#lysander ingellvar

[soupandsorcery]

over the threshold, across the divide | M | 2.6k

Emmrich just smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners in the way that Lysander loves. “Two beautiful, bashful men in my bed. What did I do to deserve such a thing?” “Mierda,” Lucanis mumbles, lips moving against Lysander’s shoulder. “Is he always like this?” “Yes,” Lys replies. “Always.”

read on ao3 here!

[idleindy]

Lysander Ingellvar

"Had I the power to control you I would already have used it."

Version with no hands below the cut!

[soupandsorcery]

Lysander's room is the most fleshed out in my head, and I like to think it reflects his mental state better than even he realizes. The fish tank stays because he finds it soothing to watch the fish move and go about their business, even when things are chaotic and terrible outside. It's comforting that some things can't be disrupted by the mess of the world that he's supposed to fix somehow.

The room shrinks down to be more of a nook than a room, but that's how Lys prefers it. The room being small and mostly dark makes him feel less like he's spinning out of control in the big, wide world. It's stuffed to the brim with bookshelves and all kinds of books, from magical texts to romances and mysteries, as well as things he brought with him from the Necropolis and the little trinkets he picks up during the course of the game. Pretty rocks, a plant that Harding gave him when he told her he has no practice keeping things alive, broken pieces of pottery that he plans to turn into some sort of mosaic one day.

There's one window that looks out over the expanse of the Fade that grows or shrinks depending on how antsy Lysander is feeling about open spaces that day. There's heavy green velvet curtains that he can draw across the window or the fish tank when he wants darkness in the room.

If the window is being covered, then there are sconces on the wall that flicker with Veilfire, covered with glass that makes the light go all dappled and rainbow colored sometimes.

He doesn't have a proper bed, but one wall of the room is dedicated to what is basically a human sized, memory foam dog bed if such a thing could exist in Thedas. It's low to the ground, incredibly comfortable, and piled high with blankets and pillows. It's the most comfortable thing Lysander has, and he loves it. He's always cold, so if he's not out in the field or sitting with his team, he can be found in this little nest with a book, most likely. Or writing in his journal, of which there are several volumes. Varric turned him on to writing down his experiences, so he can go back over them later and process them after things happen. It's a habit that he finds almost meditative, since things are Happening All the Time.

so, since the lighthouse adapts everyone's dwellings to the person using that living space, what does your rook's room look like? is it everything they've ever wanted? does it reflect some uncomfortable truth about them? do they prefer sleeping somewhere else in the lighthouse?

i'll start! ippolita's room is only one floor, but has gorgeous vaulted ceilings that make the room feel absolutely massive — a far cry from the tiny rooms she lived in while she was a fledgling and even after she became a full crow. the windows are all stained glass in oranges and reds and golds, and the floors are covered in thick flatweave rugs in an array of styles and patterns to keep her feet warm with the help of the massive fireplace. her bed is a low and cushy thing, piled impossibly high with blankets and pillows, with curtains strung between four ivory posters that keep the light of the fade out of her eyes while she's trying to sleep. she keeps a small chest next to her bed that's oftentimes unlocked, hiding a vial of red pigment and a stack of old letters.

[inkberrry]

Listen, Emmrich and Lysander exchanging grave gold has been rattling in my head lately. It's good.

-

“Darling, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Lysander paused, the long, hollow needle he held halfway through a candle flame. It took on a red glow, the metal heating through. Sterilizing it, Emmrich knew. There were other ways, magics used to be certain all instruments were clean, but Lysander had no magic of his own. A flame must suffice. 

“I took all the required anatomy lectures.” Lysander blinked, owlish eyes bright. Nevermind that he’d admitted to Emmrich previously that he’d barely passed them, his skills in the Necropolis far from preparing the dead for their rests.      

After a quick inspection of the needle within the flame, Lysander pulled it away. The red glow faded almost instantly. Lysander turned back to Emmrich and tilted his head, a slow, confident smile pulling at the corners of his lips. 

“Plus, I’ve pierced myself dozens of times.”

