#rook's polycule

[sadrithmoras]

more self indulgent veilguard ramblings

just locked in davrin romance w my mourn watch rook .... super cute scene <3 but it makes me giggle thinking of the shenanigans that happened before this bc of me messing around w lucanis and neve as well.

i was always planning on romancing davrin but i really just cant help myself with flirt options and i always play through these types of games like my team is one big fucked up polycule or something (ESPECIALLY da2). this game really is good for that because of all the pre-commitment romance scenes. but thinking about it through an in character perspective is so funny esp when you take into account lucanis and davrin interactions + lucanis and neve. like those four are in some kinda love...square. rook is putting the moves on neve, lucanis, and davrin, lucanis and neve have their thing going on, davrin and lucanis are on their enemies to lovers bs (and lowkey neve and rook were like that after the whole treviso/minrathous debacle too).

one messy jumble of feelings which finally ends up settling in lucanis/neve and rook/davrin. and the funny thing is as soon as i got back from arlathan with dav, i got the scene were he and lucanis are drinking together having a grand old time LOL in my head neve joins them and rook later, and theyre just back to being friends like none of that all happened

[the-raven-and-the-tower]

LUCANIS: What now? What's that look?

NEVE: Turns out you can smile. A real one. And more than once!

LUCANIS, as though irked: Of course I can... (sighs) I'm guessing there's a point to your observations?

NEVE: Only that Rook's good for you.

ROOK, embarrassed: Straight to the point.

LUCANIS: She's right, though.

NEVE, pleased: See? Now, isn't that sweet?

[mellosdrawings]

What's that? I finally took the time to make an actual character sheet for my Yuusona?

Yuu

17 years old, 1st year

They/them, probably on the aro/ace spectrum though they never really thought about it (they do get weird when people show interest in them)

Half Japanese half french

Probably has some flavor of AuDHD

Back home: Before they were kidnapped forcefully moved to Twisted Wonderland, they were the main caretaker of four younger siblings while their parents were busy working. One of their main worry now is whether their siblings are doing alright without them. Their deepest wish is to at least be able to phone call their family to reassure them that they are ok.

Personality: They usually prefer to stand to the side and observe rather than talk and engage with others. They tend to be very prudent with their actions, up until their patience runs out. They're actually pretty perceptive and great at reading others, they just keep everything to themself without realizing.

They make up their absence of magic with their fists and wits. People tend to underestimate them due to their size and quiet demeanor, but they can be vicious and ruthless when push comes to shove. They are not very expressive physically.

At school: Yuu has a terrible focus so they struggle a lot, even when the subject interests them. They are very fond of History of Magic but also hates it because learning a whole world's history in a few months only is a nightmare and a half. They also hate flying with a passion since they are scared of heights. If they could choose a club, Yuu would go for photography and/or filming.

At Ramshackle: Yuu cleans the dorm as a past time, it keeps their body moving while they're thinking about what problem they currently have. They hate cooking though, so when the cafeteria isn't accessible they try to cram themselves in whichever dorm will have them to enjoy someone else's cooking. They aren't very time savvy so they and Grim keep leaving late in the mornings.

Relationships (with Housewardens/OB)

Yuu has a soft spot for Riddle. Unless it's some rule they find completely nonsensical they tend to do whatever Riddle asks. Whenever Yuu comes to class with a clean uniform, it's because Riddle was around to correct their appearance.

Yuu and Leona's relationship is peak siblinghood. Once Yuu figures out that Leona won't act on (half of) his threats, it's over for him. He's one of the first Yuu comes to when they have a problem.

Yuu and Azul regularly try to outsmart each other. At first their interest with Azul is very transactional since he can help with everything Crowley can't be bothered to do (ie give Yuu an actual legal presence in this world) but since they have somewhat similar mindsets they end up getting along very well.

Yuu values Kalim's presence a lot. He's one of the rare pure hearted people at school so Yuu doesn't have to be hyper vigilant around him. It's a breath of fresh air. He is a bit too active for Yuu though, so they tire very fast around him.

