#which is ironic given that one iconic dorian banter

[lavellane]

would love to see someone undertake the behemoth task of tallying every single time solas says "im sorry" over the span of the franchise

[tabriscadash]

I was asked this on my old blog right as I set about transitioning to this one, so...

The first character I ever fell in love with: for DA:O, dare I say Daveth? What can I say -- I irrationally got incredibly attached to him. otherwise, DEFINITELY Morrigan, and I have crystal clear memories of my first run through Lothering and looking at Morrigan like 😍 the whole time. For DA:2/E, Carver -- unless you count Anders & Justice since I knew of them from Awakening beforehand, in which case probably Justice. For DA:I, it’s a toss-up between Vivienne or Cole -- I technically liked Cole first but SPECIFICALLY in the supporting material (Asunder), and didn’t vibe with him anywhere near as much in the game, AND I got him as a companion after I got Vivienne, so probably Vivienne.

A character that I used to love/like, but now do not: for DA:O, I guess Oghren? I never loved him, but I liked the idea of him because I really liked the dwarves/Orzammar side of DA’s worldbuilding -- but he’s such an unlikeable character that I just.. don’t vibe with him at all. I debate recruiting him every single time now, and I don’t think I ever do his personal quest (in the base game OR Awakening). for DA:2/E, I don’t really have anyone that fits -- but I REALLY wanted to like Merrill and Aveline more than I did, and especially in Aveline’s case, I can’t stand her and genuinely think she’s the unintended, secret Big Bad of the whole game. for DA:I, probably Cole, bc I was really into the idea of a little walking-corpse serial killer animated by a spirit as per the book, but that’s not really the vibe in DA:I, and combined with the somewhat patronising/ableist language and how significantly he is infantilised (including by the fandom) I just got put off him. I do still like him, but not as much.

A ship that I used to love/like, but now do not: for DA:O, I don’t really have one? I guess see my DA:I answer, lol... for DA:2/E, has to be Anders - I don’t think he’s OOC in 2, but I think his writing does so little with him and he feels v. reductive. Where his relationship could be SO interesting and angsty, it instead is written in a really dull and/or cringey way. It would have been nice to see Anders more like the Anders of Awakening near the beginning of the game (rather than random, infrequent and questionably rare snippets), and then see the progression of his relationship with Justice as the game went on -- I want more interesting abominations, PLEASE. for DA:I, listen I cannot express to you HOW EXCITED I was for my planned Lavellan to romance Sera… also I used to be way more tolerant of Cullen x Amell/Surana ships because, like, hey dark ships are fun, right? But since Cullen’s ~wholesome whitewash~ in DA:I, and his fandom clamouring to absolve him of any wrongdoing ever.. it’s boring to me.

My ultimate favourite character™: for DA:O, probably Sten? or Morrigan. They’re both fantastic, and also are significant comfort chars for me. for DA:2/3, honestly, probably my own Hawke -- I feel so hugely proud of her, and can’t imagine I’d enjoy the game anywhere near as much had I not played it as my Hawke. If not her, maybe Sebastian or Carver? for DA:I, I really love Vivienne, as well as Blackwall, and Solas is a great character even if I probably would not say I liked him.

Prettiest character: for DA:O, we all know it’s Zevran. for DA:2/E, I think Aveline -- although her aggressively bland colour-scheme lets her down in a major way (although I respect her dedication to all orange all day every day). There’s just something about her arms -- very Abby from TLOU:2. for DA:I, maybe Josephine? Ser Barris is very pretty, too...

My most hated character: for DA:O, I really didn’t like Alistair, Wynne and Oghren, and of my companions - Oghren is probably my least favourite. He’s vulgar and also profoundly uninteresting. for DA:2/E, it has to be Aveline. There’s just something about ineptitude and a complete, wilful refusal to take accountability for your actions that I can’t stand. It would be okay if it was an intentional character flaw, but the game/narrative treats her like she’s lawful good and it really annoys me. for DA:I, maybe Iron Bull? He was a huge disappointment for me. I also really dislike Sera, Cassandra, and Varric. I’m so sick of Varric - I never want to see him again.

My OTP: for DA:O, I really loved Zevran’s romance -- but I am also very amused by the fact that Leliana got to ‘love’ status with Kallian accidentally, AND I got the ‘love’ glitch for Justice (👀) and Velanna. I do sometimes wonder about an AU where Kallian is forced to make a politically expedient marriage with Nathaniel Howe for diplomatic reasons in order to consolidate her position as Arlessa, and it being an entirely platonic arrangement (it’s not like anyone expects an heir from an infertile Grey Warden) -- and maybe Zev and Nate kiss sometimes, who knows? I also LOVE my Darkspawn Chronicles AU where Kallian and Nelaros are a happy, married couple each hiding their skills with weapons from each other like dumb, cute sweethearts. They shelter Zevran when he fails to kill Alistair and a poly couple evolves. for DA:2/E, I love the IDEA of a Seb romance that isn’t so strictly conditional around the structures that abused him -- he should be allowed to love, chastely or otherwise, but free from the Chantry OR his position as prince/heir. I’d LOVE to actually have a romance with him where you can actually challenge the abuse he’s experienced. for DA:I, Malika doesn’t have a canon romance (although I think when I replay, I’m going to romance Josephine!) but I think Blackwall has an amazing romance. Solas’ is also iconic, it must be said. 

