#Kiss ��� They have a pretty incredible height difference considering she's standing and he's laying down lol

[bloodsoakeddoodles]

They pair nicely, considering

[janesramblings]

Never Platonic

A drabble(ish) set during the events of 2x11. 

The first time Nancy realizes something is wrong is when Ace snaps at her after she asks about the status of Nick’s phone. Bess goes to sooth him, and Nancy, in between everything else going on, can’t help but wonder what that was about.

The next time is when she’s stepping into the Claw to hear him inform Grant that he’s not food free in response to some offhand comment about the pan in Ace’s hand. She’s about to step over to him, but Bess beats her (again).

The third time is when he slams Florence to a stop at the dig sight. Everyone stumbles out of the car, except for Nancy.

“Nancy, get out,” Ace says, not unkindly.

“No. Not until you tell me what’s wrong with you.” Nancy’s voice is stern, and she knows that Ace knows she won’t budge until she gets answers. 

Ace sighs and turns to look down at her. Keenly aware of their height difference, Nancy sits up as much as she can. She raises an eyebrow, her blue eyes almost green against her scarf. It’s one of those small details Ace wishes he didn’t notice, but he does. He considers staring back at her (he wouldn’t mind the view) until she relents, but that could take hours and it will be a matter of minutes before George comes banging on the car door. She’s impatient like that. 

“Where were you two nights ago?” he finally asks.

A look of understanding crosses her face. It’s brief, and he wouldn’t have seen it if he hadn’t known to look for it. “I went out. It was a weird day and I needed a break.”

Ace nods slowly. “Yeah. I know. Which is why you went to clear the air with Tamura,” he spits out the name like it’s poisonous, “and you came back home right in time to make French toast with Bess and I at eight in the morning. So where were you for twelve hours? You wouldn’t have stayed in the police station all night would you? And there has to be a reason why Amanda was locked out of her brother’s house all night, right?”

Nancy gives him a look he can’t read. “Ace. If you know where I was then why did you ask?”

Ace can see George approaching the car, and he sees Bess pull her back and whisper in her ear. Ace ignores that in favor of looking into Nancy’s eyes. “Nancy. He’s trouble.”

Nancy makes a frustrated motion with her hands. “I’ve heard. A billion times. But why do you keep saying that when you’re dating his twin sister? Is she not trouble? Is she not messing up every dynamic we have in this group? Why is my happiness commented on but not yours? You dated Laura Tandy, Ace. Was she not trouble?”

“She was,” Ace says quietly.

“Then why do you keep saying this to me?”

Ace looks at her hands, twisted around her messenger bag. It would be so easy to take one, to squeeze it in his and hope that gesture conveys his feelings: that he loves her. That maybe he’s loved her for as long as he’s known her. That he finds her fascinating, and beautiful, and broken all at once. Maybe then she’d see that Gil will only hurt her, but at least Ace would try to help her find happiness again. Even if it didn’t include him forever.

“Ace?” she prompts. 

Ace isn’t a man of big gestures. Maybe if he had the courage he’d lean forward and kiss her. But he doesn’t. “I care about you Nancy. I want you to be happy. And he won’t make you happy.” Nancy looks at him in a way that makes his heart flutter. “And I like Amanda. I do. But, some part of me wishes that it was you was dating. And I was going to ask you out. I was. But you didn’t seem to be in a good place and you just needed someone to be your friend and so I respected that but you’re turning to the wrong person. Really, you are.” Ace isn’t sure where these words are coming from, but he knows they’re true. 

Nancy knows he kept talking after admitting his crush on her, but she doesn’t hear the words. “Part of me wishes that it was you” keeps floating around in her head, and for the first time in a while, she’s positive about something: she wishes it was Ace too. She wishes it more than anything else. 

“Ace?”

“Yeah?” 

“I wish it was you too.”

Ace flicks his eyes over her like he always does. Nancy had never considered it to be anything but platonic, but she realizes now that she was wrong. Nothing about Ace is platonic. 

They lean in for a kiss at the same time, and right as their lips touch, George breaks free of Bess and raps on the car door. “Kiss some other time!” she shouts. Nancy sighs and leans her forehead against Ace’s. 

“We’ll continue right after we finish this,” Ace mumbles to her. 

“Agreed.”

The two stand close to each other as they bounce ideas off of each other about the archeologists and the deity they were studying. Ace is leaning over Nancy’s shoulder as she reads the word on the paper. “Grima-”

Nancy wakes to the sound of a scream. She’s in front of a truck. At least she thinks it’s a truck. A boy is laying in front of her. He seems a few years older than her. His hair is long, and when he opens his eyes, she notices that his ocean blue eyes are incredibly pretty.

“Hi,” he says.

“Hi,” Nancy responds. 

“Who was screaming?” a girl with long black hair asks.

“I think that was me,” another girl says. She’s got a British accent. 

How’d she get here? Nancy wonders. Where is here?

The guy next to her stands. He’s cute, and his hair looks soft. She wonders briefly if it is. He catches sight of her looking at him. “Hi. Who are you?”

Nancy tilts her head for a moment. “I have no idea.” She pauses to look the guy over. “Who are you?”