"It takes one liar to know another" would be Jamil and Yuu's relationship starter. They had weird vibes from each other from the very start but Jamil did end up underestimating Yuu. Yuu is obsessed with Jamil's hair and regularly takes pictures of him.

Yuu is kinda scared of Vil (in a good way). If they were a tad more outgoing they'd be asking Vil to pose for their camera 24/7. Instead they quietly worship him.

If Yuu could, they'd adopt Idia (and Ortho). Yuu tends to miss their siblings all the time so they get a bit emotional around them both.

Yuu loves to observe Malleus. He's some kind of very strange entity that they can't get enough of and they don't understand half of what he talks about which tickles their curiosity a lot.

Yuu treats Grim like their own cat and plushie. They hold him in their arm as much as possible (until Grim gets tired of it and wanders off somewhere else) because it reassures them. They do fight a lot, a bit like siblings, but they also look out for the other all the time. Yuu sometimes agree to cook for Grim despite hating it.

Relationships (the less fun kind):

Since they're in a world they don't know with students who try to kill them every couple months, Yuu is very defensive in how they approach relationships. Everything starts as transactional and about how "useful" someone can be to keep around. They try to keep even the people they don't really get along with close for this reason.

They are actually very emotional (despite not showing it) so their heart takes precedence over their brain eventually. Despite not being particularly proactive they do go out of their way to help the ones they're close to.

[pomefioredove]

You know what would be sad? If you/Yuu breaks up with Vil (or vice versa) and then runs to Rook afterwards. I wonder if Vil is going to feel betrayed again? If you could do a little scenario for this, that’d be great!

this is such a good prompt, I love rebound scenarios omg. needed this today. and here comes rook with the steel chair!!!

summary: getting dumped by vil schoenheit type of post: long fic characters: rook additional info: romantic, established relationship, vil breaks up with reader, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu, kinda angsty, hahhhh, my god

"It's not personal. I just don't think it's fair to you," Vil says.

He doesn't fidget. Maintains perfect eye contact. He doesn't even try to act sorry, which, perhaps, is what stings the most.

He's supposed to be an actor, after all.

That's what this is all about.

"You must have always known this was a possibility," he says. "My schedule is getting busier, I simply don't... want to push you away."

Each word is spoken with a honeyed softness, as if he's trying to cushion the blows. It doesn't help.

Your heart thuds in your chest, your eyes burn. This is the worst thing you've ever experienced. You would take a thousand overblots over this. Any day.

What a bitter sentiment.

"You don't mean to push me away. What is this, then?"

A look of guilt finally crosses Vil's face, cracking the mask of professionalism he'd been hiding behind. It offers little comfort.

His brow furrows, and he sighs. "A preventative measure. It would hurt more if I'd waited,"

A million questions fly through your mind, faster than you can catch them. You want to shout, to tell him exactly how he's making you feel, to ask him who he thinks he is- but all you can manage is a stare.

He frowns, extending a hand as if to caress your face, but you turn on your heels and leave before he has the chance.

You wouldn't sit there and let him make a fool of you any longer.

You had become comfortable with the Pomefiore dorm in the past few months, but today, its elegance feels suffocating. The white and gold decor seems to mock you, every vase of perfect flowers laughing at your imperfection as you pass them by.

It hurts.

Stings, burns, makes you feel like you're drowning in a sea of perfume, choking on lilac and rose. Has the air here always been so sickeningly sweet?

There's still a lingering part of you that wants to run back to him, to beg, to negotiate, but you know he's right. You hate that he's right.

This... whatever it was... wouldn't last.

And you'd always known it.

---

How does one recover from being dumped by Vil Schoenheit?

Short answer: you can't.

You can wallow all you want, drowning yourself in the unhealthy foods he forbade you from eating, skipping the classes he'd so encouraged you to excel in, and using cheap tissues on your formerly-perfect skin, but that doesn't change a thing.

Perhaps if it hadn't been so public, you might have pulled yourself together sooner. But the very second all of your pictures were gone from his profile, everyone knew.

