#on one hand i think he would choose minrathous on the other hand i think he would choose treviso as well

[sunsetzer]

I only got three votes last time so I'm gonna try again lmao. I've explained it a little more so maybe people who aren't playing veilguard but are fans of ff6 can vote too!

In favour of Minrathous: He's a Shadow Dragon. It's his home, and Edgar is of course very loyal to Figaro so it would make sense (even though Rook isn't really a Minrathous native, they were adopted by the Shadow Dragons). He'd want to make sure the Shadow Dragons survive the attack to continue fighting the Venatori. If the cult takes over the government, they could hand Tevinter right over to the gods, which would be Very Very Bad.

In favour of Treviso: There are a lot of defenseless civilians already under Antaam occupation. They have no standing army, and while there's corruption in the Templars, he has reason to believe that in this circumstance they would help defend Minrathous from the dragon and could last longer against it while they help the Crows defend Treviso. The blight getting into the waterways also wouldn't just affect Treviso, theoretically it could travel to other places and contaminate their water as well.

Both are all around a Bad Time and there's not really any right choice to make here which is both great and awful at the same time, thanks bioware.

(Also if Minrathous gets blighted and the Venatori take over, it kinda mimics the events of ff6 following Edgar's decision to protect Terra- I'm thinking about South Figaro's occupation by the Empire and the attack on the Returners hideout specifically).

[vaguely-concerned]

I think there is no better illustration of the more intimate, internal angle veilguard chooses to approach its characters and themes with than the fact that like... listen in this game we get to follow so much pain back to its source, and we find it really does permeate everything in thedas today on a level that evokes a kind of cosmic horror. the bones of the earth itself are broken open and drenched in trauma; the world is mired in suffering down to the core and the marrow. as above, so below. as outside, so inside. on the big scale, and the small. all of creation is a throat gone to bloody shreds from screaming in agony, when you allow yourself to listen. (maybe that's why we usually don't, or can't, bring ourselves to listen.)

...and yet the thing that makes me personally so desperately gnaw-my-own-arm-off sad that it feels like I could die from it is that in a run where you save minrathous, lucanis never gets out from the ossuary in his mind. what's worse, no one even knows he's in there. he's still in there. and there is no rescue on the way, because he's locked down so deep inside himself this time that there's no way for anyone to even understand there's a need for it. would he be able to welcome one, if someone did realize it and tried to reach him? You know him -- you can open the door, but he won't walk through. He won't move. There's nowhere to go. the way he says 'it doesn't matter what I want' with such utter, leaden, final resignation in the wrecked treviso cutscene is going to haunt me forever. it makes perfect sense to me you can't romance him after that, I'm not sure he's ever really here completely in that version of events, at least within the timeline the game takes place. he's just standing in the shitty awful ossuary torture room all alone, and no one's coming to find him.

and what is that, next to the millennia of suffering screaming through all of history and creation? well. nothing, of course, not really. a single plucked string in an endless deafening symphony of despair. one singular trapped and broken soul among the untold millions that have gone before and the untold more that will surely come after, that are being made as we speak in the conflicts and tragedies unfolding through the game. but more importantly it's also everything. to me. and to the game too. the game says this also matters. just as much as anything else, this pain matters and deserves to be loved and comforted. even in the face of all the suffering in the world, beneath the systems perpetuating all the banalities of evil, for good or for ill sometimes, we matter to each other. and what would be the point of anything, if we didn't? that's where hope lives. as long as you're alive, the right key might still arrive to gently open the locks of your mind, the right hand might reach out one day and you will bring yourself to take it. you don't know what tomorrow's going to be. if in the meantime the only thing we have to gain in staying is each other -- isn't that enough? isn't that everything? why does this one guy saved mean the world saved to me, a little bit? hello. hello. hello. there's stuff going on in the deep here.

when I say that the deep thematic spine of this game is so good and solid that the occasional clumsiness and false tones of the writing on top of it simply cannot hurt me... I think this is part of what I mean. works for every single one of the characters of course! lucanis' is the predicament that speaks to me most viscerally. for. uh. personal reasons there simply is no time to get into at this juncture lol. but just as much the idea that davrin can die before he could see the world freed from the blight and the need for wardens, or that harding can get cut down right at the beginning of a great revelation that could change everything and heal things no one had even dreamed could be healed. all of them are like this. each and every one of us has a world and so many stories inside that matter, and it's not to dismiss the larger systemic forces and evils that create so much of the suffering in the world to focus in on that for one installment of the series -- only to view it from a different angle that brings other things to light than what we're looking for normally in this series. it's worth looking at what's actually here.

(have you ever heard the poem 'good light' by andrea gibson? it's very good. you should check it out if you haven't, you can find it on youtube. it has these lines:

Come make it count Our finding each other like we found God Come root for the salt Come believing we can heal it all, even everything Even everything that has ever been done I know how much the pain of this world weighs But I can still tip the scales in light's direction Whenever I have your name on my tongue

and yeah. I think that's basically what I'm trying to say here.)

[serensama]

I think we're getting low on onions again...

Chapter 7

Rook saved Minrathous and in doing so, lost Lucanis. Months of pining and heartbreak, and for what? No, Rook had to draw a line, and she chose to move on.

But what happens if Lucanis realises that he doesn’t want to lose Rook? After everything that happened (or didn’t happen) between them- was it too late?

Originally meant to be a drabble, but somehow, it turned into a novella. I have come to the stark realisation that I do not know what the word drabble means. Ah well.

Read on Ao3 Prompt 19 out of 25: Treviso (Part 1, the rest available on Ao3)

How... How did she get here?

Hiding in her room with Assan nestled on her lap and Manfred beside her, holding her hand as she tried her best not to make a noise.

How had everything come to this moment? Where did she go wrong?

Oh.

Right.

Right.

Treviso.

She was faced with an impossible decision and she had moments to choose. She thought she was making the right choice, the most logical choice, with the facts given to her. She believed that by sending everyone with Lucanis, they would have better odds. She promised that she was going to deliver Neve safely to the Shadows and come right back to Treviso- Minrathous had the mages, military and a god damned floating palace that shot lasers... Treviso needed her help, but she couldn’t leave Neve alone with an army of Venatori between her and the dragon.

But by the time she managed to get to Treviso... the city she had fallen so deeply in love with, was Blighted. Ruined. And so was Lucanis. She admired his strength when she rescued him from the Ossuary, but after losing his grandmother and then his city- he didn’t have anything left. It was too much for anyone to deal with, so it did not surprise her when he blamed her. She blamed herself, too.

Rook didn’t even flinch when he told her he had no heart for anything but to focus on Treviso, that they should end whatever they were as there was no time for it, and that he was done (were they anything? She had hoped, but maybe that was all it was—her hope and hers alone).

He told her not to wait for him.

So she left. What else could she do?

She made the wrong choice. --- The others had taken turns visiting him, even Neve, saying she needed to help when her city was spared. Minrathous could have easily been in Treviso’s place if it hadn’t been for Rook. They told her Lucanis appreciated them there, seeing them do whatever they could. They also said it was probably best that she stayed away from him, unsure how he would react to her so soon. However, her guilt gnawed at her even as she slept; she could not sit idle as Treviso suffered. Rook knew it would be bad for her, but she did not realise that everyone she met would blame her for their misfortune. Harding had nearly gotten into a fight with some people, but Bellara held her back, reminding the rogue that they were hurting and were finding the easiest target to blame. Not the dragon that blighted them, not the god that sent it their way- but the one who tried to help, but fell short. They wanted someone to feel their pain, even if she wasn’t the one who caused it.

She asked if Lucanis was alright. They all said he was taking it one day at a time, one challenge at a time. She wondered if he hated her, if he was sleeping, and if there was anything she could do to show him that she was sorry and that she cared about him—more than she should. She’d do anything to make it up to him and his people if he ever decided to return.

Until then, she would stay in the infirmary and weep on the end of Varric’s bed, telling him he chose wrong and someone else needed to take over because she always chose wrong. But he repeated what he told her when she doubted her skills when Neve had gotten hurt after Solas’ failed ritual- that it had to be her- no one else could do it.

“It’s going to be alright, Rook.”

“That’s a terrible lie, Varric.”

“Ah, but it made you smile... and for a moment, everything was alright.”

Rook gave him a watery smile before her bottom lip wobbled, and she slowly broke apart again.

--- Then he was back as suddenly as he was gone, as if he had been there the whole time and was only taking a nap in the pantry. Rook didn’t know why she felt so nervous around him; it was as if she had to impress him and make sure he didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, as if it were up to her to ensure nothing bad ever happened to him again. She knew it was stupid, but it didn’t stop her from doing it.

Even when it hurt her.

He had made it very clear he didn’t have the time to be anything more with her, and she made herself okay with that. However, she had hoped he would at least be open to being friendly with her. But it didn’t take a scholar to know that he barely saw her as a companion at all, his eyes gliding over her like she was a stranger on the best of days. It was okay, though. She understood. She broke his heart, lost his trust and failed his people when she didn’t choose Treviso.

But none of that mattered because they had a job to do. His blade was hers until the gods fell, and Treviso was avenged.

But the stark reality did not stop her from missing him.

Gone were the midnight chats over a charcuterie board, meeting at the library to swap sappy romance novels and witty remarks as they travelled. Lucanis only spoke to their other companions unless he had something specific to ask of her. Even just going into the pantry felt off-limits to Rook. The icy reception she constantly received whenever she tried to talk to him almost made her believe she didn’t deserve the food they kept there.

Foolishly, she had taken to asking Manfred to smuggle her snacks and stow the food away in her room or the infirmary to eat alone or as she sat with Varric whilst he slept. Emmrich was about to ask her to please stop taking him away so often as he needed his assistance with his work, but the kind man took one look at Rook and instructed Manfred to help Rook whenever necessary, as often as needed.

Emmrich invited her to an impromptu afternoon tea to ensure their beleaguered leader was not in danger of being malnourished. Both physically and socially. “My Dear, you cannot live off crackers and bits of cheese alone,” he gently lectured her, offering her a fancy cake, which she took gratefully.

