#* / character study ( josephine montilyet. )

[immobiliter]

okay so now josie is rolling around in my head again, there are a few verses/AUs i am considering for her~

bg3 verse - so the best equivalent to antiva i can find through scouring the wiki is amn, and that nation has historically had a challenging relationship with baldur's gate ( but the two are still close ish ) so i feel like that gives me some interesting stuff to play around with through making josie an ex-bard turned amn ambassador to baldur's gate. i'm undecided yet on whether i would want a tadpole/companion verse for her because a huge part of her character is that she is non-violent so i'm not sure how she'd fit into a party dynamic, but her being an ambassador likely concerned about baldur's gate politics under gortash opens up some possibilities. plus i might tie her to jaheira again like i have varric just because i can

post trespasser / pre veilguard - so a lot of this is speculative because i personally don't think josie is high up on the list of likely cameos for the new game, but we do know from trespasser that if her personal quest is completed josie begins rebuilding her family's trading fleet and starts pissing off rivaini pirates ( so get ready for me to be 👀 at the lords of fortune faction ). i also imagine she continues to be involved with antivan politics even if the inquisition is disbanded post-exalted council or by the time veilguard rolls around, and ofc she still has her friends within the inquisition who she would help out with her extensive contacts across thedas high society

[inquisimer]

dragon age character study fic recs

I'm back with another fic rec list, this time focusing on character studies! There were so many more than five that I flagged as interesting 👀 when I was putting this together, so there's definitely a chance that this theme makes a repeat in the future.

Check these awesome fics out! And leave a comment + kudos to let the author know you did💜

Vote in this poll to help me choose a theme for next week's rec list (:

-

New Tricks by Penknife (@penknife)

Dorian Pavus & Cullen Rutherford, Josephine Montilyet & Cullen Rutherford & Leliana | G | 1968 words | No Archive Warnings Apply Author's Summary: Five times Cullen found that he didn't have to do everything the hard way. Mer's Rec: If you're into Cullen & Dorian friendship, or really any Cullen friendship, this fic will be right up your alley. Penknife does an excellent job of contrasting Dorian as a beleaguered academic (beloved) with Cullen's quieter intelligence. They also highlight Cullen as a strategist and commander, not just the "send the troops" guy, and the advisor interactions resonate with coworker friend energy, which I loved. I always adore fics that explore Cullen's habits and traits leftover from so many years as a Templar and this story seamlessly weaves in those details, which brings a real depth to both Cullen and his interactions.

Names Are Cloaks by EllanaSan

Female Adaar & Josephine Montilyet | G | 2963 words | No Archive Warnings Apply Author's Summary: They can’t have that, she supposes, the Herald of Andraste being called names behind her back… The only way the situation could have been worse is if she had been an elf. She could tell the ambassador that there are people in this very camp disrespecting her at every turn but she is far too used to it to care. They call her oxwoman. They call her witch. They call her chosen or your worship. They call her Tal-Vashoth. Names are weapons. For the bearer to hold and to wield. Names are cloaks. For the bearer to wrap themselves in and discard when outgrown. Mer's Rec: With Bioware's scant lore about Qunari and the Qun, I was impressed by how this story immersed me in Adaar's history. Tidbits from canon interwoven with fascinating-slash-heartbreaking details about the Qun, Vashoth, and Saarebas, plus her introspective musings on the past and her identity make this Adaar stand out from the cookie-cutter protagonist in the best way. I want to know more about her! From Josephine's dialogue and mannerisms to the uncertainty, fear, and alienation the Herald can experience in Haven, everything about this story feels like it could be straight out of the DAI canon.

I have outlived the night by lilith_morgana (@senseandaccountability)

Loghain Mac Tir, Minor/Background Relationships | T | 2106 words | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Author's Summary: He's five, he's eighteen, nineteen, twenty, forty-six, and fifty-five, he's fifty-six, fifty-seven and ready to die. Instead, he lives. Mer's Rec: The emotion in this fic is so palpable, so visceral, and it slaps you in the face the way careful consideration of complicated characters should. With repeated contrasts between Loghain in his youth versus his later years, the author takes us on a journey from hot-headed kid to weary veteran, and it just makes your heart ache😭 It features strong exposition on Loghain's motives, feelings, and regrets during the Fifth Blight, which I love to see since it's fairly absent from the game itself. Their portrayal of Loghain in Inquisition also felt fresh and different, including a conversation with Cullen, which is a dynamic I hadn't considered before and found incredibly interesting to read. And of course it ends on a bittersweet note, as it always does with Loghain.

To Yield Is Not Weak by disasterhawke

Alistair/Anora Mac Tir | M | 4018 words | Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Author's Summary: She may not like her new husband, but Anora Theirin is not about to let the world treat him like it has treated her. She will do whatever it takes to earn his trust. This is not quite what he expects. An Anora character study that explores her arranged marriage to her husband's bastard brother. Mer's Rec: this 👏 was 👏 everything I wanted out of an Alistair/Anora fic! While I think antagonism between those two has a place, this fic explored their relationship through the lens of teaching and working together, rather than animosity. It works SO well and there was a definite give-and-take, with Anora running the show immediately post-coronation, but gradually softening her harsher edges and highlighting Alistair's strengths while they grow as rulers. Anora's internal monologue, not only about Alistair, but also Cailan and Loghain, does a fantastic job showing the humanity she usually has to hide, without diminishing her competence in the least.

when the bough breaks by gummies (orphaned)

Morrigan, Flemeth | G | 1124 words | No Archive Warnings Apply Author's Summary: In her hands, the mouse is kept still. The only movement Morrigan feels from it is the beating of its tiny heart. With her eyes closed, it almost seems that she is holding in her hands its heart alone. Tiny, vulnerable, and so stutteringly fast. It must be afraid, Morrigan muses. Something twinges in her chest. Empathy. She cannot help the flare of protectiveness inside her. For now, the mouse is hers. Plucked from the world from whence it came, tucked away and safe. She wonders if this is how Mother feels of her. Mer's Rec: What struck me most about this fic was the author's grasp of character voices. Flemeth is just as cunning and calculating as she comes across in game, but I was beyond impressed by their young!Morrigan. I could see and hear so clearly how Morrigan would get from the childlike hope she has in this story to the harsher, bitter Morrigan we meet in game. I don't even know how they did that, but it was incredible to read, even as this slice of Morrigan's childhood and her abuse at Flemeth's hands was breaking my heart.

Don't forget to get your fic and art recs lined up for tomorrow's Fan Work Friday!

[miladydewintcr]

i saw "002. a letter of condolences" and "007. a letter written in the case of my muse’s death" from the letters list and thought these worked together well? maybe for viveka or hissera?

This was an extremely rude prompt omg (thank you, I had fun with it!! <3)

I decided to go with Hissera. There's two letters below the cut, + a snippet from a character I felt would prefer to give her condolences in person.

For @dadrunkwriting (major Veilguard spoilers!!)

tw: death

My dearest Lady Montilyet,

This is my third attempt at starting this letter. Words cannot express the devastation I know you must be feeling right now.