On some nights, you'd torture yourself by reading the thirsty comments from desperate fans under his latest posts, all of them pointing out his recent singleness. You would wonder to yourself if you had sounded that pathetic when you were dating Vil.

Just another hopeless, desperate fan, hoping for a piece of him.

People on campus avoided you. Not out of fear, but pity, a lack of knowing what to say. How do you even comfort someone after this?

It was like having an open wound on full display. No matter how you tried to bandage it, it kept bleeding through.

Even Grim was keeping his distance.

What little comfort came in the form of an anonymous knight in shining armor. Roses left at your doorstep, letters of love and encouragement on your assigned seats, little baskets full of your favorite foods and trinkets on your kitchen table...

You would have questioned it if you were not so consumed by your grief. At least the mystery offered a distraction.

"Another one," Ace comments, pulling a letter off your chair before you can sit on it. "Whoever this guy is, he's slick."

He hands you the letter, which you gracefully accept.

Deuce watches cautiously. "And you're sure it's not just... some kinda of prank, right? I've known my fair share of nasty types, this could be a trick."

"Too much effort," you shake your head. "I mean, whoever this is is spending a lot of time and money cheering me up. Not to mention... I've tried looking up some of these poems, and no matches. They're originals."

You wave around the letter in hand, a faint smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "Though, I'm sure whoever's doing it is just being nice,"

"Nice. Right," Ace rolls his eyes. "Cause I know like, a million teenage boys who are just dying to write poetry for their friends."

Even Deuce snickers at that. You roll your eyes.

"Point taken. I guess I just can't believe that anyone would want me after..." you pause. There's no pleasant way to put it, so you let Ace and Deuce fill in the blanks.

"Hey, Vil is a jerk. He doesn't deserve you," Deuce says. "And trust me, if I ever catch him disrespecting you again-"

Ace scoffs. "Woah, there, tiger. Calm down. Vil could kick your ass and we all know it,"

"He really was something, wasn't he?" you sigh, slumping in your seat. Ace and Deuce give each other a panicked look.

"We didn't mean-"

"No, I get it," you say, reaching down to the floor in an attempt to touch your toes. Vil had told you that little exercises help calm the nerves. You hate how you still need his advice.

"Oh, hey, look," you sit back up, another pink envelope in hand. "Another one."

---

There's something about these gifts that doesn't sit right with you.

Each one is arranged to perfection, obviously crafted by a very thoughtful individual, just personal enough to suit your tastes but distant all the same.

It's almost as if the sender is holding something back.

But, not today.

You're greeted by a trail of rose petals leading up to Ramshackle's front door, which itself is ajar. Not uncommon, considering Grim's inability to take care of the makeshift dorm, but with the scent of roses and the candlelight inside, you know it's something more.

You walk in, setting your things aside, and continue following the path of petals into the kitchen, where a rickety wooden table has been set for two.

You, however, are the only one in the room.

"Hello?" you ask, turning in circles. The space is empty, save for a small letter on one of the chairs.

Beautiful,

A little bird told me you doubt the intentions of my admiration. I must amend that immediately, and I see no better way than to say it myself.

Yours truly.

"Trickster," a familiar voice comes from the doorway behind you, and you whirl around to face your admirer.

"Rook!" you gasp, clutching the letter to your chest.

He beams in response. "Oui, c'est moi. Though I was so enjoying the mystery, I feel it's time I made my intentions clear. Sit, please,"

You don't hesitate to follow his suggestion (the surprise left your knees feeling weak, anyway), and he joins you in the adjacent seat.

"But what-"

"Please," he says, holding a finger to your lips to shush you. "Let me start. I first want to say that I have meant every single word, in song and ink, that I have given to you. My heart is true."

Your mind is overflowing with questions, none of which he seems keen on answering in full just yet.

"I have spent the past several months allowing our Beautiful Vil to woo you. I have so enjoyed watching your love blossom from afar, despite my own feelings towards you. But things have changed," Rook says.

