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so i managed to save edit my way into getting lucanis' romance scene to trigger and did some flycam shenanigans and discovered something

so usually with game cutscenes, all the characters involved will be loaded into that scene from the beginning but some would be hidden away off camera until they're meant to appear, and i thought maybe that's what was happening outside rook's room and that he'll just suddenly appear inside

but it turns out he's actually animated to stand there before he physically opens the door to enter (the door itself however is not animated to open and so he phases through it, although we do hear the sound effect of the door closing behind him)

and we know he has the line "i cannot believe we found you" but what we don't get to see is that disbelief on his face before he says it while he's entering the room

and then it cuts to when he is on camera and we see the weary teary eyed smile he gives to rook after he's made his presence known

and i know a lot of people like to headcanon that he's ended up in rook's room while they're gone at least once, either through his own intentions or spite's possession, and i think having this expression of disbelief as he walks in and sees rook is actually there this time supports it

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Ao3 does not need an algorithm, you're just lazy

Ao3 does not need a 1-5 star rating system, you just want to bring down authors writing for FREE

Ao3 does not need automatic censorship, it is an archive, therefore anything can be posted

Writing or reading about something illegal does not mean the author nor the reader condones it, if that were true, you could never read a story involving anything negative

Purity culture is ruining fan culture and you all are fucking annoying

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Gunnar is definitely in love.

His face as Lucanis walks away after the almost kiss. 😭

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I definitely don't remember going there, now I'm curious as to why Emmrich apparently saw Viago at some point. 🤔

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I think a lot about how much of a change Lucanis's Veilguard look would've been to the people who mourned him (even if he does wear it well lol)

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Sunniva leaning down to give Gale a forehead kiss. ❤️

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Just sharing a couple photos of my Rook since I haven't posted about him in a few days. 😊

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I'm pretty sure this is an unpopular opinion, but the "lack" of content in Lucanis's romance makes complete sense to me. Honestly I never saw it as lacking at all. I can understand why some people do and of course it would've been great to have more content, but to me, there is narrative sense to the way his romance is written.

Just looking at the last year or so of his life, Lucanis has been imprisoned, tortured, and to top it all off, possessed. He is sharing his body with a demon and constantly fighting to make sure he keeps control. And when he finally comes back home? Immediately finds out his grandmother is supposedly dead, and for all intents & purposes, it's in retaliation for HIS jailbreak. Already he is picking up broken pieces of his old life and cutting himself on them. It's no state to be jumping into a relationship from.

I've said before - and there's plenty of dialogue from him supporting it - that Lucanis spends most of the game trying to pretend he can go back to his old life; that he can be the person he used to be.

"I thought I still had this."

"Whatever else I am, I'm supposed to be a professional."

"I don't fail my contracts."

All of these things add and add to his turmoil until it's set to topple right at the start of the "Inner Demons" quest. He finds out his grandmother is alive! He should be happy! Instead he's caught in emotional upheaval, overwhelmed by everything he's been pushing off, and he has to make a decision, he has to keep going, he has to has to has to. And he can't. To the point that Spite has to intervene and say the one thing Lucanis won't.

"Help us."

And then, after getting to Lucanis, Rook literally tells us the man's struggle outright.

"As bad as the Ossuary was for you, it was better than the alternative. [...] You could solve those problems with a blade, but healing again? [...] There's no simple answer there. And if you fail, you could hurt the ones you love."

Lucanis was raised in violence. He still has a good heart in many ways, but that doesn't change the fact that he was more than likely never taught the emotional skills needed to navigate his problems any other way than with a knife. Which means that for 90% of the game, he is not ready to open his heart to someone. Even the 'almost kiss' scene is Lucanis attempting to replicate some of who he was, until something in him realizes that kissing Rook wouldn't be a one and done situation. No no, he wants them. And the minute that hits, he pulls away again, until the time comes in the endgame that he realizes losing Rook forever is scarier than never making the attempt to be together.