“I... sometimes get bits of fruit from Manfred when he remembers... and I go out and get proper meals when I’m actually hungry,” she admitted off-hand, not realising how insane it sounded until spoken aloud. Emmrich’s fine eyebrows shot to his hairline, his mouth falling open upon her admission.

“Rook, have you been avoiding eating with us all because you do not feel comfortable?” he asked, folding his hands over one another on the table. Her long sip of tea was answer enough for him. “This is unacceptable. Would it be helpful if I or the others chatted with Lucanis? I was told you two were once very close -”

“No, NO!” she snapped, banging the cup firmly on the saucer in her hands. Rook swore as the tea burnt her hands and dropped the fine porcelain to the ground. “I-I’m so sorry, Emmrich-”

“Now that’s quite alright, only some spilled tea. Manfred will be sure to clean it up. But best to let me look at that burn,” he said, holding out his hand expectantly. Rook offered her arm, and he quickly went to work to soothe the pain from the scalding tea. He ran his hand down her forearm sweetly to comfort her, and although it was a little awkward, she was touched by his obvious concern. She was not surprised to feel the pricking at her eyes and tried to blink the treacherous tears away. Emmrich smiled sadly and brought up his other hand to wipe at the few that got away from her. “Oh, my dearest Rook, carrying all this sadness and needless guilt alone, I am sorry.”

There was a quick rap on the door before it opened, and Lucanis came into the room, wiping his hands on a tea towel. “Emmrich, it’s not like you to be late for dinner and- oh, sorry, I didn’t realise you were… busy. Dinner is served,” he said after taking in the intimate position both mages were in. The Crow offered them a curt nod and showed himself out as quickly as he came in.

“Come, Dear. You heard the chef. It’s time to join us for dinner,” Emmrich prodded, gently pulling her up and hooking her arm in his like the perfect gentleman. It also proved to be the perfect foil to stop her from running away.

“I’m not hungry,” she insisted, lightly tugging at her arm.

“Nonsense,” he chirped as he patted her hand and made their way to the dining hall together. The team greeted her warmly, happy to see they could finally have a meal together without Rook sneaking away because she had to meet with someone, help one of the factions or otherwise ‘sleep’ through their communal meals. It did not pass her notice that Emmrich sat them on the opposite end of the table from Lucanis and that he remained within her line of sight so she’d never have to look at the assassin directly. She was grateful when Davrin slid into the seat beside her, the two men keeping her in active discussion throughout the meal.

It almost felt normal until Emmrich excused himself to use the facilities, and she made the mistake of turning to see what made Bellara laugh and accidentally met Lucanis’ eyes. Seeing them go from warm and then shift into such apathy when they fell upon her- she felt physically ill. Rook bid everyone goodnight, thanked them for the lovely meal and excused herself with a flimsy reason of meeting with some of the Lords of Fortune. Taash offered to come with her, but Rook brushed them off, saying it was fine; she’d probably spend the night at her old place anyway and see them all later.

Instead, she found herself walking the Crossroads aimlessly for hours until she followed her feet into the Necropolis gardens. It was not where she had envisioned going, but it was fitting in the end. No one would question why someone looked so sad sitting by a grave. --- Lucanis and Neve had gone to Minrathous together.

Rook overheard that he might find it cathartic to visit the city that was spared instead of Treviso, to see its people flourishing- to see the good that came from the bad. They had even gone shopping, and Lucanis remembered to buy something for everyone as he had during their trip to the Treviso marketplace so long ago.

Everyone but her.

No one else had noticed except Harding, who looked up at Rook with such large, sad eyes that she thought the dwarf was about to cry on her behalf. Rook shrugged and smiled, waving it off as no big deal. It wasn’t. Not really. Rook just wasn’t in his thoughts. Not in Treviso when he first joined them, nor whilst he was in Minrathous. She had to give it to him; at least he was consistent.

Rook walked outside and found Assan sitting by the staircase of Davrin’s quarters, the sweet gryphon bobbing happily at the sight of her- at least someone was happy to see her. She knelt and hugged the young beast around its neck, his garbled cooing enough to make her laugh, even for a little bit.

“You know, I could go back in there and stab him for you if you’d like,” Davrin said from behind her. “Harding even said she still had that special arrow lying around if you felt inclined for some archery practice,” he smirked. Rook laughed with her head thrown back, possibly loud enough for the rest of their team to hear her from the library. She laughed so hard she grabbed at her sides and wiped away tears from her eyes.

Davrin didn’t bother to point out that they were already there when he arrived and just kept laughing with her. For as many jokes as she continued to make since Treviso, she rarely laughed anymore, and he wouldn’t stop her from laughing because of something as trivial as the truth. --- It didn’t take long for it to start after that.

To see him bring her coffee late at night or offer to go over her notes. More and more often. That was a good thing. He had someone he felt comfortable with and trusted within their little rag-tag group. Lucanis seemed happier, and Neve certainly did too- so she guessed... she was happy for the two of them. She had to be. Rook owed him that much; she couldn’t save his city, but she could help save him. That had to be enough.

Rook would take them with her on jobs, trying to ignore how the two had such easy banter. When she stupidly tried to pursue something more with the assassin, it was like pulling teeth at times. The man was never rude or completely dismissive of what she said, so she kept it up, thinking he was shy or slow to warm up. But no, he was never slow to warm up; she was just the wrong person. It was as futile as using ice to heat a drink, and she was the damned ice cube. And Neve... well, Neve was the kettle, the wood and the fire.

Lucanis was a changed man in his newfound happiness; suddenly more willing to talk to her again, to look at her with something adjacent to friendship instead of the cold civility she had grown accustomed to, a far cry from what they had been once upon a time, but she’d take it nonetheless. He asked her opinion about the gooseberry pie he made and was always the first to volunteer whenever Neve had to come along. She even caught him in Neve’s room practising his confession to her, and she found herself encouraging him to do it... even going the extra mile by dropping the not-so-subtle hint about the reason for the second gooseberry pie to the baffled but undoubtedly interested Neve.

The next day, she went to her, looking just as nervous as Lucanis had. She wrung her hands together and chewed the inside of her cheek as her sharp mind flipped through the thoughts in her head, trying to unscramble them as best she could.

“Morning Neve-”

“Weren’t you and Lucanis kind of a thing?” she asked abruptly, nervous she had crossed over some line between them all. Honestly, for such a great detective, it seemed there were some things that Neve Gallus just didn’t pick up on quickly.

Lie.

“Huh? No, not at all.”

“Don’t lie to me, Rook,” she said, brow set and mouth straight.

Rook chuckled, stepping aside to let her into the room. “I’m not! It was just harmless flirting, you know me, Neve.”

“Do I?” she replied, just like Rook had when they first landed in the Lighthouse together.

“Oh, haha, very clever,” she huffed, leaning against the lounge. “I flirt with everyone; I even flirted with you, if you remember! There’s nothing to worry about here. Honestly, it’s all just water under the bridge.”

Whatever once was drowned in one of the blighted canals in Treviso.

“Well... alright, if you’re sure... it was nothing,” Neve mumbled, her eyes searching Rook’s face for a hidden answer. “Thanks, Rook.”

“Anytime.”

--- Almost instantly, their companions started talking about them—Bellara crooning about how “the Neve Gallus was glowing” or Taash telling Lucanis what a good score he had with her. Rook should not have been envious—she could not believe she was so petty.

They hadn’t held hands or even said they liked each other before it was all cut short- so why would her stupid heart refuse to let the damned Crow go? She told herself she had first dates with more passion than they ever had; how had she let herself fall so damned hard for him? Even with their fragile relationship as it was, she still found new things about him that made her fall that little bit deeper and made her heart ache with what could have been, ridiculous. Maybe when all the issues around Treviso and his family were all attended to, and her debt to him was paid, she could move on. Maker knows she needs to.

For fuck’s sake- she was a Lord of Fortune, a glorified pirate, a former slave- she knew better than to get attached to anyone for too long. Stupid.

At the very least, she had perfected how to wear a smile so well that even she sometimes convinced herself that she didn’t hurt anymore.

So Stupid.

--- Rook found some peace with Davrin, the man happy to sit in silence and not pry. It helped that Assan was always by her side to comfort her, never letting her lap grow cold. She took up whittling herself and had to admit she was getting really good at making toothpicks. Actual sculptures? Not so much.

Still, it focused her, and when she was thinking about making toothpicks, her mind didn’t wander to things that weren’t her business. She was fighting a literal war against the gods; it didn’t make sense for her to obsess over a relationship that never was. Who cared about a lovesick heart when the end of the world was literally upon them if they failed?

Bigger picture, Rook. Think smarter. Maker, be smarter.

She was sitting beside Assan in the courtyard, a piece of heartwood in between her thighs. Rook was determined to carve the gryphon’s likeness, and she thought that perhaps having the real thing next to her was exactly the inspiration she needed to make her first masterpiece. She noticed when Lucanis and Neve returned from their date and made their way to her room hand in hand. The Tevinter mage smiled and whispered something into Lucanis’ ear, making him wait outside whilst she went in before him. Rook sighed and focused on the wooden canvas before her; it was none of her business. None of her business.

“Spite... now you remember... when the hat comes off... that’s right, you need to leave the room.”

Rook’s hand slipped, and the newly sharpened knife lodged itself deeply into her inner thigh. She was in so much pain she couldn’t even scream, and in her panic, she forgot the first rule of being stabbed; she pulled out the knife. Rivulets of blood poured out of her wound, her hand still holding the knife and staring at it in shock as Lucanis’ head whipped around. He stared at her, and his eyes flickered to the wound and the sea of blood she was sitting in and-

He did nothing.

He was watching her bleed out in front of him, and he didn’t move a muscle. Didn’t call out for help. He was watching her die like something he had silently prayed for was finally coming true.

