#mac anders

[emokidrights]

Fuck it fuck schedules I'm gonna just post randomly and it's not even gonna be just videos I'm gonna post shit like the fact that Elias is touch starved As Fuck but only lets himself be snuggly and cuddly like he wants to if he's just had sex because clearly that's the payment for snuggles and if he needs human touch but can't get sex for whatever reason he picks fights, often with Mac because Mac won't hesitate to punch his lights out and then put him back together again (pre-Reese because Reese looks at both of them and makes them stop being stupid and talk and snuggle because he's the most mature one of all three of them)

[salemcantupdate]

DAO folks, plus DAA cause I love them. All of them a drawn to look about how I headcanon them at the start of DAA (hence why Anders is still a golden boy). Plus some general headcanons.

Specific praise to @kesterite cause I used their art as inspiration for specifically Sten and Alistair.

[jaegervega]

Re-drew an old comic of my warden meeting Anders again, wanted to update my Hawke, I hadn’t yet made Jon when I first drew it

[lotreckk]

you can trust thedas to them 💜

closeups

[thevulturesquadron]

Anyone who claims that the secret ending in Veilguard is disrespectful or nullifies agency in the previous three games is either unable to traverse layered storytelling or is being ignorant on purpose.

I am not sure how someone assumes that it was about mind control or magic when games upon games the fantasy setting in Dragon Age has been a medium for telling stories about the nature of people, about different perspectives, about the dangers of applying singular ideals to a complex existence, about how people and the ways in which they interact shape destinies.

How can you not be excited to learn that there’s a world outside Thedas, that the web is more complicated and that when one wrestles to break the threads it vibrates all the way to the spider letting it know it’s dinner time?

[flashhwing]

would y’all do me a favor? reblog this and tell me WHY your favorite dragon age companion is your favorite. this is a free pass to be annoying and rambly I wanna read some positivity

[fridgemeats]

Bunch of headshots I did of different Dragon Age characters to try to figure out how to stylise them...

[redlyriumidol]

things that would have been cool writing choices for dragon age imo, not necessarily better just interesting:

loghain doing the dark ritual on his own if the warden chooses not to. I'm not sure this is in character really it just would have been wild for a character to make a Decision like that without you. maybe only if you have low approval or something (even though its difficult to get approval either way bc you get him so late)

anders somehow using gaatlok to blow up the chantry. much as i enjoy digging through sewers for poo crystals this would have tied the various plots between acts together so nicely. this one i legitimately think would have been better.

I said this in a different post but not allowing you to go to the circle during the arl of redcliffe because it's a cheap copout and makes no sense. either give us consequences for running off and spending 300 hrs in the fade or force us to make a hard choice.

a fourth secret persuade option for mage wardens to let eamon be possessed instead of killing connor or isolde. I know i've said this a lot. But the deal would be Arl Deamon agrees to act the part until the blight is over and the dialogue is slightly different during the landsmeet etc and ur the only one who knows why. ;) epilogue slide where he's eventually discovered and killed but not before he Wreaks some Havoc

giving thrask and grace more protagonism in da2 and having them survive, and THEY become the mage/templar leaders in dai rather than randos samson and calpernia.

an acknowledgment in the anders romance that justice is ALSO in love with hawke. awakening anders was a fun flirty commitmentphobe whereas justice was an intense weirdo about kristoff and aura's relationship and even expressed jealousy towards them. which was soooo interesting. anders being so intense and lowkey possessive (love him tho) in the romance makes so much more sense if it's actually coming from justice. "justice doesn't approve of my obsession with you" bro justice IS the obsession be fr.

isabela not betraying you in the fade if she has 100% approval and is romanced. i always find this out of character especially since she betrays you JUST for a ship and not anything actually meaningful like the others. or if it was a ship but the demon's offer was more explicitly about freedom/escaping from castillon (which can be read btwn the lines but I think it should have been more obvious) that would have been much better.

[morrigan-le-faye]

Likelihood of companions showing up in Veilguard: my thoughts

So, I was thinking about Veilguard and who I want to come back, so here’s my take on who I think is coming back!

Warden: lol no bitch, we’re never seeing them again. That would require giving them a voice and personality. Likelihood is we get another letter.

