#maybe with aveline as well?

[teecupangel]

Hello! I just discovered you recently, dived headfirst into several your fics and am so in love with them. I'm also incredibly grateful because I'm in the middle of putting a house on the market and your fics are saving my sanity. My most recent read is 'Ouverture', and I love bitter, slightly elitist and secretly disdainful Desmond. Now I have so many questions about Unity cannon (that you've cannonballed) if you wouldn't mind just head cannoning some future what if answers?

Does Arno return to France and get caught up in the revolution? Does Des come with and keep out of sight? IS Des considered a traitor by the Paris Assassins? Arno have an opinion on the Parisian Brotherhood? Does he have better Eagle vision since Des trained him? Do Paris Assassins read blue or white to him? Does he meet Elise again? What has become of the de la Serre family?

The French Revolution:

*random rooftop after absurdly flashy physics breaking move that avoided the lookout of five Paris Assassins*

Pierre: "Pisspot."

*arrogant eyebrow game at max and full permission from Des to be an asshole*

Arno: "0uncle Pierre."

Pierre. "Figured. Only one other who could hold eagle vision that easily to evade everyone with that stunt without breaking his neck. He would have kicked me as he flipped over my head."

Much love and thanks! And sorry for the long submission!

Hello! I’m so happy my fics were able to help you during such a hard time and please don't apologize. I love getting submissions and asks, no matter how long or short they are (although I am quite late in answering them TTATT). I hope selling your home is going well!

Okay, so let’s talk about the possible future of Ouverture and A New Way To Do Things in relation to Arno.

Arno will, of course, grow up in the homestead in this one. Unity officially starts 5 years after the end of AC3 when Arno is around 21 years old. Arno returns to France because he actually followed Desmond back to France (while Ratonhnhaké:ton and Clay had to stay behind for the Brotherhood and tells Desmond that they’ll catch up to him instead). Desmond returns because Lafayette requested their aid (he and Lafayette talked a lot during the American Revolutions as two French dudes doing whatever they can) and Desmond agreed to help his ‘motherland’.

This means that Desmond and Arno went back to France without the Parisian Brotherhood’s ‘approval’ so they’re going rogue (although Charlotte gets a visit and she cries because of how much Arno has grown).

Arno now calls Desmond ‘dad’ in this one too although he still calls Charles Dorian ‘father’ and they become embroiled in AC Unity’s plot as well, with Desmond having bad feelings because there’s something in Paris that just makes his skin crawl.

Desmond is sorta in a very precarious position in the Parisian Brotherhood, especially now that Sophie Trenet is a council member. A lot of the council members have a more forgiving stance on Desmond, especially after they hear how he helped Ratonhnhaké:ton take back the ‘colonies’ from the Templars but they’re not necessarily happy that he’s back. Sophie’s the one who is pushing for him to regain his old rank (not that Desmond wants it) though because she remembers him as being a good man and a great Assassin.

Desmond and Arno actually visits Bellec in prison and that’s how they reunite. Well…

That and the cannonball that ‘started’ the prison break…

Arno is officially a member of the American Brotherhood of Assassins (like Desmond) so he’s not thought of as a traitor but more like an outsider. Arno doesn’t mind though because his memory of France felt more like a distant dream. He doesn’t like to go to Versailles though.

Arno’s opinion of the Parisian Brotherhood is pretty much nonexistent. Desmond doesn’t like to talk about them, not even to complain about them. Other than say their ranking system is ridiculously long but Arno is pretty sure Desmond was being sarcastic (he was not).

Because of this, the Parisian Assassins appear as either blue (Bellec and Sophie) or white to him. They’re polite to him but also sorta cagey because he is not one of them as far as the Brotherhood is concern.

He does have a better Eagle Vision, one of the more advanced ones, actually, considering Desmond, Clay and Ratonhnhaké:ton trained him (and that means his Assassin style is a combination of his three instructors). The whole “I see their memories” thing Arno is also theorized by Clay as being a mutation caused by Arno’s close proximity to whatever Charles Dorian was carrying with him before he handed it off to another Assassin then returned to France to get his next (and last) mission. Clay believes that it’s some kind of POE and that it sorta mutated Arno’s Isu genes to be more prevalent in this case because he was still young when he was in it’s area of ‘influence’. Of course, that’s all guesswork and Arno just uses it to get more information.

Arno does meet Élise once more and it’s… well… it’s complicated.

While it’s highly possible that Arno would still hold a torch for Élise during that time, it is also highly possible that she would just be a distant memory, the kind girl whose parents may have had a hand on the death of his father (or so Desmond believed). Hell, if you want to add more drama in that front, it could be that Élise and Arno sees each other as ‘enemies’ this time around, their childhood memories being nothing more than the innocence of children that they could no longer go back to (especially with them no longer having any long history with one another so Arno sees Élise as a Templar gone rogue and Élise sees Arno as just another Assassin). (If you want to make it hurt, have Élise be the one to actually carry a torch for Arno while Arno had already fallen in love or may have already gotten married by the time he returns to Paris. To who? Ellen’s daughter Maria who becomes Arno’s childhood friend in the Davenport Homestead). Also, he’s seen as the older brother of Ratonhnhaké:ton’s children as well so, in many ways, Arno feels more at home at Davenport than he is in Paris while Élise’s father died because he couldn’t get the letter meant to warn him in time and she’s just full of anger and the burning desire for vengeance right now, with no one she can trust at all.

Also, also… Desmond has a reunion of his own to rival Arno’s Templar-connection past.

His aunt…

Madame Flavigny.

(Yeah, that’s right. The only person who knew Desmond as Antoine Faroy and his only living blood relative is a Templar, to be more exact, a Templar from the Radical Faction.)

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

I'm not ready to shut up about Aveline and Carver--so, when you go see Aveline in Act 1, you can catch up with her a little bit and that's where this conversation can happen:

Aveline: "It's just one more change, though. The real end for me was Ostagar. What about you, Carver? You were there. Do you feel something similar?" Carver: No. Aveline: All right, then. Bit of a tit, your brother.

I wanted to see what she would say if Carver isn't in the party. Instead, she says this:

Aveline: Carver was there. I imagine he feels something similar. If he allows it.

......well, at least she didn't call him a tit?

[dungeons-and-dragon-age]

forever mad about how dirty they did aveline from act 2 onward

[avakitsune]

I have got to move soon

[vigilskeep]

baffled and vexed by instalment 3 of this fic having an obvious title. does that mean i have to title the rest of them. good lord

[drasticdoodling]

i get why ppl dont like night terrors but i like it with a party pf aveline, varric, and anders bc then aveline and varric- the two in the group who’ve known hawke the longest betray hawke to demons while JUSTICE who everyone(including anders!) talks about as being dangerous and not able to be trusted stands by hawke and helps defeat the demons.

and then aveline doesnt even apologize and says that mages should be locked up.

