some are flat, some are only good for certain lines. The stories are middling to bad, and we don't get enough of it to make it any better.

The romance scene I got right before the big suicide mission at the end, my partner had to stay up all the time to avoid a demon taking over his body, so the big romance scene was him almost falling asleep, some flirty banter, and then a massive load screen because I don't have an SSD.

There were a lot of times when I would go in to talk to a companion, there would be a brief back and forth, maybe some approval, and then load screen because I was done.

"What a quest" became my shorthand for my disappointment.

There was also one thing that left a bad taste in my mouth, re: romance. The companion I chose to romance had flirty banter with another, and their performance was so much better with each other than anything thrown my way. "Stop flirting!" I yelled as I took them into the last mission, having already romanced one of them. It felt like it was canon for them to get together, which made me feel like a fifth wheel.

The gameplay was fine. There's a jump button and jumping puzzles, but the game is very forgiving. "Thanks, Sticky" was my way of acknowledging those moments I should've missed and didn't. But, the killboxes for falling were whack because sometimes I would try to drop off a ledge onto another one, but I'm not supposed to so instead, massive load screen. Though you don't die if you fall into deep water (can't swim) or fall off a ledge, you just get a load screen and appear back in a safe spot near where you fell.

Combat was fine. I played an orb and dagger mage. Either I suck or the staff was just too slow. And you only get 2 companions to go out with you, so I had to choose wisely. I ended up choosing a warrior and a rogue to maximize my detonation potential. Which is another thing. Each party member can apply a debuff and other party members can detonate those. Each companion can apply and detonate so there's basically a triangle. You don't have to, of course, but it is nice to be able to utilize the triangle.

Max level is 50. I reached that real easy. Got the factions to 3 stars (max) as long as I did all the sidequests. One of my companions, I had to make a decision early on in the game that they didn't like, so I was punished by them never reaching max "bond" (level), but whatevs.

My husband described the bulk of the game that I played for him to watch (I played while he was at work from time to time) as a Mass Effect. I'd agree with that. He was very disappointed in the romance scene. "The sex scene just failed to load," he joked. Bioware got real infamous for the first Mass Effect because of "a blue titty" I reminded him, and he agreed that he didn't understand why Bioware would shy away from it now. Especially after Baldur's Gate 3.

Anyway. This just makes me wanna play Inquisition. Go back to my Cullen romance. Maybe romance Solas, since he's such an important part of this game.

Speaking of which, the story was shoddy and weird and full of holes. There were so many points that didn't make sense, choices made that I didn't fully understand. The twist near the end was pretty rad, but it felt like a lot of hours of dialogue and quests to not say much.

Anyway, 6.5/10, would not recommend.

[mako-designated-driver]

If you won't get the chance to read the comics but still wants to know what happened, I got you. A ton of bullet points of dubious quality coming right up (I also summed issue 3 if you missed it too)

Dragon Age: The Missing #4 Spoilers ahead

Our dashing duo of rogues, Varric and Harding, arrive at Minrathous. They start arguing almost immediately, as Harding claims that they lost too much time hunting the Venatori assassin and should be focusing on Solas, while Varric believes that there is a connection between the two that shouldn't be ignored.

Harding counters that it is one more reason to focus on Solas and that they don't even have a plan to deal with him when they find him. Varric says that he is going to talk to Solas and Harding answers that talking may not be enough. She then concludes that they need help.

If you guys remember issue 1, that's a bit strange, since Harding says Varric were "his friend" and "could talk to him. Make him understand". Furthermore, in a flash back, Varric says to Charter that bringing Harding is a "terrible idea" because she "sees the best in people, and Solas can use that to manipulate her, get her to hesitate". The roles they played in the first issue were reversed in this one, but I'm not sure if this was intentional (in fact, I'd bet it wasn't)

Varric smiled and replies that he knows a woman in Minrathous. If you are thinking about his awesome, stylish and powerful magister cousin Maevaris Tilani... guess again, because Varric asks for the help of the private investigator Neve Gallus (sorry Neve, love u too)

They meet at a tavern. After some banter between the two, Neve says she is tired of hearing Solas name and says that he attacked some Venatori, stole artifacts from them and freed a group of elven slaves while he was at it (that's our egg)

In addition, those elves are now causing trouble in the city, presumably in the name of the one who freed them. Neve asks if they are sure if they wanna be mixed up in all of that, and Harding replies that the trouble in Minrathous is just the beginning. Varric, however, doesn't agree with her and points out that they don't know that yet.

They argue again. Harding says that Solas clearly doesn't want to be found and Varric should prepare himself because the only way to stop Solas may be with an arrow.

Varric answers that the Venatori only got what was coming for them and that he "will knock some sense on the fool" when he sees him. Before Harding can say anything else, he asks Neve if she has any leads.

She does. As they walk towards the hiding place of some escaped slaves, she talks about the Shadow Dragons, a group that works with her and has been helping fred slaves. They may be working for Solas, but that just mean that they will be one step closer to him.

Varric spots their Venatori "friend", but they don't try to follow him this time

Neve shows where some of the slaves are coming to find food and, fortunately, two happened to be there at the time. They got startled when they say two armed (probably three) strangers aproaching and ran. Harding did some cool stuff with her bow to stop one of them from running, but the other vanished.

Varric offers the remaining guy (an elf btw) coin for answering his questions. He accepts and say that Solas freed them, but he doesn't work for him. He also says that Solas helped more than anyone else, and that he is leaving Minrathous via the canals.

The elf says: "He saw what they had done to us – his kin". However, by the time Trespasser ends, Solas doesn't think of modern elves as his kin. His views may have changed or, more likely, it's just this guys interpretation, doesn't need to be true

He finishes by saying that if Neve actually want to help the slaves, there is going to be a meeting by the docks that night so they can figure out what to do next. Neve replies that she heard about a big Venatori operation was going to happen by the docks that night.

Varric and Harding realize that it's all linked: Solas annoyed the Venatori, so they started following the rogues in an attempt to track him. Since they overheard the tavern meeting with Neve, they think that the slaves are Solas agents and are going to come for them at the docks. Neve says to the elf that they should call off the meeting, but he replies that there is no time.

Varric and Harding decide to protect the slaves, if it means losing Solas trail.

At the meeting, there is a woman saying that the Shadow Dragons offered them a chance to "restore their dignity", "get back the lives stolen by the Venatori", and make sure they don't have to scrabble in the dirt for food and warmth. She thinks they should take that chance, but never gets to finish her speech, as the Venatori arrive.

The Venatori leader taunts and tell his goons to take some of the people alive for questioning, but Varric and Harding swoop in and kill two of his guys.

The slaves were armed, Neve shows up with even more guys and a fight breaks out. The Venatori assassin that was following Varric and Harding is killed by the elf from earlier and can't be questioned.

Talking about Harding and Varric, they agree that they did the right thing, even if Solas is now long gone. After they leave, Harding starts wondering if Solas freed those slaves in an attempt to delay the two, as he knew they wouldn't resist helping. Varric agrees that they were tricked because Solas knows them too well, and says...

"Maybe it's time we brought in some fresh help. Someone Solas doesn't know. Someone he won't see coming."

The end!

[mrs-gauche]

TEVINTER NIGHTS SPOILERS

Re your 'solas give up searching for the idol's tag, if i remember correctly he actually already got his hands on it in the current timeline

Hey there! :D Thank you for telling me, but I actually have read Tevinter Nights and I know you're probably talking about Solas' (or "the Bard's") tale in the last chapter! I'm just one of those people who believe that this story, much like his entire facade in this chapter, was actually entirely fabricated. 😂

Idk, even upon my first read, I thought that the random mention of countless familiar but also very random side characters in the beginning who somehow all happened to be present at this auction house seemed a little strange, to the point that I found it actually kind of hilarious. And even if we assume that him getting the idol was *not* the only part about this tale that actually happened, as the Assassin and the Mortalitasi point out at the end, there were a lot of other questionable things happening in that story.

Also, keep in mind that the reason why Solas attended this spy meeting personally was to get the information about what they believe to be his plan and how much they knew first hand. And if he already had the idol, why would he be so interested in hearing about its whereabouts then? (I know that *spoiler* he used the eluvian in the comic before to follow its path but maybe he just lost track of it at some point?) And I think, upon hearing them assuming that he needs the idol, it would just make sense that he would then want them to believe that he's now in possession of it and "cannot be stopped", as he puts it, so that they would drop all effort to find it before him.

It's also noticable how, on the very last page of the book, when it kind of lists the bullet points of information from what Solas said and Charter is about to write down her report, it does not explicitly say "He has the idol" but rather just what it looks like, which suggests to me that she didn't buy his story either. :D

Besides that, given how much emphasis the idol has gotten in what little promo/book/comic stuff we've seen.. I just think it would be weird if DA4 started out with Solas already having the idol and... that's it. 😂 He'll tear down the Veil and then we.. need to destroy the idol, maybe? Or maybe we need to steal it from him? 😂 (Or given that it can apparently also be used as a ritual blade, it will be the one weapon we need to strike down the *cough* real villain of this game because I don't believe for one second that Solas will be the ultimate threat, going by everything we know so far, I think at least two of the Evanuris will be unleashed and then we will come to realize what doom Solas actually intended to prevent all these ages ago 😂). Or maybe it's some sort of key? I mean, I at least wouldn't want it to be just another MacGuffin.

Or, you know, I could be of course completely wrong about all of this and he has the idol now. 😂 At this point we just don't know what role it'll play other then it will be important, so I guess we just need to wait and see. 😁

[emerald-amidst-gold]

Blood Lotus and Arbors Blessing for Fane? 👀

Well, well, well, I see you chose one particular plant that lets me demonstrate the sheer amount of alcohol that Fane can consume and still not get drunk! Clever, clever! >:D

Blood Lotus - Is your character a lightweight when it comes to intoxicating substances? How did they come across this fact?

So to start, Fane is not a lightweight by any means and allow me to show you!

**

"Are we seriously doing this, Varric?", Fane asked, arms crossed as he sat at one of the tables in the tavern, watching as the dwarf meticulously set down bottle after bottle of different liquors. He recognized them, since each one was a brand they had stumbled upon out in the wilds during excursions.

Varric glanced up as he set the last bottle labeled 'Dragon Piss' down in front of him before stepping back, nodding with satisfaction and grinning like a fool. Fane didn't like that grin. That grin meant bad things. Baaad things.

