#but not an Opinion as strong as 'Not Solas' | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bogunicorn · 10 months

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i'm bored so it's time to throw rocks*, here are the types of reality tv/game shows i think the inquisition companions would watch

cassandra would watch one of those romance ones, like too hot to handle or love is blind, and get really, really invested. she's active on the reddits for her favorite shows. all of the cheesy, painfully heterosexual-but-strangely-sanitized reality TV horniness works well on her, she's the intended audience 100%. she's genuinely sad about it when couples break up after the show ends.

varric likes interpersonal dramas and gossip and backstabbing, he watches the vh1 dating shows. he knows most of it is fake, but that's what he likes about it, and he appreciates the classics. anything with "of love" in it, he loves it, he's there. he thinks newer shows work too hard to convince people they're actually real because he thinks embracing the fakeness makes it more fun.

solas has been watching reality tv since the OG: survivor. he's seen every season. he has very strong opinions about play strategies and a personal ranking of the best players of all time just ready to go if you just ask. he's convinced he would win if he was on it, but deep deep down he knows he would never get the votes to win at the end because he'd be seen as a villain and won't apply.

vivienne thinks she's above this kind of garbage tv, but she actually really likes the masked singer. she's pretty good at guessing the celebrities, but she doesn't put much effort into guessing after a point. she's in it entirely to relax and quietly fantasize about being on it herself, because so much of her life is about playing games of intrigue and survival and perception. she records the episodes and skips most of the judging because she doesn't think the judges are funny and gets annoyed when they make stupid guesses.

sera likes the obstacle course-type shows like wipeout and the floor is lava. anything where people have to come up with creative solutions and also might get hit with a giant thing made of foam and get smacked around like a rag doll. sera has been trying to convince people to team up with her and apply for this type of show for ages and it never works out. she also likes the really weird off-brand ones that only ever get one season, like who wants to be a superhero or opposite worlds.

blackwall likes the circle. he always quietly roots for the catfish. no reason.

iron bull is a drag race superfan. come on, one of them had to be. he's been watching since the season 1 vaseline filter days. he approaches each new season with the masculine seriousness of a suburban dad planning a fantasy sports lineup and correctly predicts every winner three episodes in. he would absolutely volunteer for a makeover episode if he could. his favorite queens are usually the pageant queens; he likes the sparkly ones, and the pageant queens always end up covered in rhinestones.

dorian loves innovation and being judgy, so he loves shark tank and anything similar. he enjoys episodes with absolutely terrible inventions just as much as the good ones, and is the kind of viewer who actually will go ahead and buy something he saw on the show -- including the really stupid ones, because he gives them to his friends as joke gifts.

cole watches those shows that are equal parts talent competition and sappy backstories, like american idol, x-factor, the voice, stuff like that. he always cries a little when someone does a ballad. he never votes because he can never decide who deserves to win the most, and he doesn't watch the results shows because they make him too sad.

cullen watches HGTV and gets belligerent if you point out that house hunters is fake. unclear if that's because he thinks you're being a wet blanket or because it was news to him and he doesn't want to admit it.

josephine likes strategy and competition, but the grime, physical danger, and "eat this gross thing" challenges of survivor aren't fun to her. instead, she's really into big brother. josephine is convinced that she would win big brother if she was ever on it, and she's correct, but she can't take the time off work.

leliana is an OG ANTM fan. she'll dabble in other shows that center on makeup and fashion, but she always ends up going back to the classics and the older seasons, as she feels like the current era of ANTM is too gimmicky and self-aware. the human rights violations are allowed if they make good TV.

*this is for fun don't actually throw things at me please

**also if you like this and think "i'm gonna give this fine person a follow because they're so funny about dragon age", i made a new DA sideblog at @skyholdstarbucks where i'd post anything similar to this in the future

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isobellenoire · 7 months

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Solas is Neurodiverse.

This is of course my opinion, don't invalidate me, if you find comfort in this character then I'm glad, join the party!

• Info dumping (You boost his approval by asking him about magic & the fade... and oh my world does he have a lot to say about it!)

• Strong sense of justice... freeing the slaves, wanting to right wrongs. He feels so strongly about injustice, especially when he can sympathise (mages & elves) a strong sense of social justice is often linked with ND people because we are marginalised, mistreated and ridiculed. I can often get angry, irate and depressed when there's injustice in the world and for a lot of my ND friends it's the same.

• Likes to be alone (he still has friends who are spirits, but he doesn't actively seek out companionship with people) prefers his own company. (Hermit tarot... come on! I'm crying in INTP/INTJ here)

• Always reading, writing, he even paints a whole ass mural on the walls as skyhold in a short burst of time, hyperfocus/hyperfixation.

• Comes across as blunt. I've been told I'm blunt so many times it's infuriating when I don't mean to be, I'm just firm in what I know to be true and will say it without dancing around the matter.

• Speaks 'strangely' in a poetic rhythm. While not an exclusive trait, given everything else it holds merit.

• He does have a great deal of empathy if you romance him/get to know him, but on a surface level he seems distant because he doesn't open up personally! It takes a LOT to crack that egg. I'm 4 years into a committed relationship and I still get told I don't open up enough when I'm struggling with emotions because I keep them internalised... probably a trauma response but in Solas' case... yeah, definitely a trauma response.

• Comes across argumentative when talking about stuff to which the group (Dorian especially during party banter) will ask if he's upset with them, and he says he isn't. ND people are always stuffed in the 'uncanny valley' and seen as outsiders, or stand-offish... we're just not very good with social nuances in terms of delivery, but are deeply self aware of that and prefer to observe, and I argue Solas is incredibly self aware. (Knows when he is being 'selfish' or 'foolish')

• Incredibly knowledgeable on a lot because he's intensively researched it, has to know everything about that subject and becomes deeply immersed in it.

• He never lied about anytning, he just didn't throw it out there... Autistic people can lie you know... however not once did he lie, he just kept his secrets hidden, that's very different to lying. Lying wild be 'Are you Fen'Harel'?... 'No' I've kept secrets from people for a long ass time to spare their feelings and my own self interest. (Not as bad as it sounds ahah! Just an example)

• History nerd... C'mon most of us have a favourite time period that isn't this one...

• I mentioned the paintings, he's also an artist, as well as a dreamer. A lot of us have infiltrated science or the arts... or both! Most of the world's leading scientists and artists are ND. He probably has an idetic memory.

I have more if people care to hear it, but in my opinion and based on my own personal experience being AuDHD, I'd say he is. I resonate with his character more deeply than the others because no ND person is alike and we all have our own personal struggles/wins.

A similar example in media to Solas would be (and hear me out ahah) Walter White (minus the drugs) but intelligence and the way he speaks to others, hides stuff from people (and assumes an alias to seperate himself) I definitely see WW as Autistic. So why not Solas?

Can we please stop infantalizing ASD, and applying the manic pixie lense to it, there's so much more to it that just 'quirky'. Cole is practically confirmed, people have debated Sera being ADHD, but also they are painted with a similar 'childish' brush.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk ahah.

