#someone needs to have the tough talk with Solas about letting go

[liaragaming]

Took another shot at Varric and Solas discussing the Fisherman story set to the Veilguard gameplay, and I think it's better this time.

[whumpzone]

Tomas and Rowe - Part 11

this chapter was tough, and I might never be totally happy with it, but I hope you all still enjoy it! I’m doing my best to keep to the fortnightly updates <3

Masterpost

taglist: @sola-whumping @just-another-whumper @misspelledwitch @looptheloup @briars7 @black-polarf @zipadeedooda-drabbles @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @rosesareviolentlyread @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @jazz-0307 @kestrelsparverius @whumpsy-daisies @whumpersworld @memoriesneverforget @sky-or-something-idfk @ghostcomit @cupcakes-and-pain @frankieswhump @ihaventwritteninsolong @mybrokenlittletoy @kiretto-laorentze @morelikepainsley @lave-e @tears-and-lilies @whump-me-all-night-long @newbornwhumperfly (just ask if you want to be added! thank you all!)

CW: pet whumpee, dehumanisation, hospitals

-

"Hey," came a voice. When Rowe didn’t immediately wake up, a slap landed across his face. It ground the muzzle deeper into his flesh and forced him awake, wide-eyed and cowering. He was lucky to be spoken to first, of course. Usually he’d be hit without any warning. "Wake up Mutt. You’re finished here."

. . .

"Why couldn’t he come meet me in the waiting room?" Tomas asked the orderly.

"The exit is just this way. We find that most Pet owners like to be discrete in this kind of situation."

The ‘discrete’ room was divided into small curtained cubicles. The orderly left without a word after pointing Tomas towards Rowe, and Tomas was grateful for that at least. Rowe looked horrific. His wrists were strapped into a wheelchair- like he had any intention of running away, given the splint fixed around his left leg. His head flopped to one side, eyes closed, and a thick muzzle was clamped over poor Rowe’s face. His Rowe, that someone had bound and muzzled and hurt. The surge of protectiveness scared Tomas. It felt too close to ownership.

He went to take a closer look at Rowe’s legs, when a hand appeared in his line of sight. Tomas shook it without thinking.

"Hello, you must be the owner. Mr… Grzegorzewski? I’m Dr Scarlett Easton, and this is Dr Jacob Clerval."

"Ah, pleased to meet you both," Tomas said weakly. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Rowe’s head twitch. He’s awake, then. "He was bad enough to need two doctors, then?"

Rowe flinched, ever so slightly, at the word bad.

"He? Aw, that’s quite cute," smiled Dr Easton. Tomas wished everyone would stop commenting on that. "Dr Clerval here is quite new, so he’s been observing. We thought he might be needed, but only one leg was broken, as it happens. We’ve put it in a splint. The other one just needed stitches."

"Right, that’s good then. And the restraints, I… was he being troublesome?"

Tomas chanced a glance in Rowe’s direction. His eyes were full and apologetic, and Tomas wanted to reassure him that everything was okay, but he couldn’t. Not yet.

"Spoke out of turn."

"Mm. But we could get the arms down without a problem. So there’s hope still," the young doctor said with a smile. Tomas realised a few seconds too late that he was making a joke. It felt too weird to speak about Rowe like he wasn’t even in the room. Discussing him without letting him have a say in the matter. Rowe, of course, looked completely used to it. He sat perfectly still, and it only angered Tomas more. It was normal! Rowe was on his best behaviour despite being muzzled like a bad dog because he’d be hurt if he wasn’t, and that was just normal and expected and understood. It made Tomas’s blood boil. He needed to get Rowe home.

. . .

Rowe’s heart jumped when he heard Master’s voice. The painful fog lifted. Master Master Master. He was here. He didn’t abandon Rowe. He was here and that was worth any punishment he’d give out when Rowe got home. He didn’t remember ever being so happy to see his old master, but he didn’t dwell on that. Master, they fixed my legs. Please take me back home. You said I can have wants. I want to go back home and serve you and let you do whatever you want to me.

The two doctors were talking about Rowe, and Master glanced over a few times, but not to look at Rowe’s legs. He was looking into Rowe’s eyes, staring at him from under his blond curls and Rowe couldn’t understand because that wasn’t where he’d been hurt. He wanted to survey the work the doctors had done, right?

"Okay, thank you," said Master, and his voice was so familiar, so calm and clear and measured, and even through his shame Rowe’s spirits lifted. "I don’t think this wheelchair will be necessary from now on, thanks."

. . .

"That’s handy, because we need it back anyway. And the muzzle."

Tomas tried to act like someone who didn’t care because he had one at home anyway. Rowe kept his eyes down as his mouth was released and again Tomas just wanted to scream at them, because for goodness sake he’s bleeding, and it was fastened over a barely-healed broken nose, and you’re all acting like it doesn’t fucking matter.

"Have you brought a cage for it?"

"If you haven’t brought a cage then he will need carrying, sir."

"That’s- I can get him home fine, thanks."

"Whatever," Tomas muttered, scooping Rowe into his arms without a second thought. He was still light even with the addition of the splint. Rowe didn’t react except to bury his face into Tomas’s neck as he turned on his heel and left.

"Hey, Rowe," he said gently as soon as they were outside. "How do you feel, pal?"

"M-Master," he said weakly.

"I’m here, I promise. Does it hurt?"

"It d-doesn’t matter…"

No Master for once. That was probably not a good sign, right now. "Can you tell me anyway?" Tomas was careful to avoid sounding like Rowe was being rude, or disobedient, or forcing him to tell him out of fear.

"U-uh, it hurts on m-my legs, M-Master. And m-my face."

"From the muzzle, right? Little bastards. I never said they could do that to you."

"I s-spoke without permission, Master."

"Well, I like it when you speak. I like hearing what you have to say." He kept his tone matter-of-fact. Rowe shuddered against his chest, and it could have been a laugh. Yes, I suppose that isn’t said to Pets very often. "And your poor legs. Well, we’re going to try this out, but let me know if it doesn’t work, okay?"

Tomas gently hoisted Rowe onto his back, climbing onto his bicycle very carefully. Rowe clung on; his frail arms hooked over Tomas’s shoulders and the brittle scabs forming over Rowe’s newest cuts tickled his jaw. This is fucking stupid.

"I’ll go slowly," Tomas promised, pushing the bike into motion and vowing never to go back to that wretched place.

. . .

Rowe savoured the last few moments, tucked protectively against his owner’s chest, before they got home and his punishment started. He had wasted Master’s time, he had spoken without permission, he had got blood everywhere upstairs, he was ugly, he was useless, and he was due a punishment. He was due more pain until he was a pitiful, twitching wreck, sobbing that he’d never trouble Master like that again. This was all he could think as he was carried into the house and- not dropped on the floor, as he’d expected, but placed onto the sofa. But- but- Pets couldn’t-

"You’re allowed on the sofa," Master Tomas said, like he’d read Rowe’s mind. "You’re always allowed. But right now, I don’t want any argument, okay?"

Rowe nodded nervously, and didn’t resist as Master unclipped the collar from around his neck. It was insolent and rude and selfish, but Rowe had got used to life without one. He tried to sit up and be pretty, but he was still faint and clumsy with pain.

"H-hurts, Master. M-my legs hurt."

"Rowe?" Master asked, and Rowe’s heart sank because of course, Master would notice immediately. Pets were too stupid to hide things from their Master. The truth always came out, eventually. "You doing okay?"

A pause. "They did… you got painkillers right, Rowe? They gave you anaesthetic?"

Rowe shook his head and immediately Master’s eyes darkened with rage. Wrong answer.

"What the fuck?" Master cried. Rowe flinched. He knew what that tone predated. "No, I’m not- I’m not angry with you. I’ll get you some painkillers."

"P-please, it’s n-not wasted on Pets," Rowe protested weakly, even though he knew Pets never argued with their Master. What was he thinking? Besides, he still opened his mouth obediently when Master approached him with two small pills and some water.

"Okay," he exhaled. Master crouched before him and took Rowe by the hand, ever so gently. Rowe still felt ice run through him at the contact, expecting him to clamp and wrench and pull, but he didn’t.

. . .

I have to do it, thought Tomas as he looked at Rowe. …but I don’t have to do it tonight.

. . .

"Rowe," Master began as he often did, and Rowe liked being reminded that he was important enough to be named. It made him feel wanted.

(made him feel like a person) (no it didn’t)

Master was looking at him so warmly that it made Rowe just want to shy away because he hadn’t earned this kindness. Why was Master even here? What did he want? Why was he here if not to get something from Rowe- to punish him for causing such a fuss?

"When people get hurt, it’s important to be extra nice to them. This doesn’t mean that you can only have nice things if you take pain first, okay?"

"O-okay, Master." But what does that matter?

"I want to do whatever you want tonight. Anything at all. I know having wants is still new, so this is a good chance to try them out." Master ran his thumb over Rowe’s hand. His fingers weren’t rough like old master’s were. They were soft. "Wanting something won’t make me angry. I won’t get angry, I won’t laugh at you, I won’t ignore you."

"I can want s-something?" Rowe timidly confirmed. "I’m not being punished?"

The worst case scenario flitted before his eyes, as it always did- Master’s grip turns painful and he smacks beats hits kicks whips burns hates me and it was all a cruel joke- but it didn’t linger, it didn’t make him seize up. It-

It passed. And all that happened was Master nodded.

"I want-" Rowe’s breath hitched. He knew what he wanted. He couldn’t believe he was even capable of wanting. And now that it wasn’t a dream, or a private thought, the desperation came crashing into him almost too fast to keep up with. It tore and wrenched and made him ache. "Please- please p-pet me, Master, please hold me and ruffle m-m-my hair. I want to b-be held so badly. Please."

. . .

Oh, Rowe, Tomas thought, feeling his heart break once again. I’ve really been cruel to you, haven’t I?

"Of course, pal, of course," he said gently, sitting down next to Rowe and putting an arm around him. "Why don’t you lean on me and get comfortable?"

It felt wrong, Tomas couldn’t deny that, it felt so wrong to let this small, traumatised human rest his head on Tomas’s chest and be pet like a- well, like a Pet. But he also couldn’t deny the way Rowe softened against him. Sure, Rowe went limp a lot, his training making him unresisting and pliable, but this was different. Tomas worked the fingers of his free hand into Rowe’s hair and stroked, all the way down to the top of his spine and back to his crown. Rowe let out a shuddering breath, like all the defences he’d had to keep raised since Tomas got him were being lowered, just for tonight.

The words kept dying on his lips, but Tomas promised himself that if Rowe didn’t respond then he wouldn’t say them again. "You’re- you’re a good boy, Rowe."

Another shudder, and a sniff. Rowe’s face pressed harder into Tomas.  

"Such a good boy. You were so brave today."

And then- Rowe’s shoulders trembled, in the way Tomas had quickly learnt they only did when Rowe was crying silently.

"Th-thank you," Rowe whispered between sobs. "Thank y-you so much, Master."

"I mean it," he soothed. "You are so good, Rowe. I’m happy I have you as a Pet."

It was a confession to himself as much as it was a comfort for Rowe. The words sank in, for both of them. Rowe’s crying didn’t abate, and Tomas felt a few tears of his own drip down his face. They landed perfectly on the hand in Rowe’s hair. That’s for the best. Proper Masters don’t cry over their Pets.

Tomas couldn’t help it. All his anger at the hospital had settled into sadness. He wasn’t being selfish. Rowe so desperately needed to feel safe and comforted, even if by morning he would be back to his usual fearful servitude. But Tomas also wanted to drop the pretence, just for a night, and let himself be kind and gentle without confusing his poor precious Pet.

He continued stroking his hair until Rowe fell asleep, his head rising and falling in unison with Tomas’s slow breaths.

(ending loosely inspired by this post)

[drunken-drengr]

Blackwall ...all of them I am nosy.

Thank u for being nosy tho 🙏🙏🙏

Blackwall

1. Did they suspect his true identity at all? Were they taken by surprise when he revealed himself?

A lot about him seemed suspicious at first to Karrie, honestly. She thought it weird how he was in Fereldan during the Blight, fighting Darkspawn, but then again, what did she know about the Fifth Blight, save for bits and parts of Warden Aeuducan's story? Not only that, but his sense of unwavering heroics was off-putting as well. Eventually, she shrugged it off. None of his backstory really did concern her, and besides, the Inquisition needed someone like him. Over time, she kind of forgot about all that Warden stuff about him, and really got to know him, not that Blackwall persona. But initially after the reveal, Karrie was shocked. Not so much when she actually put some thought into it. She was angry with herself for allowing herself to be blind to his obvious deceit, for letting him fool her, and him for lying to her about it.

2. What did they choose to do with him and how did they feel about their choice? Were they guilty about leaving him in cell, if they choose to do so?

Karrie decided to take him from his cell at once. No way in hell were the Orlesians going to kill him, she already had dibs on that. She was selfish like that, wanting his fate for herself. But once judgement actually came, and they stood there face to face, Karrie suddenly felt guilty. After all, they had both told themselves that they wouldn't get attached, and yet they went ahead and did so anyways. Neither of them really belonged to each other, and so Karrie couldn't keep him bound to her and the Inquisition if he didn't want it. Eventually she set him free, to atone how he wanted, even if it meant going back to that cell to face his fate. What a surprise though, to find that perhaps he did want to belong with her.

3. Did their treatment of Blackwall change after discovering who he was? If yes, how so?

There wasn't a huge shift in how the interacted afterwards. If anything, it was a bit awkward at first, and they didn't talk much. But things picked up again like normal, and their relationship resumed. There wasn't much difference between 'Blackwall' and 'Thom', Karrie found, he was still the same man as he were before. The whole incident also created some new jokes and ways for Karrie to tease him though.

4. How close was your inquisitor to Blackwall? What drew your Inquisitor to him or away from him?

They were rather close, considering Karrie was close with seldom anyone. He was one of the first people she actually warmed up to, as they both found themselves often drinking in the tavern. Karrie wasn't attracted to his heroic persona, not at all, but more towards how he opened up while drinking. It was more of his sense of humor and appetite for drink that drew her towards him. Not to mention his independence and competence. Finally, someone who could be trusted to get a job done! They also managed to fit together in battle. It annoyed her at first how often he managed to block a blow for her, but there were a few instances that he really did come in clutch. His defensive battle style complemented her offensive style, and more so made up for her lacking defense. Karrie doesn't trust people as far as she can throw them, but she certainly trusts him to have her back in a tough brawl, or in any situation, to be frank.

5. Did they remain in contact with him after the events of Trespasser?

Before Trespasser, you can bet your ass they wrote to each other whenever they could. It really broke her when, after Solas, Blackwall took his leave, but she understood why he had to do it and didn't stop him. She still had Sera at Skyhold with her, at least, but nothing really filled his empty seat next to the pair at the bar, or the cold spot in her bed. And Karrie really wasn't the poetic romantic type, but she found it humorous, if not a bit endearing, reading the sweet words that he wrote her. Boy, when they finally reunited during Trespasser, they hugged each other so hard Karrie thought they'd break each other's ribs.

After Trespasser though, that was a different story. Karrie was different. Blackwall tried to be there for her, and Karrie tried to respond to his efforts, but she just couldn't. He helped her in her efforts to track down Solas, and became another Advisor in a sense, but eventually, it was her turn to depart from him. She just up and left, went back to her hometown in the Free Marches, looking for her Carta family. Travelled for awhile, and eventually came across her father. She sent one last cryptic farewell letter to her love, before setting off into the Deep Roads with her father and the help of another now-surfacer dwarf.

[jackdawyt]

Well, punch me in the teeth and call me the Dread Wolf! BioWare have already revealed another trailer for the next Dragon Age this year! The Game Awards 2020 premiered a beautiful-cinematic trailer that showcased many locations, factions, characters and foes we’ll witness in the next instalment. As per usual, we have many thoughts, theories and tinfoils on everything this trailer revealed!

However, before we break down the trailer, we have two descriptions of the next Dragon Age game shared separately on YouTube and Twitter.  

On YouTube, the trailer’s description said:  

“The world of Dragon Age needs a new hero – someone who can take on the evil forces threatening Thedas. Get a first look at some of the new locations you’ll discover and the factions fighting by your side in the next chapter of Dragon Age.”  

And shared on Twitter, the post said:  

“The world of Thedas needs you, a new hero. The next #DragonAge will see the return of Solas… and an old friend.”  

https://twitter.com/dragonage/status/1337198092957839365

Of course, the old friend no doubt refers to Varric who narrated this brand-new cinematic trailer. That’s right, the one, the only, our storytelling-chest-haired dwarf is coming back in the next Dragon Age, so we’re already going to have some familiarity in the next adventure.

With that said, let’s breakdown the entire contents of this new trailer and what it means for the next Dragon Age!

Meredith & Corypheus

The trailer started by revealing the first piece of a brand-new stone-etched mural.  

Knight-Commander Meredith was shown, infused with red lyrium, holding her sword “Certainty”.

Followed up with Corypheus holding Solas’s orb towards the heavens. During this point, Varric said: “I’ve faced tyrants and would-be gods.”  

These two shots clearly showcase the previous events of Dragon Age that have somehow circulated towards Solas’s scheme to destroy the Veil and deal with the Evanuris.  

Meredith took the Red Lyrium Idol and forged it into a sword, the idol itself apparently belongs to Solas, and he cares for it and recognises its depiction. Meredith was turned into a thawed red lyrium statue, and the red lyrium idol was found and retrieved inside her statued body. The idol’s current whereabouts are unknown.

"The Dread Wolf wants that idol, and he’s not afraid to get his hands bloody to get it." (The Dread Wolf Take You, Page 490). “He intends something for the Fade, and if he wants the idol, then whatever he intends will be terrible.” (The Dread Wolf Take You, Page 498).

