#side eye to Vael

[lgvalenzuela]

He's not wrong

Dorian saying the Inquisitor is "not exactly subtle" about being gay is so funny to me askldfjdasjkfls basically just called him flaming

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

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

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

[valaenatargaryensdragon]

If requests are still open could you please write a fic where Aemond sees Rhaenyra’s daughter again who is now happily married to Daemon with their 6 children.

A/N: I hope you like it!

pairing: Daemon Targaryen x Stepdaughter!Reader x Aemond Targaryen

summary: Aemond sees Rhaenyra’s daughter again who is now happily married to Daemon with their 6 children.

Word count: 2,1K

Warnings: Angst, Fluff, suggestive themes

Masterlist 1

Masterlist 2

"It has been so long since we came here" You spoke eyeing the Keep. Your mother had decided that she wishes to come to the keep and celebrate Aegon's nameday here and she insisted the entire family comes as well.

"Yes ever since that day" Daemon pointed out. He looked like a stone wall beside you, all tense and angry as usual.

"I may have thought for many years that it was the worst day of my life-" You began turning to face him. Daemon's head snapped to look at you with a hurt expression on his face, he knew that what he did was wrong and unforgivable yet you said that you did forgive him, you said that you loved him and hearing those words broke his heart.

"-however now I see it as the best day of my life, it gave us Jacaella" You finished. You wrapped your arms around his bicep holding yourself closer to him. His face softened and he leaned down to place a kiss on your forehead.

"We should go in, they are expecting us for the feast" Daemon reminded you. When you arrived you immediately changed your clothes and made your way to the gardens having missed the place you lived in for many years.

"Yes, the children must be restless" You giggled. You kept yourself wrapped around Daemon's arm as he led the way into the palace. Even from a couple of corridors away you could hear yours children's screaming at one another about a dress? The conversation got clearer when you were near enough at the end of the corridor, Maelor did not like the red dress Jacaella wore making the now seven namedays old girl who had tears in her eyes yelling at him.

"Children, enough" Daemon called when you were close enough. The handmaidens standing around them curtsied to you and Daemon. You took Baeron from one of them and held the nearly ten moons old child on your hip.

"Maelor, you should not be so mean to your sister, she looks beautiful in her dress" Daemon crouched down to be on the same height as the children. Maelor looked down ashamed and rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.

"I just think it is too long, how will we play with her wearing it?" Maelor's bottom lip wobbled and he looked up at his father.

"aww Maelor I can still play with you in this dress" Jacaella leaned over to wrap her arms around her brother. Maelor hugged her back happily as a smile made its way on his face. Daemon looked up at you as you giggled bouncing Baeron on your hip.

"See they can make up on their own" He pushed himself back to his full height. He took Vael from her handmaiden and held her close to his chest.

"Shall we accompany you, your graces?" One of the handmaidens asked. She was holding Elaerys' hand so the now three namedays was holding four namedays Valeron's hand for balance.

"No we can manage" You shook your head. You took hold of Elaerys' hand and Daemon held Valeron's hand yet they insisted on holding each other's hand in between. Jacaella walked on her father's other side and Maelor on yours.

You thought you must have looked ridiculous with all these children wobbling about around you but at the same time you felt blessed. You had a huge smile on your face as you made your way to the hall the feast was being held at. The guard announced your arrival which caused a hush to fall over the hall and everyone turned to face you two.

You had heard of the rumours that had circled around King's Landing. Some people said that Daemon had kidnapped you and turned you into a broodmare, others said that you seduced him while others said you were not even married to each other. The newest rumour however was that Daemon had killed you for giving him three daughters which was ridiculous considering you had the same amount of boys.

You found it a bit hard walking down the stairs with a toddler needing your support and another on your hip wiggling about wanting to be let down to show that he could crawl and even stand on his own two feet, no walking yet but Baeron had managed to stand on his own a couple of days ago so any day now.

Your smiled brightened at the sight of your grandsire sat in his chair with Queen Alicent by his side. You ignored the stares as much as you could and the whispers hushed for you not to hear and make out words but loud enough for you to know there were there. Your mother sat on her father's other side smiling lightly at you, she had promised to behave in the capital and made a small truce with you meanwhile.

"My king" You curtsied to him and Daemon bowed a little. You saw Alicent wince a little at the sight of all the children which to her were inbred in a queer relationship. The king smiled as much as he could with the rotten skin and the mask on his face.

"Dear granddaughter, it has been very long and I see I have many new nieces and nephews" He joked eyeing the children. Jacaella hugged Daemon's leg afraid of this weird looking man in front of her. Your eyes finally railed to the other side of Alicent where Aegon was drinking and giggling to himself. Beside him Helaena was bouncing her daughter Jaehaera on her lap but she smiled at you nonetheless when your eyes met.

Finally your eyes trailed over to Aemond who was glaring at you but you knew him better you could still see the sadness he was trying to mask over. His grip on his wine goblet was tight, almost as tightly as his pierced lips were attempting to keep his words and insults inside.

"I hope us being here is proof enough that my wife is alive, brother" Daemon joked turning to look at you. You grinned at the joke and turned to look at your uncle as well before turning back to Aemond. Daemon followed your gaze gulping down the anger that rose in his chest.

"Take a seat brother" The king chuckled. You moved to sit on the same side as your mother with Daemon between you two. Your eldest two scrambled to play with the other children somewhere in the room. Elaerys and Valeron moved to sit on the floor behind Jacaerys' chair who was sat at the head of the table. Vael remained on her father's lap and Baeron on yours.

"Did something catch your eye, wife?" Daemon asked leaning closer to you. You turned to him confused raising an eyebrow. He turned to look at Aemond watching you two before turning to look at you. You had followed his gaze to Aemond giving him a soft smile, trying to show some kind of peace, before turning back to Daemon.

"Not really, you know that I love you Daemon. Aemond was a childhood love-" You spoke voice low and words calculated not wanting to anger him.

"First love always remains" He interrupted you angrily. Your eyes twinkled in the candle light a smirk grew on your face.

"Good" You teased giving a dramatic pause. Daemon gritted his teeth in anger and balled his hands into fists atop Vael's lap.

"Because I am married to my first love" You finally spoke after a long pause. His eyes widened in shock at them.

"What" He was bewildered to say the least. You giggled pulling Baeron to stand when he began whining which also made his small body cover half of your face from the crowd but not your eyes that were filled with love and happiness.

"You are my first love but I buried those affections deep and searched for a new lover and I guess I buried them too deeply and turned it to hate for a while, but you managed to get those feelings to resurface" You admitted. Daemon's lips moved into something between a smile and a smirk. He reached over to grab one of your hands and placed a kiss to your knuckles before letting go.

"Nuncle, niece" Your heads snapped to the front at the sound of the smooth voice of Aemond. You hugged Baeron closer to your body almost as if you were afraid Aemond would hurt him with his one eye glare.

"Nephew, how good it is to see you" Daemon jested. You shook your head disappointed that Daemon could not hold back his jealousy even after your confession.

"I had heard a lot of rumours niece, how cruelly nuncle treats you, thought it would be wise to make sure you were alright" Aemond chose to ignore Daemon. That fuelled Daemon's anger and your could see that from the tick in his jaw.