Rook’s vision was rapidly blurring, her head spinning, but she could still hear Assan screeching hysterically; his frantic cries kept time with the beat of her heart, desperately pumping at the blood that was no longer there. Neve and Davrin burst out of their rooms to see what the problem was to find Rook almost passed out in a pool of her blood. Neve bolted toward her with glowing hands, screaming to Davrin to get Emmrich.

The Grey Warden sprinted across the yard, screaming, ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ to Lucanis before disappearing into the Lighthouse. Neve’s hands were shaking as she tried to close up Rook’s wound to stop any more blood from leaving her body. She had lost too much already, and by the frightening shade of pale that her skin turned, she didn’t have long until she was past the point of no return.

“Shit,��shit, Rook! Don’t you dare die before the job is finished!” she cried, lips quivering as she looked down at her friend. “I’m no good at healing, you know that; I can barely heal a paper cut, and you want me to fix this? Please don’t... don’t do this... please.”

Emmrich rushed out in his pyjamas with Manfred close behind him, lugging his tools and medical supplies at the ready. He skidded to his knees to fall by Rook’s side, his dressing gown soaking up her blood. “Mercy... keep that up, Neve- I’ll need to assess how bad it is...”

A spirit of Faith, two mana potions for Emmrich and three of healing for Rook- and she was no longer in immediate danger. The rest was up to her body to fix. Davrin picked her up and Neve followed, wanting to help Emmrich clean up Rook and see if there was anything else she could do to help, still shaken up over the incident. Neve apologised to Lucanis, who hushed her gently and kissed her on the forehead, telling her how proud of her he was and that she should do whatever she needed to do for her friend. --- When Rook opened her eyes and saw Manfred standing vigil over her, she could not help but smile. She worried that she may have been on Emmrich’s marble slab but soon recognised the ethereal blue hue found only in her room, and she breathed a little easier.

Rook sat up, and the world tipped on its side, scaring Manfred, who was hovering around her like a worried mother. “Stay,” he croaked, urging her to remain seated. “Rest. Stay, Rook.”

The mage patted the skeleton on the head and stood up, holding onto the armrest to stay upright. “Thank you for looking after me, Manfred, but I want to see Assan. I scared him a lot, and I want to show him I’m alright,” she reasoned, only to collapse onto the floor from dizziness, her thigh still smarting something horrid. Considering the number she did on her leg, she was lucky to still have a functioning leg... or be alive.

Manfred made more strained sounds and helped her back onto the seat, fluffing up a pillow she recognised as one of Emmrich’s for her to lay against.

“Manfred, please. Can you help me up and take me outside.”

“No. Emmrich said. Stay. Rest. Must rest.”

“But Assan-”

“Assan, come? Rook stays, yes?”

Rook looked up at the kindly spirit of curiosity and nodded, not wanting to give the poor thing a hard time. He was only looking out for her, and she wasn’t known to be the best patient, even on her best day.

“Yes, Rook will stay. Thank you, Manfred.”

A few minutes later, Assan flew into her bedroom, crying joyfully. He climbed onto the couch and perched himself carefully between her legs, his head resting on her lap, taking care not to put too much pressure on her healing leg. He cooed and purred happily, finding comfort in her presence, knowing he had come close to losing one of his favourite people.

Rook scratched at the soft scruff at the back of Assan’s neck, remembering the poor creature’s fear during her unhappy accident. “I’m sorry, boy; I promise I’ll be safer in the future. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She could barely remember everything that happened. She knew that Neve was there, and perhaps she’d been crying. Davrin was there for a second, and Lucanis… Lucanis.

Maker.

How foolish had she been all this time?

Not once, since the tragedy of Treviso, did Lucanis Dellamorte ever offer to help her when she was hurt. Not one bandage, one potion, one cursory check over to see if darkspawn had scratched her like she’d seen him do for the others. They had fought side by side hundreds of times together, but she never realised she was better off alone. If not for the odd “Rook behind you!” or “To your left!” there would be no proof that he ever had her back. If she were being honest with herself, his warnings were probably said as a reflex to ensure he would not be disadvantaged during the fight by her being killed rather than out of actual regard for her well-being.

She could not trust him anymore. He had told her time and again with his inaction that he did not even see her as someone worth saving. Because she did not see that Treviso was worth saving over Minrathous. Bitter tears came to her eyes, unbidden, unwanted. She was so very tired of being in pain over a man who never even wanted her. A man, for all intents and purposes, loathed her. Rook came to the stark realisation that she had been dying right in front of him, and he didn’t care; he must have genuinely abhorred her to be so unaffected.

Rook felt her chest constrict, and her hands balled into tight fists until she felt the bite of her nails in her palms. She pushed the knuckles of her hand into her mouth and bit down hard, her breaths hitching in her throat, air trickling in and out of her burning lungs in short, panic-stricken pants. The sting in the back of her eyes grew more insistent, and her nose ached as she battled against herself to not shed any more tears over him or the pathetic situation she had boxed herself into. Manfred held her other hand softly, bright green eyes fixed on her.

“Rook. Is. Hurt.”

No more.

After her meeting with the Crows’ informant tomorrow, she, along with Treviso, would be one step closer to being free. Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

[thewardenisonthecase]

Moments in Between - Chapter 5

Lucanis Dellamorte x Grey Warden!Rook (Dawn Thorne)

Chapter 4

Read on AO3

Summary: The aftermath of the dragon attack and a certain demon cause a little bit of mayhem.

A/N: I struggled a bit with this chapter as I had to focus on some real life stuff (applying for a masters and had to do a bunch of self tape auditions). At least, I have a clearer vision of where I want to go with this story, I just need to adjust how to tackle it.

What a mess. 

Rook’s first real taste of leadership had ended in disaster. Minrathous had been destroyed in the attack, and the Venatori had used the chaos to make a pass at the throne. 

She brought the whiskey bottle to her lips once again. 

The reality of what they were facing was starting to dawn upon her. 

People would die. Sacrifices were to be made. And sometimes, no matter what you chose, the outcome would still be shit. 

Varric had tried to ease her mind, but it didn’t help her guilt. Could she have done more? She should have had. There must have been some way to save both cities. If she’d been faster with the ice dragon, maybe they could have reached Minrathous in time. 

Rook wiped her tears. She didn’t have the right to cry, it was not her city that was burned to the ground. If Neve never wanted to step foot in the Lighthouse again, she wouldn’t blame her. 

The whiskey tasted bitter in her mouth yet she couldn’t stop drinking. The worst part was that the blissful ignorance of being drunk never arrived. 

In moments like this she cursed her high tolerance for alcohol. 

“Drinking yourself to death will not solve your problems, kid.” Varric said, entering her room. “Trust me, I tried.” 

She sighed “I didn’t realize it would be this hard.” She looked at him. “Being the one who makes the decisions.” 

He walked to her and sighed. “I’m sorry you’re having to take all of this on. I’m the one who should have been leading the team…”

“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault you got injured.” 

“Stil…” Varric put a hand on her shoulder. “But I know you can do this. You were my second in command for a reason. You’re a responsible woman, resourceful. If anyone can deal with this, its you.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Now, instead of spending your day here until you enter an alcohol induced coma, you need to plan your next steps. If I were you, I’d talk to Solas, see if there’s anything you can take from him.” 

Rook nodded. “I think I’ll do that…after I take a bath.” 

Varric chuckled. “I’ll leave you to it, then.” 

. 

Lucanis hadn’t seen much of Rook. After the dragon attack, she had been busy recruiting new members for their team, planning for what was next. 

The dragon…he didn’t think she would choose Treviso. It was a merchant city that few seemed to care about. It did not haven defenses, and with the occupation going, they’d have even less protection. 

Treviso did not have much to offer in the fight against the elven gods. 

Minrathous was a capital to one of the most powerful nations in Thedas, they could provide an army if things escalated, the Shadow Dragons even had connections to the magisterium. 

And yet, Rook had showed up and helped them fight off the dragon. He shuddered to think how many lives would have been lost - in the attack, and afterwards. 

Lucanis had tried thinking of how he could say thank you. They hadn’t spoken much since, not with Lucanis staying away from the group. Since the dragon, Spite had grown more restless, demanding to be let out.

He couldn’t give voice to the demon, but he also could not control it. He feared what Spite could do to the others, especially now, and so, Lucanis had retreated into his mind even more. 

He stood by the fire, deep in thoughts, not even noticing that others had arrived in the dining hall until they began talking. He hadn’t heard much of what was being said until the new guy, Davrin interneved. 

“Hang on a minute. Not only have you retained the services of a demon assassin, you’re also taking advice from the elven god who attempted to tear down the veil.” 

He turned to the group “Spite is my problem.” He told the warden. 

“That’s what they always say.” Davrin crossed his arms, turning to Rook. “Thorne, what mess have you gotten yourself into? Lucanis is one thing, but do you really trust this Solas?” 

Lucanis frowned at the name. Did she know him from before? The two were wardens after all. 

“I would not call it trust.”

“So you don’t trust him?”

“No.” She replied, bluntly. 

“Alright then.” 

The conversation continued, as they planned on who to contact. Bellara happened to know a professor from Nevarra who could help and Harding would speak with her contacts to find a dragon hunter. 

The others began exiting the room, Rook being the last of them to stay. They exchanged a look, and it seemed as if she was about to say something before turning to the door and leaving. 

Lucanis sighed. As if things weren’t bad enough, now there was a monster hunter on the team. He looked at Spite, who had grown more restless since the dragon attack, demanding to go out. 

He’d need more coffee to keep the demon at bay. 

. 

Rook remembered the first time she met Davrin, five years ago when she was sent to the Anderfels. 

The two of them had been grouped alongside Evka and Antoine to go on a mission. Investigate the appearance of darkspawn in a village and make sure they wouldn’t cause any more trouble. 

The whole situation had turned out to be much more complex than they had expected, and by the end of it, Rook had three new friends. At the time, the only friends she had. 

She was excited when she realized Davrin would join their team. They hadn’t seen each other in long, and the two had been close confidants in the Anderfels. Besides, she knew how capable of a warrior he was. 

