#neria and zev

[m-m-m-myysurana]

ZevWarden Week Day One: Tradition, and Trying New Things

Neria had danced many times before. Dancing together around the fire under the light of the stars was a well-loved tradition in her clan. But this kind of dancing was entirely new to her. The festival was crowded with people moving against each other, the music so loud she could barely hear herself think. Zev guided her through the music, his breath in her ear, his body moving against hers in a rhythm that was all seduction and intrigue and soon had her breathless. It was not at all what she'd anticipated when Zev had insisted on taking her dancing, but the night intoxicated her, and she found herself letting go of all her many troubles and allowing the music to take over. That night could have lasted forever, but when it did finally end, she knew that this would soon become a little tradition of their own.

Yes, it is ZevWarden Week, and I am bursting out of my seemingly endless hiatus like Mariah Carey on the first day of November, just so I can bring you the good news of our lord and savior Zevran Arainai.

[contrivedcoincidences6]

The original himbo

[ottobooty]

My brain is all over the place with what I wanna write

Tuva reflection?

Something with Neria and Zev?

More of what ive been writing?

MONTY?????????

[thenugking]

Ships: Warden/Zevran, Brax/Romana

Zev/Warden

More apply based on who the particular warden actually is ofc but... asjdfgahsj greatest romance bioware has ever written.... (I hope you and Neria are enjoying it)

Romana/Brax

I'm Not Saying I Don't See It But. but. first of all, Brax does not deserve a partner, and I know Gallifrey!Brax is not the same as the fucking evil Brax in the Benny audios, but once you show that level of abuse and manipulation, there's a definite Uncomfort in all brax ships. Secondly even if he Did deserve a partner, it should not be his student from school.

but also... goddamn. there is something twisted and messy here and i kind of love it.

[mynameisalanwake]

DA:O playthrough 2: mage time

i'm dumping so much more information into this one because i'm fresh off the game!!!

major decisions made: - female Circle elf (Neria Surana) - romanced Alistair - brokered peace between the elves and werewolves - picked Harrowmont as king. defeated Branka and the anvil - saved the mages - did not defile the Urn of Sacred Ashes - helped Redcliffe & freed Connor, Isolde sacrificed - Anora is queen, Loghain is dead - I got cucked by Morrigan but at least we both survive - all of my companions survived & stuck with me til the end - Awakening: killed the Architect and the Mother, Keep & Amaranthine safe - Warden's Keep: allowed Avernus ethical research - Witch Hunt: Morrigan was still my BFF so it was honestly a lot sadder than i anticipated - i wished her well and then muttered to myself "you'll always have a home with me and Alistair"

y'all. I was so surprised at how different my playthrough was all because I picked a different race, class, AND gender. granted, it wasn't all new lines - a lot of it was just the same stuff with some combination of "AND YOU'RE ALSO A WOMAN/ELF/MAGE" tacked on the end. I tried to make Neria a little more forceful than Aedan Cousland was, and It definitely worked RP-wise. it was so satisfying to pick the "Intimidate" option, get the NPC cut scene, then have it flick to my lil bb elf who's a head shorter than her travel companions at best. it also worked well when pairing her with a softie Alistair because SOMETIMES I would get a nugget of him being surprised I went with a gentler dialogue option when talking to him - I did that gradually so maybe there were some convos he's supposed to keep track of your answers for. still 100% worth it. i think if i hadn't gotten the "Bully" achievement with Aedan during the Landsmeet, i would've gotten it with Neria within the first 2 hours. for a mage, investing in the speech/cunning early on saved my ass.

i thought a lot more about my characterization this time now that i've played the series all the way through. I like to think since Neria's been locked up in the Circle since she was a child, she enjoys having structure in her life, even though she resents being controlled. that's why she likes the Grey Wardens - she gets to fight for the greater good on her own terms instead of hiding away and fussing. since she's so used to humans being weird with her, her initial interactions are usually brusque unless you're a mage or fellow elf (there's some solidarity in being oppressed). once she warms up, she'll pour her heart and soul into making sure her friends know how much she cares about them. also, after the Urn of Sacred Ashes incident, I started picking more religious options, since I felt like the existence of a folk tale and her ability to run the Gauntlet successfully would strengthen her faith. it'll be really satisfying for my Neria Levallen run when I make it to Inquisition! it also makes sense with her & Alistair.

since I was already REALLY familiar with the game's mechanics, I kind of "broke" my money & health potions fairly quickly - I think the most health poultices I had at once was 150 across the different sizes. I also used a lot more lyrium potions than I ever do stamina stuff as a warrior (not in this game, obvs, but in general). however, getting staffs/GOOD mage light armor is a pain in the ass. I get why, lore-wise, I can only really find the good stuff on bosses or in smuggling rings, but jeez give me an actual vendor. I just spent 150 sovereigns on the special staff in the Awakening DLC after only getting them gifted or looting them. I used a dark spawn staff for the first like 10 hours of gameplay because it was the most powerful one so far. also since I was already really familiar with the gameplay, I kept my party to mostly Alistair/Morrigan/Lelianna or Zev even though I anticipated bringing around Sten or Oghren or Shale more this time. the banter's just better with those four sorry not sorry.