Whereas Corypheus intended on using Solas’s orb to usurp the throne of the gods for himself. Solas, banking on the magister’s failure, sought out to regain his orb after Corypheus unlocked it, and died doing so. In this ideal situation, Solas would then use his orb and destroy the veil.  

However, that didn’t happen. Instead Solas’s orb was destroyed by crumbling rocks with Corypheus’s defeat. The elven god strives to find alternative ways to destroy the veil.

Both these foes at the start of Solas’s new mural show that what’s coming next will be much worse than any catastrophe in Thedas and that these events have always been set in stone for the Dread Wolf. It’s like he’s drawn Corypheus and said, you thought he was tough, wait till you see what I can do.  

Two Evil Gods

The trailer continued with the next pieces in this mural, two carvings of very enigmatic figures. The first engraving has an arched headpiece, red eyes, a spiky torso, and wavy lines coming from their head, with a haloed sun or moon behind them.

Immediately, this spooky figure reminds us of the evil god shown in BioWare’s Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development. However, we believe the figure shown in this book resembles the elven goddess “Ghilan'nain, the Mother of the Halla” who created giants, monsters, and beasts that spanned across the sky, water, and earth.

While this depiction of an evil god is concept art, there is one key difference between the two figures - the evil god in the concept art has four arms, whereas the mural figure has two arms. So, are they depicting the same god? We’ll certainly come back to this figure later on.  

The next figure has a very curved headpiece, elven ears, and clawed-looking shoulder pieces. With another haloed sun behind their head, this leads us to believe this is yet another evil god.

Personally, this figure reminds us of Dirthamen’s statue we saw in Inquisition, but this could honestly be anyone... And we’ll touch on that when we get to the finished mural.  

While these two figures are shown, Varric said: “Seen friends lose life and limb, but there’s always someone bent on breaking the world.”  

Obviously referring to allies previously lost, like potentially Hawke, and even the Inquisitor’s anchor. However, the enemies bent on breaking the world paint the figures shown as evil and malevolent. Of course, it’s not Dragon Age without someone trying to destroy the world.    

BioWare Logo

In the next sequence, a golden BioWare logo appears with a sun behind it, perhaps this relates the previous figure to Elgar’nan considering Elgar’nan was said to be born of the sun?

Anderfels/Grey Warden

Taking our minds away from the mural for a moment, the trailer began to explore iconic locations and factions that are going to feature heavily in the next Dragon Age.

The first location is a blazing desert with rough sands, cobblestone, and huge puddles. We think this is the Anderfels, Thedas’s blighted western lands. Over the horizon are multiple, huge reptile creatures. They look like turtle monsters similar to the Ankylosaurs, which is a kind of armoured dinosaur with a clubtail.

During this sequence, Varric said: “It’s time for a new hero.” As grey boots entered the shot. No doubt, referring to the next protagonist. The boots are instantly recognisable as a Grey Warden’s. You can see a dark blue tint on their leggings, as grey and blue are the Warden’s colours.  

Not to mention, the biggest indicator that this character is a Warden, is the location. A Grey Warden being in The Anderfels makes complete sense considering Weisshaupt, the Warden’s headquarters are located there.

More importantly, the fact that Varric said: “it’s time for a new hero” while showing this Grey Warden, and the trailer continued to show different factions, while still talking about the idea of a new hero. We think this indicates to the overall message of this trailer, being that perhaps this time around we can choose the faction our new hero belongs to. Like origin stories, our hero can choose between at least 4 or more different factions within Thedas.

While the Grey Wardens and many other factions will join our fight as key roles in the story like “Davrin” who was hinted at in the Gamescom trailer, having the choice to choose where your hero is from would make for an epic RPG, and a great callback to the series' roots.

Antiva/Antivan Crow

The next location revealed the most elegant nation of Antiva, looking absolutely stunning with its gold accents, and regal aesthetic. When compared to the Behind-the-Scenes concepts, we can certainly see the similarities between the early concepts and the CGI reveal. Most notably, the Disney-like palace that encompasses every shot.

Still sharing about our new hero, Varic said: “No magic hand, no ancient prophecy.” As a zoom-in shot of Antiva City revealed an Antivan Crow stirring a goblet of wine. The palace behind the goblet had magical energy emerging into the skies.

The shot pulled back, and revealed an Antivan Crow sat on the rooftops of Antiva, looking over the city. With Varric talking about the next hero being a nobody, with no magical anchor, and no ancient prophecy, can we choose to play as an Antivan Crow?

If this Crow is not showcasing the option of a new hero, then perhaps this is a Crow who will join our journey, like one of the Antivan Crow Talons. I see a lot of similarities with this cinematic shot and the recent short story - “The Wake,” which was all about the Talons mourning their lost friend.

Antiva as a whole, looks astonishing, from the rivers flowing through the city, to the picturesque sky, the city looks like a delightful place to take a love interest. However, we’re most curious about the magical energy emerging from the palace. Perhaps Antiva City prepares for the imminent Qunari Antaam invasion?

Tevinter Imperium/Siccari

The next location revealed the most prideful, gothic nation known as the Tevinter Imperium. This beautifully macabre shot is most likely showcasing Tevinter’s capital city, Minrathous.  

Once the motherland of the ancient elves before the veil’s creation, Tevinter was founded on the ruins of the elven kingdom, we can see many magical marvels and wonders in this cinematic shot. For instance, we have magical neon lighting guiding you through the city and the floating structure that stands in the centre.  

Perhaps this haunting structure is the Magisterium, or Minrathous’s Circle Tower? Regardless, the ferocious architecture and dark themes truly define Tevinter as a remarkable, and otherworldly nation. A lot of these undertones look similar to one of the concept art pieces shown at Gamescom.

Followed with this shot, Varric said: “The kind of person they will never see coming.” As a new hooded-character was revealed pulling out a winged-dagger ready to attack a blurred figure in a Tevinter alleyway. Not to sound like a broken record, but again, Varric is mentioning the new hero, so is this character one of the potential factions we can choose, and if so, what faction?

Well, because it seems like we’re in the streets of Tevinter, we think this character represents the Tevinter Siccari. This faction was recently introduced in Tevinter Nights, they are the Imperium’s best shadow network, made of highly skilled and secretive agents who each come from slave families, they are formidable and honourable warriors.  

“I have heard many things of the Tevinter Siccari,” the Mortalitasi added, “but I have never heard them called cowards or traitors. Most of them come from slave families, and those families are kept safe as both promise and threat, ensuring the Siccari never flinch from their duties. (The Dread Wolf Take You, page 503). ““Tevinter’s intelligence network declined to answer our request.” (The Dread Wolf Take You, page 485).

This hooded-figure has what-looks like keys on their chest, along with a very golden logo on their shoulder, which looks like an owl? The dagger also looks to have a winged bird on its helm.

If this figure doesn’t represent a faction the player can choose between, then perhaps they’re a shadowy Tevinter character from an unknown faction, or they could be someone like Neve, who was introduced in Tevinter Nights as a private investigator working out of Minrathous. However, we feel like Tevinter Siccari is the best bet, because they’re literally the Imperium’s spies.

Executor/Ancient Elf?

Followed by that, a most intriguing character appeared walking through a snowy forest. The figure has a three-horned headpiece, with trims of red on their outfit, holding a bow made of floating triangles.

The location of this area is the exact same as the sexy tree we witnessed at EA Play, the gloomy, midnight snow graveyard, with infected red lyrium and Ferelden architecture. The tree appeared on the right, as this mysterious character shot their enigmatic bow. With the location being the same as the tree, it can be anywhere close to the equator where it can snow, like southern Tevinter, northern Nevarra, or it could literally be anywhere in the mountains. The Ferelden architecture really throws us off though.

This new character is also a mystery, who exactly are they, and what faction do they represent? Well, we've never seen anyone like this before, so they could totally be something brand-new.

However, we can piece a few things together, like the magical, triangle bow. We saw this exact design in a concept piece at Gamescom, with many thinking that this design was ancient elven. On top of that, in the “Ruins of Reality” short story art piece that featured the Starkhaven elf known as Strife, he wore a red cloak with floating triangles on it.

However, even more intriguing, his cloak had the Executor’s logo on it - “a downward-pointed triangle with two wavy lines drawn through it.”

So, does this new character represent either The Executors, or an ancient elven clan? The Executors are mysterious beings who come from beyond the sea, they’ve been described to wear “dark robes of Vyrantium samite, with a thin mesh dropping down to cover the hood.”

I see a gold trim covering their face, but I don’t know if that headpiece constitutes as a hood? Even so, we don’t know what Executors look like.  

If this character represents an ancient elven clan faction, that would explain why they have this magical bow that fires as if projected with Fade magic, also illustrating the more alien look to this character.

Regardless, we think this character is quite the enigma, they could just as easily represent a Tal-Vashoth clan, a new Nevarran faction, or something brand-new that hasn’t been explored in the games yet.

Varric Tethras

During this entire sequence, Varric said: “We’ve got your back, I’ve got your back.” By, “we’ve got your back” we assume he’s speaking on behalf of the Inquisition’s remnants like the Divine, Scout Harding, Charter and company, who’re pursuing after the Dread Wolf. However, even more than that, Varric said, he’s got our back. So, Varric is coming back in the next game as a pivotal role it seems, hopefully, this time around we can romance our chest-haired friend, please?

Fen’Harel

Varric followed that up and said: “Demons, dragons, darkspawn, even the Dread Wolf.” As the next sequence revealed a very familiar Fen’Harel...

Solas is pressing one of his hands on this fresco that depicts him as the Dread Wolf rising. He’s touching the mouth of the Dread Wolf, as the beast’s teeth appear red, most likely to resemble red lyrium? Does Solas’s plan involve ingesting red lyrium? The substance does weaken the veil after all, so is Solas going to become blighted in order to fulfill his scheme?  

As Solas approached, we can see he has clothed himself in ancient elven robe-like armour with varying tints of green. He looks very stoic, but also a little bit sad.

New Mural

The cinematic mural that featured behind Solas was posted as a painting on the Dragon Age website, so we can take a greater look at it, and decipher its meaning.

https://twitter.com/Nthornborrow/status/1337521623084093440

Straight up, we can see the Dread Wolf with six blazing blue eyes, previously the Dread Wolf was depicted with red blazing eyes, however, this time around, his eyes are blue? This clearly has something to do with lyrium Maybe the Dread Wolf’s eyes will turn red once he has become tainted? Or Perhaps there’s a chance we could stop him from becoming tainted before it’s too late?

As stated, the Dread Wolf has six eyes, exactly like his description in Tevinter Nights. A Mortalitasi mage witnessing the Dread Wolf explained the description of a lupine, monstrous six-eyed Wolf the size of a High Dragon.

“Lupine in appearance, but the size of a high dragon, with shaggy spiked hide and six burning eyes like a pride demon.” (The Dread Wolf Take You, Page 496).

With the proportion of his eyes, there could be some significance to them, or it could honestly just be an art style. However, I wouldn’t deny anything relating to Old God souls or the amount of Evanuris left. But we feel the size of each eye shows us that the Dread Wolf is dealing with some sort of distortion with his appearance, like absorbing Mythal’s power metamorphosing him to become more draconic.

The Dread Wolf is bursting through the Black City which is imbued in red lyrium.

We can see the Dread Wolf has destroyed the Veil by the representation of the spheres that have exploded with a roaring fire. With its destruction, the Fade and the waking world of Thedas have become one. With the world burning in the raw chaos, Solas could then restore the time of the elves.

Two Evil Gods Identity  

These statues are old. Better shape than anything I've seen on the surface. Many of them are for Mythal, though. And Fen'Harel. Not in a spot of honor, but guarding, attending.

Protector and All-Mother, why are you honored here, so far from the light of the sun? And why was the Dread Wolf at your side? — Torn Notebook in the Deep Roads

The two evil figures on the left and right side look like the eluvians and statues from the Vir Dirthara, the ancient elvhen Library. And according to Tevinter Nights, there are many elvhen libraries throughout the land of Thedas like the one near the Imperial Highway. These ‘headpieces’ the figures have are slightly different and differentiate each member of the Pantheon from one another.

it’s honestly hard to tell who these figures could be Pantheon-wise, but here are some of our tinfoil bits that can correlate to their appearance:

When we reacted to this trailer live, we stated that these two figures could resemble the elvhen twins Falon’Din and Dirthamen. Their statues look very similar to these figures, but now that we have studied it, the figure on the left looks more feminine with long hair so this could be Ghilan’nain who has been mentioned a lot recently in the Dragon Age’s short stories and Tevinter Nights. If that figure on the left is Ghilan’nan, then the right still has to be Dirthamen who we know has a closer relationship with Ghilan’nain through Dalish and ancient elvhen legends.

"His crime is high treason. He took on a form reserved for the gods and their chosen, and dared to fly in the shape of the divine. The sinner belongs to Dirthamen; he claims he took wings at the urging of Ghilan'nain, and begs protection from Mythal. She does not show him favor, and will let Elgar'nan judge him." — Old Elvhen Writing

On the other hand, these figures could represent Elgar’nan and Mythal, who are closely related to Fen’Harel’s redemption to break the Veil.

“Long ago, when time itself was young, the only things in existence were the sun and the land. The sun, curious about the land, bowed his head close to her body, and Elgar'nan was born in the place where they touched.” — Codex entry: Elgar'nan: God of Vengeance.

“And that night, when the sun had gone to sleep, Mythal gathered the glowing earth around his bed, and formed it into a sphere to be placed in the sky, a pale reflection of the sun's true glory.” — Codex entry: Mythal: the Great Protector.

We could say that the masculine figure represents Elgar’nan who is represented as a sun. And Mythal, who represents the moon. If these two gods are side by side with Fen’Harel, then the Emergent Compendium’s reference could come true:

‘Two shadowed spheres among stars, an eclipse as Fen’Harel stirred’  

However, this could be a stretch knowing that Solas already has the remaining power of Flemeth, and Elgar’nan also has barely been mentioned, it is worth knowing that these figures have a similar reference to these gods either way...

Another connection these figures could resemble are the remaining old gods that bring forth the blights.  

In our Dread Wolf Rises mural breakdown back in 2018, we talked about the centrepiece of the artwork, with the massive moon that had two golden circles still lit, while 5 of them were greyed out. Most certainly referring to the past and future blights.  

In our new mural, behind these two figures there are the same golden circles. If we are comparing these two murals together these figures could be the two remaining Old Gods left who aren’t blighted, Razikale and Lusacan.

According to Solas, if there is any chaotic event in Thedas, spirits will pull against the Veil, weakening its forces. So, if Razikale and Lusacan were to become Archdemons at the same time, that could potentially tear the Veil hence the Dread Wolf rising in the moment to change the world once again.

Razikale is the only Old God to be confirmed female, so according to the mural, this theory might not be far off from this depiction. These Gods have not been tainted and have been left somewhere sleeping for centuries, to awaken them will require most of Thedas to become blighted in order to escalate the timing of two Blights happening at once.  

However, that’s just a theory, as we know, evil gods have Thedas in their sights, it really just depends which gods we’re talking about. We lean more to the Evanuris in this mural, however, the old gods are not out of the picture yet, as shown in The Dread Wolf Rises mural. We feel a double blight is in store for the future of Thedas.

Dragon Age New Font

Anyhow, the trailer ends with a new Dragon Age font and colour, I wonder if gold is going to be the main tone of the next game.  

Varric ended the trailer, and said: “This is your story.” No doubt referring to the fact that the narrative will be shaped by your choices and consequences.

Regardless, this trailer was amazing, and we’re so happy we actually had another look at the next Dragon Age game! We want to know all of your thoughts and speculation down below, how excited are you knowing that Varric is coming back?

[noire-pandora]

Continuing with the prompts from this list. Also on ao3.

Edit: I decided to also submit this to genuary 2021 event.

Picnic.

Words: 1804

Warnings: Elluin will go hunting in this piece. While there aren’t graphic descriptions, keep in mind to avoid reading if the idea bothers you. Thanks! 

The sun shone above the Hinterlands, no cloud on the bright blue sky. The birds trilled their song, and Elluin found herself smiling at their joy. 

She travelled at a slow, steady pace, her horse strolling proudly, as she and three companions made their way back to Haven. Master Dennet offered to the Inquisition the best horses, and now they could travel faster and safer. She enjoyed riding, feeling the muscles of the horse move under her, and appreciated the bond between a rider and a horse. 

Slowly, Elluin got lost in her thoughts, mesmerized by the beauty of the nature, rocked by the calm movement of the horse. She found herself at peace, after weeks of worry and running around. 

“Can we stop already? I’m hungry!”

Sera’s voice woke Elluin from her reverie, and she sighed. She almost forgot about them. 

“We cannot,” Cassandra quickly retorted. “We need to get back to Haven as fast as possible and tell the others we will get the horses, we don’t have time to waste.”

“But we already sent a raven to Leliana, she already knows! We’ve been riding for four hours, my butt hurts and I’m hungry!”

Cassandra scoffed and opened her mouth to reply, but Varric chimed in. “She is right, Seeker. I doubt we can ride faster than a raven can fly. We’re hurrying for no reason. And my butt is starting to get sore too.”

“No!”

“But--!”

“ We should ask the Herald” Solas calmly intervened, pointing towards Elluin as she rode a few meters ahead of them. “You do listen to her judgment, Seeker.”

Cassandra glared at Solas for a second but she cued her horse to move closer to Elluin’s.

“You do believe I am right, no?”

Elluin smiled and tugged on the reins to stop the horse. She jumped on the ground and looked around, scratching her head.

“I think Sera and Varric are right. It’s midday and we have five hours until we reach Haven. If we take a break now, we will reach it in time for dinner.”

“But, Herald, the task--“

“We finished our task, Cassandra. We got the horses and the stable master. The raven already reached Leliana. All we have to do is to get back and I see no rush with that. Plus, the horses need a break. Master Dennet will kill us if we overwork them."

Cassandra pinched the bridge of her nose and nodded, defeated. “As you wish.”

