#tlsd fanfic

[fenharel-apologist94]

Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams

Solas/m!Lavellan

It is here!! The first chapter of Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams - a tea shop/college AU to give me (and maybe you) a break from the chaos of NADAF. I’m thinking of working on both as my heart desires, since they’re both such different feels, and I’m so excited for both!!

Summary: Kieran was not prepared to meet Solas - the infamous and reclusive TA for Professor Flemeth’s Magic Theory and Application class - in person, in his tea shop. Much less the same academic program.

[fenharel-apologist94]

Solas’ gaze drifted ahead of them as he lost himself in thought. “There’s so much to learn about the Fade, and so few have ever truly done it justice. To play a role in developing that knowledge…I can think of no greater calling.”

Kieran had no doubt that Solas believed that to be true. From the conviction in his voice, to the bright gleam of his eyes, he could see that it was.

“I envy that,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry?” Solas refocused on him, and he was abruptly aware that he had spoken out loud. Shit.

“I-I mean, it’s amazing you’ve found something you’re so passionate about,” he stammered. Without thinking, he added honestly, “I can’t say I feel that way about anything myself.”

Several moments passed before Kieran realized that Solas had drawn to a halt. Confused as to what he had paused for, Kieran turned to face him.

The sun had fully vanished, the street now dark except the warm glow of street lamps. Beneath them, Solas’ storm gray eyes glinted amber as he searched Kieran’s face, perplexed.

Kieran suddenly felt confined despite open, empty streets around them.

“You do have a passion,” Solas said simply.

Instantly, Kieran snapped into motion, like a bowstring drawn too tightly. He whirled, briskly striding down the sidewalk as fast as his legs would take him. He could hear Solas hastily following suit.

“Kieran,” he tried again, “you do have a passion! I’ve seen it – when you talk about magic theory.”

“That’s not a passion.” The word felt foul on his tongue. “I have to care about magic theory because it’s part of my degree.”

“That’s not true!” Solas gasped, his breath short in his efforts to keep up with Kieran.

Normally, Kieran would just brush something like this off. He would laugh the conversation away, or respond with something deflective – or he’d shut it down entirely. He’d done it to his sister, to Merrill, to anyone.

So why didn’t you this time? He asked himself angrily. He didn’t have an answer.

When Kieran didn’t slow down, Solas made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat, and suddenly, he was turned around by a hand on his wrist.

His heart leapt into his mouth. At first, all he could see were Solas’ eyes, their amber-gray depths alight with a curiosity that set his every nerve aflame. His grip on Kieran’s wrist tightened, the gesture somehow both grounding and overwhelming.

“If that were true, then explain to me why you came into the lab today,” Solas demanded. “You’re exhausted. You have midterm exams tomorrow. You could have been resting or studying. And yet you still came to the lab.”

Kieran couldn’t help but flinch at the truth of it. The ghost of memories flickered in the back of his mind, stirring up a war of emotions both old and new. Solas continued to stare at him, as if he could solve the puzzle of Kieran with his eyes alone.

Is it so terrible to be seen, Lethallin?

It was. It was because being seen had never been enough. Because being seen meant this – this terrible, aching and cavernous hole in his gut. Kieran shook beneath Solas’ stare, torn between the desire to run away…and to stay.

Soggy boys >:D

Based on an early look I got of Icy’s fic TL&SD

Find Icy @fenharel-apologist94

<3 <3 <3

[sorcerersandskillusers]

The Last Stray Dogs Chapter two is out!

Amazing Promo and Chapter art by the incredibly talented @frenchonionsoop who has been a massive help with this entire project, please go check out her stuff!!!

[fenharel-apologist94]

Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams

Chapter 4: Earl Gray

Featuring: Solas doesn't understand how feelings work, Kieran is a tired college student and CAMEOS!!!

HUGE thanks to the following amazing, talented beings who let me write their characters:

Mahanon Tabris belongs to @transprincecaspian

Ghilu'vun belongs to @geologyofthedas

And he was mentioned in passing, but Osian Lavellan belongs to @zundely

I would highly recommend giving everyone a follow! <3 They all have amazing characters, thoughts, art, and fics!!!