TLDR; Lucanis is a traumatized slow burn with one hell of a payoff in the end, you just gotta be patient with him.

P.S. - Once again, this is just my opinion, you are free to agree or disagree as you'd like; this is just based on my own experience with his romance.

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I may answer a few of these later, but feel free to comment any specific ones you'd for me to answer in regards to my Rook, Gunnar de Riva. 😊

Woe! Rook ask game be upon ye!

🌻 How old is your Rook? How do they feel about celebrating their birthday? What gift has meant the most to them? 🪻 What is the most painful injury your Rook has received? How has it affected them once it healed/scarred? 🌹 What’s the first genuine fight Rook got in with their love interest about? How was it resolved? 🌸 Does your Rook have any siblings or close friends they see as such? Where are they during the events of Veilguard? 🌾 If there was a demon trying to trap/take over Rook, what kind would be the most successful? What would break their hold? 🌱 Was Rook involved romantically with anyone before Veilguard? What was their partner like? How did the relationship end? 🌼 If someone was to ask Spite what Rook smells like, what would he say? 🌷If Rook needed to get away from their responsibilities for a moment, where would they go? Where is their safe space outside the Lighthouse? 🥀 What figure from Rook’s personal past would be added to the regret prison? 🪷 Does your Rook have an irrational phobia? (ie spiders or large man-made objects submerged underwater) 🍀 Has Rook had any near-death experiences? What went through their mind during what they thought was going to be their final moments? 💐 What is the relationship Rook has with their faction mentor? What was the moment they sent Rook away like? 🌺 Is there an object from Rook’s childhood they look back on fondly? (ie a favorite stuffed animal, book, or food) 🌿 Does your Rook have any tattoos? What was the moment when they got them like? If they’re a Crow where is their de Riva brand located? What vallaslin do they have/how did they earn it if they’re Dalish? 🍂 What was it like the first time Rook killed someone? How did they react afterwards?

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I love how every person I see posting about their Rook has an entire backstory for their character. The creativity posted here and other platforms honestly makes me happy to be a part of this fandom.

Some people give their Rook a simple backstory because they're not as familiar with Dragon Age and the world of Thedas. Some could write a novel about their Rook's life because they're neck deep in Dragon Age lore. And I enjoy both ends of that spectrum.

I've yet to find any two people who've given their Rook the exact same backstory. I've created 2 Rooks so far, and neither has the same backstory for how they joined the Crows. I've had a blast coming up with the lore for both of them. (Although, I've only really shared posts about Gunnar de Riva because he's my current Rook, but I'll happily share about Nayeli de Riva if anyone is interested.)

Personally, I can't just simply create a character. They have to at least have the start of a backstory before I even leave the character creation screen.

Anyway, what I'm saying is... Keep posting about your Rook(s) or any other OCs from different games because I love seeing all of them and learning about the backstories you've created for them! 😊

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who else up pining for him tn? (x)

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This conversation between Lucanis and Emmrich....

I just know that some tiny part of him held hope that Emmrich would say yes even though he already knew what the answer would actually be.

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Soliloquy and symbolism for the Rook asks ✨

Ooh, good picks. Thanks!

Symbolism: The team is trying to rescue Rook from the fade. What five items do they use to do a summoning ritual?

A ring with a single, bright green gemstone that belonged to his mother.

His first dagger - a simple blade with a hilt made from a deer antler. His father was a blacksmith, and the dagger had been a gift for Gunnar's 14th birthday.

Cup of hot chocolate. It's his favorite drink, and was always a source of comfort growing up.

Bowl of potato soup. His mother made it at least once a week because it was Gunnar's favorite. He actually makes it a few times while in the Lighthouse, and everyone is surprised at how good it is.

A small, palm-sized carving of a cat that was a gift from a merchant Gunnar and Varric helped during their travels. She'd overheard Gunnar talking about how much he missed his beloved cat, Bane, when he spotted the carving at her market stall.

Soliloquy: List/describe the most self indulgent headcanon/fic you’ve thought of for your Rook.