#solas #solas dragon age #dragon age #dragon age dreadwolf #dragon age inquisition #solas dread wolf #da:d #solas is Autistic #autism #autistic headcanon

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dragonagecompanions · 8 months

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So I’ve seeing the ASOIAF author!Inquisitor AU has resurfaced. I have a curiosity: how does the DAI companion (perhaps also advisors) feel about the character Brienne of Tarth?

Cassandra: Sir Brienne of Tarth is without question or equivocation the greatest and most honorable character in any piece of literature. She is brave and unwavering in her loyalties, strong of oath and arm. Jamie Lannister does not deserve anything from her, but instead should be honored for whatever attention she chooses to bestow on him. Lady Stark could not have chosen a better champion for her daughters.

Years later, when the last book is finally written, Cassandra will receive the first copy. The handwritten note inside is simple and plain, but the Seeker will weep over it regardless and put it in a place of honor.

'I based her on you, Cass. I'm glad she meets your approval.'

Solas: A stoic and staid knight of little imagination who proves set in the thinking that might is right. Solas has no real opinion on the would be knight, for his attentions are on greater characters. But as Cassandra is one of the few companions willing to debate the merits of abandoning the North with real understanding he is willing to pretend greater regard than he might feel.

Varric: All he sees is Aveline, and while Kirkwall's resident author will never mention it to his friend it makes him smile. Somewhere far away Guard Captain Vallen is keeping his city safe with the same loyal tenacity-- he hopes Donnic sees the same parallels and points them out.

She still hasn't forgiven him for Swords and Shields.

Blackwall: She is fair and honorable, strong of arm and conviction. Everything a true lady knight should be. If she were real he would bet on her in the tourney. As it is her character is a welcome respite from those foul nobles in Kings Landing.

Vivienne: Madame de Fer can appreciate loyalty to one's charges and liege lord, even if Brienne's court manners would fail her utterly in the game. But she is a good role model for young templars in the circles Vivienne wants to rebuild, and so popular a series will help set the example.

Sera: Woof.

Dorian: Even if he is not romantically involved with the inquisitor (which he is, though it hardly grants him spoilers), it would not be hard to see that their resident Seeker is the basis for Brienne of Tarth. The necromancer fancies that his comment on Cassandra needing a blue scarf surely inspired the sapphire waters of Tarth, and is content with his addition to the Seven Kingdoms.

Now if only he can convince everyone else that Dorn is also a strategic name....

Iron Bull: She would be a hell of a sparring partner. The Qun badgers him enough about the books that even if he was not invested the Ben-Hassrath agent would have read them all. But he admires Brienne's singular focus, her loyalty and tenacity. Could use a bit more creative thinking, a little more ease with bending the rules. But she'd fit in well with the Qun.

She is added unanimously to the list of characters welcome in the Chargers. Krem will never admit his crush.

Cole: The characters are hard for him, when so many see them in so many ways. The books help--that is enough.

Josephine: She adores every character, except the Lannister's of course, and every winding path they take. Brienne would be about as difficult as Cassandra to train for social events, but just as useful. She does hope Jamie follows his heart and they wed though. That would be so wonderful!

Lelianna: She is watching greater characters, the horrors above the wall and below it, but something about the oath Brienne swears to Sansa reminds her of...

Of another, sworn long ago in far different circumstances with far greater sacrifices. It is a laughable thing, to sit in Skyhold a decade later and wonder how Shale would handle being compared to a fake human!

Cullen: He's just a little bit in love. It doesn't help that in some ways he sees himself in Jamie Lannister's redemption arc.

#asoiaf #dragon age inquisition #solas #sera #dorian pavus #blackwall #cassandra pentaghast #vivieene #varric tethras

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greypetrel · 10 months

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12, 16, and 18 for the Choose Violence ask game c:< (tis an evil smiley)

Here, take a torch to point down your chin as well, let's do an evil laughter together! C:<

With a change of program: we'll have 8 instead of 12 as per request!

Tis the ask game

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

*cracks knuckles*

Merrill is all but unsure of herself and weak. All she doubts about herself is how unprepared she is in an environment that is new. after her personal quest... She never doubts her ideals and her actions. She just regrets that it was all taken so badly by the clan and that they didn't listen. She doesn't regret one single choice she made. She doubts, it, yes! She doubt she should have stayed with the clan, in a world that's more familiar even if she wasn't happy! But repairing the mirror? Communicating with the demon? No. She doesn't blame herself because she's sure in the fact that "EVERY knowledge must be preserved, even the dangerous one" that's what she moves for. That is never put in doubt.

Morrigan never betrayed anyone. Solas betrays you, meaning that he used you, even regretting it, even if he didn't want to, and you couldn't do anything about it because you didn't know it was him all along until the very end. Morrigan asks you if you want to go on with the Ritual. You can say no and she will protest because she doesn't want you to die... But will not insist and force you to do it. It's not a betrayal.

The Arbor Wilds had some great potential. The quest was written badly and by all means there should have been more dialogue options for a Lavellan. Morrigan should have explained her reasons better, and it would have been possible to make her drink from the Well in a way that could be acceptable for a Lavellan. It was poorly done, but the ideas weren't half bad. Luckily there's fanfiction to correct everything.

Sera is creepy and nasty. No, not at all. She is abrasive and will restore to violence? Sure. But if you take your time to actually listen to her and take her seriously and don't diminish her, she's one of the most caring characters in game. (it's easy to miss... Just as it's easy to miss Vivienne being caring.)

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

I hate the star-crossed lovers theme with a passion if it's not done exceptionally well and with strong motivations.

I have a 30 pages dissertation ready to be exposed with a passion every time someone tells me the name of the play, against Romeo and Juliet.

I hate the Romeo and Juliet trope, always had, the only one I like is West Side Story, and because Maria doesn't die in the end (spoiler?).

I never could bear with it, the moment you give me a "We love each other but we cannot be together :<" my eyes roll in the back of my head.

I also stand VERY little the trope that love is the ultimate saving grace, it will be the cure for everything, going from loneliness to mental illnesses and child trauma. ... I wish it could be so, but from a person with child trauma that lead to mental illness, I can positively tell you that it can't. It's a help, sure! But if it's the only thing keeping your character tethered to reality... Yeah, it's not the story for me and I will read that love story as mildly abusive.

(I wouldn't want to be the only reason to live of the person I like, nobody should.) (Mo you managed this greatly in Wander, let me tell you.)

I also personally struggle, characterization-wise, with darker Cullens (...That man FUMBLES, come on let him be awkward).

18. it's absolutely criminal that the fandom has been sleeping on...

Him. Give me more Felix content. More Felix for everyone. Bring more Felix in your life.

I can't wait to see Tevinter if you couldn't tell.

Also how Dorian fucking invented time travelling and... THE APPLICATION. Maybe that spell could be modified.