“Finally,” Sera exclaimed. “I need to pee so bad.”

Elluin giggled and shook her head. She turned towards her horse to tend it. The horse’s mane felt soft to the touch, and she ran her fingers through it.

“What are we going to eat, Sparks?” Varric asked as he looked around the meadow, the sun forcing him to squint his eyes.

“I’ve seen a few rabbits in those bushes up ahead. I think there are a few rabbit nests there. I’m quick enough to try to catch a few of them.”

“Rabbit stew sounds good to me”, Varric smiled, patting his belly as it grumbled.

“Then you could set up a small camp while we are away. Is that ok with you?”

“Sure, Sparks, on it.”

Elluin looked around for Solas. He tended to his horse, removing its saddle, and spoke with it in Elvhen.

“Since you’re already doing it, Solas, could you take care of the other horses, please? Make sure they are fed?”

“Of course, Herald,” he confirmed and bowed his head.

“Ah, wait! When Sera comes back, can you tell her to gather some wood?”

He nodded again, too concentrated with feeding the horse.

“You and me, Cassandra, we’re going hunting!"

Cassandra just nodded, and Elluin noticed the irritation written on her face. In this short time span she spent with the Seeker, she learned  the warrior didn’t like to be contradicted.

They walked in silence, Cassandra’s scabbard clinking against her hip as she stepped. Elluin hummed, loving the stroll in the grass, eyes focused at the rabbit's nest ahead, waiting for any signs of rabbits running around. They hid in the bushes next to the nest and waited.

“Are you all right there, Cass?” she asked in a low voice, careful not to alert the will-be lunch.

“Yes.”

“You know, you’re a tough person, Cassandra and I admire that.You learned how to control yourself and pushed your body to withstand any pain. You are a mighty warrior, you have fought dragons and saved the Divine. You have travelled all around Thedas and I’m sure your butt won’t get sore anymore, travelling for hours and hours on a horse."

She squinted as a rabbit left the burrow, sniffing the air, looking around for any predators. Elluin’s body tensed, ready to jump at the first opportunity. The rabbit suddenly retreated to the safety of its den.

“The thing is,” Elluin continued, her body relaxing once again but her eyes never leaving the burrow. “Varric and Sera aren’t warriors. They can’t do the things you do. They can’t ride for hours and hours without stopping and eating.”

“You’re not a warrior and I didn’t hear you complain,” Cassandra whispered back, annoyance in her voice.

“That’s because I’ve been travelling since I was nineteen years old. The dirty road has been my home for so many years, I got used with being uncomfortable. But Varric and Sera are the usual people, used with taking it easy. They aren’t ready to push themselves right now. In a few months, they won’t have any problems with sore butts. We need to be patient with them. Being on the road so often isn’t easy for someone who rarely left their cities. You know Varric loves Kirkwall, he told us how much he hated leaving it.”

Cassandra sighed but said nothing. They stayed in silence, hidden in the bushes, still looking ahead for any movement. After ten more minutes, Elluin tsked and shook her head. “Right, time to do this the hard way!”

She rolled up her sleeves above her elbows and left the bush. She strolled towards the rabbit's nest and crammed her arm inside, her chin touching the ground. After a few grunts and grimaces of pain, she withdrew her arm, a small rabbit struggling to escape her grip.

“Aha! Here, hold this one, Cassandra! Hold it by its ears so it won’t bite you! Gotta find another one.”

Cassandra watched with wide eyes as Elluin went in for another one. A few minutes more and her hand emerged once again, another rabbit yelling and struggling to run away.

“Right, I think this will do. Let’s get back to camp and ready our meal,” Elluin said, her hands and clothes soiled with mud and leaves.

“How did you do that? I have never seen anyone do it!” Cassandra asked, amazement colouring her voice.

They strolled back to the camp, Elluin proudly smirking. “Every Dalish knows how to do this. We’re taught how to hunt since childhood, in case we end up lost from the Clan. The priority of the Hahren is to make sure any child can fend from themselves as they grow up. I’m not that good at it, but at least I won’t die of hunger.”

“I see. Impressive.”

They walked in silence again, Elluin not daring to bother Cassandra, visibly deep in thought. When Cassandra frowned, it was safer to let her be.

“Thank you, Herald. Sometimes I forget how hard it was for me at the beginning.”

“No harm done,” Elluin replied, relief washing over her. Cassandra wasn’t mad anymore. She could breathe in peace.

Cassandra and Elluin took care of the lunch, the stew steaming and spreading a delicious smell. Even Solas, who rarely cared about food, seemed eager to taste it.

They sat on the ground, around the fire, eating and slurping the food, none of them talking.

“Hey, Chuckles, do you wanna hear a joke?” Varric asked, breaking the silence.

“Do I have a choice, Master Tethras?”

“Nope, not really. How about this one: how do you get a squirrel to like you?”

“I do not have the faintest idea,” Solas said, sarcasm in his voice.

“Act like a nut.”

Silence. Only a small snort escaped Elluin’s lips.

“Oh, c’mon, that was funny!” Varric said, throwing his hands in the air. “Fine, here’s another one: What do you call a row of rabbits hopping away? A receding hare line!”

“Ugh, Varric, this is even worse than the first one. You have bad jokes,” Cassandra chimed in, rolling her eyes. “No one likes your jokes.”

“I liked this one. It was funny because we’re eating rabbits. Get it? Rabbits,” Sera replied, laughing with her mouth full, a few droplets flying in the air.

“Please don’t encourage him, Sera!”

Elluin watched their exchange, a small smile tugging at her lips. It has been a while since she could just sit and enjoy the company of others. She slowly learned to appreciate her companions even if at first she didn’t trust them. They were loud, had bad jokes, but they were there to help her. She wasn’t alone anymore.

“Jolly crowd, eh?,” Sera asked, conspicuously leaning towards her. “It’s almost like a picnic. We’re missing the fancy blanket and the expensive glasses, but this is nice.”

“Yes, it is. Never had a better picnic than this one.”

“You did well back then, you know. When you told Cassandra what you told,” Sera continued, as she bit from the meat, the juice dripping down on her chin and spoke again, mouth full with meat. “She forgot not everyone is like her.”

“Where you spying on us??”

“Nah," she stopped for a second to swallow "I was close and I have good hearing. I thought you aren’t made to be a leader, but now I’m doubting that.”

“I’m not cut to be a leader, Sera, I have no idea what I’m doing!”

“Your no idea is working well. Look at them, how happy they look. Even that sour face Solas is smiling. You did well.”

Sera slapped Elluin on her back, but she retreated fast, her voice going up a notch. “Why are you looking at me like that, eh? Please don’t tell me you’re going to start crying!”

Elluin laughed, wiping the corner of her eye. “That means a lot to me, Sera. Especially coming from you. You’re leading a secret organisation. It’s almost like my mother praised me.”

“I’m not your mother, you’re older than me, you weirdo!” she yelled as she smacked her shoulder. “ Don’t you try to hug me or I’ll cut your fingers!”

“ But I want a hug now!”

Sera yelled and got up, running around them to dodge Elluin as she chased her for a hug. The others laughed and shook their heads, not bothering to yell at them to stop. And all this time, Elluin’s smile grew bigger and bigger.

[lcgacyofages]

Because I feel like it, I’m going to list possible ship biases for all my muses including tropes for OCs. Obviously, every ship bias requires plotting but I thought this might help me get my mind around shippy stuff. (As an ace of questionable romantic attraction, shipping is hard.) These are in no particular order, just as I think of them as I type

PRIMARY

Eliana Mahariel - Alistair, Tamlen, good hearted prankster, Soft boy/girl, Merrill

Atena Hawke - Anders, Isabela, Leliana, rogue chick, nerd boy, boy who needs physical protection

Rajmahel Lavellan - Dorian, Josephine, Zevran, nerd boy/girl, pretty boy/girl, honestly he’s just very easy to ship just be nice, sexy, and good with kids

SECONDARY

Arik Tabris - Morrigan, Zevran, Leliana, Krem, goth/punk type characters for sure, (I would ship him with Idrilla if she wasn’t my own OC)

Aurora Amell - Cullen, Josephine, Soft/Romantic types give her flowers

Dazbo Amell - Fenris, Isabela (the only chick I think I can remotely ship him with), Dorian, tough boys who can also be soft but only in private, fashionistas

 Idrilla Lavellan - Solas, Zevran, elves only, nerds, artists, I’m a bit weak for flirty guy/stoic girl, (I would ship her with Arik if he weren’t my own OC)

Seigfried Trevelyan - Cassandra, ladies who can pin him can win him, Aveline, Independent women who like a little romance as a treat, just think of Phoebus in The Hunchback of Notre Dame saying ‘What a Woman’

Zoria Amell - Zevran, Morrigan, Isabela, Iron Bull, fiesty energy chick with other fiesty types, also friends-with-benefits types, people who respect her desire for independence

BY REQUEST

Alric Hawke - generally see him as disinterested in sex asexual but open to romance. Aveline, Sebastian, Alistair, Cassandra, he’s a good boy so good characters trying their best but staying in the lines

Antoinette de Ghislain - Make a Scandal, not-a-gentleman/woman, Mutual Desire for Freedom. Would require plotting since she is married for political gain

Dalineva - Someone as depraved as she is but elf

Dimetrea Brosca - Leliana, Merrill, soft but capable ladies

Emrys Moysten - Fellow Nerd, Someone who tells him he’s impossible, someone who tells him to talk to them about what’s traumatized him

Etienne de Rousseau - Classy person, Excitable Nerd, Regency style yearning romance

Falon’Din - I have no ship biases for him because I don’t feel like shipping him tbqh

Fenvir - Independent person, Secret nerd, Argumentive Couple due to stubbornness

Hildegard Cadash - Blackwall, Bull, gruff person, side-by-side warriors

Inatar Adaar - Sera, rebel girls, Outcast ladies

Katarina Anhalt - Sebastian, Cullen, Goodie-two-shoes who questions society but wants to play by the rules, good heart to push her out of her boundaries

Lir Cousland - Zevran, Leliana, Anora, Fenris, easily flustered people, Romantics, Fellow fighter to fight side-by-side with and have his back

Mathras Myriani - very hard to ship with honestly, just let him be the weird uncle who sometimes visits your muse

Sasha Fitz - Merrill, Josephine, good-hearted people, nobles who need a rogue in their life, cute person

Selena Porter - Isabela, Saucilious ladies, Ladies she can fluster by flirting

Sergio di Vasco - Josephine, Nobles who need a rogue, Romantics, Caring/soft people

Shalelan Amalasis - none, he’s pretty much not interested

Shamut Adaar - Bull, Secret nerd guys, fellow shy guys, friends nerding out over stuff together but touch hands and are like ‘oh’

Vincentius Titus - someone who matches his ambitions the issue with that is he won’t trust them, rare but someone who’ll tell him he’s an ass and put him in his place (he has to respect them enough to consider it though)

[high5nerd]

Why Sera shouldn’t be a hated character

Omg omg omg I’m so excited, this is my first rant on tumblr! *deep breath*

Okay. Dragon Age. At any point in your game, your Inquisitor is faced with the raspberry blowing, arrow toting Sera that has the mindset of a 12 year old child.

Honestly? I don’t know why people don’t recruit her, but I can understand the struggle to like her. My feelings on her fluctuate throughout the game. I play as Lavellan and I get really angry the more she beats the dead horse by her constant barrage of racist remarks towards the Dalish to either me, Solas, or any other elven NPC in the vicinity.

She’s toxic as shit. She’s got so much emotional baggage she dumps it on others, and she lives by her prejudices against mages and elves.

At first.

It wasn’t until I reach her personal quest scene where she discovers that asshole noble from Virchel that killed her Red Jenny friends to get to her. The absolute, sheer rage at the loss of her friends was...it left me kind of floored. Because in the beginning up until this point, Sera only makes comments about how she’ll give Red Jenny information to the Inquisition so the sky can be fixed and she can ���go back and play.” But at this particular moment? You see she cares about her contacts and even more, the cause of the Red Jennies, than just business usually is. She’s hurt, she’s infuriated, and you can hear her voice break at the end when she realizes how many died at the hands of the Virchel noble without him even feeling remotely guilty.

So of course I let her kill him.

If you continue down a path of good charity work to NPCs throughout the game, Sera approves every time. Sera approves if you help her in aiding the “little people.” Sera also greatly approves if you let Blackwall stay if you banish the Grey Wardens, because she knows a good man when she sees one.

She still can be an asshole. I hate how she talks to Cole, and I hate how disrespectful she is to Solas’ and my inquisitor’s background. But as she slowly opens up, she’s not as bad of a character that she wants to make herself out to be.

But let’s spin this around a bit, at this point I’m just rambling about awesome writing and 3-dimensional character development. You want a character to hate with every fiber of your being? A character that’s extremely toxic and an actual piece of shit? A character that isn’t an obvious villain but sure seems like one at the way she treats others?

You ready for this?

Bianca Davri.

This. Bitch.

Not only does she keep Varric attached to her on a leash (with his own actions too, not saying she’s 100% doing it), but she’s the reason Corypheus has red lyrium to begin with. She’s the reason Varric has assassins come after him if they’re not 500 leagues apart.

Bianca likes to boast that she’s a better shot than Varric, and a whole lot smarter than everyone else, all behind a very flirty facade. Varric mentions in the game dialogue that the guild was considering making her a Paragon for a machine she made, and she brushes it off. But think about it. If she’s such a genius that she’s not only a better marksman than Varric and the guild is even remotely discussing the idea of a surfacer Paragon (even at her cynicism) and is a brilliant merchant as well, why was she so dumb enough to recruit Lorias, a Grey Warden partnered with Corypheus, without any background checks? She’s on the surface, she would’ve heard by then that the Grey Wardens were banished/joined the Inquisition sooner than later, and she definitely would have heard what happened at Adamant and have been cautious. If she really wanted to study the effects of red lyrium and how it works, she should have contacted the Inquisition.

But she didn’t. 

Not only does she fail in her case and her study, but while knowing the truth of the damage she’s caused, she continues to lie to both the Inquisitor AND Varric, someone she claims she loves, until Varric and/or the Inquisitor catches on. She gets defensive, every step of the way, not even once coming clean about her huge mistake. If she told the truth sooner, the emotional blowout at the end would’ve been lessened.

Despite the rules made against her and Varric, she continues to endanger his life by seeking him out, hence the beginning of Varric’s personal quest. She’s a married woman and is going behind her husband’s back to see him (which like, I get, it was a betrothal that wasn’t made on her end but at the same time like maybe stop putting Varric in danger just because you can’t keep it in your own pants??) Her family constantly sends assassins after Varric, and in some of the dialogue of Varric’s personal quest, you hear that she attended her own wedding, “one that she actually showed up for.” Meaning she LEFT HIM AT THE ALTAR.

So this emotionally abusive woman has now gotten defensive at Varric and the Inquisitor getting angry at her being the leak to Corypheus. Sure, she didn’t DIRECTLY send it to him and his Venatori, but she may as well have, because she continued to lie and put everyone in danger. At being confronted and her half apologies didn’t work, she begins to insult Varric, calling him a coward and weak.

Oh, yeah. Wow. Great apology.

In the end, Varric leaves in the most dignified way telling her Bogdin is probably looking for her, reminding her that they aren’t a thing as much as she likes to pretend they are. Even if your Inquisitor defends her, Varric, or neither of them because of the bickering, she threatens the Inquisitor physical harm before she leaves if “you get Varric killed.”

Wow. What a charmer.

Seriously, I really hope Varric is romanceable in the next game, because Bianca doesn’t deserve him. 

All in all, Sera is just a tough-to-swallow character that needs to have barriers broken down in order to like her, and Bianca is a Mega Bitch we all avoid in real life.

[askdragonagecompanions]

Hi! I’m sorry if I’m annoying, but I wanted to ask, how would the DAI romances help the Inquisitor get used to their left arm being missing from the end of Trespasser? Sorry if it’s bad.

[Don’t worry you’re not annoying at all

Dorian: Maker Dorian feels horrible for what happened to his Amatus. The man needs a break. He had been away tending to some family business in Tevinter for the past few months and he had missed his amatus so much. He had gotten more excited than he probably should have when he was told he was going to be the Tevinter ambassador, because it meant he had an excuse to see his amatus. The man had hidden the anchor flare ups well at first. Dorian didn’t even know that the anchor was bothering the Inquisitor. He was just so caught up with seeing him, having to tell him he was going to take over his father’s spot as Magister... He should have noticed. He should have been able to do something, at least to make the pain less horrible. Dorian thought he was going to lose his amatus, after everything they’d been through he couldn’t lose the man now. Dorian postponed going back to Tevinter for months. His amatus needed him and the Magisterium could wait a few more months. Dorian stayed by the Inquisitor’s side, and with the Inquisition disbanded he had more time to just relax and heal. Dorian would help put on the salve and change the bandages in the first month so that infection wouldn’t set in. They started slow, just helping the Inquisitor put on his shirts at first, then when he had more energy they started on reworking his balance in battle. Even if he wasn’t Inquisitor anymore he would always need to protect himself. The first month was the hardest for the Inquisitor. Dorian doesn’t even want to think what it would have been like if he was alone. Some days he can’t even get the Inquisitor to leave his bed, so Dorian laid down next to him and just held him close. He would murmur sweet nothings, affirmations that the Inquisitor was still his amatus, that they were both still alive. He didn’t know what was going through his love’s mind, but Dorian made sure he was there for the Inquisitor every step of the way. When the Inquisitor’s arm is healed enough that it no longer needs a bandage, Dorian can see that his amatus is avoiding even looking at it. So, during quiet moments when its just the two of them Dorian gives it a little kiss, and then him a gentle kiss. “I love you. I am... so glad I still have you with me amatus.” and he lets the Inquisitor lean against him. Eventually he can no longer put off returning to Tevinter, but they each have the amulets Dorian charmed so that they can talk to each other. Dorian talks with his amatus every day... Maker he misses that man so much, but he’s confident now that the Inquisitor will make it. It’s going to be hard, but he no longer fears losing him. Whenever they do get to steal time to be with each other Dorian treasures it. 