[linorangge]

Monarchy | Prince! Hyunjin AU

Among the kingdom, he’s known for his good looks and you can’t help but think that’s all he has to offer. With an uprising waiting to happen, you may be his last resort. (CONTENT WARNING: angst, fluff, cursing, d3ath, suggestive language.) Part 1 | Part 3 | Word Count: 1600

Your hasty walk to the orchard had you thinking of the possibilities of why he would need to see you. You walked past countless guards and eventually you found the exit out to the garden. The orchard was large, and there were apple trees everywhere.

You looked around, searching for Hyunjin. You walked around the trees, occasionally stopping to admire them.

“Eunjung planted these.” You heard a voice say, causing you to turn.

Hyunjin had his arms crossed, he still had that same bored expression on his face. You curtsied, his eyes watching you intently.

“How long ago?” You asked as you walked to meet him.

“When she was 16, before that all she would plant were flowers. Now she likes trees, vegetables, fruits.” He shrugged, before he linked his arm and put your hand on his forearm.

You nodded, “Not to sound impolite, but why’d you call me here?”

“You seem interesting,”

“Because I called you a dead fish?”

“Precisely,” He looked down at you and smiled softly.

You had never seen him smile, and when he did, you felt your stomach turn.

“I’d like to show you something.” He said as he guided you along a stone path, surrounded by an assortment of flowers.

As you turned the corner of the path, around the greenhouse, you saw Eunjung, passionately kissing the girl you had seen her laughing with earlier.

Your eyes widened, and you turned to Hyunjin who clamped his hand over your mouth before quickly pulling you away.

You ran with him to another greenhouse, further away from the previous one you had been to.

Hyunjin led you inside in silence and when he closed the door behind him he sighed and looked at you with angry eyes.

“You say anything about what you saw, and it’s you and your father’s head.”

You nodded, panicked at the sudden thought.

“Is she…  sweet?” You asked.

“Yes, only the Hwang brothers know. You can’t tell anyone about this. If you say anything to anyone, or word gets out, i’ll have you beheaded before the entire kingdom, understand?”

You nodded.

“Use your words.” He said, fixing his posture as to remind you of your place.

“Yes, my prince.”

“Good, come, I’ll still have more to show you.” He offered you his arm, and you took it reluctantly and walked with him to another section of the garden. There was a large gazebo, with a large viewing of sculpted heads.

He walked with you up the stairs and guided you to the first head on the left.

“It’s the king.” You whispered, staring at the various details of his head.

“It’s of the whole royal family.” He said, as he took your hand and guided you to each head.

You stopped at Minjun’s, “He looks like the queen.”

“We get that a lot.” He replied before tugging on your hand, eager for you to see the sculpture of him.

You looked between him and the sculpture. He stood beside it and lowered himself a little to the height of the head.

“What do you think? Good comparison?” He wiggled his eyebrows at you.

You chuckled before admiring his cheekbones, his slim face and pretty lips. His hair in the sculpture was pulled into half a ponytail, whereas his hair now was slicked back, and a bit longer than the sculpture.

“Very good comparison.” You said as you reached out to touch the sculpture, feeling the smooth surface with your thumb.

“Why feel the sculpture when you have me in front of you?” He said taking your wrist and letting your hand cup his cheek.

Your heart was beating incredibly fast. If anyone else were in your shoes they would’ve been smitten. But not you. Although his appearance and soft approach enticed you, you couldn’t help but remind yourself that he was a man of little personality. He was a himbo, destined for nothing but a life of looking pretty and wasting away in a chair and crown.

You pulled your hand away hesitantly and turned your back to him. You walked to the end of the gazebo and down the stairs, pausing, feeling anxious at your sudden boldness.

“Do you not enjoy my company?”  He said as he climbed down the stairs and stopped once he was standing next to you.

You stayed quiet.

“What’s so repulsive about me? You’re the only girl I’ve ever met that hasn’t been charmed by me.”

“You’re only good for one thing.” You said softly, not meeting eyes with him.

“And what is that?”

“Looking pretty for the people.” You spoke.

He scoffed, “Please, if only you knew the half of what I’ve done in so little time.”

“Like what?” You said, finally turning to him.

“I have a bachelor's degree in Chemistry.” He said proudly.  

You rolled your eyes, “Please, at 20?”

“When you’re the king’s son, anything is possible dear.” He said smugly.  

“What else?” You said, crossing your arms.

“I’ve been dancing since I was 8, and I started playing the cello when I was 5.”

“So? I can play the cello too.”

“Is that a challenge?” He raised his eyebrows at you.

“I guess it is.”

He chuckled, “You’re bold Y/n.” He took your hand, this time intertwining your fingers with his and leading you away from the gazebo and down to the same stone path.

Hyunjin swung your hands as you walked. Still, although you denied both to Hyunjin and to yourself, you enjoyed being in his company. You liked that out of everyone at the ball, you were the one who asked for. To show you his sister’s trees, his family sculptures, his sister’s secrets and her garden. And now, to compare cello skills.

The walk back to the palace wasn’t very eventful but once you got inside, Hyunjin led you upstairs and to a large room. The room had marble floors, covered in expensive woven carpets.

He crossed the room and leaned against a grand piano as you surveyed the room.  

The room had an assortment of instruments, violin, piano, a harp, a flute and of course a cello.

“Now, I only have one, but I can ask a butler to bring another from Eunjung’s study.”