Alistair: We’re pretty far from Ferelden, if you made him king I could see him getting a mention but not marching his ass up to Tevinter/Rivain/Antiva/the Anderfels. Possibly another letter. If you kept him a warden, he’s either dead or could possibly show up in the Anderfels? I could see whoever got left in the fade tying in with the Veil Jumper plotline, maybe.

Morrigan: Possibly? Theres a possibility if she drank from the well she’s now bound to Solas because of him killing Mythal. I could see the Veil fuckery doing some weird shit to Kieran though.

Leliana: If you made her Divine, definitely. If you didn’t, I wouldn’t say so. She had such a big role in Inquisition, I don’t see her playing a huge role here.

Zevran: We’re in Antiva, we better see the boy! He is canonically with a romanced Warden in Inquisition, but I could see him taking a break from that to take care of Antivan things for a bit.

Wynne: canonically dead. Sad for her. RIP mage granny.

Sten: He’s the Arishok now, I see him tying into the Qunari plotline.

Oghren: please god no.

Shale: I hope so, but since she was DLC I would doubt it.

Loghain: He’s dead babe. Either you killed him in Origins or I’m assuming like nobody saved him in the Fade in Inquisition, and see what I said about the Veil Jumpers in Alistair’s section.

The Awakening Squad (minus Anders/Justice): doing this as a collective cause I’m not typing all that out. Probably not. Might see a couple of them if we go to Weisshaupt while we’re in the Anderfels.

Hawke: If you left them in the fade, again, could show up with the Veil Jumpers. Since there is a possibility they’re dead, I could see them just sending a “hey I’m fine in Kirkwall” message if they’re alive.

Anders: maybe, maybe not. This game seems like it’ll have less emphasis on the Mage/Templar conflict, but we haven’t seen him since 2, so who knows.

Fenris: We’re in Tevinter, I’m hoping he shows up! Let us help him kill slavers please.

Merrill: Seeing how Solas’s agents use the eluvian network, I could see her showing up again. Possibly with the Veil Jumpers

Isabella: I don’t think so. If she shows up, might be part of the Lords of Fortune plotline.

Sebastian: No. Might get referenced, but he is DLC.

Aveline: I don’t think so either. I think she’s too busy keeping things together in Kirkwall. Also ACAB includes Aveline.

Carver/Bethany: If you made them wardens, possibly show up in the Anderfels? But seeing how customizable their appearances are, I doubt it.

Blackwall/Rainier: Again, possibly in the Anderfels. Or elsewhere if he didn’t get recruited into the wardens.

Bull: I hope so, I wanna see the chargers for at least one mission. But since he can be dead if you kept him loyal to the Qun, don’t have high hopes.

Cassandra: if you made her divine, sure. I could also see her leading remnants of the inquisition if she isn’t divine.

Dorian: We’re in Tevinter. If Varric or Harding don’t mention they have a magister friend that can help, I’m going to be very disappointed.

Vivienne: Again, if she’s divine, yes. If she’s not, probably a letter writing cameo.

Cole: I could see him having a very cool plotline with the Veil breaking down and him either being a spirit with human elements or a human with spirit elements.

Sera: I could see the Friends of Red Jenny playing a role, if not her specifically.

Bonus Advisors:

Josephine: Maybe. Could see her helping with Inquisition remnants like Cassandra.

Cullen: No, cause Greg Ellis is an asshole.

[fortnitejotaroballs]

dragon age things.....,,,,,

[kittynomsdeplume]

Hi tumblrinos, welcome to my fiction master list. You can of course find everything at AO3, where you can make use of their handy filters - Kitty's Archive of Our Own

Full list under the cut.

Major tags key: Smut 🌶️ | Fluff 🍬 | Angst 🎭

Mass Effect

Exposed: 🌶️🍬 [Garrus Vakarian/FemShepard] Mass Effect 3 | F/M | Explicit | 5.7k - Garrus meets Shepard for a date at Anderson's apartment, where she surprises him with a private dance.

Working Out The Kinks: 🌶️🍬 [Garrus Vakarian/FemShepard/Nihlus Kryik] ME3 Nihlus Lives AU | F/M/M | Explicit | 5.2k - Shepard invites Nihlus to join her and Garrus in her cabin.

Dragon Age

Cullen Rutherford Fics: Under Her Mask: 🌶️🍬(minor 🎭) [Cullen Rutherford/Solona Amell] Post DAI | F/M | Explicit | 80k ongoing - Cullen and Amell reunite a decade after the events of Origins.