I can’t help but feel that I failed you, and her. You sent Hissera to my city, to help me, and now she’s dead.

If there is anything I can do to help. I’m happy to travel to Antiva if you require it of me, Magisterium be damned. Goodness knows you’ve helped me out more times than I can count, and I would not have you endure something like this alone.

I’m sure you have your family with you, Yvette and the others, but I know they all have their own lives and I… I would sit with you, if you need it, or help make arrangements for our Hissera’s funeral. Whatever you need of me.

Yours,

Dorian

-

Dear Lady Montilyet,

We’ve not met in person, but I felt it was my duty to write to you in your time of loss.

Death is inevitable. It’s something we all must face, and it is always difficult when it sets its sights on someone dear to us.

Before the siege on Minrathous, I thought I had lost my partner. And I found her in the chaos of it all and she is fine, but for a while there, for a few weeks, all I knew was grief and rage.

Ghilan’nain murdered my best friend, as well. Right in front of me. And I am sure by now you have heard of what happened to poor Varric.

You don’t need to know all of this, but I wanted to provide some context before I told you that I understand, so that you would know that I’m not merely parroting hollow words. I understand, and I am here for you, and I know it doesn’t fix anything but I need you to know that your partner was brave to the end. And everyone who brought this upon her, everyone responsible for her death and my best friend’s, and Varric's, too, is dealt with. They cannot hurt anyone else, ever again.

You have my most sincere condolences.

Yours faithfully,

Watcher Viveka Ingellvar

“Rook”

-

Morrigan doesn’t write. Instead she travels directly to Antiva City and goes straight to the Montilyet estate, brushing past the servant at the door to find Josephine in her study.

Josephine looks up from her desk, and immediately rises to her feet. And Morrigan, never usually one for hugs, catches her as she runs across the room, holding her close as she sobs into her shoulder.

[monocytogenes]

Get to Know the Fanfic Writer

Tagged by @theluckywizard!

When did you post your first-ever fanfic?

Feb 2nd 2015 for ao3 (there's older stuff kicking around on the internet, I'm sure, but not that I'll lay claim to lol)

First Character(s) you wrote?

I was into Batman media back when I got on ao3, so folks like Jonathan Crane and Edward Nygma.

Main Character(s) you’re currently writing?

Pravin, my imperial agent. I've also got a WIP kicking around of his DAI version.

Character(s) you haven’t written about before but plan to soon?

I've technically written him a little outside of agent!Pravin's canon, but I'm hoping to eventually have some mainline stuff with Theron because his dynamic with Pravin is Pure Male Posturing, lol.

Fandom(s) you’re currently writing?

Swtor, Dragon Age: Inquisition

Platonic Pairing(s) you’re currently writing?

Male Imperial Agent & Vector Hyllus, Male Imperial Agent & Keeper (if you can call that platonic LOL it's like "these two having some kind of vaguely familial, messed up relationship"), Female Trevelyan & Original Character (Pravin and Thalia, actual family!)

Romantic Pairing(s) you’re currently writing?

Male Imperial Agent/Shara Jenn, Josephine Montilyet/Original Character

Your top AO3 tags? (go to works and click sort & filter)

Character Study

Hurt/Comfort

Male Friendship

(also lol "drug use" is on the list; thanks Pravin)

Current platform you use for posting?

Ao3 of course

Snippet of the WIP you are currently working on?

Here's a bit from a scene I haven't shared yet--Pravin musing on events at the end of the agent story, with a direct reference to my recent fic A Calculated Risk:

Would it matter in a few years’ time, amid commanders’ ambitions, profiteers’ encouragement and patriotic cries of honor and revenge? Would cutting the head off the cause make any difference, thin the projected casualties, hasten a diplomatic resolution? You know it did, Vector had told him in the feverish filth of that hotel on Nal Yeshu, as he’d insisted stopping Jadus hadn’t mattered a bit. The horror he’d endured in its wake, the unapologetic abuse that had lead him to walk open-eyed into a bureaucratic death—it had all been an agonizing descent from there, but in that brief, shining moment on the Dominator, his determination, his skill, his presence had meant something. Maybe that was all any of them could hope for: a fleeting instant of potency. To stand at that precipice and affect some semblance of justice.

[dreamir]

' blessed    be    the    daughters    of    cain    ,    bound    to     SUFFERING ETERNAL    through    the    sins   of    their    fathers    committed    long    before    their    conception. private independent writing blog for multiple characters from various fandoms. mature and triggering material present. written by emily. [she/her / 27] ' using the beta editor.

the study of:

rules & characters below .

general roleplay rules apply here. no god-modding, force shipping, etc. i will not follow if harmful content such as racism, pedophilia, homophbia, and transphobia.

mature and triggering material will be present. therefore minors should not interact! the triggers found within g.r.r.m's works, such as violence and incest, will be touched upon on this blog. please do not follow if it makes you uncomfortable. that being said, i will try to tag what i can.

the psd that i am using is by jessource & the icon border is by supersources.

feel free to continue any ask memes that i respond to! they are a great way to break the ice. i just ask that you make a separate post instead of reblogging the ask.

if you wanna ship, just let me know and we'll try to work something out! i'm pretty much shipping trash so.

my portrayals are headcanon based and a mixture of show & novel. if you have any questions about my muses, do not hesitate to ask.

characters.

aleera. dracula's bride. van helsing & dracula. fc: jessica brown findlay. primary.

alicent hightower. the dowager queen. from fire & blood. fc: olivia cooke & emily carey. primary.

helaena targaryen. the dreamer. from fire & blood. fc: maria valverde. primary.

jean grey. the dark phoenix. from marvel. fc: sophie turner. secondary.

josephine montilyet. the ambassador. from dragon age. fc: charithra chandran. secondary.

serafina of clan lavellan. the inquisitor. from dragon age. fc: poppy drayton. primary.

[dacreateathon]

On Abolishing Apostacy

By @transandersrights

Characters: Anders, Bran Cavin, Josephine Montilyet

Rating: Teen

Tags: Metafiction, Worldbuilding, AU- Modern Setting, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Mages, Mage-Templar Dynamics, Mage Rights

Word Count: 3344

Extract from the condensed report ‘Inquiry into the abolition of Circles of Magi’, publicly published 1st June: Case study 6: abuse of solitary confinement against minors in the Kinloch Hold Circle. Individual’s name: [redacted for privacy]

A series of documents relating to the abolishing of Circles in southern Thedas, 20XX.

[primalruination]

Character Profile - Nehra Mewrilah

figured it was about time I got around to making profiles for my OCs so introducing my WoL, Nehra! still a work in progress but I wanted to at least have something. SPOILERS FOR ALL OF FFXIV!