"For as much as I love him, this was his own doing. He has made a fatal mistake, one which cannot be undone- he has wounded you, mon amour, in a most vulnerable fashion. Months ago, when we both realized our feelings for you, I willingly stepped aside," he says. "I thought Vil would be the best option for you. I thought I was not ready to commit myself. Now I see what a mistake that was, and I hope you might find it within yourself to forgive me..."

You can only stare back. "Rook..."

"I cannot resent our Roi du Poison for his choice, for it's his to make. But he hurt you dearly, and in the process, he has relinquished his claim on you. I know your wound is still fresh. But, please, Mon Trickster, mon véritable amour, be mine?"

You're silent for a moment, processing every detail of what he said, what he's offering...

He's right. The wound Vil created is still open, and despite the weeks of "recovery", had yet to improve.

If you kept waiting for it to heal, perhaps it never would.

You nod. "Okay. Okay! But-! Let's take it slow, okay?"

Rook just barely manages to stop himself from leaping across the table to take your hands into his, and he reaffirms your request with a nod.

"Of course, mon cœur. What is a hunter if not patient?"

---

Pomefiore is beautiful again.

There are still times where you swear you can see Vil staring at the two of you, a look of discontent on his face, from across the room.

He doesn't utter a word about the way Rook has his arm over your shoulder, or the many terms of endearment he uses on you, though he doesn't have to. The lingering guilt and regret has made a home for itself in Vil Schoenheit.

You're sure Rook has noticed by now, too, although this isn't the first time he's pulled something like this on the housewarden without a second thought, and it likely won't be the last.

Perhaps it's for the better.

[void-bitten-ghost]

Lucanis almost literally pulling his hair out over some paperwork so Rook just pulls up a chair near him with a book and sits, waiting, seeing if he would like the offered socialisation. He doesn't stir from his whirlwind of stress. And Rook knows it's important work they cant help with, not really, so they just stay near and start to silently read, ready for when Lucanis needs them.

Its not long before they can feel the barely there disturbance of something flitting about near their shoulders, the air feeling strange and familliar by one ear, and then the other. So they quietly start reading aloud, barely above the scratches of ink and quick mutterings of Antivan in the other corner.

Soon, the mutterings slow. The shoulders drop from his ears. Scratching becomes slow, smooth cursive and, eventually, both the paperwork and the book are finished, as is the fire in the hearth.

Rook closes the book, satisfied with its conclusion, and almost startles at a sudden Lucanis being behind them.

"Any joy?" They say, already knowing the answer.

"With you around?" He leans over the arm of the chair. "Always."

He kisses their hair, their head, their cheek.

"Thank you, amor."

They turn in the chair towards him. There's that faint hum of purple. "Feeling better?"

And there's that telling pause. "He says thank you too. And that he enjoyed the part with the giant eagles."

Rook breathes out a laugh, letting out a thoughtful "good to know" before leaning up for a soft, comfortable kiss, something with dark feathers and tingles around the edges.

[beetlethebug]

hello today my thoughts are consumed by Spite flirting with Emmrich and Lucanis to rile up Rook. Even better with a Rook without Spirit Sense, so they can only gauge what's going from the occasional lapse of Lucanis' control over Spite and the blushing, near-stuttering messes they become. Especially during meals with the whole Veil Guard. Spite learning some sense of subtlety through osmosis, so he starts with compliments. Granted, Spite's "subtle" compliments are typically ones without expletives, so they are still intense and heated and, if they catch Emmrich at the right time, enough to make his voice stutter.

He starts by stating the things Lucanis already likes about Emmrich. Things that they both hold in high on the list of things they appreciate about Emmrich. Flirting on Lucanis' behalf, if you would. "Lucanis loves your hands, professor," paired with just enough power exerted to force Lucanis' head to tilt in the direction of Emmrich's hands, baring his throat just enough that Emmrich can see it bob in a swallow as Emmrich finishes cutting himself a bite. "He would very much like to see those hands wrapped around something else. He made a new set of choking cords just for you. Did you know that? He made them in Mourn Watch colors."