Solas: Solas knew that the anchor would eventually kill the Inquisitor if he didn’t do something about it. What he didn’t plan for was falling in love with her. After Corypheus was defeated he knew he had to leave. If he didn’t leave then he didn’t know if he ever could, and Solas didn’t want her to follow him on this journey. He was going to have to do so many things... he didn’t want to put his Vhenan through that it would be selfish. He had already been selfish by even entering a relationship with her. He couldn’t let his actions be her end, so he began to think of a way to lead the Inquisitor to him without exposing himself too early on. He couldn’t have the Inquisition stopping him, and he did need a way to warn the Inquisition of the Qunari’s plot. He used the Eluvians to lead the Inquisitor to himself. He knew she would be smart enough to follow the trail. He could save her. When she arrived her arm was worse than he thought. For a moment it was almost impossible to talk. His heart was in his throat and he wanted nothing more than to embrace her and hold her close. “So you really are him... you’re the Dread Wolf.” Her voice held so much sadness and contempt. Solas just hoped that she would understand why he hadn’t told her. He used his magic to give them more time, so that they could talk and he could try to explain what he was doing and why he had to do it. Solas removed his Vhenan’s arm so that the anchor would not kill her. He made sure her companions found her before leaving. Solas is not there to help her recover from losing her arms even though he desperately wants to be. He must walk this path alone. He has already put the Inquisitor through too much pain. She said she would prove him wrong, and Solas hoped she would. He would love to be proven wrong again...

Sera: It just wasn’t fair. The whole meeting to decide if the Inquisition was needed or not already sucked, but hey Sera turned it into a good thing and she and Inky got married and it was great! But then that stupid anchor... Sera felt stupid for not seeing it sooner. Inky had been looking a little green around the gills lately, but she always said she was just nervous and she’d be okay. Sera believed her of course cause it was her Inky, she fought Corypheshit and survived so Sera just assumed it was a little cold. Then the anchor started acting up more and more and it was physically hurting Inky. Her arm really started to look bad, and no matter the salves Sera put on it it was just getting worse. She knew it was killing Inky and it wasn’t fair! This was supposed to be their happy ending not Inky dying because of something she never asked to have, not full of Qunari warriors trying to kill them all and start a war cause of some wolf. Then Inky went through that mirror by herself and Sera kept trying to get through it because Inky needed her help and she was not going to lose her wife! Finally the stupid thing started working and they could get to Inky it wasn’t a pretty sight. Sera was a mess back at the Winter Palace while the healers helped get the Inquisitor stable. Sera couldn’t believe they were still going to make her address all those people after losing her fucking arm! Ugh, she was taking down names to pie later. She’s by Inky’s side the whole time. She can’t help but fret for the first week. It’s still giving Inky pain even though the healers all said there is no more fade magic in the arm that should be hurting her. They cuddle a lot and Sera tries to cheer her up whenever she can, but she understands that this has got to be really hard on the Inquisitor. She can’t imagine how it’s gotta feel, but Sera does love that they don’t have to worry about all the Inquisition business right now. She can just focus on helping get her Inky back on her feet. Sera��s very gentle, she tells a lot of stories about her favorite pranks she’s pulled especially on stuck up nobles who thought they were untouchable. She gets really excited as she tells Inky about how she’s been working on designing a pie arrow. On really good days she takes Inky to the gardens so they can look at the bees together. Sera makes it her goal to make the Inquisitor smile at least once a day even if it’s only for a second she’ll know she succeeded. She makes sure the Inquisitor knows she’s not going to leave her side, that she’s still Thedas’s most kickass woman ever, and that they’re friggin married! When the Inquisitor feels ready enough Sera starts taking her on small Red Jenny missions and she loves hearing her giggle while they prank the nobles that needed it. She stays by the Inquisitor’s side and is there for her whenever she needs her. 

Iron Bull: Bull had a feeling that this meeting would be a bit of a shit show. It wasn’t that he wasn’t excited to see all his friends again and get to be with his Kadan, it was just that they had the worst luck out of anyone he’d ever met. Bull had known something was up with them for a while now. They wouldn’t tell him what, but he knew they weren’t feeling the best either. When he heard about the anchor flare ups from Leliana he was worried. They should have told him sooner. He... he knows he couldnt’ have done anything to stop it but he could have helped them. He could have supported them and given them someone to talk to if they were worried about it. Bull needed to stay strong though. his Kadan needed him to be strong and so he was. They were both going to make it through this together. He had been Tal Vashoth for a few years now so he had no idea that the Qun was planning such a large attack. He couldn’t believe they tried to get him to rejoin the Qun and abandon his Kadan. The final battle was so intense and he’d lost track of the Inquisitor. The anchor flare ups were happening so frequently and every time the Inquisitor would cry out. Bull just kept fighting, kept trying to keep enemies off of his Kadan. When they finally won and got back to the Winter Palace it was clear that Bull was nervous, well clear to anyone who knew him well enough. He knew what it was like to lose a part of yourself and for the Inquisitor to lose their arm it was going to be a big change. When they wake up he’s by their side, smiling and probably a little misty eyed because, “Kadan I love you so much, but please don’t ever scare me like that again.” And he kisses them. He speaks softly as he tells them they lost their arm and it pains him to see them look so distraught. He holds them close and assures them they’re not alone in this. He knows it’s going to be tough. The Inquisitor is going to have to learn and relearn a lot of things, especially in combat, but for the first month he makes sure that the Inquisitor is just taking it easy. Their body needs time to recover, to heal. Besides, with no Inquisition Charger stuff can wait. The Chargers stop by all the time. Bull takes his Kadan to the Tavern when they’re more stable and they all laugh and tell stories with the Chargers. They’ve all gotten hurt pretty bad. Bull gives the Inquisitor massages and little kisses and assures them they’re still a bad ass, still gorgeous, that their scars just show how tough they are. Bull likes scars. It’s proof that someone survived through something dangerous. Once they’re physically healthy again and they’re comfortable with it he starts stealing away nights with them again. Maker knows they need to release some of that tension. Bull is very encouraging. When the Inquisitor has a bad day and breaks down he sits with them and lets them get it all, lets them cry and vent, and he affirms that yeah this fucking sucks, but he helps them see the positives too. He loves the Inquisitor more than he thought possible, and to Bull just having them here is enough. He’s there for them, whatever they need he’ll give. 

Blackwall: Blackwall had been terrified that he was going to lose the Inquisitor. He may not have had spy training, but he knew the Inquisitor and he knew there was something she wasn’t telling him. He would try to ask, but she kept assuring him everything was okay, that she was just worried about the meeting. He didn’t believe her entirely, but he wouldn’t press further. He kept giving her physical affection, though. Small kisses, assuring squeezes of the hand, hugs. He wanted her to know that he was there for her, that she could tell him anything. And then everything went tits up. Apparently the Qunari got the idea that the Inquisition was working with one of their enemies and were going to launch a full scale attack and so it was up to them to stop it and save the world... again. With each fight the Inquisitor just looked worse. She was exhausted and the anchor was definitely doing something to her. It was killing her. “Maker I cannot lose you...” He felt like his world was shattering and he hugged her. He hugged her close and tight and willed his tears to not fall but they wouldn’t listen. “We’re going to make it through this, both of us.” He couldn’t lose her, not now, not after everything they had gone through. She deserved peace, not death from something she couldn’t control. He was relieved when they won, but for a few days it was still dicey. The Inquisitor was in and out of consciousness, she had lost her arm, but it kept her alive. With the anchor gone she was finally starting to heal. Blackwall had known many soldiers who lost a limb before. They could still fight, it just took an adjustment period to learn a different way to fight, to learn new balance, and honestly just to accept that their limb was gone. When the Inquisitor truly wakes up he hugs her close and kisses her. “I thought I’d lost you...” He murmured against her. The Inquisitor took the news relatively well. She was determined to still attend the meeting even though she had only just woken. He was nervous she was going to push herself too far, but when the Inquisitor set her mind to something there really was no stopping her. He stayed by her side. She traveled with Blackwall, as he had made it his mission to help people like him, who had made mistakes in their past, to give them a second chance and hope. Blackwall helps the Inquisitor cope, he comforts her, when she cries and apologizes he assures her there’s no need. On days where she gets ghost pains Blackwall holds her hand and lets her squeeze to help with the pain. Most importantly he makes sure she knows that she’s loved, that together they can and have made it through the Fade and back. 

Cassandra: She had gotten so busy with rebuilding the Seekers that she really hadn’t had a lot of time with the Inquisitor in the months before the meet. Perhaps if she had been there she would have known sooner. The world was already crashing down around then and then she learned that she was losing her love too? It was infuriating and terrifying and she pulled him into a kiss, “I am not losing you. You are not going to die on me.” It was an order. She wasn’t going to lose him, not after everything they’d been through together. She actually managed to get a laugh out of him and she smiled weakly. “You should know I’m not joking.” “I know.” He murmured and kissed her again. They one the battle. Cassandra did not care about her own injuries and shooed away any Healer that tried to attend to her. She would be fine. She wanted them to attend to the Inquisitor first, he was more important. Only once he was stable did she allow for herself to be tended to. Cassandra was surprised when he disbanded the Inquisition but a part of her was glad. It meant they could be together with no duties keeping them apart. When he woke up she was by his side. She broke the news as gently as she could. Cassandra knows she is not the best at being gentle or helping with emotions, but she has been working on it. Ever since she and the Inquisitor got together she wanted to be better for him. Mainly she helps with the physical aspects of losing a limb. She encourages him to work on his balance, to learn how to use just one arm, simple things at first, and the more he healed the more complex the exercises became. She spars with him, she does not go easy. He needs to relearn, he needs to be able to protect himself. When he gets overwhelmed she’s at his side and there to help him calm down. She tells him about how far hes come, how he’s survived demons, dragons, ancient magisters, and ancient magic that was killing him. She feels guilty when she’s the one who caused him to be overwhelmed. She’s only trying to help and she knows she can do too much sometimes. She makes up for it by holding him close at night and running her hand through his hair while she reads to him. She knows just how to calm him down and help him relax. When she sees him avoiding his arm, or looking at it with disdain she pulls him into a kiss and puts her hand on that shoulder. “I know it is hard to accept, but think of it as a sign that you survived, that you are alive because... I do not know what I would have done without you. I love you.”

Cullen: The Inquisitor has done so much for him, and honestly he was quite nervous about this meeting. Nobles forget too fast how the Inquisition saved them from the world being destroyed from a giant breach in the sky, and now that the threat was gone they wanted to make sure that the Inquisition was either disbanded or allied to a certain power so that they wouldn’t have to worry about a new power taking over. It was all bullshit in his opinion. He stayed by the Inquisitor’s side through it all. He loved her so much, though lately he was worried. Some nights he would wake to her gone from their bed. She assured him she was fine, just getting some water, but he didn’t believe her. She looked to shaken up. He assumed it was just nightmares, but she never really told him. Then her mark flared in front of him and his heart sank. Maker not now... he couldn’t lose her, but it wasn’t like they could stop either. The world was in their hands again and she had to fight, and he had to stay and make sure that everyone was prepared in case... in case she didn’t succeed. Before she left he held her close and kissed her, their foreheads pressed together gently. “Please come back to me my love... I... can’t lose you.” His voice was quiet and pleading. “I’ll do my best Cullen.” Their hearts were heavy, though. This was an impossible situation and her anchor was already so bad. When the party came back Cullen feared the worse when he saw how they were carrying her. The healers came and he paced outside of the tent until he was finally let in. Cullen didn’t leave her side. Maker she was okay. When she woke up he kissed her forehead and gave her a teary smile. His new mabari also came to kiss her and they both laughed. “He was worried about you too.’ He murmured. Cullen had helped others go through something similar back when he was a Templar. It was never easy, but having support helped. He did not coddle her, but when he saw her getting overwhelmed he would step in and help until she was ready to try on her own again. He reminded her everyday that she was not weak, that she had succeeded, that they were together and she was alive and that was all that mattered. It did them both good that they were no longer in the Inquisition. They had a chance to breathe. He was honestly ready for it. He was tired of fighting and he just wanted to settle. While she was healing he would lay next to her at night and tell her of how they could go visit his family back in Ferelden, how he wanted to build them their own cabin. She smiled and he grinned back. He knew as long as they had each other they could survive anything. 

Josephine: One would have thought that with Corypheus gone her work load would have been easier, but it was the exact opposite. Without a major threat uniting the lands nobles began to either try and buy the Inquisition or call for them to be disbanded. In all her haste of preparing for the meet and trying to keep everything under control and calm Josephine had failed to notice her love’s declining health. They stayed so upbeat and when she did notice something she just assumed that it was nerves for the up coming meet. When she found out what was truly wrong she started to cry. Everything that could go wrong was. The nobles were threatening to disband the Inquisition, Leliana and Cullen were taking charge when they were supposed to be laying low and keeping the peace, and now her love was dying because of the anchor and there was nothing she could do. They still had to fight, to stop the Qunari attack and all she could do was try to keep the nobles at bay for a little while longer. She feels like her nerves are eating her alive the longer she has to wait to know if her love succeeded, to know if they are coming back to her. When they do she breaks down. She doesn’t care what the healers say she’s staying by their side the whole time. Josephine is already making plans. She’s going to contact some of the finest prosthetic makers she knows, she’ll get the healers to write down everything she needs to know to help ensure the Inquisitor makes a speedy recovery. She is going to do everything in her power to make them recover quickly and as smoothly as possible. She’s gentle and encourages them the whole time. When they break down she’s their to comfort them. When they call themself useless she presents them with a whole list on why they are the furthest thing from useless. She almost lost them twice, and she’s determined to not let that happen again. On days where they don’t want to get out of bed she stays with them and showers them in affection. She’s just happy to have them with her, to have them alive. It’s a few months later when she takes the Inquisitor to Antiva to meet her family. They still have bad days, she doesn’t expect that to go away. They went through so many horrible things, but she wants to build so many happy memories for them, so that when the bad days come around she can remind them that they’re not alone, that they’re loved, that each day is new and open for possibilities. She loves to hold their hand or lean against their shoulder. When it’s just the two of them at night she gives what remains of their arm a gentle kiss. Sometimes she sees a sad look in their eyes when they go to hug her and remember that it’ll never be the same, so she pulls them in closer and gives them a squeeze because “I love you. You’re here and I am so glad that you are.”

[beiingalive]

* ⌞ʾ⁎ ⊰ adria arjona, cis female, she/her ⊱ i think i just saw ANITA MORENO walk across trafalgar square, singing to YO PERREO SOLA ( BAD BUNNY ). you know, the TWENTY-FIVE year old SEAMSTRESS? people claim that they are just like ANITA from WEST SIDE STORY. it must be because they are LOYAL and OUTSPOKEN as well… though i could be wrong. all i know for sure is that they live at PETERSBURG apartment.⌝

               ❝ how can i hear what goes on twelve feet above my head ? ❞

name: ana josefina del carmen moreno rivera. nicknames: anita, nita. age: 25. date of birth: may 6th, 1995. hometown: san juan, puerto rico. current location: london, england. apartment: petersburg. occupation: seamstress.

pinterest: xx. playlist: xx.

→ 𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪.

[ tw: sexual assault ]

✂ anita was born in san juan, puerto rico, to arturo moreno and dolores rivera. they lived in santurce, near the theatre district — this was convenient, as dolores was a seamstress who was often tasked with making the costumes for local productions, and arturo was a carpenter who dreamed of being a painter — the perfect combination to work in scenic design. they had a nice little home that had just enough space for their growing family ; after anita, they had three more kids — guillermo, esteban, and luis.

✂ being the oldest, anita always knew it was her job to help out around the house. she often took care of her brothers, making sure they were well fed, clean, and out of danger. she would walk them home from school, make them hold hands and look both sides before crossing the street. she would help them with their homework before doing her own. she practically raised those boys — and still checks up on them like they’re her kids.

✂ when anita was eleven, a workplace injury put her father out of a job. the morenos never had a lot of money, but now they struggled even more to make ends meet. dolores became the primary breadwinner, and her income just wasn’t enough. just a year later, they were forced to relocate to new york city, which promised more jobs and better salaries. a friend of dolores’ got her a job at a costume shop ; arturo worked as a handyman.

✂ at first, anita was optimistic about her new life in the big apple. she was bored with life in her little island ; she wanted so much more than what puerto rico could offer. anita wanted to travel, to see the world. she wanted to study art and fashion, to become a fashion designer herself. like other puerto ricans, she saw america as the land of opportunity. she quickly realized just how wrong she was.

✂ things weren’t as easy as she thought they would be. she quickly became disenchanted with the american dream and grew up angry and resentful as she watched her parents work their asses off for a salary that was a small fraction of what their white coworkers got. she got sick of getting taunted for having an accent, for being too loud, or having a name that wasn’t easy to pronounce ( “ ah - nee - tah ” , not “ uh - nee - duh ” ). she realized that in order to fit in, she would have to lose her accent and change her name. she would have to change who she was.

✂ but anita has never been the kind of person who would make herself small to make other comfortable. at her young age, she decided she wouldn’t go out of her way to fit in. she would not change who she was just to appease those around her. anita made the choice to be unapologetically herself, and she hasn’t looked back since.

✂ she met the sharks in her early teens, and she’s forever grateful for them. she finally had a group of people that made her feel like she belonged. most of the time, she was an outsider. she was the “ other ”. with the sharks, she felt like she was one of them ( even technically she wasn’t ). she didn’t care that they were a gang, she had no qualms about that. it would be naive to think they weren’t a target. they had to protect themselves by any means necessary. it also didn’t hurt that their leader, bernardo, was so easy on the eyes. anita fell in love with bernardo, despite all the warning signs.

