#rooks falling out my pockets

[rimbaudthursday]

ROOK LINEUP

(close ups and bios under the cut >:3 )

Jin Ingellvar

A dwarven rouge found in the grand necropolis as a baby. Jin grew up isolated from her fellow watchers and found comfort in exploring the crypts. She has an uncanny ability to tell where the necropolis shuffles its rooms around.

Sihl Ingellvar

An orphaned qunari who wandered into the necropolis as a child and was taken in by the other qunari watchers. Sihl takes pride in both their magical abilities and intimidating appearance.

Ethaari De Riva

A former member of the antaam who felt his life under the qun lost purpose after losing his sword. Ethaari decided to join the crows and found new purpose in assassination as well as a new way to follow the qun.

Rintarou De Riva

An elf found by Viago during a contract in Kirkwall. Rintarou thinks of himself as antivan rather than from kirkwall, but sometimes wonders about his home city. A hot-headed assassin that tries not to take life too seriously.

Ward Mercar

A cynical half elf trying to find her place in the world. Ward was used to sleeping rough before being adopted by the Mercars. She tries to make up for her luck in life by helping the downtrodden of Tevinter as a shadow dragon.

Integrity Aldwir

A dalish elf who ran away from her clan and burned his vallislin off. Integrity lived in solitude, moving from town to town for years before joining the veil jumpers.

Cailan Thorne

A former slave that fled Tevinter after stabbing his master. Cailan's plan to head south was interrupted by a sudden darkspawn attack, resulting in her being recruited by the wardens. She remains secretive about her past until certain events in Minrathous bring it to light.

Nels Laidir

A Lord of Fortune with no idea what his true origin is. Cheerful and optimistic about most situations, Nels is here for a good time not a long time, and planning to get all the gold and glory while they're at it.

[pomefioredove]

a private meeting

summary: yuu makes a list of the top five cutest third years. the following conversation type of post: short fic characters: cater, trey, leona, rook, vil, idia mentioned, lilia, malleus additional info: romantic?? platonic?? idk, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu, this is more for character interactions. and fun

"I'm sure you're all well aware of why we're here,"

The eight gentleman standing around the dark, candlelit room look between each other.

Leona yawns.

"How long is this gonna take, exactly? I was dragged outta bed for this,"

Vil glares. "Hush. I wanted to deal with this matter in the quietest manner possible, without disturbing the prefect. Sevens know what happens when your egos go unchecked,"

"Look who's talking,"

Another glare, but Vil chooses not to waste any more time.

"Two nights ago, the prefect hosted a slumber party for Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade, Jack Howl, and our own Epel Felmier,"

"I remember that," Lilia says, rubbing his chin. "Sebek was invited, but refused in case someone attacked Malleus whilst he was away."

Malleus shakes his head.

"During this event, the prefect created a list of the top five "cutest third years", as we all know. And, to avoid any childish squabbling, I've gathered you all here to open it as an ensemble. Rook?"

A slim, folded sheet of notebook paper appears from the dark of Rook Hunt's pocket. He holds it up, as if presenting it to the heavens.

"Where did you even find that?" Trey asks, adjusting his glasses.

"Facile! It was buried under a stack of homework assignments in our dearest Trickster's bedroom," the blond says merrily.

"Logistically speaking, that's almost too easy. Are we sure it isn't a fake?" Ortho pipes up.

"Ortho?" Vil asks. "What are you doing here?"

The boy giggles in an electronic chime. "Idia is hiding under his covers and won't come out, so I'm here in his place!"

"...Alright,"

"I don't know what he's so nervous for," Vil goes on. "When I am already guaranteed to be in the first place slot."

Leona scoffs, kicking back with his feet on the table. Vil glares again.

"How rude,"

"He's not wrong. You are the most beautiful here..." a smile creeps up Lilia's face. "But, as I recall, you said cutest third years, not most beautiful. And if anyone is the cutest, it's me."

"Oh, spare me," Leona sighs. "Let's just get this over with. Open the damn thing."

"You're not the least bit curious, Leona?" the fae asks, batting his large eyes.

"Don't patronize me. And no, I'm not. I couldn't care less,"

Lilia smirks, but says nothing more on the matter.

He turns to his tablemate. "And what say you, Malleus?"

Every person in the room falls silent, and then turn to the prince sitting at the furthest corner of the table with his hands folded in front of him.

He hasn't shared a single thought all evening.

"...The contents of this list make no difference to me," he finally speaks. "My feelings towards the prefect will be unaffected."

Rook sets a hand over his heart. "Quelle beauté! I am moved! Not even the strongest of winds could make your friendship bow,"

Leona groans as if he's in agonizing pain.

"Open it!"

"Okay, hold on. Isn't this like, a major privacy violation?" Cater says. He doesn't sound eager to see the results, either.

"I would hate for someone to read my private thoughts to a room full of people."

"He may have a point. This was a list made between friends at a slumber party. Taking it out of that context could be disastrous," Trey agrees.

"There's a 96% chance this will end in conflict!" Ortho chimes in, merry as ever. Leona sighs.

"Can I just leave?"

"No," Vil snaps. "Rook, open it."

"Rook, don't,"

"Rook!"

The poor man observes the conflict slowly unraveling before him, and he sets the folded sheet of paper on the table.

"Now, now, do not squabble! Let this be a chance to celebrate our bonds with the lovely prefect!"

"I agree with Rook," Lilia smiles big. "We should all agree that no matter what is on that list, we'll leave it after tonight and move on."

Vil sighs. "Yes, yes. You're all right. We can't let what they wrote at a private slumber party affect our relationships with them,"

"No matter what, we leave them out of this. Agreed?"

Everyone in the room nods.

"Alright. Rook, read it,"

Rook reaches behind him, the anticipation building, and... is met with a cool wooden surface.

The note seems to have disappeared into thin air.

Before anyone can express their obvious confusion, an evil cackling pulls their attention to the doorway.

Vil gasps.

"Grim! Put that down!"

The small direbeast, now holding a crumpled piece of paper in his paw, smiles wickedly.

And then, to everyone's horror, he eats it whole.

Leona is the first to react, storming over and lifting Grim by the scruff of his neck. "Seriously?!"

"Fufufu. Looks like someone cared, after all," Lilia chuckles. Vil rolls his eyes.

"Hey! Not my fault you guys were so loud! You woke me up from my nap over a stupid list!" Grim says, crossing his arms.

A brief silence follows, and then a sigh. Leona drops him and he lands on his feet.

"Perhaps Grim is right," Ortho says. "Instead of worrying about the numerical grade the prefect assigns you, you should focus on the unique and special aspects of your individual relationships!"

"How eloquent!" Rook coos. "Oui, you are right! Sometimes it is best to let secrets remain secrets."

"Something about the way he says that tells me he already knows what it said," Leona grumbles.

"Ohoho. A fascinating mystery, non? Did I sneak a peek before tonight, or am I just as clueless as you?"

The prince rolls his eyes.

Vil sighs. "Ortho is right. Now I feel ridiculous for getting so worked up over what amounts to a joke at a slumber party,"

Everyone grows quiet, seemingly reflecting on themselves for the duration of the brief silence.

Lilia's giggles change the melancholic mood of the room.

"Perhaps Malleus had the right idea all along. It doesn't matter who the prefect thinks is more attractive; they're still a wonderful friend. How wise- I'm very proud,"

Malleus beams.

"Yeah yeah," Grim grumbles, turning to the door. "I didja a favor, anyway. None of you weirdos were number one."

He leaves, and he takes the peace and reflection with him.

Slowly, everyone turns to each other.

[cozmic-ash]

I am not immune to Emmrook baby

Read about my silly myriad of headcanons below the cut!

(Okay first I know half-elf children in DA don't have pointed ears and I understand why, but I think it's so cute I couldn't resist lol)

No shade to the people who give him a son but if Emmrich is going to have a biological child I NEED her to be a daughter, he has incredibly acute girldad energy and he and Rook already have a son in Manfred

Her name is Emmeline, after him :) I know everyone likes to name Emmrook children after his parents, but I imagine that's one of her middle names. Farah (Rook) is extremely apathetic about her attachment to the Mercar name and so she kinda insists on their child taking a bunch of name cues from Emmrich's side lol

(I imagine him, in turn, INSISTING that they work a Tevene (aka Latin lol) name in there somewhere, because she's THEIR child not just his!!! and she should have SOME kind of tie to that side of her heritage!!! and so he sticks Aurora in there and her full name ends up being a mess like Emmeline Elannora Aurora Volkarin or something lmao, way too many vowels)

I like to imagine him taking her to the safer levels of the Necropolis with him (and even then of course she must be covered from head to toe, and have her hair pulled back, and always stay within her line of sight, and etc etc etc) and she always brings him the 'fascinating' stuff she finds but really it's like always nug bones and pretty rocks lol (he is of course always VERY interested). Also she's the one who wants to dress like him

After Sylvia Feketekuty answered my question about how Watchers might view mourning jewelry over on Bluesky it got me thinking about how they might view like, baby teeth, given how highly they value the body. Baby teeth fall out naturally but what a waste to just dispose of them! So it amused me to think of them making their childrens' teeth into jewelry or dioramas or something like that; in Emmrich's case I think he's a sentimental-enough man to want things like that on his person at all times (Farah, of course, is always quick to point out that they fell out NATURALLY to non MWers lol)

Similarly, I like the idea of Emmrich having a little lock of hair from Rook, and also Emmeline, maybe also braided with his own :) Kept in a little locket or something, in his breast pocket, right up against his heart <333

Also in the last image I DID want to include Manfred in that cuddle puddle but I couldn't figure out where to put him lol

[robo-milky]

Dynamic Swap 1: What if Rook fell first?

Now Cloche is the one who’s nonchalant! Rook would still run from her, but not out of fear (yippee?)

I love my expressive and confident Rooks out there… bUT I WILL FOREVER HC THAT ROOK FINDING HIMSELF FALLING DEEPLY IS A VULNERABILITY TO HIDE AND HIM GETTING NERVOUS LIKE HE’D WITH NEIGE (just a tad)

[Ramble]

• How Rook would’ve caught feels for Cloche is by being there to observe the small glimpses of herself when she thinks she’s alone. Like a glacier melting, Cloche warms up to let the little smiles turn the corners of her lips or exhale too heavily to be anything else but frustration. Rook knows that if he reaches out, Cloche will revert back after unwinding, so he’d rather bask in her presence from afar. Rook also feels special for being the only one to read her so accurately and understand her true intentions (as opposed to Cloche freaking Rook out because she figured him out and he couldn’t read her back.)

