#tevinter nights keysmashing

[inquisitoracorn]

Tevinter Nights reading live-tweets reacts - Part 1?

I just got the book, and thought it would be fun to write down thoughts as I read, in a pseudo-reaction-video sort of way and post them on my blog. Anyone wanting to join me into laughing at myself, thoughts are below the line :)))

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Spoilers for Three Trees to Midnight and Down Among the Dead Men, also there’s a lot of swearing (Trespasser as well actually)

Enjoy!

Three Trees to Midnight

- VENTUS HAS FALLEN????

- Heheh.... Bas-taar--d - heheheheh

- I like this elf - STRIFE hello my new fave

- Something tells me the plan isn't gonna go as planned

- Oh noooooooooo tranquility elixir but fucking worse

- THIS IS SO SAD, FUCK.

- Oh nice gesture, but Myrion you're a fucking idiot

- Run bois

- WAIT ARE HALLA PEOPLE??

- These are all so fucking sad I feel sad for everyone

- Oh ok she's just a shapeshifter wow I am stupid

- Didn't know the Antaam can do shit on their own, I genuinely thought the Viddasala had orders from the Qun and they later washed their hands off her

- So does the Qun not object to the military doing their thing as long as it goes with the general principles of the Qun?? Aren't wars supposed to be a bit more planned out? Interesting

- Full draw for a gull? It will obliterate the poor bird - god the Qunari are weird

- Wow they're all pretentious fools and one day they'll trip over their own...wisdom

- Is Bull so different from the other Qunari because he spent time in the south I wonder 

- The Qun contradicts itself so much I love it

- Fuck

- Myrion can you not be a little bitch for one second - I think he's gonna die

- Oh fuck of course they got caught

- Fifty years huh

- Yes Myrion fight for the pastries! :)))))

- OH FUCKKKKKK

- THE FUCK IS THAT

- It's like.....futuristic robot guardian killer dogs... But it's rocks and vines...and blades

- So far, the most common Tevinter phrase I've heard is "I'm not a magister"

- FINALLY cooperation - Myrion still not gon make it tho

- Heking knew that Bastaard will trip over his own...competence. Oh you'll see. I hope.

- “I’ll make a note to have my slaves apologize for doubting her” - hehehehehe cute - now I'm sorry he's gonna die

- The work together speech tho :)))))))

- PLOT TWIST, NICE

- My former assessment of the Qun was correct

- Is that why he didn't shoot the gull damnit

- Awwwwww Myrion LIVES

Down Among the Dead Men

- Ohh is this Nevarra are we in Nevarra (it'd be handy cuz I need to write Nevarra soon) - yeeeesssss

- Is Audric afraid of the dead

- I take it the corpses getting a bit friendly isn't part of the ritual

- I love Audric and I love Manfred too

- Do the Mortalitasi have templars?

- googles bailiwick

- “Should be nigh impossible this close to the Grand Necropolis” - is there a disruption in the Veil? Is the Veil wobbly?

- A rib?? Wait it wasn't a fresh corpse? That fight got intense

- Ivona sus

- They can't have killed any dragons the Inquisitor killed them all in the last game

- Both dead huh... Both very good at stabbing

- Forty years ago - Audric's fashion savagery rivals Vivienne's and Dorian's

- “I promise, guardsman: You will be perfectly safe by my side” - never trust promises made in literature, Audric

- Poor Audric - I catch myself thinking every few sentences :)))

- Myrna stop exploiting Audric's architectural nerdiness - curiosity will be his doom

- It would 100% work on me tho

- .... googles cathexis

- “Twice” QwQ

- The necropolis sounds dope

- Myrna is the picture of professionalism

- Once again poor Audric that boy has done nothing wrong in his life

- The skeletons in Nevarra have some temper, wow, they're so fussy

- Uncatalogued - please tell me we get to catalogue things in the next game

- Pride again why is it always pride

- I knew there was something with Audric but what is ittttt

- Myrna knows I am positive

- WAAAAAAATTTTT????? WAIT SINCE WHEN

- Ok at least he didn't die right then in the Necropolis somehow that would have made me a lot sadder

- Poor. Audric.

- Easier to think now that the body doesn't need to deal with puny things such as breathing :))))))))

- I think that about sleep

- "I am cataloguing all the ways I've been a fool" will now enter my everyday speech repertoire

- Can't believe they did actually killed each other in a petty duel

- It'll be fiiiiineeeee - good thing he's already dead

- Dawwwwwww Audric the un?dead librarian

- Can...can we have Audric as a companion in DA4? An interactable NPC? Can we give Audric a hug Bioware PLEAS-

That’s all for now :)))

[shift-shaping]

DWC: ☂️

Glimpses: Magic Umbrella

@dadrunkwriting

Rating: M

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Pairing: Platonic Dorian and F!Lavellan

Warnings: Character death

It was impossible to rank her tragedies, but some day others would try.

Still bloodied and screaming, Yvelle Lavellan was handed off to her sister and left behind as her mother and father ran to oblivion. Two sobbing girls, four years apart, standing alone as their parents chased a dead legend into a forgotten temple, cursed to follow a ghost to another world. 

The girls returned to their clan, and years later Yvelle watched her sister’s magic unfold like spring flowers. Envy sank in her stomach and poisoned her even as she found her own gifts with a bow. It was unfair for Ellian to have beauty and intelligence and magic, while Yvelle was boyish and slow and overly-aggressive. She would spend years longing for the flood of magic in her bones that marked her sister as special, all the while watching Ellian with jealous, burning bitterness.

She lost her sister at the Conclave. The only family she’d ever known she lost in hatred. Her last wish was for her sister to ‘fuck off forever.’ For weeks she held out hope that maybe Ellian survived, that maybe she was somewhere in the mountains, cold and alone but alive. They never found her sister’s remains, but one day Yvelle knew she was gone.

She’d lost Haven, lost people, lost the apothecary who’d helped her and the barmaid who comforted her. She’d watched a young girl die because of her advice. 