[fenharel-apologist94]

Hell yeah love writing my two fics:

Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams, a cute lil teashop/college AU!

And certainly not about the overwhelming exhaustion of never being known by those who claim to love you and learning how to accept the passion you've always wanted to love even though others have used it to misunderstand you

and Not Another Dragon Age Fanfic, a fun time-and-space-bendy retelling of some DA fanfic tropes you've come to know well!

It definitely doesn't seek to ask the question what if duty was no more than a shackle around your neck and around your ankles, and as much as you wish to spare the one you love from that fate, you swallowed the key yourself because what else can you do what else what else what else -

[fenharel-apologist94]

Thanks for stopping by!

(updated Nov. 2024)

Name: Icy

Brain-rot category: Dragon Age: Egg

AO3

Personal DA Fanfics recommendations

OC Tags: Kieran Lavellan • Sethari Lavellan

Fanfic tags: Not Another Dragon Age Fanfic • Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams

[fenharel-apologist94]

WIP Wednesday

This one was self-initiated because I’m procrastinating writing but I tag @transprincecaspian and @beastofmoss of they’d like to participate! :) no pressure, as always~

Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams

Chapter 4: Earl Gray

Kieran did not go to the lab that Monday. Nor did he appear on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, Solas found that focusing on his research was entirely out of the question. The lab had never looked neater. Solas had even made sure that each mug was neatly arranged on the tea station, as if their perfect alignment would somehow summon that damned tea-loving mage back into the lab.

He wasn’t entirely sure why he was so bothered by Kieran’s absence, but in the end, he decided it was because the Kieran Lavellan Mystery had not yet been solved, and it was driving him mad.

It wasn’t until Thursday, when Professor Flemeth dropped off a disgustingly large stack of essays from her Magic Theory and Application class, that Solas realized it was mid-term season. As a fourth-year MAD student, Solas’ time was primarily spent researching; but since Kieran was in his second year, he was likely elbow-deep in assignments and tests.

That didn’t stop Solas from rearranging the mugs one more time.

After he had nudged a green “Be-Leaf in Yourself” mug so that its handle was at the same exact angle as the others, Solas stood back to review his work. Although every item was placed in just the right place, the longer Solas looked at it, the more he became convinced something still wasn’t right.

The kettle. When was the last time it had been boiled? Probably not since last Friday, which was now nearly a week ago. The water was probably stagnant. Solas leaned forward with a frown and picked up the kettle with the goal of emptying it. A little too late, he caught sight of a figure standing in the doorway of the lab. Kieran laughed as he fumbled with the kettle, startled.

“No, please, continue! I was trying to figure out if you even knew how to use it,” Kieran said. Though his grin was wide and easy, the dark bags under his eyes spoke to many long nights and an air of exhaustion hovered around him.

“I was cleaning it, not using it,” Solas corrected. He turned from Kieran to pour the old water down the sink, urging his racing heart to slow.

His ears picked up the sound of shuffling feet approaching and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kieran lean his hip against the tea station and fold his arms, still smiling. Solas pointedly did not look at him as he rinsed out the kettle.

“Did you miss me so much that you decided to try tea on your own?” Kieran teased.

“I neither missed you nor have tried any tea since Saturday,” Solas scowled.

Kieran merely smirked in response and poked one of the perfectly placed mugs, disrupting Solas’ carefully constructed order. “I certainly don’t remember the tea station looking this nice.”

Catch up on TLSD here!

[fenharel-apologist94]

my extremely specific assumption is that you care a lot about how people perceive you but you have also begun to heal from that and are working towards peace. Also you love solas

Bull’s eye to the heart 🥲💕

also who told you I love Solas, I have no idea where you would get that idea from I’ve never heard of him

From this ask post

[fenharel-apologist94]

WIP Whenever

I was tagged by @idolsgf for WIP Wednesday and while I did miss Wednesday, I have a degree in philosophy and I'm not afraid to use it to say time isn't real :3 Anyway, tysm for the tag! I'll add an actual writing piece at the end, but some of what I've been up to involved stuff that doesn't produce a "work", per se, but it's all part of the process!

I think most of everyone who I would tag has been tagged by someone else, so I'll leave this as an open tag to anyone who wants to do it for today :)

What's Icy been doing???