BASICS//

Name: Nehra Mewrilah

Name Meaning: Nehra = "fondness" in Hindi

Unsundered Name: Atlas

Age: 26 as of Patch 6.2

Nameday: 3rd Sun of the Second Umbral Moon

Gender: Nonbinary and Trans Masculine (they/she)

Race: Miqo'te

Tribe: Keeper of the Moon

Nationality: Garlean

Languages: Eorzean Common Tongue and possesses the Echo

Profession: Warrior of Light

Education Level: Studied with conjurers for some time

BLOODLINES//

Father: unknown

Mother: Unnamed Miqo'te

Adopted Siblings: Lina and Mujih Mewrilah

Extended Family: Y'shtola Rhul (sister in law)

Children: Y'tali Mewrilah (Tali)

ROMANCE & SEXUALITY//

Sexual Orientation: Sapphic

Romantic Orientation: Sapphic

Significant Other: Y'vdola Vongola (Dola)

Past Relationship: Ysayle Dangoulain

RESIDENCE//

Place of Birth: southern Ilsabard

Current Residence: small cottage in Ishgard

TALENTS AND SKILLS//

Canonical Jobs: White Mage before 6.0, currently Sage

Good at: botany, mathematics, cooking, animal caretaking, magic, bug collecting

Bad At: melee jobs of any kind, heavy lifting

APPEARANCE//

Hair: messy, shoulder length, black with green highlights

Eyes: blue

Lips: Small, thin lips

Complexion: fair

Blemishes: very distinct white freckles on cheeks

Scars: cut on left cheek from tripping on a rock. top surgery scars. deep, long cut on outer right thigh from having a sword thrown at her while possessed by Zenos. huge scar along back from fighting off a sin eater.

Tattoos: a doodle of a carbuncle drawn by their daughter, Tali

Height: 5'4"

Weight: 135 pounds

Build: average

Usual Hairstyles: parted it to the side up until Shadowbringers, when they just decided to stop styling it

Usual Face Look: doesn't wear any makeup

Usual Clothing: light, breathable robes when out in the field. just wears handed down, beat up clothes when at home

Face and Voice Claim: Currently Undecided

PERSONALITY//

Extroverted

Positive Traits: affectionate, centered, charming, easygoing, empathetic, focused, happy-go-lucky

Negative Traits: disorganized, gullible, impulsive, insecure, withdrawn

Fears: losing her loved ones

Aspirations: growing a family with their wife Y'vdola

Traumas: Huge fear of losing her loved ones due to the death of her girlfriend, Ysayle. this was further deepened when Zenos nearly killed Nehra's wife while he had possession over Nehra's body.

Hobbies: triple triad, botany, entomology

Vices: Anger

Faith: The Twelve

Temperament: Sanguine

Soul Type: The Sage

Tropes: The Chosen One, The Mad Scientist, Believer, Devotee, Emotionally Repressed, Eternal Klutz, Peacemaker, Surprise Genius, Tortured Superhero, Troubled Vet, Unlikely Hero

Character Inspirations: Adora from She-ra and the Princesses of Power, Josephine Montilyet from Dragon Age, Wyll from Baldurs Gate 3

FAVORITES//

Deity: Menphina the Lover

Holiday: Starlight Celebration

Month: 5th Umbral Moon

Weather: A warm, clear spring day

Time of Day: Morning

Places: Old Sharlayan, The Black Shroud

ARR: Accidentally getting wound up in the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Nehra reluctantly joined them in their fight to save Eorzea. They felt like an outsider in the group.

HISTORY//

Pre-ARR: Nehra was born in a small Keeper of the Moon tribe in Southern Ilsabard. They were conscripted into the Imperial army at the age of 8, being used as a trauma healer for soldiers. They had frequent interactions with Zenos and developed an intense fear of him that stuck with them for a long time. When they were 15 they were finally able to escape being a soldier and immigrated into New Gridania, where they made friends with Mujih Mewrilah.

Heavensward: Grew deep, lasting friendships with Tataru and Alphinaud after the Bloody Banquet. Also became overly protective of the two, aggressively berating Estinien out of fear his thirst for revenge would endanger Alphinaud. Fell in love with Ysayle and formed a relationship with her, only to lose her shortly after her sacrifice is Azys Lla.

Stormblood: In the hopes of liberating the Ala Mhigans, Nehra journeyed to Rhalgrs Reach only for the crown prince of Garlemald, Zenos yae Galvus, to personally strike down the rebellion. During his attack, Nehra spots Zenos and freezes in fear. He doesn't recognize her at the time, but he quickly takes advantage of her moment of hesitation and attacks. Just before Zenos landed his final blow on the Warrior of Light, they are shielded by a Miqo'te named Y'vdola who takes the blow for Nehra. Nehra would later visit Y'vdola in the infirmary any time she could and the two fell in love. They then married after the Warrior of Light liberated Ala Mhigo.

Shadowbringers: WIP

Endwalker: WIP

NOTE: Nehra's story follows all of the major events of MSQ as they are the Warrior of Light.

[a-shakespearean-in-paris]

GOOD EVENING

I did a thing. :) I committed sacrilege by unchecking that beloved green box on A03 and am now expanding the story to past Corypheus’s defeat. :D

Chapters: 51/? Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dragon Age (Video Games), Dragon Age - All Media Types Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Female Inquisitor/Cullen Rutherford, Female Mage Inquisitor/Cullen Rutherford, Cullen Rutherford/Female Trevelyan, Female Mage Trevelyan/Cullen Rutherford, Minor or Background Relationship(s) Characters: Female Inquisitor (Dragon Age), Female Trevelyan, Female Mage Trevelyan, Cullen Rutherford, Cullen (Dragon Age), Original Male Character(s), Varric Tethras, Cassandra Pentaghast, Leliana (Dragon Age), Josephine Montilyet, Iron Bull, Sera (Dragon Age), Vivienne (Dragon Age), Cole (Dragon Age), Dorian Pavus, Blackwall, Female Hawke, Rylen (Dragon Age), Original minor female characters, Solas (Dragon Age), Female Warden (Dragon Age), Morrigan (Dragon Age), Original Female Character(s) Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Eventual Romance, Drama & Romance, Eventual Smut, Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Lyrium Withdrawal, the course of true love never did run smooth, Lost Love, Character Development, Character Study, Past Relationship(s), Background Relationships, Hurt/Comfort, Falling In Love, Mages and Templars, Sexual Tension, Mutual Pining, Complicated Relationships, blossoming relationships, self doubt, perseverance, Couples having problems but working them out, Body Worship, Sensuality, Sexual Content, Canon-Typical Violence Series: Part 1 of Dreams Summary:

During war, Lydia and Cullen slowly fall in love. Wrought with initial strife, the former Circle mage and templar struggle with their pasts and present times, both haunted by ghosts until both at last understand and decide the two of them are for good. During their romantic exploration they begin to see each other and love one another as more than the Commander and Inquisitor, more than the rose that survived and endured the winter, and more than a forgotten goddess of old. Then the war ends, and they dream of dawn and constellations. *** A slow burn novelization of Inquisition, formally finishing after the defeat of Corypheus, now expanding beyond and focusing on the moments between Inquisitor Lydia Trevelyan, and her Commander. As the events of the Inquisition unfold, so do their own personal struggles, issues, torrid pasts, and feelings for one another. Sprinklings of other characters here and there. Slightly diverges from canon. Rated E for later chapters.