"This is a test, Tempest!", Varric proclaimed, reaching forward to pull the cork of one of the bottles, giving it a precarious sniff before making a face that said, 'Oh, that's a strong one' before setting it back down, and grinning again.

Fane lifted a hand, slowly rubbing at his face before sighing. He should have known the dwarf's offer of a round of cards was a bad idea, but he had agreed. Why had he agreed? He should be in bed. He should be doing something other than drinking, but here he was.

"And tell me, what is this test trying to prove?", Fane asked, instantly regretting it as Varric let out a laugh, pulling the cork off another bottle and then another and then another. Oh, this was bad and so was the smell as he grimaced slightly at the one labeled 'Dragon Piss'. His kin's piss did not smell like that. Not at all.

"It's to test if that body of yours is just for taking hits, or if it can take a different type of hit.", Varric explained, finishing his mass uncorking of bottles to plop down into the chair directly across from him, smirking with a twinkle of mischief in amber eyes.

Fane raised an eyebrow, idly reaching out with a hand to grab a hold of a bottle, giving it a swirl, but never disconnecting eye contact with the set watching him. Another glint of deep brown within otherwise bright eyes told him exactly what he needed to know, and it also had him heaving a sigh. He should have known.

"You want to see how many bottles it takes to get me wasted.", he said matter of fact, nearly snorting when Varric's eyes widened a bit before they schooled themselves, cheeky grin still in place.

"Keen eye, Your Holiness.", Varric joked, but cleared his throat when Fane threw a truly venomous glare at it. "But, yeah! I overheard a certain conversation between you and our resident apostate, and it got me curious." That same cheeky grin seemed to grow at those words, making Fane let out another sigh. He and Solas really needed to stop having their talks in the rotunda. Sound carried, voices lingered.

Stone talked to stone.

"I'm guessing it was the one from the Winter Palace?", Fane asked, knowing that it was, but playing the fool. He already toed the line with his earlier observation, as insignificant as it was. He didn't need to pique Varric's curiosity more. "The one where I drank ten bottles of port, five bottles of brandy, and three shots of whiskey?"

Varric nodded. "That exact one!", he affirmed, pointing at him with a finger before leaning back in his chair, propping his boots up on the table. "According to how Chuckles worded it, you were drinking throughout the night, but every time I saw you, you looked as steady as a vessel.", he stated, leaning over a bit to grab his own pint, as if the whole thing happening was a riveting show.

Fane shrugged. "I took swings here and there. That place had my nerves all frayed, and why not take advantage of the free drinks?", he said. The masks had also had him on edge, but Varric didn't need to know that.

"Oh, I get that, but the amount...", Varric started, pointing with his tankard with a thoughtful expression. "...that's the kicker! And why I have to see a repeat!", he declared, taking a swig of his own ale.

Fane let out a tiny growl before just sighing once again. As much as he didn't want to entertain this, his head pounding from today's 'meetings' and Cullen and Cassandra's disapproval with one of his actions, he had to admit, a drink would be nice.

Really nice. He wouldn't get drunk anyways. Not from the meager line up before him, at any rate.

"Fine, dwarf.", Fane acquiesced to the test, sitting up straight to lean his elbows on the table, feeling a tiny, tiny smirk beginning to form as he saw the flash of surprise in amber. "I'll take your test and get the highest marks, too.", he said, raising the bottle in his hand and taking a generous swig with a single flinch. It was strong, it burned going down, but still piss weak.

Varric let out a barking laugh, slamming a hand down on the table and nearly upending all the bottles.

"Andraste's tits! I'm gonna mark this day on the calendar!", Varric roared, raising a hand in a sweeping pattern as if displaying something. "'Fane Lavellan learns to loosen up! All thanks to his friend and loyal ally, Varric Tethras!'".

Fane scoffed, rolling his eyes as he took another hearty swig. He looked down into the opening of the bottle, feeling his face go flat with boredom.

"I'm not going to be loosening up anytime soon with these drinks.", Fane grumbled before shrugging, taking another long, long swig, practically chugging it until he felt no more liquid enter his throat. "See?" He shook the bottle a bit, showing the now wide eyed dwarf it was empty. "Pathetic."

"Oh, we'll see about that once you down all twenty four!", Varric exclaimed, shock wearing off to be replaced with rapt excitement. "Fifty sovereigns says I have to drag your ass up the stairs to Chuckles by the end of the night."

Fane leaned back, taking another bottle with him and mimicking Varric's position. He felt his smirk widen at the challenge, the bet, and felt a warm sense of giddiness in his chest. Maybe the alcohol was stronger than he thought? Nah, couldn't be. Just the room.

"Make it a hundred and a sneak peak of your next chapter, and I'm in.", Fane raised the stakes as he took a generous sip of the next bottle, its front label reading 'Butterbile'. It certainly had an essence akin to bile; musty and...damp.

"You drive a hard bargain, Inquisitor, but I'll take that bet!", Varric agreed to his terms, grin now ear to ear as he took a swig in turn.

Maybe grins of sun when the being that bore them came from the Stone wasn't so bad after all as Fane took another chug, smirking and warm all the while.

(Fane won the bet. And he had to carry Varric up the stairs instead. XD)

***

Arbor Blessing :: What is the happiest ending you can think of for your character?

Fane's happiest ending would be that his kin were free, able to do what they did without fear of being leashed again and that he and Solas could finally rest. Somewhere quiet, disconnected, but still aware of everything they fought for. Maybe the forests, maybe on the road, learning and observing a world they hadn't seen in centuries. An ending where no one had to die. Perhaps scarred and tempered, but not dead, not gone. Fane built friendships with everyone, and while I haven't shown that very much in my writing, it's the truth. He's just like Solas in that he doesn't want to do what he has to do, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and push through.

I just see Fane and Solas with Yune (their adopted dragon) just...living. Actually living and not just walking through the world like it's a nightmare, an illusion, a mirror waiting to be broken.

Thank you for the ask, friend! X3

[viviae]

can you like. tell me a little about dragon age. seeing your posts about it has got me interested in playing but i have little to no clue what it actually is

Boy can I explain nonny <3 This is a bit long so strap in and im sorry

Dragon Age is (currently) a three game series composed of Dragon Age: Origins (PS3, Xbox 360/Xbox One, PC), Dragon Age: II (PS3, Xbox 360/Xbox One, PC), and Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS4, Xbox One, PC) and its really unique because of its selling point that your actions impact the games as you progress. Like if you kill one character in one game they’ll stay dead through the rest of the series which makes you feel lived in the story and that your actions matter. Dragon Age is also an RPG so a roleplaying game kind of along the same lines of DnD where you get to make and play your own character. And yes there are romances and you can be gay.

The First Game of the series is Dragon Age: Origins where you choose from a selection of six unique (technically seven) origins or backgrounds for your character. You can be anywhere from a human noble or a Dalish elf, the unique elven culture in Dragon Age of nomadic clans dedicating to reclaiming their past. But eventually, from the events in your origin, you wind up a member of a secretive and elite order known as the Grey Wardens whose duty is to protect the world from the Blight.

The Blight is this spread of a horrible disease known as the Taint but is characterized by the presence of Darkspawn, a kind of zombie like creature who exists only to destroy the world. Grey Wardens take the heavy duty of protecting the world from the Blight, which have nearly wiped all of humanity multiple times, at all costs. And currently the country of Ferelden is under going a blight and due to events you wind up the only Grey Warden with your companion Alistair to save the world and reunite Ferelden which had fallen under a civil war.

Along Origins you meet many interesting characters. Alistair is your friendly co-warden who has a mysterious parentage that he hides under his happy go lucky attitude. In contrast to Alistair is the witch Morrigan who is your favorite goth swamp queen who would insult you and you thank her. In addition you meet your chaotic bi rogues Zevran and Leliana. Leliana is a nun who is on the run and hiding from a dark past and she is suspiciously good at murder. And Zevran is not at all hiding his aptitude for murder as an Assassin for hire who tried and failed to kill you but who can ignore that charming bastard?

Dragon Age II follows a much smaller story of a Ferelden refuge who had escaped from the Blight to the city of Kirkwall named Hawke. Unlike in origins where you get to pick your background 2 limits you to Hawke but fear not, Hawke is a loveable bastard and you can still customize them. Throughout DA2 you get to experience all the delights Kirkwall has to offer: Demons, crime, corrupt cops, and fighting your way to survive in this city and make a name for yourself.

Where Origins sets the stage for the world DA2 you are the actor in that play - literally the game is divided into 3 acts that take place over a span of 7 years. DA2′s main conflict is the argument of Mages vs Templars, as in DA’s lore while there are those who are born with magic they are forced to live in prisons policed by the Templar order and the church. You explore the more political arguments of; are the Templars right in their fears of magic as Kirkwall is filled to the brim with corrupt mages or do Mages deserve the chance to live and prove themselves freely from their prisons.

Your romancable companions in DA2 are all bisexuals as the true theme of DA2 is: be gay do crime. You have the foils of Anders: the runaway mage who fled from the prisons the mages are housed in and is determined to bring mages to freedom, and Fenris: the runaway escaped slave who curses magic for only inflicting pain and suffering in his life and wants his warnings to be heard about the dangers magic bring. In addition you also have Merrill, your cute but terrifying Dalish mage who would probably murder you with a cute smile and then go oops. And of course, my pirate wife Isabela, who lives a life free from commitment and is dedicated to the idea everyone should have a good time no matter the cost. Also while not romancable Hawke’s bff Varric deserves every ounce of praise he gets as never before has the energy of “two idiots sharing a braincell” ever been so well adapted.

Then finally we reach Inquisition. After the events of DA2 it triggers a full on war between the Mages and Templars that is destroying the land and causing severe damage that neither side can handle anymore. Desperate for an end to the conflict the Divine (err... fantasy pope) calls for a meeting on both sides... only for the entire thing to literally explode. Killing everyone present and causing a hole in the sky which now means demons are raining like cats and dogs you are the only one to survive. In Inquisition you can once again return to pick between unique backgrounds like in Origins but you don’t get to play through those backgrounds sadly.

You now possess something on your left hand which gives you the ability to patch up the hole in the sky that is pissing demons and due to being the only survivor everyone is incredibly confused about you. Eventually the Inquisition is formed around you, the character they are calling the Herald of Andraste (Andraste is fantasy Jesus) due to your ability to seal the holes. The mystery unfolds as over the course of the game you learn what caused the explosion, how you are connected, and what exactly the mark on your hand is.