playing as a mage is a lot of fun so far! I thought I was going to be dying constantly but I didn't realize enemies less attention to you if you're wearing lighter armor. I went with a lightning/arcane warrior/spirit build so i'm mostly AOE (chain lightning ftw) and i'm pretty tanky bc I dumped a LOT of points into Constitution early on. I REALLY appreciated having to manage my whole party's character sheets because I knew exactly what I enjoyed in a mage build - my build is basically what Morrigan was for me the first time I played Origins. this time I made her ice/DPS/healer but I really didn't need a healer. I finished the base game relatively quickly this time - I felt like I finished waaaayyy more than I did last time, but I did have some missions bug out, like the entire orphanage in the Alienage, that didn't do that last time. generally a lot more bugs this playthrough, which was irritating. i'm thinking it might be one of the tie-in DLCs that I bought late game last time.

the vibes with the companions when i'm playing as an elf/woman/mage are so crazy different!! Zevran and Lelianna were both immediately in love with me. maybe i'm too autistic to realize i'm picky flirty options, but I swear to God this didn't happen with Aedan, who did INTENTIONALLY flirt with Zev sometimes (there's no subtlety with Zev!!). HOWEVER, Morrigan locked in fairly quickly with Aedan, and I know that locks out other romances immediately, so maybe that impacted it? who knows. it was funny hearing Lelianna ask about me being an elf - she's so sweet and I tried to pick answers that would fit best with her characterization in DAI/how I want her to be as Divine so it's more satisfying later on. yes I am intentionally interacting with these characters in a way that I can make tenuous connections to that mean literally nothing to anyone else but me in future games. HOWEVER, I also apparently upped our relationship too fast, or answered something wrong, because even though we maxed out I never got her singing cutscene or personal quest.

I had to break up with Zev twice even though I never actually locked anything in with him?? however in Alistair's defense I DID have a threesome with Zev and Isabela at the Pearl with him present.......anyways. I felt really bad because his "initiate romance" dialogue didn't actually trigger until AFTER I told him I was "breaking up" with him for Alistair so I lost like 30 total approval on that one. otherwise, he was the only one who was generally the same to Aedan and Neria other than his explicit dialogue abt elves and Neria being a woman. his personal quest also didn't trigger until so late in the game I thought I had bugged that one too!!

Morrigan was just as satisfying to befriend as she is to romance - I almost cried like three times when she called me a sister and told me how dear I was to her, even though it was basically the same dialogue as with Aedan LOL. also her chat with me after I locked in Alistair was SO fucking funny I took a screenshot of it. she is so perfect and I loved answering her sarcastically in that moment. I can picture my sweet lil mage girlies having a giggle in their tent over Neria's virgin boyfriend while he's just sitting by the fire trying not to eavesdrop when their laughter carries over to him - sure, they could magically dampen the sound, but why would they? I DIDN't kill Flemeth this time, just because Morrigan and I both know it isn't gonna do anything - warrior lover Aedan would kill anything Morrigan tells him to, mage sister Neria knows it's a waste of healing poultices.

Sten took FOREVER to gain his approval, which was truly the biggest difference between Neria and Aedan. I wasn't losing his approval, his gifts are just harder to find than everyone else's, Aedan got more approval for some of his answers than Neria did, and his cut scenes in camp took forever to trigger. I was like about to give up on him when he FINALLY asked me to look for his sword. that being said! it was much more satisfying to hear the switch to "kadan" and have him thank me/call me a great friend/worthy hero. it was also so funny to bring him around to stuff with a lot of cut scenes because he's so much bigger and i would honestly just put him in whatever armor I had so nothing ever matched. i pick him up too early and he doesn't already come with armor, and last time i just gave him whatever Aedan/Alistair weren't using. i know gender and race factor into your success at the game, but do we know for sure if it factors into companion approval?

Wynne is nice to have around, and I finally got her personal quest, which was cute and pretty satisfying. it's interesting that they push the mage Warden so hard to take over the Circle and rebuild it, even though Neria declined - she does really like being a Warden better than a Circle mage. everyone respects her more as a Warden even before she becomes the HoF. her mom chat about Alistair would've been a little more interesting if she hinted at knowing how the whole Warden/archdemon thing worked, but I guess they keep that shit locked down. maybe leaning into the whole "Alistair will more than likely become king whether he wants to or not and dump your elf mage ass girlfriend, please be smart" would've been interesting since no one else seemed to think that. I never brought her anywhere except Ostagar tbh

Oghren is even worse as a female Warden ugghhhh. and I have to bring him down in the Deep Roads of all places? I made the mistake of bringing Lelianna since I maxed out her lock picking and Oghren wouldn't leave my poor girl alone. luckily, I stacked up all his gifts and pushed through his personal quest fairly quickly since I saved Orzammar for last this time. truthfully, it just feels right story-wise - I like to think about the gang sitting around camp wondering how the fuck they're going to get into Orzammar and Neria just being like "guys we've literally gotten in everywhere so far when I pull the Warden card trust me." Neria's a little skeptical of helping Oghren get with a woman, but she's never one to stifle true love.

