bleummie

[bleummie]

SOS Y’all I’m struggling with the decision of what faction to make my Rook when I’m aiming for a Lucanis romance this playthru.

What are ppls favourite faction dynamics? On one hand, the angst from a Shadow Dragon romance would be cool, to see Rook struggle with the decision to save Treviso over Minrathous. I’ve heard mixed things about the romance from this faction tho, and about how it’s handled after the big boy decision where everyone is like “I hope Neve is okay!” And rook is like ☹️👍 “it was my home too but like okay buddy.” That might be the point where it’s like maybe not for this faction this time.

On the other hand, I love the idea of a completely feral country bumpkin Veiljumper Rook with Lucanis because imagine the absolute contrast between certified RichBoy Dellamorte and “you will never catch me wearing shoes, and I scrounge up food like a vulture” Rook Aldwir. Like they stand out like a sore thumb in cities, is wowed by the sheer size and amount of people in marketplaces, and is completely new to anything remotely fancy Lucanis would be used to growing up in a rich Crow house.

Then we also have Rook De Riva, Viago’s problem child and absolute nightmare, who was raised amongst the Crows like Lucanis. I like the familiarity with Treviso and the dynamic with Viago, but I’m not sure I wanna do a Crow Rook playthru again. I’m on the fence about this one because of the fact they would be from the same background? I dunno. The reaction from the dynamics of ANOTHER De Riva being the subject of Lucanis’ affections is pretty funny to me. I dunno.

BUT THEN we have certified freak™️ Rook Invellgar, crypt baby, raised by undead, and complete and utter odd duckling in the party (until Emmrich). They’re odd, yes, a little gothic, maybe, but overall completely baffled by the customs outside of Nevarra. Idk I’ve heard that there’s a lot of chemistry with Emmrich if you’re a Mourne Watch Rook, but I think it might be funny for Lucanis to just have a necromancer partner as an assassin.

what do ppl think?

[bleummie]

Up and Adder

Okay, so the brainworms had a thought, and Viago is just such a good character. Plus, this letter made me cackle when I read it in-game. I love him and Teia together, but couldn’t stop thinking about this idea. Both Rook and Bishop (Rook’s twin) are Elven with the Crow background! Can’t decide if I want to write more on this or not yet!

_________________________________________

Rook was a little shocked by the fact she’d found a letter adorned with the seal of the Antivan crows upon waking, tapping her fingers on the teacup clutched in her hand. With a raised eyebrow and a look of recognition, Lucanis fell into step behind her, halting just short enough to feel the body heat radiating off her back. 

He clutched his coffee cup tighter, giving Rook a sympathetic look. His nose scrunched at the smell of her tea, but he made no effort to move away as he tried to read the letter over her shoulder. 

Upon first inspection, there was a note in a different handwriting from the rest, scrawled messily in the top margin. 

“Rook, if you don’t mind getting this letter to your sister, that would be appreciated. I found this crumpled up beside the waste bin in 

Vi’s office and thought it was too good not to send.

-Teia”

Rook snorted in amusement at that, before sipping on her tea some more, earning her a disgusted noise from Lucanis. She shot him a playful glare before continuing to read the letter. 

The date reads six months ago- six months into Rook and Bishop’s not-so-subtle leave of absence from the Crows. While Rook remained pissed at Bishop for impulsive ‘plan’ that led to the rescue gone wrong that got them sent away from home with Varric, she couldn’t deny that what they did was worth it. 

With a sigh at the memory (and her sisters impulsive antics), she continues reading the letter. 

“Idiot: 

I hope you're reading this. If the trail really has led you to Tevinter, it'll be harder to get messages through. The Antaam in Antiva are prickly about anything to do with our neighboring kingdom. Back home, things have cooled, but they are not forgotten. Killing all those Antaam may have felt righteous in the moment, but the Talons are still complaining that your actions ruined weeks of setting up a larger, more effective strike. 

I am one of the Talons still complaining. Consider this trip with Varric a contract. Crows don't fail contracts, especially Crows from House de Riva who may need to improve their judgment. But there is more at stake than honor. Whatever this "Solas" is up to needs to be stopped. I've seen enough of his handiwork to know that.