✂ once she was old enough, she went to work. her family’s financial situation was better in new york, but she still wanted to help her parents any way she could. she was a maid, a waitress, a babysitter, an usher. she handed out flyers at the park. she answered phones at a call center. during the weekends, she helped her mom at the costume shop — anita was already making clothes for herself, so she might as well put those skills to good use. she did anything to lessen her parents’ burden.

✂ tw sexual assault: her connection to the sharks made her feel safe, but at 16 it became clear to her that she needed to protect herself as well. she was walking home late one night after the restaurant where she was working had closed, when three boys surrounded her and cornered her in an alley. she knew what they had in mind, but she just froze. her body couldn’t react to what was happening until the very last minute, when it was almost too late. she made enough of a racket to scare them off. she ran back home. she vowed never to depend on anyone else to save her.

✂ once she graduated high school and started working full time at the shop, practically running it. she would have liked to study fashion, but she knew it wasn’t a possibility — college was expensive and not for people like her. she had some money saved up, sure, but the applications alone would have created a pretty big dent in her savings. she didn’t even bother asking her parents — college was out of the question. she focused all of her energy into the shop.

✂ about a year ago, she heard through one of the shop’s clients about a shop that was hiring in london — anita grabbed maría and jumped at the opportunity. the fact that the boys had moved relocated to london a few years before was a decent incentive, but not a reason. anita had outgrown new york. plus, she’d always wanted to travel. so anita took her savings and hopped across the pond.

→ 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪.

zodiac sign: taurus. personality type: estp — the entrepreneur. enneagram: type 1 — the reformer. temperament: choleric. moral alignment: chaotic neutral. primary vice: envy. primary virtue: diligence. element: earth.

✂ anita is feisty. she’s passionate and intense. she’s loud, she’s bold, she has strong opinions and is not afraid to share them. she might seem like she’s all over the place, but her feet are firmly planted on the ground. she knows who she is, and won’t let anybody tell her otherwise. she knows what she wants, and she won’t let anyone get in her way.

✂ i mentioned she has strong opinions, right ? well, to her, they’re the only valid opinions. she's not afraid to tell someone when they’re wrong ( or when she thinks they’re wrong, which to her, is the same thing ). go forbid anyone ever tell her she’s wrong — heaven help that poor soul. once she’s made up her mind up her mind about something, no one can tell her otherwise. she’s stubborn as a mule.

✂ she’s everyone’s mom friend. she’s the tough love mom friend. she’ll nag her friends and force them to eat their vegetables, drink water, and moisturize. this isn’t just because she cares ( although she does, deeply ) , she also just loves telling people what to do.

✂ she’s a hard worker ; it’s not rare to find her still working at the shop way past closing time — but she knows how to let loose. anita loves to go out dancing and will constantly beg her friends ( especially maría ) to go out with her. she’s convinced there’s nothing that can’t be fixed by a night out on the dance floor.

✂ she’s a highly skilled seamstress. she can recreate any article of clothing by just looking at it ; no pattern necessary. most of her clothes are handmade, and she loves making garments for her friends. you see a dress you like at some shop? can’t afford it? anita will make it for you.

✂ she’s always on / off with bernardo. she loves him, and she’s sure that will never change. still, they’re both passionate, volatile people. they clash constantly, breaking up and getting back together. she adores him, but she also wants to hit him with a chair sometimes.

✂ her apartment is full of plants. all kinds. she’s a certified green thumb and will yell at anyone who thinks succulents are easy to take care of.

✂ she has a small shoplifting problem. it’s nothing major. no need to worry.

✂ she has a cat named gasolina by daddy yankee. gaz for short.

✂ she’s a huge bad bunny stan. this may not seem relevant, but it’s important for me to tell you.

→ 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤.

✂ FRIENDS: i always have to start out with this one. anita’s a tough cookie to crack, but once she’s your friend, she’s loyal. she’s a ride or die kinda lady. your muse will not regret taking the time to get to know anita and earn her trust. they will have a friend for life.

✂ FRIENDS FROM NEW YORK: like i said, friend for life. your muse could have met anita when they were in high school, but this girl is not the kind of person to just let a friendship die because it’s been a long time.

✂ FIRST FRIENDS IN LONDON: she had the sharks, of course. but moving halfway around the world is scary and anita would’ve accepted any help she could get. these are the friends that helped her settle in and get used to all the cultural differences.

✂ PARTY PALS: anita loves to go out, so clearly she needs a little squad she hits up whenever she wants to hit the dance floor.

✂ FRENEMIES: anita’s a good friend, but she’s not everyone’s cup of tea. your muse might not like her. anita might not like them. anita might talk shit behind their back. anita might tell them to their face they that they suck, and might list the reasons why. anything’s possible.

✂ NEIGHBORS: could be friendly, could be not so friendly ! she plays a lot of loud music and doesn’t really have an inside voice. anita lives in the petersburg building, so if your muse lives there and you wanna say they live right next door, hit me up !

✂ COWORKERS: self-explanatory ! anita works at a shop that makes costumes for some west end shows, but they also take on a variety of clients ! they make clothes, they repair clothes, anything goes.

✂ CLIENTS: anita works at the shop, but will also take jobs on the side — she’ll take commissions, she’ll upcycle that oversized shirt you thrifted, of maybe just mend a torn-up skirt. anita is here for any of your seamstress / aspiring designer needs.

✂ FLINGS / FWB / HOOKUPS: like i said...on / off with bernardo. she’s not the kind of girl who’ll just wait around for him, so she will absolutely go out with other people ( and do other stuff with other people, winkwonk ) while she’s single.

✂ EXES: give me someone anita dated other than bernardo, please, i am begging you. give me someone she almost fell for before falling back into her old habits. i am on my knEES.

[kita-lavellan]

Beyond The Veil Discord OC-Asks

We have an OC-Question-Time channel on our Beyond The Veil Discord, and I keep forgetting to Copy/Paste my answers from there to here, so I’m about to do a single large post! To those of you still waiting on answers from my Ask Box, I’ll get to them I promise ^_^

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Q. Why might someone dislike them? For kita -- From @rivainisomniari A. She's stubborn. She knows she's stubborn, but Kita doesn't often realise when she's crossing the line from stubborn to just being bull-headed. Nel, her sister, is often the one to call her on this behavior and force her to back down.

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Q. What Hogwarts House would they be in? -- From @rivainisomniari A. Kita would be a Ravenclaw

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Q. When bored, how do they pass time? For Kita -- From @rivainisomniari A. Running. Kita loves running. As a child she would spend hours running through the forests and wilds with Nel. She misses it while at Haven, but once they reach Skyhold she often runs around the battlements, people getting out of her way with the assumption she is rushing to speak to an advisor.

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Q. When publishing a book it is wise to make comparisons with well known published works, to help a publisher see your understanding of the market, and also to help them decide on the best way to market your manuscript. So, that thought in mind, whom can you compare (from other popular media) your OCs too? -- From @mrstethras A. Oh nice question!! Kita is a cross between Elsa from Frozen, Loki (Marvel) and someone I'd LIKE to be :D ... Ghilana Mahariel, my Warden, is a bit of a blend with Natasha Romanova (Black Widow from Marvel), and Rupunzel from Disney's Tangled...  Malia Hawke is a Self Insert, but with a dash of Killian Jones from Once Upon A Time for some sassy Hawke-Sarcasm

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Q. What do they value most in others? -- From @noire-pandora A. Honesty! Kita would rather you outright tell her you don't want to speak about something than LIE about it.

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Q. Who is your inquisitor's best friend in the Inquisition?  -- From @rivainisomniari A. Kita's favourite people are Dorian, Leliana and Varric. Dorian wormed his way into her heart very quickly by being so protective of her during the Redcliff mission. She found it amusing, but also sweet and endearing, and the whole mission was a fast-bonding experience for the pair. Watching Leliana be willing to die for her to, washed away the wariness and caution Kita had carried for the inquisition up until that point, but especially for Leli when the woman was so clear in telling her she would do it again, once they're back in their proper time. Varric was the first person, after her sister, to ask how SHE was, which made a soft spot for him, and honestly, who can't like Varric eventually?

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Q. Is there any situation in which they would make a deal with a demon? -- From @noire-pandora A. Tough one! Kita has always been very connected to the Fade and the spirits within! She would probably barter and/or bargain with a spirit, because she is familiar with in her interactions with them, demons are still spirits but corrupted, so she would probably either avoid them or try to help them, especially after she learns more about spirits and the Fade from Solas throughout the Inquisition timeline.

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Q. Name one big flaw for your ocs? -- From @mrstethras A. Kita is slow to trust others, especially humans. She is aware that she distrusts people outside of her clan, but Kita doesn’t see it as a flaw, simply being cautious. Sometimes overly cautious, but she tries to balance her distrust with logic where she can. Ghilana's automatic response to someone showing any interest in her is to be abrasive, abrupt, and rude. She doesn't give people the benefit of the doubt, or chances, if they want her companionship they need to work at it and/or earn it. She comes across as a cold-hearted bitch, but if you persevere and crack that outershell she's a marshmallow. Malia's flaw is thinking she could have stopped or prevented anything and everything that goes wrong around her. Usually something Lydia has done, that she feels she could have predicted and avoided.

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Q. Do they have any family? -- From @rivainisomniari A. Kita has her sister, Nel (@mrstethras‘ Character) and their grandmother, Deshana, other than that, no. their father died when they were young, and their mother died during the War Table mission/attack on wycomb. Ghilana doesn't have any family that she knows of. Her father was killed by humans and city elves, and her mother wandered into the forest never to return when she was a baby. Ashalle raised her, and she considers the woman family, but she's not blood family. Malia has her older sister, @mrstethras‘ Hawke, Lydia. There's also her brother Carver and her sister Bethany, both of whom survive the trip to Kirkwall.

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Q. Are they close to their family? -- From @randomfallout4posts A. Kita is VERY close to Nel. She was fairly close to Deshana, but felt like she had to keep some of her magical talents hidden from the woman, because they weren't strictly "normal". Once she was able to be more free with herself with the Inquisition, and with Solas and Nel in particular away from the Clan, she began to feel less close to her grandmother and more judged for the ease with which she communed with spirits. Ghilana is not particularly close with her family. She struggles with the idea that Ashalle is not her "real" mother, and feels guilty for thinking like that. Tamlen was the closest thing she had to a 'real' family in her mind, and she had to abandon him, it took her a long time to begin to trust Briar and Alistair and instantly latched onto the first elf she saw with tattoo's (Zevran). He becomes her family, and as soon as the Darkspawn Threat is under control, she follows him to Antiva to kick his ass for being gone for so long. Malia... *sigh* She is SUPER close with Lydia, and despite being the younger of the two, she feels responsible for the other girl, especially since Lydia  struggles with their father's death the most. Having no one older to share her magical talents with was difficult too and so Malia did her best to support and back up Lydia as much as she could. She struggled to connect with Carver, and they disagree on a lot of things, but they love each other despite it and they bond particularly closely during the battle of Ostagar, helping each other survive what was otherwise a slaughter of epic proportions. Malia adores Bethany, and coddles the younger girl, giving her anything and everything she can. She picked up pick-pocketing to buy Bethany birthday presents, and it's how she fond her way to learning a rogue's skill set. Malia does not get on with her mother, and often goes out of her way to annoy the woman so that Leandra will aim her vitriol at Malia instead of Lydia.

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Q. Where's their favourite place to be kissed? -- From @mrstethras A. Kita loves the tips of her ears being nibbled on, and the junction where neck becomes shoulder. Ghilana loves the back of her neck being kissed, especially once her hair grows out and Zev has to push it out of the way to reach it. Also kisses trailing down her spine. Malia ends up a shivering wreck if her hips and thighs get kissed, but also the palm of her hand while her eyes are locked with her lovers.

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Q. Your OC’s favourite pastimes when they're not gallivanting, murdering or hunting Dread Wolves? -- From @mrstethras A. For Kita; Running, Reading, and/or singing. Post Trespasser she's learning how to control using a god damned foci, and pretending to be dead, but that's an essay for another time Ghilana's favourite pastime used to be huntng... until she had to spend the whole blight hunting for their party since no one else knew how. How her favourite pastime is annoying Brair, and sitting quietly/stargazing, while Zev braids and/or plays with her hair. Malia's favourite pastime used to be pick pocketing the Templars and Chantry Sisters and redistributing the wealth amongst the citizens of Lothering. Once they reached Kirkwall, she enjoyed hanging out with her friends, and helping them with what they were doing, when she had time. Keeping the patients at Anders clinic entertained until he could see them. Helping Merrill go shopping. Helping Fenris rearrange the furniture in the mansion etc.

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Q. Name one regret of your OC’s?  -- From @mrstethras A. Kita: Not going to Wycome herself and keeping her mother safe. Also, for not doing/saying/being enough so that Solas could feel he could trust her. Ghilana: Not insisting that she search for Tamlen. Ghilana regrets letting Duncan talk her into leaving with him immediately. Malia has lots of regrets, but the biggest one is that she didn't push Anders for more answers, when she knew the ingredients he'd collected were intrinsic components for an explosive.

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Q. Are they tall or short or somewhere in between? -- From @randomfallout4posts​ and @silvanils​ A. For a modern Elf, Kita is Tall. She's on the upper end of the height range for MALE elves at 5'8.... having said that, it's one of the first things that draws her attention about Solas, he's one of the only elves she's ever met taller than her, and he's taller than her by a fair margin. // Kita is tall for a modern elf. Tall for a MALE modern elf. Ghilana is small, around 5'1 and slight. She can, almost literally, hide behind a tree. It helps with her stealth abilities, and her speed, but it's why she focused mainly on a bow to keep a distance from stronger opponents. Zev fixes that, telling her she needs to know how to defend herself, and teacher her to dual weild daggers.  // Ghilana is average for a female modern elf, but she comes across as looking smaller because she's slight as well. Malia is average, around 5'6/7. A little taller than her older sister, but not by much. // Malia is average for a human female.

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Q. Has Varric given them a nickname? If yes what is it and how did they get it? -- From @this-basic-mage​ A. Varric HAS given Kita a Nickname ^_^ It's Satina! She's a night owl, and so often wanders Skyhold late. Plus her whole colour's/aesthetics are blues and silvers.... Satina is, also, canonically the name of Thedas' moon. Malia finds it hilarious the Varric calls her sister simply "Hawke" and it annoys Lydia no end when he starts giving Malia the nickname "Copper". She's considered a bit of a "bad penny" by many, especially whenshe spends a lot of her time in Darktown, and is known to be a prolific pickpocket, but Varric also chose the name because of the burnished copper undertones to her otherwise dark brown hair.

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Q. Pick any god from greek/norse pantheons for your o.c to "be" -- From @rivainisomniari​ A. I'm not sure I know enough about mythology off the top of my head to say for most of them. Kita has some Loki in her, with her playfulness and love of wolves (even before the whole Fen'Harel reveal, she's always admired the Emerald Knights) Ghilana would be Athena, goddess of the hunt. Owls for nightime and stargazing, and the stealth aspects of her character etc. Not sure who Malia would be. Is there a mythological god or goddess of chaos and disaster OTHER than Loki?

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Q. Since the game has them: A tarot card for your o.cs. -- From @rivainisomniari​ A. After some research, I think Kita would be the High Priestess, meaning Intuitive, unconscious inner voice. Ghilana would be the Hierophant Reversed, meaning Rebellion, subversivness and new approaches. Malia would be the Tower, meaning sudden upheaval, broken pride, and disaster. Research Source: https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meanings-list

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Q. What is it that drew y'all's OC’s to their LIs? -- From @bratwurstprophecy​ A. Tough one because it was me drawn to Solas before Kita was. I think it was the way Solas almost immediately told Cassandra that Kita couldn't have opened the breach. She read it as an elf defending an elf, a mage defending a mage, and it made her respect him very quickly. His opinions on the Dalish were painful but didn't surprise her. At the Keeper's first she's been to the meetings of the clans and knew how unwelcoming some of the other clans were towards outsiders, but it made her want to show him not all Dalish were like that... then she began talking magic and the fade and spirits with him, and a lot of his opinions on those aligned with what she'd always felt but had been told was wrong, and that was it, she was basically a goner. Ghilana was drawn to Zev, despite the fact he tried to kill her, because he was the first elf she'd seen since leaving her clan, and she figured he might be useful, help her hunt for the party (Ahahahhahaha). His warmth and easy going attitude though is what endeared him to her, he easily let her abrasiveness roll off him, and that was something she'd encountered only rarely and valued highly. Malia saw a lot of her sisters in Anders, a mage run ragged hiding from the Chantry, but still a kind soul wanting to help. She wanted to help him, to find a way to separate him from Justice so neither of them became corrupted in spite of their mutual good intentions. She can often seen the glimpses of the man he was before he merged with Justice, and while she loves him as he is, she wishes she could see more of the lighthearted and playful man he was before because it's those glimpses of gentle care and humor that draw her in like a moth to a flame.

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Q. What's your OC's favorite food? -- From @randomfallout4posts​ A. For Kita Lavellan, an Elfroot based stew her mother used to make, and Lemon flavored frilly cakes from Val Royeux For Malia Hawke , she never thought she's miss it, but a simple ferelden vegetable pie brings back happier memories of family meals with her siblings and both her parents in their cosy kitchen in Lothering. Ghilana Mahariel used to love roasted rabbit, but she hunted and cooked so many of them during the 5th blight she now can't stomach the sight of them. She loves exploring antivan spices, and the different flavors they can make when being mixed together in different combinations, and on different meats, so although it's not a "food", Antivan Spices would be her answer.