Alistair. oh my sweet baby boy. I knew he was a really popular romance option, but no one told me I would be literally kicking my feet screaming every single time i'd accidentally click on him while we're exploring. the Dorian romance is fantastic, of course, but this one is 100% for the girlies playing hetero. the rose was literally the cutest thing I think i've EVER seen. the "licking a lamppost in winter" conversation? I was literally dying. I manually saved before every time I intentionally talked to him in camp in case I fucked something up because he's so sensitive (I never had to reload, but still). he can't get me off his mind!!! i'm the first ever woman he's been with and if he has it his way i'll be his last!!!!! I went into this 100% okay with the angst of making him king, but honestly, once I started the actual romance and saw how much heart the writers put into his dialogue with a romanced Warden, I couldn't break them up. the angst behind asking him to impregnate my best friend was more than enough for me. HOWEVER. he said so much stuff about succession in that moment that I got really scared I messed up the Landsmeet and made him king instead of keeping him a Warden which made me anxious for the entire final battle because I would've had to go SOOOO far back to my last save before the Landsmeet. I wish he would be a companion in Awakenings instead of Oghren if you keep him a Warden - I miss dragging my hunky boyfriend around in his dead brother's armor. it's not like we get any real dialogue with companions in Vigil's Keep other than the affinity stuff anyway.

my head canon for these two? my sweet peas? obviously, Neria isn't thrilled to be assigned Warden Commander of Ferelden AND the Arl of Amaranthine, especially since she and Alistair have been more than happy assisting with rebuilding efforts in Redcliffe. she wasn't in this for the leadership role, anyway, but she knew Alistair would be even more unhappy in this position than her. besides, after the chaos in Denerim settled, she and Alistair had adopted a child - an orphan elf who took refuge in the branches of the Alienage tree to avoid the darkspawn hordes. someone has to be there to make sure she's doted on and spoiled while Mom's hard at work! (this will eventually be my Rook heheh). after dealing with even more dark spawn in Amaranthine, Neria leaves the estate in Nathaniel's capable hands and finally heads back to Redcliffe, where now-Arl Teagan has given her and Alistair their own roomy but modest estate. their child, named Lia'dan (an elvish (irl Irish) word for grey - good one, Neria), started showing signs of magic a few years later. since Aneirin, Wynne's friend, is now first enchanter at the Ferelden Circle, the pair felt Lia'dan was in good hands from there. Alistair's absolutely relieved to finally be able to live a life of obscurity with his true love, taking odd missions throughout Thedas for the Wardens (including one that brings him to Kirkwall), until corruption starts to seep through the Wardens' ranks and the two go into hiding... AND I WROTE THIS BEFORE THE EPILOGUE CARD FOR AWAKENING NOT REALIZING IT WOULD SAY EXACTLY THE SAME THING!!!!

anyway. now that i'm done thinking about these two weirdos. what else did I like about this playthrough? i'm procrastinating playing Awakening.

i tried to make as many different decisions as possible, but there are really some where any actual Hero of Ferelden would choose the same option every time - destroying the anvil, not defiling the ashes, stuff like that. I feel like the shitty options, like siding with the werewolves or Branka, just exist for people to do "evil" playthroughs. which i argue is more of an "asshole" playthrough than "evil" playthrough - why would the Hero of the game be evil? saving the mages felt better than the Rite of Annullment, but truthfully, the Templars were much more helpful in the final battle, LOL. I actually solved Kitty's puzzle this time, which felt pretty satisfying to do! last time I got myself tripped up and just left the basement. obviously for this playthrough, I couldn't conscript Loghain, but idk if i'll ever do that. I can't handle either being mean enough to Alistair than he becomes hardened, or him becoming a drunk :( he was Aedan's absolute bestest friend and Neria's true love!!! I wish I had tried the Circle option for Isolde/Connor, but I always just blindly listen to Alistair and go to Redwall first, so I didn't feel like being locked in the Circle to go through all that bullshit when Isolde was ready to die for it.