Also how if your Inky is a Knight Enchanter and in a good relationship to Dorian... They worked together in developing the Haste and Disruption Field. They got two twin spells. Aisling and Dorian totally did, the twinsies.

#ask game #choose violence ask game #dragon age #merrill #morrigan #cullen rutherford #sera #felix alexius #dorian pavus #forever in merrill and felix defense squad

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vigilskeep · 1 year

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now youve gotten to skyhold, what do you and helena think of the companions?

sticking more to helena’s opinions bc i typically do not have strong opinions either way on characters just like a level of interest

cassandra: initially intimidated, since templars generally fear the seekers. even now when they know each other better and she’s also technically cassandra’s superior, hel still leans a little more respectful and complimentary than normal in dialogue. brings her along specifically for important/dangerous stuff and never just like errands

solas: complicated one! a little tense; solas is an apostate clearly not saying everything, and they’ve disagreed on matters such as spirits before. but solas also seems to largely think well of helena’s decisions, and helena respects experience and knowledge. she wants to know his opinion whether or not she agrees

varric: does not trust as far as she can throw him lmao

blackwall: hasn’t thought much about him to be honest, but his first conversation at skyhold was interesting: his dedication to their cause impressed her, and his suggestion that she should act as andraste’s herald bc people needed it unsettled her

sera: the most overwhelming feeling sera inspires in helena is curiosity. she doesn’t always get what sera is talking about—partly because they have very different styles of speech, partly because they come from very different worlds—but she wants to. she finds sera’s straightforward perspective on everything grounding, and comforting in its way when she is questioning so much

vivienne: highly respects her and values her judgement. hel’s noble past may not have given her much patience for the likes of the orlesian game but it taught her respect for anyone who can play it well, and on top of that have the will required to be a mage of vivienne’s calibre and self-control

iron bull: wary, not sure what to make of him. she has a typically andrastian perspective on the qunari and a free marcher’s long history of conflict with them in her mind. nevertheless his skills as a warrior are something she understands and his mercenary company does him great credit

cole: ordinarily helena would be slow to trust a spirit but the envy demon’s fade trap really shook her and he was help she sorely needed. she owes him her life and honour, and she takes that seriously

dorian: newcomer. tevinter mage newcomer, to be precise. she’s cautious but won’t turn him away after what he did coming to haven. very much on probation though

#helena trevelyan

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rustic-obsessive · 1 year

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I'm going to go feral about the da:d leaks for a second look away if you don't want spoilers

1) i'm positively frothing at the mouth at the prospect of going to Weisshaupt. the way they describe it in The Last Flight sounds so fuckin cool

2) mayhaps we'll get to be a warden again??? i wonder if this means another warden protagonist (unlikely in my opinion) or that we're getting dao style origins (more likely based on the fact that tevinter nights focuses on so many different factions i think we might get to pick a faction to start as)

3) i know it's extremely far fetched but a group of junior wardens from Weisshaupt do find a bunch of griffon eggs hidden away nearish Weisshaupt in the last flight which takes place just before inqusition so mayhaps griffons??? (i will cry if bioware gives me a baby griffon i want one so bad)

4) based on what the reddit thread was saying one of the two companions they saw had a female dwarf model though the models weren't finished. we might have a female dwarf companion and potentially (really crossing my fingers here) a female dwarf romance option!

5) the combat didn't seem that different to inqusition combat to me personally so i'm not too worried about that though i am slightly sad that it seems like the thread is supporting the earlier insider gaming article saying that we won't be able to control party members. it's not essential to me because i prefer story to combat but i did kinda like that aspect of micromanaging you could do in DA games

6) you! can! see! the! hair! moving!!! it's clipping through the helmet but it's moving!!! (it's hard to see in the gif cos it's so dark but you can see it!!)

7) finally based on the whole focus on red lyrium we've seen in concept art, the focus on the red lyrium idol, meredith being some kind of talking red lyrium statue, and the red lyrium in these leaks i think there's a strong chance we're going to be finding out more about the origins of the blight. in the leaks the protagonist is fighting darkspawn corrupted by red lyrium (this could indicate a playable grey warden origin or it could be something related to fighting off red lyrium corrupted beings in general idk) which to me seems to further support the idea that we might be delving further into the origins of the blight, especially since Solas seemed to know something about the blight the grey wardens didn't in inqusition also the whole "black city corrupted the magisters and brought the blight down to thedas" thing

One slight worry i have is that they're going to pull a Corypheus on us and hype up the whole Solas confrontation and the bringing down the veil but then pivot to the red lyrium and blighted titans thing half way through. i hope they don't do that but my worry is they may be tempted to because it's a fresh plotline less connected to the previous games and it would make da:d more newbie friendly

#da:d #da4 #da4 spoilers #dragon age #da:d spoilers #dragon age spoilers

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gxldencity · 11 months

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4, 7 & 24 for the 🔥🔥 asks!

4. what was the last straw that made you finally block that annoying person?

Tbh I don't have a last straw anymore. I use and abuse the block button liberally. If I see an annoying opinion, I block. Sometimes, I don't even finish reading the post because you usually can tell it's rancid from the first 2 lines.

I've blocked half a fandom at this point bc of the constant negativity. I simply don't care anymore. I'm here to have fun. If you take personal offense to that then that's your problem not mine.

7. what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

Alngksgnw as you're said hate IS a strong word and I don't hate characters really unless there is a good reason for me to hate them.

So when I say I began to dislike Dorian Pavus after seeing how the fandom acted towards him, I don't hate him. I guess I do find him fascinating and relatable to an extent but I also don't think he's written perfectly as some people act like he is. Revisiting Dorian's quest as an adult with a fully developed brain and way more comfortable about my own queerness made me realize that I dislike how Dorian didn't really have agency whether to reconcile with his father or not. I know it's the point of The game to have a choice but Idk a bit more dialogue about the choice could've easily solved that problem for me.

I also have issues with Dorian's Indian coding lmao and have since felt like I was duped. It just feels like a cop-out? Like Gaider and team knew about the complaints people have about his comments wrt Asians in Thedas so they made him Asian—only mentioning it in a forum post or Twitter I think 🫠 so to this day ive seen people still surprised that he's Asian—without considering how to code him as Indian in the game.

Things like his clothing having some influences from the cultures in India or family structures and mannerisms. I mean it could be as simple as Indian coding the people of Quarinus so you don't just have this one Indian coded family in the entirety of Thedas. The Alexiuses could've also been Indian coded.

(An aside there's more layers to this like the unfortunate implications of coding a group of people who own slaves as poc but I could write a whole post about Dragon Age's attempts of trying to put Asians in this game)

Anyway, that's canon lol. Fandom makes this all worse. I could just point at the Orientalist depictions of Dorian in fanart and just end it here but nope it goes deeper. Somehow, Dorian attracted the worst kind of fandom. Like the Solas and Cullen stans maybe louder but I was there Gandalf. I was in the trenches. People were forming cliques around this one BNF and their friends. I was in the clique and it was all good until Tresspasser dropped.