DAI has the largest numbers of romance options so I’m gonna give a quick bullet point list for them all

Iron Bull (Pansexual, All Races): A Qunari (think Tiefling but big and beefy) mercenary who is far more clever than he lets on, as well as being the rope top dom of your dreams. Literally! Bull’s romance is a really healthy bdsm relationship if you are interested its very well done

Josephine (Bisexual, All Races): Your loveable ambassador and advisor for the inquisition. She is a workaholic noble who is a tried and true classic romance. Sweep her off her feet and duel for her hand all while navigating the nobility

Dorian (Gay, All Races): The flamboyant pariah rock star mage, he demands attention whenever he walks into the room. Although he wants to be all talk and no emotions make no mistake he is making puppy eyes at you the entire time and gets deeply offended if you say he is. Also not going to lie Dorian is the best piece of gay male rep in gaming history.

Cassandra (Male-only, all Races): Your stern warrior wife who is all serious no funny business... expect she is a bleeding heart romantic who reads horrible smut for fun. You wish to COURT HER?? I mean... if you want 👉👈 she won’t say no...

Blackwall (Female-only, All Races): Your weird dilf who wants desperately to prove himself every step of the way and help people. He is a constable for the Grey Wardens, but all the details on him seem murky... Ah well I’m sure its nothing, the Grey Wardens are a secretive order after all.

Sera (Lesbian, All Races): My wild child, monster chugging, beer guzzling, arrow shooting lesbian. Sera is here for a fun time and not a serious one, she’ll always make sure to keep you humble and ensure you aren’t getting to big for your breeches. 

Cullen (Female-Only, Human and Elf only): Cullen’s the Inquisition’s commander who oohh boy is steeped in a lot of trauma. Cullen’s actually a character you get to know through out the series and see just all the horrible nonsense he’s been through. But he is your tragic self loathing... he isn’t princely but he is your adorkable charming

Solas (Female-Only, Elf Only): The humble apostate who joins the Inquisition out of curiosity of the breech, he is an expert on what the hell is going on with that hole in the sky. However, he holds a wisdom that goes far deeper than your typical apostate. Smooth talking and refined he carries a heavy cloud over him.

I left out a lot and all the nonsense with books and what have you but this is the easiest overview of the series I can offer. It’s main selling points is the deep story and characters throughout the games. And of course who doesn’t love the ability to make and roleplay your own character as a bonus? The games are bit of a flawed gem and Origins in my ugly child but they are truly a delight if you are interested

[crackinglamb]

Fic writer asks 2, 18, and 37?

Thanks for the asks.  You always manage to pick one that needs a readmore, lol.  I love it.

2 - Is there a trope you’ve yet to try your hand at, but really want to?

I wouldn’t say so?  I have a complicated relationship with tropes in general.  I’m more apt to subvert them than celebrate them.  So asking me if I would deliberately set out to write one, with forethought and intent to do so, is like asking me if I want to dig through the Earth to get to the moon.

18 - Do you use any tools, like worksheets or outlines? 

Meh...kinda.  I storyboard a lot with @ir0n-angel.  We chat, brainstorm out ideas, share images to get an idea of what we’re talking about, and then I copy/paste the conversation into a document so I don’t forget it (images get saved on my private discord server so I don’t lose them).  Or, more rarely, I do a single paragraph style outline that reads like a grammatically ignorant summary.  Otherwise, I just point myself in a direction and GO.

37 - Talk about your current wips. 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!  I hope you’re ready for a long list.

Twist Some More - okay, this one’s easy.  It’s a sequel to Twist.  It’ll wrap up the loose ends and further the story by about a year.  Appearances from all our favorite characters, some minor angst ridden plot and still a happy ending.  The only reason I’m making it a separate fic is because it will deal with some subjects that not everyone in the fandom enjoys and I’d rather give people the option to bow out rather than be disappointed in the direction the story goes.

A Wolf Named Vengeance - My collab with the aforementioned Angel.  I started with an idea to write a fic that would read like an action movie.  And I decided to go modern AU because I hadn’t done that yet.  Angel got on board as a co-author because with all the beta work she does, she deserves recognition for it.  Plus, there are whole sections she wrote that I did not, so she gets the credit for them. 

All that said, it’s on hiatus currently.  We’ve both got a lot of irl messes on our hands, and I have a number of other works clamoring for attention.  It’s half written, half plotted.  We’ll get back to it once the world isn’t on fire anymore.

Just Like Fire - this is a collection of prompts.  The list is 250 long.  I don’t plan to do all of them.  It will end up being a more canon look at Solavellan and as of right now, I don’t know if it will have a happy ending.  It’s my only ‘shrug, whenever I feel like it’ fic as opposed to my usually rigidly scheduled posting style.

Wicked Game - a new MGIT.  Very early stages.  Not sure where I’m going with it or how far I’ll take it.  Two cakes theory aside, I don’t like writing the same story twice.  So I’m still figuring out the angle of approach to blast canon apart.

Fluff-ary 2021 - what it says on the tin.  I’m including it among the WIP’s because I haven’t finished writing them all yet.  But it is being posted as Waiter, There’s a Fluff In my Soup!

The Bullet With Your Name On It - the final part of my ME series.  Going back to my favorite flashback style, it will be the events of ME3 from the perspective of after the Reaper War is over.  Everyone lives, because fuck canon.

This Is All We Know - Solavelyan, because I’m weak and because screw Bioware for making Solas race locked. *yeets canon, surprising no one*

The Fox Runs - a post-canon Solavellan.  Are you noticing a theme?  This one is actually all blocked out and outlined.  All I need to do when I get the time is write it.  She says, like it’s nbd.  I’ll get around to it...at some point.

Untitled WIP, MGIT - Yes, another one.  I have a problem, okay?  This one will be a non-Inky OC, working from behind the scenes to save the Dread Wolf from his own idiocy.  Also still in the very early stages.

And this exhaustive list does not account for two separate original works that are in the nebulously vague idea stage.  Quite literally I have a setting and a cast of characters for both with no plot.  Story of my life.  *throws hands in the air*

[heartslogos]

newfragile yellows [969]

"I'm just saying, that it seems a touch archaic that I've got to marry someone in order to increase our family's already dubious influence on the continent,” Ellana says as she pushes around wilted greens on her plate. The tines of her fork scrape against the expensive and delicate porcelain causing her brother and Solas to grimace and exchange commiserate looks of annoyance. “Why can’t Mahanon be married of, hm? He keeps talking about how he’s older than I am, why doesn’t the eldest do this?”

“Because no one's going to put out a bid for your brother’s hand,” Solas replies. “He’s spent the past fifteen years doing everything he could to be seen as the unsociable, unfit one.”

Ellana glares at her twin. "Is that what you've been doing since we graduated high school? You were thinking that long term?”

“You weren’t?" Mahanon raises his eyebrows. “That’s uncharacteristically short sighted of you.”

“Excuse me, but I didn’t realize that the second we graduated high school we had to be thinking on how to avoid a political marriage that might be coming down the road in our thirties. I thought the worst we’d have to deal with was learning the family businesses and figuring out how to avoid getting ourselves assassinated,” Ellana retorts, scowling as she abandons all pretense of eating. “Why do we have to form alliances by marriage? We haven’t done that in years.”

“We haven’t done that outside of elven groups in years,” Solas corrects. “You don’t realize the matches are happening because most of them are with a certain amount of expected outcomes. The Lavellans joined hands with the Sabrae two generations back with your grandparents. The Mahariels and Sabrae were originally one family several generations ago but split to the Marches and Fereldan, splitting the name and the family but still retaining a good working relationship with each other. The Tabris and Surana have stood on their own for a long time, but even they have members who have married into them, or out, into other elven families. There exists no elven organization that isn’t somehow connected to at least one other. With that being considered, it’s time for all of these families to begin to branch out. The Sabrae already have a match with the Hawkes.”

Solas pauses, twisting the stem of his wine glass contemplatively. “Unless you’re going to meddle with that?”

“I would hope not,” Mahanon adds on. “You wouldn’t let Merrill and Carver throw themselves under for you, would you?”

“Carver offered and I said no. But it’s Carver and it’s the Hawke’s, so even if I said no I have a feeling they’re going to throw themselves into this fray anyway.” Ellana folds her hands together and rests her forehead on her knuckles. “This is so stupid. Why do alliances have to be sealed with a marriage? Do not talk to me about the Queen of Antiva from whatever age. I’m an heir to a crime syndicate, not a literal Princess.”

“The comparison still stands whether you like it or not. Even if this weren’t the situation currently unfolding, whoever you would spend significant portions of your life with would come under scrutiny for what they do, or do not, bring to the table.” Solas sits back in his chair, his own eyes closing. “Would it make you feel better to know about all the people who didn’t make it to the final selection list?”

“No, absolutely not.”

“Do you know who you’re going to choose?” Mahanon asks. “Not Cousland.”

“Tell me Cousland got onto the list out of respect for the family’s clout, not because anyone actually thought he had a chance with me,” Ellana turns her head slightly towards Solas.

“Correct. No one, not even the Couslands, expect you to take that bid seriously. If you did end up accepting, I do not think they would even know what to respond with.” Solas hums.

“I’m not going to choose the Couslands just to mess with them.”

“I said nothing.”

“You’re a scheming old man and I could smell your plotting from here. Did any of you have any…I don’t know. Ideal choices?”

“They’re all ideal choices, even the Couslands if you really wanted to choose them,” Solas replies. “At the end of the day, they’re all simply options. You choose whichever option appeals to you the most. If there was one favored above the other this would not be presented to you as a choice, it would simply be arranged.”

“How comforting,” Ellana drawls.

“That said, I would suggest the Iron Bull to you,” Solas says, sounding incredibly careful. Like he’s picking out shards of bullet from a very sensitive wound.

“And why is that?” Mahanon asks, “Ignoring the fact that Max is practically bringing us our own back yard to the table, Edric Cadash is fifteen years older than my sister, the Couslands are a joke of an offer, and we’d never actually pick Carver, why the leader of the Storm Coast?”

“Because he was very honest in his pitch,” Solas replies. “And I think that the Ellana and he would get along well. Possibly too well, much to the detriment of others.”

“You found Ellana a possible love match in a series of political matches.”

“I found Ellana a possible friend among a series of allies,” Solas says. “And of course, that’s all up to Ellana and the Iron Bull.”