My NOTP: for DA:O, I really dislike Alistair in a shipping capacity; he’s immature and says a lot of misogynistic shit and I don’t think he’s the worst for it, but I don’t really vibe with shipping him, having played the game as a female city elf. for DA:2/E, I wouldn’t say I have one, particularly? although I really dislike Aveline’s relationship with her husband simply because it seems incredibly inappropriate, given that they work together and she has power over him -- and because I dislike her, generally, I don’t feel inclined to do something nice for her. for DA:I, I suppose Sera/Lavellan -- although I’m not AGAINST it, it just really isn’t for me, having attempted it. I also don’t really vibe with Dorian x Iron Bull. Something abt the way the game handled BDSM and their relationship banter specifically I don’t really like.

Favourite episode quest: for DA:O, probs Orzammar/the Deep Roads. I really love the dwarven lore! and, of course, Fort Drakon is really funny, even though it’s not canon in my game iirc. for DA:2/E, maybe the murder mystery with the serial killer, where ultimately Leandra dies? I also really enjoyed all the companion quests. for DA:I, The Descent (just, all of it, lmao) and everything to do with the Avvar. Crestwood also BANGED.

Saddest death: for DA:O, it’s frankly a fucking INJUSTICE that Shianni gets murdered if you make her Bann of the Alienage -- the idea of that happening whilst Kallian is in Amaranthine and unable to protect her :( genuinely very upsetting. I go back and forth on who is made Bann, tbf, so idk how canonical it is: I think maybe Cyrion would get it, but I’m also endeared to Soris holding the position, with Shianni as Hahren. for DA:2/E, Bethany. I wish both twins had had the chance to reach Kirkwall :(. Let Leandra die instead. for DA:I, maybe not the saddest death, but the most memorable for me was that one sleeping dragon in the Hissing Wastes.. leave her alone. Stay out of a womans’ business.

Favourite season game: DA:O!

Least favourite season game: DA:I.

Character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but I hate: for DA:O, Alistair. I cannot deal with his complacency and hypocrisy. for DA:2, I really disliked Merrill but I honestly cannot remember why. DEFINITELY Varric -- I hated how the game forces you to be his best friend, and if you’re low approval, you have to endure these pointless pissy little comments with this little anti-dwarf centrist pissant. After the expedition, I literally have no reason to put up with him, and I NEVER take him out. I hate that he plays the same role in DA:I, too. for DA:I, the Iron Bull was hugely disappointing, and I also really don’t vibe with Cassandra. She just seems very wishy-washy and complacent and hypocritical, and many of her comments about other cultures seem snide for literally no reason other than bigotry. 

My ‘you’re a piece of trash, but you’re still a fave’ fave: for DA:O, lbr probably Sten. Mans is gonna launch a HORRIFYING invasion in the next game iirc and frankly, I’m ok with it. Just wanna see that big bastard again ❤🥵. for DA:2/E, I LOVE Gamlen, ok? for DA:I, I am not sure if I have one.

My ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave: for DA:O, if any of you so much as LOOK at Velanna wrong, it’s hands. That includes Bioware. I also feel incredibly protective of and sad for Morrigan. for DA:2/E, probably Sebastian -- I feel so sad for him, and so frustrated by the limitations with the game. for DA:I, I’m honestly not sure.. maybe Josephine? I don’t really feel this way about Sera, but I do think she deserves better from the game and its writing, and also from fandom: there are valid criticisms of her, but the hate she gets is not proportional to any valid issues with her -- and gee, I wonder why that is.

My ‘this ship is wrong, nasty, and makes me want to cleanse my soul, but i still love it’ ship: for DA:O, I did use to find Cullen x Surana/Amell intriguing as a dark ship -- I actually hc that Neria Surana is actually Nelaros’ sister, and have dabbled with it as a dark ship. I also am interested in Loghain/Alistair - which each pretends the other is someone else. Alistair is wooby, hate ships are, in general, fun -- so long as we acknowledge that they are, indeed, unhealthy ships. for DA:2/E, I kind of feel like Sebastian romances are, invariably, kind of dark... and, similarly, Anders romances -- especially with certain red Hawkes, The way it ends is, invariably, bordering on fucked up. ALSO Hawkecest is weird and wonderful: GET WITH IT. 

My ‘they’re kind of cute, and I lowkey ship them, but I’m not too invested’ ship: for DA:O, I joked about Velanna x Leliana once and I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it ever since… Velanna x Sigrun is also something that can be so personal. Ariane x Finn is adorable and are paid DUST by Bioware AND fandom. I actually am really into Anora x Nathaniel & NO I will NOT explain myself; it’s a crackship but it’s MY crackship. for DA:2/E, Isabela x Fenris is super cute, but I don’t pay enough attention to them to really have super committed thoughts & feelings on them. for DA:I, Blackwall x Josephine is cute as a background ship; I also think Maryden x Cole is sweet.