Spite letting Lucanis retreat into his coffee, purring lowly as Emmrich's face starts to flush. Waiting until Lucanis is almost done with his drink to say, "He likes your boots better, though. He would very much like to be under them." Emmrich and Lucanis having to wave off concerns of the other Veil Guard members as they both choke, Rook glancing between the two curiously. They might not be able to hear what's going on, but they've seen the signs before. They settle more comfortably to watch the display like a sporting match.

And when Spite starts complimenting Lucanis, oh, the man nearly has to excuse himself to run his head under water, he's burning up so badly. "I like how I can feel every muscle working when we're in combat together. I like seeing your blood bead on the little cuts I make for you. I love the thudding of your heart, the feeling of your adrenaline. I like the way your brows scrunch and then get soft whenever you smell coffee for the first time. I like when you eat sweet things for me."

Spite having a little tally going, one on each thigh, for every time that he makes Lucanis and Emmrich stutter or pause during the initial flirting phase. Low little murmurs of, "That's another one," and "Oh, that one got Emmrich good." Emmrich realizes what the count is for soon enough and tries to focus more on paying attention to conversation at the dinner table, but if Spite hates anything, it's to be ignored (though he does appreciate the set of the professor's jaw, and the thudding pulse of Lucanis' heart, the heat in his blood).

If Emmrich is going to ignore him, then he'll simply up the ante. If Emmrich doesn't want to listen to all the things that he and Lucanis want him to do to them, then they'll talk about their collective favorite subject: Rook. "Look at their mouth--isn't it pretty? It'd look better full of our fingers. You should let me take over, Lucanis--I'd have them begging for it faster than you could blink. Do you think they'd lay in our lap again? I liked when we did that. Oh, maybe they'll sit in it. You liked that idea, I felt it. Emmrich, what do you think? What position do you like Rook best in? We like the sight of them on top of you. We want to see it again. Don't you want to see it again?"

Lucanis and Emmrich slamming their hands on the table, the same conclusion reached in equally frantic manners. Neve asking with a teasing smile if something is the matter, or did their conversation about Dalish alchemy really bore them to tears? Emmrich and Lucanis gritting out in the same breath, "It's Spite."

"Just tell him it's not his turn. Works for us." Taash comments, though they're grinning. They can smell how worked up these two are, and was placing bets with Davrin and Harding about which one would crack first.

"Spite," Rook scolds, but it's all grins. Their eyes are shinning, leg bouncing underneath the table. "You know you can always talk to me if you want something. No need to bully poor Emmrich and Lucanis."

"Do not encourage him," Lucanis begs, knuckles going pale from where they grip the table. Emmrich is truly struggling to regain his composure, trying to assemble anything resembling a calm front. But Spite takes the opportunity to take over, forcing Lucanis' body to relax. Digging his hands into his thighs instead, feeling Lucanis' body shudder with the ache. "I was simply telling Lucanis and Emmrich how much I appreciated them." Deceptively coy, but the sharpness in his grin gives it all away. "How much we appreciate you."

"Get a room already," Taash yells, sweeping the pile of coin she earned towards her plate.

"Well, Rook? Shall we get a room?"

[treviso-nights]

lucanis having a nightmare about his time at the ossuary & his wings flaring out, and then rook waking up & brushing the hair away from his face to get him to wake up, & then spite possessing his fucking body and telling him to "PIPE. DOWN!! I am trying to. SLEEP!!!!"

[grimrevolution]

They've always belonged to me.

[wanderingjedi77]

Not my Rook cuddling with the closest companion on hand because it reassures her. Not Taash helping Rook reach the highest shelves by walking around with Rook on one shoulder or Neve giving Rook forehead kisses when she makes her proud. Not Emmerich teaching Rook how to waltz in the library as he hums a tune or Lace leaving Rook fresh flowers in the morning because it makes her smile. Not Bellara and Rook doing their best not to laugh and failing as Assan knocks Davrin off his feet and having to hold onto each other to keep steady or Lucanis making up a cheese plate in the middle of the night and sharing with Rook as they talk about everything and nothing in the quiet of the evening

[bloodurged]

lucanismancer rook bullying viago into the polycule by telling him about how lucanis praises him in battle and asks rook to let himself be poached into house dellamorte. his end goal is, of course, not to seduce viago (he has done this already), but rather to unfumble him for lucanis.