• Instead of the first encounter where feral! Cloche attacks Rook in the school forest, Cloche calls Rook out for being “voyeuristic” when he was there, hidden behind a wall, and watching the whole time she was roughed up by bullies. Cloche didn’t know it was the Vice Dormleader of Pomefiore she was calling out to, but was vaguely aware that the presence of a master remained even as she was left alone. Instead of Rook’s usual dismissals of scathing remarks to his character, this one from Cloche makes him reflect just a little. After all, he’s never once stepped in once to help, having seen that Cloche took all the pushing and shoving just fine.

• Now, he slips little treats for her where he goes. Sometimes it’s a 50 Thaumark bill, or a new handkerchief that could replace the one Cloche just lost. Rook knows that Cloche will pocket them, and if anyone tries to harass her over it, he’ll swoop in gaslight them that the lost item was originally Cloche’ and she must have dropped it herself. Before Cloche would even realize Rook helped her, he’s gone.

• Similar to how he’d write Neige poems and letters, Rook would send them to Cloche too. To be inconspicuous, Rook signs each letter with “H”.

• Rook is partially accepting of this crush, yet is also in denial, waiting for it to pass soon. All this excitement and giddiness might just make him spill something he might regret.

• Since Cloche doesn’t idolize Rook in this AU, unfortunately she’d think of him of a sucker that’s overly sentimental. She’s more indifferent to Rook than trying to avoid him.

[xx-lemon-drop-xx]

How would NRC (only 18+ characters) react to their fem s/o texting them "Come here, I'm horny"?

I'm so sorry these are so short. Your girls getting a bit burnt out as of late for some reason. Anyways, I hope you like them <33

Warnings: MDNI, fem reader, suggestive but not really smutty, mentions of boners.

Request: Yes.

Words: 1,130.

Trey Clover

Trey was working on frosting a cake with Riddle when he received the text from you. And thankfully Riddle was short because he damn near choked at the message. A blunt, “Come. I'm horny." Was all you had sent.

However, catering to your needs, he let Riddle know something important had come up and he had to go tend to a leak in your roof. Riddle of course sensing the urgency had nodded with a simple; “Go, I can manage the frosting." Trey felt no remorse for fibbing to his friend and dorm leader, and went off to find you at Ramshackle.

Entering the broken down household he smiled gingerly over at you. "You needed me, peach? Go and lay back on the bed. I'll take care of you."

Cater Diamond

Cater was at the Light Music club when you texted him, and just in case it was urgent or some spicy drama from magicam had checked his phone right away. It was spicy, just in a way he hadn't thought it'd be. His face slowly flushed a red, gaining the attention of Kalim, who had asked if he was okay.

Cater cleared his throat, nodding. “Uh… Yes! Ah haha, I'm okay! Sorry, I just got distracted there for a minute.” While Kalim was none the wiser, the old fae on the other hand, was.

After he finished the club Cater quickly made his way to your dorm, shoving open your door he crawled over you, leaning down to press a searing kiss against you. “Hahh.. Babydoll, you can't just text me like that out of the blue!”

Leona Kingscholar

You really think this man was anywhere but napping?

He was less than amused to stir awake from his phone going off, alerting him of a text message. And for a moment he wasn't going to even answer it, rather he'd just roll over and go back to bed but something prompted him to pick up that phone and boy was he glad he did.

A smirk formed across his face and he texted back a simple “Omw" before rolling out of bed, hair messy and clothes disheveled before making his way to your dorm. He was there in record time, falling across your bed and grasping your hips to make you straddle him. Yeah, some pussy was definitely better than sleeping.

“Feeling like a whore? Then sit on this cock and take it like a good girl."

Vil Schoenheit

He was at a photoshoot when you texted him. He'd frowned slightly at your blunt order but underneath was particularly amused. His little potato needed him?

"You're going to have to wait, lovely. Photoshoot is almost over.” He could almost feel the way your lips puckered into a pout on the other side of the phone as he got back into position for another photo after his short break. Thirty minutes later he was leaving the photoshoot.

And fifty minutes later he was coming into your dorm room, sliding off his shoes and over coat before leaning over you on the bed, pressing a light kiss to your forehead. “I'm sorry for being so long. Let me make it up to you, potato.” He dragged your hand up his leg onto the crotch of his pants, before moving to straddle you.

Rook Hunt

Was enjoying nature up in a tree when his phone buzzed in his pocket. On pulling it out and seeing your text message, you received back a slur of French, with a few heart Emojis after them. “English, Rook." His lips quirked at your sass. “On my way as we speak, Mon amour." He texted back, pocketing his phone before climbing down the tree.

Fast on his feet and in the area, Rook arrived at Ramshackle within five minutes. He hung his coat on the coat wrack and took off his shoes before padding up to your room.

“My petite amour, I have arrived.” He cupped your face, pressing light kisses against your chin and jaw. "Do tell me which part of me you crave first, Mon lapin.”

Idia Shroud

Thankfully Idia was in his room like always when he received your text. Instant red face. (And instant Idia jr peaking up but we don't talk about that) Almost thought you were tweaking or had text the wrong person, despite being your lover. However after getting his shit together he texts you back.

“Can you come here? I.. Might be in a predicament where I am unable to leave my room for a while."

When you came to his dorm instead of the other way around he had a pillow over his lap and his face and hair were both a light red in color. Grasping onto the pillow you pulled it off and crawled onto his bed after shutting and locking his door. Idia’s hands found purchase on your hips, pulling you down to straddle him. “Eheheh.. You have no idea how long I've waited for this." He grinned against your throat, before biting down on your shoulder to leave a hickey.

Malleus Draconia

Remains stone faced despite the very obvious tent rising in his trousers. If his tail were to be out it would've been wagging in slight excitement. Out of everyone, you might just be the only person to be able to boss around and command the prince of briar valley.

“You wish to mate with me? I will be over immediately, child of man." It takes him a moment to answer you. Not because he didn't see the message but because he still doesn't know how to use a phone that well still. Please be patient, he is very happy.

Appears outside your dorm as soon as he texts you back, eagerly knocking on your door in a beckon for you to let him in. As soon as you open the door he is grabbing you by the hips, guiding you against him. “My dearest peony, do feel free to seek me out everytime you have these feelings. I will be more than obliged to assist you.”

Lilia Vanrogue

Doesn't even answer your message. He was in history and then all of a sudden he was floating upside down in front of you. An amused look was on his face though despite the little grin his eyes were foggy with lust.

“Oh my what do we have here? Couldn't even keep your hands out of your panties in the short time it took me to get here? Fufufu~ let's have a look now, hmm?"

Lilia eagerly slots himself between your legs like he's always belonged there, nibbling and nipping at your legs as he makes his way up. “You taste exquisite, and I haven't even gotten to the main course yet.”

[harunayuuka2060]

Grandma MC: Please excuse my grandchildren. They are only worried. *chuckles*

Eirian: *smiles softly at her* It's fine with me. Don't worry.

Ace and Deuce: Tch.

Malleus: I don't like this man. This date is over.

Vil: We're going to end it if he does something inappropriate. For now, let's observe.

Rook: Oui! Let's give Monsieur a chance.

Ruggie: I don't understand why Grim gets to be with Granny though. What's he gonna do there? Annoy her suitor?

Ace: Huh? That's why he's there? Dude, the guy already won him over!

*Grim eating the snacks brought by Eirian*

Leona: Is there any surprise to that?

Grandma MC: Anyway, I think we should need to start this conversation. *smiles at him*

Eirian: Yes. As you are already aware of, I'm here to win your heart and with your permission, to be my wife.

Grandma MC: How sweet of you and you seem to be a kind gentleman. However, why would you be interested to an old woman like me?

Grandma MC: I'm sure you have a lot of women chasing after you. *chuckles*

Eirian: Indeed there are. Though I am not and will never be interested to any of them except you.

Eirian: You have captured my heart, my lady. And my feelings have never changed even after fifty years have passed.

Ruggie: Fif—

Ruggie and Ace: FIFTY YEARS?!!

Vil, Rook, and Riddle: *who already knew about the details so they were not shocked but were amused to see others' reaction*

Malleus: *dumbfounded*

Leona: Damn. That was such a long time ago.

Grandma MC: Oh dear... Why would you wait that long?

Azul: *nods* Yeah. I agree. That is a no-brainer.

Kalim: Come on! It's true love!

Jamil: Kalim, can you imagine Granny getting married to a young man who looks like our age? It doesn't matter if he's old, he still looks young.

Kalim: But... Can't he make her younger?

Jamil and Azul: ...

Azul: With all due respect, shut your mouth.

Kalim: Eh?

Jamil: If someone hears you— *sigh*— Just don't speak for the time being, Kalim.

Eirian: I can wait for you even for a thousand years— No. An eternity. The only reason I didn't pursue was because you were married.

Grandma MC: ...

Grandma MC: But I don't remember ever meeting you.

Grandma MC: To be honest, I thought it was my first time arriving here in Twisted Wonderland.

Eirian: *sad frowns* It seems your memories had been erased. Though I can assure you that we had met. I have evidences and the fact that you used to call me 'Rian'.

Grandma MC: My... Well, it does suit you. I'm glad I had given you a beautiful nickname. *chuckles*

Eirian: *blushes*

Ace: *yells* GRANNY!!!! YOU'RE MAKING HIM FALL IN LOVE!

Ace: STOP BEING NICE!

Vil: *kicks him* Who gave you the permission to yell at Granny?

Epel: Yeah! Yell at the guy! Not her!

Rook: Himeringo, that isn't good too.

Malleus: ...

Malleus: I'm ending this date now.

Riddle and Vil: Not yet!

Leona: So who are we really watching over here? You're all a mess.

Eirian and Grandma MC: *have talked for a few hours; mostly Granny listening to him of how they had met*

Eirian: It remained a mystery to me how you had arrived to the underworld and how it became possible for you to befriend the creatures living there.

Eirian: Normally, a human would run away in fear, but you... *smiling* You had held them in your arms like they were adorable and tiny.

Grandma MC: Well, they do sound adorable so I do not see the problem. *chuckles softly*

Eirian: ...

Eirian: *pulls out something from his pocket*

*It was the Sundrop Flower*

Eirian: My lady, I have a present for you.

Grandma MC: What a lovely flower...

Eirian: This flower can bring back your youth.

Eirian: *smiles reassuringly* Don't worry. I won't be asking you to answer me now.

Eirian: I'm giving this to you so you will be able to travel some places here in Twisted Wonderland.

Grandma MC: Why, how kind of you. I shall treasure this gift. *smiles*

Eirian: ...