You see this clique hated that Tresspasser ended with Dorian and the Inquisitor being in an LDR—because Dorian was off trying to fix a country—to the point where some of them acted like they broke up. Hello? Okay 1) That is such a poor reading on long distance relationships 2) Dorian...got a phone crystal for the Inquisitor, u know a tech that didn't exist in Thedas so they can stay in touch.

It also isn't enough that they didn't like it. Others have to Not like it as well. I remember talking to the BNF about my Inquisitor and Dorian, how they stayed in touch as Dorian was y'know trying to fix a country and the BNF told me that it was a depressing situation for my Inquisitor and Dorian...even though it isn't and they're perfectly happy.

(An side, not from this clique but I wouldnt be surprised if some of them also held this opinion but I saw some accusations from folks that Bioware is homophobic because Dorian and the Inquisitor are in an LDR. This is how batshit this fandom is).

Anyway, to keep it short, I was 19-20 when all of this happened. I probably said some stupid shit around that time but I should tell you these people were in their late 20s to early 30s. They were affected by a 19-20 year old with just a handful of followers saying stupid shit. They were so affected by the barely adult saying stupid shit that one of them stalked me, vagueposted about me and when I found out they were vagueposting about me, proceeded to gaslight me and told me I was the one stalking them. :)

Not only that, they also harassed one of my friends to not posting their fics ever again, harrassed a friend of a friend for trying to steal the BNF's spotlight 🙄. Come on some of you have fucking children.

I don't think I could look at Dorian in the same way which is a shame because for a time he was important to me but like God, it was rough.

I also have not forgotten nor forgave :) hence why I have the studio behind that chorus game or whatever it's called now blocked :) and would not be playing it. Do not care if David Gaider is the one writing it. I mean he kinda was the weakest link in that writing team imo (and I also hate his prose).

24. topic that brings up the most rancid discourse

Very cliche but anything to do with the mages and templars

#elaine talks #im so SORRY about the essay lmao #im okay now though and ive generally put THAT incident behind me

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exhausted-archivist · 1 year

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So BioWare DOES have a height chart and I want to see it. Oh, and Solas is 6ft(ish).

For those who don’t want to open the link the tweet from Patrick Weekes says this:

[Image id:

A tweet from Patrick Weekes that says

my dream bf

- 6ish ft

- dreamer and painter

- thoughtful and sensitive

- (redacted) years old

- eyes that can freeze you with a look

- hates tea

- strong opinions on forced servitude

- late sleeper

- has old friends

- can kill a dragon

- hair optional

- loves me

- loves wolves

End of ID]

#dragon age #solas #Patrick Weekes #It’s a meme

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imakemywings · 1 year

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Hi! I saw and liked your analysis of Ambessa & Mel and that you implied in your tags that you don't like bashing either about it - which gives me hope, because I wanted to ask what you think about Flemeth from the Dragon Age series? I think she has many parallels with Ambessa and enjoy her character as well... (I know there are many people with very strong - negative! - opinions about Flemeth because of Morrigan, hence the "gives me hope" part)

Hi Anon, I'm glad you liked it! Arcane has been on my mind again and I've always found Mel and Ambessa fascinating characters with a disappointing lack of analysis in the fandom at large. Unfortunately, there is a lot of hate for both characters, especially Mel, which I think is unwarranted--but that's another discussion.

Flemeth is a great question. I'm going to say I haven't given Morrigan and Flemeth's relationship nearly as much thought as I have Ambessa and Mel's, but I know there are fans out there who have. I'm going to put this in her tag to see if someone else is looking for the chance to give some analysis on Flemeth!

I will say I think Ambessa and Mel's relationship is actually more clear-cut than Morrigan and Flemeth. Dragon Age sort of goes back and forth on the details and the nature of their relationship. Origins seems to make a very clear, obvious case that whatever affection Flemeth might have for Morrigan, she did intend to eventually steal Morrigan's body for her own use. We're also given plenty of fodder for the notion that Flemeth was not a particularly maternal parent and believed that approaching Morrigan's upbringing with harsh realism would keep Morrigan safe later by teaching her not to be too trusting or naive. While Morrigan expresses agreement with this tactic--and strongly disapproves whenever she believes the Warden is coddling someone--she also suggests there were moments that Flemeth's lack of sympathy wounded her in ways that stick with her as an adult and at times seems not to understand her mother as a person.

However, in II, Flemeth appears again as a (chaotic) force of good for the Hawke family and has some kind words for Merrill on Sundermount. Here, she seems eminently reasonable and is a part of the Hawke mythology. Then in Inquisition, Flemeth will tell Morrigan when confronted that Morrigan was never in any danger, and that Flemeth would never have taken her body without permission.

I've seen some fans argue this was simply retconning of Flemeth as a straightforward villain, but putting the Doylist analysis aside, what does this mean within the realm of what we're given as canon? It means, for now, we're left choosing who we think is more believable: Morrigan or Flemeth. Most fans will be inclined to believe Morrigan, simply because we're given a lot more chance to understand and befriend or even romance Morrigan, which is apt to put us squarely in her camp and believe her original analysis of the danger presented by Flemeth was correct.

However, assuming for a moment that Morrigan perhaps overestimated or misunderstood the danger posed by Flemeth, what else can we believably see? If Flemeth does house the remnants or soul of the elven god Mythal (who, from what we're told, appears to be one of the more sympathetic of the Evanuris, the only one whom Solas speaks of with any regard), it would be easy to see why she might not understand Morrigan's fear or connect with Morrigan's feelings about anything. If we're talking about an ancient, immortal god soul, who has lived largely in isolation for at least a generation (Morrigan repeatedly notes how isolated her childhood was, that it was mostly just her and Flemeth the whole time), there's every reason to believe she is virtually incapable of understanding things from Morrigan's perspective--not out of malice, but because Morrigan's mortal life is simply too removed from Flemythal's experience in the world (Possibly comparable to how the citizens of Thedas did not even seem like people to Solas initially.)

It's also possible that whatever danger Flemeth did or does pose, Morrigan misunderstood it by virtue of being unaware that Flemeth houses Mythal's soul--it may indeed be the case that Flemeth is dangerous, but on a totally different scale/in a very different manner than Morrigan thought when she believed her mother was just a witch (Morrigan is shocked to learn about the Mythal connection).

I should probably also address Morrigan's own parenting. In an Inquisition game where Morrigan arrives with Kieran, we get a glimpse at what Morrigan believes is good parenting. While I would not go so far as to say Morrigan is an indulgent parent, she also appears to have softened a great deal from her Origins attitudes. Kieran clearly trusts her and Morrigan appears reasonably affectionate with him. She is extremely protective of him in the Fade. Are these things a sign that she's rejected Flemeth's parenting tactics as too harsh to use on her own child? Arguably. One of the things she says to Flemeth in Inquisition is a rather damning "I will not be the mother you were to me." This is a pretty harsh condemnation of her own upbringing.