[relucant]

Chapters: 12/? Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dragon Age (Video Games), Dragon Age - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Male Lavellan/Cullen Rutherford, Inquisitor/Cullen Rutherford, Male Inquisitor/Cullen Rutherford, Iron Bull/Dorian Pavus, Leliana/Female Surana (Dragon Age), Lace Harding/Sera Characters: Male Lavellan (Dragon Age), Cullen Rutherford, Cassandra Pentaghast, Varric Tethras, Solas (Dragon Age), The Iron Bull (Dragon Age), Dorian Pavus, Cremisius "Krem" Aclassi, Cole (Dragon Age), Sera (Dragon Age), Female Surana (Dragon Age), Leliana (Dragon Age), Josephine Montilyet, Hawke (Dragon Age), Male Hawke, Mage Lavellan Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Bisexual Cullen Rutherford, Fluff, au where cullen is more fun, but still very rooted in canon, i spent way too much time in the keep to make this, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, everyone gets to be happy, but they got some shit to work through first, Angst with a Happy Ending, Idiots in Love, Dorian Pavus is a Good Friend, Coming Out, Cullen thought he was straight oops, Pining, Iron Bull knows all, Mage-Templar Dynamics (Dragon Age), Canon Compliant, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Canon-Typical Violence, Trans Male Character, Author is trans, No transphobia except one random dude who gets the shit kicked out of him, Because it's my fanfic and i make the rules dammit, POV Cullen Rutherford, Friends to Lovers, Lyrium Withdrawal, Character Study Summary:

An AU in which Cullen Rutherford finds himself falling in love with Aelis Lavellan, the Herald of Andraste, from the moment they meet on the battlefield. The only problem? The Herald is a mage. And a man.

-----

my friend @chosenofathene is writing this story and i know NOTHING about DA:I but it’s so good i’m already invested, so please read and give him love

[thereinafter]

Chocolate Box 2021 exchange letter below.

Hi, dear chocolatier! Thanks so much for creating for me. For fic, I’m good with whatever rating you want to write and any tense/person/structure. I’m also requesting art for everything besides OW. I’ve copied my signup below with a DNW list for each fandom, and those are followed by my general art and fic likes lists.

——-

Dragon Age: (fic, art) Aveline Vallen/Cassandra Pentaghast (Dragon Age) Aveline Vallen/Female Hawke (Dragon Age) Cassandra Pentaghast/Female Inquisitor (Dragon Age) Cassandra Pentaghast/Leliana (Dragon Age) Cassandra Pentaghast & Myrna (Dragon Age) Dagna/Sera (Dragon Age) Isabela/Leliana (Dragon Age) Josephine Montilyet/Leliana (Dragon Age) Leliana/Morrigan (Dragon Age)

For all the / ships I requested, I would be very happy with anything inspired by the likes lists below. Cassandra/Leliana, Josephine/Leliana, Leliana/Morrigan: I’m forever interested in all their history we don’t see as well as how they might interact when the Inquisitor or Warden isn’t around. Cassandra/Inquisitor, Aveline/Hawke: I’m good with any variant of female player character and will always love flirting and tension/confusion happily resolved, or facing things together, or just cute/romantic moments. Aveline/Cassandra, Dagna/Sera, Leliana/Isabela: show me how they might meet for the first or second or third time and spark something?

For Cassandra & Myrna (of the Mourn Watch): “Down Among the Dead Men” was my favorite Tevinter Nights story and I’m fascinated with Nevarra and the Grand Necropolis as described there. Have these two met before in the past? Do they have to work together on something for the Inquisition or post-DAI? Since I read TN I’ve wanted a fic where they interact (and preferably get along eventually).

I would also love art of any of these pairings! See general art likes list below.

DNW: setting AUs (except for art), background male player characters, pregnancy, non-canon major character death, unhappy endings, daddy/mommy kink, noncon

——

Crossover: (fic, art) Cassandra Pentaghast (Dragon Age)/Kassandra (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)

I still feel like this should happen. Magic or basically magical AC tech or in recurring dreams or however you want to handwave transportation between universes, I would just like to see them in the same place and maybe breaking some things together. (alternatively: I did art of them arm-wrestling one time and if someone wants to write me that fic I would love it.)

Also more art! Fighting back to back? Kassandra flirting with Cassandra? Wearing clothes from each other’s world? A Greek-vase-style pastiche?

See general fic and art likes below if you want more ideas.

DNW: AUs other than the canon settings, pregnancy, non-canon major character death, unhappy endings, daddy/mommy kink, noncon

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Emelan - Tamora Pierce: (fic, art) Dedicate Lark/Dedicate Rosethorn

I love the four kids, but I love Lark and Rosethorn the most. (Note: I’ve only read up to Shatterglass as of now, but I don’t mind references to later books if you want to set something later.)

A few fic ideas, feel free to mix up or use anything else from my general likes list: - An adventure by themselves without their students? Or an attempted romantic outing that turns into one? - Writing to each other when one is away? (Rosethorn travels a lot; has Lark ever gone somewhere and left her to manage Discipline?) - Observing traditions and the turn of the year at Winding Circle, from their POVs? - Ways they might use their magic together or experimenting with that?

I would also love any art you want to do of them: see the general art likes below.

DNW: setting AUs (except for art), pregnancy, non-canon major character death, unhappy endings, daddy/mommy kink, noncon

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The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon: (fic, art) Sabran Berethnet/Eadaz du Zāla uq-Nāra (The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon)

Reusing some of my Yuletide fic prompts, feel free to mix these or use things from my likes list: - A missing scene from when their relationship was secret, before Ead left the first time? - Sabran’s experience of one of the times Ead was hurt and recovered? - I’m always here for long-distance pining and letter-writing. - Post-canon reunions, whether it’s Ead visiting Inys, or Sabran finding ways to meet her elsewhere, or Sabran carrying out her plan to abdicate. I would love exploration of the other courts and lands in the book, especially Yscalin rebuilding from the draconic takeover, and the Priory. - I’m still curious about whether it’s possible for Sabran to learn either type of magic and whether she would explore that, and whether there might be other trees.

I would love art as well! Any canon scene illustrated (the rose under Sabran’s pillow? the bath? the candle dance scene?), or just any art of them you want to do. General art likes below.

DNW: setting AUs (except for art), non-canon pregnancy, non-canon major character death, daddy/mommy kink, noncon

——

Original Work: (fic) Female Adventurer in Need of a Challenge/Lady Stuck in Tower of Ridiculous Traps (Original Work) Female Inventor of Ridiculous Traps/Female Master Thief (Original Work) Female Avant-Garde Artist/Scandalous Demimonde Actress (Original Work) Female Palace Cook/Female Royal Taster (Original Work) Female Paladin/Incarnation of Her Goddess (Original Work) Female Knight on Noble Quest/Witch Who's Far Too Distracting (Original Work) Brave but Stubborn Female Knight/Famous Female Bard Who Has a Crush on Her (Original Work) Dethroned and Dishonored Queen/Lone Loyal Female Knight (Original Work) Female Knight Who Loves Baths/Female Sorceress Who Loves Baths (Original Work) Female Knight Who Loves Baths/Female Water or Hotspring Spirit Who Loves Knights (Original Work) Wandering Lady Knight/Her Pining Female Friend She Writes Letters To (Original Work)

I nominated:

Female Adventurer in Need of a Challenge/Lady Stuck in Tower of Ridiculous Traps: I was imagining the kinds of elaborate traps you find in D&D manuals, but other types also work! I just like the idea of bonding through solving bizarre dangerous puzzles from opposite sides of a barrier.