[wishforhome]

pick your poison

4,143 words | explicit | one-shot

pairings: lucanis/rook/spite/viago/teia; sex is primarily rook/viago

content warnings: includes extremely very mild dubcon elements and drug use

Viago opens the wooden case with careful fingers. Inside, a set of small opaque vials are arranged in careful rows. Each has been carefully selected and titrated to the ideal dose for the evening’s purpose: a poisoner’s game of roulette to be shared with colleagues. As these things often did, it started as a joke between Teia and Rook. The pair infiltrated his sanctum and set about teasing him as he worked. Rook was fascinated by the labels on his shelves, reading the names out loud to herself. “What are all these for ?” she asked no-one in particular. Teia laughed. “Almost anything you can imagine,” she said. “But good luck figuring out which is which.” Viago has always strongly discouraged the recreational use of substances among his students, but Teia had proposed a bet, to see whether their group could decipher his puns, and he had agreed. It was professional pride, perhaps. Or maybe it was just the way the pair of them had turned their eyes on him, green and gold, that made him give in to their teasing.

Read on AO3

Thanks are owed to @inquisimer for helping me come up with the poisons and their puns, and to @exalted-dawn for the beta read and title suggestion! Thank you both so much!

I've had this in my drafts folder for a couple weeks, but I was really struggling with it for a while. I'm so pleased with how it turned out.

[hawkesbutt]

Yall I have a solution what if we ALL got to kiss sleepy demon nepo baby

WIP (idk if I’ll finish this, mostly felt like doing something quick and angsty with him in the middle)

[wardencallings]

Bellara has a sort of rizz I can't define because I honestly prefer Neve AND Taash to be with her over their canon companion romances

[sigridhawke]

Casually drops my 36 (and growing) snippet brainrot (affectionate) for Dragon Age Veilguard largely focusing on my crow rook Ettore and his relationships with Lucanis and @ur-localkiwi's rook Stephen (｀▽´)

Shameless self indulgence others may enjoy too! But mostly for me to keep track of all of these while I work on my next tapestry lmao.

Rook x Rook x Lucanis

[hydine]

So my Crow!Rook has finally gotten around to mend her bond with Neve and I have some headcanons about it, because Neve x Lucanis x Rook makes more and more and even more sense?

Neve (along with Harding) was one of the first to join Rook's team. That's gotta be a special bond in and of itself. And when you take her to bring down the statue to disrupt the ritual and she got hurt, she's not resentful at all. She still wants you to trust her.

And when you go rescue Lucanis, you can potentially bring Neve, which is what I did, because it made sense, with what the whole Venatori stuffs going on. So Lucanis gets rescued by these badass women, Neve and Rook. Of course he's intrigued, especially when Rook turns out to be a fellow Crow. And Neve is vibing with him on the same wavelength of coffee and distrust.

Then the whole thing with the dual dragon attack is happening, and my Crow Rook naturally saved Treviso, causing Neve's home to go to shit. This nags on both Lucanis' and Rook's conscience, of course, and both are trying to be there for Neve after all that's happened. But Rook's a lot more busy than Lucanis, so he's naturally spending more time with Neve after she rejoins the team. That never meant that he's not romantically interested in Rook anymore, just that Neve needed a Crow to confirm she can still trust them. The Crows, the team, and especially Rook.

Lucanis cares about both Neve and Rook very deeply, and trusts them.

In turn, even when Neve lost trust in Rook after Minrathous was lost, she regains that trust through Lucanis, whom she never resented in the first place for saving Treviso, his own home, which he was of course desperate to safe after one year in the Ossuary.

As Lucanis trusts Rook, Neve learns, she can trust Rook too, which forges a deep bond between them.

I am vibrating with caffeine and Neve x Lucanis x Rook feelings right here pls excuse-

[offorestsongs]

"I know it sounds stupid, but... would you teach me how to kiss? You're about the only person I can ask!"

prequel/context for this