Eirian: *hugs her*

Epel, Ace, Ruggie, and Deuce: GET YOUR HANDS OFF GRANNY!!!!

Malleus: *ready to cause havoc*

Grandma MC: *chuckles* You must leave now. My grandchildren are angry.

Eirian: I'll see you again.

Riddle: You all are embarrassing.

Leona: Except me. I was totally cool back there.

Vil: What is that flower, Granny?

Grandma MC: Oh, it is a gift from Rian. *smiles*

Idia: Isn't that the Sundrop Flower? Rumored to bring back youth?

Kalim: Bring back youth?

Idia: Yes. But they disappeared from existence years ago.

Azul: Does that mean...

The boys: ...

The boys: USE IT, GRANNY! WE WANT TO SEE!

Grim: Mryah! What's with you all?!

[night-raven-tattler]

Love beyond spoken words - part 2

Summary: Everyone has a way of saying "I love you" without using those three words.

Characters: Jamil, Rook, Idia, Sebek × GN!Reader (separate, romantic)

Other parts of the series: Ace, Jack, Azul

Warnings: none

By opening the document, you agree to Mx Tattly's terms of source confidentiality.

-ˋˏ’✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Jamil was going through his personalised version of the stages of grief while stacking away the boxes of expensive fabric Kalim brought from Silk City that he promised to give to Professor Crewel

Without his knowledge, as always

But this time wasn't too bad, since you were there to help him with the boxes

And he quite enjoyed your company, so the opportunist in him simply refused to deny himself of you when you kindly offered to lend him a helping hand

He even offered you one of his hair ties when your hair kept falling on your face

You knew Jamil had a certain possesiveness over his personal belongings, so you couldn't help but feel a bit flustered at the offer

You still accepted the hair tie, however

After your finished putting the boxes away, Grim came into the room looking for you because the Headmage requested your help with some errand

And you didn't get the chance to hand Jamil his hair tie back

Jamil was surprised by how little it bothered him that his hair tie was with you; instead of being upset you took something from him like he expected he'd feel, he was somewhat glad you had something of his with you

...Maybe it was silly, it was just a hair tie after all

Yet, it almost made him feel like he was claiming you in some way-

A thought so embarassing he had to cover his whole face with his hoodie

He was walking in the hallways with Kalim as his Housewarden talked about The Great Seven know what, when Kalim suddenly stopped himself mid-rant and fished something out of his pocket

"I totally forgot! Reader bumped into me today and told me to give this to you!"

It was a small paper bag with a snake doodled on it

Jamil snatched it from Kalim, not wanting him to hold something from you any longer, and opened the bag

Inside he found a little note and two hair ties: the one he gave you, and another one that had a small charm with your favorite symbol on it

"I know you don't like when people use your things, so I wanted to give it back. I also gave you one of mine so take care of it!"

He didn't understand the logic behind you giving him your own hair tie, but he took the bag from you and hid it carefully in his pocket, where he occasionally let his hands rest throughout the day

Jamil was very curious about your little offering, so he asked you about it over text

"I wanted to offer it to you as an apology for holding onto your stuff for too long so you won't be mad at me."

Your goody-two-shoes silly logic made him chuckle

As he was about to playfully scold you for your thinking, he saw another chat bubble coming from you that made him drop his phone

"...besides, is it really that bad that I wanted you to have something of mine too?"

Cheeks burning with fluster, he texted you a quick goodnight before he put his phone onto his nightstand, face down so not even the inanimate object could see him like this

Jamil struggled with the idea of you wanting to leave your mark on him, the same selfish idea he carried in his heart

Yet, he didn't mind either of your selfishness

That's why you found Jamil's hair tie under your desk first thing in the morning, a small note attached to it

"If I will have to carry something that belongs to you with me, it wouldn't be fair if you didn't do the same."

『••✎••』

You were enjoying your break outside when you heard a sharp object hit the tree you were leaning against, and based on the piece of paper attached to it, someone special wanted to tell you something

"My love, a whisper

My arrow, a listener

A most blessed messenger

It'll seek your heart to alter

For your blush I'm after."

Your degree in the language of Rook Hunt told you several things: 1. He was on a mission to live up to his name and hunt for your heart... or something

And 2. He really liked his "arrow of love" metaphors

Rook also was likely very amused by how on the nose he was being by sending you love poems via arrow aimed at your surroundings

It happened often enough for you to become unable to differenciate between the quickening pace of your heart from the spook and the one from knowing your boyfriend wanted to remind you of his love for you

Rook had some questionable ways of making your heart skip a beat, and it was borderline annoying how good he was at getting what he wanted

Something about the message itself was a bit off to you

Wasn't counterproductive for a hunter to let its prey know that he was after it?

You never knew what Rook was about to do next, and your heartbeat quickened once again with anticipation for his next move

...which happened soon enough

If the Headmage knew of the arrow currently stuck to your door and damaging the school property, you'd be in trouble

You just wanted to rest peacefully after your classes, but it seemed like Rook had other plans

"My eyes give gentle kisses to your heart

I want to read you, I want to learn you

The world in your chest, your own flow of art

Painted in the loveliest of hues."

You looked around, suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling of being watched

At this point you were convinced he was toying with you, like a cat after it caught a mouse

But Rook had plans other than to harm you...

He enjoyed the chase, maybe a bit at the expense of your heart, which would jump out of your chest at every over the top declaration of love

You could think of only one way to somewhat get back at him

The vice housewarden was scribbling in his notebook at his desk when he heard footsteps nearing his room, followed by a knock at the door

He smiled and opened the door, revealing your flustered self, fidgeting with a piece of paper in your hands

"Roses are red

You look very merry

I'm not good at writing poems

So just kiss me already."

Rook's eyes widened for a few seconds before he burst into a delighter laughter as he wrapped his arms around you

You thought his over the top affection was what affected you the most, but you were so wrong

All along, it was the little things that made your heart explode

His laughter and the beating of your heart were the only melody echoing in your ears, while your face was being admired by Rook's lovesick eyes

"As you wish, mon amour."

『••✎••』

When you and Idia started dating, you knew he was a peculiar guy

He texted you "good morning" at 5 P.M., he liked to tease you about your grades and wishing the school system was digitalized so he could hack into the school and modify your grades, and he liked gifting you small, cute robots that he built during his sleepless nights

You were dedicated to peel off every layer of your angsty, dramatic, onion of a lover and try to understand his ways of showing he cares about you

Unfortunately, the first obstacle you had to face was his way of texting you

Idia was both a genius and a smartass: he liked sending you secret messages through emojis, but he'd never give you any hint to help you decode them

You rolled your eyes as his favorite combo of emojis popped onto your screen through the notification of your messaging app

"➡️👤🛠️👆💙➡️🤪"

You suspected he either liked testing your abilities to decypher his code, or he was to afraid to outright say what he felt

It's not like Idia was shy in his affections, as peculiar as they were

It was more like he was... hesitant

Afraid, even

"I will take that as a compliment"

You watched as the chat bubble appeared on your screen, carrying Idia's reply

"whehehe did you really look at a code with unknown meaning and assumed it was positive? lmaooooo"

Both of you knew he wouldn't do that

Not because he wasn't capable of it, but because Ortho would threaten to scratch up his P.E. gear again

"Not my fault you sent me code instead of telling me how pretty we both know you think I am"

"oooooo someone's confident 💘💘💘💘"

Well, at least that one was easy enough to decypher

The code Idia sent to you always came out of nowhere, like a sudden stream of thoughts that he couldn't keep to himself

It was sweet, really, and it wasn't like you disliked his little codes

Being a gamer at heart, Idia loved games, and they were an important part of him

If Idia needed some sort of puzzle to express himself, you decided to play along

You were determined to wait until Idia became able to tell you outright how he felt

Maybe one day

That's what Idia also told himself as he stared at the sentence he kept typing and deleting over and over in your conversation

"you make my heart go wild"

Maybe one day...

『••✎••』

"And, because of General Zephyrus, royal green has become a color in Briar Valley that represents sentiments of love and affection for your beloved. It was historically used in clothing during duels by the partner that was not participating..."

You had no idea what you did to receive a special history lesson from Professor Zigvolt himself, but you loved Sebek so you listened to him attentively

It was one of the rare occasions in which he was not talking about Malleus, and it was almost cute to see how worked up he got for topics outside of his guard duty

Not like he wasn't always cute

"Are you even listening, human?!"

...You were not stupid enough to admit you kind of spaced out a little

"Yeah, you were talking about, uh... Something about green clothes?"

Sebek raised his eyebrow and watched you suspiciously, while you were trying not to avoid his piercing gaze and tell on yourself

"... Well, yes. It was a tradition for unmarried partners to express their love through green accessories, such as scarves and..."

Even if he seemed upset on the surface, Sebek was more than eager to share part of his culture with you

The way he'd get so animated about his homeland, his liege, his passions...

You could watch him all day

Unfortunately, the bell indicating the end of your break had the both of you part ways

Before Sebek walked away, he reminded you of the equestrian club's upcoming show jumping competition against Royal Sword Academy

And before he could shily request your presence, you told him you'll be there, and sent his blushy self back to his classes

You didn't want to just be there and attend, however: you wanted to show your appreciation for Sebek

And you remembered his little rant about green accessories as showcases of love in Briar Valley

Which brought you to Sam's the next day, where you bumped into Lilia

Lucky for you, since you couldn't remember which shade of green was the one Sebek was talking about...

Your eyes fell upon a light green scarf, resembling the trademark Diasomnia green, and asked Lilia if this color was good to wear

Lilia's eyes widened before his face twisted into a mischievous grin before he agreed with your choice

So you wrapped it around your wrist the day of the competition and made sure it was as easy to spot as possible

Sebek was warming up with his horse when he spotted you in the growing crowd...

...And you watched him as he almost fell off his horse when he saw the scarf wrapped around the hand you were waving at him with

You watched how he debated between going to you and resuming his warmup for what felt like an eternity, but the beginning of the competition was announced so he settled on talking to you later

On his first break, he marched right to you, red as a tomato and vaguely resembling a broken traffic light

"HUMAN! I can't believe you would do this in such a public setting without telling me first! In Briar Valley it's custom for the knight to wrap the scarf around their desired partner after the duel to signal their engagement! Was my lecture not clear enough?!"

You were used to Sebek getting randomly agitated about stuff but-

-Wait.

"ENGAGEMENT?!"

Sebek turned even redder, something you thought was impossible

"YES?! Light green is a sign of engagement!"

You head was full of questions upon questions

Did you just publicly more or less propose to Sebek?