"I am very happy Uncle, do not worry. My husband has been treating better than I deserve" You gave Aemond a weak smile. You turned to Daemon who also turned to look at you, trying to read you as you interacted with the cause of you two being together.

"You deserve the world, niece" Aemond broke the staring contest. You swallowed down the guilt you felt for the man.

"Thank you uncle, excuse me I must put the children to bed" You pushed your chair back picking up Baeron to place him on your hip.

"Yes of course, have a good evening" Aemond bowed his head before leaving. You looked at the handmaidens who stationed themselves by the doors in case you needed them. They bowed and moved to grab the rest of the children.

They followed you silently to the rooms your children will be sleeping in, every two shared a room for both security reasons and because it made you feel more at ease knowing they had each other if one were to have a nightmare and needed comfort.

"Goodnight my dear" You kissed Baeron's forehead. He had fallen asleep quickly after getting his fill of warmed milk from the kitchen, you had stopped breastfeeding the second he started teething unable to tolerate the pain a sixth time. His small chest rose up and down with each breathe he took, a comfort to you.

"Keep an eye on them" You ordered the night handmaiden. You liked them to always be safe and assigned handmaidens to take shifts, some in the morning and other during the night.

"Of course your grace, you can trust us" One of the two handmaidens assured you. You smiled with gratitude before taking your leave to your own bed chambers.

You got to have your own bedchambers here and also on Dragonstone but Daemon was nearly every day there to warm your bed. You opened the doors but before you could move a hand snapped around your bicep pulling further into the room making you yelp. The doors closed behind you and you were pushed against them with your attacker in front of you.

"Daemon!" You scolded hitting his arm. He smirked down at you with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He leaned down capturing your lips on a heated kiss, always eager to taste you.

"I have missed you" He whispered moving to trail kiss down your neck, making sure to make marks here and there for everyone to see in the morrow.

"We were together the entire day together" You pointed your out. Your arms moved to wrap around his shoulder pulling him closer to your body.

"But your cunt was not wrapped around my cock" He replied. You giggled pulling him closer to connect your lips. He hummed satisfied pulling you closer by the hips. His lips were chapped from the cold air you encountered so high up in the skies. His tongue darted out to taste the lip cream you had on, one of the ladies had somehow managed to make a cream for the lips with a fruity taste.

"What is this? Did you paint your lips with lemons?" He asked pulling away. You raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"Do you like it?" You asked. He groaned leaning his forehead down on yours.

"Like it? I love it" He replied. He pulled you deeper into the room and laid you down on the bed. He pulled his shirt off pausing for a second to look at something behind the bed before leaning down to kiss you. If you had only known that behind that bed was a secret window to the passages ways and that Aemond was stood there.

[faejilly]

I have decided to be a gremlin again and cheat by using multiple emojis, so🍓🍄🌸

💜

You're not a gremlin IF I ASKED, silly (and even if you were, I like gremlins) 🥰

🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction?

Dragon Age & Mass Effect

Slightly more specifically, I was on the old BioWare Message Boards 15 or so years ago, and ended up beta-ing for some Mass Effect people, and then also got into a Homebrew TTRPG set in Thedas before Dragon Age: Origins came out (well before there was an actual ruleset out there) in which I wrote backstory for my character

and then I just kept going?

Mostly to prompts and on the kinkmeme tbh

I am sad that kinkmemes are no longer an active part of fandom architecture. A lot of fic on there wasn't actually explicit or kink related, but it was anonymous and to someone else's prompt which made a lot of people comfortable with posting in a way I think they wouldn't have been with their own stuff in their own name. There was also enough bonkers kink and dark and crack fic prompts that it helped slow down the purity wank, because it was abundantly clear that moralizing anywhere near the kinkmeme was Bad Form and would only get you less fic and less fandom and some serious side-eye from the other users. I'll admit I got very tired of evil!Sebastian Vael prompts when da2 was active, but! I just didn't read those! Amazing how well that worked.

anyway! more questions

🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

ohnojustone?!? uh. since it's you I should probably do Malec? I have so many headcanons, what haven't I talked about, hmmmmmm

Alec is a perfectly serviceable dancer. He doesn't dance with flair because that's not very him, but he can hold his own in a formal/ballroom equivalent (at Clave Parties Mostly) and he quite likes turning off his brain and falling into the beat at a club, though in that case he's usually very anti-social about it, mostly ignoring the crowd

dancing with Magnus specifically in any style is probably always foreplay and always will be, so that's always a little different

🌸 ⇢ do you have any pets? if you do, post some pictures of them

I HAVE FIVE let's see how many pics I can find without thinking about it too hard because I'm lazy

here are Tilly and Dizzy ensuring I didn't make the bed

and then Gizmo and Jade the other day, determined to make extra sure I didn't get up

which I guess means Tom is the only one who gets a good picture because he's the only one left and I had to go hunting for one rather than just grabbing the first thing I saw

[midmorninggrey]

Grey's Dragon Age OCs

I'd like a place to keep all of my OCs and their "expanded canon" backstories straight, so I wrote up some key points.

"Ferelden’s Finest Four" – Wardens Before the Fifth Blight

Magaleth the Mapmaker (aka “Mags”)

A Dalish-born apostate who earned a name for herself among the Grey Wardens as a daring and resourceful researcher. She could maintain her humor in the darkest of places.

When the Order was allowed back into Ferelden, she was assigned by Warden-Commander Duncan to lead an expedition to map the Deep Roads beneath the country.

She married her fellow Warden Loran.

With the jangle of all her equipment, Magaleth was usually heard before she was seen. However, a Dalish eye would recognize her unfinished vallaslin.

Tag #oc: Magaleth the Mapmaker

Loran the Lamenter (aka “Half Ears” or “Stoat”*)

A well-read elven revolutionary from Starkhaven. Following his part in a failed assassination attempt on the Vael family, Magaleth recruited him to the Wardens. They were married shortly afterward.

Loran was known for his missing right ear and a sour attitude that only Magaleth could sweeten. He also had a great knack for killing ogres.

*It was unwise to call him either of these to his face.

Tag #oc: Loran the Lamenter

Toni the Terror (aka “Antonia”)

One of the first recruits to survive the Joining when the order returned to Ferelden. Toni had a short but colorful stint in the Denerim city guard before she volunteered to join the Grey Wardens.

She was a brawler on battlefields and barroom floors, but Toni had a big heart under all her bluster. Mutton, her Mabari war hound, was more pampered than an Orlesian lap dog.

During her travels with Magaleth, Toni fell in love with Arden Trevelyan, and together they had an unlikely daughter named Celeste.

Tag oc: Toni the Terror

Cal the Canary (aka "The Wee Shem")

Former apprentice to Uldred.

Recruited by Duncan from Kinloch Hold at age sixteen due to pressing circumstances.

His innate abilities with force magic made him a powerful weapon against the unchecked Darkspawn in Ferelden, and Duncan trusted him to Magaleth’s command. Cal served the Order faithfully until he fled Ferelden following the Battle of Ostagar.

On a ship to Kirkwall, he allied himself with fellow Fereldens Gillian Hawke and her sister Bethany.

From the back of the Hanged Man, he built a reputation as a trustworthy source for untrustworthy information. He was a favorite of smugglers, nobles, actresses, and, if the rumors are true, a certain broody elf.