EDIT: she does apologize immediately after getting out of the fade but doesnt in her follow up quest. (which is where the "mages should be locked up" line is. got the timeline mixed up in my head this makes more sense lol)

[hawkepockets]

actually. 🫷😀🫸 THOUGHTS ON AVELINE

i think aveline is a CORE da2 character, and her relationship with hawke is super super interesting. she’s hawke’s oldest friend in the game & by act 3, maybe the only enduring connection to their homeland & childhood besides the mabari. her voice, her bearing, her stated values are all very noble & movingly fereldan—but her actions both as guard captain & as a party member should be so profoundly disappointing to hawke almost no matter how you play them, which generates a powerful tension. imo it’s really poignant and adds a lot to the game’s central tragedy.

because how can hawke cut her off! but look at how she behaves: ignoring the serial killing & sexual assault of isolated older women and elf girls, baiting the arishok, slut shaming isabela, condescending to merrill. but how can they cut her off? the question is a privilege and a torment!

in this way i think she strikingly complements gamlen. like no matter what gamlen does and says to you, your love interest, leandra, the surviving hawke twin—he’s family and the only way into kirkwall. hawke is not permitted to sever those ties. and no matter what aveline does and says to you and all the women in your party, she remains your oldest friend and the only way back to ferelden, emotionally.

both aveline & gamlen will maintain a warm relationship with hawke as long as hawke tolerates their picking on those in proximity to hawke—but if hawke pushes back with aggressive dialogue options, both will tone match and became sour and hostile. aveline can be really quite awful to a red hawke, and will throw them to the ground and beat them at 100% rivalry. so there’s kind of an underlying challenge in both of these characters: how much will hawke, as gang leader & player character, put up with when it’s not directed at them?

of course, for all the nostalgia that seems to occlude av’s wrongdoings in kirkwall, she’s not really a childhood friend of hawke’s. she was a grown woman when they met, lothering was lost, and the moment was pretty heated thanks to aveline’s hostile templar husband.

and yet hawke is no more reliable & objective in their treatment of the past than varric is. and aveline is what they have! she’s standing in for all of ferelden, all of the past before the blight!

and likewise hawke for her! hawke is the only one left in act 3 who remembers wesley! aveline is the only one who remembers the dead hawke twin!

and as reprehensible as some of her decisions are, aveline’s grief for wesley and her enmity toward the old corrupt guard captain are sympathetic and her voice is sexy and husky and beautiful enough that. well im sorry i just lost the plot for a minute. uh

there’s also the act 3 subplot of the templars trying to take over the city guard, which sets up aveline as the only thing standing between kirkwall’s mages & absolute templar authority in the city. it’s literally her or cullen at his most brainwashed & violent. (to cullen’s credit he also thought it was a bad idea. but i won’t give him so much credit that i believe he’d turn down the position if aveline was removed.) between a knight-commander and a hard place, a pro-mage hawke has to choose the hard place.

so both of my playthroughs i’ve felt like hawke’s friendship with her is at the very least strained, if not completely ruptured, but they have to back her. how much that feels like fucking sandpaper may vary from hawke to hawke.

ultimately i just think she brings a lot to the table. i don’t necessarily understand why she’d be anyone’s all time #1 favorite companion, but you know.

[tossawary]

I mentioned before that I think DA2 is perhaps the most appealing to me for a Time Travel AU. This is in part because Hawke as a protagonist doesn't have to worry about an impending apocalypse in the same way that the Warden and the Inquisitor do, so there's arguably more space for slow-moving character work, and I think it would be fun to explore Hawke's relationship to Kirkwall.

You can take Inquisition-era Hawke, sacrifice them in the Fade, and then handwavy magic happens there that sends Hawke back for a Time Travel Redo. (If it's irrelevant to the rest of the story, let's skip going into depth on the time travel method! It does not matter!) If you want to avoid time paradox concerns, given that time magic actually exists in this series, this can actually be a Dimension Travel AU as well, sending a Garrett Hawke back in time to another dimension where there's a Marian Hawke instead or something. Two Hawkes!

I prefer sending a mage Garrett Hawke "back" into this alternate dimension because he is absolutely going to look like his own father, Malcolm, to the young Hawke family trying to escape Lothering. And that's some delicious angst.

Another reason that I think Hawke in particular would be interesting is that I think it would be interesting to have a time-traveler (dimension-traveler) be upfront about what had happened to them. A tired Garrett Hawke reveals at least the basics of the "future" to his friends and family (all of whom are strangers to him and it hurts) because he wants to keep them safe, and then the butterfly effects of canon divergence ripple out from there.

There are so many time travel fics where the protagonist confides in no one or only does so very late in the story. There are often reasons for this. 1) They will not be believed. 2) They are surrounded by enemies. 3) They are focused on changing a very specific event and do not want things to change before that. 3.5) They are unwilling to share their knowledge and give up some measure of control over the future. (These control issues are often in-character!)

Sometimes, I am persuaded by these reasons and find them compelling and sympathetic. Sometimes, I find the protagonist's insistence on doing everything alone frustrating and even cruel.

I think that if Hawke had the chance to do a Time Travel Redo, it would be incredibly cruel if they did not at least TRY to share some of their knowledge with their companions. I don't think Hawke's companions would believe them immediately, of course, but they live in a world with strange magic. If Hawke was willing to be calm and vulnerable, they could at least give their future friends some potential leads in their individual quests (being open about the fact that this world may be different to their own).

Like, let's look at Fenris. Fenris would not trust some strange mage talking about fucking time magic, of course. But after knowing each other for a month or so, Hawke might be able to approach Fenris and say, "Hey, I have a really weird story to tell you." And then Hawke could share what they know about Fenris' past according to their own world, so that Fenris can maybe look into that and prepare himself. Because keeping that information away from Fenris is a dick move! Fenris deserves to be able to decide what to believe, what to investigate, and what to do for himself.

I also don't think I could suspend my disbelief if Hawke let Anders and Justice just... play out again over the course of years. I think most Hawkes wouldn't be able to resist confronting Anders in some way! Even Hawkes who end up saying, "I'm going to personally murder Meredith this time." Is a mage-friendly Hawke just going to let characters like Karl Thekla be made Tranquil and be killed again?

Do Merrill and Isabella and Varric and Aveline not deserve to try and avert some of the tragedies in their own lives?

Like, it is totally reasonable for Hawke to be focused purely on their own family or the companions they like, rather than try to save every person in the city. I think it's more than fine if there are tragedies a protagonist just doesn't care about averting. Hawke is not even going to remember everything.

And it is VERY normal for people not to want to give up some measure of control over their lives, especially someone as traumatized as Hawke. I do often find it realistic that a lot of time traveling characters in fanfiction are kind of "control freaks" who don't want to be vulnerable, even if it's "safe" to be. I'm imagining that this future-sharing from Hawke would stem in large part from 1) exhaustion, 2) loneliness, and 3) Hawke being used to celebrity, due to the "Tale of the Champion", and somewhat blasé by this point about all the fucking shit they've been through.