“What makes you think that he could be my friend, aside from the fact that he was honest? And what do you mean by honest?”

“His pitch was very clinical, to the point of apathy,” Solas answers, “I don’t think he thinks he was going to even make it to the final selection. It was more like the Couslands, throwing in his name for the sake of throwing it in and seeing how far he gets. And as far as the reason why I think the two of you could possibly become friends — well. He’s going to be here in three days. You’ll find out what I mean then.”

[buttsonthebeach]

*whispering* solavellan sex on the Normandy

ANON. I don’t even know if you’re still out there, I’m pretty sure you sent this like a year ago, but I want you to know that I have been working on this prompt ever since you sent it!!!

Fun fact #1: I have never played any of the original Mass Effect games.

Fun fact #2: I had so much reading about them and watching videos and concocting headcanons that I accidentally put more energy into that than into smut?

(I’m sorryyyy I hope it was worth the wait if you are still out there)

@dadrunkwriting

My Ko-Fi || My Commissions (Slots currently open as of 10/4/19)

Pairing: Solavellan

Rating: Mature/Explicit (it’s right on that line - sexual content but not a lot and not the most explicit I have ever done)

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

Solas was fairly certain that the new soldier Commander Shepard had brought on board the Normandy SR-2 was doomed to be just like all the others - more brawn than brain, all muscle and no substance. He tried not to let it matter to him too much. He was here to take advantage of Cerberus’s technology and resources to further his own research into biotics. Everything else was window dressing.

In the case of the new soldier, the window dressing simply happened to be rather striking.

She had skin like mahogany, and red, tightly curled hair worn in a flat top hair cut, and eyes like steel. Her name was Ellana Lavellan, and she was the first person to pull him out of the tight cocoon of his lab - really, out of the tight cocoon he’d woven around himself - in years.

“You know, I was under the impression that our doctor was a salarian,” she said when she first wandered in one day.

“I am neither a doctor nor a salarian, as you can see,” he said, gesturing at the insignia that designated him as a scientist. “You are thinking of Mordin Solus. His quarters are next door. My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions.”

She laughed, and it was a surprisingly musical laugh. He wasn’t sure why he expected all soldiers to be gunmetal and grim looks. She was off duty, and in a tank top that bared her toned arms. He took in her pointed ears. He’d known from her name, of course, that they shared at least a race in common. It had been many centuries since their people were considered a separate but lesser species on the planet called Thedas, but there was still a twinge of happy recognition at the sight of her. Every other member of this crew whose ancestors hailed from Thedas was human. There might be some commonality between them, at least, if they were both elves.

Then again, as she sauntered around the lab, her head cocked in curiosity, he saw the tattoo marking the upper part of her back. Three long, arched branches that likely continued all the way down to her hips. She was likely of Dalish descent then. Or, worse, one of the people who got such tattoos and had no idea what they meant.

Solas ducked his head, returning to the readout on his omnitool.

“Well, you have to admit it is confusing. Solus, Solas. What are you doing?”

She was leaning on his workstation. She smelled like gun oil. Usually people backed away by this point, put off by his arch manner. Why hadn’t she?

“Testing this new implant for Commander Shepard,” he said.

“Interesting. You’ll have to explain how it works to me, sometime. When are you off duty?”

That was how she did it in the end, how she drew him out - she was relentless. Like a hunter on a trail with everything to lose. Except she, like him, had nothing to lose. Her parents were long dead - victims of the same slaver raid on Mindoir that had taken Shepard’s own parents, apparently that was how they knew each other - and she had struggled to find a place for herself since then. She’d been in the Alliance military (another connection with their esteemed commander, who Solas had to admit was growing on him too) but left that life behind, hoping for a new start, only to be drawn back into danger once more. The Illusive Man had given Solas no reason to believe that the Normandy SR-2 would be an easy mission, but he was still surprised by the level of violence they encountered - by the bruises and blood he saw on Ellana whenever she passed his lab on her way to Mordin’s, needing healing.

“I thought you were a sniper,” he chided her after one particularly bad episode. He was holding her left wrist, examining a burn that radiated up the inside of her left arm.

“I am,” she said. “And I thought you were a scientist, and not a doctor.”

He had not asked to take her hand, to examine her. He dropped it. But she just reached out and touched his hand - a touch that burned, that brought back memories, that made him remember just how long it had been since he had been touched. He shivered and he knew Ellana saw it. Solas had been living under masks for years now. He knew she saw through them all.

“I’ll be okay,” she said. “I promise.”

*

He only had the privilege of watching Ellana fight once. Shepard was a formidable biotic herself, and rarely brought other biotics on her missions. But when they went in pursuit of someone called Archangel, she said she wanted the backup.

“I’d also like a measure of stealth,” Shepard went on. “And Jack is, well -”

“Not subtle?” Solas said, dryly.

“Very diplomatic. We’ll bring Lavellan, too.”

Solas tried to ignore the little thrill that ran through him at the thought. He wasn’t successful.

She was a wonder with her rifle. Swift, silent, precise, powerful. She made shots he would have thought impossible, covered him and Shepard with an instinctive ease and tactical awareness. He watched her when he could. He may have even been staring.

“See something you like, Solas?” She asked.

Precise as one of her bullets, blunt as a mallet, and her smile was so sly, and Shepard was distracted by the turian that turned out to be Archangel. Garrus Vakarian, no doubt, if Solas’s research was to be believed.

“Watching you was - impressive. You move differently than any other soldier I have seen. Almost as if it is a dance.”

Ellana slung her rifle over her back and leaned against a wall, her grey eyes alight.

“Are you implying that I am graceful?”

“I am declaring it.” The words slipped out before he could consider them, and that was the danger, wasn’t it, of stepping outside his cocoon, his lab, his routine?

“I was equally impressed by you,” Ellana said. “Your biotics - it’s like it’s totally natural for you.”

He shrugged, pretended he was not complimented, that her words did not light him up from the inside out. “Elves generally take to it better than other Thedosians. Have you read any of the theories that our people were once like asari, with similarly long lives and control over our nervous systems that produced effects so startling they were once called magic?”

Ellana looked away, rubbing the back of her neck. “I was too busy being a dumb grunt to read stuff like that. But I’ve heard of it a little. Maybe you could explain more sometime?”

“Of course.”

*

It was soft and easy after that, except for when it wasn’t, when they talked about her Dalish heritage, her fierce belief that there was something important about sticking to traditions, even if there was little basis in fact for them.

“Of course my tattoos aren’t what made me an adult,” she retorted one day. “But getting them made me feel connected to something bigger than myself. Is that really so bad?”

“But the implications that they were once -”

“Oh, fuck the implications, Solas. I’m tired of the implications. I live here, and now, and I was just trying to share something about myself with someone who I thought cared about me without it turning into a big fucking deal.”

Her voice rang against the metal walls of his lab. She appeared almost immediately ashamed of her anger. He’d noticed that about her too. That was his job. To notice things, gather intel, play the Illusive Man’s game long enough to figure out if it was true, if biotics were inherent to his race, if they could perhaps be made inherent once again, raising the status of all Thedosians in the Council’s eyes…

But so much of what he had been noticing lately was her.

“I am sorry,” he said. He reached out and touched her hand. He’d been getting used to that. Little touches.

Ellana Lavellan kissed him then, full on the lips, without even the slightest warning, and he was sitting on a stool and though she was a slight woman this made her a little taller than him, and he tilted his head back, let himself fall into the kiss, wrapped his arms around her and felt her warmth and life and just how much he wanted this. Wanted a life that was not just secrets and watching and never partaking.

Ellana pulled back, looked down at him.

“I hope that was okay,” she said. “You’re not going to report me to the commander for sexual harassment, are you?”

Solas kissed her again, hungrier this time, fingers digging into her muscles, the solid reality of her. The realest thing he’d felt in years.

“So you are tired of the implications, then?” he asked when they parted.

“Like I said,” Ellana grinned, sliding into his lap, straddling him. “Fuck the implications.”

*

Solas could not help himself, of course. He had to tell her that there were considerations. Well, fuck the considerations too, she’d said jokingly, but she respected his boundaries nonetheless. Because there were considerations. He knew more than even Shepard did. He knew that the supposedly disabled Collector ship they were headed to was a trap. He tried to tell Ellana not to go on that mission. To convince Shepard to bring Garrus instead.

“Don’t go soft on me. Besides - I have to beat Vakarian’s high score,” she said, and kissed him.

He knew that to the Illusive Man, all the people on this ship were merely pawns at play in a larger game. He had guessed at what that larger game might be. He had willingly chosen to be a bigger pawn in that game, to do the things the Illusive Man asked of him as long as he could continue his research. And he knew Ellana now - knew that she would not take any of this lightly, that she had a soldier’s sense of loyalty and honor, old-fashioned as the tattoos on her back.

And he knew that he wanted her in all the ways one person could want another. He knew with increasing clarity as time went on that he wanted her more than he wanted anything else.

But to turn his back now -

The formless shadow of what lay beyond the Omega-4 Relay loomed larger and larger, and in its shadow things grew clearer and clearer. Clear as Ellana’s grey eyes, clear as her perception of the world. They might not come back from this mission. And the Illusive Man would not care, not even if he lost one of his foremost biotics researchers, one of his best spies. And Solas’s work would not care if he was not there to finish it. He looked out at the vastness of space outside the Normandy and that thought grew clearer and clearer.

No one would care except for her.

So he went to her the night before they would make their last stand. Her room was small and cramped and her bed was even more small but she was alive in it, alive in her body, already stripped down to her simple training bra and standard issued underwear when he arrived and yet beautiful as any ancient nebula he’d ever seen.

“Are you sure?” she asked him, finding the buttons on his lab coat, undressing him, her eyes bright in the dark.

“I have never been more sure of anything than I am of you,” he said.

So he stripped off all the things that made her a warrior - the training bra, the briefs, the dog tags - and he stripped off all the things that made him a scientist, a spy - the lab coat and the gloves and every single mask - and he loved her. She was warm and firm beneath him and he slid between her thighs - lingered there a long time, just rocking back and forth, just kissing her, just feeling her, the silky drag of skin on skin - and there, in the darkness of space, he loved her, and she loved him. She rolled him over and took her turn on top, not pushing him inside her yet, not even asking him to touch her, to ease her own wet ache. She just felt, explored, touched.