Bitter history with the healer Anders was a constant strain on his standing with Hawke.

After the destruction of the Kirkwall Chantry, Cal returned to the Grey Warden order.

Tag #oc: Cal the Canary

Kirkwall

Gillian Hawke

Hawke would like to be her mother's daughter. She throws a great party if her guests can stomach three hours of raucous social debate before the liquor truly starts flowing.

-Dual Wielding Rogue (Shadow & Assassin Specializations)

- Primarily Green with a healthy amount of Red.

- Paints in her spare time

- Bethany sent to the Circle

- Duels the Arishok (good times)

- Romanced Merrill

- Sided with the Mages

- Anders Spared

Tag #oc: Gillian Hawke

The Inquisition

Celeste Trevelyan (aka “The Herald”)

Due to her youth and limited magical talents, it is easy to underestimate Celeste. It is not a mistake one makes twice.

-Human Mage (Necromancer Specialization)

-Seventeen at the time of the Conclave explosion

- Mages Conscripted

- Drank from the Well of Sorrows (Were her motives any better than Morrigan's? Not really.)

- Warden (Marcus) left in the Fade

- Wardens Conscripted

- Briala Rules Through Gaspard

- Good friends with Cole and the Bog Unicorn

Tag #oc: Celeste Trevelyan

Arden Trevelyan (aka “Ostwick’s Dragon” or “The Regent”)

Celeste's Father.

After a troubled childhood, Trevelyan disappeared from Ostwick society as a teenager. Nearly a decade later, he returned with ink on his face and his child in his arms. His family sent him to oversee their expansive lyrium operation, and in the mines, he was feared by allies and enemies alike.

The existence of his daughter, Celeste, was largely kept secret until he brought her to live with his sister in 9:40 Dragon. Trevelyan went missing again that same year and was thought to have been killed by Cadash smugglers until he was found by Inquisition Scout Lace Harding.

In a contentious compromise, Trevelyan was appointed as Regent Inquisitor, serving as the highest-ranking advisor to the Inquisition as it worked to defeat Corypheus. The founding advisors did construct a contingency plan to remove Trevelyan, but it remained in Leliana's drawer.

[biowaredisasterbisexual]

Seven Deadly Sins

Micah “Rook” Mercar

Thanks so much, @hyperions-light for the tag! No idea if I’m about to do this right, but if nothing else we’ll have the lols.

Tagging: Anyone who wants to, truly, but I’ll call out @mageofquandrix, @taashyvashedan, @swamp-jello, and @vael-fire if they have the time and desire!

LUST. desire for connection. pursuit of pleasure. emotional intelligence. obsessive. lovesick. one-night stands. seductive encounter. flirtatious conversation.erotic party. seductive attire. revealing clothing. passionate gaze.provocative makeup. sensual expressions. suggestive gestures. flirtatious smiles.lingerie. love letters. perfumes. provocative behaviour. love poems. erotic art.

GLUTTONY. indulgence in experiences. savouring moments. hospitality. generosity. hedonism. culinary expertise. wine-tasting. excessive snacking. overloaded plates. excessive portions. bloated stomachs. messy eating. greasy fingers. full tables. indulgent spreads. overflowing cups. satisfied expressions. wine bottles. just can't get enough. fast food wrappers.

ENVY. motivation. competitive spirit.strategic planning. observational skills. bitter rivalry. contest. envious gossip. resentment-filled argument. social media jealousy. furrowed brows. clenched jaws. side-eye looks. pursed lips. tense posture. whispering behind backs. crossed arms. gossip magazines. keeping up with the joneses. the grass is always greener. feeling inadequate.

GREED. resourcefulness. entrepreneurial spirit. negotiation. materialistic. aggressive investment. lavish spending spree. resource-hoarding. get-rich-quick schemes. auction-bidding war. property acquisition. piles of money. overflowing wallets. luxury items. locked safes. penny-pinching. rare collectibles. selfishness. unwillingness to share.

SLOTH. calmness. stress management. nonchalance. relaxation techniques. lethargic. apathetic. inactive. lazy weekend. binge-watching marathon. neglected chores. skipped workout. long nap. lounging on the couch. missed deadlines. unkempt appearance. messy hair.pajamas. blankets. slippers. procrastination station. self-care routines.

PRIDE. confidence. self-assurance. self-respect. dignity. public speaking. self-promotion. arrogant. conceited. egotistical. self-important. vain. boastful speech. puffed chest. raised chin. smug smiles. spotlight. tooting your own horn. showing off. refusing to admit mistakes. feeling entitled. personal branding. leadership development.

WRATH. assertiveness. decisiveness. strength. intensity. boundary setting. courage. indignant. heated arguments. road rage incident. physical altercation. angry outburst. clenched fists. glaring eyes. tense muscles. raised voices. reddened faces. aggressive gestures. stormy demeanour. intense frowns. destructive actions. broken objects. punching bag. out for blood. fists. simmering anger.

[extravagantliar]

approval + discreetly inserting a ludicrous paragraph into the middle-end of a letter just to check if Varric is paying attention

Send [ APPROVAL ] + (a decision that your muse is making) || selectively accepting

To start, his eyes hurt.

The middle part of it is that Sebastian sent him a missive that is pages long. Not scrolls, no they've surpassed that long ago - when rebuilding a trade route long left to rot by their predecessors. The first page had been updates, the pressing things that needed tending to and a guiding hand from both sides, and Varric had scrawled notes along with each paragraph ( Bran had yelled at him long ago not to mark up the official letters as that would be seen as disrespectful, so a journal it was ).

He cares less and less as the missive moves away from the workings of triangular trade, how Kirkwall is offering banking support to Starkhaven and Markham, how Starkhaven is providing wool to Markham, Markham is sending lumber to Starkhaven and Kirkwall - and the cycle carries on and on, but the letter turns into how a community in Starkhaven is getting a new Chantry and then another paragraph on how the circle is expanding, then the page flips - there is a back, hell is real and Prince Vael has locked him in it.

It's a page on how the Divine is visiting them, and he already has a paragraph penned in his head telling Sebastian in the most diplomatic matter to pound sand ( Starkhaven is suited for the Divine's visit, may she find it as colourful and as vapid as the shoes she buys of course Bran would make him edit that - to not start another event ). The page carries on, and his eyes almost dare to droop; he knows the men who care for the bells are long asleep, and the chance is the hours are getting larger rather than smaller - like they tended to.

He scans, like he normally does, his chin resting on his knuckles as he does it, idly he's not paying much attention at this point. He needs it read, so he can reread it and reply. He cannot explain this about himself, but he must scan quickly.

Well, until something about Kirkwall - about how Hightown serves roast nug during the high holidays- how it's a delicacy, a holdover, and entirely true. Varric laughs, a real one, in the middle of the night, those hours ticking away, and he pulls fresh parchment out of the bottom drawer and starts on the heading before he returns to his reading.

'Hey! Choir Boy, You got me! We all eat nugs in Hightown...'