Organizing

With suspicion of Google Docs growing, I figured it was time for me to consider an alternative. I'd been thinking of it anyway and so this was a lil nudge for me to make the switch to Scrivener! After the initial mass export, I've been spending some time getting oriented to Scrivener and organizing all my documents and notes. I am absolutely enamored with Scrivener so far!!

Planning

While writing NADAF, I learned a lot - and as a result, one of the things I want to get better at is plotting/planning my fics. NADAF helped me really fall in love with writing as a hobby, not just in the actual putting-words-together writing but in the thought process behind it as well. What will these characters struggle with? How will their histories and personalities affect the story? What do I want to tell my readers, and how? So I've been having some fun thinking through those things for Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams, as well as NADAF's future sequel, Yet Another Dragon Age Fanfic.

Writing

The last part of NADAF is underway!! I'm trying to get what I can written but its slow-going. I also may have gotten derailed by Tea Leaves and Sweet Dream again cause ya girl's got shit to process and this is how we do it. What can I say, I needed a bit a fluff (and a bit of angst) in my life. So below the cut is a sneak peak of Chapter 6: Honey Chamomile (pt. 2)!

TLSD fic summary:

There are four things Kieran knows about Solas: (1) He’s Professor Flemeth’s infamously irritable and reclusive TA, and tears his essays to shreds (2) He’s Kieran’s new labmate in one of the most difficult academic programs in Ferelden, under the supervision of one of the most mysterious professors alive (3) Solas hates point (2) (4) Solas hates tea When Solas makes his distain for Kieran clear, Kieran decides to fight fire with tea. Will Solas survive this tea war? Will Kieran find the one tea Solas can tolerate? Is there more brewing beneath the surface that neither of them want to confront? (The answer is yes.)

He’s probably going to stay in the room, Kieran repeated firmly to himself. He glared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. You need to get a grip.

Unfortunately, the rim of the sink seemed to be the only thing he could get a grip on. His heart hadn’t slowed from the moment he left Solas sitting on his bed, and Kieran couldn’t shake the sense that this was going to be a long night.

He caught sight of the bedraggled state of his ponytail and grimaced self-consciously. Creators, he was a mess. He was halfway through fixing it when he caught himself. Who was he trying to impress? Solas?

As if, he snorted to himself, dropping his hands. He was in his pajamas, for crying out loud. There was very little appeal to be found in his gray t-shirt and navy, ‘Denerim U’-emblazoned pajama bottoms. That is, if he were trying to impress anyone. Which he wasn’t.

He quickly redid his ponytail into something a little neater before he could think too hard about it. It couldn’t hurt.

Once Kieran felt reasonably adequate in his appearance, he took one last, steadying breath before venturing towards the kitchen. As he drew closer, the sound of laughter greeted him alongside the tempting scent of warm pizza. Was that... Solas laughing? Kieran squinted. There was no way such a carefree sound was coming from someone so chronically solemn. Skeptical, he rounded the corner into the kitchen.

[fenharel-apologist94]

WIP Wednesday

I got tagged by @transprincecaspian for WIP Wednesday. My hands are tied. I am legally bound to sharing a WIP huehuehue. I think most of who I know personally has already been tagged so I’m going to tag @salesmain if they’d like to participate and certainly not because I’m dying to know what’s coming next shdgaj

This is a sneak peek of Chapter 3 of Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams!

—

Perhaps this was not the best idea, Solas told himself, staring at the little ‘closed’ sign on the door of A New Leaf.

After yesterday, Solas was pretty sure that Kieran would never want to see him again. He wouldn’t, if it were him. The number of negative experiences they had together were now too numerous for Solas to estimate.

And yet, he had to speak with Kieran, despite everything. Solas had been unable to sleep last night thinking about him, his copied notes, and that last, beautifully solved formula. Solas could not help but feel as if by completing it, Kieran had simply replaced it with another, more complicated puzzle, one that he did not even have the most basic variables for. The only way he would get those variables was by talking to Kieran himself.

Between moments of wonder, Solas had been equally burdened with the heavy weight of his guilt. He had assumed a lot about Kieran from the beginning, largely due to his own discomfort and pride. Though Solas was achingly familiar with his own shortcomings, that did not make them easier to bear.