And he was mad because you didn't tell him beforehand, not because of the accidentally proposal itself?!

Now you wanted a horse to fall off of

[plasticfreckles]

🪶 fade-prison angst rookanis snippet enjoy 🪶

Satisfied, Lucanis drops his rag back into his water pail, carefully rubs the stripped wood dry and turns to place its contents back to the surface. He wipes down the little tiered shelf with all her make-up pots, scratches the fingerprints and oils from the grooves of the intricate designs, takes care to re-arrange them in the same order she had them; shadows on the top tier, oily lip tints in the middle, flaky fragile glitters at the bottom. Her little lidless box of nail colors, he places back in the top right corner, by her standing mirror.

Removing the dust from the velvet that lines her jewelry box is harder. He closes the box to bring it to the kitchen; to soak the metals in rubbing alcohol and wipe the gems clean, to find his fabric brush and work fresh cleaning broth into the velvet. Maybe he'll drip some lavender oil into the folds.

The necklace he finds in her separate dish, the open, lacquered seashell rimmed in gold, makes him pause.

He remembers buying it, the second she'd turned away from the crystal peddler's stand in Treviso, after hearing its price and sighing. For this cheap little thing, tourmaline and aventurine on a chain so frail it seems to break if one but breathes on it wrong, the peddler asked for obscenely much money. Normally, Lucanis would have scoffed and turned away. But Rook had looked at it so longingly he felt he had no choice but to buy it anyway.

They'd barely been commited to each other three days.

Illario had broken the chain easily, grabbing her by the neck of her cloak and flinging her aside with surprising ease and clear intent to murder her and then him. Lucanis' little attention toward her torn apart almost symbolically.

Lucanis remembers telling her he could just get her a new one, remembers her shaking her head. It's the first thing you got for me, she'd said. She'd wrapped it in a torn piece of her shirt and placed it in her seam pocket with more care than he's seen parents handle their babe. I don't want to just replace it. Her hair had shaded her face a little, the sudden glint of her teeth just outside of unsettling. I want to treasure it and pass it on, someday. That cheap little chain that already started to change color and stain her skin, that cost the peddler all of three coppers to make. As though he'd hand-built her a bathhouse from pure gold.

Since then, it had waited, on its dish, in its shell, for the day there was time to go get it repaired.

Lucanis finds himself in that corner of her room, suddenly so impossibly big and cold and empty and suffocating, just as broken as that necklace.

The stool creaks underneath him, smelling of dust and old tapestry. He can feel the nails pricking into his skin, through his clothes. She'd complained about the cushion giving way beneath her before. He'd forgotten to have it repaired.

The energy to clean her room is punched out of him.

He hadn't protected the necklace from breaking. He couldn't save her from being snatched away into the Fade. He can't even tidy her space for her without falling into disrepair himself, it seems.

She thought the world of him, and not only could he not deliver, he failed her miserably. It churns his guts like cold cherry juice on an empty stomach.

Spite looks at him from under the table, awkwardly patting his right foot. Comfort is not a concept he's adept at.

His hands somehow feel small and chubby, the nailbeds rough and stained with blue paint. Lucanis doesn't know why he feels it through his boots.

He curls in on himself, head between his knees and hands pulling his hair.

Spite, for once, doesn't comment on his desperate wails.

🪶

idk if i like it yet, i wrote this on a whim. I have a tummy ache and the documentary my dad watches makes it look like Ramesses II only ever had sweet fluff loml moments :(

but on the bright side, i have a Big Storm planned hint hint [its a multichapter exploration of Fade Prison Angst]

@chubritza wassup

[~rina]

[lavenderprose]

I think everybody has that one scene in a fic that they're gnawing at the bars of their enclosure to write and sometimes I'm so inclined to just write it and that's not how my creative process has ever worked but maybe it should be. I really really just want to get to the part in concrete flower where Rook goes to Emmrich's panel at a very stuffy and serious symposium on traditional Nevarran death care and lets all of the lingo wash over her head completely uncomprehended because Emmrich is very beautiful and powerful up on the stage in this 1500-seater auditorium with a lav mic band-aided to the side of his face picking up every sound his mouth makes when he licks his lips or sips water. He talks for forty five uninterrupted minutes and somehow Rook doesn't think anyone else finds it nearly as erotic as she does. When they meet up afterward, Rook immediately goes down on him and realizes that he's wearing lace underwear--something he apparently does as a confidence booster when he's particularly nervous about a lecture. Why was he nervous about this one? He knew Rook was going to be there.

And Rook is like, Why are you nervous about me, a Minrathous Garbage Person, coming to your very fancy necromancy symposium? This is said during brief breaks for breath while she sucks his soul straight out.

And Emmrich, who's trying very hard not to fall in love with her, just kind of blabbers that he tends to forget his train of thought when she's around, heedless of the fact that that is THE most besotted thing that anyone has ever said.

Rook, who's trying very hard not to fall in love with him, assumes that this is just another quirk of Emmrich's character and not a confession from deep in his soul and determinedly gargles his balls just to shut herself up.

Then she probably does something unhinged like leave her underwear in his pocket with a note telling him they're for his next lecture.

Anyway that's been one of my big things to rotate on my commute. There's something extremely wrong with me.

[childrenofcain-if]

I just saw the ask about the song D has written/will write for MC, but what about the songs that MC writes for their chosen ROs?

C LACROIX

TRUE BLUE

you said you wanted to feel alive so we went to the beach you were born in jan, ‘06 in a deadly blizzard you say you’re an autumnal bitch but winter’s in your blood you can’t help but become an avalanche

you’ve never done me wrong except for that one time that we don’t talk about because it doesn’t matter anymore who won the fight? i don’t know we’re not keeping score and it feels good to be known so well i can’t hide from you like i hide from myself i remember who i am when i’m with you your love is tough, your love is tried and true blue

V NÆSHOLM

THIS IS HOW YOU FALL IN LOVE

“what’s easy is right,” my mother’s advice you are the reason i never think twice

wherever we go what glitters is gold you’ll be my best friend until we grow old

i had a nightmare but now that i’m not scared

this is how you fall in love let go and i’ll hold you up so pull me tight and close your eyes oh, my love, side to side

W OSTENDORF

BAGS

pour your glass of wine rook told me i should be just fine cases under the bed spill it open, let it rush to my head

i don’t wanna be forward, i don’t wanna cut corners savor this with everything i have inside of me i’m not the type to run i know that we’re having fun but what’s the rush? kissing, then my cheeks are so flushed

can you see me? i’m waiting for the right time i can’t read you, but if you want, the pleasure’s all mine can you see me using everything to hold back? i guess this could be worse walking out the door with your bags

D DIACONU

CHELSEA

for a chemical imbalance, you sure know how to ride a train your revolution is a deathbed, and the music is your maid when someone comes a knocking with a needle on a tray only your lonesome lies beside you for you told me not to stay

you are somebody’s baby, some mother held you near no it’s not important, they’re just pretty words, my dear there is no distraction that can make me disappear no there’s nothing that won’t remind you i will always be right here

M WHITLOCK-SINGH

SNOW ON THE BEACH

this scene feels like what i once saw on a screen i searched ‘aurora borealis green’ i’ve never seen someone lit from within blurring out my periphery my smile is like i won a contest and to hide that would be so dishonest and it’s fine to fake it till you make it till you do till it’s true

now it’s like snow at the beach weird, but fucking beautiful flying in a dream stars by the pocketful you wanting me tonight, feels impossible but it’s coming down, no sound, it’s all around like snow on the beach

[livefromthedas]

That Time Flirting Accidentally Worked

(Also up on AAO3, here)

Summary:

Rook Ingellvar, famously a dumpster fire amongst Mourn Watchers, manages to fall face-first into dating one Emmrich Volkarin.

Nice.

Notes:

I swear to God I intended to start DATV fanfic writing for my Lucanis/Rook playthrough... but this came out instead. Strike while the hyper-focus iron is hot, I guess.

I tried to write this Rook (F, Mourn Watcher) as vaguely as possible while still making sure she was reflection of the character in my head, so hopefully that works for readers.

Please note that while I'm utilizing quite a bit of canon knowledge about Navarra and Navarran culture, here, there is also a ton about the place that we just do no know, so a lot of information here is extrapolated (aka, pulled directly out of my butt.) I had fun though, at least, exploring more of the place, and creating my own little pocket of extra romance content for Emmrich and Rook as well.

And yeah, this will probably get spicy. Just a heads up.

———————————

Chapter 1: Hot Date for a Hot Mess

The needling fire of over-exertion kept a purposeful momentum in Rook’s stride the entire journey home from their latest magic-riddled battle with the Venatori in Arlathan.

That fight, deep in the autumn hewn forest - an apparent ambush - had been jarring and brutal. Had Davrin not been with them, with Assan to serve as their own surprise attack from the sky, Rook was quite certain that, for all of their combined competency, she and Emmrich Volkarin may very well have met a swift, very bloody end that day.

There had just been so many of them - Scarlet scythe’s crackling with arcane energy, and corrupted magic churning in the air like a turbulent storm. Then again, when it came to Venatori, there always seemed to be a limitless supply.

Rook breathed in deep as she strode through the Vi’revas - the eluvian unique to the Dreadwolf’s hideaway in the Fade - close on Emmrich’s heels. One moment they were in the Crossroads, wild and untethered to reality as it was. The next, they were striding into the cool, dark nethers of the Lighthouse.

“Ugh,” Davrin grumbled, reaching to pull something that looked suspiciously like viscera from his hair as he strode through the eluvian’s surface in the pair of necromancers' wakes, “I’m going to go wash up. See you two at dinner?”

Rook smirked bemusedly - of all of the blood the Gray Warden was soaked through with, Maker forbid a bit of viscera get in the handsome elf’s hair. She nearly went to nod, when Emmrich spun on his heels to face the pair of them.

“Actually,” the Professor poised, hands clasping before him as his bangles glimmered in the unnatural light of the corridor, “Would you be so kind as to let Lucanis know to be expecting two less settings at the table this evening? Rook and I will be dining in Navarra.”

Rook’s eyebrows rose curiously - this was news to her.

“Yeah, no problem,” Davrin grinned. He gestured a hand over one shoulder as he made for the door, “You kids have fun.”

Kids . The word lingered humorously in the air - Emmrich barely stifled a chuckle at it, even in the gray warden’s absence.

“A trip home is a nice surprise,” Rook mused, mischief and curiosity a glint in her eyes.

The senior necromancer, dashing as ever, offered her an arm, and she was quick to place a hand at his elbow as he guided them from the room, and up the stairs.