Varric Approves

[hawkepockets]

uly facts so far:

he/him bisexual butch woman. doesn’t really mind feminine terms and pronouns, but is pleased by masc ones

built like a brick shithouse, in game limitations notwithstanding. beefy arms. barrel chest

farmboy tan & perpetual sunburn on his cheeks and nose bridge

big stick-out ears

bottle blonde

will buzz his hair for the deep roads to avoid getting darkspawn gunk in it. he only wore it as long as he did for leandra’s peace of mind anyway - she doesn’t really get that uly is attractive as a butch, and worries about him finding a partner… she needn’t!

uly was the only hawke to inherit malcolm’s dark brown eyes, instead of leandra’s amber. when his hair was dark, he looked too much like his dad for comfort. hence the bleach

he was also the only one to inherit malcolm’s bigger hawk (hawke) nose, in contrast to leandra’s pointy snub nose. varric has told uly this makes him the most attractive hawke—in fact, combined with his stockiness, he’s kind of a knockout by dwarf standards. varric said it like a joke. it wasn’t

besides “hawke,” varric’s other nickname for uly is “shiner.” as in a handsome prince in shining armor, and also the recurring black eye uly keeps getting—usually from jealous husbands whose wives uly took jobs from, or drunks he shoved away from the women they were bothering, or jealous husbands whose wives he

well he’s just very chivalrous okay

uly is actually technically a mage. that is, he has a spark of magical potential, but he’s tamped it down since bethany was born. bethy’s magic was so wild and potent compared to his, and everyone agreed she was the precious, secret mage of the family. so uly wouldn’t be. he practiced fighting with staves and farm tools and trained only his body, so he could defend his sister and divert attention from her staff while on the road. uly’s magic is so repressed, he doesn’t know if he could use it now if he tried. he’s not bitter about any of this, but it makes him sad that bethany wishes her own magic away. they might have been happier in each other’s positions :(

strongly pro-mage, not out of personal anger but because he doesn’t see it as a conflict with two sides. like at all. choose between the captive and the kidnapper? the soldier and the civilian? the torturer and the victim? there’s no question in his mind. it’s just what’s right. he can’t be shaken in this because it’s not an emotional judgment

doesn’t seem very bright at first, but spend a little time on the street with him and you’ll notice he has a very keen nose for people trying to take advantage of him, and when it’s worth it to play along. he asks good questions. and there’s an uncompromising light that comes into his eyes when he sniffs out a slaver or abuser - no calculation there, just pure conviction, and then his staff cracking down on the scumbag’s head. he’s just not much for puzzles, books, or repartée

took sebastian’s bounty on the flint mercenaries because it was good money and didn’t seem too morally bankrupt, not because he was moved by the vael’s deaths or sebastian’s revenge quests. nobles and royals get what’s coming to them. sow nothing but jealousy with your lifestyle, reap violence, big surprise. but if anyone mentions seb’s accent, uly’s face suddenly looks a lot more sunburned…

loves being called handsome. it didn’t happen much in lothering!

[a-drama-addict]

1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30 all for my good friend therése!!!

YAYYYY YOUR GOOD FRIEND THERÉSE!!! [ask game]

1: Where in the Thedas is your Rook from?

Starkhaven! I heard the accent and went 'Close enough to the accent, welcome back Starkhaven'

4: If your Rook was a companion, where would they be found?

Ohhh probably the Anderfels. She had stepped back from the Wardens for the moment because she disobeyed orders so she'd just be taking strolls out in nature there anyway. Plus she can still be out killing darkspawn (<- if she doesnt do her job she gets consumed by guilt which is normal)

5: What emotion did they usually pick?

Sarcastic. I'm weak i <3 sarcastic and tired overworked heroes. Therése also does a lot of just. Diplomatic options so it's kind of an equal divide between those

6: What companion are you platonically close with?

At the moment Bellara. Their minds aligned so hard and it's really funny. they're probably bouncing off one another always (<- bellara triggered her special interest once; birds, and therése hasnt shut up since)

7: Romantically close with?

Neve <3 her beautiful wife that isnt quite her wife yet. Theyre definitely flirting a lot though their dynamic is so good.

8: Who are they suspicious of?

Lucanis because her experience with abominations is what she's heard of her lovely Prince Sebastian Vael who had a great experience with an abomination once! Lovely!

9: Does your Rook get along with their chosen Faction?

With some of them Sure. She doesn't care for the First Warden but enjoys being a Grey Warden for the most part. (She didnt become a warden willingly but Oh Well)

11: Weapon of choice?

Sword and shield <3 i heart tanks forever and she has just been trained to wield them since. birth

14: What hobbies does your Rook have?

Hobbies? Don't exist she only works. She does like cooking and hunting though. Also horse riding

15: What NPCs do they like? Which one's do they dislike?

She loveeeees Strife, Strife is her buddy (woman who needs a positive older male influence in her life so bad)

The First Warden is her own personal nemesis i think and she would gladly kill him ten times

17: Do they enjoy life as an adventurer?

Yes! She grew up as the eldest daughter of a minor noble house in Starkhaven so this is a really nice change of pace. She became a Warden very willingly and not because of Any Crime

18: What would your Rook be doing if they weren't recruited by Varric?

Warden stuff. Probably she would most likely be at Weisshaupt, training, fighting the oncoming blight, die. Classic Grey Warden stuff!

19: How do you think they'll meet their end?

Ohhh boy i've mulled this over so many times but it is just definitely the calling. She has been dreading it forever and she just.. blegh. She doesn't want to die as a Warden in the deep roads somewhere. Not that she has much of a choice

20: Would they side with Solas or fight him?

Therése is cracking that egg probably. Probably because of Shae'riel because Shae hates Solas with everything she has

23: What do they do after an absolute crisis?

Stare at things a lot, she's absolutely dead silent and looks like her eyes are glued open. After she's 'calmed' she's just.. Not There for like at least a few days

27: What was their life like before the events of Veilguard?

Warden-y. And before the warden stuff, she used to spend a lot of time hunting with her father, taking crochet courses with her mother, train with her younger siblings. She also liked horse riding.

28: Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else to be the leader?

Therése considers herself sort of the leader, but she considers Neve the real leader lol. Like Neve brings so many ideas and strategies to her attention and then Therése just goes "Guys we're doing what Neve said!" because their views mostly align

29: If you could choose a different faction for your Rook, which one would they have joined and why?

If she could've chosen she would've probably... never been anything. She'd want to live a normal simple life, maybe become a baker or chef. If she had to choose a faction, she'd become a Shadow Dragon to have a chance to help people

30: What's your favorite thing about your Rook?

Her eyebrows <3

i also really love her nose. Idk her design is good for my brain so thats my fave thing at the moment. i also love that she has committed serious arson twice

[inquisimer]

HAP FRI for siobhan x loghain, what about 'i thought i could handle seeing you with someone else, but i was wrong.'

hi I am thinking about Them tonight uwu

for @dadrunkwriting

-

Loghain gripped his wine glass like a lifeline, something for his hands to do that wasn’t punching out at every Orlesian within reach. Bad enough that he had to be on their soil—in the heart of their capitol, every indignity was magnified, every offense multiplied.

It had him on high alert, every sense heightened for threats, whether to himself or to Hawke. Or the Inquisition, he supposed, but they had plenty of people looking out for their interests. That wasn’t why he was here.