And I think that spilling everything (or even just the basics) would not necessarily go well for a Hawke. I think Varric would take even limited information about Bartrand's future very badly. As strangers to Hawke, I think all of the companions would be upset and disbelieving. (I'm currently imagining a mage Garrett Hawke who previously romanced Merrill, so that he and Past!Fenris were barely friends, because Fenris didn't like this mage Hawke hanging out with a blood mage and Hawke kind of thought Fenris might turn him in to the Templars someday. Past!Fenris was more Isabella's and Varric's friend.) I think these new companions might go on to make some BIG mistakes trying to avoid the future that Hawke has described, as much as they might avert tragedy.

I also imagine that Hawke's relationship with this new Hawke family might be very strange and awkward, even if both Carver and Bethany live. Garrett looks like Malcolm and everyone thinks it's weird; Leandra is probably the happiest and most practical about it, but Garrett can't forget how his own mother died horribly and also blamed him for his own Bethany's death. Neither Garrett nor Marian know what to do about each other; Marian doesn't like some new person waltzing in and taking control of situations. Garrett unconsciously treats this Carver as older and Carver loves it, but Marian doesn't like it. Bethany likes having a mage sibling, but Garrett is awkward because he's used to Bethany being the Hawke family's perfect dead sister. And Leandra's shitty brother is not fucking helping any of this!!! And what's that about Leandra maybe getting murdered by a serial killer in the future???

By saying all of this, I mean to make clear that I really don't think "communicating" would immediately fix every problem for a perfect "Time Travel Fix-It". I do think it would fix SOME problems. Emotional conversations and immediate canon divergence also appeals to me because I like reading those things.

What I mean to make clear is that I think it would be fun to write something that explores autonomy, authority, agency, and control. There are many issues in the world that stem from people unwilling to give up control of a situation for a variety of reasons, and other issues that stem from people believing they have the authority to dictate other people's lives.

What right would a new Garrett Hawke have to withhold information and try to manipulate all of their strangers' lives? Especially from people like Anders and Fenris, whose stories are so deeply concerned with freedom of choice? To conceal backstory information from someone with amnesia, like Fenris, is a choice, and I think it's a cruel one, even if Fenris might not like what he hears and might react badly. Can Garrett Hawke really claim that he "knows best"? What if he doesn't know what's going on with this version of the world? What do you do when freedom means standing back and allowing some of the people you like and love to make "bad" choices?

Some time travel fics seem to me to be incredibly lonely. The protagonist trusts in no one. The other characters can be written as predictably following a timeline to the point of being shallow caricatures of people. It's just not to my taste.

It could be nice to explore Hawke finding new sides of companions that they missed in their previous "run" (which was very much not perfect and full of strife). It could be nice to explore an exhausted Champion learning to trust in other people and have them step up to help solve these shifting problems. DA games are so much about making choices for everyone around you: on behalf of your companions, on behalf of entire kingdoms, on behalf of the entire world. It might be fun to explore an exhausted older Hawke giving up some control and being pleasantly surprised on some fronts as paths diverge.

[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.

[truetealtears]

So many fic writers don’t acknowledge the fact that canonically Fenris hosts a game night with Donnic at the mansion WEEKLY

Like sure he probably put them on hold for a bit after his personal quests since oof those were not good times but past that he sees Donnic once a week!

So many of you guys are missing out on A - probably one of/the only friend Fenris consistently hangs out with OUTSIDE of Hawke and Co (even though he’s Aveline’s husband lmao). And B - the closeness and hilarity of their relationship, like they do this for years, they clearly talk to each other about a lot. To the point where Donnic tells him about maybe having children and stuff, which Fenris then asks Aveline about and she goes ‘you two talk too much’ LIKE??? ITS RIGHT THERE IN CANNON

The funny part comes in when you’re romancing Fenris because everyone depicts him as like brooding about it alone in his mansion for weeks (which he definitely did ngl) but then only confiding in either no one at all or like Varric WHEN DONNIC IS CANONICALLY RIGHT THERE

Like can you imagine that at one point during one of their game nights in Act 3 Fenris is like:

“Donnic”

“Yeah?”

“So you are married…”

“Listen Fenris, buddy, you’re right. I am happily married and as your friend I would love to give you relationship advice but you were there for the absolute mess that was Aveline trying to court me. You know full well why I can’t really help you get with Hawke. The two of you combined are worse than even my dear wife.”

“We are not that bad”

“Fenris”

“Fasta vaas, fine. So what now?”

“Well I can offer encouragement, Aveline is close with Hawke used to have tea with her mother a lot, so I can tell you with absolute certainty that Hawke is into you and Leandra wouldn’t have disapproved. You just have to make your move… and also never tell either of them that I told you this”

*Meanwhile in the Hawke estate*

“Aveline I need you to do me a favour and get Donnic to find out if Fenris is still into me”

“What?”

“You told me they hang out a lot! And I can’t just ask him that myself so I need you to find out for me Please? I really need you to return the favour here!”

I think this would be an absolutely hilarious interpretation of canon events and a really funny and sweet dynamic between the four of them. The rest of the Hawke flock could joke about them going on double dates lmao

TLDR: Donnic and Fenris are canonically really good friends and this should be acknowledged more in fics and stuff

(Fenris and Aveline are also good friends fyi but that’s for a different post. As well as something I have actually seen a couple of people talk about on here so yeah another time)

[thatrandombystander]

Personal tier list of how likely I think past companions are to make a proper on screen appearance in Veilguard

S tier: Morrigan, Varric and Solas are already confirmed.

A tier: We're going to Tevinter, Maevaris Tilani is confirmed to be making an appearance. Dorian has connections to both, is well-liked among fans, and there's story room to explore with him especially in relation to the Shadow Dragons faction and his mission to better Tevinter. If he doesn't appear I will be legitimately shocked.

B tier: All three are fan favourite and I would be surprised if none of these three appear, although I don't expect to see all three. - We're going to Antiva and the Crows are involved in the game, Zevran fits in perfectly. - We're going to Rivain and the Lords of Fortune faction sounds incredibly suited to Isabela. - We're going to Tevinter and Fenris provides perspective as a character directly impacted by slavery in the Magisterium and he has been well featured in comics.