Female Inventor of Ridiculous Traps/Female Master Thief: Professional rivals to lovers? Longtime couple who collaborate? (Bonus idea: prequel to the first prompt?)

Female Palace Cook/Female Royal Taster: I like the idea of one falling for or trying to seduce the other through food creations, under the noses of the royalty. Maybe the taster is also a bodyguard, or just another servant with a risky job?

Female Avant-Garde Artist/Scandalous Demimonde Actress: I’d be here for this whether you want to set it in a real historical period or a fantasy/SF world. Too many feelings and sublimating them through art? Modeling turning into more? A secret relationship, or a volatile on and off thing? I could also see this as a found documents or research notes type of story (or something like 5 times = 5 works in an exhibition?)

Female Paladin/Incarnation of Her Goddess: A dramatic h/c situation, or a reward for faithful service? Or maybe they have a comfortable old-married type of relationship? I could be into any of these.

Female Knight on Noble Quest/Witch Who's Far Too Distracting: Kind of the opposite of the above. They just keep running into each other and catch feelings? Or the witch wants to interfere and ends up helping? Or the quest is actually a bad idea and the witch saves her life?

I didn’t nominate but would delightedly read any take on these (all the lady knights edition): Brave but Stubborn Female Knight/Famous Female Bard Who Has a Crush on Her Dethroned and Dishonored Queen/Lone Loyal Female Knight Female Knight Who Loves Baths/Female Sorceress Who Loves Baths Female Knight Who Loves Baths/Female Water or Hotspring Spirit Who Loves Knights Wandering Lady Knight/Her Pining Female Friend She Writes Letters To

See the long list of general likes below if you want more ideas.

DNW: unhappy endings, death of requested characters, underage sex (<18), daddy/mommy kink, incest, noncon, a/b/o

——

General fanart likes:

I draw it myself, and I don’t really have style preferences for fanart; I’m interested in however you interpret my request in your own style!

- If one of my fic prompts or my likes below suggests something (non-explicit) you want to draw (whether one scene or sequential), I’d love to see that. I always like to see characters doing things they’re good at or looking formidable or happy. And for shippy art, I am always here for handholding, hand kisses, regular kisses, cuddling, and/or other romantic moments in contexts that make sense for the characters.

- Dressing the characters up or down is also fun. Fancy clothing or armor, things they might wear that we don’t see in canon, or illustrating what they do wear in canon if it’s a book. Partial undressing and dishevelment. Different historical AU looks (as an exception to my setting AUs DNW).

- I’d also be into a piece that’s more of a character study expressing something about them through formal visual elements and symbolism (as opposed to a narrative scene).

- If emulating other art styles is fun for you, I’d totally enjoy any kind of famous artist/historical style pastiche. Or, my love of in-universe documents and worldbuilding definitely extends to art, so something like an in-world manuscript page or notes/doodles/sketches by a character or an in-world portrait of them would make me quite happy.

——

General fic likes

If something’s not on this list, that doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t like it, but I enjoy these things pretty reliably. Take from it and mix these up as you wish.

for both gen and shipfic: Relationships among women, complex and powerful female characters, adult characters with some level of life experience Casefic if the characters do cases or missions: anything like another episode or chapter from the canon Lighthearted slice of life/ day-in-the-life stories when the canon focus is more on big dramatic events Epistolary or found-documents stories, and other unconventional story structures Time loop stories, Rashomon-style stories, and other sets of variations on a theme (including “five times” fic) Canon divergence AUs Worldbuilding/exploring places and times we don’t see much in canon; in-universe mythologies, stories, songs, plays, etc.; holidays, personal or cultural traditions, celebrations People or events from characters’ past resurfacing to complicate things Magical or scientific accidents or anomalies making weird things happen Heists, rescues/jailbreaks, investigating mysteries big or small Court plotting, dealing with complex etiquette/social rules, intrigue, spying, disguises and fake identities Road or sea or space trips, wilderness survival situations, exploring ruins/haunted places/caves/dungeons/etc. Sparring, duels, tournaments, competitions whether serious or not Making things for each other, whether it’s art or music or crafting or food or magic or whatever, and giving gifts Competence porn/demonstrating how good they are at what they do (but perhaps being awkward or lost in other contexts) Learning or teaching others new skills, or trying to Temporarily caring for animals or babies/children when they’re not used to it

for shipfic (pre-relationship, get-together, and established-relationship stories are all interesting to me if I like the ship) Everything above plus: Longtime friends, partners in arms or work or crime, old friends or former lovers meeting again, old enemies who have to admit they like each other, rivals who respect each other … to lovers Long-term established relationships where they know each other better than anyone Cute/playful moments, escalating flirtations whether awkward or skillful, good-natured teasing, surprising each other, discovering new things about each other, trying to impress each other, distracting each other consciously or not Giddy crushes, pining that’s eventually happily resolved, angst with happy endings Having a lot of feelings and not knowing what to do with them, repression, extended UST, slow burn, emotional romantic revelations Hurt/comfort, fighting beside each other, disproportionate reactions to the other being hurt or possibly hurt, facing external threats together, rescuing each other, tending each other Loyalty and devotion, us against the world, bodyguarding, protectiveness, love conflicting with other loyalties, noble self-denial and sacrifice, courtly love Being inspired by the other to create, or achieving things for the other’s sake or in their service, whether secretly or openly Forced-intimacy-by-circumstance tropes like only-one-bed, huddling for warmth, fake dating, marriage of convenience, handcuffed together, dreamsharing/psychic bonds Ascetic/hedonist or repressed/libertine or inexperienced/more experienced dynamics “The grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one,” or prickly/stoic/intimidating/jaded characters softening for a particular person, or allowing themselves to have fun with them Secret relationships as a source of angst and/or for the excitement of sneaking around (though I prefer infidelity not be the reason, unless it’s a forced/political marriage situation) Dancing, whether it’s formal dancing with sexual tension or meaningful romantic dancing or getting uninhibited on a dance floor Meaningful handholding Language of flowers/fans/other symbolic communication and private codes Bathing/dressing/doing hair/other physical caretaking, watching each other sleep, holding each other for comfort, having a hard time not touching Reading/storytelling/singing to each other Reunions after separation, or stealing moments away from everything to be together

for sex scenes: cuddling, kissing, laughing, tasting, eroticized hands and voices, clothed/semi-clothed sex, complicated undressing, talking whether emotional or joking or dirty, asking for things, curiosity/discovery, playfulness/inventiveness, eagerness/desperation, being overwhelmed by feelings, having to keep silent or hold still, interruptions and delayed gratification and intentional drawing things out, body worship, sex against walls, informal mild kink (e.g., tying up, holding down, blindfolding, taking direction, honor bondage, scratching/marking, tearing clothes, mutual roughness), sexy letter writing, one fantasizing about the other, decadence and sensory/sensual details, voyeurism/exhibitionism if it’s IC, writing/painting on skin, sex pollen, magical/ritual/magic-enhanced sex

[roseategales]

100(ISH) WORDS A DAY CHALLENGE: NOVEMBER 2019 — MASTERPOST | AO3 LINK.