Sweat beaded at the base of his neck and he resisted the urge to swipe it away. His nostrils flared with overtly floral perfumes, the chalky powders pressed into faces and hair, the slightest hint of smoke. Wine-bolstered song and dance echoed around the ballroom; each click of bedecked heels set his teeth on edge. It was as though the whole affair settled as a film over his skin—one he could not shake or scrub off, as long as they remained here.

He swallowed another mouthful of the bitter wine, but his mouth stayed dry. Discarding the glass on a side table, he moved from the wall to the railing and looked down at the dance floor. In his periphery, the spies and opportunists that kept at his heels shifted accordingly.

Siobhan was resplendent in the gown she’d commissioned for this event specifically. In shades of red and black, its design brought only Kirkwall to mind, obsidian glittering in the bodice and train as Vael led her through the steps.

Loghain snorted to himself, even as his gloved hand tightened on the banister. Led her through the steps. As if Siobhan could be led anywhere without her consent.

Almost without thinking, he made his way down the stairs, neatly sidestepping the servant that stumbled in front of him with a bit too much purpose. He wasn’t jealous, per se, but he was a man, and such fraught endeavors on enemy territory made him itch for stability in his grasp.

The last strains of violin lingered, drowned out by socially required applause as the musicians shuffled their paper for the next piece. Loghain slipped between too-large skirts and slotted himself at Siobhan’s side just as Vael released her.

“—fetch us some drinks—ah, or perhaps not.” The prince didn’t blink at Loghain’s sudden appearance, though his smile took on a melancholy cant as he dipped the pair of them a shallow bow. “Ser Loghain.”

“Prince Vael,” he said lowly. There was little real animosity between the two men, but there was tension they’d all learned to live with, for the sake of surviving. Sebastian loved Siobhan as Siobhan loved Loghain and Loghain could not fathom why she was choosing him over the Prince of Starkhaven.

But she was. She laced her fingers with his, pressing a kiss to his stubbled jaw. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles in turn.

“I’ll think on it, Sebastian,” she said with a soft smile. The prince nodded and sketched another bow before vanishing into the crowd. Siobhan tugged on Loghain’s arm and he raised a brow.

“Normally there’s a question-and-answer before demands are made, you know.”

“Oh, suddenly you’re familiar with Orlesian court customs, are you?” Siobhan snorted. The lilting melody of a soft, slow harp floated around them and Loghain caught her firmly about her waist, pulling her closer than any Orlesian proprietary would allow.

“Might I have this dance, my Lady Hawke?” he murmured, breath ghosting over her lips. Her eyes widened every so slightly and he smirked, as satisfied as he always was when he caught her off step.

Not that she ever stayed there long. Her free hand slid up to his neck and she closed the space between them even further. Around them, the watchful eyes disappeared into nothing as Loghain’s world narrowed to the woman he loved, lost in her cracked-marble eyes.

“Only if you make it count,” she whispered against his lips.

He pulled her across the ostentatious tile with graceful muscles, trained to fight and maim, bent now to a nobler purpose. His reward was her smile, a joy and delight written in her face. They spun circles around the stuffed cakes that shuffled to appease their alliances, flying with the lightness of lovers, the confidence of having endured.

Make it count, she told him. He knew tomorrow was never guaranteed.

So he did.

[valaenatargaryensdragon]

I’m a sucker for fluff and I’m starting to like daemon due to your last stepdaughter installment. Could you perhaps do a one where now that they’re in love he is more protective of her and their children from rhaenyra’s jealousy and anger. Now that she’s revealed her love for him I imagine him being more than willing to do anything for her. I love your writing!❤️

A/N: I hope you like it! Thank you very much ❤️

pairing: Daemon Targaryen x Stepdaughter!Reader

summary: now that they’re in love he is more protective of her and their children from rhaenyra’s jealousy and anger. Now that she’s revealed her love for him I imagine him being more than willing to do anything for her.

Word count: 1,8K

Warnings: Fluff, angst, jealous Rhaenyra, abuse

Masterlist 1

Masterlist 2

"Be careful my love" You called after your daughter. She giggled waving you off while pulling her younger brother along with her. Jacaella always the troublemaker.

"She's going to end up killing Maelon with her adventures" Your handmaiden giggled holding Elaerys to her hip. The other handmaidens joined in giggling, one held Valeron's han while another held Vael in her arms. Baeron was asleep in your arms still a moon old and too young.

"I hope not, I quite like my son alive" You joked back. They all giggled following behind you, it was time for supper and your mother had wished for the entire family to dine together, deep down you know she did it to see Daemon, he has been with you every single day since the day you had given birth to Baeron.

Guards opened the doors to the room showing a long table filled with all kinds of foods and drinks from wines to juices. Your brothers were already present there, Jace with his new wife Baela by his side and Luce with Rhaena giggling amongst each other. Joffery was running around with Aegon, Viserys, Jacaella and Maelon since all of them were close in age to one another. Your mother was still not hear and neither was Daemon. You walked further in with the maids behind you, all of them placed the children in their respective chairs, some on higher ones with a rope holding them in place so they would not fall off.

"Sister, it has been a while" Luce was the one to greet you first. He hugged you tightly, he had grown to be almost taller than you and he still had some growing to do.

"I have missed you while you're away having fun on driftmark" You teased. You almost ruffled his hair but stopped yourself, he was no longer a child.

"You are having fun here as well" Jace joked wrapping an arm around you from behind. He eyed all your children sitting around the table and some running around. You elbowed him to make him shut up. Luce and Rhaena laughed along with Baela.

"My love" You all turned at the sound of Daemon's voice. He walked over pulling you into his arms instead of Jace's. You rolled your eyes placing a kiss on his cheek. He smiled sweetly at you, he had defiantly changed from the day he found you with Aemond, a distant memory now. He reached over to take Baeron from you relieving you of the weight on your.

"Unca Jace!" Jacaella yelled running over arms wide open. Jace laughed crouching down to pick her up and twirl her around. She giggled holding on to his face and kissed his cheek. Jace loved his nameksake so much he spoiled her most between her siblings.

"Why thank you princess" He kissed her forehead. Baela walked over when he paused his movement to fix Jacaella's dress.

"They will make fine parents one day" You whispered to Daemon who was watchingJace closely, your threat a couple of moons ago still playing in his head.

"Stop that" You nudged him. Daemon turned to look at you while fixing his grip on Baeron, a big baby and it could be tiring holding him for long periods of time.

"What?" He feigned confusion. He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head to the side. Your heart skipped a beat when his purple eyes did the triangle stare between your eyes and lips.

"Frowning, you look prettier with a smile" You answered. His face brightened and he chuckled. He wrapped his free arm around you pulling close into his side so he could kiss the crown of your head.

"You think I'm pretty?" He questioned smirking teasingly at you. He loved seeing your face turn bright red and your smile turning shyly.

"Of course, otherwise I would have thrown you out of a window to get a prettier husband" You teased back. Daemon's eyes darkened and his grip tightened around you possessively, no matter what he still did not forget Aemond and your relationship even as the years passed.

"But you are lucky you are pretty and I want no other husband, besides your cock is just as pretty" You pinched his side. Daemon smirked but he was unable to speak since your mother strutted into the room.

Daemon pulled your chair back for you before sitting down beside you refusing to hand Baeron to anyone and kept him in his arms. Vael was on his other side in her highchair trying to remove to rope holding her in place so she would not fall. Your mother scowled and sat opposite you with Jace on one side and Luce on the other. The tension could be cut with a knife but no one said anything.