C tier: I think these characters have a good chance but I would still be pleasantly surprised to see them. - I can see Leliana, Cassandra or Vivienne appearing in-game as the Divine, although they may just be referenced via a letter or dialogue. If the Divine doesn't make an appearance I doubt any one of them would appear at all. - Shale has been in Tevinter and I can see them making a brief cameo appearance. - Merrill I think could appear in Arlathan Forest with the Veil Jumpers, but at the same time I feel like the devs might want to avoid including her especially since they've hinted at our protag having good reason to dislike blood magic? Although would love her Dalish perspective on the awakened Elvhen gods - Cole I can see making an appearance (maybe with the Inquisitor) as one of the only characters sympathetic to Solas as a person at this point

D tier: I think these characters appearing is unlikely but could still happen - Alistair has too many possible current states that feel like they'd be difficult to incorporate at this point. King? Warden? Drunkard? Trapped in fade? - Maybe Sten could appear among Qunari but I don't see any particular reason for him as the current Arishok to appear. - I would LOVE for Velanna to make an appearance. She would be SO GOOD to appear in Arlathan Forest as a Dalish perspective with her respect for their stories and history. Unfortunately being an Awakening character lowers her chances. - Anders my beautiful favourite is just too controversial and risky to include, plus I'm not sure how much he relates to the new game. This bad boy needs to be deployed when The Themes are right. - Blackwall, Iron Bull and Josephine all could easily make an appearance depending on what sort of direction the devs go with plot and events, but at the moment I don't have a reason to believe they would

F tier: I would be shocked to see any of these characters in game. - Wynne? Canonically died in the novels. - Loghain? Already had pay-off for keeping him alive via Inquisition appearance. Too many current fates (Dead, Warden, trapped in Fade) to make the effort worth the result. - Oghren? Do I even need to explain. - Nathaniel and Sigrun as mere Awakening companions (thus not as popular or well known) with little connection to the Veilguard story makes me doubt they will appear (even though I love them both dearly.) - Aveline and Sebastian are busy with their respective jobs, have little to do with the Veilguard plot, and are not very popular. - Bethany and Carver have too many current fate options and feels kinda pointless to include them in game unless Hawke is somehow relevant - Cullen... lol only if they recast him but I think Greg Ellis dug the character's grave. - Sera isn't that well liked by the fandom as a whole compared to other characters and I feel like she'd be avoiding any of the current veil related nonsense

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

Me, when Sebastian joins my party for the first time: Okay, this time I'm not going to forget about you, Sebastian. I'm going to make an effort to use you a lot this playthrough so I can better understand you.

Also me, immediately forgetting about Sebastian while finishing Act 2 and making it halfway through Act 3 before I finally notice his Faith quest: ......................Oh. Right. My bad.

[demigoddessqueens]

bubbles with babe

A/N - based off a previous two scenarios here

I tried getting as many as I could or however many the tags would let me 😅

Summary: bath and relaxing headcanons 🥰

Altair - he insists you always bathe with him, washing your hair calms him down

Elise - wants to spoil and lavish you entirely, loves massages too

Desmond - a whole cutie pie who refuses to leave the tub and just loves a few sudsy cuddles

Bayek - presses tiny kisses into your shoulder as he weaves his fingers through your hair

Ezio - oh he’s shameless in spoiling you with all the bubbles!

Evie - a “guilty pleasure” she feels no guilt in because spending time with you is always a pleasure

Edward - cheeky in spending more time in the tub with you than getting anything done

Malik - he won’t admit it but he does enjoy how your spoil him and remind him to take breaks

Jacob - sure he MAY spoil you but he’s also so needy with your time and likes when you suds him up as well

Maria 🗡️- a reminder that she needs to take time for herself, particularly likes shoulder massages

Aya - jasmine and other floral scents fill the tub as you laugh and reconvene with each other

Haytham - he’s one relaxing session away from collapsing into your arms and the suds, loves a good scalp massage

Shay - likes when you wash his hair and offers to wash yours as well

Yusuf - you can’t leave yet unless he says so, just be prepared for bubbly cuddles and some face masks

Aveline - she likes a hot stone massage and maybe some lavender oil for a bath

Ziio - the temple run when you wash her hair is the most relaxing

Eivor - a bit of a spa day get away and tons of steam rooms that leave you both refreshed

Connor/Ratonhnhake:ton - he loves how you just melt into his touches and when you rub his back as well

Arno - a lil romantic who draws all the bubbles and oils for hours of relaxation

Henry/Jayadeep - he’s a sweetie who gushes about anything with you, neck and back rubs are a must

Kassandra - spa days are a must for you and her

Bonus

Shaun Hastings is a man of business who sometimes forgets to relax so relaxing baths are way of reminding him he deserves TLC

[hungee-boy]

Feel free to ignore if you’re uncomfortable with or just don’t want to answer but how would you change isebela to not be caricature without changing the whole character? Would it be more fashion changes or physical or something else?

Kinda like: how would you change her if you were her character writer/designer for the new game?

isabela at her core i think is a very compelling character and is relatable to a lot of romani experiences, especially with her doing whatever she has to to survive

i would definitely keep her stealing as castillion's responsibility, him making her steal the tome of koslun under threat of death for example would be fine because if he wasnt in the picture, chances are she wouldnt have stolen it in the first place

other forms of thievery besides just like looting bodies and picking chests (as those are gameplay mechanics for all characters) shouldnt be for her enjoyment or greed, only for her survival or just not done at all

her staying a pirate is fine imo and i like the idea of her being an ethical pirate (like her freeing the slaves castillion had her transport) but we all need to look at how pirates are depicted in fantasy and how much of that is anti-roma racism and caricatures

her being so sexualized and her comments on "life back home" are where i have the biggest issues honestly

like romani women have always been targets of fetishization and sexual violence, as well as many women being sterilized without consent to prevent more romani children being brought into the world

getting some damn clothes on her would be a great start, like some pants at the very least. i would like to incorporate more romani clothing in her design tho like maybe a traditional blouse instead of her usual top

maybe a romanced isabela can have her replace her blue dikhlo with red, since wearing a dikhlo is usually reserved for married women of certain vitsas (most common with eastern european roma if im not mistaken) or giving her a red hipcloth (again specific to certain vitsas)

romani dress is usually modest and loose fitting, with women commonly wearing long skirts and blouses with jewelry and adornments to symbolize her wealth and status and im not saying isabela should be covered head to toe, shes an open person and not every romani woman should be expected to dress one way over another, its just her look is way too impractical for the sake of being sexy and again romani women are very often sexualized regardless of what they wear

isabela's attitude towards sex and being open to intimacy is not an issue on its own, what is the issue is how the writers make fucking jokes of her sexuality at every chance they get (like the std joke in anders' clinic, aveline's slut shaming, etc. etc. etc.....) and this is just my personal opinion but there are times that she comes on too strong to like hawke or carver or fenris that seems unrealistic and just like an attempt for the writers to further hone in on how horny shes supposed to make you feel

like yes have her be open and not ashamed of being intimate but put more love and respect on it. i love an isabela that is repressed in her own feelings and the only way she knows how to have meaningful connections is through sex cus thats what was expected of her. like oh my god do you know how many people relate to that, if its done right it could be a very compelling arch to her character and maybe something she learns isnt concrete the more platonic/romantic meaningful time she has with everyone in da2 and beyond

as for her comments about rivain and the people there, like the phrase "even deny a fortune teller and theyll run you out of town" to merrill, just makes rivainis out to be greedy and shameless swindlers and that projection is obviously also put on romani people since that is a VERY common stereotype

like the phrase "getting gypped" literally means to be cheated and comes from the word gypsy. theres no denying the intention the writers had when they wrote that line for isabela

and honestly i love the idea of rivain (i say the idea cus we only hear accounts of the nation, we havent seen it in person yet) i love the idea of a matriarchal society that is religious and spiritual but does not tolerate the chantry's bigotry and openly accepts society's outcast such as mages and qunari

romani culture irl is patriarchal and often anybody who is not romani is typically not trusted, but if rivain was treated as an idealistic fantasy romanistan, where our values and traditions are implemented and we make a better world for ourselves and other outcasts then it could be very compelling

thats the thing with representation, sometimes it doesnt have to reflect reality 100%, but it still requires knowledge so that you can make new ideas based on the facts and reasoning of the group youre representing

