#tevinter nights. i will never forget what you did for me. and the crows.

[mohntilyet]

getting surprised that people think illario is bad at what he does. i have to remind myself he’s hilariously bad at lying in the game and if that’s all you’re going off from then it does seem like he was born yesterday. not everyone has an extensive rewrite where he gets to be more competent. “why doesn’t anyone believe in him” says tumblr user who has convinced themselves using only wigmaker’s job, delirium and prayer

[sternentreue]

@pixiedurango's Antivan Postal Service delivered a letter all the way from Minrathous to Treviso! This is Enzo's answer to Cara's letter, set up post game. Enjoy!

Transcript under the cut:

Dearest sister,

thank you for support, but you don’t have to, really (tell Lucanis he finally needs to put that guilt to rest, he has repaid it multiple times). Things are finally starting to look up in Minrathous (as best as it can get here). Since Archon Pavus officially took office, reconstruction efforts in the city and especially in Dock Town have rapidly increased. He released extra funds to provide food and shelter for the poorest and the new tax reform, effective immediately, already improved life for most citizens. Most I say, of course the richest magisters complain about it and there are still uprisings here and there. I’m sure you have heard. So money isn’t the issue, it’s time and resources.

Neve is working tirelessly to find people that have been reported missing during the siege, although I fear that most of them are dead, but she insists (don’t ask me where that new optimism is coming from, might be my bad influence). I also have my hands full here. I have been hunting for scattered Venatori with Tarquin - the lad turned out to be good company when he can leave the books and archives behind and trade them for a sword and I think he finally swallowed his grudge against us. He also seems rather pleased that we are tasked with cleansing the templar order from corrupted members. To no one’s surprise there is a huge overlap between the Venatori and the latter. We are not allowed to kill them, however, they are supposed to get a fair trial. Pity.

Anyway, enough with the politics, the most important news: we adopted a cat! The repairs on the cat café are going well and some cats took a liking to us, especially Neve. The little one followed us home one day and refused to leave, so we took her in and she just stayed. I wanted to call her Frosty, but Neve is sceptical. I wonder if she will be as indecisive on names when it’s time to talk about our own children. Not that I have been thinking  Please forget you’ve read that, I’m too lazy to start anew.

Our apartment is coming along, too, even if slowly. There is still a lot to do, of course. Our main focus right now is making the city somewhat habitable, so we just fall into bed every night and don’t use it much, yet (the apartment, not the bed, sicko). Which is by the way the only thing we have so far - a bed. And two chairs and a table, but that’s more than most people have in Dock Town. Did you know Neve almost broke up with me about this? I offered to pay for the place and she didn’t talk to me for a whole week. Called me a rich prick! There’s a first time for everything. She feels guilty that we have the means to even have a place of our own, but I didn’t forget that she lost everything, too. I have all these savings rotting in the bank of Antiva, how else should I spend them, if not on us? But she finally accepted it, I think, slowly. One step at a time, like you said.

So you can tell there is still a lot to do before Minrathous will be the same as before, though it never will be to be honest, which is good! I wonder what this means for our future but I do know that I’m going to stay here. I miss Antiva, terribly, but I can’t go back to being a Crow, not after everything that happened, and not with the people that rely on me here now. My skills are put to good use within the Threads and of course there’s Neve. I can’t let her down, not a second time. I hope you understand. I hope Viago will understand, too. I haven’t told him yet and I pray that he has stopped frisking your letters or this will be my last to you. I don’t know how to tell him, for now I keep hiding in Tevinter but at some point he will send for me to reveal his portentous plans. I too have a feeling that he’s up to something, now that the Antaam are gone and there’s somewhat peace. And I fear that this new era will also bring some infighting among the houses. There’s currently a lot of attention on our house and I don’t like it. Be safe, not everyone is well-disposed to us.

Which reminds me, how are the preparations for Lucanis’ inauguration ceremony coming along? I hope you’re going for a big masquerade, I miss those! And of course I also miss the parties you mentioned, we could have one after, a private one with only friends! Show these lightweights a true Antivan booze-up. Remember that one time we ran out of wine and had to sneak into Viago’s private wine cellar? I think Teia saved our asses back then, as she always does. I miss her, please give her a hug from me!