Day 1: Dagger — Zevran Arainai/Josephine Montilyet. Teen. Fluff. Wordcount: 159.

Day 2: Simplicity — Solavellan. Teen. Fluff, Mild Angst. Wordcount: 199.

Day 3: Memories — Character Study for Surana. Teen. No pairing. Mild Angst. Wordcount: 242

Day 4: Lie — Solavellan. General. Fluff, Modern AU. Warning for food mention. Wordcount: 248

Day 5: In Dreams — Solavellan. General. Angst. Wordcount: 112

Day 6: Dance — Solavellan. General. Fluff. Warning for alcohol and racism mentions. Wordcount: 254

Day 7: How Dare You — Hawke & Varric. General. Fluff. Wordcount: 206

Day 8: Undone — Solavellan. Explicit. Smut. Wordcount: 319

Day 9: Hide — Solas & Trevelyan. General. Hurt/Comfort. Warning for racism mention. Wordcount: 280

Day 10: Hoarse — Solavellan. General. Fluff. Wordcount: 473

Days 11-24: Whisper, Bittersweet — Solavellan. Explicit. Smut, Modern AU. Wordcount: 2.2k

Days 25-???: Redamancy — Mature. Hurt/Comfort, DA4 Speculation, AU. Wordcount: 2.9k

[ao3feed-cullrian]

a dance around the flames

by volantium

"Cullen, please," Dorian says, voice low, and Cullen flashes back to a war tent at the edge of Adamant Fortress and a sprawling map and his heart beating a cacophony against his rib cage at Dorian's broken rasp. "This is agonising."

The world tilts on its axis, shattering as Cullen closes the distance between them, realigning at the first tentative kiss he presses to Dorian's lips.

A retelling of Inquisition through the eyes of a stoic solider and stolen moments with a mercurial mage.

Words: 16734, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Dragon Age (Video Games)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: Multi

Characters: Cullen Rutherford, Dorian Pavus, Cassandra Pentaghast, Leliana (Dragon Age), Josephine Montilyet, Female Trevelyan (Dragon Age), Ensemble

Relationships: Dorian Pavus/Cullen Rutherford

Additional Tags: Implied Female Trevelyan/Sera, mentioned Dorian Pavus/Iron Bull, Past Cullen Rutherford/Female Amell - Freeform, Past Cullen Rutherford/Male Hawke, Implied Male Hawke/Fenris, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, Angst and Romance, Lyrium Withdrawal, Brief Mention of Alcoholism, Implied Cheating, technically a cullen character study, no one:, me: inquisition needs more gay pining

from AO3 works tagged 'Dorian Pavus/Cullen Rutherford' https://ift.tt/2HZW0Mj via IFTTT

[ellanainthetardis]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Age - All Media Types, Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Female Inquisitor & Josephine Montilyet, Female Adaar & Josephine Montilyet Characters: Female Inquisitor (Dragon Age), Female Adaar (Dragon Age), Josephine Montilyet, Cassandra Pentaghast Additional Tags: Post-Dragon Age: Inquisition Quest - The Threat Remains, Qunari Culture and Customs, Character Study, Inquisitor (Dragon Age) Backstory, Mage Inquisitor (Dragon Age), The importance of Names, New Friendships Summary:

They can’t have that, she supposes, the Herald of Andraste being called names behind her back… The only way the situation could have been worse is if she had been an elf. She could tell the ambassador that there are people in this very camp disrespecting her at every turn but she is far too used to it to care. They call her oxwoman. They call her witch. They call her chosen or your worship. They call her Tal-Vashoth.

Names are weapons. For the bearer to hold and to wield.

Names are cloaks. For the bearer to wrap themselves in and discard when outgrown.

[novamm66]

Red Sky in the Morning - Chapter 16 - And Up She Rises

It has been an exciting summer for me, I started my second business selling my Celtic artwork and jewelry that I make. It did kind of eat up a lot of my time. I have been working away at writing but it is just now that things are levelling out and I am having a grand time getting back into it.

I have worked on this chapter in particular for a while. It's a big one, we are adding some new characters and I can't wait for you to meet them.

I have updated the tags since there is mention of a few tough topics. Pregnancy loss is something I am intimately familiar with. I know that it can be a tough one to talk about, it was for me for a long time.

The tile is the second half of the song title Weigh Heigh and Up She Rises. My current favourite version is The Drunken Whaler Copilot Strategic Sound + Music. It's so dark and creepy I love it.

There are mention of a few tough topics. Pregnancy loss is something I am intimately familiar with. I know that it can be a tough one to talk about, it was for me for a long time. But I don’t want anyone to be surprised.

---

Cullen frowned at the report from Crestwood he was reading. Just like everywhere else the Herald went, nothing had gone to plan. Although they had reported success dealing with everything, it just added to the knot of worry in his chest. His thoughts were interrupted by footsteps and voices in the hall.

“Scout Harding informed us of the events after the conclave when she found us. The news of Haven, and eventually Skyhold, led us here.” The voice of an unknown woman answered a question Cullen hadn’t heard. “In fact, every tavern and campfire between here and Denerim is talking about the Inquisition.”

Three people entered the room with Leliana, all still dressed for travel. The moment the woman stepped into view Cullen put the pieces together. Evelyn Trevelyan’s hair had more brown than red and her eyes were hazel, but there was no mistaking the resemblance to her half-sister. She was accompanied by two men: one a large, dark-haired human, the other elven, the sunburst brand on his forehead standing out against his pale skin.

“Allow me to introduce Lady Josephine Montilyet and Commander Cullen Rutherford. This is Kiaya’s sister, Evelyn; Evelyn’s husband, Danin Barnath; and Ja’rell Lavellan,” Leliana said. “They have come to join Kiaya and the Inquisition.” Evelyn smiled, her voice formal when she spoke. “We are eager to help in any way we can.” Both of her companions silently nodded.

“We are delighted to have you join us,” Josephine said smoothly.

“It is good that you are up to date on past events,” Leliana circled back to the conversation they were having when they had entered. “What isn’t publicly known yet is that we have asked Kiaya to become the Inquisitor and to lead the Inquisition.”

Danin snorted a laugh. “Easy money she said no.” His Starkhaven accent was thick, and his tone was kind rather than insulting, but Cullen bristled anyway.

“Do you think we are in error then?” Cullen spoke sharper then he intended.