You shook your head, “It’s fine, I can just listen to you play.”

“What, are you too scared now?” He smirked.  

You rolled your eyes, “Please, I’m not afraid of you.”

He leaned away from the piano, “Don’t be so casual,” He reminded you as he pushed past you and stuck his head into the hall.

“Mr Lee!” He called, the hallway echoing with his voice.

“Yes my prince?”

“Bring the cello from Eunjung’s study please.” He said before closing the door behind him.

You sat on a velvet couch that was across from a large window. The window had beautiful curtains that touched the ceiling nearly to the floor. You admired every inch of the room. Sure, you had nice things, but palace decor was so much different considering the history and the generations that have seen it in all of its beauty.

“Pretty hm?” Hyunjin said as he sat next to you on the couch.

“Very.” You said, tracing your fingers along the patterns of the couch.

You felt pressure on your thighs and you looked away from the decor to see Hyunjin, gently laying his head atop your legs.

He took your hand and rested it on his head, “Play with my hair.” He said softly.

You were taken aback, the night had been so incredibly overwhelming yet magical for you. You ran your fingers gently through the strands of his hair. You began to make small french braids in his hair, occasionally undoing them to make more.

He sighed, “In all honesty I expected you to hate me way more. I thought you’d be disgusted by me.”

“I was.” You said, still making the small braids.

“Was?” He looked up at you through his hair.

You pulled some loose strands away from his forehead, “Yeah… maybe you’re not as bad as I thought.”

He smiled softly to himself, and you felt your stomach turn again. He made you feel special.

You heard a soft knock and you tensed up. Hyunjin must have felt you because he said, “It’s just Mr Lee.”

“Come in!” He said loudly, still keeping his head in your lap.

A middle aged man walked in with a large case and set it next to the piano.

“Thank you, please come collect it at the end of the ball.” Hyunjin said.

“But my prince, the ball has already ended.” Hyunjin sat up.

“What time is it?”

“12:53 my prince.” Mr Lee said as he checked his pocket watch.

“Oh goodness.” You said, panicking internally.

“Y/n it’s far too late for you to go home. Mr Lee, let the head general know we’ll be keeping his daughter at the palace.”

Mr Lee bowed, “Yes my prince.” The butler hastily left and as soon as the door closed, you sighed and held your head in your hands.

“My dad’s gonna kill me.” Your words were muffled by your hands.

“Y/n you’re with me and thousands of guards, you’ll be fine. I’m sure he won’t worry too much.” Hyunjin waved the issue off.

You said nothing as you raised your head from your hands and set your chin in your hand.

“Do you still want to see who the best cello player is?” Hyunjin whispered.

You chuckled, “Sure.” You both stood and you took his cello, while he took Eunjung’s out of its case.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #412

“there’s nothing i could ever write to help you understand this life  /  there’s so much beauty when your eyes lay lost in all the city lights”