And now her home was destroyed. She stood outside in the pouring rain, watching the coast of Wycome grow larger beneath the stormy grey sky. As soon as she got the letter in her shaking hands she fled the War Council and the castle and Skyhold. Dorian retrieved her, and the two set out for Wycome as soon as possible.

Despite his hatred of all things sea-faring, Dorian knew he had to accompany his friend. Solas was still gone after what happened in the Exalted Plains, and Yvelle didn’t want Vivienne to see her break down. Deep down the Inquisitor knew Vivienne wouldn’t mind, would probably help her, but still she wanted to live up to her expectations as best she could.

Yvelle held herself tightly and sniffled in the cold. She was frozen through to her bones. The sky rumbled, angry and loud. The floor of the deck rolled beneath her feet. She stayed standing, her stance wide, her gaze fixed on the looming horizon. The wood creaked behind her, and though her ears twitched she did not turn around.

“I see you’ve elected to take a shower.” The rain stopped hitting her and she looked up, embarrassed that Dorian had to cast a magic umbrella for both of them. “Without me? For shame.”

She didn’t laugh, even though she normally would have. They were both quiet for a time before he sighed and leaned forward. She finally looked at him, her pained eyes widening suddenly, and blinked in surprise. “Oh, you look terrible.”

Dorian was pale, almost green beneath his facial hair. His normally warm skin tone looked washed out, worsened by the darkness around them. He pretended to be deeply offended, holding his hand over his chest and leaning away from her. “And here I thought we were friends.” She bit her lip and shrugged before looking back toward the shoreline again. “In all seriousness, you should consider changing clothes. We’re still a ways away, and you’re going to get sick.”

She shrugged again and he stared at her for a moment. Then she felt a warming spell flood though her body, comforting and gentle as it seeped into her skin and settled in her muscles. She closed her eyes and couldn’t help relaxing, her arms leaving her body to rest on the railing of the ship. 

“Better?” She nodded and let out a slow, trembling breath. The magic reminded her of home, of being with her sister and telling stories late into the night. It reminded her of the bonfires they’d have as a clan and the stories the elders would tell. She thought of warm pelts and Forest Comfort. Strange, how Tevinter magic could bring back such fond memories.

“Yvelle,” Dorian’s voice was soft, and his tone told her she must be more visibly upset than she thought she was. She reached up to rub her eyes, to will the tears away, but her face was so wet with rain it was like she was already crying. “There is no reason to deprive yourself of basic comfort. Staying out here in the cold and the rain won’t do them any good.”

She closed her eyes. “I know.” Of course it wouldn’t make a difference. Her clan was gone and catching cold wouldn’t bring them back. But it felt better. It felt like she deserved it for not being able to protect them. “But I don’t know what else to do.” Her voice was so small that if he were any further away he wouldn’t hear it. 

“Well, you have options,” he said with a sigh. He turned toward the sea as well, his hands white-knuckled around the railing. “You are the Inquisitor. You could seek revenge.” Somehow, she could hear him shrug. “Or you could do something grander. Something to honor them and send a bigger message.”

“Like… what?”

“Protect other elves. Do right by them, Inquisitor.”

She snorted and looked at him with a raised brow. “A Tevinter man telling me to honor elves. You see the irony, right?”

“Ah…” He looked away awkwardly and reddened under his sickly pallor. “I do. But… the point still stands.”

They were quiet for a time, the rain pounding on the magic umbrella above their heads, the sea crashing and groaning beneath them. Eventually she scooted closer to him, wanting more of his warming spell, and he put a heavy, comforting arm around her. 

“I’m sorry, Yvelle.” After a moment she accepted his hug, sinking against him so that he had to brace his free arm against the railing. But still he hugged her, giving her a gentle squeeze. “If you ever need to talk about it, I’m here.” 

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“Can I… tell you something, Yvelle?”

She looked up at him, confused. He wore an uncomfortable expression, like he’d tasted something bitter. “What?”

“You, ah… smell very questionable.”

She blushed and pulled back, eyes wide and angry. “Ass! I haven’t had time to bathe! I’ve been a little busy.”

“Do it now. You have at least another couple hours before we arrive.”

She rolled her eyes, annoyed but somehow feeling lighter. “And where will I get the water?” He gestured broadly, wordlessly, to the ocean on all sides of them. “Then I’ll just smell like the ocean.”

“I’ll give you some kind of spell to fix that. And I’ll warm it for you too. It will help you relax, Inquisitor.” 

She sighed and crossed her arms. “Fine, but I’m not washing my hair.”

His eyes flashed dramatically and he feigned horror. “How will I ever survive in such company.”

Once they head her bath set up, he left her inside her room and stood alone in his own. She didn’t actually smell very bad. She didn’t really smell like anything. But a bath was always helpful.

if you enjoyed this fic, please hit the reblog button on this post. comments are cool but not necessary -you can leave no tags, a keysmash, or even just ‘nice’ if you’d like! thanks for your support -arden

[inquisitoracorn]

Tevinter Nights reading squealing - Part the Third

Thedas is a lovely place full of things that want to eat you. 

Feelings about the subject below!

SPOILERS for Luck in the Gardens and Hunger

I’ve been waiting for this....

Part the First, Part the Second, Part the Fourth

Luck in the gardens

- It had better be fluff after I was emotionally wrecked in the last one

- Oh first person, that's a change

- Minrathous huh? Sign me the heck up!!!

- One paragraph of Minrathous and I wanna go there so badddddddd :(((((((((

- Oh a master of disguise yes please tell me more

- Dressed like paid servants, hmmmm?? HMMMM

- Why would a game of Wicked Grace have to be kept secret?

- Wow to set up this conversation like a hidden interrogation heck that's smart

- WOOP Venatori got mentioned here we go

- Oh a FORMER Venatori helloooooo gosh this book is so entertaining

- "We all know you didn't go south with the cult to fight the Inquisition. You wouldn't be here if you had" listen this whole world and set-up belongs to the amazing writers at Bioware, so how does it end up stroking my ego??