Rook did not expect, however, that he and Lucanis would be at each other's throats all of the time. 

It did not matter where they were, at some point, the same conversation would happen: Davrin would bring up the fact that Lucanis was an abomination. Lucanis would bring up the warden's mysterious secrets. They’d talk in circles and get nowhere. 

Maker, the headaches she was getting because of the two. 

It was terrible. She did not wish to intervene as they were two grown men, but one of them was her closest friend and the other…

Well. That was the worst part. Rook believed she was starting to have…feelings for Lucanis, and at the moment, that was the last thing she needed. They had recruited the fade expert, Emmrich, but they still needed the dragon hunter. She had to focus. 

But it was hard to do so when he would look at her with those sad, brown eyes of his and make her chocolate. Or when he seemed to be opening up, even if just a bit, when she was around. They hadn’t spoken much since Treviso, and she did not know why, but it was as if Lucanis was even more closed off than before. 

She did not understand it, but she didn’t find the courage to ask. 

Rook would find an answer soon enough, after their hunter, Taash, joined the team. 

. 

She followed the shouting to the room where the eluvian was kept. Taash stood in front of it, stopping Lucanis and Harding from getting through. 

“What’s going on here?” Rook asked. 

“It’s the demon!” Harding exclaimed. “It’s taken over Lucanis and now he’s trying to leave.” 

When Rook looked at him, she saw that his eyes were no longer the same, becoming bright purple, and when he spoke, a different voice than the one she knew said “Smells like…jam and brimstone.” 

Was that what Spite sounded like? 

“Rook, do something.” Lace pleaded. 

She looked at the man in front of her. This was not the first time she had spoken to a demon, but each one required a different approach. She thought of his nature - Spite. Perhaps if she catered to it, he might be more agreeable to letting Lucanis go. 

She had an idea. If he wanted to go through the eluvian, what could be more spiteful than not giving it to him?

A part of her wondered if it was a good idea to aggravate the demon, but between her, Harding and Taash, she believed they could do it. She only feared Lucanis getting hurt. 

With a firm voice, she spoke “Spite, I’m not letting you take Lucanis through there.” 

“I could. If you’d move!” 

“So you can take him to where? A cliff, or worse?”

Rook crossed her arms. “Give it up. It’s not happening.” 

She saw him gnarl, before Lucanis shook his head, blinking. 

“How did…Rook? Taash?” He asked confused, looking around before exhaling. “Ah…”

“You…tried to walk through the eluvian in your sleep.” Lace explained.

“Spite wanted out.” 

Lucanis sighed. “I need coffee.” 

“Lucanis…are you sure you’re all right?” 

“This…could be better.” He said, looking embarrassed. “I must have fallen asleep. It won’t happen again.” 

“What do you mean?” Harding asked but Rook knew why. He had told her long ago. 

Lucanis explained to the others “It’s hard for Spite to take control when I’m awake, so…I try to stay awake.” 

“You can’t just stay awake forever. I think that would kill you.” 

“I’ll be more careful next time.” 

“But you shouldn’t have to live like this.” Rook put her hands on her hips. “Lace is right, not sleeping for so long will be bad for you.” 

He raised a brow. “That is rich, coming from you.” He shook his head. “Just…I can handle it.”

“I know you can but maybe Spite could be reasoned with, so you wouldn’t find yourself in these situations.” 

“He’s ‘Spite’, not ‘Learning’. He doesn’t listen to anyone.” 

“He seemed to listen to Rook just a moment ago.” Taash spoke up.

“He didn’t-” Lucanis sighed. “Don’t worry about it. It won’t happen again.” He said and marched out of the room. 

The three of them looked at each other. 

“Do you really think he could be reasoned with?” Lace asked. 

“Maybe? I mean, he’s still a demon but if he really wanted to hurt Lucanis, he could have done so already.” Rook told her. “I remember him saying they had a deal, but he never said what it was. I wonder…”

Making deals with demons was tricky and there was too much involving Spite that she did not know about. Rook sighed as she shook her head. 

“I’ll think about this later. Lace, you said Morrigan wanted to speak to me?” 

. 

“She. Talked to me. Listened.” Spite said as Lucanis walked. “You. Never. Do.” 

He tried to keep a calm facade as he began brewing some coffee. Spite, however, made it very difficult to keep focus. 

“You’re not. Living. I want. Out!” The demon screamed. “I want. To talk.” 

Lucanis bit his tongue, to avoid answering him. Give the demon some leeway and look at what happened. Maker knows what he would have done if the others hadn’t stopped him. 

He felt ashamed that they had seen him like that. That… Rook had seen him like that. 

It was then he realized. Lucanis put a hand on his forehead, sighing. In his haste to leave, he had forgotten to thank them. 

No matter. He shook his head. He wouldn’t let it happen again.

[invinciblerodent]

5, 13, and/or 17 for the rook + partner ask game(hi this is dissonant verses) please!!

Aww, hi! ❤️ Thank you for asking dear!

Question list here

I think I'm going to choose Verbena and Davrin-

5.) Do they have different cultural backgrounds (e.g. a Rook who was raised in Antiva with Harding who was raised in Ferelden)? If so, do they ever share parts of their culture with each other? If they're similar, how do they celebrate their culture together?

I love this question, because I love toying with this divide between them and how they bridge it!

Ver is a human and a Minrathous native, a city girl through and through (I alter the canon backstory slightly and say that she's originally from one of the many heavily Soporati- and Liberati-populated residential districts, but lost her family at around 8-10 years old in a fire, and moved into the thick of the city when the Mercars adopted her)- and not only is she most in her element in the city, it's specifically the nightlife of her part of the city that she's most immersed in. (She was pretty much nocturnal before she met Varric.)

Ever since she started living on her own at ~19, her usual haunt was one of the lower-income areas' entertainment districts that I'm calling "the Redbrick" (or Catsbane to the locals): now at 32, she's a security guard, a bouncer, a boots on the ground type of enforcer (and occasional double agent) the community turns to, and very much an "I know a guy who knows a guy" type of person within that bubble, which made her decently good at her "job" as a Shadow Dragon too.

Contrasting that with someone like Davrin who is of Dalish heritage, someone who doesn't feel very comfortable in the more densely populated areas (a la that banter with Bellara), and has little experience with the "city nightlife" that is most her comfort zone, I really like how they can relate to one another on the fundamentals, but still show each other something entirely new, no matter where they go.

Like, yes, initially she feels as out of place in Arlathan as he does in Minrathous. But people are people everywhere, your average Warden and Minrathous construction worker aren't entirely dissimilar (both have secrets, duties, people to protect), and there is beauty to be found in how backgrounds so disparate could still come together, and make them people who are nevertheless on the exact same wavelength a genuinely surprising amount of times.

I like to imagine that, partly because they're secure in the other's understanding and willingness to just roll with it, they get a kick out of showing each other things they've never seen before. In the same way as he shows her how to care for halla and shares about Dalish philosophies (like the Vir Tanadhal), she can also take him by the hand and show him things like... how to get people what they want so they'll get you what you want, where to get the best street food you've ever had, how to cheat at cards (and who not to bet money against), and, yeah, how formal Imperial military training (courtesy of her adoptive parents) and Warden training line up more than many would think.

It's like that perfect way, where on the surface they don't -or shouldn't- have much in common, but coming together, those differences make them stronger, better, wiser.

And, well, the sky over a Minrathous rooftop is still the same sky as the one over Arlathan forest. (Plus, I really like how that artbook illustration that seems to put them settled into a more remote cottage then kind of creates a little thesis-antithesis-synthesis moment, by placing them post-game into an area that's kind of perfect for them both by not being perfect for either. ❤️)

13.) What song(s) do you associate with them?

Not very many as of yet, but to continue with the "Ver is a nightlife girlie" theme lol, there is a kind of silly pick that always makes me smile-

I like to imagine that while Neve seems to like Cida Ciconia (with how she hums one of her songs at one point iirc), Ver's favorite lounge singer is a bit more ~dynamic~, someone who sings in seedier bars than the Swan (and in Trade, instead of Old Tevene), to rhythms you can actually dance to.

So I have this little pet thought I like to rotate in my head, that's just... her taking him out to her usual spot at one point, for a date (after getting past the "friends with benefits" beginning, and starting an actual relationship)(he showed her Arlathan and introduced her to Eldrin, she better show him her little slice of the city, and introduce him to her mentor-figure from her youth!), and this sort of thing being the moment when he most feels that the rug's been pulled from under his feet with this woman.

I don't know if I want to consider it "canon" for them that she'd half-guide, half-drag him to the dancefloor, but I do like the idea of maybe using that to toy with how dancing, it's a bit like sparring: the steps of the other may be different, but the goal and underlying rhythm is the same, and there's a lot of fun in just moving their bodies, together. (And, the lyrics are fun and bold, so I can imagine her mouthing them at him "jokingly", partly to just entertain him, and partly because it carries truth, which I like.)

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

The first thing that comes to mind is that I think humor is really important to the both of them, and they are very straightforward, and more physical people than most. His teasing, ribbing sense of humor was one of the first things that grabbed her attention ("Not bad! ..... for a Shadow Dragon."), and immediately this sort of goading of each other on became a foundational element to their friendship first, then eventually their romance.

I think besides that, some of her favorite things about him are his determination, his quickness (and willingness) to reassess a situation, and his adaptability. (I mean, was it on the day they met, that he didn't even hesitate to follow her into defending her city against a dragon?- with the emotional intensity of that whole thing, I wanna say that she kind of imprinted on him like a baby duckling then and there, lol.) She only discovered his dutifulness, his hidden softness, his creativity, and his caring nature later, but, yknow, finding all new things you like about your crush as you get to know them is kind of how it tends to go, lol. (Though she didn't let herself think further about those twinges of feelings until after Weisshaupt.)