Don't get careless out there. Don't fail. And don't get yourself killed, or I will come after you in the Fade myself.

-Viago”

Rook couldn’t stop the chuckle that tore from her throat at the passive aggressive unsent letter addressed to her sister. She turned to Lucanis to show him the letter as well, watching his face closely as it contorted into an amused smirk. 

“Something juicy?” Neve asks as she saunters over to the kitchen table with her own cup of coffee. 

“Just a funny letter addressed to my sister.” Rook replies, holding out the letter with a small chuckle. With a raised eyebrow, Neve takes it, scanning over the note amusedly. 

“This Viago seems awfully concerned.” Neve chuckles with a knowing smirk. 

“That’s seriously what you took from that?” Lucanis asks incredulously with a shake of his head. 

“Bishop’s always had a way of getting under Viago’s skin. It’s quite entertaining actually. But Teia’s always ranted about how whenever Bishop isn’t there he gets more pissy than usual. I’m not sure that’s possible though, considering when she is there, she drives him up the wall.” Rook admits. 

As if on cue, looking absolutely disheveled, Bishop sauntered into the dining hall, very obviously having just woken up. Mindlessly, the elf shuffles over to the coffee, and dispenses some for herself, stretching in the process. Alert, her eyes dart over to the group gathered around the table. 

“What’s this?” Bishop points to the letter in Rook’s hand. 

With a slight chuckle, and poorly contained laughter from the rest of the group, Bishop takes the letter suspiciously. 

As she reads the first couple lines of Viago’s scrawl, Bishop lets out a loud cackle, which only becomes louder as she reads the rest of the note. 

“Yikes.” Is the only response from the elf as she carefully folds the letter, giving away the fact that her defiant and unbothered attitude she presented wasn’t exactly the truth. Gingerly, she tucks the letter into her pants pocket and finishes adding cream and sugar to her coffee. This earns a couple raised eyebrows and a knowing look from Neve, but Bishop ignores it for now, as she walks off with her coffee. 

“How long have your sister and him been involved?” Neve asks pointedly. 

Rook raises an eyebrow curiously, and Lucanis stifles a chuckle. “They aren’t? What?” 

“You sure? Wasn’t he the one that immediately went on a rant directed at your sister when we went to inquire about hiring Lucanis? Which, I’ll remind you, was pretty much the second your sister set foot out of the eluvian at the Diamond.” Neve says with a chuckle. 

“Yeah. He was. But that’s just how they always are.” Rook replies

“I remember that. They bickered like an old married couple.” Harding interjects, obviously having listened in to the earlier discussion. This causes a raised eyebrow from Lucanis. 

“Your sister back talks the Talon of house de Riva, and gets away with it? Seriously, that’s-“ He asks. 

“Yeah, but she’s also one of the only people dumb enough to do so.” Rook interrupts. 

“I think he’s fond of her. And I’ve only got one interaction and this letter to base it off of.” Neve adds with a smirk. 

“But him and Teia-“ 

“Are together for a week before splitting for months on end. Then repeating the process.”  Lucanis adds thoughtfully, as if he’s piecing together the possibility of Viago feeling something for Rook’s somehow more chaotic twin. 

“Next time you see the two of them, just watch.” Neve says as she pats her now mortified friend on the shoulder. 

Lucanis gives Rook a sympathetic smile before placing a kiss to the top of her head, and squeezing her shoulder. 

“Not you too, Lucanis. Please tell me Neve is completely off base with this guess.” In response, Lucanis only quietly presses another kiss to her hair, not answering Rook directly. Rook grumbles, now reanalyzing every single moment she’s ever seen with the Talon of their house and Bishop. 

Rook grimaces at the thought of having to investigate further, but supposes there is no harm in paying closer attention next time they seem to all have business in Treviso. 

Right?

[bleummie]

"At Least I Know I'm Doing It."

I'm sorry guys. I just got this scene in-game and I couldn't help it.

___________________________________________________________

Rook was no stranger to nerve-wracking situations, in fact, they seemed to draw her in, much similar to what she imagined the call of lyrium felt like to a templar, or a moth to a lit flame. But this, well, this was a different kind of adrenaline, one that exuded a heart wrenching helplessness; and it was all his fault. 