- Caves under Minrathous once again mentioned I'm telling you this will be important!!!!

- Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehheheh

- MAE!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE'S HERE TOO

- No I'm not smiling like an idiot while reading this bit why do you ask

- How much do Tevinter mages know about Dorian's involvement with the Inquisition I wonder, if the company can admit to having Venatori contacts

- Dawwww remember when Dorian was barred from the Inquisition wine stores by Josephine?? This is so goddamn sweet

- I love Dorian I missed him so much

- "Someone I met in the south changed my mind on the matter" I love him, your honour

- This whole dynamic is fascinating

- “Drawed” dawwwww

- “Softly rotten” oh god please tell me it's not another of the abominations like we've seen already PLEASE

- “Things are rising” hahh hm hngh fuck

- Minrathous is so bloody beautiful it just makes me more and more fearful that something bad will soon happen to it

- The Chekorax took a liking to them, I see.

- Wow the run through Minrathous feels like running through a city in Assassin's Creed after getting spotted

- MIZZY to the rescue!!!

- The map case being what gave them away Dorian what were you thinking :)))

- Hehehe I spotted a typo

- "I'll keep it even if you end up dying" Oh what reassurance Mizzy is so sweet 

- Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

- Huh not a typo, this story spells Qunari as Quanari and I want to know the reason

- Also nooooooo the pretty garden!! But small price to pay I think possibly :))))

- Wait a second where the hell did they get GAATLOK?????

- Oh that was one HELL of a story for a map case how insanely fun

- Mizzy was the real MVP

- This is my first encounter with Mae outside those two or three letters in Inquisition war table missions I have been WAITING and I was not disappointed

- I swear I could read books upon books of Mae and Dorian doing awesome things in Tevinter

Hunger

- What a cryptic beginning I aim to write like that some day

- More Grey Warden suffering golly I really wonder what will happen to them....

- "Are we late?" late for what??

- Ooohhh they're all going to Weisshaupt ofc! Not that there's many left..

- "that grinning lunatic" heh I already like him :))))

- Tempest? Artificer? Both?

- Oh a Grey Warden sunshine!!! Andraste watch over him 

- My god the Anderfels is a waste land, I wonder what it looked like before the blights

- I imagine a lot like Ferelden

- Tevinter Nights: Things That Aren't Darkspawn are Also Trying to Kill You in Case You Forgot

- Bandits held a whole village hostage until they realised no one cared oh my gosh is all the Anderfels this cheery??

- These two are the ultra positive hero trope in every anime but in the most cynical place in the world the contrast is quite astounding

- It's a large bear

- Oh no please let nothing happen to Antoine

- “Suitably heroic” YES that's the right word it's like a child's hero fairy tale against the cold dead reality

- Big possessed talking bear that doesn't eat its prey - hunger demon maybe?

- Underground again

- ........werewolves?? Are werewolves back?

- They are!

- Antoine is defeating this village with his pure implacable cheer

- Oh it's the noble - starving in the woods, bad way to go

- Ohhhh please tell me he wasn't bittennnn

- Daww Evka being a Grey(t) Warden mentor

- Yassssss a trap!!

- OH NO

- A SWEET ROLL??? I CAN'T BREATH-

- Listen it is very clear to me that the weapon was a cinnamon roll JUST LIKE ANTOINE

- NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- “There's that done” ARE YOU KIDDING ME

- Oh the curse is gone is Antoine off the hook then???

- Oooffff demon still on the loose

- These two were so damn sweet it was surprisingly feel-good for how creepy it was

[inquisitoracorn]

Tevinter Nights reading screeching  - Part 2

I keep having thoughts and Tumblr can’t stop me from posting them - well it can actually but it has no reason to, I’ve been a model acorn. 

Join me again for more screeching if you wish! A lot more screeching, as there is plenty to screech about.

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4

SPOILERS for The Horror of Hormak and Callback, Maker help us, honestly.

The Horror of Hormak

- Already don't like the sound of this

- Friends there's something seriously wrong going on in Nevarra

- Man the Wardens really did lose a lot

- I'm already very sad and this is not gonna get better I bet

- "the air wants me to die" - "the outside world wants no part of these woods" - where the hell are they woah??

- Bruh the first rule of horror films is YOU DO NOT SEPARATE what are you doinggggg

- Ooofff bye horse... And bye Lesha I assume. Goddamnit Ramesh

- I'm constantly surprised by people being alive in these stories it seems - hi Lesha

- Paid the price?? Her eyes?

- Bad dream - nothing more- could mean anything - definitely not relevant in any way

- Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu

- Undead that aren't darkspawn

- I wish to know what the hell, Mr. Epler

- They're so fucked

- What is it with that smell honestly I'm afraid to ask

- I'm imagining constant night time while reading this. There's no way these woods have ever seen sunlight

- "we should split up" NO YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULDN'T  a mage and a rogue are weak on their own haven't you played any of the games???

- Oh no they have extra arms - SPIDERS WITH HANDS ANYONE

- We're getting armed things next game aren't we oh god

- Dunno why but I feel like "tunnels under Minrathous" will at some point become a useful piece of information

- NOOOOO I'm so sad for Ramesh.... This couldn't have ended happily but it's so sad thinking Jovis left knowing he wasn't going to return

- So in the beginning they called this the Nevarra forest, but I suspect it's haunted by elven magic just like Arlathan forest otherwise honestly I cannot explain all the weird

- Frankensteineized darkspawn how LOVELY

- The dead warden said "she" at one point, combine that with what little hints I’ve seen floating around on the internet and I suspect it’s Ghilan’nain?

- BAT WINGS?? REALLY??

- Somehow they seem more at ease now that they know where they're going even if it looks like a journey of doom

- "Decay and brine now overpowering" - sounds like my grandma's pickled cabbages - pickled darkspawn?

