#it's so crunchy and real to me... i think potentially a mage and templar COULD have a good relationship but it would be

[kirkwallguy]

genuine question, what about cullens crush on the mage hero is creepy? like in canon was it implied he was being weird about it that I just missed? I'm for sure not remembering every dialogue he had about them but I can't recall anything super weird?

i mean it's more the circumstances/dynamic than his actual actions - i don't think he's particularly written as a creep in the way a lot of the da2 templars are, but his crush wasn't supposed to be cute imo, it always came across as a way to make players think about the potential dynamics between mages and templars within the circles. in fairness, cullen isn't taking any steps to pursue the warden and he can't help having a crush, but it's apparently noticeable enough that people comment on it in ambient dialogue. imagine being in that situation:

he's an armed jailor whose job is keeping you in a tower against your will and killing you if you step out of line. i don't think extra attention from someone in that position would be welcome or fun as a young girl, especially an apprentice since they're in a more precarious position and more likely to be made tranquil. maybe cullen is nice and won't use his station to manipulate or threaten you, but what about the next templar to become infatuated with you? or the one after that? cullen is young and pretty and doesn't have much influence, but they won't all be like that. there are templars like ser alrik who make mages tranquil specifically to abuse them, how do you know that he won't go and whisper in the night commander's ear that he saw you using blood magic if you tell him to stay away from you? idk. i just think the whole situation is a horror story.