Headcanon: Viago immediately makes Gunnar a member of House de Riva as one of his first actions after becoming Fifth Talon. He's also the reason Gunnar still has his mother's ring and the dagger his father had gifted him. Crow recruits don't get to keep personal effects, but Viago made an exception - hiding Gunnar's two most precious belongings until he finally proved his mettle as a Crow.

Fic: Right before the confrontation at Tearstone Island, Gunnar overhears a conversation between Viago and Teia in which Viago is confessing the reason why he was in Saltwind all those years ago when he met Gunnar. Gunnar's world is shattered and his view of the Fifth Talon abruptly changes. He essentially tells Viago he hates him upon hearing what was said. Viago doesn't have a chance to explain more about what was overheard before Gunnar abruptly leaves. Just a few short hours later.... Gunnar is gone, trapped in the Fade.

Gunnar doesn't cope with things well once he's rescued from the Fade. Everything catches up to him. He still hasn't fully worked through the guilt and fallout of what happened at Tearstone Island. Instincts lead him back to Treviso, back to his adoptive older brother who's always, in his own way, made Gunnar feel safe. He finally breaks down, and Viago (with help from Teia and Lucanis, of course) is left picking up the pieces as he finally tells the truth about the day he met Gunnar as a teenager in Saltwind.

Bonus fic idea I've had bouncing around: Viago goes to the Ossuary to help rescue Lucanis... Because clearly those two had some sort of history (re: the gifted dagger), and because Viago's reaction when seeing Lucanis with Rook after being rescued absolutely got me feeling things.

Asks are from this post. 😊

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Ooh, I really like some of these questions. May end up answering a few, even if nobody asks for it. 🤣

Rook Literary Device Asks

I’m taking your Rooks back to Language and Literature class with these asks. I added a few examples to questions I found vague or difficult to explain. Hopefully it’s not too gratuitous!

These are based on common literary devices. I tried to pick more recognizable ones, or at least ones that autocorrect will pick up 📝

I’m considering doing a strictly NSFW one next. Lemme know if that appeals to you or not 💐

Dreams

I elect that Dwarven Rooks should still answer even if they don’t apply/aren’t canon. It can be theoretical for character exploration.

Allegory: What does Rook dream about?

Repetition: What are Rook’s nightmares? Did/does this change with age?

Cliffhanger: If a spirit wanted to trap your Rook in the fade, what would their best plan be?

Ex: Illusions of their past/wants, trapping them behind an emotion? (hello regret 🥚😔), promising them help in achieving their goals?

Tragicomedy: Would Rook make a deal with a demon? If no, what about a more benevolent spirit, would they make a deal with them?

Symbolism: The team is trying to rescue Rook from the fade. What five items do they use to do a summoning ritual?

Surrealism: How adept is Rook at navigating the Fade in dreams?

I believe it’s typically a sliding scale between these three points: no control (non mage) to some control (mage) to a lot of control (dreamer) but outliers definitely occur.

Morality

Hyperbole: Rook encounters two injured people. One a random npc citizen with a moderate but not life threatening injury and the other a venatori with a life threatening injury. As far as they can tell the Venatori was not actively involved in anything nefarious at this moment. Who does Rook help first (or at all)?

Foreshadowing: What does Rook think about Solas sacrificing the spirits of chaos and disorder? Would their opinion change if Solas had explained to the spirits that this was a mission they wouldn’t come back from?

Motif: What’s Rook’s opinion on the rite of tranquility? Is there ever a circumstance that could change this?

I know the fandom’s general opinion on tranquility is to absolutely admonish it, which is totally fair. But I also think OCs can and sometimes should have bad opinions or limited perspectives

Epigraph: What situation(s) would make Rook compromise their morals? How would Rook feel about this?

Point of View: Does Rook judge others for choices they made under duress?

Paradox: What’s Rook’s opinion on Blood magic?

Would they/have they ever participated in Blood magic (casting it, providing blood for it, was it their own or someone else’s etc.)