- "the person and the monster change" we're in Victor Frankenstein's secret underground lab

- Ooofffff set out on a doomed journey for love Ramesh you tragic romantic

- I'll take a moment to appreciate the mention of the mountain in the beautiful elven mosaics - everything around the wardens is completely unfamiliar, but the mountain is still the same - passage of time, rise and fall of power, such and such, etcetera. Tis nice.

- "fuck" I agrREE

- You know those random pieces of plastic you'd find as a child with tiny dents in it that showed two different pictures as you moved it slightly left and right? That's what that mosaic makes me think of and it's friggin cool

- "where the creature's head should be" NO I KNOW WHAT'S COMING DON'T DO THIS

- "a scream of insectal surprise" is new

- Goddamn it's still alive after a mountain was dropped on it

- OH THE DWARVEN CHARGES THANK FUCK

- I need an explanation for why they were left there - precaution?

- Eleven.....good lor......

- What a horrifying journey of horror... I've never felt so very sad for the Wardens... 

- There was that codex entry in Inquisition? “The Maker smiles sadly on his Grey Wardens”

Callback

- SUTHERLAND!!!! And SKYHOLD in the same senteceeeee I wanna know what happened omg

- former adventuring company of the inquisition offffff such nostalgia

- Oh sweet they have a place??

- ...it's abandoned?..oh my heart is breaking

- “Ten thousand and one” - that paragraph really hits, it's exactly the reason the Inquisition is disbanded in my playthrough, but just hearing that acknowledged makes it seem so REAL and so very painful

- "it was too symbolic to be razed" OH MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY EVEN CONTEMPLATED - OH MY - -

- This little bit about the former Inquisition hurts me so much :((((((((

- Oh dear who's in there now??

- WHAT the helllllllllll wow honestly the world took absolutely no time to slide back into madness 

- "chairs were not tucked under the tables nor fully sideways as though someone had just stood" - killing me softlyyyyyyyyyy

- Fuckin hell Skyhold is also a horror show tear the heart out from my chest and stomp on it why don't you

- Now a wolf-dragon?? What is with the theme what is going on here what hm hmmmmm??

- Hahahahahah this is terrifying

- The heart of what was here - let's guess - does it mean the Inquisition? Solas painting the fresco? We know what the wolf with too many eyes is - can still a blade and magic - despair? Can't be

- REGRET yea that makes a lot of sense

- Solas you moody bastard you were so regretful you cursed your own fresco with it

- "no regrets" I am cryingggggg but for different reasons

- Fucking beeeeesssss I can't believe this :)))))

- How has this turned comedic????

- Rat whacking Solas's Regret in the head with chairs is a metaphor for the side of the fandom that wants to put a whoopie cushion on Patrick Weekes's chair

- I SAW THE WORD HAMMER AND I THOUGHT HARRITT

- Oh my god a reunion I am so happy

- "It looks bad but we're not done yet" listen don't threaten me with a good time

- I can't believe we're getting CABOT!!

- I can't believe we're getting Cabot character development!!!

- Throwing a fucking molotov at the demon what the hellllllllll :)))))))

- Ooooohhhhhhhh?????? I must have missed this bit of banter, Cabot and Elan??? Strangely appropriate

- Oh Sutherland, the Inquisitor would be so proud! :(((((((

- "succulent" who knew demons had a sense of humour :)))

- Ok... I need a moment

My Inquisitor even had that “I like this place, I’ve made it mine” dialogue line and goodness did I set myself up for a lot of pain with that. It will inspire much angst writing.

‘til next time!

[inquisitoracorn]

Tevinter Nights reading palpitations - Part 5

I’ve realised being easily manipulated by books can result in a lot of fun. And a lot of terror. And also feeling like a fool afterwards but that is besides the point. 

Anyway I am very disturbed. The first one left an impression. I need some calming tea.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

SPOILERS for The Wigmaker’s Job and uhh, the next one :)))

The Wigmaker's Job

- This is another person mentioned in Luck in the Gardens I remember

- Yes, Forfex

- Let's see what the wigmaker is up to

- Dunno why his talk about hair creeps me out a little bit

- OH question do they have hair growth potions in Thedas?? They must, right??

- Oh he is creepy

- Ok how is one able to recognise an altus? Do they wear specific clothing? Do they just look rich and carry staves?

- ERIMOND huh????

- The wigmaker is a Venatori??? Just how much weirder can these people get????

- The crows, eh? Excellent

- Jeez no need to draw blood to make a point

- I'm sorry Lucanis DellaMORTE? I already like this one - oh so you're scared now?? I'm intrigued

- This man can hear a card up a sleeve...wow

- I don't know what it is about arguing over fashion that amuses me but I just love it 

- Illario's not gonna do very well in this one I suspect - so far he's been vain, careless and jealous

- Listen, killing people for listening in sounds like a bad idea - what if, just once, it isn't someone evil

- Ok not killed just pinned to the wall - I read “mustached” and became worried instantly :))))

- Oh Venatori ok Dorian not the only mustached mage in Tevinter good to know

- Signed A - is that Aelia? Cause then we're done with her already... I hope

- Oh it's Ambrose, I seeeee

- Haaahhh poor trolled Illario - this was....ilarious

- I like this dynamic I hope they both make it

- Who????? Is the mysterious benefactor???? I'd like to know right now please

- "he's weird" thank you Lucanis for sharing my exact thoughts

- Are you joking - you have to pass a fashion contest to get in?? Jfc

- If we see more of Lucanis in the future, I look forward to the fanfics of how he got out of that orgy :)))))

- Minrathous Fashion Week! Featuring all of humanity's sins in one place!

- So the page ends on "good old fashioned debauch-".............................. He fell, didn't he

- Ah no he didn't, shame :)))

- Time to shine Illario

- I'm with Lucanis, I cannot believe that flirting worked :)))

- "like a loose cravat" ok that's a very creepy way to say it

- Illario stealing the grand finale like that 

- Nursery rhyme.