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Q. CAFFEINE. I must know what your ocs first reaction to coffee was. For inquisitors, their first taste was likely when Bull offers it in the Storm Coast, unless they came from noble roots and got lucky. -- From @lacrymosa-of-lavellan​ A. Kita firmly believes that coffee is a creation of the gods. Perhaps Ghilan'nain. It finally means she can stay awake long enough to get through the stacks of paperwork that Josephine keeps leaving on her desk, and still have enough energy to go and fall asleep read a book on Solas' couch. Ghilana doesn't drink it, unless Zevran serves it up with a metric tonne of sugar, and at least half the cup being made up of milk. Malia Hawke takes coffee as part of her regular morning ritual, but only if she makes it herself. Too many times has she picked up her sister, Lydia’s, coffee, only to splutter on the strong taste of whiskey or rum that's been added to it.

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Q. If you could use a song (or entire album if you like) to sum up one of your OCs in terms of personality and whatnot, or even just similar vibes, what would it be? -- From @bratwurstprophecy​ A. Kita Lavellan would get the Frozen 2 Soundtrack, but specifically "Into The Unknown" or "Show Yourself"

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Q. The most important oc / otp question: Who shares their thinmints and who tells the other to go heck off? -- From @lacrymosa-of-lavellan​ A. Kita would share, and Solas would not. We know he has a sweet tooth! Between Malia and Anders, I think both of them would share. They both know what it's like to go without, and how a little treat can bring someone's mood up. As for Ghilana, Zev would spoil her with all sorts of exotic foods and sweet treats, and Ghilana would not share them (even if he asked) ;-)

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Q. If your oc was in a modern time (or if they're brave as heck in da times) do they have any (non-vallaslin) tats or piercings, and if so, where? -- From @lacrymosa-of-lavellan​ A. Kita would not have a tattoo. Apart from the fact her mother really doesn't like them, Pre-Crestwood her Vallaslin are important and meaningful and she wouldn't want to take away from their importance by getting just 'another tattoo'. Post-Crestwood, when she knows that the Vallaslin were slave markings, she wouldn't want to be permanently marked in that way again. Ghilana does have other tattoo's besides her Vallaslin, all of which were done by Zevran. He has given her a vine that wraps around her ankle and curls up her leg with little symbols hanging from it, like charms, each charm marking an important event in their life together. Zev has also tattooed matching bands on their ring fingers, instead of wearing rings. Ghilana also has one ear pierced, to wear the earring Zev gave her during the 5th blight. It's the only piece of jewellery she regularly wears. Malia Hawke does not have any tattoo's or piercings. Her philosophy is that she does through enough pain without subjecting herself to more of it willingly.

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Q. Wood smoke or ocean breeze? -- From @lacrymosa-of-lavellan​ A. Kita hates the smell of the ocean. She got seasick on her way from the Freemarches to Ferelden, and the salt air always makes her feel a little queasy now. Woodsmoke on the other hand is food, and warmth and comfort and she misses the perfume of crackling pinewood. Ghilana has always loved woodsmoke smell, but when she travels with Zev and on her Grey Warden duties, she learns to love the smell of the ocean. Malia Hawke can take or leave woodsmoke. It's not terrible but after fleeing Lothering with the village burning behind her it has some difficult memories attached to the scent. Living in Kirkwall though, the fresh sea air waking her every morning was something she grew to love.

[yshai-tia]

thanks to @house-vexile​‘s idea about spreading some appreciation with reckless abandon in honour of the holiday season, here’s my attempt at being obnoxiously sappy towards all the folk who’ve extended their kindness my way, and just in general, since i made this blog some odd few months ago. time to spread some good cheer and all that, leggo.

first section is dedicated to the folk who’ve written with me/are currently writing with me. not to sound like some hot popular bitch but you all reached out to me and right off the bat i’m stupidly grateful for that because it cannot always be easy to just straight up contact a complete stranger like ‘H-HEY WRITE WITH ME MAYBE?!?!’ ya’ll got stones. own that shit.

@ayice-tia​ of course you gotta be first ‘cause you were the first person to contact me not too long after i threw that messy LFRP post to the winds. i still get a laugh out of the fact that you thought i wouldn’t respond back to you u fewl, now we’ve been writing for months, surprise!! where to start. you’re the first person to sit down and dedicate to long-term writing with me and it’s thanks to you that i’ve been able (and am still currently doing so, let’s be real) to flesh out so much of Shai’s character. like i go back and reread our first posts and i barely even have a grasp on his manner of speech yet let alone most other things. between writing with you and constantly shooting the shit with you on discord he’s been able to rapidly take form into a fully fledged character with a lot more depth than I ever expected-- i’m especially appreciative of all the long talks we’ve had about brainstorming tribal lore, to toss ideas back and forth about our catte’s respective homes and their people has been some of the best manner of character building.

you already know how much I adore Yice, being able to watch him grow into a complex character in his own right has been such a treat, how he grows into his confidence yet never loses his good heart in the process. i love how you are able to so perfectly write a character who’s an absolute ray of sunshine yet has this undeniable simmering fire underneath. when i think of the trope ‘my kindness is not weakness’ Yice comes to mind instantly, and you nail that essence with aplomb. anyway, i hope to continue writing with you for a long time to come!! thank you for reaching out to me and sticking around this entire time. also p.s. never stop sending me photos of your dog

@further-ruin​ we may not have written all that much together yet (yet™!!!) but it’d be remiss for me not to talk about how lovely your writing is. your attention for detail, especially character-wise, is so good and goes such a length to really add liveliness to a scene. even if the scene is two frozen cattes talking in a cave somewhere in godsforsaken Coerthas, i’m still into it, and the effort you put in really shows because i may not be all too familiar with Izzy just yet but i’m already invested in his mannerisms, his potential, what could be brought forth from behind that carefully maintained icy facade. he already has Shai’s curiosity piqued that’s for damn certain. i can’t wait to see where things go and, in the mean time, enjoy your vacation! man i wish i was on a beach right now.... i bet they do too, if they weather this storm Shai is gonna drag Izzy’s ass to Costa

@hiraethwyl​ oh Lyrin’a. Lyrin’a is such a cutie. Writing with you is definitely such a nice relaxing reprieve, you’re the first, and still the only, person to approach me with the rp hook of ‘hey build something for my character!’ and that alone made me stupidly happy, for 1) getting to write out a scene that involves Shai’s normal-ass day job, and 2) because someone read enough about his character to realize “oh he could probably do this thing i need.” and, of course, you already saw ICly how ecstatic Shai was at the chance of getting to build Lyrin’a a new brace, he cannot wait to get started. your writing has such a gentle lilt to it, i can easily get lost in reading those stand alone pieces you post on your blog, i love them. i’m eager to see him flourish more as a character, maybe Shai will be able to convince him to show him around the Shroud a bit? share some of his Keeper culture with him? we shall see!

@swordmens​ you i specifically left for last because i could talk about your writing until the year rolls over and then some. holy shit. where do i even begin? your meticulous care for detail, the way you build a scene, the atmosphere, everything. you just fucking nail it again and again without fail and it leaves me in awe. honestly in the beginning i was so stupidly intimidated, some legit real writer’s fear, like ‘they are so good at this?? oh my god??? i don’t think i can keep up????? does this drivel i send their way even compare??????’ absolute terror. at this point the intimidation is mostly abated (still kinda there little bit ngl) but my adoration of your writing has not, i could never tire of reading everything you put out there. there’s this inherent level of thrill knowing you’re writing with someone that, no matter how exactly you toss up the ball, they will in some way or another spike that shit with intensity. i just. so damn good. please never stop writing. ultimately, in the long-run, the intimidation was a beneficial thing because rising to the challenge of wanting to keep up with your writing went from ‘oh shit i’m scared, every word’s gotta be perfect’ to ‘oh fuck this is a lot of fun actually???’ and i’d like to imagine my own writing has benefited from it, if anything my confidence as a writer absolutely has and i have you to thank for that. as far as collaborative writing goes, i don’t think you can ask for much more than a rp partner that you both genuinely enjoy writing with and actively challenges you. i’m extremely grateful for the chance to write with you.

tl;dr i adore your writing, i adore writing with you, i adore Castor. i’m sorry i didn’t take your initial offer of having them meet in a more laid-back fashion and now they’re both beat forty different shades of shit from sunday while simultaneously trying to row up shit’s creek without a paddle LMAO as sorry as i feel for them it’s been fun every single step of the way

@silvernsteel​ @eorzeanincubus​ @nikoto-n​ @kytir​ @amahrigold​ @xavi-ffxiv​ @twelveswood​ @confusedtia​ @miqojak​ @placesyoucallhome​ @a-corsairs-chorus​ @gayhaurchefant​ @lightdevoid​ @sola-ffxiv​ @ishgard​ @voidwife​ @sand-seeks-sun​ @wondereverlasting​ @ivyffxiv​ @alphadrg​ @az-ffxiv​ @mai-takeda​ @vylette-elakha​ @dravaniia​ @gatheredfates​ @aife-ffxiv @lordittetsu

ya’ll are no doubt like, oh sweet jesus why is he tagging me, leave me out of this nonsense. tough nuts. your ass is getting tagged for one of the following reasons: we’ve talked about writing together but haven’t quite yet, i’ve noticed how often you reblog my photosets, you say nice things about my stupid cat boy, you tag me in shit, you’re just a general, overall positive presence whomst’ve i adore seeing on my dash, you said one (1) nice thing to me last month and i still haven’t forgotten it, you deserve to be called out for being great, etc etc. appreciate yourselves, ‘cause i appreciate ya’ll. also write with me sometime :dagger:

[patricianandclerk]

Choices

My Ask | My Ko-Fi | My Ao3 | Dragon Age Discord | Requests always welcome!

Cole felt… bad.

They had made camp on the road back toward Skyhold, having made their way up and out of the Hinterlands, and he was sitting on a folded mat beside the fire, which was crackling quietly, the warmth reaching out and gently licking his skin. Around the camp, he could feel the lulling ease of people dreaming, the soft susurrations of the rippling Veil as people dipped their toes into the Fade.

Varric and Solas were both still awake. Cole could hear them talking quietly on the other side of camp, although he couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying – he would have been able to tell, before, exactly what they were saying, exactly…

He felt bad. His shoulders ached, and his wrists, too, and his chest hurt, and his eyes hurt. It was a funny, sticky hurt, not one that he really remembered feeling in the longest time – he was used to his body getting a little bit tired, or a little pain in his body, or injuries, but this was a weird, sticky pain, it weighed him down.

There was something in his throat, and he didn’t like it. It felt heavy and thick at the very base of his neck, and he wanted it to crawl out and go away somewhere else, but it wouldn’t, no matter how much he wished at it, even when he opened his mouth and moved his jaw around, trying to coax it free.

Across the fire, he saw a scout yawn, and his body acted of his own accord: his jaw widened a little further, and he felt a weird rustling in his ears and his cheeks and his throat, and the yawn came through, some of the pressure going away.

Not all of it, though.

“Hey, kid,” Varric murmured, and Cole looked up at him. He and Solas stood together, looking down at him, and he looked between their expressions, both quietly… concerned, he thought. Expressions were hard. He had to get better at them, Varric and the Iron Bull said, but it got easier, the more you looked at them.

Varric felt satisfied, but concerned, and Cole reached out for his feelings: looks so small and still so thin but I don’t know if he’ll ever put on a little weight reminds me of Daisy sometimes all wide-eyed and too trusting but we can make him feel at home we can help he just needs a fa—

Cole looked to Solas.

His pain was bigger, but quieter than anyone else’s, always: his pain was buried underneath the barrier he kept it under, like he kept all his spirit underneath his funny clothes and the way he talked, sometimes. He could be like Dorian and Vivienne, Cole thought, all shine and wonder and easy nobility, but he chose not to, and Cole didn’t understand…

He understood more than Solas wished he did, Cole thought.

Solas reached out, and because Cole’s hat was in his lap, it was Cole’s hair that he touched, gently drawing his fingers through the lank, white locks. Cole let his eyes close shut, and it felt better, to close his eyes, somehow, it didn’t feel as heavy or sticky, but he didn’t want to open them again.

Needs to sleep. He’s made his choice, must be more human now, must sleep and touch the Fade in the way that he now can, but how to teach him? And how will he learn to die, when…?

Cole opened his eyes, giving Solas a doleful look, and Solas drew his hand away. He looked regretful, but Cole knew it was over what he would do, and not what Cole had done.

“It doesn’t have to happen,” Cole said. “Not every wall has to come down. Sometimes—”

“You’re tired, Cole,” Solas said quietly. “You need to sleep.”

“I don’t sleep,” Cole mumbled, reaching up and rubbing his eye, but while rubbing his palm against his eyelid soothed it a little, it didn’t make all of the sticky tiredness go away. It felt worse, somehow, than it had before he’d closed his eyes. Was this what it felt like, to go to sleep? But it was awful, and it was so heavy and achy and uncomfortable, why…?

“Coulda fooled me, kid,” Varric murmured. “Come on, pick your mat up. There’s space in the tent.”

He got up reluctantly when Varric nudged his shoulder, and he followed them to the tent he and Solas shared – they didn’t mind sharing, Varric and Solas. Solas didn’t mind sharing a tent with anybody, except that Vivienne wouldn’t share a tent with anyone, and Sera wouldn’t share a tent with him; everyone shared with Varric and didn’t mind. Cassandra would share with Sera but not with a man; Sera would share with Dorian but not with the Bull or Blackwall, because they were too big and they got in the way; Lavellan—

It was all very complicated.

Where would he fit in? How would it work, if he had to share tents, now, if he had to lie down on a bed roll for too many hours in the dark and the quiet and do nothing at all? When everyone else was sleeping, before, he would go and listen to rivers babble or trees whisper, or watch people’s dreams, or look over someone’s shoulder as they were reading, and everyone slept for nearly a third of the day, it all took so long.

He laid his mat down between Varric and Solas’ bedrolls. Solas’ was the way the elves made, like Lavellan had: it was made with furs sewn onto a lining of neatly layered leaves, and Cole had watched Lavellan make the bedroll for Solas, had watched him carefully pin the fabric into place on each segment and then sew it perfectly in place.

It had hurt Solas, when Lavellan had brought it to his office, and Cole had asked him, afterwards, why.

“But he did it to be kind, and thoughtful,” Cole had said, sitting on the scaffold that Solas sat on to paint and staring down at him, and Solas had sighed quietly, had looked up at him. “Why would it hurt you? He likes you, and you like him.” A moment had passed, and Cole had said, “He’d like for you to like him more. Noble, proud, like the People should be, stronger than he looks, wish he’d smile more often, he looks so sad when no one is watching him—”

“Is that you narrating my thoughts of him, or his of me?” Solas had asked.

“He made you a soft bed, and it makes you sad that he thought of it. It makes him too real.”

“Yes,” Solas had said.

Varric’s bedroll was expensive. Hawke had brought it for him even though he had come from far away, had brought it with sweet words of how he knew Varric missed feather beds and a hairy chest to lie on when he was in the field, and Bianca’s name had hung between their hands like an anchor as he’d handed it over.

“No,” Cole said when Varric laid a third bedroll down, between the two of them. “That isn’t mine. That’s Mahanon’s.”

“Yeah, he’s sleeping in a hammock tonight,” Varric said, waving a hand. “He’s already out of it, Cole – you know our Inquisitor likes to sleep up in the trees, if he can swing it.”

Would have been made for the crystal palaces of Arlathan, would have slept on the beds of glass and—

Cole turned away from Solas’ sadness, and he laid down on the bed roll. It was soft. He felt the leaves, neatly packed inside, rustle quietly but not crinkle, he looked at Varric in the darkness as he lay down on his back. Varric slept like that, on his back; Solas slept on his belly, one arm wrapped around his pillow, but now his pillow was laid gently under Cole’s head, and Solas’ cheek was rested on his own arm.

“You don’t have to,” Cole said.

“No,” Solas agreed.

“My eyes hurt.”

“You’re fatigued. It’s your body’s way of telling you it’s time to sleep.”

“It doesn’t need to tell me like this,” Cole muttered, pressing his cheek into Solas’ pillow an crossing his arms over his chest. The pillow smelled like Solas did, like pencil sharpenings and parchment pages and the Fade, and he felt himself relax a little as Solas laid a blanket over Cole’s shoulder. He was lying under his own cloak, and Cole wanted to feel guilty, but he liked the weight of the blanket on his body, liked that it was heavy on his shoulders, on his hip. He liked… heavy.

“S’gotta tell you somehow, kid,” Varric said quietly. “How else would it make you listen?”

“How do I make it happen?” Cole demanded, feeling irritable – churlish, he felt the word from Solas’ mind, but affectionately, still tinted with that funny sadness he had when he thought of Cole, now, he didn’t think of him so sadly before, but now, because he’d chosen…

“Well, close your eyes, for starters,” Varric murmured, and Cole obeyed, his eyes closing. He laid there, for a moment, his mouth shut, his eyes shut, his face pressed into the pillow, his body underneath the blanket. “Kid,” Varric said, and Cole felt the so funny it’s cute really he just doesn’t know the first thing about, “are you still wearing your boots?”

Going to sleep was the same as being under the blanket. It slipped over him, warm and heavy, and weighed him under.

When he woke up, it was still dark, but he could feel that someone had taken his boots off, because his feet were light and only wrapped by his socks, which the Iron Bull had bought for him, because Cole had gone without them before, and the Iron Bull had said it would hurt him, if he did that, and then Blackwall had sat with him and told him how to put them on, and told him he had to change them every day, and that he had to keep them dry if he could, and make sure that they came up to his ankle so that they protected his ankle from the rub of his boot, and make sure the heel and the toe didn’t rub, and Cole had said it was too much to remember, and Blackwall had said, low and wry, “Well, tough.”

He sat up. His mouth felt… Scratchy. Dry, nasty, parched, like desert sands without rain, the old Cole had felt like this, for so long, thirsty—

He grabbed at the water skein on the other side of Varric’s waist, drinking from it, swallowing down too much water and making himself cough wetly, but over the sound of Solas’ quiet, rhythmic breathing, and Varric’s low, rumbling snoring, the other two men didn’t snore.