And I like to imagine that it was largely the same for him: the introduction to Ver that Davin got was one of a woman who is willing to, blade out, jump to the defense of baby griffons against some ancient monster all of maybe five minutes after learning about their existence, and then drag him into a dragonfight in the heart of the Tevinter Imperium immediately afterwards. She's a whirlwind, always surprising, adventurous, bold and fierce but playful, she keeps him on his toes and off balance, but never in a way that'd be uncomfortable: she's not unkind, unjust, or cruel, and she can take a joke as well as she can give it. (And he kind of learned that all within the first two quests together, so he kinda speedran developing that interest in her too, lol.)

She makes him want to impress her, to push himself harder, and vice versa- and I really like that about their dynamic, how they make each other better just by being present, but also they bring out each other's softness and warmth that maybe (out of necessity) took a backseat before now.

[asa2705]

Well, my final thoughts after the last playthrough

The only thing I really don't have any complaints about is the locations, they are very beautiful. The third act is good, I liked it for the first time and I liked it in my last run. I like rogue combat style, so far my favourite in the series, the mage and warrior are so-so, I didn't really like it, especially mage, to be limited by just 3 spells is ridiculous. The armor design is atrocious, mods can save it in general, but without them 90% of armors can be just thrown away. Companions' armors should also be redone with retextures, otherwise they are as colorful as parrots.

All lore was completely abandoned, all the elves suddenly know that the gods were evil, don't tell me they belived Inquisition, that they considered a Chantry organisation or their own God of Lies. Qunari Rook walk around Minrathous and no one has questions, although it was said earlier that the kossiths are killed on spot. Qunari in general are just cannon fodder, Venatori are also faceless villains. Honestly, it's better not to think about the lore at all, the more you think, the more you understand how bad the situation is.

All dialogues are extremely simplified, the style is not consistent with the previous games, I'm done with hearing Yep answers. It was fine in ME but not in DA. Also if Rook is an elf, especially Veil Jumper, sometimes they speak like a Dalish, sometimes like a city elf, they could not decide who the main character is at all.

Companions:

I like Davrin's questline with the griffins, as well as the NPCs it involves, I liked Uncle Eldrin, he actually feld like DA character. I also like Bellara's questline in general, at least something really emotional in this game + she really grows into something by the end, especially if you choose her as the one who will be kidnapped, Neve looked strange in this role.

It is better to ignore Taash, the more you learn the worse it gets. I'd rather recruit their mother if I had a choice.

Neve, Lucanis are neither fish nor fowl, although the concept of their quests was not bad, the execution was average. The crows are too sanitized here, I think devs need to play DAO one more time or at least once for some. All this talks about Jacobus becoming a crow in the end... I felt just cringe.

Emmyric is not bad, but too positive, although the choice with Manfred is the only one that really makes you consider what is better.

I didn't like Harding. She's much more interesting and serious in DAI, here she's just a sweet cutie, I ended up always saving Davrin, because I don't care if she lives or not. I actually felt bad about Davrin.

The romances in this game, it doesn't matter whether they are present or not, nothing to say.

Only the male Rook voices are normal, I actually liked Voice 2, it was natural and pleasant mostly, the female ones are terrible, especially the British one, it's incredibly annoying.

The import of decisions from previous games is played out poorly, they said that they would leave everyone to decide for themselves what was before and not touch on it, but in fact they have their own canon that they imposed. I was kind of fine with 3 choices only, but no the way they executed it. Regarding the Inquisitor, the only thing that really matters is whether there was a romance with Solas or not, while the romance itself is just terrible in DATV. I think I was literally in rage after the final scene lol But this whining creature, drooling over Solas and forgiving him everything is not my Lavellan. I'm actually not a Solavellan fan, I prefer friendship path and think he has more chemistry with non elven Inquisitor, but I liked my Lavellan. It was not her at all.

Friendship path is the only one that looked good in DATV, at least it suited my Trevelyan. On the other hand there is no import of their possible hatred and dispuse for each other, but here if you import that Inqy swore to stop Solas at any cost, it looks like they were mostly friends but disagreed in the end of Trespasser.

I ended up playing in my last playthrough as a male elf, a veil jumper with a mod that returns cut Dalish lines, always choosing the most straightforward dialogues. This was mostly okay. Davrin and Bellara were also my constant companions. I wanted to romance Neve, but somehow it looked ridiculous, then switched to Bellara, and it turned out much more organic with some real chemistry, I imported my canon Inquisitor Trevelyan, well and after excluding everything I didn't like the previous times, this playthrough turned out more or less enjoyable. This is definetly not the way it supposed to be lol My first impression was better actually, it's when you try to analyse and replay the gane you trully realise how problematic it is.

I liked my Rook though this time

[volkoss]

Hello tumblr user volkoss I come bringing offerings of Thoughts About Them

Please consider: Johanna feeling wronged when Emmrich chooses to give up lichdom to bring back Manfred because how dare he need someone other than her waste his potential and make a fool of her for having lost to someone who came that close to lichdom and then chickened out

But also consider: her reaction when Emmrich became a lich and they were supposed to keep their situationship going forever only for him to get killed in the final battle in Minrathous. Will the lich lords even listen to her if she demands they bring him back? Would it be possible? Not because she cares of course it’s just that. Uhm. No one but her is allowed to kill him. Yes that’s it

And lastly a third scenario to imagine: Hezenkoss helping bullying Lich Emmrich into getting it together after a romanced Rook passes away because she hates to see him so depressed is not putting up with his melancholy for the rest of eternity

Hello, nonny! These are all such wonderful scenarios, so please know I am holding you tenderly in my heart for depositing them so generously into my inbox earlier today. I have also rotated some similar thoughts before, so I dare say we might be sharing a braincell! Some further considerations for your considerations: 1) I like to think this is pretty much canon if Emmrich chooses Manfred over lichdom, insofar as the wasted potential and making a mockery of her failures go. Headcanon-wise, I like to imagine another layer of Johanna's upset is that lichdom was something that she and Emmrich worked on together and he is not pulling his weight in the group project 😤 I do also like to think that she feels replaced by Manfred on some level. (All of the above is due to come up in Enduring Friendships, btw!) 2) YES. I love any explorations of Emmlich (even though I haven't written any myself yet) and the dramatic irony of him of going to all that effort to just... cark it at Minrathous is especially delicious. That being said, he is very insistent that his body be returned to the Necropolis should he fall in battle, so I suspect it might be likely that the lich lords would revive him anyway? It would be very funny for Johanna to not know that and make her demands anyway and for the lich lords to be basically be like, "girl, that was never in contention. also, how sweet of you to actually care" Aside: now imagining some fucked-up universe where Emmlich dies repeatedly (at Johanna's hands or by other mechanisms) but he just... keeps on being restored. It's free exposure therapy! 3) ALSO YES. Headcanon accepted for Emmlich universes. I'm doing something similar with my Manfred-route fics, so this outcome does not surprise me at all. Johanna should be bullying Emmrich at all times tbh. It's for his own good. Thank you again for sharing, and I hope you (and anyone reading this) has as much fun rotating these scenarios as I did!

[muwitch]

The Tower, Judgement and The Moon for Luc!!

tyyyyyyyyyyyyyy <3 these awesome asks again. God I was sitting head in hands with this, forgive my fuckin' fumbling with words I beg.

Also answered The Moon here!

The Tower: How does Rook respond to an unexpected catastrophe? 

Luc tends to rationalize it. 

There’s a PTSD sort of dread in him ever since his mother was assassinated, of ground slipping from under his feet, of being lost, of the world losing the sense of safeness. It was a catastrophe of his own with no direct control of it or the consequence, reliving it must be avoided at all costs.

As a direct result he has to force himself to make sense of some sort in his mind, so he can approach it from a fixing or acting perspective, because nothing probably breaks him as much as helplessness. If he takes it at face value, if he allows his emotions to get the better of him, it’ll be catastrophic.

It is catastrophic still, but in a different sort of way, of course.

He is incredibly stubborn and his mind immediately takes action as a form of self-preservation/defense mechanism, and it is a sort of evasion tactic that both makes him extremely fit for his job in Veilguard and doesn't allow him to properly process his grief or other complicated emotions. Which can result in a worse response in some situations he actually has no control over. Action is by default a sort of agency in the face of force of nature, action procures results (bad or good), and as long as he is not dead, that’s (probably) good. He should keep going. Trying. Doing something.

Usually he splits one big catastrophe into dozens of little ones, the ones that take away the scale, that thus look manageable, and he takes those tasks as Varric suggests - one step at a time. 

They share that with Neve actually, just to different degrees, where she actually takes time and stops and reflects, because her nature is to stop, ask questions and retrospect. Where Lucius usually accelerates and stuffs that time he should take off to the brim with action. Just as he does after Minrathous gets blighted. (He’s also guilt fueled and believes actions speak louder than words in general, but that’s just another question to tackle which will be answered below)

Often his rationalisation of events comes with detachment and  partial abandonment of humanity, acknowledgement, in a crude way, of some losses that already happened as a fact. Which is not always bad, and it ties to my answer here about his past.

There’s of course a point where his avoidant behaviour and familiar patterns don’t work - there always is the lowest point - when he exhausts himself to the brink and all the action and attempts to grasp the situation fail him. Then he overflows. I wouldn’t say a dam, I would say thunder. In a way it thrashes, rages and wanes, inevitably, against mountains that remain immovable. The way Luc would empty himself of all that he desperately pushed back and avoided is like a rage of wounded animal gnawing on himself.

Judgement: How does Rook approach difficult decisions? How do they cope with the consequences of those choices?

As I mentioned earlier it’s rationalisation. And justification. There should be people to make those uncomfortable decisions, and sometimes, much to everyone’s dismay, it’s up to him. 

There’s a certain level of resignation to be a scrapegoat sometimes, there’s a lingering sense he’s entitled to decide other times.