The food was brought in and your family was left alone to dine alone, there wasn't any cupbearer even. Jace kept glancing between you and your mother awaiting a fight. You ignored her glares and focused on feeding Valeron who was sat on your other side.

"You must eat my love, you are feeding" Daemon whispered and filled your plate with a little of everything. You thanked him with a kiss on the cheek. You ate slowly having to focus on both Valeron and yourself other than having to scold your two eldest who began fighting. Elaerys being the angel she was awaited her aunt Baela to feed her quietly munching while kicking her feet.

"I feel like she's going to jump over the table and kill me" You whispered to Daemon. Your mother's fists clenched seeing how much closer you and Daemon had grown over the last moon. Daemon's eyes darkened at your words.

"I would never let that happen" He promised. He handed Baeron again and kissed your forehead. Your mother slammed her hand down on the table earning the attention of everyone and made most of the children jump in shock and fear.

"Enough!" She yelled pushing her chair back making it fall on the ground and stood up tall.

"Mommy!" Elaerys cried afraid. Baela pulled the two namedays out of the highchair and held her close to her body trying to calm the child. Jacaella jumped off her chair and ran to her father along with Maelon seeking his comfort. Daemon pushed back his chair and glared back at your mother. His hand rubbed the shoulders of his eldest two from you as they hugged his legs.

"What is wrong with you? There are children here!" He yelled angrily. Baeron woke up from the commotion and burst out crying. You stood up as well trying to shush him desperately.

"Enough with this nonsense" Your mother moved to walk over to your side. Jace stood up now as well and moved from the other side of the table over to your side. He did not know who's side to take in this, his mother's? Or his younger sister?

"Mother please stop it" You begged also feeling fear growing inside of you. Rhaena scrambled over to you and took Baeron from your arms, you were the main target of your mother's anger. You had never imagined that you would be the reason your children could be in danger.

"You stop stealing my husband! He's my husband and has been for many years before you but you decided to whore yourself to him and get pregnant" She yelled pushing some of the plates off the table. Luce pushed his chair back now also standing up and moved away from the table avoiding being hit by a silver plater.

"Mommy!" Elaerys cried burying her face deeper into Baela's neck. Baela nodded at her sister signalling for them to leave. Rhaena moved to grab Jacaella's hand who protested but when her father looked down at her and nodded she let go of his leg and allowed Rhaena to pull her out with Baeron in Rhaena's other arm still wailing. Luce moved to take Maelon from his father and Valeron from his highchair before following after his betrothed. Baela looked at Jace who signalled for her to leave with Elaerys in her arm pausing only to take Vael from her highchair.

"I did not steal anyone from anyone" You cried turning to face your mother. Your vision blurred with tears, you had never thought you and your mother would be on opposite sides.

"You are a whore who went behind my back and fucked my husband" She pulled one of the silver knives off the table and marched over to you. Daemon was quick to move in front of you holding her arms in place up in the air ready to hurt you. You took a couple of steps back bumping into Jace who wrapped his arms around you to comfort you.

"You are just like her" Daemon glared down at Rhaenyra. Flashes of the night Aemond lost his eyes went through your mother's head along with everyone else's in the room. She pulled away from Daemon letting the knife fall on the floor with tears streaming down her face and her hands covering her mouth shocked. Daemon did not waste time on her and moved over to you pulling you in his own arms.

"Oh gods I'm sorry" She whimpered. You looked at Jace nodding at him to comfort your mother. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm so sorry I should not have let my jealousy blind me so" She looked down ashamed. Daemon pulled you tighter into his embrace. He kissed your head trying to comfort himself that you were alright while you clutched tightly onto his tunic fearing your own mother who birthed you, raised you and cared for you and almost killed you minutes ago.

"Please leave" You begged hiding your face in Daemon's chest. You could hear her sob sorrowfully at your rejection but let Jace lead her out of the room.

"Are you alright?" Daemon pulled back to look at your face. One of his arms stayed wrapped around you and the other raised so his palm was on your cheek.

"I am alright" You dismissed his question. You pulled him down kissing his lips feeling the safest then, in his arms and with his lips on yours.

"I should have killed her for this" Daemon growled leaning his forehead on yours.

"No, she is still my mother" You placed both of your palms on his face stirring his face so he would look you in the eyes. Daemon sighed annoyed but nodded.

"How much longer do I have to wait?" He asked letting the hand on your lower back lower even more to your bottom. You giggled and moved it back up, the maester still has not given you the permission to make love, your body has not healed fully yet.

"Just a little more, my love" You responded. His whore demeanour changed at the sound of your gentle voice. His muscles relaxed and his face softened.

[thatapostateboy]

when the sun came up I was looking at you

Pairing: Garrett Hawke x Sebastian Vael

Word Count: 1688

Synopsis: Sebastian receives a rude awakening, and Garrett finds what he truly needs.

Prompt: Day One: Dawn from the Veilbound challenge by @/nympthi and @/citadrells on Twitter

Crossposted: Here on AO3

Sebastian awoke sharply to darkness, and the sound of many objects clattering to the ground, followed by a very unsubtle shushing sound. He did not reach for his bow, but instead for the hunting knife; a treasured gift from a friend, keeping it close to himself as he slid out of bed, creeping out of his chambers into the Chantry proper to seek the source of the disturbance.

If there were thieves fool enough to break into the Maker’s house, he would send them on their way, but he would not be naïve enough to go unarmed.

Very few of the candles were still lit in the main hall; no one wanted a burned down Chantry after all, but enough that there would be light in the darkness if needed. At the base of the dais, a figure was knelt, in prayer Sebastian believed at first, until he realised that they were scrambling around to pick up the candlestick that had been knocked over, a bottle of whiskey that was rolling away, and a mage staff.

His grip on the knife loosened, setting it aside as he headed down the stairs.

“Garrett, what are you…?” he began to ask, trailing off as he drew closer, the scent of booze potent on the air, “Maker, are you drunk?”

Hawke looked up at him with a wide, unreserved beam on his face, “Seb!”

“Okay, yes, you are definitely drunk,” he sighed, though he couldn’t help but relent a very slight smile as he did every time Garrett called him Seb, refusing to call him Sebastian and certainly never a title. “What are you doing here? It’s the wee hours of the morning.”

“I had to…” Garrett slurred a little as he reached across and grabbed the whiskey bottle, pulling out the cork with his teeth and bringing it to his mouth to swig, “I had to see you. Thought we could share a drink.”

The archer reached forward and took the bottle from his hands, earning a noise of disappointment from the mage, “We can share some water, and you can tell me why you’re really here.”

Garrett met his eyes, and Sebastian watched the mirth go out of him, realising that he would not play his game. He drew his knees up to his chest, held tilted up to look at the statue of Andraste that towered over them. He was silent for a while, though from the gentle swaying of his body, Sebastian could tell that his drunken state hadn’t abated much. He joined his friend, sitting at his side, the warmth of his body palpable through his thin sleep shirt.

He glanced across at him, and where there had once been a jovial front, he could see the truth behind it. The dark circles beneath his eyes, the unkempt nature of his hair and beard, the clothes he’d been wearing for at least two days, if not longer.