Wounded Pride: 🌶️🍬 [Cullen Rutherford/Solona Amell] Regency AU | F/M | Explicit | 13.6k - In which Cullen and Solona resolve a misunderstanding.

A Surprising Reunion: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Kiara Trevelyan/Warden!Alistair] DAI | F/M/M | Explicit | 6.4k - Part 1 of The Surprising Series. Featuring @knuttydraws' OC Kiara Trevelyan. The night before the siege of Adamant Fortress, Kiara, Cullen and Alistair begin a sexual relationship.

Ding Dong Desk Dick Down: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Kiara Trevelyan/Warden!Alistair] DAI | F/M/M | Explicit | 6.3k - Part 2 of The Surprising Series. Alistair wants to test the limits of a rickety desk.

All Wrapped Up For Satinalia: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Kiara Trevelyan/Warden!Alistair] DAI | F/M/M | Explicit | 5k - Part 3 of The Surprising Series. Kiara has a surprise for Cullen, but receives a delightful surprise in return.

Shelter From the Storm: 🍬🎭 [Cullen Rutherford/Arhea Lavellan] DAI | F/M | General | 6.2k - Featuring @smashingpigeons' OC Arhea Lavellan. Cullen searches for Lavellan after the avalanche covers Haven.

Templar Vows: 🍬[Cullen Rutherford/Warden!Alistair] Origins | M/M | Teen+ | 1.6k - Alistair is recruited into the Grey Wardens, abandoning the Templar Order.

Constant Cravings: 🍬[Cullen Rutherford/Elowen Trevelyan] Modern AU | F/M | General | 0.9k - Slice of life, Elowen has pregnancy cravings.

Strategic Manoeuvres: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Elowen Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.1k - Elowen mercilessly teases Cullen, and is rewarded for her efforts.

Coercive Tactics: 🌶️ [Cullen Rutherford/Elowen Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.4k - Who knew that the best way to keep Cullen from working too hard, was to keep him tied to his desk?

Solas Fics:

Crestwood Have Been Nice: 🌶️🍬🎭 [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 5.2k - Solas and Lavellan do not break up at the end of the infamous scene.

In The Dark: 🌶️🎭 [Solas/Elluin Lavellan] Post-DAI | F/M | Explicit | 4.2k - Featuring @noire-pandora's OC Elluin Lavellan. Unable to stop thinking of her, Solas returns to visit Elluin before the events of Trespasser.

Dread Wolf Guides You: 🍬🎭 [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | General | 1.9k - Solas attempts to comfort Lavellan after the Temple of Mythal.

Lover's Knot: 🌶️ [Solas/Eludysia Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 5.2k - Solas gifts Dysi a magic sex toy, which she never gets a chance to use, until the ball at Halamshiral.

Solas Doesn't Play: 🌶️ [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 6.5k - Ellana invites Solas to play Diamondback. She loses, just as Blackwall warned her... but still wins in the end.

Paint Me: 🌶️ [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 2.1k - Ellana wants Solas to paint her, unfortunately he wants to draw her first.

Ar Lasa Mala Revas: 🍬🎭 [Solas/Sulahnean Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 3.2k - Solas is torn between duty and desire. To give in to desire, he would have to reveal a truth that he fears would cost him the love of his vhenan.

Express Desires: [Solas/Eludysia Lavellan] Steampunk AU | F/M | Mature | 1.6k - Solas and Dysi hopelessly pine for one another, the tension between them reaching breaking point.

Hedge Wizard: 🌶️ [Solas/Sulahnean Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.2k - An alternate version of a chapter from an incomplete longfic. Solas gives in to his desire for Maera, a Fade aspect of Inquisitor Lavellan.

Embers of the Sun: 🎭 [Solas/Ellana Lavellan] Post-DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 2.1k - Utter misery. Former Inquisitor Lavellan visits the final resting place of Solas.

Blackwall Fics:

Cole Is A Knavish Lad: 🍬[Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 1.7k - Even Cole is fed up with the oblivious pining of Blackwall and Evelyn, and decides that its time they confessed their feelings to one another.

Hairy Potter: 🌶️🍬[Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 2.0k - Evelyn is obsessed with Blackwall's hands, and with good reason, for he's very, very skilled with them.

The Warden's Taint: 🌶️🍬🎭 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 2.6k - Blackwall tries to confess to Evelyn, but he can't bring himself to do it. He wants only to be the man she believes he is.