Anyway, I am looking forward to your visit! And I gladly take you up on your offer to send some goods from home. I’d appreciate anything that’s not fried fish and bad coffee to be honest, anything that you can get your hands on that’s not too expensive or inconvenient to bring along (though you know me, chocolate is the fastest way to my heart). 

I’m leaving Treviso in your capable hands. Say hello to Lucanis from me, please!

Yours, Enzo (annoy Viago from me or he’ll get dull)

PS: Neve asked me to attach some of her case notes leading to Treviso, maybe you can give her some insights on any strange occurrences if you find any.

[jewish-gay-elves]

Doomed Love 1/?

AO3 Link

Zevran and Daolin have an odd relationship. These documents were collected to try to understand what exactly they were doing after the Fifth Blight and the destruction of Amaranthine.

Words: 3431, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of the Daolin Tabris: The Family You Don't Choose

Fandoms: Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age (Video Games) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Zevran Arainai, Male Tabris, Male Warden, Anders Relationships: Zevran Arainai/Warden, Zevran Arainai/Tabris, Zevran Arainai/Male Warden, Zevran Arainai/Male Tabris Additional Tags: this is a bunch of like letters or just documentation following my warden post-blight, and post amaranthine, idk how long it's going to be, Dialogue Drabble, talking about the Taint

[Recovered drafts found in the desk of the Warden Commander of Ferelden, Vigil’s Keep 9:36 Dragon]

Dear Love,

I remember being nineteen summers when we first met. It was hot and sticky in that little crevice between hills which probably wasn’t hot at all compared to Antiva for you. I was worried when that human came up to us, Cynbayd had already given a warning growl and Alistair was bristling as she delivered her plea. Alistair grabbed my shoulder perhaps to try and warn me, but I wasn’t feeling the warmest towards him at the time. Still was having night terrors about Vaughan even months after what happened. Didn’t want to help her but didn’t want him touching me more. Just to spite him I shrugged him off, nocked an arrow, and followed the girl. Instead of, well whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t the sight of you standing there waiting, along with that blasted tree collapsing above us.

The fight that followed may have been one of the most difficult I fought in that year. Alistair probably still has a bruise from where you ended up punching him. Though you seemed to be very thankful that his shield didn’t bash your nose into your skull. Looking back it is a wonder that none of us died, I think about that everyday now it seems. It may be because I keep hearing the story repeated in these taverns I find on especially cold nights. Regaled around tables over the warm piss for ale everyone seems to serve.

Remember after the final battle, when my father came up to us, the face you made may be my favorite thus far. How he demanded we sit down for a proper meal, and wouldn’t let you slink away after I said you were the reason fate hadn’t let me get married. Wasn’t surprised when he also demanded the whole story. Glad we glossed over how we actually met. A horde of mercenaries and a trained Antivan Crow, that certainly would have given my father a heart attack had we told him. Glad he thinks you’re a charming devil. You’ll look out for him whenever you’re in Denerim won’t you? Afraid I won’t be in the region for quite some time. Won’t be in the country for quite some time.

That leads to why I actually wrote this letter. You know me, can’t get to the point if my life depended on it. I’m leaving Ferelden my love. Sounds silly to write it like that when you haven’t been here in what feels like years. Without you, I’m not home. Regardless, Ferelden is all I’ve ever known. Not sure for how long I’ll be gone. Not sure if I’ll be back. Not sure if I’ll be able to write as often. Wouldn’t want to bore you with details, just know that I will think of you every day. I think of you daily anyway, but I don’t want you to forget that. I love you, Zevran.

Yours,

Daolin

[The bottom of the draft is rumpled from a small amount of water damage]

[Discarded crumpled bits of paper found amongst the Warden-Commander’s personal belongings 9:41 Dragon]

Grand Enchanter Fiona

-Must find more records of her time as a Warden.