And then when she did take him in her hand raise herself up, and sink back down on him, taking him within her - when she did lace both of her hands with his and pin them over his head as she rode him, as she kissed him - then she was so impossibly real, so impossibly alive, that Solas forgot of the possibility of death. There was only her, them, the light of distant stars, of his own biotics flaring.

“I love you,” she said, and from another woman’s lips it would have felt false to hear those words said when they were still joined, still making love. But this was Ellana, and Solas had watched her, and he knew she was nothing if not sincere.

“I love you,” he said, surrendering, bucking his hips up into her. “I love you, I love you -”

There were people walking down the hall outside - Taylor, Lawson, Tali, Thane, all on their way to some distraction or another, all of them waiting out the end like they were. They tried to fall silent, to move to a different position, each time they passed, and they wound up on the cold metal floor, cocooned in blankets, Solas on top of her this time, looking down at her, mesmerized, angling himself to make it good for her, so he would rub against her in all the right places, so he could watch her when she came, and she squirmed a hand between them to make it happen because she was nothing if not self-sufficient, but he did get to watch her, to feel her from the inside out as she came. Then he was gone too, wave after sweet wave, and it was all too much and too good.

“Hey,” she said in the aftermath, touching his cheek, drawing him back. “It’s okay, you know. It’s gonna be okay.”

He kissed her hand, pretended she was right, that the Omega-4 Relay was not on their horizon now. It was easier than it ever had been. The pretending. She made it easy, lying there in his arms in the nest they’d made on the floor. It was going to be okay. They would make it through the relay and what came after. They’d walk away from Cerberus, the Illusive Man, Shepard, together. They’d see what the world was like without all of those things, without masks. Together.

Solas slept, and waited for tomorrow.

[sheikah]

Why do I love angst so much? Serious question: we do we (those of us who love angst haha) love suffering? 

Jonerys is like my exception ship because tbh their angst was resolved relatively quickly and instead of being forbidden they’re like destined for one another. But my other OTPs are complete angst machines and that’s WHY I like them as opposed to the “easier” or maybe even healthier options. Examples: 

I was just talking to a friend about Mass Effect and how I always romance Kaidan. Kaidan’s story (in my experience anyway) is a lot more angst-ridden than say, Garrus’s. Kaidan is completely out of the picture for ME2 and when he does come around there is a pretty intense argument between Kaidan and Femshep. And then that LETTER about him trying to move on after he thought she died? And then they meet up again in Vancouver where his city is literally destroyed and they have all this crackling, unresolved tension and grief??? Before they can hash things out Kaidan is nearly killed on Mars and is then hospitalized for a good chunk of the beginning of ME3. It’s... extended torture. Meanwhile Garrus is always around and has so many funny lines and such an endearingly awkward and lovable relationship with Shep but I always go straight for Kaidan???

Still in the vein of BioWare, I realize that Cullen is pretty vanilla compared to romancing the literal villain in Solas, but I always play as a mage in Inquisition JUST because I love the angst of Cullen having so many reservations and doubts about a relationship with the Inquisitor as a former Templar who has had horrible experiences with mages. It’s FORBIDDEN and therefore my shit. 

Right now I’m reading The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo and Alina literally has Mal right there who is present for 80% of her story, hopelessly in love with Alina, her childhood sweetheart, drops lines like “you’re my nation.” And yet I ship her with the sexy villain who has killed countless people and tried to imprison her. Every time the Darkling is in a scene it’s exploding with tension and I am just flipping through the story hoping for the next scene where they can tease each other with lines like “I had a taste for you, once.” I know this doesn’t end well for them but again... that’s my shit lol. 

Kastle is the same way. Frank is a convicted mass-murderer and Karen works for lawyers and so she has every reason to fear or resent him but they’re drawn together again and again despite Frank’s trauma and grief and his constant feeling that he doesn’t deserve love or happiness, that anyone around him will be hurt like his family was. Again, Matt is right there (though arguably an angsty option for his own reasons) but I’m just like YES KAREN please see the wounded, loving, heart-of-gold under Frank’s tough exterior! He killed people? Oh well, they had it coming right?! Please throw yourself into harm’s way! Frank will take bullets for you anyway! Yes bitch!

Or Dramione??? I mean in canon there really isn’t anything to support this so yeah: I like another crackship. But it’s BECAUSE of how unlikely it is. Draco’s prejudiced background makes him hate Hermione from the start for frankly racist reasons, and Hermione is equally predisposed to hatred of Draco because she is hardworking and driven and would probably resent him having so many things handed to him on a silver platter growing up in a wealthy pureblood family. The idea of them being attracted to each other in spite of all of that and having to navigate those feelings even while outwardly hating one another is frankly delicious.

Even though Jonerys is my GoT otp most of you know that my crackship on the side is Jaime/Dany and I always get asks like “wtf why” but it’s literally BECAUSE of how impossible it is. I started shipping it the minute that he charged her on a battlefield with a lance ready to kill her haha. He killed her dad! They have such a complicated history and angst-filled present so of course I’m trash just thinking about it???

There are countless examples I could put here but my point is I tend to only like the difficult ships and I don’t get it. Irl I always went for and wound up marrying the nice guy. But when it comes to the stuff I read I want the paaaain lmao.

[moonraccoon-exe]

More thoughts about DA: I so far!

I said I’d do this like a week or two ago but lol. Have mercy on me ;u;

But yeh! Just a lot of random thoughts to share about my experience so far:

EPIC

SO FUCKING EPIC OH MY G O D THIS HAS TO BEO NE OF THE MOST EPIC STORIES I’VE PLAYED OR SEEN/READ, THIS IS JUST SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOL

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

*HYSTERICALLY SQUEAKING*

Honestly from beginning to the point I’m in, it’s so EPIC, like- the SUMMIT of epic!!

The story and the lore and the world are all so vast, so impossibly vast, it’s mindblowing. The writers of this are true masterminds and I must applaude all this work, they created a full whole new universe that’s real and breathes and lives. Holy. Fuck. It’s truly mindblowing and mesmerizing, I can’t even put it into words so I won’t even try.

Leliana and Cassandra, though? FUCK ME, THEY’RE GLORIOUS.

I’m SO in love with this game’s portrait of women, because there are SO MANY, and all in actual PRACTICAL and realistic armor! Like, no giant anime tiddies protected only on the nipple, it’s full armors not even shaped to make them look attractive or “like women”. And not just your companions; throughout the story, you find women enemies and allies in armor, it’s AMAZING.

I love Cassandra’s accent/voice color. I want her to fuck me. But DAMN me, I went with female elf in the end, after SO MUCH thinking about every choice (as in, gender, race, and class. I took SO LONG picking one of everything).

DO WE AGREE THAT COLE IS A MISUNDERSTOOD SOUL AND HE  NEEDS PROTECC AND I LOVE HIM SO DEARLY AND SO MUCH HE JUST WANTS TO HELP DEAR COLE I LOVE YOU I’D TAKE A BULLET FOR YOU

Blackwall is charming? Like...I don’t know. I didn’t like him in a beginning but then he just. Went and spoke and FUCK HE’S CHARMING.

I really feel like praising more the lore and story-telling/writing but there’s just no putting it into words goddammit.

THE WHOLE SCENE OF THE ATTACK ON HAVEN AND THE ESCAPE TO SKYHOLD THOUGH?

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

E P I C

LIKE SOOOOOOOO EPIC THERE ARE NO WORDS ENOUGH TO DESCRIBE IT!!! BEST, MOST EXCITING, MOST EPIC CUTSCENE SO FAR AND ONE OF THE MOST EPIC I’VE SEEN LIKE HOLY SHIT, IT WAS GLORIOUSLY EPIC!!!!!! BEYOND WORDS! I STILL THINK ABOUT IT AND STILL GET ALL HYPED AND WORKED UP AND AKSLJDFAKGLJ

From the moment the attack starts I was like HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO COOL

Watching Cullen in action was GREAT, too! He gets so little screen time (in my opinion), like, he could have been given a bigger role, it’s sad to watch all his potential just standing there doing nothing. What I would give so he was a party member! But yeah, that’s why it was so cool to watch him act in that part.We’re used to Cassandra and Leliana by that point, so it was good to see Cullen in charge for once. Watch him give orders, raise the voice, command the army, GAWDS, IT STILL GIVES ME CHILLS

Surviving the whole thing was AMAZING, the thing with (I forgot the english word lkasjdlakdg) “bombing”/attacking the snow mountains to Mulan the whole thing and bury the bad guys in the avalanche was SO GLORIOUSLY EPIC.

And then Super Bad Guy appears and I was like ZOMG FUCK I AM GOING TO DIE AHA HSADJFAHDGJAD ZOMG THIS IS SO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

I couldn’t save the people of Haven, though! I saved...the lady in charge of the...the one table that requests random things. Lady in armor? Forogt her name. Also saved Adan, I’m SO happy he made it!!! But Minaeve died lmao aah :’( And I think I lost someone else, but not sure who.

AND THEN WHEN YOU DECIDE TO GO BACK AND GIVE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO ESCAPE??? OMG CULLEN BEING THE ADORABLE MATURE IDIOT THAT I LOVE AND ROLLING WITH IT AKLSJDADKLGJ

AND THAT WHOLE SCENE WITH CORIPHEUS

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*EXPLODES INTO A THOUSAND SNOWFLAKES*

AKSLJF KAL GJAILSJF ALKJF ALKJGALDKGJADLGKJ

SO

BADASS

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*HYSTERICALLY SCREECHING*

IT WAS SO EPIC! SO SO DAMN EPIC OMG IT WAS SUPER COOL!!!

I wasn’t too scared of him, like, the design doesn’t look that scary. But he’s got a nice air of villain! And the way he grabs you and picks you up, and then when you fire the thing to cause the lastavalanche?

I WAS LIKE

ZOMG

HOW AM I GOING TO SURVIVE OH MY G O D NO WILL I JUST RUN!?!? PLS RUN LITTLE ELF YOU CAN DO IT I BELIEVE IN YOU

AND THEN YOU JUMP INTO THE GROUND AND YOU 

YOU ACTUALLY M A K E IT

AHA SADHGAD

*FANGASMS*

AND THE WHOLE WALK THROUGH THE SNOW DESERT episode Prompto anyone I WAS LIKEK OMG YES THIS TROPE I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS ABOUT THE HERO SURVIVING, BUT NO ONE KNOWING, AND MAKING IT THROUGH A SNOW DESERT ALONE BARELY SURVIVING BUT KEEPING ON

AND THE TROPE DIDN’T FAIL THE “HERO COLLAPSES WHEN THEY SEE THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR FRIENDS YELLL “THERE THEY ARE!!!” AND RUN TO GO PICK YOU UP AND THEN

FUCK

FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

LIKE THE LORE AND WORLD AND UNIVERSE WASN’T MY JAM ALREADY

THEY THROW THIS AT ME!?!?!??!!?!?