Did you make any money today? Nope. What was the highest place you've ever jumped from? Idk. Have you ever gone swimming in a river? Yes, but it wasn't in a fast-flowing area of it. Is there something you really want to buy at the moment? I mention Venus' terrarium enough, so besides that, I'd really like to buy a plane ticket to see Sara, as well as new glasses. Would you ever consider culinary school? No. What was the last souvenir someone got you? uhhhhhhhh Do you have a favorite remix of a song? BOI I couldn't begin. Has the power gone out recently? No. Do you like driving at night? NOOOOOOO. What do you think is the most saddest sounding instrument? Either a violin or piano. Do you really pay attention to the ratings on movies? Nope. Have you ever snuck in to a theater/dance/bar etc? No. If given the chance, would you go to Ireland? Yeah! I'd love to go on a photography journey there. Are you afraid of standing on the edge of hills/skyscrapers/cliffs etc? Yeah, heights scare me and I have a serious case of "what if I jumped off?". I'm not suicidal or anything, but there's an actual term for that urge that is somewhat normal. I just can't remember what it is. Do you have a favorite species of wild cat (tiger/lion/cougar etc)? Probably the clouded leopard. But I LOVE wild cats. I think lions are the most interesting. Do you have an absolute favorite name (boy or girl)? Alessandra, 120%. It is so beautiful-sounding, plus I love that you can use "Alessa" as a nickname. My Silent Hill obsession is quite thrilled by that, ha ha. Are you good at pronouncing foreign words? I'm decent with German. When listening to music, do you usually tap your foot etc to the beat? It's weird, I actually have a habit of swaying my leg back and forth. Not even to the beat, I just do it. Have you ever literally cried on a friend's shoulder? Yes. Would you ever consider being a DJ at a party if you were paid? No. Do strapless bras work for you? Look man my boobs are too big for those lmao. Has anyone told you that they wanted to marry you/were planning on it/etc? Many times. Guess who's not around anymore. Do you feel comfortable enough to wear short shorts? HELL no. Have a favorite actor/actress from Old Hollywood? (Marilyn Munroe, etc) Not really. What's your opinion on people who stretch their ears? You do you, boo. Do you think tattoos are expressive art or unattractive? A R T ! ! ! What is your school mascot? I'm not in school. Have you ever seen a bear in the wild? No. What's the book you're currently reading? Wings of Fire: Moon Rising. Can you recall the most disturbing movie you've ever seen? Paranormal Entity. Has anyone you know gotten mono? My older sister did when she was I think in high school. Have you ever picked an apple off the tree and eaten it? Yes, actually! It was one of the best apples I'd ever tasted. Can you say yes/no in different languages? In German, ja. (See what I did there lololol I'm clever.) Out of the traditional superheroes, which one is your favorite? Spider-Man. Ever peed in your pants after the age of 10? Maybe TMI, but a few years ago, I had a very strange episode of premature incontinence. It stopped, but it was very weird and embarrassing. Had any surgeries? What kind? I had tubes put in my ears as a two-year-old, and I wanna say at the end of 2016 is when I had my cyst removal surgery. Ever told your parents you hated them? My dad, yes. Very vehemently. I will always regret the letter I sent him. Do you let your pets on your furniture? Of course. This is their house, too. How do you feel about kettle cooked chips? Ew. How strong do you like your coffee? I don't like coffee, period. Would you rather see someone of the opposite sex naked or nicely dressed? Uhhhh I dunno. I guess it depends on the mood. Would you ever consider visiting Texas? I have friends there I'd love to meet, but I don't think so. Too hot. If you could make a movie, what would it be about? Some of the less-upsetting/disturbing RP stories I've taken part in writing. If you were kicked out of your current residence whom would you call? My dad. Do you want a boyfriend or girlfriend? I mean I do, but I don't think now is the time. I need to set shit straight about myself first. Do you prefer broccoli or asparagus? Broccoli. Asparagus is repulsive. Was the last person you kissed attractive? She's gorgeous. Are you racist at all? Not at all. Do you read creepypasta? If not, you should. Nah. Have you ever vandalized? Nope. Would you ever scuba dive in shark-infested waters if you had the chance? Most likely not. And by the way, they do not "infest" waters. That's their home. I hate that phrase so much. Have you ever been drunk at work? No. Have you ever hit a parked car with your car? No. Have you ever slept on the floor with someone you like? Yes. I remember Jason and I made a palette on the living room floor at least one night. It was SO uncomfortable. I don't even remember why we did it. Which do you prefer: french toast, bagels, or cereal? French toast. *_* Do you prefer light or dark haired? I prefer colorful hair. Have you ever read any of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books? No. I remember we had at least one, though. Would you be prepared to do a job that you didn’t like, if it paid well? No. That would affect my depression so badly. Do you think age is needed for maturity? Absolutely not. Do you believe the future is predetermined? No. What the hell would even be the point if it was? Like you'd have no free will; you'd just be a character in a story a higher power wrote. What words are most comforting to you? "I love you," "I'm here for you," "you're strong enough to get through this," stuff like that. How important is money to you? I have a stressful relationship with money. I've never in my life had a stable income because the three jobs I've had were so incredibly short-lived, so the money I DO get, I cherish the shit outta it.. I make sure I REALLY want something, and I mean it modestly, but I'm also honestly pretty selfless with money, too. I'm very willing to leave considerable tips, I don't mind buying pricey gifts for people if I think they would really, really like it, stuff like that. Going my whole life being poor, I just understand the situation so well and want to help people where I can. Is there anything you want to last forever? Love. By that I mean I hope even beyond death, the relationships we built in life stretch into what afterlife there may be. List three of your passions: Animals and their conservation, LGBTQ+ rights, and the pro-choice movement. How old do you want to live to? As old as I can before the point of being totally dependent on others to do things like clean me and stuff. I do NOT want to be get to the point of essentially being a rotting corpse. What kind of love do you value the most? Romantic, honestly. There's just something so special about it. If you could control one element, what would it be? Water I suppose, because it would be the most helpful. Do you prefer foxes or wolves? Man, that's hard, but I guess foxes. Could you ever deliver a baby? I don't think I could. I handle stomach pain VERY poorly, and I know I would screech loud enough to crack the damn sky before it would be time to perform the epidural. Do you think suits are sexy? Yeah. Ever been called babe? Yeah. How old is your youngest sibling? She's 23. Who in your phone has a heart after their name? Sara. Favorite boy’s name? Probably Severin. Are your parents together, separated, divorced, never married, what? Divorced. Do you go online every day? Yep. What is the best quality in the last guy you kissed? The last guy I kissed, maybe his loyalty. He has ALWAYS been there for me. He's also funny as hell. What do you usually do during a kiss? Depends on how passionate it is? Do you have an older brother? I do. You’re offered free tickets to a Justin Bieber concert. What do you do? Sell those bad boys. What’s the genre of the current song you’re listening to? Pop. Can you believe it?? Would you ever keep your favorite animal as a pet? ABSOLUTELY not. I could write an actual essay on why meerkats should NOT be kept as pets. Would you ever sell your soul? Noooo thanks.

[somevirtualnolife]

If You’ll Have Me

2690 Rating: M Pairing: Hawke x Cullen Rutherford Summary: Aerianne and Cullen finally make their feelings known. Previous Chapter: Truth And Denial Author’s Notes: Well, a slowburn gotta heat up at one point. *Sweating* So here's... a smut... with feeeeeeelingssssss. I've mentioned many a time before that Cullen can be fun, but difficult to write sometimes. That has never been truer than while I was writing this scene. Shout out to all you smutty Cullen fic writers who manage to keep him incredibly consistent in personality. Y'alls the real MVPs. I am not sure how in character or consistent he is in this chapter, so apologies in advance.But ultimately, I happy reading! (More Notes After) 

Aerianne listened to Cullen carefully as he spoke. He took his time with his words, being mindful of what and how he was saying them. It was clear that it had weighed on his mind for some time. It was a relief, in a way, but also made things more difficult. She had told herself, if he didn’t feel the same way, she could get over it, move on. But here he was, laying his heart out for her. It made her heart swell, but she also didn’t understand he could feel this way for her.