As a crow, it came as no surprise to anyone that Lucanis had a way with words and a charming presence, and while it may not be on the level of his cousin, Illario, it was still an undeniable quality. 

A quality that Rook, against her better judgment, found herself inexplicably drawn to. 

Which leads to now, where she remains crouched with her back against the now empty pantry wall, staring dumbly at the door Lucanis abruptly left through after excusing himself. He had let her so close, and not just let her, no, he actively pulled her in closer, after months upon months of a precarious dance of poorly concealed admiration for each other. And then he’d left. Fuck.

With an exasperated breath, Rook drags her hand down her face, flushing at the memory. 

“At least I know I’m doing it.”

The gall of this man.

Did she do something wrong? Was it something she said? Or was he simply afraid, and backed away when things finally got to a boil of the simmering longing harbored between the two of them that was seemingly evident to everyone at the lighthouse except for these two? 

The only certainty Rook felt was embarrassment. Well, that and a flustered feeling that caused something deep in the pit of her stomach to flutter. With an annoyed groan, she stands up, trying to regain some semblance of pride lost by the feeling of having his lips so close to hers before his hasty retreat, before pushing out of the pantry Lucanis so lovingly decided would be his room in the Lighthouse, ignoring the gazes of Taash and Davrin, who happened to be in the kitchen at the moment. 

Despite being in the Fade, the Lighthouse provided an unexpected aura of peace, which Rook was grateful for as she stepped out of the dining hall, fully prepared to make a beeline for her private quarters just upstairs from the library. It only took three paces out of the hall for her steps to halt, as she stands just outside Neve’s office, when the idea of what could have caused the hasty retreat of Lucanis earlier causes her stomach to twist in an uncomfortable knot. 

Jealousy was not a new feeling to Rook, but a jealousy as intense as this one was definitely a first. What if his and Neve’s connection went deeper than the seemingly harmless flirtatious banter the two of them shared on occasion? Rook had always brushed it off as just the way Neve was with people, considering the two of them flirted as well; it just seemed to be a part of her natural charm. 

And before Rook could consider otherwise, she pushed open the door to Neve’s office without so much as a knock. 

Standing somewhat nervously in the doorway, she decides to ask her friend the question weighing on her mind. 

Neve, who is currently sitting at her chair engrossed in her work, looks up at the uncharacteristically quiet and slightly pink Rook. 

“You alright, Rook?” Neve inquires, both amused and concerned. 

“Can I ask you something?” Rook replies as she hastily closes the door behind her. This seems to pique the detective’s interest as she gestures to the chair across her desk, which Rook happily collapses in, popping her finger joints nervously. “You and Lucanis- is there anything going on there?” she eventually asks. 

With a raised eyebrow and a low chuckle, Neve studies her friend intently, before shaking her head. “No, Rook. But it is quite obvious you’re an absolute sap for the team’s resident assassin. A sentiment which he very obviously returns, by the way.” Neve stands gracefully from her chair, and rounds her desk to stand in front of Rook. 

“What happened?” she asks softly. The question launches Rook into the memory of mere minutes before, Lucanis’ hand beside her head against the wall as his eyes had flicked down to her lips. 

“You like to walk a little too close to the edge.” 

“So do you.” 

Rook shakes her head, trying pitifully to remove the memory from her mind. “It’s just-” Rook sighs frustratedly. The expression on the Tevinter mage’s face seems to understand what’s happened, as it morphs into a sympathetic smile. After a moment's silence, Neve breaks the silence. 

“Go talk to him.”

Neve’s advice earns a groan from Rook, but she knows she’s right. With a curt nod, Rook stands, and quietly squeaks out a thank you, before awkwardly turning on her heel and leaving the office. 

Talk to him. 

Talking is something Rook can do, and quite honestly knows she excels doing under most circumstances, but something about the idea of speaking to Lucanis, being vulnerable, causes her tongue to pre-emptively swell in her mouth, garbling her words and thoughts alike. 

She knows she's not just walked too close to the edge. She's fucking free-falling.