Well, that was certainly true. Emmrich’s gaze darted to the rows of golden studs and hoops in his ears, a few connected by lengths of chain. And then, traitorously, down past Lysander’s waist to where he knew another small, gold hoop rested against heated skin. 

While Emmrich wore his funerary gold on his fingers and wrists, Lysander favored it in his ears. A reminder, he’d told Emmrich, to listen to the whispers of the spirits. 

“Of course,” Emmrich conceded. “You’re right. I should not doubt you, my dear.”

That earned him another smile, this one pressing the spots of Lysander’s dimples deep into his cheeks. It was a welcome sight, as much as an intoxicating one. Emmrich settled back into the chair he’d been instructed to wait in, his eyes following Lysander’s careful movements. The younger Watcher set down a small tray on the table next to them, complete with one of the golden hoops from his ears, similarly cleaned and sterilized moments ago. 

Then Lysander slotted himself between Emmrich’s legs and cupped his jaw with a steady hand. “Stay still, Em,” he instructed, and Emmrich dared to disobey just long enough to lean forward and press his lips to Lysander’s. 

Lysander laughed and shook his head. “I mean it. If you don’t want this hole in your nose instead, please don’t move.” 

This time, Emmrich took the warning as seriously as it warranted. He held still, his breathing slow as Lysander leaned into him. The scent of metal and astringent washed over him, mixed with the lovely citrusy smell that clung to Lysander after a bath. He felt Lysander’s fingers on his ear, then before he had the chance to wonder how long it would take, the sharp bite of the needle. 

To his credit, Emmrich didn’t flinch. It was over quickly, and Lysander swapped the needle for the jewelry, sliding it into the freshly made hole and then securing it. The wound stung, but nothing worse than what he’d suffer on the battlefield. 

“There,” Lysander said, and instead of moving away, he seated himself in Emmrich’s lap. “Now I have some of your gold, and you have some of mine.”

Emmrich wrapped his arms around Lysander, ignoring the pain in his ear in favor of the warm pressure of Lysander’s body. He lifted his hand, where one simple, golden band rested around his index finger. 

“We do,” he agreed, and kissed Lysander’s knuckle, just above the ring he’d gifted him. “And we shall take them with us, in the end. A piece of you with me forever. I could never ask for anything more precious.” 

Lysander melted into the touch, and it was his turn to kiss Emmrich, this time with no threat of needing to remain still. 

[soupandsorcery]

The issue I'm running into is that Lysander is so shippable with like everyone. Lucanis and Emmrich? Yes. Viago? Yes. Davrin? Yes. Yapping couple with Bellara? Absolutely. Him making heart eyes at Taash because they can bench press him? Oh yeah.

[soupandsorcery]

Beaux has a quiet laugh, as a result of his 'kids should be seen not heard' adolescence, but when you really get him going, he'll laugh out loud and it surprises everyone to hear.

Fiore wishes she had a nice, refined laugh, but she definitely has a rich, full bellied laugh that ends in a snort, and it's delightful to everyone but her, lol.

Lysander barely makes any noise when he laughs and his reputation for being 'quiet as the grave' is very well earned. But his eyes get bright and sparkly, so it's still very cute.

Tumblr users, friends, dwellers of the dash, please rb and tell me all about how your Rook laughs. Is it quiet and controlled? A full body howl? An Infectious burst of joy? I need to know.

[soupandsorcery]

I haven't played in a few days, but Lysander is still a sweet, lovely boy. In case anyone was wondering.

[soupandsorcery]

Rook doesn't sleep.

This is the fourth thing Lucanis learns about him. The first three being that he is odd, quiet, and unfairly beautiful. Not quite in that order.

Rook haunts the Lighthouse at night, flitting between the library, the bathing chamber that popped into existence sometime during Lucanis' second week here, and his own room on silent feet, given away only by his occasional muttering to himself.

Lucanis also doesn't sleep, so the two of them cross paths often, usually in the kitchen at some unholy hour of night. Rook pops his head up guiltily whenever Lucanis comes out of the pantry, like he's worried he's invading Lucanis' space. Or because he's committing some sin against caffeine with the coffee he's making. That seems more likely, considering Lucanis only has a space here by Rook's good graces anyway.