“I’m difficult,” she couldn’t help but say, an apologetic smile on her face. “I’m headstrong. I might disappear. I’ll probably cause you so many headaches. More than what I do now,”

“You’re also kind and passionate. You fight for what’s right,” he responded. “As for headaches, I assure you that I’ve dealt with much worse,”

She was at a crossroads. She wanted to jump into his arms and tell her that she was never happier to hear his words. That she was willing to put her feelings on the line for him if he truly felt this way. After all, they’d come this far.

But she couldn’t. Not just yet. Because Aerianne, as selfish as she could be, as she wanted to be, still put someone before her at all times. And because of that, one of the first sentences that she ever heard Cullen say, would ring through her ears.

Mages are weapons.

“My father was a mage. My sister is a mage,” she said, feeling her chest tighten. “And I love her so much, Cullen. Her and Merrill, and even Anders,” she could feel tears forming in her eyes as she quickly fumbled for the door handle behind her.

It hurt. Oh Maker, how it hurt. She wanted this so badly, to push aside all her doubts and just go for it. But no matter how much she cared about him, she couldn’t put herself through that again. She just needed to know that she wouldn’t have to go through that. That she wouldn’t have to choose. Because when it came down it, it would always be Bethany. She would always try to protect her little sister. How could she not after everything that has happened?

Cullen cupped her cheeks into his hands, tilting her head slightly upwards. His thumbs wiped away the tears that fell. His expression was soft and calming as she stared into his brown eyes. This wasn’t the first time she’d been this close him, but it was now that she had noticed things that she’d never really considered before; his height, the flecks of gold in his eyes, his features that had sharpened since Kirkwall. He was always handsome, she could never deny this, but this was the first time that she ever really let herself be taken in by him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, continuing to caress her cheeks. “For… so much. I know I did and said a lot of things back then. I’m not proud of who I was back then. I’ll keep trying to do better because of that,”

Her grip on the handle weakened at his words. An apology. A desire for change. It only made her want to cry more, but not for the same reasons. Maybe this time, things could be different. She choked out a laugh.

“Commander Cullen Rutherford,” she began. “I never thought I’d see the day that you would have a reply for everything I’ve thrown at you,”

“I have my moments, Aerianne Hawke,” the commander replied, a small smile forming on his lips. He then leaned in closer to her, closing the gap between them. “And… if you’ll have me…”  

He was hesitant at first, if not a little nervous. But once his lips locked with hers, any doubts they had seemed to leave them. Cullen’s lips were strong, warm, wanting. She’d forgotten the feeling. A dizzying, melting sensation, that also made her heart swell and her knees buckle. Her hands crept up and gripped at the furs around his armour as she returned the kiss. She then felt his hands leave her face and instead, wrap around her body in an embrace. This was what she wanted.

And then there was a knock on the door.  

“Commander? Is everything alright?” a voice asked from the other side; One of guards on night duty.

“Everything is quite… fine,” Cullen broke the kiss and coughed, trying to hide his annoyance.

“I thought I heard a noise,”

“A book fell,” he continued. “Is there anything you need?”

“Well, actually commander. If you’re not busy, I have a few questions about…”

Aerianne covered her mouth, trying to muffle her laughter as Cullen’s expression quickly become a mix of irritation and worry. He then tilted his head and motioned for her to climb the ladder. Aerianne gave him a bit of a confused look, but then let go of him and made her way up.

To her surprise, the room was not filled with the books and reports. Not a storage room, but a bedroom.

“Of course, he sleeps in his office,” she shook her head, chuckling quietly to herself.

Well, at least he had a bed. She wouldn’t have put it past him to sleep at his desk. She looked at the hole below one more time as she heard Cullen open the door and talk with the recruit. The man really was on a twenty-four-hour shift. Slowly, she made her way towards his bed. Neatly made, as expected. Once she sat on it, she looked up at the ceiling, it was then that she noticed it; a hole in his roof. A little concerning, but at the same time, the way that the stars sparkled in the night sky and the moonlight crept through was rather beautiful. This night was turning out far different than she expected. Her fingertips brushed her lips and smiled to herself.

Different, but it felt right, for the first time in a long time.

She then heard the creaking of the ladder as Cullen made his way up as well. He looked embarrassed and annoyed.

“My apologies,” he said, shaking his head.

“Ever the hard worker,” she rested her hand on the palm of her hand. “Such is the life of a commander,”

“Indeed,” he raked his fingers through his hair, looking discouraged. “Andraste preserve me, of all the times…”

“Cullen, it’s fine,”

“I really wanted this to go right and…”

“Cullen,”

“I should’ve just ignored it, though I suppose he probably would’ve come in and-”

“Cullen Stanton Rutherford,”

It was then that started to undo the buckles of her leather armour and kicking off her boots. “Are you coming to bed, or will I have to go back to my room for the night?”