But you could parse it with the same analysis used on Ambessa and Mel: How much of what Morrigan and Mel say is truth, and how much is their lashing out with hurt feelings because they misunderstood their mothers' motives? The difference with Morrigan and Flemeth, I would argue, is that Morrigan starts out agreeing with Flemeth--it isn't until later, after Flemeth's (perceived?) betrayal, after Morrigan becomes a parent herself, that she changes her view and decides Flemeth was too harsh with her. Mel appears to have always had friction with her mother stemming from their diametrically opposed philosophies until it culminated in her being sent away, a move she freely admits hurt her deeply, and continues to hurt her.

All of this makes Flemeth a difficult character to analyze, imo. Your analysis of her is likely to be strongly predicated on whether you find her more believable than Morrigan or not. Personally, I'm inclined to believe Morrigan was not totally wrong that Flemeth is dangerous. I would also venture to say Flemeth--at least as she appears in Origins--comes across more selfish than Ambessa, who at least nominally acts to protect her family (even if you believe her methods are misguided). Ambessa, at the crux of her confrontation with Mel in E9, recognizes that Mel was hurt by her actions and offers to bring her home (on a condition...) Flemeth, by contrast, seems more dismissive of Morrigan's fear and hurt. Even if Morrigan is totally wrong, clearly she believes and has believed for years that Flemeth intended her real harm--enough that she made an effort to convince the Warden her mother had to die to keep her safe--but Flemeth does not appear to have much sympathy for any of this (Which again--she may not really be capable of, being Flemythal. To her, these things may all feel so trivial that it escapes her how upsetting it's been for Morrigan.)

So what would Flemeth's motivations be for lying to Morrigan in Inquisition? I would guess three main options:

a) She wants to preserve some remnant of Morrigan's trust for later use (For what? Why? Just as a precaution--don't burn a bridge if you don't have to?)

b) She was actually telling the truth.

c) Whether or not she was telling the truth, she has some attachment to Morrigan's affection and therefore wanted Morrigan to believe the best about her (that she never meant to hurt Morrigan).

It could be a combination of factors. Given her last scene with Solas in Inquisition, I sincerely doubt we've seen the last of Flemeth in this series, and Dread Wolf might force the Dragon Age team to finally pick a lane on whether Flemeth is a villain or not (and to what degree).

Anyone else who has devoted time and thought to pondering Flemeth and her motivations--please feel free to share your thoughts!

#flemeth #anonymous #if you have existing Flemeth meta feel free to share a link to the post!#meta #mine

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platoniccereal · 1 year

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allaros lavellan and the last few years.

actually, it's post trespasser, since the inquisition stopped existing, but the little guy decided to go a bit off the rails even without solas.

there are different paths!!

the orlesian court. in any case, the inquisition wasn't disbanded. lavellan wanted to keep at least some power. the main concern was the easiness with which the nobility could write him off otherwise, at least legally. they would find loopholes anyway, and lavellan didn't want to give them more. he retained the title of the lord inquisitor and started his work as the left hand of the divine. allaros' personal goal of being the figure head of the religious organization (and the reason he didn't walk off the battlements) was to put and support as many elves and mages in a position of the authority. he kept close ties with fiona, charter, merrill and the halamshiral's alienage, put briala behind the throne of orlais and put steeled leliana in the position of the divine. he watched her letting the mages govern themselves. he watched his loyal childhood friend elgara building up an elvhen theater and making their culture seen, even through the backlash from humans.

corruption. despite his noble intentions, all the years lavellan held this position, the iron bull had to watch how his partner became more ruthless and at times cruel. allaros did things and spoke speeches impossible to imagine coming from him years ago, when there was the inquisition. bull had to listen to allaros saying the opportunity to kill any of his noble opponents with a snap of his fingers brought him peace. it became more and more apparent that lavellan was considering that with all seriousness.

fall out. despite understanding this was his kadan's coping mechanism, bull grew worried. sometimes less for allaros and more because of him. coming from the qunari background, the iron bull hated orlesian politics just as much. then he had to see his partner molding into the same being. not the frilly rich one, the stop at nothing one. although allaros haven't yet crossed the boundary of punching down, it became apparent that this role deteriorated him, and something had to be done.

no place to belong. allaros initially comes from the orlesian alienage. he loathes orlesian court. lavellan also took away the opportunity to come back as the keeper of his clan from himself (due to. layers of a conflict). basically, after the trespasser there is no path for him to walk and feel at peace. at the same time, fate didn't create any place that would fit him better.

the bull's chargers, for instance. although he would've been a welcome member, lavellan maintained a somewhat stationary position since politics demanded his constant attention. that was contrary to the iron bull's opinion: for him, it was rather his partner's constant anxiety that if he let go of the reigns, all the progress would be reversed. this fear was reinforced by the ameridan's story. however, the iron bull continued getting contracts from orlesian nobles, and allaros, being the left hand, was sent here and there on leliana's orders. this let them keep up with each other and have excursions together. the possibility to live a boisterous life of a mercenary was tempting, but nonexistent.

the dalish clan. after all that was established, i imagine the cruelest thing that might be done to allaros is to give him the opportunity to lead a clan. to let him meet a clan struggling without their keeper, otherwise a content community with strong bonds. for instance, on one of the charger's missions. they're on their way of getting a mage from another clan. but isn't he a mage from another clan? two pieces of the puzzle put together. it is the cruel fate, to make lavellan remember: dalish are family, and he is meant to be here. accepting that the best you can do for your family is to leave wasn't easy, now all feelings were rekindled. allaros would instantly fall into helping and organizing. he would witness meals together around the campfire and their skillful preparations, rangers with reports, hunters with prey, children studying diligently, young mage apprentices lost without a guiding hand that will teach them how to cast a spell. lavellan knows how to help them. his help is welcome. it doesn't take the soul out of him. allaros remembers, he loves helping a community while being its part. bull is finally relaxed because the tal-vashoth and captain of the chargers knows full well what happiness that brings. because he sees his kadan content.

coming back. facing the opportunity to feel at home and at peace, allaros has to reject it. it's sensible. he has to come back to making the world a better place for elves and mages. because he would have to give up on seeing bull. because to work for his people of the whole country, he has to give up on his desire to help a smaller community. because leaving the court feels like a betrayal. because if he won't, who will?

the uprising. these further events are less achievable, but. there should be an uprising of the elves led by briala's movement, as well as her and allaros personally behind the curtain. the unrest that the divine might not be able support openly, but wouldn't interfere as well.

the return of the dales. the great game of orlais will never cease to exist. its base is blackmail, gossips, and compromising evidence. the climax of the uprising is a final move in the great game played from the shadows by allaros, as dangerous for him and everyone around as the double-edged sword. one day the court of orlais would be nothing but chaos. the amount of evidence damaging enough for the nobility to give up the dales as the territory that must be returned to elves. because briala taught him how much the elves can see because they're never seen. i want the elves to win the great game with the nobility's very own weapon.