"Neve made it," is the first thing out of Rook's mouth tonight, and there's the expression of a child caught doing something they shouldn't be.

"You're drinking it," Lucanis points out.

"I didn't want to waste it."

Hard to waste something that isn't worth much to begin with, Lucanis doesn't say. He doesn't know the detective from Minrathous well enough yet to be casting aspersions on her coffee. But that doesn't mean he has to drink it.

He holds Rook's gaze as he walks over, appropriates the cup in his hand, and goes to the sink to dump it down the drain to wherever their waste goes in the Fade. It makes the insides of his eyelids itch just thinking about it.

Rook makes a face, confused and concerned. He makes that face often.

"I will make you something better," Lucanis says. "Sit."

Rook sits. Rook watches. Rook is always watching, a thoughtful expression on his (unfairly) beautiful face, like he's scrutinizing the world and the people around him, trying to figure out how they work.

Silence dominates the room, other than the sounds of Lucanis heating water and measuring out coffee. "Is this a Watcher thing?" he asks after a bit. "Not sleeping?"

Rook laughs softly, propping his head up with one hand, elbow on the table. "No. Although I don't know if Vorgoth can sleep, now that I think about it. I suppose it could be possible, and they must rest somehow... What was I...? No. The not sleeping is a me thing, I'm afraid."

Lucanis nods, passing him a steaming cup.

"Thank you," Rook says. He closes his eyes, inhaling the fragrance deeply. Appreciating it, the way it should be appreciated.

Lucanis ignores the way that pulls at him.

"This is...much better than Neve's," Rook says after his first sip. "Much better than mine, too."

"Coffee is an art," Lucanis tells him. "The two of you treat it like a necessity."

Rook smiles around another sip. "Well. I mean, it is a necessity."

"Granted. But think of it this way, if you needed a tool for a job, would you not want the best tool to do it? The best quality, crafted just for that purpose?"

"I...suppose so. Yes."

Lucanis waves a hand in a 'there you go' gesture.

"I will consider your wisdom," Rook says. "Thank you."

[soupandsorcery]

Lysander has a head for languages, so besides his own native languages, he can read and is at least conversational in Antivan, Orlesian, and is learning some Elven from Bellara. He also learned how to embroider when he first left the Necropolis because he needed something to take his mind off of how overwhelmed he was and wanted something to do with his hands.

if you see this, tell me a little tidbit of your rook, mayhaps? 👉👈

[soupandsorcery]

Oh, how about Lysander with #26?

What do they usually do after? Are they a couple that likes to cuddle?

26. What do they usually do after? Are they a couple that likes to cuddle?

Lysander didn't know he loved cuddling, but he learns pretty quickly. It starts slow with him and Lucanis because they are both working with a touch starved/touch averse combination at first for different reasons, but they get over that pretty quickly. Once Emmrich gets added in, the cuddles go up a notch because Emmrich absolutely adores tactile affection. He has the biggest bed (read: he doesn't live in a pantry or sleep on a pile of cushions), and he loves having Lys on one side and Lucanis on the other while he reads a book and they catch up on much needed sleep after sexy times.

Thanks for the ask!!

[soupandsorcery]

19, 21 and 48 for the Rook ask game? 🩷

Because I want to ramble, I'll answer for my three main Rooks.

19. What is Rook’s love language? What love languages do they respond best to?

Beaux is all about acts of service and words of affirmation, which has a lot to do with his fear that he's not useful if he's not doing things for people. But it also does bring him joy to make people happy. He responds best to words of affirmation and quality time, with a heavy emphasis on quality time. It's that fear of abandonment rearing its head there. Fiore is physical touch person and quality time person, and she's always hanging out with and touching people she likes a lot. She responds to physical touch and she's learning that words of affirmation are also good for her. Growing up with Viago, she didn't get a lot of compliments, so hearing them now is really doing it for her. Lysander shows love with physical touch and giving gifts. It brings him a lot of pleasure to find little trinkets and things that remind him of his companions and partners. He responds best to physical touch and quality time because it makes him feel less like a burden people don't like, oops.