“Begging your pardon, Commander,” Danin said. “I believe Kiaya is a good choice. I just don’t think she would see it that way.”

“We are hoping you can help us change her mind. She has proven herself the best, and possibly only, choice if we are going to win this war,” said Leliana.

“My sister is one of the smartest people I know and a good person, mostly, but she is her own worst enemy in many ways.” Evelyn sighed.

“I will talk to her.” The sound of Ja’rell’s voice caught everyone by surprise. In Cullen’s experience, tranquil never spoke unless addressed directly.

After a few moments, Josephine cleared her throat. “I am sure she will return once she knows you are here. “

“May I write to her?” Evelyn asked.

Josephine smiled. “Of course. Please, come with me. Then we will get you set up in quarters so you can rest.” She led the party out of the room, her voice fading until it was cut off by the closing of the door.

“That was unexpected.” Cullen looked at Leliana, who was staring at the map.

“Which part?”

“All of it.” Cullen’s annoyance leaking out in his reply. “Why didn’t you tell Josephine and I that they were coming?”

Leliana was quiet for a long time. Cullen waited, watching her. Her brow was furrowed and her lips were pinched into a thin line.

“Kiaya came to me the morning before she closed the Breach. I fully intended to tell you at the next meeting, and I believe Kiaya did as well. But with her success and then the attack…”

Leliana rubbed her eyes. “By the time things settled, we were lost in the mountains with no way to contact any of our agents in the field, and we had more pressing concerns. After that, since Kiaya didn’t mention it, I waited until I heard something.”She sighed, straightening her back and meeting Cullen’s eyes, her expression settling into the calm neutrality that she was known for.

Cullen exhaled the breath he was holding and nodded. “It’s fortunate they arrived now, then, just when we need them.”

“Yes, it is.” Leliana studied him for a moment, then smiled. “Although I believe that you could have persuaded her if needed.”

Cullen’s brow furrowed with confusion.

Leliana rolled her eyes at him. “I have seen the way you look at her, and she at you. If she hadn’t left Skyhold so abruptly I am fairly certain that, had you asked her again, we would have our Inquisitor.”

“That’s not…” Cullen stammered, “I don’t think so.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Of course not. You are both being silly. You never know when your time runs out.” Leliana’s face grew sad, then hardened, her neutral mask slipping back into place. She stared at him for a moment before leaving the room without saying more.

Cullen stayed, lost in thought, pretending to work on reports.

Leliana was right about one thing: he needed to stop wasting time.

---

“If we don’t stop soon the sores on my arse are going to band together and attack you,” Sera groused.

“Again? We can see Skyhold already. We are not stopping until we are there.” Kiaya shot an apologetic look over her shoulder.

“The first-round tonight is on me, OK?”

Sera’s eyes narrowed. “First two.”

“Deal,” Kiaya laughed. She was planning on buying more than that. Her friends deserved it. The pace that Kiaya had set had been gruelling on them all. Even now the slower trot the horses needed was grating on her impatience. She had been handed Evelyn’s letter the moment they had arrived back at the keep. Once it was read and Kiaya had explained the situation to her companions, they had left as soon as they were able. They had travelled quickly, stopping only when the horses needed rest. Now that she could see the fortress, Kiaya was trying very hard not to push the pace a bit more. Kiaya knew Evelyn was safe, she just needed to know it.

Her horse seemed to sense hay and rest was ahead, shifting into a chanter all on his own. Kiaya gave him his head and she laughed at the string of curses and threats from Sera behind her.

The bay didn’t slow down as they rode through the gate and straight to the stables. Kiaya trusted Rollin not to trample anyone; he was too well trained for that, and it was thrilling to watch people scurry out of the way. It wasn’t a good thought, but it made her laugh anyway.

Rollin slowed and stopped in the stable yard, nose pointing towards the rub down and a bucket of mash waiting for him. Kiaya laughed at her horse. “I know, I owe you a round too.” She quickly dropped to the ground and removed her saddlebags. There was already a groom waiting and Kiaya gave Rollin a pat as he was led away.

Kiaya set her bags down at her feet to wait and stretch while her friends caught up. She rolled her neck and stretched her back while her eyes roamed around Skyhold, noting the changes. They hadn’t been gone long, but the repair crews had been hard at work. The courtyards had been cleared, and the towers and walls had been shored up. The other repairs were well underway. Next, Kiaya’s eyes searched the crowd of faces in the courtyard and lining the walls of the upper yard. Her chest tightened with all those eyes on her. As lonely as being invisible had been, Kiaya missed the days when panic wasn’t a constant companion. When she didn’t find the face she was looking for it was a relief to look at the stone walls again.

“If it isn’t Captain Kiaya, the plague of the Waking Sea.”

At the sound of the familiar voice, Kiaya whirled around, and there stood Danin and Ja’rell. “That’s a little harsh. I was barely an irritant.” Kiaya laughed as she leapt to hug her brother-in-law. Danin wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. Kiaya felt her feet leave the ground and her spine pop. He was the king of bear hugs,and they always felt like home. Not her home, but the closest thing she had. She was slightly breathless when he set her down.

“Thank fuck you found us,” she said. She glanced past Danin to Ja’rell then back again. “Where is Evie?”

“We didn’t expect you back until tomorrow, Lass. So when a call came from the camp for the need of a midwife, she went.” “Of course she did.” Kiaya face sobered as she thought of the news in Evelyn’s letter. “Danin, I am so sorry.” Kiaya could see the sadness in his eyes. Losing the baby had been hard on them both. Danin nodded in answer and Kiaya let the subject drop. There would be time for private conversation later. Her eyes turned to Ja’rell, who was standing a few paces away.

She felt the familiar stabs of anger and guilt mixed with the joy and comfort that seeing her old friend brought. The sight of the brand on his forehead was the opening of an old wound in Kiaya’s heart every time she saw it. Danin turned and gave Kiaya a little shove in Ja’rell’s direction, her feet barely managing to catch up as she closed the distance between them.

Kiaya didn’t reach to hug him, as much as she wanted to.

“You’re here?” It was more a question than a statement but Kiaya continued without an answer, “I’m glad you are and that you’re safe.”

“You need help,” Ja’rell replied. The sound of his voice caused Kiaya to tremble. At one point in her life, Ja’rell’s was the only voice she had known. Her years of isolation in the Circle had ended when Ja’rell had walked into her life. The sound was so familiar and comforting, but the colour that he had painted his life with was gone. It would never stop jarring her to her bones.

Kiaya snorted. “Understatement of the year.”

Ja’rell calm expression didn’t change. “You have already decided to accept,” he stated.

Kiaya’s eyes widened, “ How can you possibly know that?”

“It is a logical conclusion. You have done more good for others than bad. It is who you are.”

Kiaya gaped at him, but before she could say anything the clatter of hooves coming through the gate signalled the arrival of more horses. Both of them turned to watch a wagon, flanked by Varric, Sera and Bull on their horses, rattle into view. Evelyn was bouncing in the seat next to the driver. The moment she saw Kiaya, she started waving.