- When do they kill this bastard? I want him killed already

- EW this book is a horror carrousel what the FUCK

- I don't think I've ever read anything as disturbing holy crap

- Red lyrium had to be in this of course

- Holy fuck what's going onnnnnn

- I'm with him on the revenge bit but LUCANIS IS THIS WISE GOOD SIR

- Not wise, not wise at all and I hope there won't be repercussions (laughing as I typed that)

- Can't believe the weirdo is getting so worked up by a foreign language of all things :)))))

- A fucking sharp hair spider

- Lucanis you've used up all of the Crows' luck allowances for this one

- Ooop.....tense family drama

- The Venatori are made up exclusively of weirdos

- I am, once again, very afraid - Fearmetre: who fucking knows anymore

Genitivi Dies in the End

- Promising :))))

- Oh wait what???? Holdup. So first of all, PHILLIAM is in this??? Relative of the Trevelyans who probably ran away from a noble lifestyle in order to seek a life full of adventure and discovery? That Philliam???? Philliam I-plan-to-use-you-as-an-inspiration-for-my-Trevelyan - that Philliam?? I need to take out a notebook

- Wait how old is Philliam

- This fiction of fiction of fictional reality really confuses me

- Just say "boiled leather", jeez :))))

- So he's fairly young then, hmmm

- I'm gonna turn off my music and read this bit again I'm having a bit of trouble understanding who is dressed in what and who says what

- He's being hired by the Inquisition??? Omg this is so great I am so hype

- I can't believe they worked this picture into the story:

- Is the Inquisition really saying "writers, assemble"??????? I am so. here. for. it.

- Oh no awkward exes :))))

- HAAH loving this writer drama so much

- “The eve of the last month of their lives”... What is the purpose of this

- Oooh I see the frame now, how very fun

- Okok so they're writing the story of what the Inquisition has found out to popularize it

- The Genitivi vs Philliam beef is excellent

- My best friend did history at uni and this "facts" versus "accessibility" debate was always a big one

- I wonder if Laudine means "green" as in "jealous"

- I feel for poor Genitivi, his life's work, so many tomes and all of them nonsense

- There was that extremely sweet moment and then - fuck not the Antaam just PLEASE NOT THE ANTAAM

- Mouth :)))))))))

- His full name is giving me feels for Trevelyan family dynamics

- Genitivi wtf my good man do you know nothing about the qunari?? :))))

- OH LAUDINE IS BADASS

- This chase is TENSE

- OH NO HE GOT HIT THEY ALL GOT HIT

- THAT was a wiiiilllddddd chase

- OK SO THEY FAKED THEIR DEATHS WTF

- And also ok so again how long into the future is this??

- Oh my god =)))))))))))

- He got me here he really did

- I was wondering how poor Mateo could keep such balance to cut off so many horse reins

- Among other things

THESE ARE ALL JUST SO FUN TO READ. 

- I feel for Philliam feeling insecure at any editor comments I- honestly it’s such a mood

- It's so funny to see them trying to decide whether they are dead or not

- Philliam's quill and jaw dropped - AS WELL AS MINE

- I knew about that bit but STILL can't believe I'm reading this :))))))

- PPPPFTTTT “point taken”

- This was lovely, very fun to read especially after the last one

They’re great stories I love this book.

[inquisitoracorn]

Tevinter Nights reading face-palming - Part why am I a manipulabile fool 4

I swear I’d probably be dead if I lived in Thedas I’m so easy to fool.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

SPOILERS for Murder by Death Mages and The Streets of Minrathous

Murder by Death Mages

- Ominous

- The dragon statues of Tevinter?

- Oh it's Nevarra again of courseeee

- Yeeee give some love to Cass please!

- Wait is this a flashback? Trying to remember the war table missions....is it the one from the Qunari where we don't know who the assassin is?

- I sense the potential for character growth - if this is another story of how the Inquisition positively shaped characters I am so here for it

- At least I hope it's a happy example :)))))

- "the matter is simpler than you're making it out to be" indeed what a Cassandra thing to say :)))

- Blood magic for eternal youth? Maleficent?

- Antonia's choice of study venue has major bringing laptop to a café energy

- Hmmmm do we trust Antonia

- The layers of performance in this whole investigator - noble dynamic tho - he listens in, nobles notice, he pretends they don't notice, nobles make a show of noticing, and so notoriety and efficiency is preserved despite him being so obvious - ah court intrigue

- Here's the thing tho if Antonia knows who can find the truth about the death of her friend, why hasn't she asked him?

- Daw she sounds nice damnit

- Who is this Reindhart person then

- Cyrros is an elf!! How cool

- Something here feels staged

- Ooohhh teamm????

- "the Maker himself sends me such a capable ally" I wonder if he knows she's an agent of the Inquisition

- Noble parties can never be boring can they

- Oh poor Nicholas having his party ruined with murder - also I'm excited about Cyrros

- Team!

- Ok starting to read Sydony in Cassandra's voice jesus they could be sisters

- Oh seeing the horror spell in action!! It was quite a frustrating ability in Inquisition when you always had to chase frightened enemies around (sorry Dorian)

- Oh the poor servant :c

- Oh no there's more things going wrong

- WHAT whyyyyy why why what huh what heh

- Reindhart????? Employed the assassin????? Who hit Sydony???? What

- HE IS THE ASSASSIN?????? Oh dear noooooo Cyrros I trusted you damnit!! - unless

- And then what's Antonia's part in this

- So it's not him?? Hmmm

- Oh dear

- OOOFFFFFFFFFF that's a damn mean spell holy crap

- It very much sounds like there's something missing somewhere what if Cyrros was framed

- Oh SHE DID, damn

- Well that was a power move

- Ohhh Sydony what are you planningggg

- LISTEN WAS SHE SUCCESSFUL????