Some decisions allow him to actually weigh things out and choose lesser evil. Some don’t and Luc has to turn to his gut for that. I think in a way the game itself lays a good ground to watch how those decisions form in progression. Some come right off the bat and the consequences are horrific - as in the whole prologue of the game. Some later, but decision making once Veilguard is formed comes constantly and in a way I feel after Minrathous Luc numbs to them a lot. He takes initiative as well as blame and everything is kind of easier because of already crushing guilt. It doesn’t truly matter until the very end of the game what comes of him in the end, until that indifference and ability to push backfire.

I can’t say he doesn’t learn, quite the contrary (when seen in progression), but he stumbles a lot on the way. He believes for the longest time that he can endure. That if he operates and takes an important leap of faith himself it won’t hit others. 

As for coping…Oh lord.

I really liked the dialogue that was happening after Weisshaupt about the weight of decision making, where Luc resigns that he’s fine with whatever history makes of him, as long as there are people to judge, it means things haven’t been for naught. It's both, as I mentioned, exitus acta probat to an end, and a resignation he comes to after what happened to Minrathous. (Oh, Minrathous, we’re really in it now, I'm gonna use you as an example everywhere).

In reality he copes quite badly. The guilt that guy is capable of feeling is all-consuming, eating him alive and his only coping modus is action and exhaustion to the point of numbness to avoid facing it. Does it help? No. Does it backfire? Absolutely. Do I believe he would marinate in Regret Prison if not to a point external help? More likely than you think.

(Come on. This guy IS The Hanged Man.)

He’s also very good at lying to himself and others aka adopting the role that is expected of him, simultaneously masking his own need of help with coping by jokes and solving everyone else’s problems. I guess Lucius coping is type of an Ouroboros if you will: he does make himself cope because it is a difficult decision he must make, a sacrifice, and by making those decision he forces this “coping” of his upon himself as a punishment and doesn’t really allow room for mindful retrospection and living though emotions that come with the consequences of his actions.

[senseandaccountability]

Hi there! 2, 20 and 51 for solavellan from the otp ask game? 👀

2. What would they do if the other woke in a manic state after a nightmare?

Solas is really good at this, actually. He talks Ellana through it, instructs her how to breathe and holds her if she wants to. Ellana does the same, but more physical touch. And if all else fails, they have magic. 

20. Choose one song that perfectly describes their relationship.

God, my taste in music is really mostly punk and prog rock and some old and questionable indie pop, useless for shipping playlists unless the ship is Johnny Silverhand/V (their playlist is 16 hours long, lol). I guess for a Solas POV I’d go for Athlete’s “Chances”, a song that I only love because it was featured in a Doctor Who episode about Vincent Van Gogh that made me bawl so much. It's all about your cries and kisses Those first steps that I can't calculate I need some more of you to take me over I've no idea 'cause I can't calculate How to start again And maybe Sara Bareille’s Orpheus for Ellana POV. You miss the world /The one you knew The one where everything made sense / Because you didn't know the truth That's how it works Till the bottom drops out/ And you learn We're all just hunters seeking solid ground

A song for them together as an OTP would be Kate Bush’s Running up that hill. It's a vibe thing.

51 What’s a non verbal way they say I love you?

Actively choosing each other’s company over everyone and (almost) everything else. It’s a big thing because they are dutiful and solitary creatures and when Solas says that he wouldn’t mind her company, Ellana knows it for the gesture of deep affection that is. Seeking each other’s counsel, engaging each other in discussions about just about anything, touching each other - hands, it’s all about hands. 

Going with him to the Fade. Just kidding, mostly. But yeah, they’re freaks and nerds and absolutely prone to stupid grand gestures of love, both of them, and if Solas finds something that matches what Ellana did for him in Minrathous, he’ll do it. Probably. Until then, he will, er, serve her in whatever way he can think of.

Thanks for the ask! <3

[i-had-bucky]

Okay, my actual unfiltered veilguard thoughts! Keep in mind this is pretty much overwhelmingly positive. I adore this game; it is pretty much my IDEAL dragon age game.

So, the only complaints I have, I'll get out of the way right off: I wish we could take unlocked transmogs into new playthroughs, and I wish we could customize the inquisitor's prosthetic.

Other than that, though? This is my favorite game. It just edged out Jedi: Survivor. Of note: I played a crow and romanced Lucanis. I have seen the other romances, though I haven't played them yet. Lucanis's romance is my favorite. It's soft and sweet and full of yearning. I think being a Crow makes it better. You have to save Treviso to be able to romance him, which makes complete sense to me because Treviso is DEVASTATED if you choose Minrathous. So I haven't really understood the people saying it feels like a bug. Treviso is far worse than Minrathous if left to the blight and Lucanis is the effective head of the Crows; he's too busy for romance and doesn't trust that you'll come through for him. Also, I heard you don't get the imprisoned-in-his-mind scene if you save minrathous, which explains A LOT of the complaints I've seen about him as a character. To me, that's necessary to understand what he's going through, which is a lot, but if you put the work in, his romance is sooo worth it. It has joined Shakarian in my favorite video game romance.

The story is fantastic. The twist Got Me. Much like Rook, I ignored all the signs that are obvious in a subsequent playthrough because I didn't want to believe it! So it punched me in the gut and made me cry! But the reveal is a beautiful part of the story and definitely one of my favorites. Also, yes, I did sit there going surely the god of lies and trickery isn't lying and tricking me THIS TIME every time. It was great 10/10 no notes; love solas. Yes i did call him a lying flea bag and threaten to stab him. Still gave him his happy ending tho.

Also! The way all the sidequests are important to the main quest!! I love it! I love that decisions you make early in the game have an effect later! I love the reactivity. I love the choices; i love that there are sometimes huge consequences. This has always been one of my main complaints about video games, and dav gives it to me beautifully. Everything felt meaningful, from the side quests to building relationships with the factions, and with the companions.

Rook is my favorite video game protagonist ever. I love them. I was already sold, but the hand puns in Arlathan made it BETTER. I like that they are their own character, that they're kind of silly and snarky, but more than all of that, i love that they struggle! They struggle with the leadership, with building trust among their companions, with feeling like they're good enough. The scene in the infirmary after you get back from the fade prison just. It was so good. Also!! The fact that Rook can be nonbinary and it COMES UP IN THE GAME, IN THE STORY, THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO THEM. That in itself would have sold the game for me, honestly. It meant so much to me to have that. I cried about it.

Anyway, longwinded way of me saying I love this game, I will play it forever; it means so much to me. If you're still on the fence about it, I do recommend it. I recommend it especially for anyone who liked mass effect 2 because it felt a lot like that at points.

[vaguely-concerned]

severing the connection of the titans to themselves, each other and their children, to the world, and with it severing the connection of the dwarves to their true nature, the basic state of love and belonging that should be their birthright. ("our children, orphaned".) severing the connection between rook and the reality and true memory of varric, and thus from themselves and their own healing grief AND love. (do we spot the echo, perhaps?) severing (mostly accidentally this time, I'll give him that) the connection between the fade and the real world, dream and reality.

the scale we're operating on varies from the mythic, the cosmic and existential, to the individual and deeply, nauseatingly intimately personal, but it's the same pattern every time. solas keeps committing the same act of enforced dissociation, of creating orphaned pain that cannot even know itself, estranged from its own history, origins and coherence, unhealable in being impossible to recognize for what it is and thus unreachable. (hello lucanis in the minrathous saved route btw. this theme echoes everywhere when you look for it. I do love this game.) making others strangers to themselves for his own purposes and being surprised when it blows up in his face horrifically once more even when it's his same indelible original sin repeated, again and again and again. dissociation is a natural process the mind uses to protect itself from unbearable pain, but to knowingly cause that in someone, to play around with their connection to themselves and reality so fundamentally, to further your own cause... yeah, I'm not surprised the fabric of the world keeps tearing apart in protest in response to that, there's something so unspeakably insidiously wrong about it. forget snacking down on apples and knowing yourself to be naked or whatever, that sounds like a perfectly blameless if presumably slightly chilly afternoon to me -- force-feeding someone else their own fragmentation for your own gain, however ostensibly worthy your final goal, feels much closer to what real sin would be to me. and even worse because *buries face in hands* he just keeps doing it!!! he should know better, but he keeps doing it!!!!!!

I know I keep joking that solas only has the like three basic moves he keeps rearranging to invent new and spectacular ways of doubling down on making the same mistake yet again, but looking at it like this it's almost not even funny anymore haha. (almost. there is a hysterical amusement and affection that rises within me every time I see his smug little face, we cannot choose who we love only what we do about it.) and the worst thing is that I think he could learn! I do believe he has the capacity, the depth of empathy and soul and intellect, to learn from this, had he chosen to do so, had he let himself pause and truly listen at any point. but at the end of the day, even all these thousands of years later and with the mountains of guilt he lugs around, he chooses not to. and I suspect it's because he fundamentally does not actually understand what he did wrong. on his way to, ostensibly, fix one of these splits he caused, that of the veil, he basically goes and does to rook's mind what he did to the titans, and without the hand of mythal guiding it or anyone else culpable in it with him this time, as if to underline twice that in all these thousands of years he has learned absolutely nothing! almost to an impressive degree! does he even recognize that it's the same thing he's doing? does he even actually afford rook and their internal world that much thought to begin with, aside from what purpose they can serve for him? I'm not so sure. and to do it all with varric's face, with the person he took from them, making them feel complicit in it when they find out, the same way the dwarves will have to grapple with the fact that their whole economy is based in unwittingly selling the blood of like. god. their parents. themselves. solas. babe. what the fUCK. what the fuck. what the fuck.

perhaps part of the blind spot comes down to the way it's the inverse of his own trauma. solas knows exactly what happened to him because it's the endless ache at the center of his existence, the thing -- the first mistake -- he can't escape or undo or forget, nor bring himself to accept: he became real, one coherent set self, with no way back to what and who he was. and what he does with that pain, his one move, is to make others not-real. to himself, and more alarming still to themselves. he makes them forget, as he cannot forget. does he think it's mercy, in some way? does he realize how and why that makes it all so much worse??? and... not quite the same thing, but when mythal dies the structure of his own inner world falls apart catastrophically, and in his vengeance for that, even unintentionally, he imposes that same unravelling on the world. we've all heard the lines about spirits mirroring the real world and what you bring into your relationship with them being what you get in return, but how about the tragedy of the inverse -- the world being brought to mirror you, despite what your intentions might have been going in. no one should have that power, but you claimed that power yourself to do something else and now you have to look into that mirror forever. no such mercy as forgetting yourself for you. you are everywhere now, this broken mirror of a world will reflect yourself back to you no matter where you look. perhaps it would feel easier to simply close your eyes and walk on willfully blindly. AGH it's all so delicious and fucked up and makes me feel absolutely nuts

dissociation is something that's also central in iron bull's character and internal conflict, so presumably this is simply a deep theme trick weekes keeps returning to/is interested in exploring in their writing! and the elegance with which it's done and how inextricably yet subtly embedded in the narrative it is both with bull and overall in veilguard means it's not always engaged with or recognized as I feel it deserves, but to me personally it is Everything and gets at it in ways that feel weirdly real and authentic.