Awakening: 🌶️🍬 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 4.6k - Cole embarrasses Evelyn. Blackwall assures her that the Inquisitor doesn't have to give a fuck what anyone thinks - especially not in her own castle.

The Promise: 🌶️🎭 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] DAI | F/M | Explicit | 3.8k - After she passes judgement on him, Blackwall vows to spend the rest of his life proving himself worthy of her forgiveness.

Exaltation: 🌶️🍬 [Blackwall/Evelyn Trevelyan] Trespasser | F/M | Explicit | 2.7k - Blackwall and Evelyn have a little reprieve from all the politics during the Exalted Council.

No Safe Haven: 🍬(Minor 🎭) [Blackwall/Hrafn Lavellan] DAI | F/M | Teen+ | 9.7k - Featuring @inky-does-art's OC Hrafn Lavellan. Scared and horny, Blackwall starts to fall hard for a mystifying and dangerous rogue.

Rylavellan Fics:

All fics featuring @knuttydraws' OC Farie Lavellan

Captured: 🌶️🍬 [Knight-Captain Rylen/Farie Lavellan] Post DAI | F/M | Explicit | 5.4k - Farie and Rylen enjoy the great outdoors on the eve of the summer solstice.

A Curious Bird: 🍬🎭 [Knight-Captain Rylen/Farie Lavellan] DA Series Modern AU | F/M | Teen+ | 15.2k - Rylen attends the house warming of his old friends from University, and meets the very pretty and interesting friend of his co-worker Solona.

A Light That Never Goes Out: 🌶️🍬 [Knight-Captain Rylen/Farie Lavellan] Veilguard | F/M | Explicit | 5.8k - Coming to Minrathous to foil the Venatori, Farie and Rylen seek a reprieve at the Lighthouse.

Cousland Fics:

Excuse me, Archdemon: 🍬 [Alistair/Elissa Cousland] Origins | F/M | General | 1.5k - Alistair and Elissa both wake in the middle of the night, haunted by the commanding call of the Archdemon.

Loghain Comes Calling: 🌶️ [Loghain Mac Tir/Elissa Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 3.9k - Loghain knows exactly how to make the Warden Commander's pulse race.

Brave Ser Gilmore: 🍬[Roderick Gilmore/Brianna Cousland] Origins | F/M | Teen+ | 1.2k - Doing her best to avoid her parents, and Arl Howe and his son, Brianna and Rory sneak a quiet moment alone in the kitchens.

Howe Did It Take So Long?: 🌶️🎭 [Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 7.1k - Childhood friends, now at odds due to his father's choices, Nathaniel finally accepts the friendship that Brianna has tried to offer to him.

The Bann of Harper's Ford: 🌶️🎭 [Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 5.6k - Nathaniel finds himself feeling insanely jealous and insecure about all the attention that Brianna receives in Denerim.

Eating Crow: 🌶️🎭 [Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Explicit | 14.1k - Zevran arrives at Vigil's Keep, and though Nathaniel tries his hardest to not let jealousy get the better of him, with deadly precision, the smug assassin gets under his skin.

Never, My Love: 🍬[Nathaniel Howe/Brianna Cousland] Origins: Awakening | F/M | Teen+ | 887 - A quiet, tender moment between Nathaniel and Brianna.

Dorian Fics:

Adamant Hearts: 🍬🎭 [Dorian Pavus/Fenris] DAI | M/M | Teen+ | 5.2k - As Dorian seeks out Fenris in the wake of disaster, he reflects on the changing nature of their rocky relationship.

Fics featuring @inquisitoracorn's OC Jonathan Trevelyan. The Inquisitor's Anchor: 🍬[Dorian Pavus/Jonathan Trevelyan] DAI | M/M | Mature | 1.8k - Dorian and Jon discuss the nature of magic and the Anchor.

The Inquisitor's Gift: 🍬🎭[Dorian Pavus/Jonathan Trevelyan] Post-Trespasser | M/M | Mature | 4.3k - Jonathan surprises Dorian with a visit to his home in Minrathous.

Fics featuring @nivenor-krosis' OC Arthur Trevelyan.

Nobody's Fool: 🍬(Minor 🎭) [Dorian Pavus/Arthur Trevelyan] DAI | M/M | Teen+ | 3.2k - Dorian has given away his Pavus birthright and stubbornly refuses to let anyone help him get it back. Arthur can't let something so clearly important to him, slip from Dorian's grasp.