- AND WHAT WAS IN THE LETTER

- DON'T END LIKE THIS

- I'm quite pleased she ended up not doing this for the Inquisition, but for her mentor - in the end the Inquisition uses people too, under this ideal of restoring order - people have joined the Inquisition voluntarily under this ideal, because of their own stories and convictions, so it's nice to see it reaffirmed

The Streets of Minrathous

- Are we back?? I'm hyped

- "That's fanatics for you" how sad and funny at the same time :))))

- Is Quentin the same person with the Venatori contacts in Luck in the Gardens? Imma check

- No he isn't, but I just read the line "Otho's having trouble with his nephew again" huh look at that, a hidden reference

- What a pragmatic narrator who are they

- Oh Quentin sounds naïve I feel bad for him - nawww

- What Hour, friends?? The hour of the witches? Murder time? And what was the fool trying to do

- Ohhh Quentin was anti-slavery?? How did he end up with the Venatori??

- Don't say murdered "Murdered", she said  ppppppppffffffffffffffffffff

- A ritual maybe??

- Neve wants a satisfying ending just like all of us plebs

- “There went the sympathy” - I think I'll enjoy being in Neve's head :)))))

- Neve says it would be too convenient for this to be a place where the Veil is naturally thin - but didn't she also note that it's an old house likely to have used blood magic in the past? How long does it take for the Veil to...heal?...from blood magic

- No I can't believe.....I can't believe they have street prophets....No listen... I've been stopped by street missionaries with leaflets before.....what would they say??? Do you have a moment to discuss the creation of the next imperium???? Our lord and saviour Coryph- wait sorry *pulls out marker pen and scratches leaflet*

- Oh he IS saying things, I just stopped before I could read them - as awkward as I expected

- I'm having a blast at Venatori suffering... If they were ridiculous before, imagine now

- Oh dear, a madman, tell us what’s going on sir

- Who is this man and why is he helping and what is the thing and what is the Hour??

- Noooooooooo food waste is the saddest thing in this whole chapter

- .........dragon with four wings....... I don't like the sound of this

- Oh dear oh my oh what is this oh hell

- Oh fuck of course she couldn't have the necklace for too long

- Uuuuu not Venatori

- So SHE is Venatori?? I'm so confused

- Well, shit

- Whaaat the shit is going onnnn

- Oh for fuck's sake I can't believe we're dealing with Cory's shit still

- And yes indeed, tunnels under Minrathous was important information that was used a lot earlier than I expected

- Who sealed the damned monster there??? Also... Just ... I don't like this :))))))))

- Awwww Quentin had been an informant for the Inquisition?? :c

- Really shouldn't have gone there alone

- RANA I always had faith in you

- FINALLY

- Healing magic stopping a blood magic ritual hell yeah :))))))

- Neve you poor thing just get some sleep already please

- Awww Otho did care, in his own, twisted way

- This story left me sad and worried. I was already worried for Minrathous, now I'm simply bracing for disaster

Minrathous as a whole:

[shift-shaping]

For DWC: Prostitute AU? Thank you!

Glimpses: Revolutionary

@dadrunkwriting

Rating: M

Genre: Romance 

Pairing: Solas x Surana 

Warnings: Mention of sex work 

Full disclosure this is not what you are expecting. It was waay harder to write this than I expected, so I decided to just have fun with it lmao.

She looked him up and down, unimpressed. “I don’t normally do this.”

“Nor do I.” The man before her glanced down at his clothes, then sighed. “It has been a… long day. Ir abelas.”

“I’m not Dalish. Speaking elvhen doesn’t impress me or anything.” She pursed her lips and leaned into the wall, raising her voice over the cheering around them. “Besides, I don’t even normally do outside work. Or penetration. None of that.”

“I assure you, that is not what I am looking for.” He paused, then held out his hand. Another crisp twenty lay inside, and she hesitated a moment before sighing and taking it.

“Fine. I don’t do toilet things either, understand? Or anal.”

“As I said, I am not looking for anything like that.”

She glanced at the dancer on the stage and shifted her weight, trying to assess whether this man was safe. “When do you need me?”

“Preferably tomorrow night. I’ll pay for a taxi from your place to mine.”

“I’m not telling you where I live.”

“Fair enough. A place near where you live, then.”

She considered this, then nodded. “Okay. The corner of Cherry and Dusting.” He nodded and took a note in his phone, but she spoke up before he could leave. “You… you’re real weird, you know?”

“Am I?” There was a ghost of a smirk on her face -or maybe she imagined it. 

She nodded again, crossing her arms. “You come here at the same time every Thursday, buy exactly two Negronis, watch Sparks and I dance, tip us generously, and then… leave. You don’t even talk to anyone else. And you are far too dressed up for this. It’s not exactly a high-class place,” she added, eyeing a drunken regular stumbling about while one of the waitresses tried to calm him down. “But… tomorrow night. Okay. I’ll be at the corner at… what time exactly?”

“Six-thirty.”

“Okay.” She took out her phone and put in a reminder. “Do you want me to… wear anything specific?”

“Do you have a black cocktail dress?”

She blushed slightly, not expecting the question, and then laughed. “Um, sure. And… shoes?”

He smirked, genuinely this time. “Whatever you are most comfortable in.”

“Well, alright. Should I eat beforehand?”

“No, we can get something later.”

“Are you just… paying me to go on a date?” She raised an eyebrow, watching him carefully. He wasn’t her type, not really, but he had to be someone’s. His face wasn’t entirely displeasing, and he had a nice voice. 

“Ha! No, I am not. I am, however, asking you to trust me. You have my word that I will ask nothing of you I would not do myself.”

“The word of… a stranger who visits the strip club I work in.”

He nodded, more relaxed now than he had been before. “Six-thirty, Eirwen.”

“Six-thirty, right. And… you never told me your name.” 

He started to back away from her, heading for the door. “Solas.”

“Solas,” she said to herself, still confused as she watched him go.

…

She met him at seven, after taking a taxi ride from her place to an absurdly nice events center, and wore a tight black minidress with short white heels and a glimmering silver necklace. Her thick black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, with the bulk of it sticking out from the elastic like a halo around her head. 

