basedonconjecture

[basedonconjecture]

WIP Wednesday

I've been @'ed by a few people in the past 3 weeks lately, so I thought I'd drop the project I'm currently working on, even if it's a sketch. I'll also append the scene from my WIP that it's from, even if I wrote it while on Vicodin. I'll probably revisit it later and cringe out of my skin. But isn't that just how it is?

So, a delayed thank you @jouskaroo @biowaredisasterbisexual @thedissonantverses and @becausedragonage for tagging me!

As the last prisoner retreats into the darkness of the catacombs, the carnage ceases with the final, agonized breath of a dying man. Neve turns slowly, scepter in one hand, an ice spike coalescing in the other. The elf—or what remains of her—crouches atop the corpse of a cultist. Its massive, clawed hand digs into the steaming gash that used to be the man’s stomach. Blood soaks every inch of it, slicking the shaggy fur down against its skin. The steady drip drip drip of the blood and drool leaking from its muzzle the only noise left in the cavern—save for her own shallow breaths. She takes an unconscious step back; her prosthetic scrapes against the stone. Its massive head snaps towards her at the sound, sending a spray of gore with the movement. Their eyes lock. Deimatic displays burst forth from both—magic flaring and hackles raising. Posturing, bluff, and—for Neve—a way to hide the tremble in her hands. A growl, low and grating, slices through the silence. The weight of wrongness settles in Neve’s gut; this creature shouldn’t exist. Shouldn’t be here. Free in Dock Town. Her grip on her scepter tightens and she prepares to loose the lance of ice “That’s enough, girl,” a gravelly voice says from behind her, sounding all the world like a mabari’s master chiding it for messing in the house. Great, another thing to worry about. As if being kidnapped by Venatori and stumbling upon a blood ritual weren’t enough already.

Aaaaaaaaand, like I said, here's the sketch for that scene. I need to add all the extras and I'm going to try out paint brushes to see what kind of wacky shit I can do. 👉👈 (sorry not sorry there are 4 variants.

I'm gonna figure out which to commit to eventually. I'm partial to the 1st one (which was suggested by @ofcrowsanddragons 👀)

Gentle tags to @nevesserialwriter @basedonconjecture @dancing--lights @hedwigoprah @operative-arrow @bloodydifficult and anyone else reading this who wants to participate :3

[basedonconjecture]

shameless self wip writing weekend challenging a friend's word promo bang bang shrimp wednesdays (now on Thursdays)

i tried to shove all the accumulated tag games into this one thing since most recent are from @thedissonantverses and per usual it got really long lol so this post will be the relevant bits and i'll post the full one later

(the words i got for the weekend challenge were purple/bang/mask, also i don't know if i used redolent correctly, it feels too fancy for my writing when i can't keep tenses consistent LMAO)

y'all know the drill, i tag everyone to wave hello 👋 since the last time was *checks watch* march 23rd?! damn it's been a minute and i lost a few tag games, so to keep it simple it's WIP Wednesday or A Word w/ Friends

@neve-gallus-girl-detective @covertleathers @housedellamort @s0lavellan @skullypettibone @corvidaerook @ofcrowsanddragons @okthisway @2mercia2furious @hedwigoprah @mageofquandrix @moonslantern @lilbirbtrying @crimsen-khalessi @socialjusticerogue @jynxeddraca @basedonconjecture @corvus-frugilegus @third-thoughts @lucaanis @postcardsfromheapside @rookamell @woundedsoul12

i started a backstory for how my rook learned to play cards so well

zea was teeming with excitement, she had been counting down the weeks as it was her first year being allowed to play, previously only allowed to watch the pranks and shenanigans her older cousins would attempt on each other. she had a vague idea of the rules, matching suits and themes, that some cards were better than others, but from her observations it seemed more a game of subterfuge both loud and subtle, whichever caused the most laughter.

grace was tasked with watching out for zea, making sure the older kids didn't take advantage of their newest novice. grace was already responsible for her younger brother, samuel, but he learned quickly how to play the game, which worked in her favor as she still didn't understand how to play, didn't care for it.

“remember, only use the cards sammie gives you until you get the hang of it.” grace pointed to her brother, who was busy shoving extra cards throughout his clothes. “and just nudge me when you’re ready for the bigger distractions.”

zea nodded along as she gathered up her pillowcase filled with sweets, still wearing her festival mask and caplet. her mother had made a special set to mark the occasion, the fabric a soft velvet of deep purple in the shape of little wings reminiscent of the crows that orbited their lives.