“I-“ Kiaya turned back to find Ja’rell was already leaving, heading into the main keep. Pain welled in her chest as she watched him stride away. “-miss you.” She exhaled softly before turning to jog across the courtyard.

“Kiaya!” Evelyn was on her feet and over the wheel before the wagon stopped moving, running to meet her. The two women collided with enough force that they almost tumbled to the ground but they managed to steady themselves without letting go of the other. Both of them started speaking at the same time.

“I am so sorry-“

“How will you ever forgive-“

Evelyn laughed pulling back just enough to look Kiaya in the eye. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

“For dragging you into this.” Kiaya smiled as she examined her sister’s face. Outwardly, Evelyn looked well, but Kiaya could see the shadows under her eyes. “And because you lost the baby.”

Sadness overwhelmed Evelyn’s face for a moment before fading away again. Evelyn shook her head, “I’m… well, I’m not ok, but I will be. We have plenty of time to talk about that later. We have larger issues to worry about right now.”

Kiaya opened her mouth but Evelyn cut her off, her expression earnest. “Listen to me, I am so sorry that I have done this to you again.”

“What?” Kiaya grief for Evelyn’s lost baby melted into confusion.

“You were at the Conclave because of me, just the same as the circle. But this time I am not going to abandon you.” Tears had started leaking from Evelyn’s eyes and she hugged Kiaya tighter, burying her face into Kiaya’s armoured chest just as she had done when she was ten.

“Evelyn, you’re no more to blame for this then you were for taking me to the circle. You saved my life. Nowhere else had the level of healing that I needed. Everything that happened after that was not your fault. We were both still children.”

Evelyn’s grip tightened.

“I am thankful every day that I was at the Conclave and not you. You could have died with Malcolm and Lydia. I am just sorry I got you involved here, and if I thought you would be safer anywhere else I would send you there.” Kiaya paused to take a breath. “But I need your help. I don’t know what I am doing.”

Evelyn laughed shakily as she pulled back, her eyes now puffy. “I’m glad. We have a plan.”

Kiaya hugged her tighter before leading the way back to the keep, “Why am I not surprised?”

---

“So that’s the plan? Evelyn and I both become Inquisitor?” Kiaya asked, keeping her voice as neutral as possible.

“That’s a bit simplistic, but essentially, yes,” Leliana smiled. Kaiya glanced around the room, everyone seemed to be in agreement, although Cullen looked more concerned than anything.

“Using and controlling the mark is something we can’t help you with,” Leliana continued, “But we can shoulder much of the rest. The two of you are close enough in appearance that you can both be Inquisitor Trevelyan as the need arises. That way you can continue to close the rifts and work in the field while we handle the politics here.”

Kiaya couldn’t look directly at anyone, so her eyes stayed glued to her marker on the map. “But you still want me to be the deciding voice. You want me to decide the fate of others.”

“Kiaya,” it was Evelyn who answered. “We are here to advise and help you but, like it or not, you are the leader. I know you can do this. You were a ship’s captain, after all. It’s pretty much the same thing.”

Kiaya snorted and looked up to meet her sister’s eyes. Evelyn looked hesitant, but there was a smile hovering under the surface.

“This is a much bigger ship.” Kiaya sighed and squared her shoulders, “Alright, I agree with your plan. What happens next?”

“We have four months before the ball at the Winter Place,” Josephine answered. Her enthusiasm was evident. “So our focus should be on that. Once we have presented our Inquisitor to the world, Leliana and I will start preparing you and Evelyn for Halamshiral. Also, you should continue your combat training as well. In two weeks, you and your team should depart and work your way through Orlais and increase our reputation there as much as possible. We,” Josie indicated the advisers and Evelyn, “Will meet you there, no less than three weeks out, for the final preparation for the ball. That should give Hawke and Stroud’s team enough time to reach the Western Approach and report back on the Warden activity.”

Holy Crap.

“And here I thought we would be busy.” Kiaya smiled at everyone around the table, locking down her panic until there was time and privacy to freak out. “Shall we get down to business then?”

—-

Now I am all caught up here on Tumblr!  I am hoping to have the next chapter ready soon but I have adopted a no-pressure attitude for myself and I am writing for the joy of it.

You can follow me on AO3 here.

Reblogs, likes and comments are always welcome.

[penknife]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Dorian Pavus & Cullen Rutherford, Josephine Montilyet & Cullen Rutherford, Leliana & Cullen Rutherford Characters: Cullen Rutherford, Dorian Pavus, Josephine Montilyet, Leliana (Dragon Age) Additional Tags: Character Study, Friendship, Lyrium Withdrawal Summary:

Five times Cullen found that he didn't have to do everything the hard way.

[izzyb900]

Sorcerer and Wizard for Cayden, please?

Thank you so much for the ask! Cayden has a natural ability to work with people, but is a firm believer in work ethic. Your ask inspired me to do a little drabble about the time Josephine asks Cayden to consider switching from a field agent to an ambassador!

-----

Sorcerer: What comes naturally to your character that would require other people to train or to study in order to accomplish?

Wizard: What does your character consider more important - natural talent or work ethic? Regardless of their convictions, do they rely on their training or their talent more often than not?

-----

Cayden had only just set down his shield when he heard a knock at the door to his chambers. Dropping his pack he turns to face the door only to see that the messenger has simply let himself in. The scout caught himself making a face before saying “I- uh Seeker Kendells, Lady Ambassador Montilyet has asked to meet with you.”

Chuckling to himself, We’re gonna have this conversation again aren’t we? That was quick.

“Very well, please inform the Ambassador that I will see her after I finish cleaning up”

The runner then excuses himself with a curt nod and a mumbled “Yes, sir”. He and Luna had only just returned from a three week excursion in the Hinterlands and if the look on that poor man face was any indication, he must smell like it too. 

Making quick work of his armour, Cayden grabs a rag and using the cold water from his wash basin attempts to clean off the stubborn grime that has gathered on his face while remembering the offer Josephine had given him before leaving.

“You have an innate talent with people Cayden, I can’t help but feel like that you would excel as an ambassador. I would even be willing to take you on as a personal apprentice”

“I appreciate the confidence Lady Montilyet and while I am tempted by your offer, I can’t help but feel that as a Seeker of Truth I hold a responsibility to work out in the field”

“I understand your commitment and find it admirable, but you could be an asset in the talks that the Inquisition plans to mediate between Fereldan and Orlais. You by no means need to make any decisions now, but please consider it.”

Pulling the rag from his face, Cayden finds himself staring into the mirror. Strawberry-blonde hair sticks to his forehead as mahogany eyes stare back at him. He’s done good, he’s saved lives, and while he knows ambassadors do the same everyday… But I am a Seeker, I like being in the field. Taking his coat as he walks out of the small room he claims as his own, Cayden makes his way towards the Lady Ambassador’s office. Seeing the faces of the people I’ve helped, the gratitude and hope in their eyes despite all they have been through. Pushing open the door Cayden sees Lady Josephine look up from her paperwork with a smile that he returns in kind. 

I wouldn’t give it up for anything.