PERFECT

BRILLIANT

GENIUS

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS ONE BIT, I HAVE A SAVE JUST TO REPLAY ALL THAT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, THIS IS SO E X Q U I S I T E

And the best part personally is that it’s Cullen teddy bear who spots you aaah ;A; <3

And the next bit? When you wake up and the advisors are arguing. So you decide to chime in to try and ease it. But you have no idea what to say, so Mother Giselle comes in and starts singing?

And then Leliana joins?

And then Cassandra

And then CULLEN

AND THEN EVERYONE

AND EVERYONE IN CAMP GATHERS AROUND YOU AND SING THE MAIN THEME OF THE GAME AND YOU DISCOVER “OMG IT’S THE MAIN THEME OF THE TITLE SCREEN, OMG IT HAS LYRICS” AND THE WHOLE VISUALS LIKE AFTER THE TRAGEDY EVERYONE THAT SURVIVED GATHERING AROUND YOU AND SINGING AND SOLAS WATCHING IN ADMIRATION EVEN WHEN HE DOESN’T BELIEVE IN ANDRASTE/THE HUMAN RELIGION AND

GOOSEBUMPS

LITERAL GOOSEBUMPS AND CHILLS ALL OVER MY BODY, LIKE A DAMN BOLT, OM HY GOD THAT HAS TO BEO NE OF THE MOST IMPACTING SCENES SO FAR, IT JUST GIVES ME SO MUCH GOOSEBUMPS AND MAKES ME GO AKSLJF AKLGJADFLKA

*FANGASMS AGAIN*

OKAY BUT I FORGOT

THE WHOLE TIME TRAVEL THING WITH DORIAN!?!?!?!?

*sHRIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK*

So I went mages instead of Templars. Because ya know, it felt better? Like, yes, I know mages have done bad things before, but templars are hunting for them like they’re “things” or beasts, so I felt that it was best to support mages instead of Templars.

Okay but sidenote; I thought Cullen was going to be upset at me, like MAD. Because, you know, he used to be a Templar, and he still is so in love with the Templars and always talks so nicely and excitedly about them, and tried to encourage you to go with Templars. So I chose Mages thinking he was going to rage at me.

And what did he do? “Oh well, yes, the mages are good, they may be able to help us close the rift. They’re good allies :)”

AND I LOSE IT

CULLEN. MY DEAR. MY LOVE. MY STUPID IDIOT, I LOVE YOU.

Seriously, I’m SO IN LOVE with how mature he is. That and his shyness are what convinced me to romance him. He took it so nicely, like, he doesn’t throw tantrums or argues; he knows what’s at risk, he wants the best to turn out of everything, and when things happen, he knows to just get over it and take it to his vantage and see it in a positive way and fUCK GODS HAVE MERCY ON ME, IT WAS GREAT

OKAY SO BACK TO TPOIC

MAGES

SO YOU GO TO THIS CASTLE and well I guess you know the whole thing already lmao, SO THAT TIME TRAVEL WITH DORIAN? 

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK IT WAS THE SECOND OR THIRD MOST EPIC THING IS WEAR TO THE HEAVENS DEAR LORDS AOVE IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!!!!!d

Exploring the castle alone with him wasamazing (gotta talk about orian ina sec). And when you learn you were transported a  whole year into the future? I was like HAHAHAHAHAHAHA LOL TRY WAITING TEN (was definitely thinking about FFXV OTL these poor babies waited so much... :( ). I felt bad finding Cassandra and Varric poisoned/consumed by the lyrium, but when you find Leliana?

LIKE HOLY FUCK WHAT DID THEY DO TO HER ZOMG SHE AGED LIKE 90 YEARS IN JUST 1 IT WAS INCREDIBLE

AND THE WHOEL SCENE OF YOUR COMPANIONS DECIDING TO GIVE THEIR LIVES TO GIVE YOU TIME!?!?!?

SO EPIC. SO FUCKING EPIC GAWDS DAMN ME, ONEO F THE DEMONS CAME THROUGH THE DOOR WITH VARRIC’S CORPSES AND IT STILL HAUNTS ME

FROM AMONG EVERYONE THEY KILLED DEAR VARRICAND I DIE

AND THEN LELIANA...PROUDLY STANDING THERE, FEARLESS, BRAVE, SO BADASS AND SO COOL, SHOOTING ARROWS WHILE PRAYING AND GIVING YOU TIME

FUCK ME

I WANTED TO GO AFTER HER BUT I ALSO KNEW I DIDN’T HAVE TO FUCK UP BUT LIKE IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

EPIC

*sHRIEEEEEEEK*

*EXPLODES AGAIN*

AND DORIAN!?!?!?

FUCM KE M Y HEART HE’S ADORABLE AND I’M SO ABSURDLY IN LOVE WITH HIM

I had regretted making a female avatar int hemoment I learned  Cassandra doesn’t romance female. But I moved on. But when I learned Dorian only romances male??? INSTANT REGRET.

DORIAN THAT FUCKING IDIOT, I’M SO IN LOVE WITH HIM. There’s somethingabout the “guy that loves himself so much, it’s narcissistic”, because they’re fun. And like, eh’s not selfish, just narcissistic. Loves himself, but is kind and supportive. He’s so intelligent, wise, he’s so kind, he’s lots of fun, damn me, he’s elegant, and he’s a MAGE. I LOVE MAGES.

I love his voice, too. All of him is GREAT and I love him. Sassy little shit that loves himself, GAWDS. I have to romance him someday!

Also loved the whole thing with Solas when he’s like “I just casually happen to know this huge abandoned castle nearby here, maybe it can be of use c:” Solas you adorable idiot. But honestly, watching the Inquisitor and Solas lead the way to Skyhold was PHENOMENAL and so beautiful. I’m in love with snowy scenarios so I truly loved it, and Skyhold? MAGNIFICENT. A PIECE OF ART. SO BEAUTIFUL SUCH A BREATHTAKING SIGHT AKLSDJFAKDLGJ ALKFJA

The game sort of tried to incline me to romance Solas multiple times, and I for sure will do that in a second playthrough, because GODS HE’S CUTE. I love how profoundly wise and mature he is. And he has an air of melancholy that sort of attracts me, not like “ooh sexy!” but like...I want to comfort him, and love him, and clean him. He feels like such a melancolic character. Even Cole says Solas is sor tof a “sad creature” or something. It breaks my heart when Solas says bye because he says it so sadly like omg no pls ;A;

I LOVED going into the dream with him. It was just natural to go and kiss him but I didn’t aksldjdagk, I wanted to romance CUllen so badly XD But it was amazing!! And the way he asks the next day if you enjoyed your dreams, it was so cute. Solas is such a good and nice friend!!

I loved his quest rescuing his spirit friend. I felt sad in the conversation afterwards because, as I didn’t romance him, he ended the conversation with “It means I respect you profoundly, Inquisitor. And that I’ve taken too much of your time already” and left I was like NO SOLAS DARLING PLS I SWEAR INA  SECOND LIFE I WILL LOVE YOU AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

But yeh. Solas is amazing.

Also, Iron Bull and Dorian are flirting and I love it. There was a point, Dorian tried to argue with him about the Qunari attacking Tevinter and he was like “So would you prefer to see me ona leash?” to which Iron Bull replied “I’d take you out for dinner first”.

Omg Bull. Omg IRON BULL OMG THAT IS PRIVATE XD And today Dorian was like “Can you PLEASE be careful with that pointy thing and not direct it towards me?” and Bull was like “Lmao kkinky”, so Dorian was like “JESUS CHRIST, I meant your weapon!”

I WANT THEM TO FUCK. if I can’t fuck Dorian, then may the Bull fuck him for me DAMMIT

Josephine is adorable and so kind. I almost romanced her, too. Talked with her at the balcony and she was all gratitudde and joy ad shyness. 

Also Vivienne? First time we meet her I was like OH MY GOD SHE’S SO BEAUTIFUL. OMG SHE’S GORGEOUS. SO FIRM, SO REGAL, SO MIPOSING, SO INDEPENDENT, SO BADASS.

Then at Haven when she’s finally off-mask I was like omg she’s bald AND SHE’S ROCKING THAT LOOK OMG SHE’S SO GOROUGES, LOOK AT TAHT SKIN COLOR, IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL, AND HER WHITE DRESS AND OMG I LOVE HER

And now it’s like “omg Vivienne cAN YOU PLEASE STOP! >:’(” because hahaha, BOY! She’s gorgeous and strong, but so difficult!! We just disagree morally. I’m all hero-like regarding “Everyone deserves peace/a chance/freedom, love and peace, do the right thing, spirits are friends” and Vivienne is all “WE NEED TO BE STRICT. LIKE IRON FIST STRICT. TELL THAT SPIRIT TO FUCK OFF. KILL THIS PERSON. FUCK THE MAGES” and like nooooooo!!! Vivienneeeeeeee, that’s not how you show mercy!!!!

I think she’s the only one I won’t be able to befriend...she’s disapproved of almost all that I’ve done... OTL

MORE NOTES

FIRST OF ALL

WHY THE FUCK CAN’T WE ROMANCE CULLENW ITH A MALE INQUISITOR!?!?!?! WHY. THE. FUCK

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

IT WOULD BE SO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE

Also WHY CAN’T WE ROMANCE LELIANA!?!?! THAT IS A PUNISHMENT FROM THE HELLS, SHE’S AMAZING. And gay.

Also WHY THE FUCK CAN’T WE ROMANCE CASSANDRA WITH A FEMALE!?!??!?! ;^;

Also, why can’t weromance Varric with ANYONE? Honesly, he’s one of my favorites! He’s so charming, outgoing, so lighthearted. He’s so understanding and mature. I love that he has the heart of an artist and dedicates to writing. I love how he doesn’t take things personally. I love his sensibility. Honestly, he probably would have been my option 1 of romance if only he was romanceable. I’m so upset he’s not an available option!