Cole, in the middle of them, was framed by their hands, because Solas had stretched out his arm above Cole’s pillow while he slept, and Varric’s had reached out to meet it, interlinking their fingers, his thumb pressed loosely to the centre of Solas’ palm.

Sera laid on top of people, when she shared a tent with them. Sera got cold at night, and she’d wrap around anyon warm – it was why she wouldn’t share with Solas, because she didn’t like to touch him, didn’t want to get too close to him. Dorian liked it when the Iron Bull let him be on top, and lie on his chest, his face pressed against the Iron Bull’s warmth, and Cole wondered if that’s what Solas and Varric would do, if he wasn’t here, between them.

It was complicated, when Varric…

Bianca set his heart on fire, but it burned too hot, so hot it hurt him, sometimes, and left him charred and gasping. Hawke was just warm, a warm body and a warm smile and a warm friendship. Was Solas warm, like Hawke was, when Varric thought of him? Was he simple, like Hawke was? But then, what was Hawke?

It used to be easy, to reach for the feelings when people were sleeping, but it felt harder now, like it was a river churning too fast, and there was too much pressure if he tried to put his fingers in it. When you dip into people’s heads, and take a drink…

“Cole,” Solas said in a low voice, and Cole looked at him. Solas eyes were still closed, and he didn’t draw his hand away from Varric’s. “It is hours yet until dawn. You need more sleep than you’ve yet had.”

“He’s holding your hand.”

Solas flinched suddenly, wrenching his hand back from Varric’s, sitting up, and he Cole watched Varric stir, his snoring stuttering, one eye opening. “Maker’s breath, what is it?”

Embarrassment reached for him and I shouldn’t have of course he reached back when he was asleep I didn’t mean to didn’t expect him to—

“Why are you embarrassed?” Cole asked, yawning without meaning to. “It’s not a bad thing, is it?”

“Go to sleep, Cole,” Solas said softly. Shame radiated from him like heat.

“I’m cold,” Cole said. It was true, somewhat. He was cold – it was a cold night.

“My cloak, then,” Solas said, reaching for the cloak at his hip, but before Cole could argue, Varric grumbled wordlessly and shoved his bedroll closer to Cole’s, pulling Solas’ closer with one sudden drag of his hand, and Varric put one arm around Cole, over the blanket.

“Just get closer, Chuckles, can’t let the kid freeze.”

Knows exactly what he’s doing fenhedis the little shi—

“I’m not little,” Cole complained, and Solas curled in toward him, not actually reaching to hold Cole, like Varric did, but curling his body in toward Cole’s, bracketing him in between himself and Varric. Cole felt Solas sigh, felt his breath touch through his hair. Important, to be touched. Important, not to go without. Hard to ask for, but you must, Cole, you must, don’t reply out loud. “It’s not easy,” Cole mumbled.

“Haminas, da’len,” Solas murmured. “Haminas dia, melava somniar.”

Cole slept – slept well, as instructed – and his dreams were strange and wandering things.

[oftachancer]

Ch 2. pier-pressure (2/2)

Between the rain and the salt spray of the waves crashing against the shore, Aran was in heaven. Cassandra looked like she was one inch away from either combusting or rusting. It might have been the water logging her armor.

“Right, we’re here, let’s seas the day!” Aran beamed. Or it might have been the puns.

“Shell we see these mercenaries then?” Varric asked.

“Enough!” It was definitely the puns. She snapped, “I’ve had enough of both of you.”

Aran glanced sideways at Varric, “She wants me to be more sofishticated.”

The Seeker groaned, ready to let loose a lecture on the duties of his representation if the Inquisition again when the sounds of fighting ahead distracted her.

Solas tilted his head to the side, watching her rush forward into the fray. “It’s possible that you two have made her suicidal.”

“Nah, she likes us,” Varric locked a bolt into his bow, “otherwise she’d have made us go in first. Isn’t that right, Ar-“ he looked around, “Huh, where’d he go?”

Aran slipped through the battle, looking for weak spots. His dagger wove, illuminating the weaknesses in armor-the bands of a greave, the laces of a breastplate, the cords holding a quiver to a back. Everywhere he went, sheaths fell off, bowstrings snapped, armor fell off or open.

Figuring out the difference between the Chargers and the enemy was an easy matter, thankfully. The Chargers were the ones who were everywhere, whooping and swearing, like a swarm of drunk, happy wasps. And in the middle of them, the giant qunari swinging a massive hammer around him as though it were a light staff, knocking men back and shields asunder.

“Chargers!” The qunari shouted as the last enemy fell, “Stand down. Krem! How’d we do?”

“Five or six wounded, Chief,” a young man in slapped together plate reported brusquely. “No dead.”

“That’s what I like to hear. Let the throat-cutters finish up, then break out the casks.”

Aran wiped down one of his knives with an oiled rag Varric had suggested, slipping it into the torso sheaths.

“So, you’re with the Inquisition, huh? Glad you could make it. C’mon, have a seat, drinks are comin’.”

Aran glanced up, up, up. He’d expected the qunari to be talking to Cassandra, but she was away, sending a report back with one of Leliana’s agents. “Right, I mean, yes-” He sank onto a driftwood log, hoping that sitting would bring the giant of a man down to his level. Even sitting, the qunari was taller than him by a head. He’d never seen a qunari up close, but the descriptions didn’t do this man justice. He was seven feet, at least, all brute strength and thick corded muscles, and there were those qunari horns, yes, but they weren’t anything like what he’d imagined. Long and twisted back from a scarred, intelligent face. “Iron Bull, I presume,” he said, putting on the ‘deep nobility voice’ he’d been practicing with Varric on the way down.

“Yeah, the horns usually give it away.” Aran took pains not to allow his gaze to slip back up to those horns. Maker, they were stunning. He itched to touch them, to see if they were rough or smooth. How deep the ridges really were. How much was shadow. Instead, he focused on the young man in plate mail from before, as he trudged over to them with a couple of massive wood tankards. “I assume you remember Cremesius Aclassi, my lieutenant.”

“Good to see you again,” Krem acknowledged.

Aran nodded to him, “Same,” curious about the subtle shift of… pride? in the young man’s eyes.

“Throat-cutters are done, chief.”

“Already? Have them check again, I don’t want any of those Tevinter bastards getting away. No offense, Krem.”

“None taken. At least a bastard knows who his mother was. One up on you qunari, right?” Krem smirked, turning back to check again.

“So,” Iron Bull said, drawing Aran’s attention back from the shore littered with bodies. “You’ve seen us fight. We’re expensive, but we’re worth it. And I’m sure the Inquisition can afford it.”

“The Chargers seem like an excellent company,” Aran equivocated, wondering where the hell Cassandra was and why Iron Bull seemed to think that he was the one to haggle with. Maybe his green-ness was exactly the reason.

“They are, but you’re not just getting the boys. You’re getting me. You need a front line bodyguard, I’m your man. Whatever it is, demons, dragons, the bigger the better.”

Aran stayed where he was as Iron Bull stood, muscles flexing with the movement. It had to be in purpose, didn’t it? The words, the muscles. It was worth tilting his head back at the odd angle to avoid standing and showing just what part of his body he wanted guarded at this particular moment.

“And there’s one other thing. Might be useful, might piss you off.” He squinted up at the qunari as the sun pierced the storm clouds behind him. “Ever heard of the Ben-Hassrath?”

“They’re a qunari organization, right? The equivalent of your guards and city watch?”

“I’d go closer to spies, but yeah. That’s them. Or, well, us. The Ben-Hassrath are concerned about the Breach. Magic out of control like that could cause trouble everywhere. I’ve been ordered to join the Inquisition, close to the people in charge, and send reports on what’s happening. But I also get reports from Ben-Hassrath agents all over Orlais. Sign me on, I’ll share them with your people.”

He wondered, was he was supposed to be impressed, or angry, or horrified? He was curious, instead. “You’re a qunari spy and you just… told me?”

“Whatever happened at the Conclave thing, it’s bad. Someone needs to get that Breach closed. So whatever I am, I’m on your side.”

“You still could have hidden what you are.”

“From something called the Inquisition? I’d have been tipped sooner or later. Better you hear it right up front from me.”

It was a good point. One that had Aran reconsidering the number of things he himself had failed to disclose up front to that self-same Inquisition. Maybe he needed to at least have a talk with Josephine. Explain how little she should be relying on whatever she’d heard about his family. She shouldn't be expecting people to come out of the woodwork for Bann Trevelyan’s youngest son, regardless of what kind of weird light glowed from his hand. “Alright. You’re in.”

“Excellent. Krem, tell the men to finish drinking on the road. The Chargers just got hired.”

“What about the casks, Chief? We just opened them up. With axes.”

“Find some way to seal them. You’re Tevinter, right? Try blood magic.” He glanced back at Aran, “We’ll meet you back at Haven.”

Blood magic. The words got his mind churning. “Ah…” Aran cleared his throat. “Just… hold on.” “P

“Second thoughts already?”

“No, I just- Let your men drink. We’ve got a camp just up from the coast. You can stay with us, and I’ll touch base with our agents in the meantime.” Aran kept his eyes on the crashing waves against the shore. He’d wanted a few days on the coast, but now his thoughts were whirling. Damn it.

“You… just going to sit there?”

Aran rested his fingertips at the bridge of his nose. “I’m thinking,” he said.

“Not what you’re known for.”

Blue eyes snapped from the waves to the qunari, “And just what am I known for?” “

“The great and pious Herald of Andraste,” Iron Bull grinned. The effect was bracing. It had to be on purpose. “Closing rifts with that thing on your hand.”

Aran flexed his glowing palm reflexively. “And?”

“Not much else, to be honest.” There was that damned smile again. “And that’s saying something, coming from the Ben-Hassrath. We know things about everyone. Especially nobility. I can tell you things about your brothers and sisters that you probably don’t even know.”

“You think so?” Aran tilted his head to the side.

The Iron Bull hummed quietly. “But until the Conclave… no word about Aran Trevelyan. Then again, we’ve only had about a week to dig into you specifically.” “

“You’ll have to let me know what you find out.”

The qunari eyed him, that smile still tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Will I?” he asked, thoughtfully. “Have to?”

“Herald!” Varric’s voice pulled him out of the dark pools of Bull’s gaze with its joviality. The thick-fingered hand that dropped to his shoulder was an anchor. “Did we make a deal?”

“That’s up to Josephine.” He tried to relax under the calloused palm, “And Leliana. Varric, the Iron Bull. The Iron Bull, Varric.”

“Remembered the ‘the’,” Iron Bull commented, sounding pleased. “Everyone always forgets.”

“Probably because it’s a mouth full.”

“You bet it is.”

Aran blinked. Grinned.

Varric glanced between them. “So… they’re staying…?”

“Yes.” Aran lifted a brow at Iron Bull who nodded.

“I’ll tell the boys,” he said before turning and heading towards his men.

“Big guy,” Varric commented.

“Everyone seems big to you.”

“Short jokes,” Varric sighed. “That’s beneath you.”

Aran smirked, gaze returning to the waves. “Do you think the Grand Enchanter might be able to help find a missing mage?”

“You know one?”

“My sister. We haven’t seen her since the Rebellion started. She was in the Circle, but when everything happened… no one knows where she went. Or if she’s okay.”

“No harm asking.” He whistled low, “So you’re going to go ask the mages for help. The Seeker will love that.”

“It won’t be the first time I’ve disappointed her.”

“Now, now, you’re still alive. And unchained. It took me weeks of spinning stories to get out of her interrogation chair.”

Aran snorted. “Tough locks?”

“Tough armored guards with swords.”

“Ah.”

[xihaveaplanxx]

Of Compassion and Violence (Chp 1)

“You are improving with your spells so well.” Hosea smiled at his daughter. She was practicing her healing magic on him , doing what he taught her and she was honestly doing well. She was working to become a teacher and he told her that learning some healing magic would be helpful because children are wild and children get injured all the time. She usually worked on her magic like to get her marker to write for her or to make beautiful sparkles and displays. Not a malicious bone in her body as she was raised. Her father, Hosea was an elder mage who had adopted her. More like he found her but he went through the paperwork and soon she was his. She lived with he and his wife Francine and her two brothers, John a werewolf and Arthur who was a regular human. He and Francine related on that level by being normal though Hosea had cast quite a few spells to keep them safe from others. They were his own little family and he adored it so much. John was a bit wild, and also tended to get into things, fights and other things especially if his boyfriend Farkas was involved. Farkas kept him calm, he tried to at least but sometimes John just wanted to do his own thing even if it drove him insane he loved him all the same. “Oh, I can’t wait for you to be a teacher. You’ll do great.”

“Thanks Dad” She smiled at him. “Class is fun...most times at least.”

“Most times? You aren’t having trouble are you?”

“No. No!” She told him not wanting him to worry. In truth, class was a bit tough. She didn’t want to tell him or Francine or her brothers as to not worry them. Her best friend, Dreama who was a vampire that was adopted by two mages, Teldryn and Erandur dealt with one of her issues. My killing them. Oh, the very image of that man's last minutes played in her head and it was a lot to try to push out her mind. How Dreama stalked him and broke his neck without a second thought. She didn’t bat an eyelash. She left the body there and kept moving. She was horrified. She loved Dreama, she did like a sister, like family but recently she had been very moody and very violent and she regretted telling her about that guy. Sure he made her feel awful and he hurt her feelings but...he didn’t deserve to die...not like that. Others picked at her and she was trying to cope with it on her own. She didn’t want anyone else dead. She didn’t want anyone to worry. Things could get better....she hoped so ... at least. “Things are fine.”

“Jenny, my dear....you don’t need to lie to me.”

“Dad....”

“Erandur told me what Dreama has done.” He said lowly. “I know you didn’t tell her to do it but....”

“I....she didn’t need to do that.”

“You know how she is.” Hosea shook his head “I know she meant well....Erandur wasn’t happy. Asking people to cover it.....I always told him...she was a bit wild. Teldryn always wanted him to be a bit tougher on her but Erandur loves her so much , he’s willing to turn a blind eye. As if this is the first time she murdered someone....she is dangerous.”

“You let us be friends.”

“You make her happy. One of the few things that do.” He shook his head. “And me. She’s super fond of me it seems. She just...she was doing good but she’s not been good lately. I guess since that mage she loved died she hasn’t been okay.”

“She loved Anders so much but what happened to him....I know he was insane but...that was....horrible.”

“And what she did to that town was the worst. So many beings died at her hand. A bloodbath. She was locked up and Erandur got her out and he never told me how. I...I fear my friend used his magic on those people. He did a spell or something...I know how he is. The idea of her being locked up he can’t take it. I know he’s strong and he’s on the council. Probably pleaded to Solas she won’t do it again if he could turn a blind eye on him using his magic to get her out. I didn’t want her sent off either but...she killed.....an entire town. That entire town got wiped off the map. She was barely locked up. I know she’s hurt. I get that I do but...”

“She was never the best with her emotions.”

“I know.” Hosea agreed “But also, she is so protective of you, I’m glad she looks out for you but again....I don’t want her doing all THAT.”

“I told her that and she apologized. Then cried over Anders again. She misses him so much and Erandur tried to save him but the humans in that town....what they did to him....there was no way.”

“I know. Poor thing. I want her to be better. At least so she can keep you safe. I don’t want her dragging you into things.”

“I get that. I haven’t seen her in days though. I’m a bit worried.”

“I’m sure she is fine.”

“Oh, I’m not concerned if she’s fine. I just hope....that she’s not hurting someone else. She is used to causing chaos when she’s in distress.”

In the woods outside of town

“Fuck you!”

“Fuck me yourself! You won’t!”

“Can you not? You are so annoying. I want to break your neck.”

“Go ahead.” He bent down so he was close enough for her to wrap her hands around his throat. It wouldn’t do anything to him as he was immortal, a vampire like her and getting choked to death wouldn’t do anything to him. “Don’t feel your hands around my neck. Maybe you are bluffing.” He taunted her knowing it would just make her madder.  She glared at him and then turned on her heel. She was in a mood. She was always in some type of mood. It was her thing. “What’s bothering you now?”

“As if you care.”

“Well I asked.”

“Mind your business.”

“This is why you have so few friends. You are mean to the ones you have.”

“You and I aren’t friends.”

“Damn right we aren’t. You don’t have sex with your friends.”

“Dutch! I swear....”

“You swear what? You're going to trip on me again in the park and end up butt naked the next day for the whole world to see. Go ahead and explain that to your dads.” He crossed his arms. “You are lucky we don’t burn in the sun like the stories humans write or we’d have died that way and that would be....bad....well I mean not a horrible way to go for me but you....you’d be so pissed because you can’t pretend you hate me if you burned to death, naked on top of me.”

“I can’t stand you.”

“You think you can’t.” He sighed “But really...what’s the matter with you lately? You’ve seemed...extra mean lately.”

“People are being mean to Jenny at school and she won’t tell me who.”

“Well you killed the last guy. You know she’s not into that. Even if it’s coming from a good place.”

“But people are picking at her. IT’s not fair. All my life she’s always been so sweet and people are cunts. You see what they did to Anders. They died and those who bother her will meet the same fate. I won’t stop til I take out every last one of them.”

“That’s why she won’t tell you. She doesn’t want people to die. Maybe for them to leave her be....”

“If they are dead, that solves the problem.”

“Those people have families, Dreama...”

“That doesn’t matter to me. They let their family members be rude to her so them being upset doesn’t matter to me.”

“Dreama...I can’t believe I’m even going to say this but....acting like this isn’t the answer.”

“Acting like what? Say it with your whole fucking chest Dutch Van Der Linde. What am I fucking acting like?”

“Irrational.” He said and she looked like she would kill him with a look alone. “She doesn’t want people dying . It would look suspicious to people in her college if people that even spoke to her started dying.”