[sapphim]

All variations of that scene where Hawke's companions try to rescue them from the dungeon in Mark of the Assassin (someone please help them they're trying so hard). There is, of course, a danaduchy video compilation, but! I wanted something searchable so here it is.

also, while I'm here: look at my mod boy

Anders + Aveline

Anders: How many blighted rooms does this place have? Aveline: We've passed that sconce three times already. Anders: This is ridiculous! How could you get us lost inside the castle? Aveline: Right, it's my fault. Shall I go ask one of the guards for directions?

Anders + Bethany (Act 1)

Anders: Don't panic, but I think we've been through here before. Bethany: How can you tell? Every part of this dungeon looks exactly the same! Anders: You too? I thought it was just me. Bethany: Some rescue this is! My brother is probably being tortured right now, and we're lost in the middle of the hallway! Bethany: Some rescuers we are! The duke could be torturing my sister right now, and we're lost in the blighted hallway!

Anders + Bethany (Act 2-3)

Anders: Don't panic, but I think we've been through here before. Bethany: You're the one tearing your hair out. Anders: Typical Warden disregard. Do you even care anymore? Bethany: Yes, you should talk about what caring looks like. Keep moving. Anders: Does the Kirkwall Circle teach you to be smug? In addition to obedient, I mean. Bethany: When appropriate. Come on, let's just find them.

Anders + Carver

Anders: I told you we shouldn't have turned left back there! Carver: Excuse me if I don't share my dear brother's sense of direction! Carver: Maker forgive me for not having my sister's sense of direction! Anders: Oh, for Andraste's sake! Leave Hawke out of this! Carver: Perhaps we'll find our way by considering the plight of mages in modern—shut your bloody face!

Anders + Fenris

Anders: That's it. I'm taking the lead. Fenris: You think I'm going trust you to find Hawke? Anders: Could you stop with the, "All mages are evil," diatribe for one minute? Fenris: They may not all be evil, but one of them in particular is extremely annoying.

Anders + Isabela

Anders: All right, we should have tried your suggestion. Isabela: Which? Challenging the guards to a game of riddles and making, "Where is Hawke?" one of the questions? Anders: I meant the, "Follow one wall, and you'll navigate the maze," idea. Isabela: Well, we can try it next time. Either that, or, "Let's get a sledgehammer and break down the walls." I thought that had merit.

Anders + Merrill

Anders: What is wrong with Orlesians? Why build a prison with this many identical cells? Merrill: Maybe we should ask for directions. Anders: Of course, we'll say, "We're staging a daring prison break. Could you tell us where our friend is and then tie yourself up? Thanks!" Merrill: It's not possible to tie yourself up, is it? You'd never get the knots right.

Anders + Sebastian

Sebastian: Andraste, Lady of Sorrows, lead us from the darkness into the Maker's Light… Anders: Would you stop that? Andraste is not going to find Hawke for us! Sebastian: Have some faith, Anders. Anders: I have complete faith in your ability to make a bad situation worse!

Anders + Varric

Varric: Blondie, I hate to say this, but I'm pretty sure we've been here before. Anders: Blast it! But we went left this time! We shouldn't have come full-circle again! Varric: I wish I hadn't given that ball of twine to Daisy. Anders: You can't tell anyone about this! I mean it, Varric! Not a word!

Aveline + Bethany (Act 1)

Aveline: This can't be right. Bethany: We could sneak back to the kitchens and ask the servants where they are! If… we knew how to get there. Aveline: I'm not getting turned around again. Straight ahead. Bethany: Right. Because that's been working so well thus far.

Aveline + Bethany (Acts 2-3)

Aveline: This can't be right. Bethany: We could double back, I suppose. I expect we've got time. Aveline: Knowing your [sister/brother]? Probably. Bethany: Still, better make it look good. Wouldn't want her to feel neglected. Bethany: Still, we'd better hurry. Poor Brother might think we don't miss him.

Aveline + Carver (Act 1)

Carver: You never listen to me! Aveline: Say something worthwhile and I'll start! Carver: Right, shut up and follow orders. Left, right, that's what makes a good guardling. Aveline: Ugh. You're still such a tit.

Aveline + Carver (Acts 2-3)

Carver: The place is a maze. Another pass and then double back? Aveline: Sounds good. we'll do that. Carver: Really? Aveline: There a reason I should doubt you, [Warden/templar]?

Aveline + Fenris

Aveline: Did we turn left last time, or right? Fenris: What does it matter? Lost is lost. Aveline: I'm trying to change that, you sour…. Aveline: How does Hawke put up with this?

Aveline + Isabela

Isabela: If you'd let me handle that last guard, we'd have found Hawke by now! Aveline: Right. You'd be bent over a desk, and we'd be no closer than we are now. Isabela: Well, I'd be closer to something. Aveline: Shut up, whore.

Aveline + Merrill

Merrill: Aveline? Remember how you told me to tell you if I noticed anything peculiar? Merrill: Well, we've passed the same cracked floor tile nine times now. Aveline: We've been walking in circles and you only tell me now? Merrill: I wasn't sure. Maybe there are a lot of tiles broken in exactly the same way!

Aveline + Sebastian

Aveline: Ugh! We're back where we started! Sebastian: Blessed Andraste, guide us. Protect our friends in this dark hour. Aveline: While you're at it, ask the sky for reinforcements. And pie. Sebastian: You know, that kind of prayer has never worked for me.

Aveline + Varric

Aveline: We've been going in circles for over an hour. Varric: I'm so used to Hawke leading the way, I think my sense of direction has withered. Varric: So… wait here for [him/her] to rescue us? Aveline: When you tell this part? Leave it out.

Bethany + Fenris (Act 1)

Bethany: What am I going to tell Mother? "Sorry, I got lost and left your heir in an Orlesian's dungeon?" Bethany: She will never forgive me. My [brother/sister] will never forgive me! Carver and Father will come back from the grave just to haunt me! Fenris: What she'll say should be the least of your worries. We may die in here, and she'll never get the news. Bethany: You are not helping.

Bethany + Fenris (Acts 2-3)

Bethany: Bloody runaround twisted shite of a maze. Fenris: You've learned a few new words. Bethany: Wardens get called a few. Fenris: Undeservedly, I'm sure. Bethany: Not every book in the Circle is high literature. Fenris: Obviously.