In the end, curiosity and a desire to make amends had compelled him to wake up early that Saturday morning and head towards A New Leaf. He was determine to solve the riddle of Kieran Lavellan.

But as he stood in front of the tea shop, his mind had the audacity to have second doubts. He was in the middle of trying to steel his resolve – what if Kieran was really mad at him? What if he told him to leave? – when the bell above the shop door rang. The sound shot through him like a bolt of lightning, and he was suddenly face-to-face with the very object of his preoccupation.

Kieran was staring at him, his green eyes wide in disbelief and one hand holding the door of A New Leaf ajar. He looked so different in his work uniform than how he did in the lab, that it took Solas a moment to take him all in. His typical flannel shirt had been swapped for a tan crewneck, overlaid with a sage green apron. The outfit was jarringly quaint.

“Solas?” Kieran’s voice was hesitant.

Abruptly, all the words that Solas knew – both in elven and in common – evaporated from his mind. He wasn’t prepared for this. Wait, no, he had prepared for this. He had rehearsed it to himself at least fifteen times before leaving the apartment, and approximately six times on his way here. What was it that he was going to say, again?

“Hello,” was the first word to re-enter his vocabulary.

[fenharel-apologist94]

Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams

Chapter 2: Green

Featuring: Kieran is a menace and commits tea crimes against Solas; Solas begins to have a suspicion there's more than meets the eye

CW: Depictions of a panic attack near the end

[fenharel-apologist94]

🍾 and 🌽 for kieran :)

hOly shamoly I am so sorry I missed this for a hot second, the past week has been nuts ;w; Thank you so much for the ask, blorbo thoughts are best thoughts

🍾: Does your OC believe in luck? If so, do they have any charm or ritual they do before a stressful event?

Unfortunately, Kieran's a bit too jaded to think of luck before an event, and so he wouldn't have any charm or ritual - but he'd certainly think of something as lucky when looking back at an event!

🌽: How does this OC feel about acts of affection? What's their favourite act of affection, physical or emotional?

Kieran ADORES affection, even if it makes him a little overwhelmed at times (he's just so happy!). He very much loves snuggles in a comfy place and during quiet moments.

From the OC question prompts post <3

[fenharel-apologist94]

Write a one-shot fluff AU, I said. It’ll be cute and fun and fine, I said.

It’s not longer a one-shot and I’m trying to figure out magic physics

Some highlights:

(Anyone’s welcome to amend or add or whatever to this, I’m wildly not a mathematician or a physicist and my only qualifications are I had to take Logic for my philosophy degree and I think a lot about Dragon Age magic)

[fenharel-apologist94]

Collecting Writing Prompts!!

Hello, hello! I’m looking for some cute, fun, maybe even angsty prompts for my M!Solavellan tea shop/college AU, Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams! I have a general idea of where I’m heading towards, but need some events to fill in along the way.

If you have any suggestions, feel free to drop me a line (either anonymously or not) and I’ll add it onto my running list of ideas :D

(Also, if you’re following Not Another Dragon Age Fanfic, I am in process for the next chapter - I’m just switching between fics as inspiration hits!)

Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45490789/chapters/114460372

[fenharel-apologist94]

Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams

Chapter 3: Lemon Ginger

Featuring: Merrill is a sweetheart, Kieran has Feels, Solas is Awkward and Determined

Sneak peek below the cut:

“I have a proposal for you,” he started before he could think twice about it. Kieran’s eyes met his. He steeled himself. “If you tell me why you thought to use the Veil variable, I will take one sip of this tea.”

Kieran’s eyebrows shot upwards. “Willingly?”

“Willingly, as an exchange,” Solas confirmed. Considering this, Kieran lifted his chin up at Solas, a slow smirk taking over his features. 

“...Two.”

It was Solas’ turn to raise a brow. 

“Two?” He asked. 

“I’ll answer your question if you take two sips of your tea,” Kieran said, waving a hand. “You can’t rely on first impressions. You have to at least give it a second shot.”

As Solas regarded Kieran from across the table, he said softly, “No, I don’t suppose you can.”