Not So Wicked Hearts: 🍬[Dorian Pavus/Arthur Trevelyan] DAI | M/M | Teen+ | 1k - Dorian fusses over Arthur at Halamshiral.

Hawke Fics:

A Pirate's Tub: 🌶️🍬[Female Hawke/Isabela] DA2 | F/F | Explicit | 1.6k - Isabela surprises Hawke with a romantic gesture.

Blood of the Hawke!: [Female Hawke/Fenris] DA2 | F/M | Teen+ | 0.6k - Hawke is embarrassed, Carver is traumatised, Fenris is quietly smug and Varric is taking notes for his book.

Hail The Conquering Hero: 🎭[Female Hawke/Fenris] DA2 | F/M | Teen+ | 1.9k - Frenemies shouldn't spar. Sex is the inevitable outcome.

Tooth and Claw: 🌶️ [Female Hawke/Fenris] DA2 | F/M | Explicit | 2.6k - Hawke likes it rough, and in the dirt. You can take the girl out of Lowtown...

The Dangers of Rosewood: 🌶️🎭 [Female Hawke/Anders] DA2 | F/M | Explicit | 5.7k - Hawke gets herself into a spot of difficulty and turns to Anders for help. Anders shows a gargantuan amount of professionalism and self-restraint. Until he doesn't.

I'll crawl home to her: 🎭🍬 [Female Hawke/Anders] DA2 | F/M | Teen+ | 2.5k - Hawke has a surprise for Anders for Satinalia.

Pour Away the Ocean: 🎭 [Female Hawke/Anders] DAI | Referenced relationship | Teen+ | 1.6k - Hawke is lost in the Fade and Anders is desperately trying to reach her.

Miscellaneous Pairings:

The Inexorable Tide: 🍬[Dirthamen/Ixchel Lavellan] Arlathan AU | F/M | Teen+ | 4.6k - Featuring @dreadfutures' OC Ixchel Lavellan. Dirthamen ponders his mysterious houseguest.

Fools Rush In: 🌶️🎭🍬[Morrigan/Aedan Cousland] Origins | F/M | Explicit | 2.3k - Aedan discovers that Morrigan's prickly shell hides a tender heart.

Sweet Whispers:🎭🍬[Alistair/Solona Amell] Origins | F/M | Teen+ | 4.3K - Featuring @inquisimer's OC Solona Amell. Alistair grows increasingly concerned that the family he has found, is turning out to be as scornful of him as the one he knew as a boy.

[i-like-liking-things]

[sulky-valkyrie]

Happy Friday!! For DADWC, maybe "I thought you said we had something worth fighting for- was that just another lie too?" for Anders/Nathaniel? 🥺

haiiiiiiii Gin, have a sequel to this for @dadrunkwriting

screenshot yoinked from this video, which is a delightful animated banter compilation

Trusting you was a mistake.

Anders’ parting shot and rage in his voice would've broken Nate's resolve if Loghain hadn't grabbed his elbow.  This contingency plan had been his wretched idea, brought up last night while they'd listened to his frantic pacing one room over.  Anders had said getting Karl out was the goal, that he'd burn the city down to see him free, so Nate had agreed to it as a last resort.

A last resort.  Not a bargaining chip to be tossed out at the merest hint of disagreement.  He barely heard, barely cared about Loghain and the Knight Captain's conversation as they walked through the same gate Anders had been dragged through moments before.  

“There's a list of the recently Harrowed in the Knight Commander’s –”

“Not necessary,” Loghain interrupted.  “I want someone seasoned.  A known quantity.  Already trained, not some barely housebroken robe barely able to tie his boots.”

Anders was more than that, you bastard.  He is more.

The Knight Captain cleared his throat.  “Traditionally, Wardens recruit from the Circle those who haven't yet proven themselves assets due to the risks of losing such valuable skills.”

Nate opened his mouth to snarl that they aren't assets, they're people, but Loghain stepped on his foot, grinding his mailed boot against the bone with an insincere apology, before sighing at the Knight Captain.  “A spirit healer should more than make up for any loss of revenue.  I want a list: men who've been Harrowed for at least five years with no disciplinary history.”

“Men only?” The Knight Captain's eyebrow arched up curiously.  “Are they better Wardens than women?”