the most jarring difference between the two playthroughs was how entwined in the narrative Aedan Cousland was compared to Neria Surana. sure, Neria was hype to kill Rendon Howe, but mostly because he sucks, not because he killed her entire family like Aedan. Neria was happy to be Alistair's champion and kill Loghain for him and Duncan, but she wasn't really personally wronged by any of these events. Neria didn't really want her boyfriend and best friend to fuck, but it's a lot better than her or Alistair sacrificing themselves. Aedan, on the other hand, wanted to be with Morrigan more than anything and would've done this whether an Old God Baby happened or not. that's why he follows her into the eluvian - it wasn't about saving the world, it was about them. i was SO disappointed that Neria wasn't able to thank her for everything in Witch Hunt. Neria is our unlucky, unwilling hero, and Aedan is born for this. I would always have Neria question why everyone was asking her to make world-changing decisions, where Aedan would just jump right into it head first. I think that's why Awakening is still a pain in the ass for both of them - Aedan can't stop thinking about his baby, and Neria doesn't want to be there in the first place.

this post is WAAAYYY too long so i will sum up the DLCs quickly. Awakening was still a drag, but this time I focused more on my companions and the quests at the Keep and I found it much more enjoyable. the companions in this DLC are fantastic even though I would've loved the option for warden Alistair to be there. although i would like to state for the record that Awakening Anders after you give him the cat is the best character in the whole series - i love him in DA2 but it's almost a completely different guy. Witch Hunt is basically the same the whole way through, same with Soldier's Peak and Ostagar. i maybe only finished this playthrough 2 hours faster than my first one, which is crazy because i feel like i moved so much faster.

anyway, I'm obsessed with Neria and Alistair and haven't been able to stop thinking about them for the past week since i finished the base game. he just popped up in DA2 and the fucking DIALOGUE for the amulet scene glitched out so he didn't call her the "love of his life" >:( apparently that conversation broke during the very last patch they released for the game which makes me cry. i only googled it to make sure i didn't fuck up our relationship/save import.

i've already started my mage Garrett Hawke DA2 playthrough and I'm almost done with act 2 - stay tuned :)

[platoniccereal]

i'm fully devoted to my surana/leliana canon where both live a happy wife life as the hero of fereldan and the divine herself, happily buried under their nugs and a few mabari, but. i can't stop thinking of surana and morrigan. 😳 what if we were a circle mage and. a swamp goth witch. haha. 😳 jk... unless?😳

[hamingo]

The list of people I ship Jaydin with has grown to about 9 now and I can't seem to stop

[tabriscadash]

I was asked this on my old blog right as I set about transitioning to this one, so...

The first character I ever fell in love with: for DA:O, dare I say Daveth? What can I say -- I irrationally got incredibly attached to him. otherwise, DEFINITELY Morrigan, and I have crystal clear memories of my first run through Lothering and looking at Morrigan like 😍 the whole time. For DA:2/E, Carver -- unless you count Anders & Justice since I knew of them from Awakening beforehand, in which case probably Justice. For DA:I, it’s a toss-up between Vivienne or Cole -- I technically liked Cole first but SPECIFICALLY in the supporting material (Asunder), and didn’t vibe with him anywhere near as much in the game, AND I got him as a companion after I got Vivienne, so probably Vivienne.

A character that I used to love/like, but now do not: for DA:O, I guess Oghren? I never loved him, but I liked the idea of him because I really liked the dwarves/Orzammar side of DA’s worldbuilding -- but he’s such an unlikeable character that I just.. don’t vibe with him at all. I debate recruiting him every single time now, and I don’t think I ever do his personal quest (in the base game OR Awakening). for DA:2/E, I don’t really have anyone that fits -- but I REALLY wanted to like Merrill and Aveline more than I did, and especially in Aveline’s case, I can’t stand her and genuinely think she’s the unintended, secret Big Bad of the whole game. for DA:I, probably Cole, bc I was really into the idea of a little walking-corpse serial killer animated by a spirit as per the book, but that’s not really the vibe in DA:I, and combined with the somewhat patronising/ableist language and how significantly he is infantilised (including by the fandom) I just got put off him. I do still like him, but not as much.

A ship that I used to love/like, but now do not: for DA:O, I don’t really have one? I guess see my DA:I answer, lol... for DA:2/E, has to be Anders - I don’t think he’s OOC in 2, but I think his writing does so little with him and he feels v. reductive. Where his relationship could be SO interesting and angsty, it instead is written in a really dull and/or cringey way. It would have been nice to see Anders more like the Anders of Awakening near the beginning of the game (rather than random, infrequent and questionably rare snippets), and then see the progression of his relationship with Justice as the game went on -- I want more interesting abominations, PLEASE. for DA:I, listen I cannot express to you HOW EXCITED I was for my planned Lavellan to romance Sera… also I used to be way more tolerant of Cullen x Amell/Surana ships because, like, hey dark ships are fun, right? But since Cullen’s ~wholesome whitewash~ in DA:I, and his fandom clamouring to absolve him of any wrongdoing ever.. it’s boring to me.

My ultimate favourite character™: for DA:O, probably Sten? or Morrigan. They’re both fantastic, and also are significant comfort chars for me. for DA:2/3, honestly, probably my own Hawke -- I feel so hugely proud of her, and can’t imagine I’d enjoy the game anywhere near as much had I not played it as my Hawke. If not her, maybe Sebastian or Carver? for DA:I, I really love Vivienne, as well as Blackwall, and Solas is a great character even if I probably would not say I liked him.