[fenharel-apologist94]

WIP Wednesday!

Thank you for the tag @transprincecaspian! I didn't want to overload the original post by @melisusthewee, but you should go check it out to not only see her lovely OC, Quinn, but also to see hopefully see who else is doing creative work in the DA community!

Annnndddd of course I'm working on Tea Leaves and Sweet Dreams ;w; What can I say, I am compelled by two nerds who are terrible at understanding emotions. and by procrastinating writing the second to last chapter of NADAF shhhhhhh

TLSD preview - Chapter 5: Honey Chamomile

Kieran mulled over this new information as they rounded down the last block to his apartment. 

“What compelled you to keep applying, if it was so difficult to get in?” He asked.

“I love studying the Fade.”

“It’s as simple as that?”

Solas inclined his head. “It’s as simple as that.”

“Wasn’t it hard to get rejected so often?” During his application process, Kieran had been anxious to the point of nausea at the thought of receiving just one rejection letter. 

“I won’t deny that it was, but not being able to pursue what I loved was even harder.” Solas’ gaze drifted ahead of them as he lost himself in thought. “There’s so much to learn about the Fade, and so few have ever truly done it justice. To play a role in developing that knowledge…I can think of no greater calling.”

From the conviction in his voice, Kieran had no doubt that Solas believed that to be true. Unconsciously, he muttered, “I envy that.” 

“I’m sorry?” Solas refocused on him, making him aware that he had spoken out loud. Shit.

“I-I mean, it’s amazing you’ve found something you’re so passionate about,” he stammered. He added honestly, “I can’t say I feel that way about anything myself.”

Several moments passed before Kieran realized that Solas had drawn to a halt. Confused as to what he had paused for, Kieran turned to face him. He regarded Kieran with the same expression as one would a complicated puzzle, his mouth pulled into a frown and his brows knit tightly together. The sun had fully vanished now, leaving the streets dark except the warm glow of street lamps. 

He had the distinct impression of being cornered, despite open, empty streets around them. An obscure feeling, small and fearful, tightened in the depths of Kieran’s gut.

“You do have a passion,” Solas said simply, as if declaring the weather. 

The feeling snapped, like a bowstring drawn too taunt. Keiran whirled back around and began walking again, this time quicker than before. He could hear Solas hastily following suit. 

“Kieran,” he tried again, “you do have a passion. I’ve seen it – when you talk about magic theory.” 

He knew his reaction was a bit much, but he didn’t want to stop. He didn’t even know why. Normally, he would just brush off such a statement. But for some reason, it was because of Solas. Kieran couldn’t get home fast enough. 

“That’s not a passion.” The word felt foul on his tongue. The ghost of memories flickered in the back of his mind, and he moved faster to banish them. “I have to care about magic theory because it’s part of my degree.”

“That’s not true.” Solas’ breath was coming out short in his efforts to keep up with Kieran. His own breath burned iron in his throat. They must be a sight, he thought, as they both rushed down the stone path. 

When Kieran didn’t slow down, Solas made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat. Suddenly, Kieran was being turned around by a hand on his wrist. 

His heart leapt into his mouth. At first, all he could see were Solas’ eyes, their amber-gray depths alight with a curiosity that set his every nerve aflame. 

“If that were true, then explain to me why you came into the lab today,” Solas demanded. “You’re exhausted. You have midterm exams tomorrow. You could have been resting or studying and you still came to the lab.”

Kieran couldn’t help but flinch, and Solas’ grip on his wrist tightened. It wasn’t a hostile gesture — rather, it was grounding, if insistent. Conflicting emotions, both old and new, warred within the confines of Kieran’s chest. 

This is so dumb, he chided himself angrily. You should have just laughed this off like you always do. 

So why didn’t you? 

“I don't understand why you’re so avoidant about this,” Solas breathed. 

Kieran hunched inwards despite himself. The words slipped from the heart that sat heavily on his tongue before he could stop them. 

“Why would you? We barely know each other.” 

ALMOST FORGOT THE TAGS! I tag @nightmarist, @tsuraiwrites, and @theleadcinnabon if they'd like to share anything - always no pressure (and if you don't want to be tagged in things, let me know in a DM! :) )