“Forgive me, darling, I had hoped to ask you properly once we were settled in,” Emmrich said, gloved hand resting warmly upon the slender hand she’d offered him, “Reservations at the Pnemoix are scarce at best this time of year, and I received word of an opening just prior to our departure to Arlathan.”

“Yeah, that got chaotic rather quickly,” Rook admitted, ever as tired, but relieved they were alive to tell the tale at all. For all of her raised hackles that needled up her spine over the ambush in the woods, a tickle of excitement wiggled its way into her belly, “And I’ve heard of the Pnemoix!” Her sudden excitement was palpable. Word amongst her peers back at the Necropolis had it that the Pnemoix was one of the most exclusive- and enchanting - dining experiences in all of Navarra City. It was not far from the city’s main entrance to the Grand Necropolis itself, in fact. Emmrich could scarcely stifle the humorous glimmer in his eyes as the bounce in her step hastened as they strode. He finally slipped a chuckle when her expression then screwed with uncertainty, “Aren’t they ridiculously expensive, though?”

“Hardly any concern of yours, my darling,” Emmrich laughed.

Cresting the top of the stairs that overlooked the Lighthouse’s eerie library, the Professor stopped before the long hall that led to his study. Rook watched curiously as something shifted in his demeanor - warm laughter settling into something warmer still, slender hands and their menagerie of golden rings gracing her arms with an almost reverential care.

“I had hoped, should the temptation arise,” Rook felt a wildfire blush ignite to the tips of her ears at his sudden unusually intimate word choice, before he’d so much as finished his sentence, “We may enjoy the privacy an overnight at home might afford us.”

Emmrich’s grin broadened at the blatant blush that flooded the young woman’s typically cocksure expression, a softness in his gaze despite the hint of mischief that lingered there, “You so scarcely find a moment alone in the Lighthouse, my love. You’ll forgive an old man his selfish desire for attention undivided.”

“I-I… of course,” Rook managed, despite her blush, a dizzying flutter in her chest and her tongue-tie of nerves.

“And the decision is entirely yours,” her breath caught in her throat as he pressed a kiss upon her forehead, one hand affectionately upon the back of her head, “But do consider it, darling, hmm?” He seemed absolutely tickled at Rook’s uncharacteristic shyness as she nodded, green eyes alight with racing thoughts. This was hardly a woman prone to speechlessness, after all. “I’m going to change, and request Neve look after Manfred until we return. Meet me at the Vi’Revas when you’re ready.”

Rook managed a nod before Emmrich swept off airily, stride as confident as ever.

——————-

“Okay… Oookay,” Rook finally managed to breathe again once the ancient chamber doors of her quarters sealed shut behind her. Gaze darting around the dancing light of the aquarium that dominated the far wall, she huffed a ragged sigh, palm to her forehead.

Embarrassment immediately flooded her veins.

“He finally brings it up and you… freeze? Seriously?” She groaned morosely.

At best, Rook was disappointed. It was hardly how she’d imagined reacting to such an opportunity, after all. The Rook of her imagination was unflappable in her confidence - *she* surely would have managed an air of alluring …. *Something* in response to such a proposition. A wicked flirt. A lingering kiss. A clever quip of any make or model at all.

But no. Only overwhelm. Rook had been flooded with a timidness utterly foreign to her usually fearless brogue.

Scythe-wielding Venatori, raging demons, blighted gods��� Such larger than life dangers too surreal and too vast to seem anything shy of absurd? That she could handle with a finesse and fearlessness that defied logic. It was precisely why Varric had brought her into the fold in the fight against Fen’Harel to begin with.

“But actually have the fellow you’ve been pining over for the last decade make a pass at you, and your brain breaks ? Maferath’s balls.”

The sordid swear she’d picked up from Varric early in their journeys together at least managed a smile from the woman. She shoved off from the door, kicking off muddied boots and unbuckling the patina’d gloves of her Mourn Watcher gauntlets as she went.

Rook had had little choice but to be honest with the Professor once her shoot-for-the-moon flirtations had, to her own genuine surprise, actually succeeded in swaying his interest so many weeks prior.

This was all… very new to the junior Mourn Watcher. So much of her time growing up had been spent clawing desperately for a sense of self. For the sort of identity that a complete lack of kith, kin or clan denied her for the whole of recent memory. Certainly until one Varric Tethras had swaggered his way into her life and corralled her under his wing.

Something as complicated as dating just never found its foothold with her focus, amid so many years of simply trying to find herself.

She was an elf in a largely human community, a non magic user - despite her endless fascination with the craft - in a society that prized its mages above all. Both facts of which pushed many of her superiors throughout her collegiate studies to blow off and even mock her ambitions towards more magic-focused areas of study.

Rook was an academic at heart - A voracious learner and reader. But for all of her passion, she was still very much an outsider. She was the foundling discovered abandoned deep within the Necropolis - lucky to have been found alive at all - Taken in by a kind and doting pair of elderly Mortalitasi, Gunter and Eloise Ingellvar, who had even gone as far as bequeathing their inheritance to her upon the last of their dual deaths some years later.

But they had gone too soon - Rook had barely been 12 when the old woman had died - and she was once again left as a ward of the Necropolis and its Watchers, who seemed to see less value in an orphaned elf with no magical talents to speak of. Frequently outright denied access to her preferred areas of study due to their prized and limited availability (such courses should be reserved for mages who might make the most use of them after all, and the university’s donors were rife with promising young mages as heirs) she was relegated, instead, to training as a fighter. A protector. A watcher of the Watchers themselves.

Just one extra corpse between demons and the ones whose work actually matters, more like, she thought. She swung open her ornate wardrobe, eyes scanning her limited choice in clothing critically as her thoughts poured from one memory to the next.

Those days were rife with turmoil. Rook had volleyed equally between hours of grueling fight and defense training, classes in basic sciences, necromancy, anatomy, funerary preparations and the Fade, and time dedicated purely to stirring up shit in the streets of Navarra City.

Fights. Petty theft. Stirring up chaos in the market square with a prank or three - one of which had, to her own amusement and pride to that very day, saw a surprisingly large number of bees in a leading role.

Throughout her years of collegiate learning, Rook carried the rage of a clever mind stifled and of dreams dashed, and it had landed her under the threadbare patience and steely gaze of the headmaster more times than she could count. That the Mourn Watch had been tasked with her care as much as her training was likely the only reason she hadn’t been thrown out for good.

It also hadn’t hurt that Rook had proven incredibly adept at combat despite her general lack of interest in the task (outside of a good tavern fistfight, at least.) There was also the curiosity that was her study habits. Her grades in basic courses were passable at best from sheer lack of interest, yet when time and little pockets of determination allowed, she could be found holed up in the Necropolis’s expansive library for hours, even days on end, pouring over every tomb her low-level clearance would allow, creating many tombs further of dense, meticulously detailed notes.

She was at least trying, in her own way, her superiors knew. And where their interest in her full potential failed her, her own thirst for learning minded the gap. Even if she was denied the chance to pursue her major of choice… lectures in the Grand Necropolis’s halls of learning were as free and frequent as the availability and seating of its various expansive lecture halls would allow.

Those educational sermons were hardly for the faint of heart or feeble of mind. They required many dedicated hours, copious notes, and a level of existing understanding of necromancy, the occult and Navarran history as a whole that *should* have been enough to bar a student of Rook’s study tract access by sheer lack of access to advanced classes alone.

But Rook had done the work. Had soaked up every scrap and parcel of knowledge she could, entirely on her own. And in each and every lecture, perched dutifully in the shadows at the back of the room, she soared.

Which was precisely where the good Professor had graced her peripherals, time and time again.

Even nearly a decade prior, Professor Emmrich Volkarin was something of a legend on campus. Prodigiously intelligent and equally skilled in both oration and genuine fondness for the eager young minds he fostered, Rook was hardly immune from the childish swooning over the otherwise utterly unattainable genius that captivated his students with every speech and demonstration.

“Volkarin’s hangers-on.”

Johanna Hezenkoss’s recent jeer at Rook’s expense still made her cheeks run hot. Rook had never been that - certainly not as the insult Hezenkoss intended.

But Rook and Emmrich were both well aware of whom the half-Litch referred to.

Hair a little darker and warm eyes a little bit brighter then, The Professor was too clever and adept at reading people around him to have remained oblivious to the fact that not only were the large majority of doe-eyed students trailing him from office to lectern and back largely of the female variety, but they were also almost always a bit more coy than was comfortable to be sharing a room with for too long. It was always impressive, then, to Rook, just how coolly and kindly said attentions were quite unanimously blown off by Emmrich himself.

He was never once cruel or condescending, but ever the consummate professional. He paid his students’ motivations no mind outside of whatever question he was fielding, or what knowledge he wished to impart, either.

Rook later overheard whispers among a gaggle of gossiping young mages in the privy that, apparently, “half of the fun” of flirting with the man to begin with was trying to “find a crack” in their charming yet unflappably stoic Professor’s perfectly tailored facade.

Of which there was nary a one, as far as Rook knew at the time. The man simply did not budge.

Which was why, despite never having had the stones to so much as approach Professor Volkarin with a question before meeting with him in the catacombs with Bellara months prior, and with nearly ten years of confidence that only incredibly hard work and some life experience could provide, Rook was genuinely floored when her own good-humored and (mostly) unserious swings at flirting with the man *actually worked.*

Rook had only dared shoot her shot with the man with the full confidence that in all likelihood (and at absolute worst) he would simply glance past the attention with his usual jovial kindness. She took a swing at it for younger-Rook, who would have thought it the coolest thing ever, future-Rook finding the sort of confidence her younger self found so foreign.

And the man actually expressed interest. Just fully (warmly as ever but with a degree of coyness Rook had no idea actually existed prior) stated that if, in fact, her projected interest went beyond mere flattery… he was down.

“Hell of a bullseye on the first draw, there, Ingellvar,” she had mused to herself and inevitably shared with Emmrich multiple times since, much to the Professor’s amusement.

Rook pulled the only pretty, non-Mourn Watch related article of clothing she owned - a deep purple gown and its immaculately tailored overcoat - from the wardrobe, before clipping the doors shut with her heel.

Naive shock aside, it wasn’t as though Rook hadn’t been equally delighted by Emmrich’s unexpected response. She had become even more enamored with the fellow in the past many months, as he spoke with her not as a student but as a colleague. An equal.