The commander stared at the rogue, who leaned back, a smirk appearing on her face. He then snapped out of any thought he had before he quickly stripped off his own chest plate and armour as quickly as he could before he joined her.

Their lips locked once more as Aerianne felt one of his hands fumble and slide up underneath her cotton shirt. She let out a small gasp as she felt him cup one of her breasts. His lips trailed down from lips to her jawline hungrily, until he reached the crease in her neck and lightly nipped at the skin. She gripped at his shoulders, arching her back. She buried her face into his hair, breathing in deeply.

Aerianne could then feel Cullen’s other hand tug at her breeches, pulling them down and then sliding in between her legs, exploring her folds, until he slipped inside. Her moans becoming louder as his pace quickened and his thumb rubbed against her nub.

“W-wait…” she said, her hands fumbling to grab at his arm. He obliged and removed his fingers.

“Sorry,” she said, her cheeks flushed, trying to catch her breath as she sat up. “I just, um. Sorry, it’s been awhile. And this is a little… different,” She was well aware of the stories of templars who made regular visits at the Blooming Rose. Not all were quite so considerate of their partner’s wants and needs. Then there was always the image she had of Cullen. She always pictured him to be shy and reserved, considering that he could hardly string to words with a pretty girl. She was just a little caught off guard, and wanted to savor the moment.  

“You’re more giving than I thought you’d be,”

Cullen gave the woman a bit of a confused look, clearly trying to process her comment. “Is that bad or…?”

“It’s good,” she said, patting him on the shoulder reassuringly. “Trust me that is excellent. But, give me a chance to have my fun with you too,” the commander couldn’t help but laugh slightly, but nodded.

After kicking off her breeches entirely, Aerianne then grabbed at his shirt and fumbled slightly as she pulled it off, exposing a view that she always suspected, but was now completely confirmed.

“Well,” she couldn’t help but say, her eyes not shying away from looking at his toned muscles. “You’re… very fit,”

“I believe the last time you told me that, I was carrying you back to your estate after one of your evenings at the Hanged Man,” he laughed and then helped her out of her own top. His own eyes then rested upon her, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he swallowed again. It was different, having him watch her with such desire. Not that she was complaining. He was probably thinking the same thing about her. Still, it was flattering.

“Well, apparently, my comment still stands,” she responded with a grin, placing her hands on him and slowly, pushing him to lie down on his back as she sat beside him. Upon closer examination, she noticed a few scars upon his chest and abdomen. Her fingers lightly traced them.  

“Stories for another time,” he said quietly. She looked back up at him and nodded before softly pressing her lips against his again. Right, she wasn’t the only one who had scars.

Her kisses made their way down his chest, as her hands then slid down past his abdomen and releasing his cock from his trousers. He let out a slight grunt at her airy touch. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked the length of his shaft until it was completely erect. She could feel him trying to stop himself from bucking his hips. Aerianne couldn’t help but smile as she looked back up at his face. She felt his hand creep of her side and pull her over above him. His eyes fluttered as he continued to look at her up and down, taking in her curves, her expression, the moment.

“I’m just… realizing that you’re here. Really here,”

“Are you saying you’ve had this fantasy before?” she couldn’t help but chastise as she caressed his cheek.

“There may have been a moment or two in Kirkwall that my mind may have wandered,” he said, turning his head and kissing her hand.

Cullen held her at her waist, as she lowered herself onto him carefully. She winced slightly, now fully realizing that it been quite some time since she had done this with anyone.  

“You’re alright?” Cullen asked, sliding one his hands up to brush her hair away from her face.

“Mm,” she responded. “Just… slowly at first,”

He nodded, resting his hands on the side of her thighs as she started to move her hips up and down. She bit down on her lower lip, as she felt him hit her core. Aerianne couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious. As much as she wanted this, he was still new to her. There was so much she already hadn’t expected from him, she couldn’t help but wonder if he thought the same. If he expected her to be more forceful and bold, or perhaps even more docile. Come on Aerianne Hawke, where was your confidence?

Perhaps he sensed her hesitation, for she felt him lightly squeeze her thighs.

“Don’t worry,” he said, reassuringly.

“I’m supposed to be the witty experienced one, yet here I am fumbling,” she couldn’t help much let out another short laugh. She wasn’t used to it.

“Well, that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?”  

“You really are a different man out of your armour, aren’t you?” but he wasn’t wrong. She needed to get out of her own head. She took deep breath and smiled, pulling one of his hands up to her cheek.

Once the rhythm of her hips started to speed up, Aerianne could feel Cullen’s hands start to explore her body again, pulling her in close to bury his face into her breasts, lighting nipping at her skin.

“Maker, you’re beautiful,” he breathed. His voice was rough whisper, almost a growl. His words dizzied her head almost as much as his touches. She wanted more.

Her anxieties started to leave her, the faster they moved, and the more he reacted with his facial expressions and groans. She felt herself starting to lose herself again as he felt his hips start to thrust upwards to match her rhythm.  

“Cullen…I’m…!” she cried as she felt a surge of pleasure rush from her core to the rest of her body.