21. What does Rook’s voice sound like? One of the voice options available, or do they have a different accent/voicecast?

Beaux uses the American male voice in game, and it's very good for him, actually. He is fluent in Orlesian, since his mother was from Orlais, and he can do a passable accent, but most of the time he just sounds like your run of the mill commoner.

Fiore uses the British female (low) voice, and the deepness of it is perfect, though she has more of an Antivan accent than a British one. Viago made her learn a bunch of languages growing up, but her accents are terrible. It's all Antiva through and through.

Lysander is the hardest one to do because he would have more of a British accent, like Emmrich, but the one in game is much deeper than his would be. He's much softer spoken, and has a higher pitched voice.

48. A color, flower, animal, and weather to describe Rook:

Beaux: Blue. Hydrangea. Golden Retriever. One of those days that starts out overcast and then the sun comes out and it gets really warm.

Fiore: Red. Alstroemeria. Falcon. Just a straight up lightning storm.

Lysander: Pale purple. Hyacinth. Sugar Glider. The sort of cleansing rain that happens after a really hot day.

Thanks for the ask!!

[soupandsorcery]

the duality of man

[soupandsorcery]

Sometimes, when I need a pick me up, I think about how amazingly well Lysander and Cole would get along. Just immediate friends weirding everyone else out.

[soupandsorcery]

1, 2 for Lysander and 3, 17 for Beaux <3

1. Does your Rook fall for their partner at first sight? If not, what moment made your Rook realize they're in love with them?

With Lysander and Lucanis it's definitely a slow, gradual thing built up over shared late nights and coffee. Lucanis teaching Lys how to cook and Lys being there when the nights were especially long for Lucanis. Lysander can't pinpoint one moment that made him realize he was in love, it was just the whole of it. The warm safety they'd built together became the most important thing to both of them when everything was so chaotic and dangerous, and one day Lysander just realized that this was the feeling he wanted for the rest of his life.

With Emmrich, it was closer to love at second sight. Emmrich is a fellow Watcher and understands Lys better than most people because he gets the necromancy bits that make Lysander very odd to others. Plus he has the hot professor thing going on and Lys has taken one of his classes before. When he first saw Emmrich, he could acknowledge that Emmrich was very attractive and well spoken and so, so intelligent, but the wanting was sort of a nebulous thing. Emmrich was very much a man that Lysander could want. But then the second time they meet, it sort of clicked that yes, he was going to have some feelings about this man.

2. When does the partner realize that they're in love with Rook?

Lucanis realizes it pretty quickly. It's one of those nights where neither of them are asleep, and Lucanis has woken up from a nightmare so bad that even Spite couldn't pull him out of it. Because all the horrors of the Ossuary that keep Lucanis from sleeping well are also Spite's horrors. And Lysander was in the kitchen making coffee when he heard noises of distress and let himself into the pantry to make sure Lucanis was okay. It was Spite's distress because Lucanis is a trained assassin and knows how to keep quiet even under extreme duress. And Lys just sat with both of them for the rest of the night, talking about his time at the Necropolis, his time with Varric. Just keeping Spite and Lucanis tethered in the real world, in that moment, like it was no big deal at all. Lucanis knew right then and there that he would kill anything and anyone that tried to harm Lysander because he meant that much to him. Later, he could contextualize that feeling as love.

Emmrich also realizes after not much time. Lysander is such a bright, fiercely intelligent young man. It only took a few evenings talking about magical theory and the finer points of necromancy for Emmrich to start to have some feelings, and the more Lysander seemed to enjoy Emmrich's company, the stronger those feelings got.

3. How long does it take for them to officially get together? Did any of the other Lighthouse members have any suspicions beforehand?

Beaux and Lucanis follow the timeline of the game pretty closely. Beaux likes Lucanis so, so much, but he doesn't want to push him or overstep or do anything that's too fast or too much. He doesn't have a lot of experience himself, so he's not sure what's just flirting and what's just companionship and what is real feeling between them. So basically Beaux does the Inner Demons quest and Lucanis makes him churros and then they have to have a whole conversation about it because Beaux is a bit too literal to pick up on the fact that this is Lucanis confessing his love, lol. Pretty much everyone in the entire Lighthouse is yelling at them to just kiss already by the time they get there.