Personification: What’s Rook’s opinion on Necromancy? If your Rook is a necromancer, do they consider it a form of blood magic?

(AFAIK it canonically is, but that’s not an opinion held by all in Thedas)

Self Reflection

Anaphora: What lie is central to Rook’s worldview? How does this affect them?

Ex: Lisel thinks she can never regain the family she lost, so she neglects new relationships.

Extended metaphor: What inspires hope in Rook?

Dramatic Irony: Does Rook wonder why they’re the main character?

(As in, why they are in charge, why Varric picked them, why they’re connected to Solas etc.)

Do they have an explanation for why they are the main character? Fate? Chance? Skill? Maybe they don’t actually think they’re the mc?

Ex: Lise eventually comes to see taking the Evanuris down as a poetic justice. She dedicated her early (and happiest) life to worshiping Sylaise and feels it’s her responsibility to bring the remaining pantheon down. If they were ever the kind deities they claimed to be, she recognizes that they certainly aren’t now.

Exposition: What would Rook think of younger Rook? What would they tell them if given the chance?

Flashback: What past act is Rook most ashamed of?

Omniscient: Are there any secrets Rook is hiding? From others? From themselves?

Allusion: Who does Rook blame for their trauma, misplaced or not? Do they keep this a secret?

Physicality

Onomatopoeia: Describe how Rook speaks.

(Possible topics: Word choice, volume, phrasing, vocabulary, accents, tones, emotional intonation, speech impediments, etc!)

Isocolon: Describe how your Rook walks/runs.

(Possible topics: speed, agility, spatial awareness, grace, loud vs quiet steps, endurance, etc!)

Style: How does Rook sleep?

Archetype: Describe what another character might notice about your Rook physically.

Vignette: Describe the first time Rook got very injured. What was their reaction?

Juxtaposition: What’s their most prominent physical weakness and strength?

Bonus

Soliloquy: List/describe the most self indulgent headcanon/fic you’ve thought of for your Rook.

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Let's play the Lyrics prompt game. I give you a lyric and you give me the blurb that the lyric inspires!

"He showed me what it was to cry" from Natalie Imbruglia

First of all, I apologize for taking so long to post this. I had this post ready to go 2 days ago, and didn't notice until tonight that I had saved it as a draft instead of actually publishing it. 🤦‍♀️

Anyway... This blurb is a scene in which my Rook (Gunnar de Riva) finds out the man he'd spent a year in a relationship with was behind a plot to have Gunnar killed. Gunnar sustained major burn injuries in the ambush and weeks later, he's told the truth about who set him up.