Prettiest character: for DA:O, we all know it’s Zevran. for DA:2/E, I think Aveline -- although her aggressively bland colour-scheme lets her down in a major way (although I respect her dedication to all orange all day every day). There’s just something about her arms -- very Abby from TLOU:2. for DA:I, maybe Josephine? Ser Barris is very pretty, too...

My most hated character: for DA:O, I really didn’t like Alistair, Wynne and Oghren, and of my companions - Oghren is probably my least favourite. He’s vulgar and also profoundly uninteresting. for DA:2/E, it has to be Aveline. There’s just something about ineptitude and a complete, wilful refusal to take accountability for your actions that I can’t stand. It would be okay if it was an intentional character flaw, but the game/narrative treats her like she’s lawful good and it really annoys me. for DA:I, maybe Iron Bull? He was a huge disappointment for me. I also really dislike Sera, Cassandra, and Varric. I’m so sick of Varric - I never want to see him again.

My OTP: for DA:O, I really loved Zevran’s romance -- but I am also very amused by the fact that Leliana got to ‘love’ status with Kallian accidentally, AND I got the ‘love’ glitch for Justice (👀) and Velanna. I do sometimes wonder about an AU where Kallian is forced to make a politically expedient marriage with Nathaniel Howe for diplomatic reasons in order to consolidate her position as Arlessa, and it being an entirely platonic arrangement (it’s not like anyone expects an heir from an infertile Grey Warden) -- and maybe Zev and Nate kiss sometimes, who knows? I also LOVE my Darkspawn Chronicles AU where Kallian and Nelaros are a happy, married couple each hiding their skills with weapons from each other like dumb, cute sweethearts. They shelter Zevran when he fails to kill Alistair and a poly couple evolves. for DA:2/E, I love the IDEA of a Seb romance that isn’t so strictly conditional around the structures that abused him -- he should be allowed to love, chastely or otherwise, but free from the Chantry OR his position as prince/heir. I’d LOVE to actually have a romance with him where you can actually challenge the abuse he’s experienced. for DA:I, Malika doesn’t have a canon romance (although I think when I replay, I’m going to romance Josephine!) but I think Blackwall has an amazing romance. Solas’ is also iconic, it must be said. 

My NOTP: for DA:O, I really dislike Alistair in a shipping capacity; he’s immature and says a lot of misogynistic shit and I don’t think he’s the worst for it, but I don’t really vibe with shipping him, having played the game as a female city elf. for DA:2/E, I wouldn’t say I have one, particularly? although I really dislike Aveline’s relationship with her husband simply because it seems incredibly inappropriate, given that they work together and she has power over him -- and because I dislike her, generally, I don’t feel inclined to do something nice for her. for DA:I, I suppose Sera/Lavellan -- although I’m not AGAINST it, it just really isn’t for me, having attempted it. I also don’t really vibe with Dorian x Iron Bull. Something abt the way the game handled BDSM and their relationship banter specifically I don’t really like.

Favourite episode quest: for DA:O, probs Orzammar/the Deep Roads. I really love the dwarven lore! and, of course, Fort Drakon is really funny, even though it’s not canon in my game iirc. for DA:2/E, maybe the murder mystery with the serial killer, where ultimately Leandra dies? I also really enjoyed all the companion quests. for DA:I, The Descent (just, all of it, lmao) and everything to do with the Avvar. Crestwood also BANGED.

Saddest death: for DA:O, it’s frankly a fucking INJUSTICE that Shianni gets murdered if you make her Bann of the Alienage -- the idea of that happening whilst Kallian is in Amaranthine and unable to protect her :( genuinely very upsetting. I go back and forth on who is made Bann, tbf, so idk how canonical it is: I think maybe Cyrion would get it, but I’m also endeared to Soris holding the position, with Shianni as Hahren. for DA:2/E, Bethany. I wish both twins had had the chance to reach Kirkwall :(. Let Leandra die instead. for DA:I, maybe not the saddest death, but the most memorable for me was that one sleeping dragon in the Hissing Wastes.. leave her alone. Stay out of a womans’ business.

Favourite season game: DA:O!

Least favourite season game: DA:I.

Character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but I hate: for DA:O, Alistair. I cannot deal with his complacency and hypocrisy. for DA:2, I really disliked Merrill but I honestly cannot remember why. DEFINITELY Varric -- I hated how the game forces you to be his best friend, and if you’re low approval, you have to endure these pointless pissy little comments with this little anti-dwarf centrist pissant. After the expedition, I literally have no reason to put up with him, and I NEVER take him out. I hate that he plays the same role in DA:I, too. for DA:I, the Iron Bull was hugely disappointing, and I also really don’t vibe with Cassandra. She just seems very wishy-washy and complacent and hypocritical, and many of her comments about other cultures seem snide for literally no reason other than bigotry. 