“Garrett, when did you last go home?” he asked.

“Can’t,” Hawke said softly, “Don’t need to,” he corrected, sniffing back tears, “Can get everything I need at the Hanged Man.”

“Perhaps, but when was the last time you slept or ate?”

“You sound like Varric,” he griped, “If I wanted judgement, I’d have come here in the day.”

It was no secret that Garrett Hawke had little time for the Chantry or the Maker. He was born a mage, had lived his life on the run at the word of Chantry teaching, he had no respect for the institution that had torn his family apart. At least Marian, for her own dislike of the Chantry, was open to discussion and debate, no matter how many times the debate ended in her saying that the whole system needed to be dismantled, it was still an improvement on Garrett’s blatant disregard.

“Why did you come here?” Sebastian prompted again.

“Varric said I would find what I was looking for in the bottom of a bottle… turns out the bastard was right,” he admitted, his eyes still not turned away from Andraste, “Seb, will you… will you pray for my mother? I don’t think the Maker will listen to me in this state.”

The priest lowered his head a little, a cruel, familiar pain twisting in his gut. He knew Hawke’s loss, had felt it himself. But what had happened to dear Leandra, the darling woman who had always been so kind to him whenever he visited, who would talk to him at Chantry services and thank him for looking after her children.

He reached across, thinking to lay a hand on his friend’s arm, but instead took his hand, holding it tight in his own.

“Whatever state you’re in, he will hear you, my friend,” he assured him, “But I will pray for her.”

Garrett held his hand back even tighter, the larger man’s grip strong despite his intoxication, “Thank you… you’re a good friend.”

They sat for a long while together on the cold Chantry floor as Sebastian prayed, his voice quiet enough so that Garrett could hear his words, but not that he felt preached to, speaking rites for the passing of souls, bringing peace to one called to the Maker’s side, asking safety and guidance for those left behind. And through every word, Garrett clung to him like a lifeline, silent tears slipping down his cheeks.

When his prayers drew to a close, Garrett looked to him, eyes damp and bloodshot, the true tiredness of the last few days set into his frame.

“I should… I should go home.”

“You may stay, if you wish,” Sebastian offered, “No one will be awake at the estate now. And I do not like the thought of you alone.”

Hawke merely nodded, following Sebastian as he guided him to his feet and up the stairs to his chambers. He had never been in his personal quarters before, barely setting foot inside the main Chantry doors if he ever swung by to say hello or insist on bringing him along for some adventure or other. It was sparse but cosy, as was the life of one sworn to the Maker; armour displayed neatly in one corner, bow hung by the door, the knife that Garrett had gotten him for his last birthday now placed on the bedside table.

The bed was significantly smaller than his one in the estate, but he had spent their first year in Kirkwall sharing a single bunk with Carver and the bloody dog most nights, so it was still more than fit for purpose. Besides, there had been nights before when they had camped out on the Wounded Coast chasing down bandits and slavers, and they had huddled close for warmth, though this was slightly more intimate with Marian on the other side of him trying not to obviously cuddle with Anders, Isabela and the bloody dog both making themselves comfortable wherever they pleased and Fenris glaring at them all until he too would get cold and sleep back to back with Sebastian.

Sebastian gave him some spare sleepwear to change into and couldn’t help but stare a little as the mage stripped off without little thought, wrapping himself in the archer’s softer clothes. He offered to get him something to eat, but Garrett nigh on fell into his bed, which answered his question. The pair fitted themselves around each other, arms and legs initially at awkward angles until the need for comfort took over and they found themselves nigh on intertwined.

If the Grand Cleric were to find him like this, tangled up in bed with one of the city’s noblemen…

Yet, as he watched his dear friend finally find rest, he found that he could not care on whit about who saw them. He rested his head on the pillow just slightly above Garrett’s, tucking him under his chin, and found sleep of his own.

~*~*~

Sebastian awoke to the light of dawn filtering in through his thin curtains. The warmth of the spackling of sunlight hit his skin matched only by the warmth of the body beside him, Garrett still peacefully sleeping. The mage himself was dappled with early morning sunlight, catching on the dark hair on his face and atop his head, even hinting at a few freckles that Sebastian could see now that he was this close with no distraction other than the one currently tucked into his arms.

He knew that none of this was wise. He had done his duty as a friend, he should have walked him home, woken Marian if he had to, sent him off to his own bed. But he had given in to his own selfish impulses, had wanted an excuse to hold him, even if just for this one night, to be there for him in the only way that he could.

It was no secret that Garrett had an interest in him. He flirted with him shamelessly, much like he would have done right back in another lifetime, before he was given to the Chantry. And much like his past self, he flirted with everyone, nobles at parties, Isabela, even a convincing coat rack once. But then there were these quiet moments between them, when they would be completely honest with one another, about everything bar their feelings for each other, and Sebastian knew that whatever it was between them, was real.

And yet, it could never be more than this. He would live by his vows, his solemn word, even if it meant that there could never be anything more than friendship with the one man that had truly made his soul sing.

It would be time to move soon, to be seen in the Chantry, to make sure that Garrett was not seen leaving his chambers. But as Hawke shifted in his arms, cuddling closer, seeking the warmth of his body, face buried in the crook of his neck, he knew they could have a few minutes longer. He could allow them that. He wrapped his arms tighter around him, and just held him, both of them bathed in the Maker’s light.

[faejilly]

zero context WIP tag game

If you’re tagged, make a new post and share 1-2 (a few) sentences from your most recent unposted WIP(s) with zero context – Let your followers guess!

tagged by @bettydice and no-pressure tagging @la-muerta @fiyaerrigan @shadoedseptmbr @leahazel @junemermaid & the usual anyone else who is writing and would like to blame me because I love to see these but am bad at time and context clues

also I am terrible at "a few sentences" what does that even mean? Have some paragraphs! Completely unedited or beta-ed nonsense ones!

“Do you know how Nephilim magic works?” Lightwood’s voice is steady, low and calm, sounding like nothing so much as one of Ragnor’s senior students tutoring the new ones back when he worked at the Academy before he’d returned to Court after Asmodeus’ death. As if there is no bared steel behind him, no threats both voiced and unvoiced circling, no chance for treaty negotiations to fail before they've even started.

&

"So what was the wedding like?" Isabela leaned back in her chair, putting her feet up on the low table in front of her, the heels of her boots making a lovely soft thump against the wood. "And what are you calling yourselves? I know you two can't be going around as either Hawkes or Vaels. Or even Amells." "Taggart," Hawke answered the second question, eyes closed as she leaned back against Sebastian's side. "It's Sebastian's Grandmother's family clan, so he's even got a proper claim to it." Isabela snorted. As if anyone else's opinion mattered when you were choosing your own name. "The Messeres Taggart? Just doesn't have the same ring to it as the Hawkes, darling." Hawke cracked on eye open and stuck her tongue out. "That is the point."

[himluv]

DA Review Series: Knight Errant

<<< Previous Review: Last Flight

Title: Knight Errant Author/Illustrator: Nunzio DeFilippis + Christina Weir/ Fernando Heinz Furukawa Publication Year: 2017 In-World Year: ~9:44 Dragon Verdict: I found this graphic novel to have a tighter plot and sharper writing than Magekiller. It also featured enough familiar faces to keep me very much invested.