"You're lying!" Gunnar yelled, not caring that he raised his voice to the Fifth Talon. "You never did like Ronan, and now you're blaming him for what happened? He wouldn't--" "He's telling the truth." Teia moved to stand beside Viago. "You know Vi wouldn't lie about something like that, not to you." Viago pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. His expression remained neutral, but Gunnar could see the absolute rage in his eyes. "Ronan wanted you dead." Viago carefully unfolded the paper and held it out to Gunnar. "He just didn't count on the fact you're a lot tougher than you look." Gunnar met Viago's eyes at the compliment then took the missive. He didn't want to believe any of what was written upon the paper. The familiar handwriting proved Viago wasn't lying about Ronan. He kept moving the paper, still adjusting to the lost sight in his right eye. Tears blurred his vision as he read the missive. All the days spent with Ronan, believing the other Crow loved him. Nearly a year he spent giving his heart to Ronan. Only to be left for dead by a man Gunnar had wholeheartedly trusted. The days had blurred together in a pain filled haze as the burns on Gunnar's body healed and his body adjusted to the injuries. He recalled asking Viago where Ronan was and why he hadn't come to see him. Each time, Viago didn't answer. Viago had probably known the truth when he found Gunnar's near lifeless body inside that cave all those weeks ago. "Why?" Gunnar's hand trembled as it fell to his side, crumpling the paper slightly. He didn't bother trying to wipe away the tears beginning to fall. "What did I do that made him want me dead?" "You didn't do anything wrong." Viago sounded far more sympathetic than Gunnar ever expected him to be. "He wanted you out of the way because he thought you were why I turned him down two years ago." "What?" Gunnar couldn't believe it. The paper he'd continued clutching finally fell to the floor. "Why would he think that?" "He was delusional," Viago answered darkly. "He thought that if you were out of the way, he'd have a shot at becoming the Fifth Talon's favorite. If I'd known that contract was a setup..." "Don't blame yourself, Vi." Teia reached out to gently squeeze his shoulder. She stepped toward Gunnar and opened her arms. "And you did nothing to deserve what happened." Gunnar accepted the embrace Teia offered. Such kindness and softness was a rarity among the Crows, especially from a Talon to a lower ranking Crow. He pressed his face into her shoulder, finally letting go of the sobs he'd tried to hold back. Teia's careful placement of her arms only served as another reminder of Ronan's betrayal. The burn scars on Gunnar's back had begun to properly heal thanks to the healers Viago trusted, but those scars were still sensitive to the touch. He tried to figure out how he could have been so blind to Ronan's plans. His heart shattered at the thought of the love he'd been so eager to give to a man who had never truly felt the same. "I'm sorry," Teia whispered as she held him. "I know you loved him." "I thought he loved me." Gunnar said into her shoulder. "I'm so stupid." "You're not stupid," Viago finally spoke up again. "Even I didn't expect him to do anything like that. However, let it be a lesson that maybe dating another Crow isn't a good idea." Gunnar pulled back from Teia's embrace and wiped the back of his hands against his cheeks. He winced when he rubbed across the scars under his right eye.

"Maybe next time I'll aim for dating the First Talon's favorite grandson." Gunnar managed to smile as Viago frowned. "At least I wouldn't mind being gifted a nice dagger." "You're insufferable," Viago grumbled as Teia laughed. "And yet you keep me around."

Of course, I couldn't end it on a sad note. My poor boy has already been through the ringer already. He deserves a chance to take a shot at Viago. 🤣

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Gunnar loves being able to care for Viago's snake. The first time he ever cared for it, Gunnar didn't quite get the door to the snake's enclosure shut properly. He completely panicked when he realized Cinder was nowhere to be found. Gunnar just knew Viago would absolutely kill him for letting it escape.

When Viago returns later that same day, Gunnar is still panicking. Viago pretends to be angry when Gunnar tells him Cinder is gone, which sends Gunnar into a full blown panic attack. Viago is quick to calm Gunnar down and points toward a shelf by the window. There, watching from above, is the snake. Gunnar didn't know Viago let Cinder roam the room sometimes, and Cinder's favorite place to go after exploring was atop that shelf. Viago still trusts Gunnar to care for Cinder after that because he could see how much Gunnar actually cared about the fact the snake was "missing".

Also, I headcanon that Viago's snake is a kingsnake - a gray banded kingsnake is what I imagine it is.

So, do we think Viago has Rook take care of his snake while he’s away?

And if yes, is it because he trusts Rook or because he knows Rook is afraid of it and thinks it’s funny?

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OC Tag Game

I was tagged for this days ago by @antivan-sprig , and it took me a while to do it. Thanks for the tag, by the way. I always enjoy talking about my characters.

Name: Gunnar de Riva. His real surname is Hawthorne. He began using “de Riva” as his surname after completing his first contract as an official member of House de Riva.

Alias: Rook. He chooses to go by the moniker Rook not long after leaving Treviso and starting his travels with Varric. In nature, a rook may appear to be a crow at first glance, but it's just different enough that one would stand out amongst a flock if someone looked hard enough. And that's how Gunnar views himself - The Crow that never quite fit in. He uses the name as his own personal penance for his actions and vows to one day make Viago (and the Crows) proud again.