SPEAKING OF ROMANCE

I JUST ROMANCED CULLENT ODAY AND 

HONESTLY I REGRET NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING

IT’S SO ABSURDLY ADORABLE, SUCH A VANILLA LOVE OMG IT WAS SO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The reason he was my first option was because of that first reaction you get at Haven. When he goes all excited talking about protecting the weak and innocent and saving the world then he is like “Haha, sorry, I ranted and you’re not here so to hear me talk :)”

And you go “But I like your enthusiasm”. I picked that because I REALLY thought his enthusiasm was nice.

And his reaction??? HIS REATION!?!?!?!?

Like...you look at him. And you think “Oh, it’sa pretty boy. Charming and outgoing. He’ll probably just laugh it off, your casual, stereotyped Romeo”.

But???

TURNS OUT HE’S A DORK.

A DORK MADE OF SHYNESS THAT GETS EASILY FLUSTERED AND HAS NO IDEA HOW TO TALK TO OTHERS

THIS

ABSOLUTE

IDIOT

AKSJDFA KLGJA SKLDJAGL KAJDGALKDJA LKSJDA

THAT IS WHAT GOT ME

IT JUST

GOT ME

IT GOT ME SO BAD, I WAS ISNTANTLY HOOKED AS SOON AS HE CAME OUT AS THIS SHY DORK.

BECAUSE HONSTLY

THAT IS SO CUTE

I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR SHY, QUIET PEOPLE BECAUSE IT CAN BE SO CUTE AND CULLEN DIDN’T DISAPPOINT.

The way he just stared at my elf like .____. *brain death* zomg what do I do what do I say pls halp I’m lost and he just stuttered and went shy and looked away and PANICKED

AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HE’S SUCH AN IDIOT

I LOVE HIM

And all throughout the courting process with him, he’s all shyness and adorableness, I swear to the gods, I AM SO WEAK

I think at some point of the War Table, he’s staring at the Inquisitor? Like, before you are the Inquisitor. Because Leliana goes “So, you were telling us.........Cullen?”, and Cullen goes all “HM? OH- AH-...YES- AH...”and talks about something else, so like. Was he daydreaming OR was something in sight range, hm?

And then at Sky hold? That ADORABLE conversation when he’s staring and staring and tries to not say bye and right before you walk away he goes with what he has been containing about “You stayed behind, at Haven. You could have...” and then he swears it won’t happen again and he’s there for you AND I DIE, GIVE ME MY FAIRY TALE VANILLA LOVE, I LOVE IT.

And stuf stuff blah blah, AND WHEN YOU FINALLY ROMANCE HIM?

HONESTLY I’M JUST SO HAPPY BECAUSE HE’S THIS SHY STUTTERING IDIOT, YOU WOULD EXPECT HIM- LIKE YOU KNOW, strong warrior archetype, with the big armor, strong and badass, you would EXPECT him to be charmming, confident, utgoing, charming, flirty. But instead? Stuttering shy idiot that gets nervous. AND HONESTLY THAT MAKES ME FEEL SO HAPPYAND INLOVE WITH HIS CHARACTER GAWDS DAMN ME IT’S SO CUTE

So when you ask him to talk alone with him, is he confident now?

NAH MAN

He just stares away, gets nervous, and stutters” I-IT’S A NICE WEATHER, ISN’T IT? AHAH” like bruh. You nervous, anxious idiot PLS KISS ME ALREADY.

And that almost-kiss. IT WAS ADORABLE. And then the kiss-kiss. EVEN MORE ADORABLE. And they even give you soft piano music, aaaahhhh, I DIE ;A;

SO YEH. LOOKING FORWARDS TO MORE, BOTH ABOUT THE WHOLE STORY AND THE ROMANCE WITH CULLEN.

I could make the one quest...Wicked Hearts, something Eyes (I’M NOT PLAYING IT IN ENGLISH I’M SORRY), I think you go to a ball? But I have this habit of trying to complete as many sidequests as I can so you know. I’m taking long and doing it slow OTL

But enjoying it!!! And anyway, I spent too long writing this and now I feel guilty alksjdfkladjga

But yeh! My experience so far! C:

Thanks for reading!

[viir-banalras]

Share Three Songs That Remind You of Your OC(s)

I was tagged by @drellvhen to post three songs that fit with my OC, but considering I’m self-indulgent and love talking about my children I’m going to do Sa’lyn and Farilis like usual. Anyone can do this! I’m not sure who to tag, but if you do it tag me!! I’m always looking for music recs just ask anyone.

Sa’lyn Istimaethoriel Lavellan

Dark Times // The Weeknd ft. Ed Sheeran

Waking up, half past five Blood on pillow and one bruised eye Drunk too much, you know what I'm like But you should've seen the other guy This ain't the right time for you to fall in love with me Baby I'm just being honest And I know my lies could not make you believe We're running in circles that's why In my dark times I'll be going back to the street Promising everything I do not mean In my dark times, baby this is all I could be Don't think my mother could love me for me In my dark times, in my dark times

I really feel that this song represents Sa’lyn for who she is - she’s an assassin, and will put that before much of anything. While she does indulge on small, side romances and one night stands, she will never stay in one place - or with anyone - for too long. She doesn’t even believe it to be for the best, to her it’s just what it has to be.

Icarus // Bastille

Look who makes their own bed Lies right down within it And what will you have left? Out on the front doorstep Drinking from a paper cup You won't remember this Living beyond your years Acting out all their fears You feel it in your chest 

Sa’lyn was - and will always be - an Icarus. She’s meant to be a tragedy in the root of it all. Her constant desire for vengeance and to do what is right by her own judgement ends up being her downfall. She went to the Conclave to spy in the place of her sister, and it led her to becoming the Inquisitor; something she was not keen on becoming in the first place. That’s only the tip of the iceberg, considering he time of being Inquisitor is filled with similar decisions and all too familiar outcomes. She lets her own self be her downfall, and thus - Icarus.

float // EDEN

But I can float too, and I don't ask for much from you But maybe that's too much, too soon So I, keep rolling through the blackout No fires without some fallout Made peace out of the pieces Now I can't take it back now, no But I keep on track now up Yeah, that's all of it I gave up my youth for this 'cause I wanted it, and If you think that I need you then you're out of your head But I want you

So bring me down and drown me out I'll be waiting here when you're ready And I'll lay me down, unfinished now It hurts

So when you coming home? I could be what you need, girl If you want me to You know what they say, bruh That love gon' come back to you

So EDEN is shamelessly my favourite artist so ofc I gotta throw one of his songs in there- but for good reason. The lyrics aren’t so much the main focus as is the buildup and full out ambiance of the song. After the first in between the verses, it just has an very... rough beat, like a heart in a chest. To me, that screams Sa’lyn in her raw. The calm, but that honest thumping in her chest when she’s alone in her own thoughts. That everything she’s amounted will - in some fashion - come back to her. This is also my go to song for writing her in FiGG.

Farilis Istimaethoriel Lavellan

Crossfire, Part II // Stephen ft. Talib Kweli & KillaGraham

Walk by her in the path of righteousness I walk higher, toss liars In the pit of hell, caught in the crossfire Caught fire, from the big guns, these is not revolvers Violence only creates confusion, it ain't a problem solver Let's go, my skin is my dress code Just know, I need a personal Jesus I'm in Depeche Mode My best show is when the bullets hit the flesh slow This ain't a movie, dog, you know it when your chest explodes I'd trade my luck to know Why he's caught in the crossfire And I'm here waking up To the sun and the sound of birds Society's anxiety Deprived of all that we're blessed with We just can't get enough, no

One of the most critical factors for Farilis is the fact she has always been protected by Sa’lyn. She herself is very powerful and capable, but Sa’lyn projects her own fears onto Farilis. This is the only thing Farilis has really known since their father’s passing and her own self coming into her magic. She has been sheltered, and often wonders why when she is her own person with her own skills and capabilities. When Sa’lyn becomes Inquisitor, she explores her newfound freedom more now that her twin has turned her gaze elsewhere.

Broken Roots // Michl

Blank faces Here we are staring at these Blank pages How did the plans we drew Disappear in thin air? Now all that's left are Two blank faces I know we let gold fade to black Give me time enough to bring us back 'Cause I've been pouring my whole life in you Trying to resurrect the love we grew Yeah, we're both confused But I'll keep pouring my whole life into These broken roots

This song really does hit close to home. While I try not to involve a character’s romance too much into their own development, Solas leaving Farilis is a huge factor for her. For someone who never cast a second glance at most people, it was damn near gravitational for their romance to take the path that it did. She tries everything to salvage it (and who she was) afterwards, but to no avail. She does eventually find herself, and grows into someone she didn’t anticipate. Kind of a spark, if you will.

wrong // EDEN

But I could be more Isn't there more? Don't you dream of forgetting this? Have we forgotten what we want? Counting the wars and broken bones

Haven't we lost enough already? Isn't this more than what it's worth? Have we forgotten where we came from? Long way from laying in the dirt And if I can only dream of up from down there God, help me, I'll be gone Have I lost sight of everything I've worked for? Did I get this all wrong?

Another EDEN song? Of course! I reference these things like crazy! I love this guy! Point being - this song screams Farilis to me. The a capella just brings out the doubt that surrounds Farilis when her world is turned upside-down. She wants to know and do what’s best for her, Sa’lyn, and her people considering Solas’ intentions. Where she was once proud of herself, she has been humbled and understands that now she needs to find out who she wants to be.

[trecheon-blog]

Running Chapter One

Summary: Rindel Zivas seems at first to be your run-of-the-mill Hunter- Somewhat aloof, prone to be anywhere but the Last City- But where most Hunters are in it for glimmer or glory, Rindel has been running. Some would say from his duties, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Now, he has returned to the Tower for the first time in a while, both to pay respects to a lost comrade and face the ire of Zavala. But Ikora Rey has called on a debt to be paid, and what seems at first to be the simple oversight of a rookie Warlock may yet determine the fate of humanity.

Warnings: Some language, regret and PTSD.

Genre: Angst, original characters, campaign adaptation.

Author’s note: Well, this has been a long time in the making! There characters have been floating around in my head for a while now, and I’ve finally found the time and inspiration to put their stories to paper. Without further ado, lets get to it!

----------

Chapter One: Showdown

The Crucible could hardly be called “quiet” on the dullest of days. The series of open-aired arenas were sectioned off from the rest of the City, but the varied architecture made it perfect for honing the skills of humanity’s protectors- Guardians.