Knight Errant follows wandering knight of Ferelden, Ser Aaron Hawthorne, and his elven squire Vaea. The duo travel across Southern Thedas telling tales of adventure and noble deeds, all in an effort to promote Ferelden and keep the peace. Or, at least, that's what Ser Aaron does. Vaea has something of a five-fingered side gig.

It's her penchant for flawless thievery that's caught the Inquisition's eye, and while visiting the new Viscount of Kirkwall, Charter approaches Vaea with a job. Break into the dungeons in Starkhaven's castle and free the two Inquisition agents being held there.

Vaea says no, that she doesn't do causes. But while she's been double-crossing Templars and dodging Charter, Varric has worked his magic on Ser Aaron. The Viscount offers the knight and squire an invitation to Starkhaven for Prince Vael's birthday, and Ser Aaron cannot refuse the chance to regale the Prince with his stories.

So, Vaea takes Charter's job after all, freeing Tessa Forsythia and Marius from the Prince's dungeon. But, the job's not done. Tessa and Marius were in Starkhaven to steal a journal from Sebastian, a job they obviously failed at.

Against her better judgement, Vaea takes it upon herself to complete the mission. But there's more than one thief in Starkhaven, and a Magister in Tevinter as their sights set on that journal. Vaea and Aaron must work together to not only steal the journal before the Tevinter agent, but also to pin the theft on him and avoid suspicion.

Overall, this was a very fun story set after Trespasser. There isn't much lore here, though. We know that red lyrium is still a factor and that someone in Tevinter wants to know more about it. We see Tessa and Marius again, which was nice. And of course I loved seeing Varric and Sebastian.

But the standout for me here was Vaea and Ser Aaron. I found their relationship very sweet, almost tender. I know they appear in later comics, though I don't quite recall the specifics. But, I look forward to seeing them again!

[persephoneggsy]

I’ll probably ink + color this later, but for now I just wanted to get this AU idea out there. A Mass Effect Andromeda x Dragon Age AU, because of course.

EDIT: complete!

Details below!

Featuring, from left to right:

Marian Hawke:

Having come to Andromeda with her younger siblings in hopes of starting a new life after their parents died, Marian was initially a part of the Nexus’s security team. She was trained as a powerful biotic as well as a skilled medic. After the Andromeda Initiative proved incompetent (at least, in her eyes), she grabbed her siblings and joined the other exiles on Kadara Port.

The Hawke family soon established themselves as a trio of talented mercenaries and smugglers, and found more success on their own than they ever would’ve had they stayed with the Initiative.

At least, that’s what Marian figured. Her view on the Initiative begins to change when she crosses paths with the human Pathfinder…

Sebastian Vael:

As the grandson of one of the first humans to go through a mass relay and explore beyond their solar system, Sebastian always dreamed of following in his grandfather’s footsteps. Following a troubled youth, he got back on track with his dream when he joined the Alliance and rose through the ranks, eventually earning the coveted N7 designation and the praise of his superiors. His military career drew the attention of an Andromeda Initiative recruiter, who came to him with the opportunity of a lifetime.

Sebastian eagerly accepted her proposal, though many raised an eyebrow at such a young man being named Pathfinder. He was determined to prove his worth, and to many, he earned that respect as he rose to every challenge Andromeda threw at him.

Still, there are many who continue to scoff at his youth, and yet more disagree with his decisions. It doesn’t help that there’s a rumor flying about that claims Sebastian has become romantically involved with the infamous exile and smuggler, Marian Hawke.

Hildegarde Trevelyan:

Hildegarde’s entire family joined the Initiative, and she wound up getting swept along with them. That isn’t to say she doesn’t believe in the Initiative’s mission, but she was hesitant at the prospect of never returning to her home galaxy.

Her anxiety was calmed somewhat when she learned that a childhood friend of hers was going to be their Pathfinder, and that he’d asked for her specifically due to her background as a xenoanthropologist — someone who studies other alien cultures would surely be an asset in a new, uncharted galaxy. And because she’s a trained biotic, she was put on Sebastian’s ground team.

Hildegarde flourishes in the new galaxy, finding a confidence and sense of self-worth that had eluded her back in the Milky Way. And it’s with this newfound confidence that she decides a pursue a relationship with Cullen, a Nexus militia fighter who joined their team after their arrival.

Cullen Rutherford:

A model Alliance soldier, Cullen opted to join the Andromeda Initiative after he became enamored with the idea of pioneering a new era of space exploration. However, while that’s partially true, the main reason he joined the Initiative was for a new beginning; a mission gone horribly wrong back in the Milky Way left him the sole survivor of his unit, and he was traumatized as a result. While he was eventually declared fit for duty, he found it difficult to focus when nearly everything reminded him of those awful days.

Going to Andromeda got him away from those reminders, while still giving him the chance to do something good. He joined the Nexus’s security division, briefly met Marian while there, and fought on the Initiative’s side during the rebellion, though his faith in the Initiative had begun to waver.

With the arrival of the human Pathfinder and an ark, however, he found a renewed sense of purpose, asking to be placed on the Pathfinder’s crew. Sebastian welcomed him to the team, and Cullen found himself growing unexpectedly close to their resident xenoanthropologist, Hildegarde.

[carnalapples]

wip wednesday

Thanks @rowanisawriter for the tag!! From cut down at the garden’s gate (because that art brought back feelings!!!)

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When she closes her eyes, she can see the dark line across her mother’s throat. Feels it slashed into her own neck, feels the inescapable wrong that her mother is dead and she still walks.

“You have a visitor, Lady Hawke.” Bodahn has never been one to appear particularly aggrieved, but he wears his grief in every line of his face. Hawke appreciates this, though she barely recognizes it. Behind him is Sebastian. He visits the estate so infrequently that it takes her a moment to understand the sight.

She blinks. Somehow the two of them take this for acquiescence, and Sebastian crosses the room as Bodahn shuts the door. He does not say anything, simply sits down next to where she sits cross-legged on the bed. Her mattress, too-soft, sinks under his weight. He’s too lithe, she thinks. She’s been able to get most of the others healthy, slipping them food as they need. They don’t feed him enough at that Chantry, not enough for an archer. His shoulders are too narrow on that frame, and he refuses to eat too much at their dinners, holding fast to moderation. She’s suddenly angry about it.

“I heard, Hawke.” No other greeting, because what else is there to talk about?

“If I don’t… touch anything, if I keep her door shut. I keep thinking that…”

She would even take his prayers now, and she feels her heart soften and slip open for his words, for whatever trite balm he can offer her.

“It does not ever get better,” he says. It’s a cold shock down her spine. She feels like she may just slip away, for Sebastian Vael has no verse or canticle at hand. She turns to him, and in his profile, she can see the chilling skeleton of him, the vengeful boy he’s never been able to leave behind. “There will always be days when it feels like this.”

“Please stay,” she murmurs. She reaches out to twist her hand up in his doublet. He glances down at it, all his weight tipping forward into her space, into her face. In an instant, he lets one knee sink into the mattress. He rolls onto his side and watches her eyes flutter shut.

She winds her arms around his neck. “Your hand will fall asleep,” he says. She doesn’t say anything, just blinks slowly at the wall.

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I’ll tag anyone who wants to share!!