My ‘you’re a piece of trash, but you’re still a fave’ fave: for DA:O, lbr probably Sten. Mans is gonna launch a HORRIFYING invasion in the next game iirc and frankly, I’m ok with it. Just wanna see that big bastard again ❤🥵. for DA:2/E, I LOVE Gamlen, ok? for DA:I, I am not sure if I have one.

My ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave: for DA:O, if any of you so much as LOOK at Velanna wrong, it’s hands. That includes Bioware. I also feel incredibly protective of and sad for Morrigan. for DA:2/E, probably Sebastian -- I feel so sad for him, and so frustrated by the limitations with the game. for DA:I, I’m honestly not sure.. maybe Josephine? I don’t really feel this way about Sera, but I do think she deserves better from the game and its writing, and also from fandom: there are valid criticisms of her, but the hate she gets is not proportional to any valid issues with her -- and gee, I wonder why that is.

My ‘this ship is wrong, nasty, and makes me want to cleanse my soul, but i still love it’ ship: for DA:O, I did use to find Cullen x Surana/Amell intriguing as a dark ship -- I actually hc that Neria Surana is actually Nelaros’ sister, and have dabbled with it as a dark ship. I also am interested in Loghain/Alistair - which each pretends the other is someone else. Alistair is wooby, hate ships are, in general, fun -- so long as we acknowledge that they are, indeed, unhealthy ships. for DA:2/E, I kind of feel like Sebastian romances are, invariably, kind of dark... and, similarly, Anders romances -- especially with certain red Hawkes, The way it ends is, invariably, bordering on fucked up. ALSO Hawkecest is weird and wonderful: GET WITH IT. 

My ‘they’re kind of cute, and I lowkey ship them, but I’m not too invested’ ship: for DA:O, I joked about Velanna x Leliana once and I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it ever since… Velanna x Sigrun is also something that can be so personal. Ariane x Finn is adorable and are paid DUST by Bioware AND fandom. I actually am really into Anora x Nathaniel & NO I will NOT explain myself; it’s a crackship but it’s MY crackship. for DA:2/E, Isabela x Fenris is super cute, but I don’t pay enough attention to them to really have super committed thoughts & feelings on them. for DA:I, Blackwall x Josephine is cute as a background ship; I also think Maryden x Cole is sweet.

[blarrghe]

62 from the kisses prompt list for Neria and Zev because that sounds like exactly the kind of sappiness I live for 🙏🏼😘

Oh man you’re right this is super sappy! <3 -- The pale canvas of the tent did nothing to block the bright morning sunlight. As the dawn broke over the camp, birds began chirping, the dog shuffled about outside, and Neria heard the quiet clanging of someone searching through cooking supplies near the firepit. She squeezed her eyes shut and rolled over onto her side, covering her head with a blanket to block out the light.

It was cold, and as she twisted around some of her cover was lost and she felt her bare toes poke out from under the blanket. She quickly pulled her feet in, bending her knees up so that she formed a tight ball, and she reached over to find Zevran’s sleeping body with her arms. She pulled herself into him, fitting her face into a spot between his neck and shoulder, a kiss leaving her lips for his collarbone instinctively upon contact. In his sleep Zevran made an approving sound, and an arm tucked itself around her.

She adjusted a little, still trying to go back to sleep even though she knew that the effort was futile. Her nose rubbed over Zevran’s neck and her ears tickled at his cheek, he shifted with another sleepy mumble.

“Mi amor, your nose is so cold.” He complained as his other arm wrapped around her and pulled her body up onto his so that she was lying on his chest, the top of her head brushing up against his chin. She felt his lips brush against her hair, a kiss that didn’t quite land.

Outside, the quiet crackling of a small breakfast fire joined the pleasant chirping of birds, and voices began to mutter and laugh. The dog was sniffing at their tent now, she could hear the fabric rustling as it let out a quiet wine.

She planted another kiss on Zevran’s throat, and groaned. The arms around her squeezed.

“Isn’t it early? It feels early.” Zevran’s complaint echoed her own thoughts.

“I don’t want to fight darkspawn today.” Neria grumbled into his chest. Zevran replied with a sleepy chuckle.

She opened her eyes and blinked away the last bit of sleep. Zevran’s face was turned slightly toward her as he lay holding her to his chest, his eyes still closed and lips slightly parted. She pushed herself up to look over him, and pulled a little more blanket up to guard his bare chest from the cold. His skin was warm under her, and as she dragged kisses over his chest he chuckled again, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her up and over him so that his lips could meet hers.

“That tickles.” He scolded, her punishment for teasing him with her cold nose apparently being three quick successive kisses that tugged at her lower lip. She giggled, diving her face back into his neck to nuzzle more tickling kisses over his warm skin.

Outside, the dog beckoned them again with impatient muffled barks.

“The beast summons you.” Zevran teased, sitting up to lean on his elbows as Neria turned to look toward the sound. Before he could finish rising she pulled at his arm and sent him rolling over her, pinning her beneath him.