Nate briefly entertained a fantasy of watching Velanna melt his eyeballs from his sockets as Loghain made up some drivel about recruitment quotas.  In truth, men made less dangerous Wardens, not better ones, but darkspawn breeding habits simply weren't a thing to discuss with the uninitiated.  

The Knight Captain sighed and changed course.  “Elsa would know best.”

“A moment.”  Loghain paused to fish a sealed letter out of his pouch.  “Give that to our former companion.”  He glanced at the Knight Captain.  “I assume he's been taken to your holding cells?”

The wax seal was imprinted with Brosca’ own signet (a stylized middle finger) and it wasn't addressed to Anders, but Nate.  He took the letter and he hid a frown.  This hadn't been in the plan.  In fact, they'd barely had a plan at all: trade Anders for Karl if they had to, then break Anders back out.  Details hadn't been important when they'd discussed hypotheticals last night, but now, the hypotheticals had become practicals, and only Loghain seemed to have any idea what was going on.  “Yes, ser.” He glanced at the Knight Captain, then quickly away.  The expression on his face when he'd cast that smite on Anders had been nothing short of cruel glee, more sickening to see than the way Anders had gone gray and stumbled into his captors’ grip.  “Where are the cells?”

“Up the right, down the hall, and on the left.”

Nate beat a hasty retreat.  An older Templar with steely gray hair was guarding the cell, though guarding it was a generous description.  He sat on a chair with his back to the opposite wall, arms folded, and head tilted to rest against the stone.  “Ready?” he asked without opening his eyes.

“For what?” Nate asked.

The Templar sat up in shock.  “Then you’re not��” he trailed off as his eyes traveled over Nate’s Warden armor.  “My mistake.  Knight Templar Emeric, at your service.”

What the void is going on?  “I’d like to speak to An – the prisoner.  In private.”

Emeric didn’t argue with him, just stood up and nodded crisply.  “Take your time.”  With that, he walked out.  What the void is going on?

Nate unfolded the letter as soon as the jingle of Emeric’s armor faded down the hall.  Another paper was inside, unaddressed and sealed.  Nate tucked it behind the message as he read Brosca’s blocky handwriting.  And read it again. 

Carta smuggles lyrium in through Templar barracks.  Been paying out my own pocket so they smuggle some other things out too.  Find the one who knows about Harrith. Give the other letter to Anders.

Did Brosca plan this?  Or just plan for it?  Did Loghain know?  Is that why he insisted on coming along?  The Commander hadn’t even been at Vigil’s Keep when they’d left, so he must’ve had the letters already.  

With more confidence than he felt, Nate approached the bars.  “Anders, I’m getting you out.”

The cell didn’t even have a bed.  Just two stools and manacles embedded in the walls.  Anders sat on one of the stools and stared at the ground.  His left arm hung limply at his side, shoulder still dislocated, and, even in the flickering torchlight, Nate could see a bruise darkening his cheek.  Maker, he's been in custody barely twenty minutes.  “Fuck off, Howe.  Just take Karl and go.”

“Loghain's taking care of that.”  I hope.  “And I'm taking care of you.”  I hope. 

“Taken care of me enough, I think,” he snarled.  “Don't worry, they'll finish the job.”  He hiccuped and covered his mouth as he shuddered.  “They must lace their magebane with something; even if I had mana, it'd be hard to cast when I feel like I might throw up any minute now.  Good thing for the both of us, I guess.  Asshole.”

Nate held up the smaller letter.  The movement caught Anders’ attention, and he glanced up before flicking his eyes away with a scowl.  “Brosca sent this.  For you.  Loghain had it.”  He tossed it into the cell.

Anders watched it flutter to the ground but made no move to pick it up.  “Don't want it.  Don't want anything from you.  Or them.”  He turned away, wincing when his arm brushed the edge of the stool.  “You didn't have to come.  Neither of you.  Could’ve just let me go, and probably got the same result: me, gone.  But no, you had to tag along, and for what?  Just make sure they did it properly?  You going to stay and watch the branding?  Report back that the infamous apostate and troublemaker is done for?”

“It wasn't –”

“You said you cared, Nate,” Anders interrupted softly.  “That we – that Karl and I had something worth fighting for, and, Maker damn me, I believed you.  When did it change? Or was it always a lie?  Would you rather see me dead than with anyone else?  Was that it?”

Nate rubbed his face.  “I'm trying to get you out, Anders.”

“You fucking put me here.”