“She doesn’t need school. She’s smart enough.”

“She wants to be a teacher”

“So what. She knows enough to be a good teacher”

“And if one of those kids gave her lip....?”

“I’ll deal with it.”

“She doesn’t want you dealing with it because of how you get.” 

“I just don’t want people being mean to her. She is sweet and she’s never bothered a damn person. She doesn’t deserve it. I know Hosea is wary of me but to me if he was a decent fucking dad he’d handle this on his own!”

“She probably doesn’t tell him. Don’t you think if she did he’d address it or even John or Arthur...or Francine?”

“It doesn’t matter” She crossed her arms. “I want to help her and she won’t let me.”

“Maybe if you found a way beyond murder...she wouldn’t be scared. Reasoning is always an option.”

“As if you care about reasoning.”

“Usually I don’t but....for her...it’s different. For her and Hosea, he’s my best friend. He thinks you are terrifying.”

“Well....I’m trying to keep his daughter safe. She’s my best friend.”

“I know...but still...maybe...you need to calm down.”

“Did you tell Micah he had to calm down because if I remember you were there when he massacred a town.”

“I was there when you did too. So what’s the difference?  Try again.”

“He’s a loon.”

“So are you. So again, what’s the difference?”

“You know what, I hope you die out here.”

“I’d be hurt but you say it to me so often I'm convinced that’s how you tell me you love me. I’m not too bothered.”

“Fuck you.”

“Oh, I’m sure that’ll happen....at some time....as it always does.”

At Hosea’s house

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t want to worry you.”

“Well something must be done. People are being mean to you and that’s not okay. I didn’t know there was more. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Please don’t tell John or Arthur. Arthur might take it better but...”

“I’d never tell John anything. He’s a mess as is.” Hosea shook his head. “No wonder you’ve been changing your clothes too. Not wearing the stuff you really loved. I hope they didn’t make fun of you for being you...that’s awful. I almost understand Dreama...almost at least. That’s never a good thing. I will speak to the headmaster...anyone who will listen. This won't go on.”

“Dad....”

“I just wish you told me sooner.” Hosea hugged his daughter tightly. “Don’t forget how loved you are. Others might be awful but I know tons of people who think you are awesome.”

“Thanks. I just...sometimes it’s hard.”

“Oh I bet. Dreama doesn’t know about all these others, does she?”

“No! I’ve told her it’s over but she knows something is up. I feel bad but ... I don’t want more death”

“It’s understandable. I wish Dutch would talk to his girlfriend about this. Though maybe with him around she’s mellow out...”

“Dutch? Wait...your friend? The vampire who comes here and is always complaining about the books in your library that seems to have so many endless stories? The one that she threw a knife at? That...dad are you sure?”

“Oh, I am.” Hosea took out his phone and scrolled on it until he got to a photo and showed it to her. “He took this yesterday?”

“She...looks happy”

“She does. She just is difficult he tells me.”

“She probably doesn’t want anyone knowing about this.”

“Yes, but she is his girlfriend. She did threaten to murder his ex til she left so there is that”

“She told me she just thought Molly was stupid.”

“No, Molly had Dutch and she wanted him and now she has him and she’s upset...clearly.”

“That...makes alot of sense.” Jenny said giving her father back his phone. “But if they are together....woulld he really be able to keep her calm. After all...”

“I know...his track record of hanging with others isn’t thbest but whenever he tells me of her...he adores her quite a bit. Also without Micah spewing bs in his ear, he somewhat is more competent.”

  “That is a good thing. I hope he can get her to just be mellow. I know she misses Anders and i know she’s protective of me but....things don’t need to be like this.”

“I just hope that she learns that. I’d hate for her to get into something Erandur can’t drag her out of . He’d be crushed and who knows what he’d do in retaliation.”

“I don’t even want to think of that.”

“Neither do I” Hosea shook his head. “You know what, let’s forget all this for a while. Let’s go out to dinner. Just you and I. It’s been awhile since it was just us. I’ll even let you pick, what do you say or are you too old to have a little dinner date with your dad?”

“I’m never too old for that.” She smiled at him gently. “I’d love to.”

[biserker-kadan]

About the Character;

I was tagged by @goblin-deity @red-wardens and @occorner 💕 so I'm gonna do 3! (This might be pretty long)

This really is years late, whoops.

― your muse’s name:

Myrinah Alwyn Lavellan

Myrinah is actually just an edited version of Myrina which refers to Queen of the Amazons which I love! I wanted my first Elven warrior to have a strong name and it just really fit. Her middle name is Alwyn, which is her fathers first name and is Welsh in origin.

― one favourite picture / faceclaim of your muse:

― two headcanons you have for your muse:

Long after Inquisition is over and Corypheus and Solas have been delt with, Myrinah kind of drops off the grid. Only a handful of people know what she's doing and have a vague idea of where she is. Cause she's wandering! She goes off, a grown ass dragon with her and a few essential items and just walks. She catches rides of boats, works as best she can, where she can - climbs the highest mountains and hikes through lush forests with Pup flying high above. She writes letters to her loves and her family but in her 'retirement', she goes and explores on her own.

In my 'Modern AU' Myrinah is always a detective, like always. I can't really see her doing anything else. She could also be a DA, mostly cause I really love the idea of Myrinah straight up wearing a boss ass pant-suit with like a lacy bralette thingy underneath a suit jacket and a pair of killer heels in court, just destroying the other lawyer and playing up to the jury.

― three things that your muse likes doing in their free time:

Gardening! Myrinah, my little bitter baby absolutely loves gardening and planting little flowers and especially making daisy chains. It takes her back to her childhood, stopping for a quick lunch; Elders doing their own things and a handful of children running around, little babies and mothers laying in the grass, soaking up the sun and Myrinah, sitting calmly just making daisy chains.

Hunting, or specifically Dragon Hunting. She loves it, the thrill of a fight. A challenge that pushes her to her very own limits. Something that takes effort, both of which come from tracking and the actual fighting. She enjoys all of it. Plus it's a great way for her to work on her anger.

Sleeping. Let's be honest, everyone knows that the Inquisitior probably sleeps like shit. That's not a lie, it's a goddamn fact and Myrinah is no different. Which is why, when she has the time? She likes to settle beneath her covers (usually in Cullen's bed), light a few subtlety scented candles and close her eyes with the gentle breeze and fading sunlight on her face and pass. the fuck. out.

― seven people your muse loves / likes:

Iron Bull, Cullen, Vivienne, Riddick (OC), Dorian, Cole, Varric

Myrinah is close with her companions and appreciates them all, but she does have her favourites. She loves Iron Bull and Cullen, romantically, and Vivienne is her absolutely favourite person in the entire world. Riddick is her best friend (another OC of mine) and she treats Dorian like a kid brother, which annoys the shit out of him of course. Cole she treats as family, because he is in a way. He's someone Myrinah knows understands her and she does everything and all she can to make sure he's all good and Varric is probably the only normal person in the group who doesn't treat her like the be all or end all. She likes having a friend who simply wants to be a friend.

― a phobia your muse has:

Myrinah is afraid of nugs. She hates them, they terrify her and she would be happy if they weren't a real thing.

― your muse’s name:

Aliyah Hissera Adaar

Aliyah's first name means 'exalted or heavens' and was a gift from her Ma - a name outside the Qun, a representation that they really were free and able to own themselves. Of course, her middle name 'Hissera' is the Qunlat word for Hope and her Ma thought it was fitting considering little Aliyah was her hope.

― one favourite picture / faceclaim of your muse:

― two headcanons you have for your muse:

She's actually the baby of one of my old Inquisitiors and her mother was Adaar. Her Father is more of an OC at this point, whereas her Mother died when she was very young. In an AU I have she was taken in by a Mercenary Captain and trained up from her teens until the Inquisition. She's probably a little younger in canon compared to that AU.

She's wicked strong, and not in the 'oh I can lift this much' but in the 'I can hold this bow and arrow, pulled back, for as long as I need without breaking a sweat or getting tired'. She's also got wicked aim and constantly pulls incredible moves out of her ass in battle. She and Sera like to have little arrow competitions in Skyhold when they're bored.

― three things that your muse likes doing in their free time:

Waking up early to watch the sunrise. This one sounds stupid, but it was a tradition she had with her Ma. Whenever they could, they'd get up a little earlier, put some tea on and rug up before walking as far as they wanted before settling in to watch the sunrise. Whenever she doesn't have a pressing, urgent matter to attend to - that's what she likes to do now (except now she also writes letters to her Dad).

Baking. Aliyah has a massive sweet tooth, like it's a problem? So much so that the cook refuses to make her anything sweet so now she does it herself! Aliyah finds it oddly calming too, there's something really methodical and calming about baking that makes the payoff even more sweeter.

Archery? I feel like this one should be obvious cause she an Archer Rogue, but for reference, archery in general is something Aliyah absolutely loves. Especially when she's in her own zone, in the training yard at Skyhold just constantly hitting dead centre. It's beautiful.

― seven people your muse loves / likes:

Iron Bull, Josephine, Sera, Dorian, Leliana, Cole, Vivienne

Aliyah is like, basically married to Iron Bull so she likes him well enough, Josephine is like family - Aliyah adores her, and Sera is a good friend (they seem like unlikely friends but they're pretty well at balancing each other out). Dorian is her best friend, someone she trusts unconditionally, which is a little scary but he's smart and caring and her closest friend and she loves him. Leliana terrifies her and Aliyah thinks the world of her, she's scary smart and calculated but having one conversation was enough to convince her that Leliana is the sweetest. Aliyah thinks Cole is sweet, if a little confused and misguided. She likes talking with him. Vivienne reminds her of her first Merc Captain - Strong, firm but fair and always the smartest person in the room. They have wonderful talks.

― a phobia your muse has:

Aliyah isn't so much afraid as grossed out by purple foods? It's an odd 'phobia' but she will literally not eat anything purple or anything that's touched a purple food and will not sit at a table with purple food on it. She thinks it's just gross and unnatural.

― your muse’s name:

Frey - -

Frey technically does have a middle name and a last name but she doesn't really use it or mention it or acknowledge it even. If we're getting technical, Frey chose her own name as her Mama always calls her Kasaanda and her Pa calls her his little Elgara.

(Kasaanda = 'Sundew' - a carnivorous plant, and Elgara = 'Sun')

― one favourite picture / faceclaim of your muse:

― two headcanons you have for your muse:

Frey speaks nearly 6 languages, is fluent in 3, can write in 2 and read in 4. She's fluent in the Common Tongue, Antivan and Orlesian but can also speak Qunlat, Rivaini and Tevene extremely well. Qunlat especially. She also knows a little Elvish, but growing up outside of a Clan or without an Elder (not including her father), it's mostly limited to phrases and specific words.

Frey is an expert Storm Mage, extremely dangerous when it comes to lightning and 'purple fire'. She trains in all the schools of magic, especially with Vivienne, Dorian and her Mama. Her Mama is especially hard on her when it comes to more primal based magic whereas Dorian handles the Inferno aspects and Vivienne helps her with Winter, Spirit and becoming a Knight Enchanter.

― three things that your muse likes doing in their free time:

Climbing. Frey loves to climb and explore Skyhold and old ruins and castles. She loves to push herself to climb rocky mountain sides and faces, caves and the likes. She'll leave Skyhold in the morning with a few essential items and return at night with bruises and scrapes but feeling a lot less tense and antsy.

Painting/drawing. Frey loves to paint and draw, she really does. Even if it's just doodling on some paper with some ink whilst are the war table or if she's actually set up a canvas on her balcony and going ham at it. Painting is something she does to calm her mind and express whatever she's feeling.

Arguing. Ok, so maybe it's less of a hobby then the others but Frey will actively seek out people to 'argue' with when she's bored and it is 100% one of her favourite things to do. It's mostly just banter and petty quarrels and such but it's a lot of fun to argue with someone and Frey enjoys having arguments and debated shit.

― seven people your muse loves / likes:

Solas (debatable), Iron Bull, Vivienne, Leliana, Cole, Josephine, Dorian

Frey has odd relationships with both Solas and Iron Bull (doubled depending on whom she's romancing per Canon) but they also mean a lot to her regardless. Iron Bull kind of takes her under his wing, teaching her a bit more about her Qunari Heritage as well as making sure she can defend herself without magic whereas Solas speaks with her about Elves and has lengthy discussions about everything and anything. Vivienne is like a very sweet, very tough Aunt? Frey isn't quite sure where to place Vivienne to be quite frank, but she loves the older mage without a doubt. Leliana is the funniest and alongside Josephine they talk shit like it's nobodies business. Frey loves them like sisters. Cole is a mystery, but his brain is fascinating and when she gets over that - he's a very sweet, often misguided individual whom she appreciates dearly and Dorian? An absolute shit. Sometimes she likes to hide behind the bookshelves and throw books at him to make him jump. Other times they bounce magical theory off each other until the suns up for the next day. He's definitely family at this point.

― a phobia your muse has:

Frey is afraid of failure, that's the bottom line. She's constantly stressing herself out because she's terrified of slipping up and causing irrefutable damage and failing. She doesn't ever want to put people in horrible situations that could be avoided and she hates that she thinks like that.

[gelato-hearts]

So…

I just finished my complete play through of Dragon Age: Origins (actually played it 3 times before playing Inquisition) and Dragon Age Inquisition, but not Dragon Age II because it’s not freakin’ backwards compatible. So please allow me this little rant and p.s it may be long so I apologize ahead if time. [Also may contain spoilers if you have never played before]

During my play throughs of DA:O I played as a human/mage, human/rouge, and elf/rouge. Everything was fine so far! The more you play the annoying bits like going into the Fade and travelling the Deep Roads, the faster you get at beating them and the less they annoy you. But let me tell you what never stopped being annoying, the freaking Revenant. First of all,

HOW DARE YOU!!!

We’re not friends and you’re not my mom! How dare you yolk me up like a misbehaving child! I felt so disrespected, and to make it worse he would seek me out in the crowd, extending his hand to drag me though hordes of enemies and my friends just to smack me down.

Now to the ending of Origins. In all my world states, I romanced Alistair because it’s Alistair and he’s a total gem. So, by the end I knew I couldn’t romance him with my mage and I knew that if i didn’t harden him he would be a Warden and not be upset about. In my human rouge playthough I decided I wanted to be queen and took the necessary steps to do so. Then, I wanted to see what it was like to try and go for the mistress ending with my elf and I messed up.

“I will never hurt you.” She stated as she took Alistair’s hand gently.

“Nor I you.” Alistair whispers sweetly as he brings the Wardens hand to his lips, gently placing a kiss on her knuckles.

Well that was all thrown out the window when I didn’t put in the right dialogue and he dumped me. You could have gone back you are probably thinking, but alas it wasn’t meant to be. I was so upset that when I went to load the previous save, I accidentally saved the game instead.

“Lies!” You cry out in the distance

No, this isn’t the first time I have been distracted and accidentally saved the game when i meant to load a previous save. So too late in the game to romance someone else, I just plowed through the rest of the end game, missing the chance to save my warden, thus killing her in the end. And to me that felt like a fitting end for my elf warden.

Now let’s jump to DA: I. I had only vaguely heard about this game and I wanted to keep it that way, no spoilers or anything. I have only had one playthough so far and I brought my warden mage world state over and decided to make a human mage. Let me give you the run down of what went on.

Didn’t know how to pick up items for about an hour, remembered Cullen and immediately went to romance him, accidentally hardened Leliana within the first 5mins and didn’t realize it, looked at Solas and Blackwall and thought “man these boys are sketchy af”, Bottles on the Wall, flirted with Cassandra the entire game because why not, Cassandra becoming the Divine even though I was trying to make Leliana the Divine, never letting Vivienne out if the house because she needs to get her attitude in check, Dragon Hunting with Iron Bull, color coding each classes outfits, but making sure the warriors had Dawnstone because Iron Bull liked pink, Wicked Grace, dancing with Cullen, loving all the dialogue between the companions, trying to climb everything, Mythal, that flower crown though, Cole the sweet lamb, and much more.

Now for the bad things. By golly miss Molly these spiders are huge, a giant has thrown me half way across the map and I don’t know how to get back, are these really the only options, Wardens are you really that stupid, the Revenant is back and he is alittle too handsy, falling/jumping off every cliff because I’m clumsy, hey where is my fancy dress, so we’re just gonna let Corypheus pull an archdemon out of his butt, Morrigan why do you have to be like this, that giant spider came out of no where literally, pride demons evil laugh, bears are upon us and you guys don’t care, behind the wall they will stay because path finding didnt know about the wall, and etc.

Now for the ending of my long tale. Because I kept Alistair as a Warden in my 1st Origin game he was there and I was happy. He talked about my Warden with such love i almost cried. So imagine how I felt when I was stuck in the Fade with Hawke and Alistair and only one could leave. Obviously I picked Hawke because I never met her and she was ultimately me and I would risk my life for Alistair’s anyway, but Varric was sad and that made me upset.

Now as I had listed above about them sketchy boys, my speculation were correct. I knew something was off but Blackwall’s identity theft and Solas playing The Sound of Silence and Its Tough to be a God at the same time made me question my friendship with them, but I still trusted them both to have my back and they were my favorite companions so I looked past their faults and mistakes.

WELL….boy was I wrong about trusting Solas. I outfitted all my companions with the best I could find because I didn’t known how this fight would go down, even giving Solas my favorite and only witch staff. He was with me in the final battle against Red Lyrium in robes but then he disappeared with all the stuff I gave him INCLUDING my witch staff! Between him and the Revenant, I have never felt so disrespected.

After the all the problems and sadness, I really enjoyed these games. I wish I could play DA: II but oh well. Now onward to the DLCs! Oh and if you read the whole thing, that is some dedication and I applaud you, thank you, and ask that you stay for drinks! And if you didn’t read the entire thing then that’s okay you can stay for drinks too!

[Once again sorry for the insanely long post.]