#to which Nate turns to Moira and goes ‘huh. she sounds just like you when we were courting. I like her.’

[rhetoricalrogue]

I’m trying to rework Marian’s avoidance to romance, especially when it comes to the working relationship turned “oh no, we both fell into feelings without realizing it” thing she has with Tristan.

Originally, she had a partner who was killed on a mission, and she carries this guilt that she was the one who caused his death (she wasn’t.) She closes herself off to feeling vulnerable ever again and is so angry that Tristan’s chipping away at her defenses without even trying.

I think now she still goes Ice Queen on everyone because there was a potential match where she genuinely felt love for but then realized she was being used in a play to either a) get in good business ties to her father’s successful brewery, b) capitalize on her parents’ fame to attempt to elevate their own, or c) both. She cuts all ties immediately but is heartbroken in the process. Rolfe just comes up to wherever she’s hidden herself to cry and hands her a handkerchief with:

“You want me to kill him? Because that’s what I do, you know. No one would ever find his body, I’m that good.”

“Thanks, Dad, but I’m okay.”

“Okay, but the offer is good whenever. Anything for you.”

Cue a few months or years later and there’s a chance encounter between a random Jenny (Marian) and the fabled Dark Wolf (Tristan) after the same target but with very different goals. After almost killing the other, they team up accomplish their respective missions, agree to a one night stand to vent some post-heist adrenaline, and go their separate ways. UNTIL.

The son of the Teyrn of Gwaren rolls up to meet with a former Inquisitor (or high ranking Inner Circle agent, I haven’t made up my mind on the details yet) under the cover of making a business deal for trade but is secretly being sent to help with this whole next generation threat brewing in Thedas. Both of them are very much “hello, nice to meet you for the very first time, yes we are complete strangers, how do you do” while Alex is doing the little brother mental math and screaming internally when the lightbulb lights up. As SOON as they’re alone, Alex is all

“You had sex with him.”

“I did no such thing.”

“You absolutely did so. You rolled in the hay. Held more than hands. Did the deed with Teyrn Nathaniel Howe’s only child, the son of Moira Cousland, best friend to the Hero of Ferelden, defeater of the fifth Bli-”

“How much will it take to buy your silence?”

“Don’t you mean HOWE much???”

“I’m going to stab you and make it look like you did it to yourself.”

“House Rule 24!”

“Sod the house rules.”