#lucanis and his attempts to flirt by giving knives as gifts

[ofcrowsanddragons]

Lucanis/Rook pre-canon (Crow Rook) with Viago scheming:

Imagine if Rook had a tendency to get themselves in hot water even before the Aantam Incident. Everyone knows that Crow politics are vicious. That's even more true when the Talons are in the process of shoring up Treviso against an inevitable seige. All of the Houses need to be strong, and they can't afford for the individual pieces on the board to undercut the interests of the other Houses.

While the Talons themselves are almost untouchable, this isn't true for the Crows and fledglings under them. When the soon-to-be Rook perfectly completes a contract but hurts another House's financial interests in doing so, Viago is backed into a corner. One of the Talons drops an enviable opportunity in Future-Rook's lap: a contract in Tevinter that could let them make a name for themselves as a young Crow. Of course, they're unlikely to survive it.

Viago calls in a favour. A big favour. One that requires swallowing both his pride and his fear of being stabbed in the back.

He won't beg. He will however, threaten, bargain and needle the First Talon's favourite grandson into doing whatever it takes to keep Future-Rook alive. Lucanis may have offered Viago vague threats not so long ago, but that's standard practice—and Viago knows that Lucanis won't go back on his word.

"They're like any of the other fledglings," says Viago darkly, clutching his cane. "They have a case of hero worship for the Demon of Vyrantium so big their brain might fall out. Don't tell them who you are if you want them to learn anything on this mission."

Lucanis's heart gave a little pang at the obvious dislike, but he had to smile at the irony. "It's a shame I don't know whose fault that title was," he said. "I'd have to thank them."

Lucanis has a job in Minrathous that requires him to double-back into the Antivan countryside to establish a cover as a merchant. An assistant wouldn't go amiss, but he's cautious of bringing a hot-headed Crow who's barely acquired their wings. And of course, any case involving Viago has a way of getting under his skin.

Future-Rook's maybe a little bit taken by the handsome older Crow. The man knows knows Viago, obviously, and he's probably not from the House that was inadvertently burned during the last job. Probably a de Riva. He's also obviously uncomfortable with flirting, so they try not to. Anyway, it turns out they'd rather learn from this man than some legendary assassin: he's quiet, and he listens, and he cares about people.

But when it becomes clear that it would help their covers to be involved in a relationship, well... maybe a little seduction is called for.

(This is a case fic rattling around my brain that covers both the job, the short-lived romance, and the extra-slow burn of Lucanis x Rook reuniting.)

(Anyway, it's kind of worse that after all this work from Viago keeping them alive and getting them established as a Crow, they threw it away in one night helping some prisoners escape. By themselves. With no backup. Idiot.)

Now on Ao3

[ofcrowsanddragons]

Lucanis/Rook pre-canon fic! Featuring genderfluid Crow Rook with a side of Viago scheming.

The first two chapters are now up:

A Working Relationship

A newly-minted Crow discovers a tendency to get themselves in hot water even before the Antaam incident. Crow politics are vicious, and the assassin who will become Rook is sent on a suicide mission in retaliation.

In his paranoia, Viago calls on the Demon of Vyrantium to keep his protege alive—without telling them who he is.

The younger Crow is maybe a little bit taken with the handsome master assassin they've been assigned to. Despite what Viago said about the man being dangerous, he's actually rather kind. And uncomfortable with flirting. He's quiet, he listens, and he cares about people.

When it becomes clear that it would help their covers to be involved in a relationship, well... maybe a little seduction is called for.

Read it on Ao3

Snippets/WIPs posted on Tumblr

I treasure any comments or reblogs!