He adored her thoughts and her intellectual curiosity, and had said as much - often. He was ever the academic, as enthusiastic about answering any question she had as she was to learn the answer. But he was also genuinely interested in all of the knowledge she had gathered in the past ten years - Her interests in Navarran archeology within the ever-ancient Necropolis halls. His in Necromancy and the Fade. It had become a frequent, deeply adored line of conversation between the two of them, in fact - just how often their individual fields of study crossed in application.

Emmrich Volkarin was every bit as charming as his passionate yet professional demeanor would imply. But what Rook came to learn very quickly upon reconnecting with the man was that, on a personal level, he was one of the most compassionate individuals Rook had ever met. He cared deeply, about everything - particularly, it seemed, about the ragtag troop of adventurers she and Neve had since managed to assemble. At 52 years of age, he also, as it turned out, had zero qualms about dating someone - regardless of gender persuasion - over 20 years his junior. He’d simply taken his work as an educator far too seriously when he was young enough to find any interest in university students, let alone misuse the power dynamic between teacher and pupil - and they had, decades later, well since lost their appeal.

So, now, here she was. Two months into the most absurdly romantic courtship she could imagine, given the sheer chaos that surrounded them otherwise.

Fancy dinners. Time spent exploring the Necropolis to feel more grounded - that little bit of home going a long way to keeping them both fixed on the battles that just kept on coming. A recent night stroll through the streets of Navarra City during the ancestral pageants, their darkly artful city glistening with lanterns and wisps.

Emmrich Volkarin was ever a man of his word, too. Early on, when a bashful Rook mentioned her lack of experience in any such relationship, he had promised they’d take things slow, and they absolutely had. Endeared and warm as they were, his kisses were chaste, and his presence around her respectful of her space and autonomy. It had only been since she had started pushing boundaries that he had reciprocated in kind.

Longer, deeper kisses. Tousled hair. Hands wandering with far more bravery - and far more urgency - from both parties, amidst long nights full of even longer conversations.

The cracks in Emmrich Volkarin’s perfectly tailored facade were showing. And, Rook grinned to herself despite the blush reaching her ears, they were admittedly * delicious.*

Rook fastened the copper skull-shaped buttons upon her overcoat before fishing for Varric’s shaving mirror and checking her hair.

She wasn’t entirely sure how she’d expected the acceleration of their relationship to go. Perhaps more spontaneously, and likely in the Lighthouse, despite neither of them having particularly comfortable quarters - his with little more than a cot to sleep on that was otherwise hidden away, and her own space often as chilly as being overlooked by an enormous deep water aquarium would imply.

She certainly didn’t expect it to turn into a Pnemoix-worthy event.

It was, frankly, the first time Emmrich had taken the lead on the direction of relations between them. He had planned every romantic gesture their messy schedules and frequent travels would allow, sure, but every acceleration where intimacy had been concerned had been entirely on Rook.

But, it felt right, the timing.

She wondered if this was his way of saying he felt the same.

Rook slipped on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses (her vision never had been the best, but she’d only just taken to wearing them more faithfully at Emmrich’s encouragement, and insistence that he thought them, “Positively charming.”)

With a flutter of excitement in her chest Rook spared a careless hope that she might make it all the way downstairs to the Vi’Revas without any of their friends asking enough questions to rattle her nerves anymore than they already squirmed.

——————-

The journey was quick and blessedly uninterrupted. Punctual as ever, Emmrich had already arrived. He turned to greet her as she strode his way, having been surveying the towering Eluvian with an air of curiosity just moments before.

Lean and immaculately dapper as ever, golden rings and bangles over luxurious shades of black and jade, a smile swept his features so genuine that it stole a smile from her own.

“Rook,” he mused warmly, “You look exquisite.”

“Could very well say the same to you, Professor,” Rook teased, hand once again gracing the elbow he lent her.

“Shall we?”

[hxney-lemcn]

Can i request for Fellow Honest with 🌹and 👀, plz?

a/n: perfect timing since the event started today for en servers. ngl, idk how to write for him and couldn't find anything on the wiki so I hope this isn't too far off...he sounds like Rook for one line, I did not mean to do that.

tw: dear as a petname(?)

wc: 0.2k

2k follower event | master list

You eyed the strange fox from the corner of your eye. He hasn’t stopped staring at you for the past twenty minutes, and he was always up to no good. You tried your hardest to stay out of it (as much as one can stay out of their boss/friend’s chaos), but Fellow always managed to sweep you away in his mischief. 

“Why are you staring?” You snapped, glaring at him. “Is there something on my face?”

“Can’t a fellow just admire the beauty life offers?” Fellow Honest grinned, eyes twinkling with something you couldn’t exactly name. Unconsciously, you patted your pockets, double checking that your wallet was still on your person, you wouldn’t hold it past him to pickpocket a friend (maybe you were exaggerating, but he’s put too many meals on you to count at this point). 

“Not a fellow like you,” You huffed, going back to the job you were supposed to be doing, the fox continuing to watch. You almost felt like he was a predator waiting for his prey to fall into his trap. 

“You’re being quite rude, dear,” Fellow acted offended. “Is that anyway to treat a friend?”

“I’ve treated you to too many dinners,” You grumbled, not getting anywhere with your work. “Shouldn’t I get a little something in return?”

“Hmm,” He hummed, tapping a finger on his cane in thought. “Perhaps a date then.”

Pausing, you slowly turned to look up at him, raising an eyebrow you asked, “On your dime? With what money?”

“You’ll see,” Fellow chuckled deeply, sending you a wink before walking away.

[natsuyuki-w]

Not one of the boys

Twisted wonderland cast realizes that (Yuu) is a girl.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 Featuring: Lilia - Kalim and Jamil - Vil, Epel and Rook

- See you tomorrow! - I waved the ghosts at the cafeteria. "Yass pay day as come again!" I cheered while making my way to the dorm. The corridor was empty except for a student at the end walking in my opposite direction.

All of a sudden he slowed down and started to wobble. I rushed as fast as I could catching him just in time. - Uff - he fell face front in my arms, and I stumbled a little, needing to pull my all strength to support his limp body. - mmmm - he fought the dizziness but his lids refused to stay open slowly covering his lilac irises. - I'll bring you to the infirmary ,... - - Mmmm, no infirmary...father. - - Ehm... Maybe not? - I chuckled - Poor thing... I'm afraid is going to be quite difficult bringing you home in short terms. - and I tried shifting him better for the carrying.

- Smell...good - "Did he just nuzzled in my chest????" - Ha ha ha... l-let's go you need some sugar in your system. - "If I'm lucky enough, his brain is too turned off to..." - mmmm...A girl? - never mind.

- Is the feeling of dizziness getting better? - I asked deflecting the topic, but no responses came out. - Damn it!!! He passes out. - Starting to drag him I searched in every pocket anything useful and noticed "his colors". - Diasomnia eh? Can you tell me your name? - but again nothing came out of his mouth. - Uff we are almost *gnh there - I pulled resisting his full weight.

---

Once arrived, the stuff helped me carry him to bed and informed me of his predicament. Apparently he was often found sleeping around. - So it's rather narcolepsy then dizziness... must be hard. - Sitting on his bed I tried to talk testing again if he was gaining cautiousness.

Looking down his sleeping face, I hummed a little tune inspired by his predicament - 🎶 I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream, I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam... 🎶 - -... Thank you...princess Aurora. - he murmured, held out weakly his hand to then falling down my arm in the trajectory.

*girly squeaks I got up covering my red face. - Is he awake? - came back one of the nurses. I shook my head and ran passed them - Thank you for your work, please take care of him I'm going to inform his dorm mates. - I quickly dismissed myself.

---

In Diasomnia's lounge I found a solitary green haired boy, seemingly able to solely communicate in screeches. He started from the moment he lent eyes on me and continued till we parted ways.

- Goodness... I'm going to lay down myself... It was exhausting. - hopefully sleeping beauty in the confusion would forget about our encounter.

Swimwear fiasco

- Oasi maker! - exclaimed Kalim. - Come on (Yuu) let's enjoy the water!- encouraged the bubbly boy. - Oh no I... Can't.- I sat on the border enjoying the coolness with my feet. After the exhausting week, it would've been a blessing, but I knew better then risk once again my identity.

- But you said you love swimming...- - I did... But I'm... very tired from all the training we did, I'll just stay here for a while...- - But water is very helpful! It relaxes all your muscles. - he insisted. - Koebi-chaan... Let's go in the water. You'll make the baby otter cry. - teased Floyd, knowing Exactly why I didn't want to swim. - I-I don't even have swimwear. I can't. - - Y-yeah exactly Floyd don't insist, sh..he can't ha-ha.- laughed Azul awkwardly realizing the predicament of me in a swimsuit.

- Don't worry Prefect! - smiled brightly Kalim taking his thumb and middle finger together. - Here you...- - NO!!! - I quickly stood up, but my protest came late. * snap Red swim boxers with flames lay lower than my navel, showing in full display the tight sports bra that flatted my chest.

Azul shrieked and covered his eyes immediately, his face redder than his sunburn. Floyd and Jade instead watched all too attentively with wide grins. Grim started to laugh at my yet another involuntary revealing and Jamil stepped back in disbelief and completely flustered covered his eyes like the Octavinelle's head.

Kalim directly in front of me, was staring, his brain fused and mouth half agape. - Sigh... Don't be so shocked, I'm not naked.- and I grabbed my shirt from the boy's hand. - Come on, you're all reacting like you've never seen a girl in your life. - and then I mumbled - I'm not even that good-looking.- - Awwww that's not true Shrimpy,...*uf why already covering? - lamented Floyd. - HORNY JAIL FOR YOU!- I snapped.