Bethany + Isabela (Act 1)

Bethany: What are we going to do? Isabela: All right, just stay calm! What do we usually do when we're lost? Bethany: We ask my brother. Bethany: We'd ask my sister where to go. Isabela: Oh. Right. Well, we're screwed.

Bethany + Isabela (Acts 2-3)

Bethany: So, know where we're going? Isabela: Not a damned clue. Bethany: (Laughs.) Me neither! Isabela: Right. We pass the kitchen, I'm grabbing a bottle.

Bethany + Merrill (Act 1)

Bethany: Are we out of twine? Merrill: Yes. I was going to drop breadcrumbs, but we don't have any bread. Bethany: I can't believe we're this lost! Merrill: Don't worry! If we keep going, eventually we'll get somewhere! Probably an airing cupboard. I seem to wind up in those a lot.

Bethany + Merrill (Acts 2-3)

Bethany: Lost your spool of twine? Merrill: Yes. I was going to drop breadcrumbs, but we don't have any bread. Bethany: We'll find them, if they're still here to be found. Merrill: Don't worry! If we keep going, eventually we'll get somewhere! Probably an airing cupboard. I seem to wind up in those a lot.

Bethany + Sebastian

Bethany: No, the layout is wrong. We're back where we started. Bethany: [Warden] I swear, what I wouldn't give for a straightforward Deep Road and— Bethany: [Circle] It's backwards from every book on Orlais I've seen. It's just not— Sebastian: [the stupid little smirk and the head tilt and then running off full tilt without saying a word why did he do so much lmaoo] Bethany: [Sebmance active] Sister, you lucky bitch. Bethany: [else] Oh, Maker.

Bethany + Varric (Act 1)

Bethany: Aren't dwarves supposed to have some sort of "stone sense?" Varric: What good is that? Most of the chateau is stone. Knowing where the floor's at isn't going to help us. Bethany: Can't you… I don't know… always find your way around in… caves or something? Varric: Sunshine, all the caves we go to look exactly the same to me.

Bethany + Varric (Acts 2-3)

Bethany: Keep up, Varric. I'm sure we're almost there. Varric: You've certainly quickened your stride in the last few years. Bethany: [Warden] I found out there's a lot more to run from. Varric: And towards, I hope. Speaking of which, to the rescue! Bethany: [Circle] Too much to learn, or, you know, rescue. Varric: There's my Sunshine. Let's go!

Carver + Fenris (Act 1)

Carver: Shitting… piss-eared Orlesians and their… blighted dungeons! Fenris: "Piss-eared?" Did you get that from Meeran? Carver: We're lost and all you can do is criticize me? Fenris: It passes the time.

Carver + Fenris (Acts 2-3)

Carver: Orlesians. Can't build a hallway without turning it into a maze. Fenris: Keep going. I'm sure your training will kick in any moment. Carver: Still don't like me? I've tried to change. Fenris: You have. Now you're dangerous. Let's move.

Carver + Isabela (Act 1)

Carver: You just leave this to me. I can handle everything. Isabela: How could I possibly interfere? Carver, the magnificent hero to the rescue! Carver: Do you have to do that? Really? Isabela: No, this is strictly optional.

Carver + Isabela (Acts 2-3)

Carver: You just leave this to me. I can handle everything. Isabela: I'm starting to think you could. Carver: What was that? A compliment? I'm a little frightened. Isabela: I know! Let's get these people rescued before it happens again.

Carver + Merrill (Act 1)

Carver: I don't understand it! This should be the right way. Merrill: If we have to be lost somewhere, at least it's a nice hallway! Very well built, not at all likely to collapse. Carver: Don't worry. It's got to be… left. Is it left? I mean, of course it's left. Merrill: Also, I'm pretty sure spiders won't attack us! Not even the little ones.

Carver + Merrill (Acts 2-3, no Merrillmance)

Carver: Okay, we're lost together. Both of us, not that we're "together" together. Merrill: If we have to be lost somewhere, at least it's a nice hallway! Very well built, not at all likely to collapse. Carver: Right, well, back to rescuing… wait. You're doing that on purpose! Merrill: (Giggles.)

Carver + Merrill (Acts 2-3, Merrillmance active)

Carver: A shame we didn't have time like this back in Kirkwall. Back then. Merrill: If we have to be lost somewhere, at least it's a nice hallway! Very well built, not at all likely to collapse. Carver: Right, well, let's get to it. My [sister/brother] will be missing you. Merrill: I'm glad you think so.

Carver + Sebastian

Carver: And we are back to front yet again. Sebastian: Blessed Andraste, guide us. Protect our friends in this dark hour. Carver: Right. Prayer. Useful, useful. Or we could do something. Sebastian: Guide us by the wisdom of your light… in silence.

Carver + Varric (Act 1)

Carver: Go ahead. I know you're thinking it, dwarf. Varric: What? What did I do now? Carver: "Your brother wouldn't have gotten lost. He'd have rescued everyone by now." Carver: "Your sister wouldn't have gotten lost! She'd have us all back at the tavern by now!" Varric: Actually, I was thinking, "All these hallways look alike." But sure, knock yourself out, Junior.

Carver + Varric (Acts 2-3)

Carver: So, we're lost. Varric: Just like old times. Carver: Maker, I hope not. I was an ass. Varric: (Laughs.) Fair comment, Junior. All right, let's get this done.

Fenris + Isabela

Fenris: So… we're lost? Isabela: Definitely. Fenris: Now what do we do? Isabela: I could try to guess the color of your underclothes again.

Fenris + Merrill

Fenris: I don't want to hear another word out of you. Merrill: But I was just— Fenris: Not. One. Word. Merrill: Is it all right if I hum? Or maybe whistle?

Fenris + Sebastian

Fenris: Maybe you should start praying that we'll find them. Sebastian: I have been for the last half an hour. I could do so out loud, if you'd prefer. Sebastian: Blessed Andraste, Bride of the Maker, deliver us from this warren of evil. Fenris: In that case, maybe you should stop.

Fenris + Varric

Fenris: And… here we are again. For the fourth time. Varric: Fifth, I think. Fenris: What do we do now? Varric: Play Diamondback and wait for Hawke to find us?

Isabela + Merrill

Merrill: Isabela? Um… I think we've been here before. We've passed that same cracked tile six times now. Isabela: Andraste's granny-panties! I knew things were going too smoothly! Merrill: Does Andraste really wear granny-panties? How do you know all these things? Isabela: (Sighs.) Come on, Kitten. Let's see if we can find the entrance and start again.

Isabela + Sebastian

Isabela: Eenie, meenie, miney, moe… Sebastian: I'm not sure that's the best way to find them. Isabela: We already tried "pray for Andraste to guide us" and "wander like drunken vagrants." We're running out of options. Isabela: Unless you want to find a chicken for an augury, we're going with counting games.

Isabela + Varric

Isabela: I give up! We've been through every inch of this place twice, and there's no sign of them! Varric: Or we've been through the same twenty feet of this place about a dozen times. It's hard to tell, Rivaini. Isabela: We should have gone treasure-hunting in Wildervale instead. Varric: You're still upset that you couldn't swipe a drink from the party, aren't you?