[broodwoof]

plans for my as-yet-unnamed rook. major spoilers:

she's going to encourage taash to embrace their qunari heritage - mostly for projection reasons, altho she isn't aware she's doing that. but ik my rook is from an alienage and that she feels disconnected from her own heritage, moreso over the course of the game. she wants to understand what it means to be an elf, but she refuses to think about it so she hasn't gotten to the point where she realizes she is an elf, regardless of what she does or doesn't know. that it isn't a personal failing to not be dalish. so yeah, projection city!

going to save minrathous. don't really have an in-character reason for this sm as i just wanna see what that looks like for both cities, but i'll probably find a way to swing it to be smth that makes sense for her

going to turn the griffons over to the wardens

going to choose neve for the end-game thing

i really don't know whether she's going to choose lace or davrin though.... on the one hand, i want to choose davrin bc i chose lace last time and i want to see the differences. on the other, i'm leaning towards having her romance davrin and that'd be... oof. and on the third hand (ghilly moding it rn) i think that she would romance davrin and she would choose him to lead the distraction team. bc she's a grey warden, too; she knows that they're willing to sacrifice themselves, she knows what he's capable of, and she knows that if he falls, she can still take down the archdemon. and she's not the type to let her feelings get in the way of combat decisions. and i do kinda want to see what happens if you're romancing him and he's killed... but i kinda want to see what happens if you're romancing him and he lives.... ough i want to see it all

[apostatively]

Exactly this. It’s what made the most sense to me, based on A.) the undeniable fact that Varric helps Rook escape from the Fade prison, which regardless of the sloppy characterization choices I cannot imagine Solas delegating time and energy towards while he’s very busy infiltrating Minrathous to finish an eons-old fight, and B.) a very specific conversation Rook has with Varric in the infirmary towards the start of the game.

After Rook & Co. retrieve the lyrium dagger from the ritual site, Varric expresses shock at recognizing the dagger. No matter what response Rook chooses they don’t get it. Varric has to tell them that he recognizes the dagger as being shaped from the lyrium idol in Kirkwall. (This also contradicts what the devs have told us, that Varric never tells Rook anything they don’t already know.)

Now, Solas also knows about the origins of the dagger, since he was the one who would have had to retrieve and reshape it. He could have told Rook this using Varric’s form, but to what end? There is no point to bringing this up, and Varric trails off and changes the subject with no further point except his remembrance of the object. Beyond general encouragement “through��� Varric and in conversations with Solas in the prison, we see that Solas is very careful with what information he gives to Rook. He almost never says anything beyond general tactical advice and what he knows to be true of Elgarnan and Ghilan’nain’s natures. It wouldn’t behoove him to give free info to Rook about a magical item that Rook might be able to come to further conclusions about on their own, maybe to potentially use against Solas himself. And it’s also just OOC (for what that’s worth at this point) for him to point out a strange detail just to go “Huh, weird,” and move on.

But this artifact/dagger was tied to one of the most harrowing moments in Varric’s life - the day it changed forever in so many ways. It’s symbolic of a terrible time befalling his city, emblematic of a long adventure that bonded him to his friends, and an omen of ill will for the red lyrium that would soon dominate the South. Varric himself wouldn’t be able to avoid saying something if Rook suddenly appeared with that artifact in their hand. It’s too important to him personally, and thus it would make absolute sense for Varric to point this detail out for no other purpose but his own surprise, and a possible warning to Rook that the dagger is not to be underestimated due to its impact on Varric’s own life.

So the possible reasons for this scene are:

1.) the driving force behind Varric’s apparition changed multiple times throughout production and this is a scene from a more Varric-driven direction that made it into the Solas-driven final cut;

2.) like the rest of Veilguard, the scene suffers from continuity errors and meandering writing that often results in conversations that have no point; or.

3.) Varric/his lingering spirit/a Fade spirit influenced by him/etc. has autonomy in this moment, and possibly beyond this one instance, and is informed by Varric’s true self as much as or more than Solas’ imitation of him.

For my own enjoyment as someone who loves Varric and feels his character was deeply disrespected and literally discarded in this game, I choose to believe the latter for my own satisfaction. I also think it would have been interesting if Rook learned in the Fade prison that some interactions with Varric were illusions created by Solas, and some were Varric’s spirit, and there were little tells which one they were speaking with in a given scene. But there are a lot of things I wish about how this plotline was executed…still, long story long, I definitely feel that we shouldn’t write off the real Varric being captured here in some way.

Fuck. I think the “friend in the Fade” isn’t Hawke…

It’s Varric. Sending a gift to Rook.

[invinciblerodent]

Far into Ver as I am, I'm kinda also having a good time thinking about all the future plans I have for my other characters I plan to play.

I think Tristan and Marcus are both also going to choose to save Minrathous, and Coris and Tanner are going to choose Treviso. (I'm not yet sure about Syl, but her whole Deal is gonna be symbolically choosing between Neve and Bellara, so I'll have to see how she feels once I get there with her.)

Tristan is a Grey Warden. He's no stranger to making uncomfortable choices that hurt people, but ultimately are made in service of the greater good- if Minrathous falls, then the Imperium also falls, and then there's nothing to stop the Antaam from expanding further and further South- first through Tevinter, then the Marches, and if Orlais falls, the entire South falls. It's unfortunate that Treviso has to be the one to pay that price, but... someone has to. In Death, Sacrifice.

Marcus, I'm also thinking of as a fairly pragmatic person- he's on the Mourn Watch, he's gonna be a scholar, and I quite like the thought of him being especially invested in stopping the Venatori in particular. They're the living representation of all the worst things magic can do: they control, they destroy, they enslave, and even beyond the immediate threat they represent, there is an ideological reason for standing against them.

Neither of these guys are thinking about the city specifically, not in the way Verbena did (honestly, to her, what Neve said there was like the fucking icy terror unzipped her spine, and there was immediately no way she would choose otherwise- it was an emotional choice, a personal choice, and one she believes in her heart as well as her mind was the closest to a right choice that she could make), I don't think they've ever even been there- but they both have their reasons for why they'd choose to prioritize it over Treviso.

While Coris, to her, Treviso is as much of a home as it is to Lucanis- and, I'm pretty sure that'll be the first moment when she looks and Lucanis, and doesn't see the hated First Talon's repulsive grandson she's been playing the nice girl for, but him, for the man he is. That'll likely be their first moment of genuine bonding, as Crows, as people, and it'll set a shaky foundation for their future relationship being something genuine, too.

And Tanner, well... I figure that she isn't one for ideology. As a Lord of Fortune, she's going to be thinking about the people, first and foremost- the Blight in the waterways, the innocent bystanders, all those who can't protect themselves. Minrathous is, simply put, far more capable of defending itself. With its military, its magic, its covert militia of Shadows, it simply has a better shot than Treviso is with its handful of assassins and people already straining under the weight of the Antaam.

Treviso is flying on a hope and a prayer, and even though in the metagaming way we can know that Minrathous, too, falls... well, at that moment, it sounds like Treviso needs the help more.

I think I'm satisfied with these choices so far, but I'll be really interested in seeing where Syl falls. She'll be a Veil Jumper, a city elf originally, and from Orlais no less- she needs a lot more developing until I can figure out where she falls in all this.

[queenaeducan]

We Tame the Sky

Pairing: f!Cadash / Josephine Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No warnings apply

In the quiet before the final approach on Haven, Thora Cadash and Josephine share a moment together in Skyhold's chapel.

Written as a fill for Spronky as a part of the @sapphic-solstice event!

Read on AO3 here.

Sitting in the quiet of Skyhold’s chapel, Thora begins to see why her ancestors favoured the stone so. Being born Casteless she had always been as likely to choose a sun-soaked field over a well-lit cave, but tonight is different. Outside, the light breaks in a sickly green over the Frostbacks, scattering across the sky like a spotlight through the pieces of a shattered mirror. Thunder rumbles without storm clouds, booming with Corypheus’ ambition. Beneath the stone chapel ceiling it's not easy to forget the chaos that threatens to tear their world asunder, but peace seems a little more feasible here. The harsh light of a Breach wrenched open is blocked out by a heavy wooden door, and she sits awash in the scent of incense, beneath the watchful eyes of the Maker’s chosen.

She kneels before Andraste, her hopes and dreams clasped between her palms as they come together in prayer. She sings a prayer for those who will ride beside her into the abyss, perhaps never to return, a prayer for those she’s leaving behind, with nothing but belief to buoy their hopes for the future.

And one for herself, should Andraste have any grace to spare.

“You have walked beside me Down the paths where a thousand arrows sought my flesh. You have stood with me when all others Have forsaken me.”

The prayer for the despairing comes too easily to her, the hymn had played a companion to her countless times through the years, but never had its words rang more clearly in her heart than tonight, as she steeled herself to face Corypheus one last time. She can’t pretend she knows what was in Andraste’s heart as she stood before the gates of Minrathous with her army at her flank, but this is likely the closest she’ll ever come to knowing.