BANG! the door slammed shut as their eldest cousin, satisfied that everything was in order, began his opening speech–

“stop slamming the doors!” a stern, muffled shout from downstairs.

“sorry!” he shouted back without opening the door. he turned back to the group to begin his opening speech–

“make sure you open a window! your dad brought another salmon he wants to start cooking now!” a different voice shouted.

“OKAY.” he responded again without opening the door. three others had immediately begun scrambling towards the windows, flinging them open in haste. the house was already redolent of cooked fish, but the aromas clung heaviest in the guest room since it was directly over the kitchen.

once again their eldest cousin began his opening speech, a quick rundown of the rules, and a mention to not pick on zea, then he pulled out a deck of cards and dealt out the first round.

[basedonconjecture]

Six Song Soundtrack - Cyri Mercar

Music tag games please save me 🙏🏻

Thanks for the tag @thedissonantverses

Rules: make a post with links to music and/or lyrics describing six things/events about your OC/story.

Welcome to what is going to be possibly a very chaotic smattering of songs. Yes my playlist is a mess. No i don’t care(:

1. Sun Bleached Flies/Ethel Cain - Cyri pre-canon (and also throughout, tbh. This is her theme to me)

“God loves you but not enough to save you. So baby girl, good luck taking care of yourself. So i said ‘fine’ cause that’s how my daddy raised me. If they strike once you just hit ‘em twice as hard”

(When i heard this for the first time i laid on the floor about it)

2. Bed Chem/Sabrina Carpenter - the first time she saw Davrin

“Come right on me—i mean camaraderie”

Was not love at first sight but most certainly was lust at first sight idc idc. Slay Cyri.

3. Hold It Down/Noah Kahan - Cyri mid-canon terrified of failure and trying really hard to keep it together for everyone.

“When real life ain't nothing but anger and doubt, and failure's a stranger we all dream about. I hold it down, I hold it down.”

4. After Midnight/Chappell Roan - sorry, can’t not include the (partial) inspiration for chapter 25. Also here chaos essence is just in here. 😔✊🏻

“I love a little drama, lets start a bar fight. Cause everything good happens after midnight”

5. Maybe Don’t/JP Sax (feat. Maisie Peters) - Cyri realizing she really likes Davrin

“And I think I should go you said ‘maybe don't’. 'Cause I run from the things that I want the most. You said ‘I get that's what you do but, maybe don't’.”

6. Fresh Out the Slammer/Taylor Swift - idc this is her post-regret-prison jam

“And no matter what I've done, it wouldn't matter anyway, ain't no way I'm gonna screw up now that I know what's at stake” :,)

Six songs was not enough, friends. My playlist fir then is ridiculously long. I tried to pick songs that were just hers and not theirs and that was really difficult tbh. But i am locking in these answers(:

& i am tagging @basedonconjecture @biowaredisasterbisexual @sugar-peanut-cat @flowersforthemachines (ik the divorce playlist exists) @seaglassmelody @ofcrowsanddragons & if you want to do this, tag me(: i am in the market for new music

[basedonconjecture]

I have no idea the ages of all of the people critical of the writing in Veilguard, but having seen a fair few of the profiles and knowing that several of them are early 30s or under, I just need to get something out.

This series spans decades, and the characters have grown older with it. While the complaints about Varric, and Harding, and Dorian, and Isabela are ludicrous, the ones that really hit home for me and continue to both piss me off (because it's like you don't even read/listen) and also make me sad (because age is coming for you, bubbelehs) is the way some of you cannot cope with the whole Morrigan/Flemythal deal.

Morrigan is already changed from who she is Origins by the time we meet her in Inquisition. Whether or not she's had a child, she's older, and wiser. She more circumspect, and more cunning, but also in general she's less abrasive and clearly more comfortable being around other humans. This tracks with someone who has been out of Flemeth's control, and living her own life for quite some time. It also tracks with the way most people mature: one hopes one would not stay the same person at 30 or 40 as one was at 18-20.

20 years is a long time to not do some kind of internal work on whatever you've suffered from parents in the past, and Morrigan never struck me as someone who wouldn't self-examine.

Veilguard has a running theme about mothers, and maternal love, and the flawed nature of parental care, and a lot of people on here have been intensely reactive to it.

Morrigan describes the fears she once had, because they were real. Flemeth was abusive. And she describes being able to move past them, because whatever was left of this conjoined Flemythal fragment insisted that it must be her choice. Not to be possessed, as she feared, but instead to bear this being's memories, and turn them into wisdom.