- B-b-b since...when? Y-you ...I - Kalim became a mumbling mess. - Oh you know, it's the cold water. - I joked (to myself because nobody knew about Ranma 1/2). - For real??? - exclaimed him, incapable of understanding sarcasm. - No...No darling, since the first day here, I've always been a girl, but Crowley asked me to hide it. - and then I mumbled - Definitely harder than I thought keeping this a secret.-

- Excuse me on Kalim's behalf. - intervened Jamil still not looking at me from embarrassment. - I'M SO SORRY (YUU). - cried the boy, opened arms ready for his usual hugs but stopped unsure. I smiled and closed the gap to squeeze and pat his back. - Don't worry I'm not mad, fortunately, it all turned out...decently - at least I wasn't naked - Only thing I ask of you: don't tell anyone, plz. And look at the positive: now I can swim!-

- NOOO!!!- protested Azul turning into an even deeper shade of red. - YEES!!! - exclaimed instead Floyd and Kalim, the kid quickly recovering from the shock. - Tho I can't give you the clothes...my magic is not that good- muttered soon after. - Ah, no no I can go like this! Sure is a bit stuffy but it can work. - - (Yuu), I can procure you proper wearing if you want. - invited Jade with an evil smile. - Nah, thx -

---

We enjoyed the water for a while till I heard someone screaming out of breath from afar. - Hm? Someone's running from across the desert. - I looked where Grim was pointing and saw my favorite bromance. - Heeeey Prefect, Griiim - - Are you guys alive? - Deuce was ready to throw fists. - Hey guys! What happened to you? Decided to come back ear... - - Whaddya mean " What happened to us"? What the hell happened to you? - Angrily inquired Ace. - As soon as we got your "We're locked up in Scarabia" message...-

- Oooh right...I'm sorry guys! Grim suggested to contact you but after we were so caught up with the all thing...- you excused - Tho... Awww were you worried about us? Such good friends!... Ace, only at times. - - WHAAAT? We freaking public transported here! The mirror warp is not opened yet. -

- It seems you solved the situation well. I'm glad you are... - Deuce noticed my fewer garments. - So... They found out too eh?- inquired Ace. - Come on come on! - I grabbed their hands dismissing quickly the topic - the water is so good, you came all the way here, now relax and I'll fetch'ya with ALL the dits. - The raven head looked vacantly before him in shock. - Yeah, I'm going to take a good soak, but I need more than relaxing. You better prepare a cocktail for all the scare you gave us. - - Perfect! Kalim, can you please do the *snap on them?- I shouted.

To be young

- But I thought you didn't bring a swimsuit (Yuu). - asked the ghosts. I groaned in response and stayed behind to admire the Winter Wonderland. - Gyahahhahaa, she didn't but...- and the cat started narrating my misadventure.

- Oooh would you look at that? So you have finally come back - in front of my face, a boy with black and pink hair flew upside down. - Whaaa! You scared the crap outta me! - then I looked at his face better and snapped repeatedly my fingers - What was your name....- - I'm...- - No no no! Wait. I have it...- - Fufufufu suit yourself. - he shrugged - You're a curious thing indeed...Not only you managed to catch his attention, but you're also an infiltrated girl. - smiled chuckling. - Aaaand here goes my identity... again. -

With his face so close I got a little starstruck and absentmindedly I recapped - Big eyes, pointy champers, always upside down, great hearing,... You truly are like a pretty bat... LILIA! YESSS I knew I had it! - and held my fist victorious.

He flinched - That's...- and exploded in a long laugh lowering to the ground - Why yes-and-thank -you! - he closed the distance again, his face inches from mine - You're quite the charmer. - He lightly gasped - Uh boy! Perhaps you may be...his first crush? - and his expression turned into a teasing grin. - Wha...?- - Awww to be young,... Here, I've come to deliver a holiday card addressed to you from a Certain individual. I wonder if he knows you're a girl...- and he passed me the envelope closed by a golden sigil.

- A Certain individual... - the only Diasomnia kid I knew was Tsunotaro. - M.D...- I glared at the card in search of answers, Lilia looking expectingly. - He was sulking since he wasn't invited to any holiday parties this year. - - Oh really? I hope he'll spend a wonderful vacation either way. Next time we prepare something I shall invite him. Tho... He has you,... right?- He smiled warmly and nodded - Yes we kept him company, but I think he will appreciate your sentiment. - I nodded looking again at the message.

- Ah-ha! Of course M.D: My Dearest! - I translated - Awww that's cute, send him my gratitude, he's dear to me as well...I think. I'm still not sure we are talking about the same person.-

And for 5 minutes straight, he laughed at my expenses.

Femboy

- I think you can see it well from him. - lectured Vil to the rebellious kid. - Tho still a bit of a potato, but he has embraced his cuteness with both masculine and feminine traits. - - W- wait... are you talking about me? - I finally realized. - Who else, Manager? - - I... well, you see...- - Schoenheit-senpai the Prefect is not...- - That... Feminine. - interrupted Ace before Deuce could spill the secret to yet another person. With all those people finding out, he had forgotten about his promise.

"If I tell those two now..." but my thoughts got interrupted. - I think a practical demonstration would be the best solution to get through this thick head of his.- Epel's brows twitched, he didn't seem much inclined to the idea and found a way to change the topic.

---

- And now? What should I do? - I asked Rook. - How would Epel react after seeing that my "femininity" is in fact because I'm a woman? - - Mmm, I see,...it is quite troublesome.- he took a hand under his chin.- You could reverse the perspective, Trickster! - and pointed back at me. - ...- - I did't doubt you being a boy the first time I saw you, and the others too. -

Apparently, curious of our interest in the challenge, he made his research (stalking) and had confessed his discovery when my friends asked to apply to the selection.

"Aaaah so you are not applying Trickster? I guess it's unfortunate but inevitable. After all, you couldn't risk your identity being revealed in the presence of the other academies."

- Mmmmm... So like, emphasize that I'm a manly girl? - - ...Not exactly what I meant, but yes. You're remarkably beautiful in disguise and not.- - At...well. Wow, thank you! I guess,...uff wow... is it hot in here? - I exclaimed closing the conversation fast to hide my rosy cheeks.

---

- See you this evening! - I saluted. - Have fun, but be there on time for preparing dinner, okay Manager? - inquired Vil. - Don't worry (Yuu), today I'll help you too so you can arrive a little later. - reassured Epel. - Sweet ~ Thank you so much I really appreciate it! -

- Where are you going (Yuu)? - came after me Kalim. - Shopping! Cater has been asking me to go for a while - Since the tie-reveal, the third year had been throwing "girly" dates ideas from time to time - Today my hard-earned savings are going to be put to good use... On myself! And dorms fixing obv. - since my interlocutor seemed giddy I asked - Wanna join? - - YES...- - I'm afraid not, Kalim. - inquired Jamil. - You have been neglecting your study for long enough using training as an excuse. We need to make up for lost time. -

- Ack... Sorry love - I pet his white hair, the poor Scarabia's leader totally drained from enthusiasm. - Good luck then but please, take some rest you all! You too Jamil! - I glared. - Bye (Yuu) have a nice day. - waved me off with a smile the Vice dorm leader.

---

A few hours later we were strolling the streets ogling the shop windows -...something like that, you know? - I chatted explaining my plan to Cater. - I like the idea very much and I'll help you for sure! - he winked - I'm so happy you accepted! When we'll be back, I'll show Trey some peeks of our date juust to tease him. He's going to be so jealous! - he smiled mischievously pulling his phone out. -Hahahaa what are you talking about? Don't be silly. - I shook my head - But yes! If you could lend a hand I would reeeally appreciate it.-

---

The day passed by smoothly and after some last touches of light makeup at Heartlabyul, I was ready to put my plan in motion.

I entered the door and greeted everyone with nonchalance. - Hii (Yuu)...Wooow! Your shopping went well! - gawked Kalim. - Hahahaha thank you! Pretty neat yeah? Cater is a good consultant I have to admit it. - - You look good, the jacket is dope! - Epel's ruder self slipped out but Vil's glare was an immediate shut down. - Wanna try? - I tugged the collar. He nodded and I slipped off the piece of garment to rest it on his shoulder.

Silence broke down.

Under the masculine attire, I wore a fitting cropped corset, hugging nicely my shape. -..but..you..- Epel blushed then frowned. Many things ran through his head. Kalim was going to cover me but I quickly stopped his track with a reassuring smile. Behind him Ace threw a teasing roll of his eyes. Meaning: show-off. Deuce blush inevitably came out and Jamil was the most flustered of them all. He was still recovering from the swimwear trauma. Vil on the other hand, after the first surprise, soon recomposed himself. He knew what transsexuality was after all. - Magnifique, c'est très flatteuse.- admired Rook.

- Sorry Epel and Vil, I never told you I'm a girl. - I confessed meeting the azure eyes of the boy before me. The look in them wavered in a mix of fluster and betrayal. I explained the all Crowley ordeal and my motives - I know I could've just stayed silent, but it didn't sit right to me. Especially when Vil's point seemed completely contradicted by the reality. But Rook... - - *Sigh, of course, you knew - commented Vil. - ...Rook told me I could make the same point out of my situation. I hope it reached. But mostly, I hope we can still be friends. - and I surpassed the first year with a pat on the shoulder. - Do you still wanna help? - and after a bit of pondering the boy silently nodded.

- I... Don't know what's right or wrong and I am not truly sure how to face this, but I do want to be friends. - spoke after we finished. I smiled brightly and responded- I'm glad. - and smiling back he went out to settle the table.

- Now I understand why you didn't even try the audition. - Vil posed at the entry. - Yep. The headmaster prohibited "too much exposure" especially for an event that invites all the other academies. - He nodded. - The attire suits you, by the way, it makes you look handsome. - and he left.

"VIL SHONEHEIT THINKS I'M HANDSOME."

The pairing of the names Kalim+Jamil is so amusing to me, and I always mix them up. (Jalim, Kamil) The ship is so strong it comes naturally.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

[genjyoandgojyoandhakkai]

The List

Xiqaa, Emmrich, and Lucanis agreed with Spite that he should have control of the body one day a month. In exchange for allowing Lucanis to focus (more) on work for the other twenty-nine days, Spite may choose the activity for his allotted time.

A crumpled but tightly rolled scroll contains the list of proposed activities, written in Spite’s unmistakable handwriting - vivid red ink, likely expensive.

Three additional colors mark the annotations:

Black with gold ink: Rook

Blue ink: Lucanis

Deep purple ink: Emmrich

The outer side of the scroll bears a warning, courtesy of Lucanis:

"Manfred and Spite, do not forget to return the ink-making supplies to Bellara!"

Underneath, Bellara’s handwriting appeases:

"It's okay, Lucanis! They're having fun! ❤️"

Spite’s List of Activities (One Day Month)

Fight Compassion in the Hall of Lords

(Spite, I do not believe Compassion will fight you, but we can ask Seer Rowan if another spirit would be inclined. Regardless, you may engage in combat within the Hall. - Lucanis)

(Spite, what he means is we’ll find someone’s ass and kick it, don’t worry. - Rook)

Taste every plants in Harding's garden at the Lighthouse

(The plants in Harding’s garden are alchemical ingredients. This would be dangerous for both of you.  - Emmrich)

Make candle

See how high Lucanis and Spite can fly before they fall

Fall into ocean from flying too high

Neve

(Crossed out by all three colors. In the margins, Lucanis has written "¡No mames, Spite!" diagonally. Spite has retaliated by drawing his ‘signature’, a complex decagon filled with geometric designs - over it.)