The clank of Templar boots startled them both. “Just read the fucking letter,” Nate hissed before turning around.

It was Emeric again.  He was sweating and his cheeks were red, as if he was unused to running.  “I said take your time, but the Knight Commander is not happy about your choice of conscriptee.”

Nate glanced down at the message again.  “I’m looking for someone who knows Harrith?”

“Thank the Maker,” Emeric sighed.  He pulled out his keys and unlocked Anders’ cell.  “Nothing to be done about the magebane, I’m afraid.  Or your arm.”  He frowned as Anders stood up.  “Or your face.  Wilmod and Mettin are… overzealous.  It wasn’t like this when I joined.”  

As he stepped out, Anders muttered something that sounded like, “heard that before.”  The letter was in his hand and open.  He didn't look pleased about its contents, but Nate couldn't care less what he thought as long as it got him out.

That said, he couldn’t simply ignore his injuries.  He pulled a small healing potion from his pouch and held it out.  Anders stared at it for a few moments then rolled his eyes.  “The void am I going to do with that when I can't use my fucking arm?”

Asshole. “Generally, you drink it.”

Emeric shooed them down the hall.  “Keep going, lads; the tunnel is behind my wardrobe and it gets harder to move myself every year.  You know, I haven't done this since Maddox's – nevermind.  Used to be one or two a month before Commander Stannard and her roll calls and mandatory counts twice a day, and when Maurevar was doing it, we could slip out one a week to the Collective.”  He paused at the door.  “Harrith visited when he was dying.  Lyrium, you know.  It kills us all eventually, either from too much or not enough.  They told me everything.  The Carta, the Collective, the deals.  It's never been enough, but it was the best we could manage.  I took it over…  oh, about six years ago.  Easy money, I thought.  But it wasn't.  Instead I just see all the mages I can't help.  The ones the Collective doesn't know about.  The ones who can't pay the Carta for protection.”  

He shook his head as he walked to the edge of the wardrobe and pushed.  It barely shifted an inch, and he sighed as he glanced at Nate.  “That Warden strength might come in useful right about now.”

Nate stuffed Brosca’s letter in his pocket, then moved next to Emeric.  “Where's it going?”

“Just away from the wall.”  Emeric stepped back and grabbed a lantern.  

It scraped on the floor as Nate shoved it across the room to reveal a stone archway.  It looked like the opening had been plastered over years ago, and he ran his fingers over it skeptically.  “Your entrance is lacking.”

Anders snorted.  “That's what she said.”

“You think a smuggler tunnel would survive if we just hid it with furniture?” Emeric chuckled.  He turned to hand the lantern to Anders, frowned at his limp arm, and set it down on the desk.  “It's a rune.  Designed by one of the first mages Maurevar helped.  Said he learned it from the Wardens.”  He pulled a knife off his belt and slashed his hand.  “Responds to lyrium infused blood, so only a Templar can open it.  And no Templar would be foolish enough to wound himself in the presence of an apostate, of course.”  He cut the back of his wrist, then smeared it on his fingers before touching them to seven spots on the wall.  It glowed green, then vanished into mist as he gestured toward Anders.  “The tunnel leads down to a small harbor.  Take the skiff and follow the shore away from Kirkwall until you reach a cave marked with dwarven carvings.  The Carta know the boat, and will take you wherever you need to go.”

Nate grabbed the lantern.  “Let's go, then.”

Anders shook his head.  “Get Karl out.  I'll meet you at the inn, Andraste willing.”

“You're just – what if it's a trap?” Nate spluttered, then glanced at Emeric.  “No offense intended, of course, just – Anders, are you certain?”

“Get. Karl. Out.”  He pressed the note into Nate's palm.  “We'll figure the rest out later.  Or not.  I don't care.”

He looked down.  More blocky script.

If he doesn’t bring you back, he dies.  My word as a thief.

“Well,” Nate mumbled.  “And here I was thinking death threats were behind us.”

Anders grinned sadly.  “Welcome to the Wardens.”  With that, he ducked under the archway and disappeared into the dark.

[wipbigbang]

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[rose-of-orlais]

if i had a nickel for every time i spared the highly controversial + morally dubious character best known for “betraying” the pc, irreparably damaging my relationship w/ the designated chantry boy and causing them to leave my party, i’d have two nickels. which tbh isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice

[druidgroves]

i am incapable of having ships where they aren't at least a little bit obsessed with each other