He pulled her in close one more time, crashing his lips against hers, swallowing her gasps and moans. It was then that she also felt him throb and release as well. Eventually, his thrusting slowed down to a stop. Aerianne collapsed onto his chest, breathing heavily, hair sticking to her face and forehead from the sweat. Eventually, Cullen slowly removed himself from inside her and gently rolled her beside him and sliding them both under the covers.

For awhile, they did not speak, but they kept each other close, their fingers interlocked as she rested her head upon his shoulder.  

“That was… nice,”

“Nice?” Aerianne’s turned her head up to look at him. She saw him wince and rub his temple, clearly regretting his choice of words. There was the man she knew

“More than nice,” he corrected but he realized that sounded just as terrible.  

“Well, I think that you’re more than nice too,” she joked before kissing him lightly on the cheek. He was right though. It was nice. She’d forgotten how it felt, to be in someone’s arms, to be cared for like this. To have someone enamoured with you. She missed the feeling. Though little did she suspect to find it again with the commander after all this time, a former templar.

“I’ll admit, I didn’t expect tonight to go like this,” he continued.

“How did you expect it to go?”

“At best, we’d share a kiss. At worst, you would laugh in my face, maybe slap me across the face. The middle ground was that you’d let me down easy,”

“Have you ever seen me slap anyone across the face?”  

“Lord Hayes at the Viscount’s birthday soirees,” he said without skipping a beat. “You could hear it echo in the halls,”

“Ah, right,” there was that one time. But that was an exception rather than the rule. Lord Hayes had a very slappable face.

“Well, we’re here now,” she continued. “And where do we go from here?”

“Where would you like for it to go?” he asked her, squeezing her tightly.

Now that was a question that she wished she could answer. They both knew that no matter how they felt about each other, there was still a lot to overcome. There was no guarantee that she would stay at Skyhold after this mission. And there was no way he could leave his position. And while she was okay emotionally at this moment, there was no certainty that she would always be like this. That the doubts wouldn’t seep back in again.

Aerianne’s eyes started to grow heavy. She knew there was much to discuss, but for now…

“Hopefully somewhere nice,”

This was all she wanted.

Soooo, it's been a personal goal of mine to be okay with writing more 'intimate' scenes. I don't necessarily think that romance needs to have sex scenes to make it work, but I still think that they can add another interesting aspect. Also I just wanted to see if I could get over my own weird embarrassment. The result? Sort of.

Is there more planned for the future? We'll see. As embarrassed as I was, it was also fun. Thanks you all again for reading this far.

[shortcakejpg]

3

121 questions

Where is the person you gave your heart to for the first time? At his house. Most likely playing video games.

What were you doing at ten last night? Playing League of Legends

Did you have a dream last night? Not that I remember.

Want someone back in your life? Kind of. I think it’d be nice, but at the same time maybe it’s for the best..

Are you good at giving directions? I’m terrible at it.

Do you prefer hot or cold weather? Hot weather is my jam.

Could you go out in public looking like you do now? Uhh.. Probably. I’d feel pretty ew though.

If you could go back in time, how far back would you go? I think it’d be cool to go to the 70′s or 80′s.

How do you feel when someone kisses you on the forehead? I feel safe and loved.

Are you dating the last person you kissed on the lips? I am. <3

Has anyone ever told you they wanted to spend the rest of their life with you? Nope.

When was the last time you saw your grandpa? A few weeks ago. I need to call him soon and go for lunch since it’s been a while :c

Are you close with your mum? In some ways, I suppose. For the most part, not really.

How many pillows do you sleep with? One

Does it matter to you if your boyfriend/girlfriend smokes cigarettes? Not at all. I’m used to being around it so it’s not a big deal to me.

Are you good at hiding your feelings? NO. God no. They leak out in horrible ways until I break down.

Do you think your ex still likes you? I don’t have an ex.

Have you ever driven without license? I have.

Ever kissed a brown-haired, dark-eyed person? Nope

Ever kissed a blonde-haired, blue-eyed person? Nope

Are you afraid of roller coasters? Yes oml

Is this year the best year of your life? In some ways.

Are you shy? Incredibly

How many people do you truly trust (not family)? Not a single person.

When was the last time you were told you were beautiful? A few days ago? I thiiink..

How’s your day going so far? It’s been up and down. It was horrible earlier today, but I went on a date tonight and I’m pretty happy now <3

Do you find it in your heart to forgive? Unfortunately.

When did you last talk to your brother or sister? I talked to my sister about an hour ago.

Have you ever punched a guy? Nope.

Do you think you will be in a relationship three months from now? Yes.

Do you need to say anything to someone? I think. I always do though, ahaha.

Have you ever broken someone’s heart? Maybe.

Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos? Yes. Ohmygod.

Do you have trust issues? Yeah. Slowly getting better about it though.

Are you open with your feelings to people? I try to be. It’s really hard sometimes though.

What are you listening to right now? Nothing.

Do you care what people think about you? Yes. I like to make good impressions.

Have you ever done something to make trouble? I have, yeah.

Honestly, do you hate the last boy you were talking to in person? God no.

Are you currently frustrated with a boy or girl? Nope

Have you ever had a crush on someone that was in a relationship? Yes

Who are you currently talking to? No one

Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance? Not everyone, no.

Did your ex give you a promise ring? What ex

Do you currently like someone? I do. My boyfriend.

What are your plans for tonight? I’m gonna do some more of these survey things and then try and sleep.