Age: 30

Place of birth: Treviso

Gunnar actually doesn’t know he was born in Treviso. His mother and father left Treviso when he was only 3 months old. He grew up in the small village of Saltwind, located along the southeastern coast of Antiva.

Spoken languages: Common.

His parents never taught him Antivan, even though his mother was fluent in it. He learns a little bit of the language after he begins his Crow training.

Sexual orientation: Bisexual, Demisexual

Occupation: Crow (He didn't begin training with the Crows until he was 15 years old.)

Favorites

Color: Blue

Entertainment: Growing up, he enjoyed listening to the stories told by travelers and traders who would occasionally dock in Saltwind. The village didn’t really have much to offer in terms of entertainment besides that. After he goes to Treviso and joins the Crows, Gunnar enjoys watching street performers and attending an occasional play or opera.

Pastime: Reading. He has a small collection of adventure novels as well as educational books back home in his apartment. He also enjoys fishing. One past time he doesn’t talk much about is writing – he enjoys writing his own stories but has never shared any of them with others. They’re kept locked in a trunk in his apartment.

Drink: He enjoys most anything from tea to coffee, but his favorite overall is hot chocolate because it reminds him of his mother. She made it often for him when he was younger.

Books: Adventure novels. Educational books that discuss the history of locations and especially books about the animals found in the different regions of Thedas.

Have they...

Passed university: No. He received a basic education at the small school in Saltwind, and his parents also did what they could to educate him.

Had sex: No. Sex isn’t something he’s ever really been interested in, but he knows that the right person could change his mind. Despite being a Crow, he has managed to never have to use it as means to complete a contract.  

Had sex in public: See above.

Gotten tattoos: No.

Gotten piercings: No.

Gotten scars: He has burn scars on his right shoulder/arm, torso, back, neck, and the right side of his face. The burn on his face resulted in damage to his right eye which has left him almost entirely blind in that eye.

He received the scars when a contract turned out to be a setup. While fighting his way out of the ambush, he was hit with a fire grenade. He was found two days later, barely alive, by Viago, who’d come searching for him when Gunnar failed to return as expected.

Had a broken heart: Yes. His only real relationship was with another Crow, Ronan. Gunnar was head over heels for Ronan, and they had been dating for almost a year when Gunnar nearly died. He was devastated when he found out Ronan was responsible for the setup that nearly got him killed. 

Been in love: He thought he had been in love with Ronan. The trauma caused by that relationship made it hard for him to ever want to be in a relationship again. When he begins to realize he is falling for Lucanis, Gunnar is initially terrified and questions if he should act on those feelings.

Are they...

Cuddler: Not until he and Lucanis really begin their relationship.

Scared easily: It would depend on the situation. For the most part, he isn’t scared too easily by most things. If someone he cares about is in danger, he’ll get scared. One thing that can scare him a lot is deep water. He never learned how to swim. (Going to the Ossuary to rescue Lucanis had been one of the most terrifying moments of his life up to that point.)

Jealous easily: Not really.

Trustworthy: Yes. Gunnar tries not to tell secrets or share information about someone that they wouldn’t want known.

Family

Siblings: None. Although he does consider Viago as somewhat of an adoptive older brother.

Parents: Arlen and Serina Hawthorne. Both of them passed away just months apart when Gunnar was around 15 years old.

Children: None. He likes children but has never seen himself as the fatherly type. Plus, he knows any child he has would likely have to end up going through training to become a Crow, and that isn’t something he wants.

Pets: Gunnar loves animals in general, but he is especially fond of cats. When he's sent away from Treviso, he has an orange tabby named Bane that lives with him in his apartment. Gunnar raised Bane from a tiny 3 week old kitten. Viago agreed to care for the cat since Gunnar had to leave Bane behind, but only because Teia convinced him to not put the cat out on the streets like he wanted to.

I'd tag others to do this, but I'm afraid I don't quite know anyone to tag. So, if this crosses your dashboard and you feel inspired to do it and share your Rook... Please tag me so I can check it out! I love reading about your characters! 😊