This, to me, is a wonderful representation of breaking an abusive cycle: a daughter being able to more fully understand a parent's experiences, and a parent no longer forcing their ego onto their child - because they both chose and give consent. Morrigan is completely herself, not possessed. And God it *kills* me to hear Claudia's voice crack when she describes Flemeth's regret at not being able to see Morrigan again. Does Morrigan wish Flemeth could know her now, older, and wiser, and both of them softened by time?

One day you are going to get older and realize how fucked up your parents are, and how fucked up their parents were, and how much you are both like and unlike the family that created you, and hurt you, and hopefully also helped you, and that it's okay if you stepped away from all that and also okay if you try again.

It's okay that Morrigan is softer. That she accepted the good parts of the thing that haunted her, and made her own life out of it. She seems quietly comfortable now, a woman aware of her power and no longer in fear. There's no reason for her to be edgy, she didn't let in the toxic parts of her mother. And there's no reason to think she's too changed - she was already becoming her own person the last time we saw her.

I hope age brings the rest of y'all a similar peace and wisdom. Regret and grief are hell.

[basedonconjecture]

[basedonconjecture]

First Line Game

Thank you for the tag, @biowaredisasterbisexual and @grimrevolution! For this game, you take your most recent ten fics and post the first line from each of them.

Welcoming @hyperions-light, @dymme, @basedonconjecture, @mageofquandrix, @bygonesigh, @serensama, @agaybloodmage, @mercars-musings, @pixiedurango @grimrevolution @rookinthecrownest @skullypettibone @mythals-whore if you haven't played already. (I know @thedissonantverses already has!)

Downtime: Taash Week Ficlets: The two of them had just finished climbing up a steep cliff face, and something was tickling in Taash’s chest.

Crow Games: “Does this scream ‘trap’ to you?” asked the Magpie, with a sidelong glance to their masked companion.

A Working Relationship: It was the contract of a lifetime, and I was furious.

Despite Everything (E): We're still too alike, you and I.

Spite Isekai: When you wake up, you're in pain.

Veilguard Ficlets: Of Crows and Dragons: "You brought a Fade expert to the Lighthouse for a reason, Rook," said the shade of Emmerich, his ghostly face shimmering with patience and kindness.

All Because of You: "Leave me be, Viago," I shouted over my shoulder, away from the gale of a Treviso thunderstorm.

But I Won't Do That: It was a harmless sound that woke him in the night, but the whistling of a blade couldn’t have captured his attention more fully.

Immovable Objects: When he went back out into the dining room, Lucanis stopped for a moment.

Knife to Meet You: "I have to admit," Neve said, feet clicking on the marble floors, "So far, this place is surpassing my expectations."

[basedonconjecture]

First Line Tag

I was tagged by @biowaredisasterbisexual and, while I don't have exactly ten fics posted, I do have nine + one ficlet I did for Bellara Week that I only posted here so, we'll make do with that lol I will not take this as a sign to write another thing nope no Passing this (gently) on to @mythals-whore, @bygonesigh, @muqington, @operative-arrow, @mercars-musings, @introvertedfangrl, @propenseverbosity, @kindlyfeline & whoever else wants to do it and hasn't been tagged yet for however many you'd like to share <3

*mature or explicit/check tags

"Time was next to impossible to keep in the Fade, no way to mark it in the perpetual daylight." - Per Essere Veri*

"The door had barely settled, latch clicking into place, before Rook had him pressed up against it." - Diminuendo*

"Viago de Riva had squandered the last of the goodwill he’d accrued with House Dellamorte." - Opportunity Makes the Thief

"Selora woke slowly, her eyes still weary despite what meager hours of sleep she'd managed to catch." - Glorious Thorn*

"There were few rules Illario Dellamorte held fast to: never pair red wine with fish, a steady hand was necessary for both knife work and cosmetics, and summons from the First Talon must never be ignored—even if they arrived in the middle of a highly anticipated (and highly exclusive) social gathering." - Smile and Be a Villain*

"The Talons of House de Riva and House Cantori had handed down stern instructions that the Crows of their respective houses remaining in Treviso were to stay vigilant whilst they were away—as soon as the pair had hied off to Salle for a well-needed rest, those instructions might as well have been a suggestion for all they had been followed." - L'Eterna Stella*

"Winter had come to Arlathan the same way nature had reclaimed so many of the Elvhen ruins within its borders: slowly, persistently, and, then, entirely." - Wintersong

"A heavy rain beat against the glass windowpanes of Neve’s office." - Baby, It's Cold Outside

"Emmrich Volkarin bustled around his apartments in Nevarra City in a flurry of nervous energy. " - Silver Bells

"There was a feeling Bellara got when she was close to a breakthrough—a tingling at the base of her spine preceded by the sensation of something slinking around the edges of her mind." - Day 1 Bellara Week 2025: Magic

[basedonconjecture]

heard it was the last day of bellara week for @datvcompanionweeks yesterday. something something blighted -> grey warden bellara for day 6 or day 7--

[basedonconjecture]

Useless Veilguard fact of the day: Day 93

The heels on Emmrich's Graven Vestments, Boundless Scholar, and Preserved Gurn Hide armours have separate models, not attached to the armour itself. Those heels also have unique textures not used for any other outfits.