“One more.” She insisted, wrapping her arms around his neck for one last lingering kiss before the day began. 

[pallas-cat]

gothkimmyschmidt replied to your post “19 for as many of yr da ocs as you wanna do?”

Oh I love it! A glass canon is a fantastic descriptor. Also here for inquisitors who never wanted to boss anyone

ngl neria goes thru a few breakdowns during DAO because of that lol she and zev are an odd match but a very loving one also inquisitors are given WAY TOO MUCH WAY TOO SOON to do all my 20 yo daughter wants to do is read books and shoot lightning at fools

[m-m-m-myysurana]

ZevWardenWeek 2023

A Cage We Share - Chapter 11.

So this isn't for any particular prompt, but all the ZevWarden goodness got me thinking about my old fic, and lo and behold a chapter appeared! It had been mostly written many moons ago so I finally got around to finishing it off.

Enjoy! <3

[antivan-beau]

#yesss #zev is good dad material 100% #nothing can change my mind #in my canon Neria and Zev have a biological child after she finally discovers the cure#it wasn't expected #they'd never considered kids #never thought it would be possible for them #but Zev is so so happy and is a wonderful father #I have so many hcs about them as parents and about their daughter #I really should share more of them #ranting in your tags oops #sorry #will stop now hahaha

👀 no no, go on re: neria and dad zevran

Do you think Zevran would be a good dad?

I think Zevran would be a wonderful dad! Silly, loving, simultaneously overprotective but also lets kids play with knives at age 5 because, "it's educational."

In my Zevmance worldstate, Edric Surana and Zevran never have children. They do have phases where they nurture some liberated Crow foundlings, but they never regard themselves as fathers.

But I have friends with wardens who have both adopted and biological children with Zevran, and I love to read their stories and meta. @raymurata and @snarky-warden come to mind, but I'm sure there are more :)

[ottobooty]

It's been over 20 years since the Fifth Blight, and much has happened in that time.

How has your Warden fared through all these years? Have they gone to their calling, or do you think they found a cure in the end? Are they living their happily ever after somewhere, whatever that entails?

FINALLY ANSWERING THIS!!!

Neria has been doing QUITE well for herself, all things considered. While in my mind, she hasn't found a CURE to the Calling, she's at least found a way to delay it enough until she can either find it, or until she absolutely cannot hold on anymore. Her and Zev have/had a nice little house in the countryside and both occasionally still take on adventuring. They have two sons who are adopted; one is a human mage named Elijah and the other is an elf lad named Alphonso.

[ellenembee]

Give a Heart, Get a Throne Drabble

So, this little story came from an “imagine if” a favorite character asked if you want to touch their biceps. I instantly thought of Alistair because he’d be so adorable about it, and suddenly, my brain lit up with the beginnings of a backstory for DAO characters as they would pertain to my Revelations world state (the world state of my other two fics). This story got a pretty good response as part of the “imagine if” post, so I’m reposting it and have added it on AO3 as well.

I have no plans to write a giant fic about this (though one about King Alistair is percolating in my mind), but if anyone would like to read more about them, I’d be happy to write more drabbles. Just hit me up! :)

Darkspawn Presses

After scrubbing his skin raw to rid himself of the latest round of darkspawn blood, Alistair throws on a clean tunic and heads back to camp. Leliana, Zevran, Wynne and Neria are gathered around the fire talking and laughing and drinking. Even Morrigan has joined them, though she remains quiet, and Woof lays beside Neria, his head resting on her thigh.

Noticing his return, Neria gestures him over and pats the spot next to her. He tries to stifle the unwarranted hope the minor gesture excites in his chest.

“Come sit, Alistair!” she encourages.

He fights off a blush as he joins them. Setting his armor aside, he sits down next to Neria and listens to the ongoing conversation.

“No, no,” Zevran objects with an emphatic negating gesture, “you cannot tell me that the darkspawn train. That is just too ridiculous.”

Neria laughs. “But how do they all know how to use weapons? Surely not everyone who gets turned into a darkspawn is a fighter.”

“It’s part of the brood mother job description,” Alistair interjects. “Birth darkspawn, teach them the ways of the hack, stab, slash, complain about the lousy benefits. You know, all in a day’s work.”

Neria nearly spits out her drink as she snickers at his joke. She smiles widely as she passes him the bottle, and he takes a swig, the liquor burning his throat like the blood burning his cheeks at her attention. She’s always laughed at his jokes. Not the “I’m just humoring you” kind of laugh, but the real “I actually think you’re funny” kind of laugh. It never fails to both terrify him and spur him into more concentrated efforts to amuse.

Maker, he loves hearing her laugh.

“But really, what I want to know is how they build muscle. Do they have special magic from the Blight that gives them strength?” Leliana pipes up, a jovial grin on her face.

Morrigan actually groans at this and looks as if she’s about to leave. However, Zev shoves the bottle in her hand before she can stand up. She stays.