-Montsimmard

-Apparently now serves the Inquisition.

-Redcliffe? Skyhold?

Avernus

-Blood Magic

-DO NOT ATTEMPT

Must figure something out, Weisshaupt will have nothing. Nothing for me to look at, at any rate. Why would they want to cure the Taint if they know that is what keeps half of their men with the Wardens? Zevran is starting to wonder why I haven’t told him what’s going on. He won’t believe I’m acting on Weisshaupt’s orders much longer. He’s not stupid. So clever, too clever. Just knows me too well to ask questions yet. Just need to tell him what is really going on. That I’m scared of the Calling. That I’m scared to become a ghoul. I’m scared I’ll end up hurting him. I’m so scared.

[The rest of the paper grows increasingly scratched on and marked out, as if ideas were written and quickly discarded in anger and frustration]

[A page torn out of the apostate Anders’ journal dating around 9:43 Dragon]

Andraste’s flaming knickers I thought I was being careful. I got found today. Thankfully it was just the Warden Commander. Though I don’t know what he wants so I may not have much to be thankful for soon. The Commander is a ranger however, that may be how he was able to find me despite my best efforts to travel unnoticed. He hasn’t explained why he was looking for me yet. Just came into the cave where I was, drenched to the bone, and demanded I build up a fire. He always did remind me of a cat, especially his hatred for being wet or cold. I remember we were in the Blackmarsh and all of his orders were practically spat at us. Didn’t particularly help things when that spirit showed up in Kristoff’s body. To be fair, Kristoff wasn’t actually using it anymore, but he had a point that the dead deserved respect.

Regardless, we are as far from the Blackmarsh as can be. Practically skirting around the borders of the Tevinter Imperium at this point. There aren’t as many Venatori around here, I suspect they’ve retreated back to their hidey holes in the Magisterium. Though I imagine that even if there were Venatori here, they wouldn’t be for long. In this kind of weather the Commander’s rage wouldn’t be limited to just darkspawn. However, I had heard stories from Oghren that suggest the Commander might not need more reasons to wish death on Tevinters. Apparently they had a slave operation running out of Denerim’s alienage during the Fifth Blight.

Almost makes me think of Fenris. Or maybe Isabela. But then again, Isabela didn’t grow up knowing those people who were about to become slaves. She still freed them though.

The Warden-Commander is starting to unnerve me. He hasn’t said a word since he got here. He was never one for words in the first place but this is getting creepy. He’s just been standing guard near the cave entrance, as if he were waiting on something. Or someone?

[The entry ends there to be picked up an undetermined amount of time later]

Turns out my guess about waiting was correct. Not long after I wrote that, a mabari started barking. Very, very, close to the cave. Scared the piss out of me, but the Warden-Commander just laughed at me but then eagerly stood outside in the rain looking for the mabari. Actually went out into the rain willingly for it. I’ve never seen that man step into the rain for anything less than total annihilation or the threat of darkspawn.

Could barely see a thing through the thick downpour but where I thought the Warden-Commander was he bent down to see this lump I assumed and then the mabari stopped making noise. Then another humanoid figure appeared next to where the Warden-Commander was crouched, I almost shouted a warning but then he surged to his feet and collided with the other person, tackling them into the mud. I almost ran out there assuming that he was being attacked but over the sound of the rain I heard loud laughing, laughing of the kind I hadn’t heard in over a decade.

After standing out in the rain for a moment longer, holding on to my staff, the one Hawke had given me, I started trying to get closer, seeing the lump jumping around where the Warden-Commander had gone down. I called out to the Commander, trying to be quiet so that we wouldn’t get anymore attention drawn to us. The lump stopped and I could finally see that it must have been that mabari who was making all the noise. The laughing died down and then I saw an arm reach into the air and wave from where I guess the Commander was on the ground.

Eventually I gave up and headed back inside the cave. They have to come back inside sooner or later, and knowing the Commander it’ll probably be sooner. I should stop writing, he hates it when it seems like I’m not paying attention.

[The rest of the page is torn and any sentences that are written are incomplete.]