Merrill + Sebastian

Merrill: I… think we've been through here before. Sebastian: Now that you mention it, we have seen that chipped cornice a few times, haven't we? Merrill: All right, don't panic! Every other time I've gotten very lost, Hawke has found me. Sebastian: Merrill? I don't think he can rescue us until we rescue him first. Sebastian: Uh, Merrill? I don't think she can rescue us before we rescue her.

Merrill + Varric

Varric: Daisy? You don't happen to have that ball of twine, do you? Merrill: I knew I forgot something when we left Kirkwall! Varric: Don't beat yourself up over it. We'll just… wait here until I think of something. Merrill: I'm sure that won't take very long. You're always thinking of things!

Sebastian + Varric

Sebastian: When you tell people about this part of our adventure, what are you going to say? Varric: That depends entirely on the audience, Choir Boy. Sebastian: You change the story to suit the listener? Varric: Of course. All the bullshit in the world won't convince Hawke we rescued him if he finds us first. Varric: No bullshit—however well-told—will persuade Hawke that we rescued her if she finds us first. That's common sense.

[justrainandcoffee]

Against all odds (Alfie Solomons x fem!oc) 2x07

Masterlist part one - Masterlist part two

Summary: It's Alfie's birthday and it's the first time he has the chance to spend it with his wife, but it's Nina the one who receives the surprise when tried to greet him. || Jack proposes an idea and it's seems to be well received. || A month later, the Capitol broadcasts a TV interview with Arthur Shelby but it doesn't end as planned.

Warning: None here.

Words: 2.5 k

Alfie was brushing his teeth the next morning when Rose entered the bathroom, hugged him from behind and placed some kisses on his back.

He felt her breath against his skin as she started to caress his abdomen.

"Happy birthday, Al" she finally said.

"Thanks, Rosie."

"This is your first birthday that we're really spending together and it's not how I imagined it. I imagined something better, freedom, us enjoying the day. Not here, like… incarcerated."

Alfie turned around and put his hands on her waist.

"It'd be worse, luv. You know it."

"Yes, I know. But still it's not what I dreamed."

The first five years they spent their birthdays separated. The next nine years, when Rose could paid for him, either of the times they could see each other coincided with his birthday and only one they were together for hers. That's why she was waiting for it, because that September meant something special. But it was far away for the ideal day she imagined.

"You're here, till days ago I thought you were dead. Do you really think I could change that for a fucking party? Maybe next year, we can do something different the four of us. You, me, the girl and Cyril."

"You're forgetting CPU."

"CPU! Where's she?"

"In district 3. The Golds took her days before the Quarter Quell, when they escaped definitely from the Capitol, and she's safe in care of a Mr. Van Trapp's friend. She couldn't stay in the Capitol, there's no one there I can trust her and it's true I don't know this woman either, but better there than my house."

"Well, then, once you get her again we're going to celebrate the five of us."

He kissed her and she could taste the fresh flavour of the toothpaste.

"You know?" Rose said between kisses, "Allie is in Aveline's compartment with Cyril. She offers to take her."

"Mmm, Avie is a wise woman. She knows it's my birthday and what I want to do today. My wishes."

"Really?" Rose smirked, while he took her in arms to go to their bed. "And what are you three wishes, birthday boy?"

"I'm going to show you."

At night Rose still didn't dare to make love with him because Allie was sleeping just few meters away from them. And even when she had her own bed, for her mother it was still awkward even knowing that the girl slept all night. So, during the day while they were alone, it was their opportunity to listen to their bodies. And Alfie, since his wife was back next to him, seemed more than ready to express his love for her every chance he had. And even more that day.

But…

Every thing happened so quickly that neither of them have time to react. One moment they were lost in the other kisses and touches, and the next they heard the door and a gasp, almost at the same time.

Unaware that Rose was still there, because she saw it before in the hallway with Aveline and the girl, Nina entered the Solomons' compartment to greet her friend for his birthday. Only to see them having sex.

"Fucking hell, Nina! Didn't you learn how to knock the door?!"

From the other side, she was still apologizing "I'm sorry! I didn't know! My eyes! I need to unseen that!"

"You're big girl, you know how babies are made, Ferrate! Now go, let me finish this."

"Alfie, please. Poor Nina!" Still beneath him, Rose was trying to remain serious but she couldn't because both victors were still arguing, even when the door was still closed.

"My fucking eyes! I need bleach! Please!!"

"Go on, then!" Alfie remained in silence for a moment but it seemed that his former mentee wasn't there anymore. When he finally put attention to his wife again, she was giggling.

"Poor girl."

"She'll get over it. Now, where were we?"

.

Both of them appeared over an hour later were part of the group was.

"I see you still have your eyes, Nina." Alfie commented.

"Even if I put a knife in each one, I still have the image in my mind, Alfred."

"What the hell happened?" Eva asked.

"The Ferrantes forgot to teach Nina how to knock on doors and she saw us fucking."

"Alfie!" Rose reprimanded him. "I'm sorry, Nina. I'm going to lock the door next time."

"There won't be next time," Nina replied "but I appreciate your words, Rosie."

"Nothing that alcohol can't erase, dear Nina," Eva said. "It'd be worse. It'd be Campbell and Snow."

The three of them grimaced as Eva sipped her tea. "See? Much worse."

Jack, Aveline, Cyril and the two kids appeared not much later. Laurie ran to kiss his mother, while Allie was received by her father's open arms.

"We saw the Shelbys," Aveline commented, "they were burying John."

"Campbell was there giving a speech and I thought Winters was going to slid his throat with her own hands.

"She should have," Nina said.

"But it's not wise," Aveline said again. "People here don't know other leader than him. Whatever he does, it's great and for them, we're just strangers. Privileged even. So, be careful because they're in charge. And as we saw with John Shelby, for Campbell, we're disposable."

"He's a fucker," Rose snorted. "Last night I had a conversation with him and it was disgusting to say the least."

"You threatened him," Aveline stated.

The other woman nodded. "Yes. Why am I going to pretend that I like him when I don't?"

"Because we need to survive until Snow is dead."

"And then what?! I'm not going to tolerate Campbell's ass in charge of the country. And I'm too tired, to start a new rebellion. After Snow, I just want to go home with my family for once and live in peace."

"Then we need to kill Campbell."

The eyes of the other five adults find Jack's ones. "One more killing. I can live with it," he said.

Six words that penetrated their minds and infected them like a parasite.

"So," Alfie said clapping his hands "I think I'm going to return to my job in the kitchen. Suddenly I crave fortune cookies and there's only one way to prepare them and it's there. Allie, do you want to help me to bake?"

"I do! Rosie can come, too?"

"No, sweetheart, better leave her out of the kitchen." He said as Rose frowned. The man chuckled and kissed her forehead. With the girl in his arms, he stood up and patted Jack's shoulder "You're a smart man when you want to, Nelson."