ripples on water. before that, lavellan gathers the chargers, bull and elgara, and hopes that whoever he couldn't gather would get the memo anyway. he says, they're all leverage, plain and simple. that he can't say anything, but it's possible that they have to leave orlais, never to come back. allaros knows the chargers aren't loyal to him, they're loyal to their captain who is in love with allaros. many of them have people they care about in orlais, friends, flings and loves. half of their contracts come from this place. eventually, they have to leave and forget their lives in orlais. soon after the blackmail outbreak, allaros goes missing. it should've been him so it's not someone else. neither bull nor elgara know when they will see lavellan again. always ready to go through fire and water for him, now they have to move on without lavellan. it's easier for some of the chargers to rebuild parts of their lives, they're mercenaries, after all. for some, it is not. in any case, it was lavellan's responsibility.

the end without permanence. then, elves must move to the dales and rebuild their lives as well. there is a long process of figuring out what their lives should look like now, and the tension between them and orlais is palpable. still, there is life ahead of them as well. orlesian forces search for the one responsible for what happened, but even though every suspicion falls on the lord inquisitor, they can't capture him. consequently, allaros cannot watch the new life of his people he was fighting for. but his work there is done, he isn't entitled for anything else. there's briala and others for that. allaros leaves traces here and there so they won't lose track of him and turn to the dales. these are very exhausting years for him. despite lavellan's best efforts, they, of course, try to search through the dales nevertheless. this is time to act. this is also time when bull catches news here and there of someone captured and accused. when he understands it's not allaros but someone who's been framed, bull bitterly realizes he was right about his kadan becoming the orlesian nobility. still, he sets his sights on a meeting. it might happen soon.

#dragon age #dragon age inquisition #inquisitor lavellan #oc: allaros lavellan #iron bull x inquisitor #my post

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solavelyan · 10 months

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intro.

It's a Dragon Age sideblog! My main blog is @bogunicorn, and I go by Bog (or any type of nickname you can wring out of "bog unicorn"). If you're looking for more info about me as a person, that'll all be over on my main.

This blog and my main are both 18+. Please do not follow me if you're under 18. I don't keep close track of my followers, but I do check out blogs that follow me because of the spambots, and I block minors on sight.

eta oct 2023: given The Bullshit happening at bioware following their mass layoffs and their leveraging of the next game against former employees' requests for proper severance pay, please assume that none of my posts or words are an implicit or explicit endorsement of the company itself. i mean, they already weren't, i just want you to imagine that all of my reblogs have an invisible "EA/BW execs fall off a cliff challenge" tacked onto them.

what to expect here.

Gifsets, fanart, jokey jokes, and sometimes (reblogged) meta posts.

My own Dragon Age thoughts, feelings, theories, random whatevers. My original posts of all kinds are tagged #bog post.

A general positivity toward queer shit, weird shit, horny shit, and kinky shit.

My fanfic and my OCs. I don't post fic too often, at least not in the last few months, but I have a ton of OCs (roster TBA). I write notes and profiles and little ideas for them as a hobby even when I'm not actively writing fic. Anything relating to my own writing will be tagged #bogfic, anything involving my characters tagged #my ocs and then #character name (oc).

Generally, I'm a multishipper at heart and can find something to love about any given ship, PC choice, character, or type of storyline. Chances are if I'm spending my time talking about something or speculating on it, it's because I'm having fun or enjoying myself.

Commentary on fandom trends and behaviors (and, sometimes, common sense reminders not to be a dick to each other about fake stuff).

To get blocked if you put rude or annoying shit in my mentions, including using any of my posts to character bash or otherwise go off-topic in order to air your personal grievances underneath my stuff. I don't care if you don't like Solas, or if you have strong opinions about Anders vs. Fenris, or if you think "supporting" the mages/Templars/Chantry is good/bad, or if you feel like your personal favorite character/PC option/romance isn't represented by my posts and you feel your specific criticism is the exception. Do not cite the deep magic to me, witch, I was there when it was written (like 8+ years and two US presidents ago). Mind your manners and blacklist or scroll if you need to.

what not to expect.

Speculation or spoilers about Dreadwolf. I have all that stuff blacklisted for myself, so I don't even see it, let alone reblog it. So if you, like me, are going into DA4 blind, this is a safe spot for that.

Consistent character bashing or character hate. I simply do not spend a majority of my online time thinking about stuff I hate.

Anonymous asks. Anon is always turned off, both here, on my main, and on my AO3.

Real world politics and news, or general (as in, not-DA-specific) Disk Horse. Honestly, probably not even that much Dragon Age Discourse, either.

Equating in-game choices or fandom opinions with real life politics and morality. I don't "support" any group in Thedas because Thedas is fake. My politics and activism are for real people, not Wizard Politics or whatever.

Egg or cheese jokes.

the tag system (tm).

#timeless posts - Anything reblogged from the depths of @bogunicorn in the last 10 years. Usually queued.

#bog post - Any and all of my original posts.

#bogfic - Anything involving my writing or my OCs.

#my ocs - My OCs. Often accompanied by #[character name] (oc).

#spicy bog - Ye olde horny tag.

#bogcrit, #[character name] critical, #dragon age critical, #[game] critical, #fandom bs - These are my Complaining Tags. If you never want to see anything truly critical or negative, just blacklist #bogcrit. If you want to avoid grousing or critique of a specific character, the games in general, individual games, or the fandom itself, blacklist whatever listed tag is relevant to you.

#fic, #art - Fanfic and fanart that I didn't make.

#meta - Meta or speculation posts.

#da au - Any kind of alternate universe post.

#ask meme - Blanket tag for any put-it-in-the-tags posts, as well as actual ask memes.

Characters are tagged by their full names. Origins and Inquisition PCs are tagged #the warden or #the inquisitor, as well as by surname. Hawke is always just #hawke. I don't specify gender in my character tags, this system is already complicated enough.

Ships are tagged #[character] x [character] in alphabetical order, with the PCs just using their surnames. I also use the more portmanteaus (like Solavellan, Fenhawke, Adoribull, etc) because that's what people are inclined to click/search, but I would still slap "lavellan x solas" on a Solavellan post just for consistency.

contact.

complain to my manager

send me an ask

read my fic

#pinned post

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esta-elavaris · 1 year

Text

Fluffmass ‘22 Day 1

Dragon Age: Inquisiton -- Cullen/F!Trevelyan

Prompt: “This made me think of you.”

Cullen and Evelyn exchange gifts on their first Satinalia as a couple.

It started with a fleeting comment, written as a postscript in one of her reports to him in the earliest days of the Inquisition - back when she’d “simply” been Herald of Andraste, and not the Inquisitor.

P.S. I’m sorry for the atrocious handwriting. It’s so damn cold here tonight that I can hardly feel my hands, much less write.