The late summer sun beat down on the battlefield like a drum, matching the staccato bursts of gunfire. It was already a stressful environment- Every engagement was live-fire, with death being a daily occurrence. Of course, that didn’t matter when Guardians had their Ghosts to revive them and get them back into these elaborate matches. But today was different.

--------------------

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

The Hunter ignored the little voice inside his head. His Ghost, Solas, was phased into him, at least for the moment, so it made it a little easier to disregard him.

Solas let out a long, metallic sigh. “You can't just run from the Vanguard's debriefing, you know. I've been getting pinged for months.”

“Later.” The Hunter finally spoke, his voice hoarse from a lack of use. “We need to finish this first.”

Though Solas was still phased, the Hunter felt him tilt, as if to affect a quizzical look. “If this is about Kira, I’ve been saying for years-”

The Hunter bashed a fist to his chest. Solas rolled his eye. “For the record, I don’t see the point of this exercise. But when you get called out by the Vanguard in front of the entire Tower, I’ll be the one saying I told you so.”

The Hunter shrugged. He didn’t care about the reports, about Zavala and how he’d inevitably be lectured on being out alone, about not coming back to report more often.

He clenched an amulet that lay close to his chest before tucking it under his armor. For your memory, my love...

“Hey! Are you deaf? We drop in ninety seconds!”

The Hunter turned. The only problem with the Crucible was that multiple Guardians had to take part. The Warlock who yelled at him was flanked by a pair of Titans. Their equipment looked flawless next to the Hunter’s muddied cloak and tarnished armor.

Like they haven’t been in the wilds for some time, the Hunter thought.

“I haven’t seen you before.” The female Titan standing furthest away hefted a large multi-barrel machine gun like it was a rifle. “When were you rezed?”

“Oh, that doesn’t matter!” The Warlock’s faceplate did little to hide his exasperation. “We should have waited for Anthony. Now we’re matched with some rando, and we lose our winning streak, so help me…”

“Easy, Tray.” The other Titan looked about as apologetic as he could in the moment. “He’s a few matches away from meeting Ikora’s record. I think you can tell he’s on edge.”

The Hunter shrugged. He activated a small screen on his left arm, going through some menus.

“You know, if you want to listen to some music, all you have to do is tell me.” Solas’ voice came as if whispering in the Hunter’s ear. The Hunter continued tapping his screen.

“You know, it bothers me when I speak to someone and they don’t respond.” Tray the Warlock moved up to the Hunter, grabbing his chestplate. “You too good to talk to us or something?”

In a lightning-fast motion, the Hunter drew a large-framed revolver and pressed the muzzle into the Warlock’s robes. It took a moment for Tray to register what had happened, but he shifted slightly, moving further from the Hunter.

“I'll talk when I've got something to say,” the Hunter almost whispered. “I suggest sticking with your fireteam. If you're worried about the match, don't worry about me.”

Tray released the Hunter and backpedaled to the Titans. “Just hope that you don't cost us the round, stranger.”

“Guardians!” The booming voice of Lord Shaxx echoed through the staging area. “Welcome back to the Crucible! As a reminder, this round’s game is Elimination. If you're killed on the battlefield, your Ghost will transmat you back to the staging area after fifteen seconds, where you will stay until the round is over, last team standing wins. You may revive downed teammates if you can get to them in fifteen seconds, but just remember that you’ll be painting a Cabal-sized target on your back!” He let out a jolly laugh. “Get out there and show me what you're made of!”

The group transmatted to the field. The Hunter took off before the others on his team could say anything.

The female Titan sighed. “Typical Hunter. Should we connect him to our comms?”

“Well, as long as we can stay alive, why should we care?” Trey pumped his shotgun. “To victory!”

----------

The Hunter lept behind cover as a hail of gunfire hit the wall he had been in front of. He had managed to take down one of the opposing Guardians, but according to his HUD, two of his teammates were down for the count. That’s just fine, he thought. I work better alone, anyhow.

Bullets continued to pepper the thick concrete between him and his assailant. The Hunter swung open his Revolver chamber to reload, when a burst of energy zinged just over his head. The opposing gunfire abruptly stopped.

“That’s two!” Trey pumped a fist into the air before running over to the Hunter’s position. Trey pat his shoulder. “Hey, no hard feelings about earlier, huh? It’s just you and me, so we need to work together if we’re gonna win this. Any ideas?”

The Hunter simply shrugged. Tray shook his head.

“Contact!” the Hunter felt something nudge his shoulder “Six o’Clock!”

He leapt from his position as a pair of Pulse Rifle bursts fired, their rounds finding their way to Tray’s faceplate. The Hunter spun midair and threw a pair of cylinders toward his Titan opponent. Seeing the cylinders, the Titan formed a shield of pure Light- but no explosion came, not even smoke. If those were grenades, they were duds.

The Titan chuckled. “It’s just you left and two of us, Hunter. You may as well call it quits so we can go back to the Tower early. There’s no shame in admitting you’re outgunned.” He looked around, his Pulse Rifle raised. “Hell, I’ll even buy you the first round when we get back! How ‘bout it?”

From cover, the Hunter held out his display and pressed an icon with a triangle on it. A small smile formed on his lips.

Suddenly, a strange noise, like a beam building energy, could be heard in the area. The Titan leveled his rifle, confused. Then he heard singing.

Well it's been such a long time coming, I thought you'd understand

The realization hit the Titan like a warhammer.. The Hunter hadn’t thrown grenades. They were speakers.

That I'm so far ahead of the lines you've been drawing in the sand

The Hunter smirked under his helmet. He holstered his revolver and moved to a higher position.

'Cause it's simple, you were wrong

He decided to hazard a peek into the next area. True to form, the Titan held his position- And based on his movements, he was extremely confused.

You must have known that we’d end up alone

“Where are you?” The Titan’s voice boomed in anger in the small space as he tried to cover every entrance to the space he could think of.

I know you thought I'd sold my soul, but you never told me to my face

The Hunter reached into the air and grabbed at pure Light. It manifested in his hand as a revolver cast in flame. It was now or never.

I just had to leave you cold and blow this shit away!

The music broke into a crescendo as the Hunter revealed himself. He jumped from his perch into the space occupied by the Titan. His Golden Gun erupted in a glorious volley of devastating Solar Light.

A bust of bullets hit the Hunter in his side for his troubles. He felt the bullets burn his flesh, but his momentum could not be broken. His first shot had gone too high- just over the Titan’s helmet. He rolled as he hit the floor, stopping abruptly in front of his opponent.

The Titan, in a rage, threw his rifle away. His fist crackled with Arc Light. The Hunter was close enough that a punch enveloped in electricity would likely finish the match.

The Hunter sprung away from his landing, putting just enough distance between himself and the Titan that the punch missed. The next volley from the Golden Gun, on the other hand, found its mark. As the Titan fell in front of him, he felt another burst of bullets strike his leg. He dove for cover with what strength he could. Traveler’s Light, it hurt!

“Give me just a few seconds,” The Hunter heard his Ghost in his head. “I’ve already transmatted out the bullets in your chest cavity, and lucky for you, only one bullet is still in your leg. Give me twenty seconds and you’ll be right as rain.”

The Hunter hardly felt the cooling sensation of Solas’ healing. Somehow, he felt calm in the moment. I feel like you’re right here with me, Kira, He thought to himself.

A noise from behind snapped him from the reverie. A Warlock stood behind him, bringing a Pulse Rifle to bear. The Hunter raised his Golden Gun to fire.

The flaming revolver fizzled away in motes of Light like embers.

Swearing, the Hunter kicked himself away from the wall to avoid a burst of gunfire from his opponent. Stupid, stupid! A weapon made of pure light never lasted very long- and he let himself get carried away. He sprang to his feet as another burst of bullets only served to remind him of his opponents presence.

As he rounded a low wall, he turned toward it, intending to jump over and ambush. His own auto rifle was stowed behind his cloak and would be impossible to draw without stopping- He drew his revolver and lept for his opponent.

The next thing he noticed made his heart stop.

This Warlock- She looked like Kira.

But that was impossible. She was dead.

He felt a burst in his head and everything went dark.

----------

The Hunter sat up from his position, holding his head. It didn’t matter how many times his Ghost brought him back from the dead- It always gave him a massive headache that caused his vision to blur for a few seconds. The next thing he heard almost made him wish he’d stayed on the ground.

“Outstanding!” Shaxx entered the battlefield with the downed Guardians from both teams, slowly clapping. “I don’t think I’ve seen a performance so glorious in a while. He clapped the victorious Warlock on the shoulder. “That was an impressive performance.” The Hunter could tell that the Warlock was pleased with herself, helmet or no. He pictured a smug smirk on her face.

“Equally impressive,” Shaxx continued, “Was the performance of this Hunter. Distraction is a valuable ally when overpowered in battle. It can drop the most well- laid defense if done correctly, but also remember that you should never let your opponent distract you from your objective. Remember this lesson. Of course, I can think of no better teacher of that lesson than the Iron Wolf himself. Isn’t that right, Rindel?”

The Hunter flinched. That nickname. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Shaxx had identified him, he brought up a name which had its fair share of spectres associated with it. Before he could respond, a page came in over the citywide comms system.

“Guardian Rindel Zivas.” Commander Zavala’s voice echoed throughout the city. “Report to the Vanguard for debriefing. Now.”

Rindel looked toward the tower. The jig was up now. He sighed before looking at Shaxx.

Shaxx shrugged, a motion that looked more comical than it should have with the Titan’s enormous shoulder pauldrons. “Sorry, Rin. We’ve all been told to report sightings of you. Commander’s orders. Now, get up there.”

Rindel made is way to the exit. He looked around. All the Guardians were now talking amongst themselves in hushed tones. Even Tray, the arrogant Warlock seemed like he was in awe.

Rindel kept walking. It took everything for him to ignore the stares. This was one of the reasons he avoided the Tower as much as he could.

Solas phased out of him. His red shell had seen better days- it looked more brown from a lack of maintenance. He focused a beam at Rindel’s throat and rotated side to side, looking as if he was shaking his “head.”

“What?” Rindel’s voice was much clearer, showcasing his annoyance. “Gonna say ‘I told you so?’”

“I would,” Solas started, “But then, you just did.”

Rindel glared at his Ghost behind his faceplate. Getting from the Crucible setup to the Tower was a long walk in any case. Answering to Zavala’s ire would make it feel far, far longer.