They didn't comment that again for the next hours but everyone of them had the same feeling. And it felt good. Killing Chester Campbell sounded like the promise of a better world. The Shelbys needed to know about it and the plan wasn't a plan yet, but they liked it.

.

"Thought Rose fight against Campbell to get you out of the kitchens," Lucy said much later when she saw Alfie getting out of there. Allie was behind him.

"Yeah, well. I agree to return here because food is shit and I'm going to yell if they keep giving me portions for a sparrow and not a man.of my size. And because we need fortune cookies, Lucy."

The red haired woman stared at him and nodded "I see. Well, those cookies are always well received by me, Alfie. I'll be waiting for mine."

"How's Tommy?"

"Pretending that he's okay. He's sleeping now. I should have been sleeping, too. But I can't calm my mind and if I keep moving in bed I'm going to wake him up. Besides, I heard is your birthday, Nina told me."

"It is."

"Happy birthday then, Alfie," she said and then looked at his kid "Did you bake a cake for your dad, Allie?"

"I didn't know it was his birthday! He didn't tell me!"

"Because he's old and don't want people to know his age" Lucy joked, "He's like a hundred years or more."

Allie's eyes opened wide "that's a lot! He's old!"

"Get out, Lucy. Stop corrupting my daughter's mind!" She was giggling while Allie was still looking at her, believing her words "do not listen to her, sweetheart. It's not true!"

"But she said it!" Allie protested.

"I said it. See? Your little angel believes me." Lucy said and then shook her head towards the girl, who understood she was just mocking her father and Allie laughed as well.

"You and Nina are going to be the cause of my premature aging."

"What happened to Nina?" She asked holding Allie who was now in Lucy's arms. The girl was touching her hair.

"She didn't knock my door this morning and she saw me with Rosie, you know, loving us."

World was dark around them, but it felt good to find a moment to laugh. And Lucy couldn't help but do that.

"Poor Nina. She didn't deserve that."

"That's what you get when you don't knock the fucking door. Now she knows."

"Still! Imagine the trauma. Your hairy ass exposed in front of her eyes."

Alfie rolled his eyes "Eva said it'd be worse and I agree. Anyway, we have to leave, Lucy. Just expect the cookies, right? We can't talk openly here."

More serious, Lucy nodded. "I know. I'll tell Tommy."

Alfie picked up his daughter back, although the girl talked to her once again "Can I style your hair, Lucy? It's pretty."

"You're a sweetie, Allie. Yes, you can. But maybe tomorrow, okay? Now I've to go and it's your dad's special day, so, you should spend time with him." Allie nodded and waving her hand, she left.

The following days after John Shelby's funeral were usually calmed. Alfie didn't mention Campbell why he was in the kitchen again but since his daughter was with him no one asked a lot of questions. Even his wife that wanted to kill the president when she knew where Alfie was sent, seemed to agree on it now.

The Shelbys didn't mention again the lost of their relative and Lucy and Tommy returned to their jobs as soldiers next to Jack and Nina.

During one of the trips to the remains of District 12, Lucy brought Rose yarn and hooks from one of the houses that in the past was owned by an old lady. "It's not like she's coming back to claim for them," she said.

So while Jack was outside with the Shelbys and Nina and while Alfie was in the kitchen, Rose spent the hours knitting. Eva joined her in one of those moments and Aveline as well. She was in perfect physical condition to be a soldier as well but didn't want to and Campbell didn't insist.

There weren't major issues during the next two weeks. As October was approaching and the days started to be shorter, the time the soldiers spent outside was shorter too. Dinner was served later giving them the chance to have a couple of hours for themselves, something that during the warmer months wasn't possible.

Campbell wasn't aware that the fortune cookies circulated between the victors everyday.

One month passed since Arthur Shelby was kidnapped by Snow. And only then, they had news from him when the Capitol and Caesar Flickerman appeared on TV after months.

There was Arthur Shelby, Aurora's boyfriend and the baby girl who was sitting next to her father. She seemed to be getting bigger and in good condition but both men didn't. Arthur already thin, looked like a living corpse despite the makeup and Brad was pale as a ghost.

"Do you remember Thomas Shelby?" Caesar asked the public there "The handsome Victor from district 12. This is his brother, Arthur. He decided to left the rebellion and join us. Tell us, Arthur how is to live in district 13?"

Arthur was shaking but put his hands on his lap to disguise it.

In district 13, Lucy looked at Tommy who had his eyes on the tv screen on Campbell's office.

"Horrible," Arthur said. "They killed one of my brothers: John. Johnny boy. His kids lost their father and…" Arthur looked at the camera "you never know who can be next. Maybe are ya, Tommy. You can die at any hour, Tommy. They're coming, the bombs, They're going there!!"

The screen went blank but the sound was still on and Arthur's voice could be recognised "bombs! Snow sent…!"

And then finally silence.

The yelling was now taking place in Campbell's office. Arthur's warnings took everyone there by surprise. The message was crystal clear: Snow was sending his hovercrafts to destroy District 13.

He called his men, every soldier outside was forced to get back inside to send people to the lower floors. Campbell and district 13 had a lot of cons but they have resources to survive.

It was hard to understand how the permanent residents from 13 and all the refugees could fit underground, but it was possible. No one of the rebels had a lot of belongings but they grabbed the few things they had and went downstairs. Allie was in Rose arms, while Alfie and Samuel carried Cyril who was too scared to follow orders. All he saw was people running and others screaming. He was heavy, but the two of them managed to control the animal to save him as well.

It was hard to know how many hours passed since the warnings. It seemed too long but people in district 13 was finally safe and after the last soldiers crossed the security door. They closed everything.

A tense silence followed the sound of the iron door. No one spoke and all senses seemed in alert trying to hear the minimal sound. Then, they heard the first explosion. Everything shook, but it seemed to be safe down there.

Everyone was sleeping, or at least laying on bunk beds. Alfie and Rose were in consecutive beds, both of them in the bottom one. Allie was snuggling next to Rose who had an arm around her.

"I'm scared, mommy."

That was the first time that she called Rose that way and Rose felt something she couldn't describe. The woman embraced her daughter tightly and kissed her forehead. "Everything will be fine, sweetheart. You'll see. Tomorrow you can play with Cyril and Laurie, okay? Maybe we're going to spend few more days here, but after that we will be fine. I promise."

"It's okay, then. I love you, mommy."

"I love you too, Allie."

From his bed, Alfie was looking at both of them. He could fight Campbell, Snow and whatever he had in front of him to protect them.

In his pocket, he had a ring. Campbell didn't know but as much in other districts, trading things for food made a difference. So in secret, the cook gave extra bread and cheese to a woman in exchange for a ring that belonged to her mother.

Now, he was just waiting the perfect moment to give it to her. It was time to make things happen because you never now when you can die.

A new bomb made trembling the whole structure.

Alfie touched the ring. Yes, he needed to propose to her for good and married the woman he loved.