Cullen had smiled upon reading it - the first sign of ease in her missives to him, and perhaps (he hoped) and indicator that any awkwardness between them thanks to his once being a Templar, and her always being a mage, was not so insurmountable as some might assume. It had hardly prevented them from working well thus far, but he hadn’t been blind to the tentativeness that took over her when he walked into a room for the first few weeks - and he thanked Andraste that it didn’t seem to be a permanent fixture. Not just because it would have interfered with their work, but because he didn’t want to induce that sort of discomfort.

Her next report proved far more legible, and so he’d added a note at the end of his letter; a simple I see your hands have warmed up. And then he’d cringed over it from the time the letter was sent until he received her next one, reading in a note tagged on after her signature ten fingers going strong so far - but if that changes, I’ll be billing the Inquisition.

Almost a year, a move of bases, and one budding new relationship later, the temperature of Evelyn Trevelyan’s hands had remained a topic of conversation between the two of them. Not in that way - although there had been a joke or two from Sera.

“Does your Cully-Wully warm up them icy hands of yours, yeah?” she’d giggle whenever the two of them were in the vicinity of one another.

Sera’s comments, while certainly the most inane, weren’t the only ones. After a month or two they’d sought out Solas’ opinion on the matter, worried that perhaps it may be something to do with the mark on her had, only to find that if it did, it wasn’t direct. A product of stress, he’d called it, justifiable, undoubtedly, but the body’s response to a heightened sense of danger. What followed was a long, rambling explanation of how the body responded to the threat of danger by bringing the blood away from the extremities an in towards the internal organs, but Cullen heard it for what it was. Evelyn Trevelyan was living in a near-permanent state of fight or flight.

Gloves were out of the question - at least in the field, for they would interfere with her ability to channel her magic through her staff. So she developed a liking for pyromancy, and Cullen hid his worry as best he could. Until they’d acquired Dagna. And that was how he found himself moving through Skyhold on Satinalia with a present wrapped in brown paper and string wedged tightly beneath his left vambrace.

The garden was all but deserted, everybody tucked away from the cold inside, dedicating their attention to the feast. Which, of course, was the point of this meeting time and spot both - the Inquisitor’s attention was in high demand, but surely they could take a moment or two to themselves.

“Hello, you.”

Her voice broke the silence of the garden not long after he’d taken up a seat by the chess table under the gazebo. The undoubtedly daft look of surprise on his face earned him a smile as he turned to watch her descend the last couple of steps from the battlements, explaining as she approached.

“I had to take the long way round - otherwise I’d have never gotten here at all.”

“I’ve at least some idea of what you mean,” he said ruefully “It takes me twenty minutes to walk half as many feet through the encampment outside the gates.”

Evelyn was garbed in a fine dress of deep crimson red for the occasion, long-sleeved, embroidered with gold and trimmed in fur. With her hair cascading down her back in dark brown curls and a circled of gold atop her head, she looked more a queen than an Inquisitor - and a lovely one at that. Not for the first time, Cullen was tempted to doubt his gift. Weren’t men supposed to buy the women they were involved with jewellery, or some such token? Was there some sort of tradition for first Satinalia’s as a couple? He thought not. He knew not, though. That was the problem - he’d never been involved with somebody for long enough, nor seriously enough, to encounter this particular dilemma.

But, days like this notwithstanding, she had little occasion for jewellery, and little use for baubles. No, his gift was a good one. The only one he hadn’t been able to talk himself out of. It could go with her as she travelled, and keep her warm and comfortable when he could not. Safe when he could not. Or so he prayed.

“Here.”

Thank the Maker she chose to speak before he could get himself into more of a laughable state over something so minor as a Satinalia gift. Cullen watched with a smile as she produced a box just a little bigger than her hand from the loose, draping sleeve of her gown. It was wrapped in red and green paper that sparkled as the light caught it, and tied with golden ribbons that matched her dress.

“I’ll own up right now and say my gift for you isn’t wrapped half so well,” he chuckled, accepting it “Thank you.”

“Well, I’ll own up and say the shop I bought it from in Val Royeaux offered gift wrapping services, so I can’t take credit for it.”

Ah. Dagna offered no such service.

Unravelling the bow with one careful pull, it fell away and he then lifted the lid from the box. Inside lay a clear, square-shaped glass bottle filled with some sort of liquid of a deep golden-red. He unstoppered the bottle beneath her gaze, and sniffed it carefully - before looking at her in wonder.

“It made me think of you when I found it. It’s embrium extract,” she explained “The really pure stuff, designed for multi-use. I noticed you always burn those incense cones in your office and that you favour that scent. This way you can wear it.”

He did - for its medicinal properties. It helped clear his mind, and on a more literal level it warded off headaches and the chills. But it appeared that use, thankfully, had gone over her head. The withdrawals were a topic he had not yet broached with her.

“It…may also be rubbed into the temples to ease headaches and migraines. Or elsewhere, for muscle aches.”

Guilt threatened to graze him then. Because he’d underestimated her, and because she of all people was worried about him. When it was clear that he had not the words to respond quite yet, turning the bottle over with a soft smile on his face, she rested her hand atop his. His gloves were just thin enough for him to feel how cold her grasp was.

“You work yourself too hard, Cullen,” she said “I hate seeing the toll it takes. I hope this might help.”

He gave a tired half-smile, mostly because she was one of the few people from whom he could hear such a plea without growing annoyed. Evelyn gave just as much as he did, if not more, and the toll matched. Surely she knew what a bad joke it was for her to say such a thing while doing the exact same thing - and he could hardly blame her, for he would say the same to her without a hint of irony. He often did.

“I love it - and it’ll be of great use to me. Thank you.”

Taking up the hand that had lain atop his, he pressed the back of it to his lips, smirking when she beamed in response.

“Speaking of hoping to help, though,” he said.

He had to fully unbuckle his vambrace to dislodge the gift, and when Evelyn caught on she assisted him with a swiftness and ease that did threaten to send the mind wandering. The package slipped out, and he handed it to her with far more shyness than a man of his age and life experience had any business feeling. Evelyn Trevelyan just had a way of inducing that in him. It was difficult to say whether that fact was made better or worse by the fact that it did not seem to be deliberate - but at least, judging by the flush in her cheeks as she unwrapped her gift, the feeling was mutual.

Fine, soft leather gloves the same dark muted purple shade that she favoured in her armour were revealed as she unfolded the paper, with black crystal panels so high in number that they would not inhibit dexterity sewn into the palms.

“I collaborated with Dagna on them,” he explained quickly, before she could mentally deem them largely unuseful “The crystals will amplify your magic and send it through to your staff, so you needn’t remove them in combat.”

Her dark eyes widened as she inspected the crystal panels carefully in wonder. Cullen smiled as he continued.

“There are also mild fire and frost glyphs carved inside, so depending on the climate in which you find yourself you might either heat or cool your hands.”

“Oh, Cullen,” she murmured, turning them over and over in her hands as she admired them before she breathed a laugh “Has my penmanship truly been that bad?”