17. What is your Rook's favorite thing about their partner? What is the partner's favorite thing about Rook?

Beaux's favorite thing about Lucanis is his tenacity. He's been through Horrors and he is still so determined. Even when things get fucky and weird with the gods, Lucanis doesn't give up. He complains and says things shouldn't be possible, but he's still there. Beaux admires that sort of thing as a Warden because he needs to be able to trust that people will have his back when shit hits the fan. On a physical level, his favorite thing is Lucanis' hands and how expressive they are. He likes to watch them curled around a coffee cup or doing maintenance on Lucanis' knives or moving through the air while he talks.

Lucanis' favorite thing about Beaux is his compassion. Beaux is a kind and understanding person, and he's always trying to do his best for everyone because he believes that people deserve that. But he doesn't let it make him stupid, and that's important. Beaux will put himself in danger to save a child from a burning building or put himself between anyone on their team and darkspawn, but he takes a hard line against bullies and tyrants and doesn't back down from that. His favorite physical thing is a toss up between his strength with his weapons because seeing him knock a Venatori mage clear across the battlefield with a huge axe is never not hot, and his hair. He loves those soft, moonlight strands and how they catch the light and fall over Beaux's shoulders. He would be devastated if Beaux ever cut his hair.

Thanks for the ask!!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Rook and Their Partner Asks

[soupandsorcery]

Someone has made a glasses mod for Veilguard, hallelujah. I can give Lysander his nerdy gold rimmed glasses like he deserves!

[soupandsorcery]

7 deadly sins

💀Lysander Ingellvar💀

LUST: desire for connection. pursuit of pleasure. emotional intelligence. obsessive. lovesick. one-night stands. seductive encounter. flirtatious conversation. erotic party. seductive attire. revealing clothing. passionate gaze. provocative makeup. sensual expressions. suggestive gestures. flirtatious smiles. lingerie. love letters. perfumes. provocative behaviour. love poems. erotic art.

GLUTTONY: indulgence in experiences. savouring moments. hospitality. generosity. hedonism. culinary expertise. wine-tasting. excessive snacking. overloaded plates. excessive portions. bloated stomachs. messy eating. greasy fingers. full tables. indulgent spreads. overflowing cups. satisfied expressions. wine bottles. just can't get enough. fast food wrappers.

ENVY: motivation. competitive spirit. strategic planning. observational skills. bitter rivalry. contest. envious gossip. resentment-filled argument. social media jealousy. furrowed brows. clenched jaws. side-eye looks. pursed lips. tense posture. whispering behind backs. crossed arms. gossip magazines. keeping up with the joneses. the grass is always greener. feeling inadequate.

GREED: resourcefulness. entrepreneurial spirit. negotiation. materialistic. aggressive investment. lavish spending spree. resource-hoarding. get-rich-quick schemes. auction-bidding war. property acquisition. piles of money. overflowing wallets. luxury items. locked safes. penny-pinching. rare collectibles. selfishness. unwillingness to share.

SLOTH: calmness. stress management. nonchalance. relaxation techniques. lethargic. apathetic. inactive. lazy weekend. binge-watching marathon. neglected chores. skipped workout. long nap. lounging on the couch. missed deadlines. unkempt appearance. messy hair. pajamas. blankets. slippers. procrastination station. self-care routines.

PRIDE: confidence. self-assurance. self-respect. dignity. public speaking. self-promotion. arrogant. conceited. egotistical. self-important. vain. boastful speech. puffed chest. raised chin. smug smiles. spotlight. tooting your own horn. showing off. refusing to admit mistakes. feeling entitled. personal branding. leadership development.

WRATH: assertiveness. decisiveness. strength. intensity. boundary setting. courage. indignant. heated arguments. road rage incident. physical altercation. angry outburst. clenched fists. glaring eyes. tense muscles. raised voices. reddened faces. aggressive gestures. stormy demeanour. intense frowns. destructive actions. broken objects. punching bag. out for blood. fists. simmering anger.