At first she was confused. He’d given her nothing to expect and yet somehow she was still surprised. She wandered outside, looking for some sign of what she was doing there, but only found posters of upcoming events that all looked far too nice for her. There were acrobats and singers and comedians giving performances within a month, all with bright red ‘sold out’ stamps. She couldn’t imagine someone actually buying tickets to see her and only her. One of the posters showed a beautiful pair of dancers, a man and a woman, dressed in stunning clothes. The man dipped the woman low, and the words above the pair read: “Stunning spectacle!” It was an advertisement for a dancing contest, and apparently all of the competitors were world-class and chosen specifically for that night.

She traced the woman’s outline with her finger and paused when she got to her head. No pointed ears. Of course.

“Eirwen?” She turned to see the man from her club standing before her, hands held behind his back, dressed in an impeccable three-piece suit. Her eyes widened and it must have been obvious she was gawking because he chuckled. “A pleasure to see you. I’m very happy you decided to come by.”

“Of course. I keep my word,” she said, measured and careful. “What are we doing here?”

He said nothing, just nodded at the door. Though confused, she followed him between a pair of great Tevinter-style columns and into the building. It was quiet inside, except for the soft clicking of her heels, and her heart picked up the longer the silence grew between them. But she couldn’t think of anything to say. She was no high-class escort, and somehow she felt anyone who saw them would know immediately that she was a ‘stripper.’ Normally she had no shame over what she did, but here? This was not her place -not a place for any elf, really, but he didn’t seem intimidated at all.

They finally stopped walking outside a door tucked away in a dark hall at the backside of the building. He fished a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the door, then gestured for her to go inside. “After you, lethallan.”

Her footsteps echoed in the darkness as she stepped inside, the sound moving so far she knew they had a huge space. “Solas, I-” But as she began to speak bright lights clanged to life above her, and she found herself staring at a wide, tall mirror that covered the entirety of one wall.

This was a dance studio, the kind she hadn’t been in since she was very small. And even then, this was much nicer than where she’d practiced. 

She looked at him, confused, as he walked to the large stereo system in the corner of the room. “I don’t understand.”

A gentle classical tune came on, something graceful and soft. He stood slowly and came to face her, holding out his arm as he approached her. “Dance with me.”

After a moment of hesitation she nodded and took his hand. He put one hand on her waist and closed his fingers around hers in the other. Then he took the first step, and she followed. It was easy, a slow song meant for practice, but it seemed to please him. She was still terribly lost, but before she could think to ask another question he spoke up. “I apologize for the lack of information, Eirwen. I did not want to scare you away, or seem presumptuous.”

“I… what is this?”

They stepped together, then apart. “You are a beautiful dancer. Easily the best in your club, possibly one of the best untrained dancers I have ever seen.”

“You’re blinded by tits,” she said sharply, suddenly drawing him in close.

He laughed. “Then surely I would have offered this to many women, yes? You are talented in a way none of the other girls are. You are enticing.” She swallowed hard, not sure what to make of that, but kept step with him easily. “Even now, you learn so quickly…” He spun her and she moved like a top, returning back to his arms in a tight twirl. 

“What am I doing here, Solas? What is this all about?”

“You saw the posters outside, yes?” She nodded. “There is a dance competition here, in a month’s time, and my previous partner is no longer interested.”

“And why is that?”

He paused, faltering for the first time. “The officials do not take kindly to elves, lethallan.” They moved swiftly now, picking up with the pace of the music. “She was scared. But you…” He dipped her low, making her gasp, then pulled her up sharply. “I know you are unafraid.”

“And h-how do you know that?”

“Two months ago I saw you punch a patron square in the mouth for calling your friend a knife-ear. Three weeks ago, you threw a glass at a man who threatened to cut off your ears. And last week, I recall you drunkenly telling another elvhen patron that, ah, how do I put it… ‘all these shems can shove off, they don’t know good dancing when it’s in their lap.’“

“Aha…” She blushed again and laughed nervously, looking away from him. “That, ah… that does sound like me.”

“Do not be bashful.” He shook his head, tucking a hand under her chin and tilting her face to look at him. “Think of it: two elves, showing up a dozen world-class human dancers, on their own stage.”

She smiled softly. “It is… enticing.”

He spun her again, suddenly, and she tripped with a sharp gasp. He caught her, low to the ground, and flashed a smirk that sent a rush of heat between her thighs. “More than that. It is revolutionary.”

Her eyes widened and he helped her stand, the song coming to a fading end. “You’re sure about this? You don’t think we’ll just embarrass ourselves?”

He shook his head. “Not after some more practice.”

“And will you keep… paying me this much?”

He laughed and nodded. “Of course. Dancing is your work, is it not? You deserve to be paid for such expertise.”

She blushed again and her eyes darted away. It was a tantalizing offer, of course. Even if the shems did know she was a different kind of dancer, what did she care? Perhaps it would humiliate them even further to know they had her dancing with their fancy shem ladies. 

She nodded slowly and bit her lip, then looked up at him. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

He smiled and squeezed her fingers, just enough so she knew he was still holding her hand. “Then let the revolution begin.”

if you enjoyed this fic, please hit the reblog button on this post. comments are cool but not necessary -you can leave no tags, a keysmash, or even just 'nice' if you'd like! thanks for your support -arden

[shift-shaping]

For Eirwen's bday: Solrana partake in birthday festivities including but not limited to: a giant frilly cake, fireworks from Dagna, some sort of gift and dancing...

Glimpses: Seeming Right

Rating: T

Genre: Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Solas x Surana

Warnings: Possibly too cute. Talk to your doctor about whether this fic is right for you.

“No! Who let her do this?!” 

“The Inquisitor, Seeker Pentaghast. She personally saw to it that the charges were laid.”

Cassandra looked between the terrified soldier and the smirking elf at her side, then groaned loudly and threw her hands in the air. “If Dagna sets the battlements on fire, I am not responsible.”

“Mm, it might be hard to set stone on fire, Cassandra,” Surana said, leaning in toward her. 

Cassandra side-eyed the woman and shook her head. “You know what I mean, Warden-Commander.”