He chuckled “Perhaps I’m hoping you’ll write more frequently.”

Or just stop leaving at all. He stilled when her inspections brought her to a small piece of needlework, hidden on the inner cuff of the gloves. An E and a C entwined in thread just a few shades lighter than the leather it was sewn into, so as not to be too noticeable. It was a detail he’d thought a touch trite when he’d first gotten the idea, but when he saw how her smile widened and her blush deepened, he was glad to have gone with the idea. When she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, he was gladder still.

#dragon age inquisiton #dragon age fanfic #cullen rutherford fanfic #Cullen Rutherford/F!Trevelyan #cullen rutherford/female inquisitor

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sinquisition · 1 year

Note

Character asks: Varric & Isabela <3 - thedastrash

Varric:

character: hate them | don’t really care | like them | LOVE them | THEY ARE MY PRECIOUS

Ship with: uhhh idk I can see arguments for a lot of people but also a lot of them are presented as very crack shippy. I don't have strong feelings vis-a-vis Varric shipping but I'm open to it. Also Bianca (the crossbow)

Friendship with: Hawke, Cassandra, Solas, Anders, Merrill, Isabela... honestly most people lmao he's very friendshippable

General opinions: I like that they made him a hot old man in that comic. I think he is a funny little dude but also I hate how bioware uses him as a vessel for their "both sides of this conflict are bad people" arguments.

Isabela:

character: hate them | don’t really care | like them | LOVE them | THEY ARE MY PRECIOUS

Ship with: Merrill, Bethany, Fenris, Anders, Tierce, uhh there is probably more but I like just woke up. I just think everyone deserves to give her love

Friendship with: Zevran, Varric, everyone mentioned above... again probably more adfjkl these are not exclusive lists

General opinions: I love her so much. Deeply important to me. I would give her everything I own. Kisses her face. Let me be a part of your sick-ass pirate crew ma'am.

#ask games #varric #isabela

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bogunicorn · 1 year

Note

I'd like to know about the Bittersweet and Strange AU

Context! Bittersweet & Strange is my Solavelyan BatB AU that I wrote in October, and it's right over here. And the ask meme this is from is right here!

5(+) Headcanons for B & S (which got long so they're under a read more oops)

Hospitality and Temperance (this fic's version of Lumiere and Cogsworth) have backstories I wasn't able to work into the fic as-is -- or rather, the ancient elves they're reflections of -- were both close to Solas before he put up the Veil.

Hospitality was the original steward of Skyhold and lived there from the day it was built to the day he died - which was a few decades after the Veil came down. He eventually died of old age (one of the first elves to do so), and his remains were found and buried by the next inhabitants of the fortress.

Temperance was an archivist named Elia, a "neutral" recorder of history who lived in the Shattered Library before it was, you know, shattered. Elia had an affinity with wolves, and the spirits who helped her in the library usually took lupine form while doing it. Solas was infatuated with her when they were both very young (in elfy terms), and Elia... was not terribly interested in him. At the time, Solas was cocky, hotheaded, impulsive, and had a reputation for playing a little fast and loose with his conquests. Worse, Elia had been in charge of recording his exploits for a while by then and found his meddling to be obnoxious and a nuisance.

See, as an archivist, part of her job as well as personal philosophy was that of neutrality, and even from the start, Solas was a troublemaker with strong opinions about everything. And Elia wouldn't let him near her until he demonstrated that he was interested in her as a person and not just trying to get into her pants. Solas ended up shapeshifting into a wolf and living for a while among the spirits who worked beside her. After a year in her service, Solas revealed himself and admitted that, while he continued to disagree with her on principle, he understood and appreciated Elia's perspectives and dedication to her work.

They were on and off for basically forever, even marrying and divorcing a handful of times. In the war between Fen'Harel and the Evanuris, Elia tried to maintain her neutrality. Late in the conflict, however, she realized that the Library's supposed "neutrality" actually meant de facto siding with the Evanuris, and fully sided with the Dread Wolf's rebellion. She eventually died in Skyhold when the Veil went up, the trauma of the spell too great to survive.

There isn't really reincarnation in this situation, but like a spirit's energy being scattered and reconstituting in the future, some of Elia's soul managed to survive the ages. In Bittersweet & Strange, she was (partly) reborn as a young elf named Eala who's currently living in the shape of a wolf, and is likely to remain so if she isn't found -- but in another life, things go very different for Solas and Eala Lavellan.

Outlander is my most middle-aged-mom favorite show, and I use a bunch of members of the cast for faceclaims for my DA characters. Eva Trevelyan is Caitriona Balfe (and was actually originally named Claire when I was initially making her), I have a male Hawke on my roster that I use Sam Heughan for, my female Hawke is named Marsali (Claire's apprentice in later seasons/books), and B&S's resident Gaston and perpetual villain in Thayet's backstory is Tobias Menzies.

In B&S, Eva and Drader don't have a ton of interaction because Eva never makes it into a Circle. In regular Inquisition continuities, she usually avoids him entirely because she's sent to Monstimmard, since Thayet is there as a Templar and it's a big conflict of interest. But in a campaign where Eva becomes Inquisitor and is raised in the Ostwick Circle instead, she's taken in immediately after Thayet leaves the Circle in a rather dramatic and violent way, leaving Eva basically alone to weather the bad taste Thayet left in Drader's mouth.

So when Eva is Inquisitor, Drader is still the Backstory Big Bad, but it's much less the story about intrigue and mage resistance that it is when Thayet, Ramsay, and their First Enchanter are around, and much more about survival and religious abuse.

Although, funny enough, Eva and Drader having "matching" faceclaims and this contentious dynamic developed separately.

The whole cast of B&S spends time in Tevinter immediately after the story. Where Thayet and Solas move on pretty quickly on their quest to ~see the world~, Eva and Locke stay as Dorian's guests for much longer. It takes a while and a bunch of irritated letters, but their father eventually decides to make this situation useful and puts Locke to work in the Tevinter branch of the family's shipping company. Eva ends up learning magic from a series of tutors in Tevinter; the Circles there are intensely competitive and almost impossible to get into if you're not a citizen or a foreigner with very wealthy Tevinter relatives. Dorian's parents continue to host them for their entire time in Tevinter, and Aquinea (Dorian's mother) actually warms up to Eva and gradually steps in as a maternal figure.

Thayet drops her surname except for when she's visiting family or dealing with nobility. Most people who meet her have no idea who she is, and she prefers it that way.

Solas has a bitch of a time sleeping like a normal person after being basically "conscious" and lucid dreaming for so long. He has no regular circadian rhythm whatsoever and naps constantly because he doesn't totally know how to judge his own levels of fatigue.

Bonus! Thayet has the scars in her shoulders, of course, but the scar on Solas's heart from being run through only appears on his astral body or in dreams.

#asks #mxkelsifer #ask meme #my writing #fic: bittersweet & strange #solavelyan #solas #trevelyan #the inquisitor #thayet trevelyan #eva trevelyan

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