In addition, the heel mods themselves are unique to Emmrich and aren't included in Rook's versions of the same's armours.

Check out the tag for more useless facts: #useless davg fact of the day!

[basedonconjecture]

I change my mind. I’m not actually that bad at this game.

Love that the loading screen in Clair Obscur keeps reminding me I can Change The Difficulty Level At :) Any :) Time :) like yes thank you ik I suck at this game

[basedonconjecture]

Rook: Manfred, you better not be partying at the beach with the cunty Necropolis skeletons when we get back!

Manfred:

Manfred's teenage years are going to be a nightmare.

[basedonconjecture]

The word you are looking for is an ensemble cast. You like the ensemble cast. Not found family.

[basedonconjecture]

My tits are pretty and everything i say is right

[basedonconjecture]

Ctrl + F Game

The game where you're given words to find in your WIP(s) and share the lines with them. I was tagged by @basedonconjecture for aroma, rain, and night.

"Lucanis shook the fog from his head, allowing the warm, rich aroma of the beans to wake him up once again. He could still hear them whispering behind him, even at a distance."

"Unsurprisingly, the team was exhausted after returning from the wetlands. Hours of rain, mud, and Blight did a number on their moods, as well as Lucanis’s best pair of boots."

"During the day, the garden was usually filled with the chatter of Inquisition members and visiting dignitaries. At night, the only sounds to be heard were the wind whistling through the trees, and the distant clang of armor from the soldiers doing their nightly rounds. Aramil sometimes liked to make a game out of trying to spot Leliana’s spies up in the ramparts. Some of them even waved back, instead of saluting.

Tagging: @himluv @themontess @phillypumpkin @ceremorph0sis (Only if you want to!)

Your words are: Light, Convince, Water, and Attack

[basedonconjecture]

hey guys have you ever heard of THE CHARACTER. i’m thinking about THE CHARACTER. honestly can’t even get shit done because i’m thinking about THE CHARACTER. i’m listening to a song and imagining THE CHARACTER. all i know and love is THE CHARACTER

[basedonconjecture]

liking an unpopular ship is like being dehydrated in a desert and liking a popular ship is like being dehydrated in the middle of the pacific ocean. you understand

[basedonconjecture]

Ctrl + F Game

The game where you're given words to find in your WIP(s) and share the lines with them. I was tagged by @mythals-whore & @thedissonantverses for: scowl, sweet, echo, flame, hike, and blade.

"Even if they managed to put the Butcher to rout and end the occupation, how to keep it from happening again? How to close the gaps that had allowed it to happen in the first place? He’d seen it in Teia’s eyes, in Viago’s scowl: they didn’t know the answer any better than he did."

"'Sweet of you to care, Rook,' he said, voice pitched low. The purr-like quality to the way he rolled the r’s raised the tiny hairs at the back of her neck not unlike the way a snake’s hiss used to do."

"Tugging at the buckles of her armor, she started toward the second staircase just as heard the door to the library close firmly, the effect of the lonely echo it produced in the otherwise empty keep akin to being kicked in the chest."

"Just behind Viago like a shadow. Eyes hard and bright as veilfire—fearsome—they scanned the room in a slow careful sweep before they caught his. Held. For a beat, her expression remained stoic. Then, like a draft over a candle flame, the light in her gaze flickered. Her brows rose a fraction. A question. The vice loosened and he drew in his first full breath in several minutes."

"While hiking in the Anderfels was the last thing she’d ever thought she’d be doing, it wasn’t entirely awful. All those months on the road with Varric and Harding had put her through her paces with regards to how much nature she could endure."

"He almost envied her such a feeling of security but, then, he couldn’t imagine there were many who wished to meet the working ends of the Seventh Talon’s blades."

Tagging: @introvertedfangrl, @propenseverbosity, @mercars-musings, @operative-arrow, @muqington if you want to play! your words are: aroma, rain, and night