Are you excited for anything? Not currently. 

When was your last kiss? Around 11pm?

Who is the last person you texted? Ahric

Did you spend time with close friends today? I don’t really have any close friends..

What’s your favourite thing to have for breakfast? Bacon, pancakes, and hashbrowns.

What’s the unhealthiest meal you’ve eaten in the past week? McDonald’s that I had for lunch at work a few days ago.

Are you nervous, scared, or worried about anything at the moment? Very much so, yes. I’m getting blood tests tomorrow and I don’t want to :s

Would you be angry if your best friend kissed the person you like? Holy fuck would I ever be.

Do you think you will ever be with the person you like? I’m with him already <3

What type of cake did you eat last? I can’t remember the last time I had cake.

Does the person you like have any nicknames for you? He has a few

How many of your friends are single? No idea

How many of your friends are gay or bisexual? No idea

Does it bother you when other people try to get involved with what happens in your love life? I guess it would depend?? I’m not sure

What’s your favourite sandwich filling? Oh god I dunno. 

Do you prefer ketchup, mayonnaise, or sour cream? Mayonnaise.

How old is the last person who Facebook messaged you? 20

Have you ever borrowed something from someone and not given it back? I have, yeah.

Are any of your friends pregnant? Nah

How many of your friends have tattoos? I’m not totally sure.

What colour is your favourite pair of socks? Black

Do you use conditioner on your hair? Always

Is there anything you would really like to do, but you daren’t? Yeah... Smoke weed I guess lmfao. I think it would help a lot with my anxiety but idk I just... Idk ugh. I’m a wuss

What flavour crisps did you last eat? Sour Cream & Onion

When was the last time someone asked you out? Did you accept or decline? I got asked out by two customers on Valentine’s Day ughh. I declined.

What’s the strangest conversation you’ve had with anyone recently? I had a weird conversation with my Mom today, surprisingly.

When was the last time you used a pair of scissors? Oh god I can’t even remember. 

What’s something you aim to achieve in the near future? I want to get my art portfolio done and have it submitted by April.

Will you be single over summer? I hope not.

Last person you hung out with? Ahric

What did your last text say and who was it from? “Oh yeah rip” from Ahric

Are you comfortable with your height? I’m content with it. 

Is your room ever clean? UHHH.. Not usually. I haven’t cleaned in a while s:

How late did you stay up last night? Why? I went to bed around 5:30am.. Because I was on the phone with Ahric.

Do you think you will be in a relationship three months from now? Yas

What was the last thing you bought? Fooooooooood

Do you think two people can last forever? I think it’s possible.

Do you want your life to stay the way it is right now forever? Not particularly 

Are you cheating on someone right now? No.

Last time you saw fireworks, who were you with and where were you? It was Halloween. I was with Claire and we were standing just outside my house.

How do you feel about teenage pregnancy? It’s unfortunate.

Last movie you saw in theaters and with who? I saw The Lego Batman Movie with Ahric

Tears are falling down your face; what’s the reason? I worked up my anxiety too much over something and I hit my breaking point.

Have you ever told someone to their face that they’re ugly? No never.

Do you think the legal drinking age should be changed? Meh. 19 is okay.

Are you scared of people that don’t have eyelashes? No?

What is the longest you’ve ever talked on the phone for? A few hours at least.

Is there anything on top of your dresser? A whole bunch of stuff lmfao

When was the last time you did the dishes? If loading/unloading the dishwasher counts... A few weeks ago.

Can you go a day without thinking about the person that’s on your mind right now? No

What did you even do today? I had a shower first thing this morning and left to go to a doctors appointment. After, I did some errands with my mom and came home and had a nap for an hour. Ahric picked me up and we went for dinner.. Then we went back to his place for a bit. We cuddled and fell asleep on the couch. Now I’m at home, laying in bed, doing stuff on my laptop.

What ruined your day today? My doctors appointment.

Have you ever liked someone you didn’t expect to? Yeah lol

If you could put last night on repeat, would you? Fuck no

Have you cried this week at all? I sure have

Are you drunk? Nah.

Will you talk to the person you like tonight? Most likely

Have you ever wanted to tell someone something but didn’t? All the time.

When was the last time you consumed alcohol? Beginning of February. Oml I have never been that drunk before lol

You have to be with someone for the rest of your life; who is it? Ma bae. Duh

Do you think the person you like is cute? He’s adorable

If you were kicked out of your home, who would you call? Ahric

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yeaaaahhh.

Has anyone ever told you that you have really pretty eyes? Yup!

Your ex calls wanting to hang out, what do you say? What ex

Do you think there’s a difference between fucking and making love? Uhhhhhh yeah. Yeah I do.

What do you think about sex before marriage? You do you

What would you say if you found out your last ex was in a relationship? ????????

Ever dated a blonde-haired, blue-eyed person? Nope.

How’s your best friend? I’m not sure how she’s doing... Idk If I can consider her a best friend anymore either so idk.

Have you ever been in love? Yeah

How many people have you held hands with in the past week? 1

Have you ever kissed in the rain? Yes.

Do you hate it when you go over to someone’s house and do absolutely nothing? Not usually. Depends on my mood.

Have you ever kissed anyone whose name started with an M, F, D, T, J, E, or S? Nope