[demoiselledefortune]

Dragon age inquisition playthrough! Which I actually moved from failfandomanon to rpg.net because they kept spoiling me in my own subthread :(

Last game session was another short one but filled with personal quest one. First, I met Varric's sexy voice. I'm sorry, I mean I met the Varric's "It's Complicated", the infamous Bianca, because CLEARLY Kirkwall wasn't enough hard boiled for Varric's background, it had to be a femme fatale with lots of eyebrow raising allusions/anecdotes but without much details or explanations. And she has a very very sexy voice, like I didn't think they could do a more sexy voice than Fenris, but apparently so. Picture me going "Guh" through most of this quest. She's also the source of Corypheus' red lyrium although that seemed to have been accidental, which "ooops" (or rather "well shit" as the quest is named) but whatcanyoudo. I felt her reasons were more easily excusable in the context of Bartran still being alive in my worldstate although my friend disagreed. I mean it's nice to see that Hawke's not Varric's only source of "well there was a situation and I dealt with it but now there's another situation from the consequences of those choices and it's kinda actually worse so I guess I'll have to do something about it too... which is why I'm going to need your help!" Also Biance and Varric were pretty cute, so it's a good thing I'm a multishipper. After that Varric invited us to play Wicked Graces with almost the whole gang. (Me, two minutes into the sequence: "[Josephine]'s going to clean them all out"). (We are left to assume that Solas and Leliana, unlike Josephine, had some kind of qualms about cleaning us out, and Vivienne... declined. Maybe?) The scene is adorable in a nice reminder of the good parts of DA2, the sense of people hanging out because they're friends. I think my character was left a bit sad that Varric continues to have a hard time not seeing her as this far off iconic person (obviously and thankfully he does try though -- and I don't think she's the best at finding common ground with him). I will take note that while Dorian stated his desire to watch Cullen's walk of shame, he did walk away; whereas Iron Bull... did not XD Then Leliana dealt with the letter left to her by Justinia. The scene is nicely dramatic, with a sister sent to spy on us which Leliana immediately spots and warns us about... and then tries to kill her. She didn't exactly represent a threat so I stopped her and then Leliana did finally admit that Justinia wasn't in the right to have her always act ruthlessly. Overall the softening character arc has a lot of interesting things about Leliana, but I'm still a bit annoyed that some of initial points that you can't miss out on to manage it are 1/ very easy to miss 2/ not necessarily well justified (the first or second time involved one of her agent who had betrayed the inquisition, for ex, which is a situation where killing him does make sense even if you're not trying to be Hard Woman Making Hard Choice; at least without more context to make it seem like there were other elements in play). Made me feel like those were steps I had to go through because I had to rather than organic decisions for my characters (the hardening thing in Origins didn't feel that way to me). Overall my characters wanted Leliana to confront her own feelings though... she was feeling bad about what she was forcing herself to do, while putting Justinia on a pedestal; and figuring out she didn't have to was important. My character doesn't really pick ruthless or violent choices when she can avoid them... but I don't think she systematically disapproves of them when done by others... however it's not something that people should feel obligated to do. Also Sera brought us on the roof to eat cookies! It's a cute scene, and interesting to hear Sera talk about her childhood. I was left with the impression that she kinda had a crush on Emmald. There's a little sense making about Sera not liking it when people lean on the prejudices against elves; although I wouldn't say to the extent that she shows dislike for. Part of it doesn't make sense, though "you get alienage for that"? Since when alienage were treated like a prison rather than where you put all the elves in a big enough town?) IN ANY CASE Cute scene. Last, I brought back the heard of a snow wyvern to Vivienne. This personal sidequest is mostly here to humanize Vivienne (she genuinely cares and loves her love even though his patronage was key to her grabbing power and advantages) and isn't badly done but felt a little bit too emotionally manipulative in the way it's set up. I wish Bastian had been more set up and active in the background (we could have had banters/rumours about him in Wicked Hearts for example!). Although right now the problem I have with Vivienne mostly comes from my character waiting for her to do something, ANYTHING, to show herself a potential leader for the mages, someone capable of building up something in term of institutions in a way that might have long term positive impact; and feeling like the only thing Vivienne knows how to do is begging, charming, or conniving her authority from those of higher status than her rather than building it up from the community. A skill set that makes a lot of sense given Vivienne's backstory, but not one that my character values a lot in a possible leader (and she's not very impressed by Fiona either, so she's kinda miffed at the moment on that front. The only person so far who's had some concrete ideas about how to deal with mages in order to have more positive result was Cullen). And obviously there's the question of the Divine election, which I haven't made a decision on yet. I'd say Cassandra is a bit ahead by virtue of 1/ obviously feeling motivated by the job 2/ showing great passion and having a vision of things to do about wanting the Chantry institutions to do better 3/ being capable of self criticism. OTOH Leliana has from times to times extremely intriguing ideas, however she feels a bit more erratic for that sort of position, and didn't sound nearly as into the idea. Then again, I expect the end of the softening process might have some result; we'll see.