“It’s a matter of proper technique,” Alistair explains with mock sincerity. “The darkspawn have such methodology, such organization, such-”

“Such appalling lack of manners,” Wynne provides.

“Yes, appalling,” he agrees, encouraged by Neria’s continued chuckles. “Elbows on the table, dirty knickers under the bed…”

Neria bursts into laughter, but calms herself enough to add, “But that doesn’t explain the muscles, Ali.”

“Well, they do push ups and lifts, of course.”

She quirks a brow at him. “Is that what you do?”

High on her laughter, he grins and flexes the the arm nearest Neria. “But of course.” He nods his head at the muscle bulging under the tunic. “You want to touch?”

“Uh, what kind of question is that? Of course I do!”

Alistair freezes as her hands - both of them - wrap around his flexed bicep and squeeze.

“Maker’s balls,” she breathes. “That’s nice.” After another moment, she nods her head curtly. “Very well. I accept your premise. Darkspawn do presses.”

Alistair just stares at her. His face is burning. Not just his face. All of him.

“Ahahaha… yes! Right. My premise. Darkspawn presses! Haha! I should, uh… put my armor on now. I’ll be back in… in a bit.”

He scrambles away to his tent, leaving Neria looking after him, confused. Zev and Leliana share a look - one lecherous, the other displeased.

[m-m-m-myysurana]

Crow with a conscience and/or New Life for the wip asks?

Oh hi!! Thanks for asking 🥰

Question is about this post.

New Life is my inquisition Era fic that doesn't have a name yet about Zev and Neria joining her brother Elior who has become inquisitor. It's called New Life in my folder because I haven't properly named it yet and because it's also the fic where Neria discovers she's pregnant with Carena. ❤️

Crow with a Conscience is a little banter I wrote between Eira and Lucanis, set very early after they've met. It's just a quick one that I likely won't turn into anything else.

So here it is: 😊

Eira: So, a Crow with a conscience? That's rare.

Lucanis: You know many Crows then?

Eira: Only one, but he told me stories.

Lucanis: Such as?

Eira: Oh, how House Arainai bought him young along with a group of about 20 children, how his training was brutal torture, how he was forced to compete with the other children to survive. He was one of only two that survived initiation. Conscience wasn't a luxury he could afford until he left the crows.

Lucanis: Ah, you have given away your source.

Eira: Have I?

Lucanis: You speak of Zevran Arainai, do you not? The Crow Killer.

Eira: The very same. Was his experience so unusual?

Lucanis: Not his training, no. That was standard practice in most talons until recently. Some still use those methods. What is unusual is the fact that he left. And survived long enough to tell of it.

Eira: Not for lack of considerable effort on the Crow’s side.

Lucanis: Hmm, I can imagine. Tell me, if you are friendly with the Crow Killer himself, why did you not recruit him?

Eira: Oh he’s retired somewhere secluded with his lover and child.

Lucanis: Truly? But he is still active in Antiva. Many Crows still fear him.

Eira: If you're digging for information you aren't going to get it out of me. Let's just say he has left his work in good hands and leave it at that.

Lucanis: As you say.

[m-m-m-myysurana]

Tag game time!

Rules: make a new post with the names of all the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Tag as many people as you have wips. People send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, then post a little snippet or tell them something about it!

Ok so straight up I am NOT going to be tagging the number of people that I have WIPs cause I don't want to count them and embarrass myself further... Also I'm sort of cheating cause I'm sticking to stuff I've got synced online cause I'm sleepy and can't be bothered turning on my computer 😂

Thanks to @maythedreadwolftakeyou for calling me out. At least I know I'm not quite as bad as you 😘

Sorting these by ship cause that's mostly how they're sorted in my folders:

Eira/Lucanis 

Shopping List

Much needed rest

Crow with a conscience

It is done

First Talon's First Lady (part 3)

Prove it to me

Caterina Conspiracy fic

Rookanis Scraps

AKA Rook

Solas and Eira

Neria/Zev

A Beginning

Blurring Lines

The Crossing

Envy

Amell Family 

Simpler times

Inquisition Era

Forgotten

New Life

Kotallo/Aloy

You wouldn't understand (I love you)

Jealous

A Restless Marshall

The night we met

Thane/Shepard

Stolen Memories, Stolen Moments

A second chance

Confessions

First kiss

Letters in the void

Memorial

Only Human

Turn me down

Too late

I also have a criminal number of files that are just called "Untitled Document" in all of these folders because I am hopeless.... One day I will have to actually open those and find out what on earth they are.

Aaaaand idk if it counts here but I also have a shittone of files in my folder labelled "Visual Novel Project," which is pretty much my only original project of note... but I cannot upload the file names just in case I DO ever get around to finishing it 😂

Tagging @dmonfoxfire @aubergion @heniareth @oganneb 💖 and that is all for now cause I'm tired and can't think of usernames 😌