Crow contract

(Rook: Hmm. Do we think Illario might be willing? Spite is at least a fledgling by now…)

(Lucanis, in very small script beneath: I am the First Talon. He will do as I say.)

Treasure hunting with Rook

(A small doodle of a smiling face with heart-shaped eyes has been added next to this.)

Dinner of Candles with Manfred

(Lucanis has crossed this out repeatedly, as though physically restraining himself from setting the scroll on fire.)

Curiosity and Spite visit the Necropolis

(I shall accompany you with pleasure, my darling. - Emmrich)

Satinalia

Crossed out. (Lucanis has written "NO" in precise, neat script, then drawn a long-stemmed arrow pointing toward this entry.)

Cooking with Rook

(Rook underlined this enthusiastically and scribbled: "See, Lucanis? Not everyone thinks I am too chaotic in the kitchen!")

Learn POISON Viago

(Crossed out by all three colors.)

FIRE

(Perhaps worn down by repeated requests, no one has crossed it out.)

Rook wear Crow Head helmet on date

(Sure thing, var malignitas! You know I love that helm. - Rook)

(Lucanis wrote, and lightly crossed out, No me puedes creer todas las pendejadas...)

Spite and Lucanis eat Joining Feast Day with Rook and Emmrich

(Rook: How do we think we could pull this off? Seems harder than the Maker’s eternal erection.)

(Lucanis: Mierda. That is not a feast day.)

(Spite: Do not care. Spite and Lucanis HAPPY. Want feast.)

(Emmrich: My eternal flames, perhaps I can consult with specialists in the Necropolis. Let us revisit this another year.)

At the bottom of the list, a final addition appears, scrawled hastily and signed with a simplistic drawing of a skeletal hand:

I LOVE YOU, family! Xx, Manfred.

The scroll bears various stains and should probably not be examined too closely. Evidence suggests it has traveled with its authors, likely crammed into a hidden cape pocket or retrieved from a location that suggests deep regret. Whatever the outcome, it is evident that Spite’s wishes were thoughtfully considered, if not entirely encouraged.

Lucanis, probably:

translations:

var malignitas - our Spite (elvish + vint slang)

¡No mames, Spite! - crude Spanish for no way, or you're kidding

No me puedes creer todas las pendejadas - I can't believe this shit

thanks to @doc-notarealone-salas for the excellent screenshot for my meme 💖

[cocoboots]

A Word with Friends

Thank you @serensama for the tag! I loved your post for this writing challenge and this is my official request for MORE 💥💳💥💳

I'll take this challenge as a change to insert this word into an excerpt of my Illario x Rook WIP Toro and count this as my WIP Wednesday too lmaoo

For you to copy and paste: Rules: Use the challenge word to write a sentence or scene and then tag a few friends. Happy writing!

This week's word: Egregious

Rook could kill Illario. She was sweating, and not in a pleasant way, if there even was such a thing. She had abandoned her windbreaker, peeling it off her sticky body until she was only in her tank top and shorts. But that wasn’t enough, and she had now resorted to almost hanging out the passenger side window. All the windows in Illario’s horrid car were rolled down, and he was driving fast. If they had wanted to talk, they wouldn’t have been able to hear one another over the pummel of the wind.  Yet Rook couldn’t find it in herself to be completely mad. Sure, the situation could be summed up as egregious. She was beyond aggrieved that Illario hadn’t bothered to check if the vehicle had working AC. But she was now in the Sicilian countryside, the wind tugging at her hair, and vineyards were all around them. The feeling of the sun on her skin was indulgent. Rook had even propped her legs up on the dash, a small part of her brain wondering if she could achieve a tan through a windshield.  The thing that surprised her the most, though, was the silence from her companion in the driver’s seat. The man next to her was not the Illario she had come to know over a year ago. For one, his hair. When Rook was making her way down into the arrivals bay, she was looking for that slicked back top bun of his amidst the crowd, always followed by his put-together appearance and charm. Instead, she had been greeted by a shaggy-haired man towering over the strangers around them. His hair was now short, falling over his brow in gentle waves. Not only that, but he was golden from the sun, as if he had spent every day outside. The Illario of the past was a salesman, more interested in the perfect crease of his trousers. But even those were gone now, too, his hands deep in the pockets of a pair of worn jeans that he’d paired with a white tee.  The time on Viago’s vineyard had changed Illario, and he was unrecognizable.  But the biggest difference wasn’t physical. Illario, the charming smooth talker, renowned by all, was barely speaking. And it seemed he preferred it that way.

Thank you for the tag, this was exciting!!

I'm gently tagging some pookies to join if they'd like 😈 @sugar-peanut-cat @arisofsky @woundedsoul12 @thedissonantverses and anyone else if they'd like!

[headachecat]

My favourite parts from Rookanis Epilogue (WIP in no particular order)

Enjoy!

--

‘Spite. I’ve missed you,’ she murmured with affection. Spite smirked, as he held her there, his hands steady, possessive. Lucanis felt a rush of hunger, as he allowed the demon to guide him. He leaned in, brushing his lips against her neck, ‘Rook. He’s glad. You are back. I am too.’ He kissed her neck, savouring the way her pulse thrummed beneath his lips. His eyes darkened with approval, as Rook’s hand pulled on his hair harder. Spite led his hands wonder down the side of her thigh, lifting her leg and placing it on their hip. Rook chuckled, letting herself lay helplessly in his embrace, playing into his little game. His grip tightened around her, pulling her even closer for a moment, before releasing Lucanis’ body entirely. He stepped away from the scene, his gaze lingering on Rook, assessing her with certain admiration. ’She’s fun. I like her’ Spite hissed, fading away into Lucanis’ mind. ‘Make her stay. With us.’

--

Harding paused, watching him quietly, her eyes softening as she tied the bag closed with a practiced motion. ‘From Rook?’ she asked, her voice gentle, a knowing glance crossing her face.

He nodded, his fingers tracing the creases of the letter, as though making sure it was still intact. He slid it into the inside pocket on his chest, close to his heart. Harding smiled at him reassuringly, before turning her attention to the window through which they had entered. ‘I’m certain she’s all right,’ she said, ‘Unless they ran into the bears in the Hinterlands. Maker, those just never give up.’

--

It was a charcoal sketch, clearly drawn up in a rush, although with great skill. He made out Rook’s silhouette as she stood in front of a stone Wolf statue. She was smiling widely, beaming with laughter, as her arms resting confidently on her hips in her usual manner. Lucanis noticed her hair grew longer. Perhaps more frizzy in the moist Fereldan weather. Right next to her stood a taller woman, her hair short and black, a scar piercing her cheek. Her hands were rested comfortably behind her back. Her expression betrayed a slight amusement at the situation she has found herself in. He glanced at the description written hastily towards the bottom of the picture.

We found Solas! How could anyone take TEN YEARS to do so? 

R --

Rook traced the line of his arm with deliberate care, her touch gliding over his wrist, her fingers curling around his own. She lifted it toward her face, cradling his palm in hers. Her cheek pressed into his hand, warm and familiar, pulling his focus back to her face. ‘I’m here, vhenan,’ endearment rolled off her tongue with an intimacy that made his chest tighten. She reached towards his face, her fingertips brushing against his skin. The sensation sent a spark racing along his nerves, the kind that raised the hairs on the back of his neck. ‘Hope I didn’t interrupt anything.’

Lucanis smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to her fingers as they traced the line of his jaw. ‘What are you doing–‘ his words cut off abruptly, his gaze falling to the side of her face. It froze there, locked on her ear. He reached out instinctively, or maybe in shock, to touch it. Her beautiful, long ear was cut off. The extended tip was gone, jagged and uneven, the edges ruggedly scarred. Though the wound was healed, it hadn’t been treated with proper care. He traced the faint ridges of the initial scarring with his fingertips, feeling the calloused texture of the skin that had mended poorly. His stomach churned at the sight, a hot knot of anger beginning to form in his chest. His jaw tightened, as he locked eyes with her once more. ‘Who did this?’

-- Cassandra touched his shoulder reluctantly, as if she wasn’t used to performing such gestures. They stopped for a brief second, alone in the darkness. ‘I’ve once known a man who evaded his love for ten years because of duty,’ she said slowly, her eyes making sure he paid attention her words, ‘And once they reunited, it was clear that it was a time wasted. So they tell me. I admire your acceptance and dedication to the path thrust upon you. But make sure it doesn’t stop you from finding your own way to what your heart wants.’ --

'Just don’t leave.’ Lucanis tiled his head, the pain in her voice tearing a hole in his chest, ‘Never.’

The gleam of her usual happiness crept back into her eyes, and he smiled, bringing her into another kiss. She pulled him close, as he gasped breathlessly at the unexpected rush of heat running up his neck. Lucanis wrapped his arms around her. He guided her carefully to rest on the wooden deck. She tensed underneath him. He groaned, feeling his wings extend and cradle both of them in a protective embrace. They got lost in the moment, their breaths mixing, their hearts racing, and their hands yearning to touch. To explore. To remember. --

It took a moment for their chuckles to die down. And then, the silence stretched between them as they perceived one another. Rook’s face was flushed with excitement. Lucanis, looked at her tenderly, trying to keep his eyes from watering. He observed her face with emotion, his gaze flickering down to her mouth. He really shouldn’t, not until they were far away. Not until they were in safety. She pulled back her hair, exposing the side of her neck ever so slightly. Maker’s breath. Rook opened her mouth, as if to speak, but Lucanis didn’t wait for the words to sound out. His breath mingled with hers, slow and steady, before he leaned in swiftly, capturing her lips in a kiss. 

It wasn’t gentle. There was nothing cautious about it – just pure, unfiltered need. The months apart had built up an ache neither could ignore, and now, with her so close, he couldn’t keep the hunger under control. His hands found her waist, pulling them together as if he couldn’t bear the space between them any longer. Rook responded instantly, her hands wrapping around his neck, tugging him closer. She, too, had been waiting for this moment.

Lucanis’ heart thudded in his chest, louder than the faint rustling of the leaves around them, louder than the distant hum of the party.  He could feel Rook’s body pressed against his, the soft curve of her shoulders, the steady rhythm of her movement matching his own. She pulled back briefly just enough to catch her breath, her lips still hovering near his, her chest rising and falling with effort. She searched his eyes with visible joy, the crinkle of her nose noticable in the faint light. ‘I promise to be a better assassin from now on,’ she whispered. Lucanis placed a short kiss in the corner of her mouth. ‘What did I do to deserve you?’

--

I hope it will be a crown jewel of the anthology you can find here https://archiveofourown.org/works/60395146/chapters/154153939

Let me know what your thoughts!