Surana just smiled at her and looked up at the fading dusk sky. Cassandra dismissed the soldier and stood beside the Hero, both taking in the stars above. For a long time they were quiet, simply appreciating the quiet atmosphere of the night and watching the scattered clouds. 

“I do not say it very often, but… I am glad you are here, Warden.”

Surana glanced at her, smiling. “Are you? I seem to frustrate you more than anything.”

“You are not… what the stories have said. But that is not bad. You are needed here, even if… it is not in the way we expected.”

Surana laughed and shook her head, turning to Cassandra with a smile. “I have heard that sentiment before.”

Cassandra smiled slightly, despite herself, but suddenly shifted back into a deep frown. “I am sorry Solas is not here. The mission was not intended to take them so long.”

“I know,” Surana sighed, still smiling. “It’s not his fault, not anyone else’s.” She was, of course, disappointed that he wasn’t around for her birthday, but it was okay. He’d sent a very apologetic letter and she knew he’d return in the next couple of days.

A loud sound, like an explosion, broke through her thoughts and she turned just in time to see the sky light up with brilliant tendrils of blue and green magic. Surana smiled up at the fireworks, the colors gleaming in her pale grey eyes.

“Happy birthday, Surana,” Cassandra said, once there was a break in the earth-shattering noises. 

“Thank you, Seeker.”

The festivities continued throughout the night, with loud music and dancing and plenty of cake. Surana received gifts ranging from a legendarily rare Tevinter port from Dorian to a lumpy clay cat figure from Sera. All of it was wonderful, and despite her lover’s notable absence she felt like part of a family. 

It had been a long time since she felt like that, if she ever had.

Once the festivities died down and most people were either too drunk to stand or sleeping somewhere, she returned to her room. Technically it was after midnight, and therefore no longer her birthday, but still she brought back her gifts and opened one of her new wine bottles to celebrate with herself.

There was a spot in her window where, if she positioned herself just right, she could sit in the midst of her plants quiet comfortably and see down into the courtyard below. It was quiet now, as if the whole world had gone to sleep, and as she sipped from her glass she watched the first hint of dawn peek out from the horizon. 

A knock sounded from her door and her ears pricked. She must have forgotten something in the tavern, and this was probably one of the many workers bringing it back to her. “Come in!” She called out, using her magic to quickly unlock the door.

The floorboards creaked in a way that made her memory jolt, and her brows furrowed as a familiar shape entered her darkened room. She smiled widely and put down her glass, hopping out of the window before throwing herself into Solas’s arms as he hastily closed the door. 

He held her tightly, wrapping his arms around her waist, and buried his face in her neck. “Ir abelas, ma vhenan. I did not mean to take so long.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said quickly, hugging him close and breathing in his scent. “You’re here now. I missed you so much.” 

He nodded and kissed her neck quickly, making her giggle. “Happy belated birthday, my love. I wish I could have been here earlier.”

She pulled back, looking at him. “It’s really, really okay. I’m just so glad you’re here now.”

There was a soft, tender smile on his face, and he gently stroked her cheek. She’d seen that expression before, that face that said everything she needed to see. “I got you something.”

She laughed and shook her head. “You didn’t need to.”

“I did. I wanted to. Close your eyes, and give me your hands.” 

As she did, she noticed he didn’t have his backpack on. Whatever he got had to be rather small. Some kind of stone, maybe? Still, she shut her eyes tightly and held out her hands, smiling when she felt his smooth fingers under hers. He took her left hand and very gently slid something on to her ring finger, and before he told her to open her eyes she found herself staring at a beautiful, ornate ring of blue and gold.

She stared at him, blank-faced, eyes wider than the moon. Pure nothingness ran through her brain, as if her thoughts had been burned to ashes by this simple gesture. He looked anxious, still holding her hand, and for a few stressful seconds they just watched each other, waiting for anything.

“I…” he started, then stopped, swallowing hard. She’d never seen him like this before, at such a loss for words. Even at his most distressed, he always had something. Now, in the heavy silence of the night, they were both rendered mute.

His fingers tightened sightly around hers and he shook his head, pulling her in before kissing her lips, slow and deep, tracing his tongue at the entrance of her mouth as if trying to coax the words from her throat. With one hand he held her by the small of her back, bringing her to him, eyes closed tightly. She felt the desperation in his touch, the nerves in his kiss, and when the spell of shock finally broke she leaned into him and kissed him back.

When they pulled apart it was only barely, their eyes locked on each other. “I love you,” he said, finally, his voice quiet. “More than I ever thought possible.”

Her eyes fell from his face to the ring, and she struggled to say anything. “This is… this is so beautiful, Solas.”

“You like it, then?”

“I love it. And you, I just…” She shook her head, still looking at the veins of deep blue stone spread through the gold band like the branches of an alien tree. “I’m not sure what this-”

“You do not need to be,” he said quickly, squeezing her hand. “I mean it to be… I am- not sure. It’s… it seemed right.”

“You do know… you know what- what this…”

“Yes.” His voice was firm, though still she saw fear in his eyes. “It is not… one of my people’s customs, but the sentiment is- is what I wish to express.”

She smiled softly, feeling tears stinging her eyes. “Oh Solas…”

“You will- you will keep it, then?”

She laughed and nodded before quickly kissing him again -then again, when she realized once wasn’t enough. That made him relax some, but not enough for her liking. “Of course I will. I love it. I love you. I love you so much. Thank you.”

He smiled then. Though the tension wasn’t gone, he seemed almost able to accept this, to accept her sincerity. “Happy birthday, ma’lin.”

She kissed him once more, then stood on her toes and pushed her forehead into his. “Ar lath ma vhenan.”

He smiled, his hand bringing her body flush against his, eyes closing in relief. “Ar lath ma tas, Surana.”

if you enjoyed this fic, please hit the reblog button on this post. comments are cool but not necessary -you can leave no tags, a keysmash, or even just 'nice' if you'd like! thanks for your support -arden