“I am not alone. Even As I stumble on the path With my eyes closed, yet I see The Light is here.”

Though the chant evokes the Maker’s light, it’s no longer His face she sees as she closes her eyes, lips pressed against her thumbs in reverent devotion. Before Him come the faces of her friends, the brilliance of Cassandra’s sword as it cleaves through their foes, the glow of Solas’ staff as he cuts through the Deep Roads’ dark, the soft gleam in Josephine’s eye as a smile spreads her lips. Heavensent or no, those were the lights that had gotten her this far.

“There you are.” The sound of Josephine’s voice startles Thora from her prayer, with thoughts of her so near at hand she’d almost thought she imagined it. She looks over in time to see her step lightly through the door, her slippers just a whisper against the floor. “I had thought to find you in the garden, but…” The distant roar of the Breach completes her thought in fewer words. She’d often take her evening prayers beneath the bows of the maple trees, preferring their sanctuary to the small chapel that harboured most of Skyhold’s believers, but she’ll find no peace under them tonight— nor any night until her job is done. Josephine’s lips turn in a smile, a practised expression Thora had seen persist in the darkest circumstances, but it strains now. “Well, what matters is I’ve found you now.”

Thora’s words stick in her throat, all she can do as she rises to her feet is stare dumbly. There always seems too much to say between herself and Josephine to know where to begin.

Thankfully, Josephine always seems to find a way. “I suppose it won’t be long now,” she says.

“It’s just a matter of time.” She wishes they could find anything other than the oncoming fight to talk about, but it may be asking too much of them both. Corypheus is difficult to ignore even at the best of times, now that the ruins of Haven tremble at their doorstep every thought is stained by his influence. “I thought I’d see if I could get a few words in before we set out.”

This time the smile that graces Josephine’s features sneaks up on her, chased by a short breath of laughter. “If it’s good fortune you’re after, I may have just the thing.” Before Thora can so much as ask, the ambassador produces a flag of cloth from the folds of her doublet, flourishing it with a street magician’s flair. “Do you recognise it? The pattern, that is.” She proffers it forward, supporting the fabric with the tips of her fingers so the image lays flat before her eyes. She doesn’t need long to know what she’s looking at (she’d spent far too many hours looking for the blasted thing to ever mistake it): a proud ship sails across an unruly sea, the bow cutting through choppy waves and rendering them calm.

“Your family crest…”

“Soon its likeness will fly above a fleet of ships that will rival the great houses of Antiva, but this one is yours.”

“Mine?”

She nods. “My favour may not have the same weight as Andraste, but if it can accompany you where I cannot, then I give it gladly. May I see your hand?”

Thora immediately extends her right arm, then draws it back just as quick. “No, wait,” she says, offering forward the other, fingers closed into a loose fist to contain the faint buzz of the Anchor. “This one could probably use it more.”

“Naturally.” She winds the handkerchief up so it resembles a bracelet, coiling the fabric up like a rope and measuring it against her slender wrist before she tries Thora’s. Curled ringlets coil around her ears as she leans over to tie it properly, and in all the chaos of Corypheus’ attack she’s still found the presence of mind to perfume herself. Thora discovers this herself as she breathes slowly, and tries to forget her daydreams. “I’m afraid I’ve little else to offer but my hopes, Corypheus has proven most resilient to my charms.” The fabric slides across the smooth finish of her gauntlets without purchase, and then again, each time reset by the patient hand of Lady Montilyet. At last it catches against the details, winding around dwarven runes that spell the Cadash house words in an alphabet that rarely saw sunlight. The sight of her words and the Montilyet crest winding together around her wrist moves something in her. It creeps up her ribs and into her throat and blossoms. Not for the first time since they’ve met, Thora finds herself grateful you can’t choke to death on love.

She ties the knot once, twice, and Thora thinks she sees some reluctance as they fall away to her sides. “May you tame the sky as we tamed the sea, Lady Cadash,” she says in a trembling voice, her words straining against her fears.

“Josephine, I—” Brown eyes rimmed with tears look up at Josephine. The sharp end to her sentence is a keen reminder that while she can’t choke to death on love, she sure can still choke. “I’m…” What she wants to say more than anything feels selfish to say, now more than ever, when her death is so near at hand. What good would it do her to die with no regrets, if it meant sentencing Josephine to a lifetime of them? She grinds her hopes beneath her heel, and tells herself that, should she live to see morning, there’ll be nothing stopping her anymore.

Even if it’s a lie, it’s a lie that can get her through this moment.

“Thank you,” she manages after a moment of tear-induced silence. “I’m... I don’t- I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” She folds her hands around Thora’s, cupping the armour-clad knuckles between tender fingers, like her glove was wrought with silk and not steel. “Just come back to us, please.”

Her heart constricts with the burden of a promise she may not keep. The sky calls her name, spelling her doom in the air with the ruins of her first failure, but Josephine’s words have worked miracles for her before. “I’ll do my best, I always— oh.” A distant horn blows, signalling her departure, and their farewell. Eyes laced with tears, she turns to the statue of Andraste as though she were a friend forgotten in the tide of the conversation. “I didn’t get to finish.”

The threads of Josephine’s smile start to unravel, grief twisting the manners from the corners of her lips. “I will finish it for you, Inquisitor,” she says in a voice laid thick with tears she wants desperately to dab from her cheeks. “Go with Andraste’s grace.” Her hands tremble as they release Thora’s, only finding stability as they lace together in prayer. As her footsteps echo with her retreat, she hears Josephine’s voice lift in song, words burdened with her weeping but warm with the Maker’s light.

“Draw your last breath, my friends. Cross the Veil and the Fade and all the stars in the sky. Rest at the Maker's right hand, And be Forgiven.”

[electricshoebox]

first lines meme

Tagged by: @poemsfromthealley, thanks so much! This was fun!

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!

I’m gonna do those of these that are part of a series in series order, and then the rest in posting order. For a few, I’ve included one or two more lines after the first to put it in better context.

1. A Line in the Sand (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, multi-chapter, complete): 

The first time Deacon lays eyes on Robert Joseph MacCready, he’s sitting at a beer-stained high top table in the Third Rail, because where else would you find someone shady, untrustworthy, and not currently out getting paid for it?

2. Another Shore: Scenes from the Other Side (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, reverse POV and missing scenes from ALITS, WIP)

MacCready knocks back the last of his beer, tipping his head back until the last drop hits his tongue.

3. We Have Not Touched the Stars (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, oneshot, part of the ALITS series)

“Come on, Deacon, she said it was going to start at midnight!”

4. The Eye of the Storm (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, sequel to ALITS, WIP)

“On your left!”

Deacon crouches back behind a splintered reception desk as he shouts across the lobby. 

5. By Any Other Name (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, oneshot, part of the ALITS series)

MacCready drums his fingers on the neck of his beer bottle, once and then again.

6. Only Human (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, oneshot, part of the ALITS series)

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

MacCready shoulders out of the elevator as soon as the doors roll back.

7. Rearrange the Stars (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, part of the ALITS series, WIP collection of oneshots)

Deacon’s not used to gentle wake up calls.

8. Siren Song - Part I (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, noir-inspired AU, twoshot)

MacCready pulls the last of his cigarette to his lips as he reaches the end of the block.

9. On the Rocks - Part II (Fallout 4, Deacon/MacCready, noir-inspired AU, twoshot)

When the knock comes on Deacon’s door this time, he doesn’t ask who it is. He knows, even before it gets elbowed open on its own.

10. Broken Masks (Critical Role, Caleb & Nott friendship, oneshot)

She doesn’t deserve this.

She wraps herself in rags, and he covers himself in dirt, and they move through the streets like shadows where the lights can’t reach.

11. Between Sunset and Sunrise (Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur/Charles with past Arthur/John, oneshot)

The dark tents scattered around the hunching ruins of Shady Belle light up at the sound of hooves on the foot bridge.

12. In the Shadow of Dreams (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull, Inception AU)

Sand. He felt it under his fingers, against his cheek, scraping beneath his horns as he turned his head.

13. Counting the Cost (Dragon Age 2, Orana/Merrill, oneshot)

For a long time, Orana simply stood on the threshold. Behind her, there was a clatter of wood crates and the heavy clink of metal as the alienage merchants shuttered their stalls for the evening.

14. To Have and to Hold (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull, Trespasser oneshot)

The first time Dorian’s parents brought him to a wedding he was eight years old, and it rained.

15. The Lady Herself (Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Randy Dowager/Female Dwarf OC, oneshot)

Petra never grew tired of the sound of her own heels on marble. Even all these years later, when silk curtains and shining floors had long ago lost their novelty, the crisp echo always made her feel so important. 

16. Resolution (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull, oneshot)

The last night of the year fell on Skyhold with snow.

17. Till the Stars Fall Out of the Sky (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull, oneshot)

Evening is falling when the Bull reaches the winding lane that leads up to their villa.

18. Dawn (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull, oneshot)

Minrathous fell still in the hour before dawn, as the sky turned the heavy gray of a night yielding.

19. Something Sweet (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull, oneshot)

Autumn comes quickly to Skyhold. The handful of snowless weeks that pass for a summer yield easily back to crisp, frostbitten winds, and whatever green crept into the foliage flees again, the trees turning gold and brown.

20. May This Night Keep You Here (Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull, oneshot)

Dorian finds Bull on a stool by his hearth, his greataxe resting across his legs, his head bent to the task as he cleans the dust of Redcliffe from it.

Well, what I’m learning is in my older pieces I relied a lot on weather and time of day to open things and set the scene. And now I tend to tie my openings to physical actions, or two start with dialogue, things that almost make it feel in medias res. I’d like them to have a little more impact and interest in the future, so this was an interesting exercise to kind of examine that! I think my favorite is the opener to To Have and to Hold. 

Tagging: @adventuresofmeghatron, @molliehaswords, @velvet-verve, @valkyriejack, @diredigression, @desynchimminent, and anyone else that would like to! No pressure as always, this was just for fun.