#dragon age rare pairs

[uchidachi]

I wrote FIVE fics for the @black-emporium-exchange this year!

Magelight - Nathaniel Howe/Velanna, M, 2k: Velanna comes to Nathaniel’s room in the keep to agree to start a relationship with him. At three AM.

A Voice on the Line - Fenris/Dorian Pavus, T, 2.6k: The sending crystal that Dorian gave the Inquisitor is stolen by Venatori, and then a deep and mysterious voice comes on the line. Dorian has to keep him talking, or his life may be in danger.

Crowning Glory - Josephine Montilyet/Cassandra Pentaghast, G, 2.5k: Cassandra remembers when she was little, and her mother would brush her hair…

A Good Judge of Character - Gen, G, 1.8k: Davrin and Assan encounter Grey Warden Carver unexpectedly while on a mission in the Emerald Graves.

The Alamarri Falcon - Lucanis Dellamorte/Neve Gallus, T, 2k: Of all the offices in all the cities in all of Thedas, he had to walk into Neve’s

(Also, you should go visit the entire collection, this was such a good year for rare pairs!!)

[lorandesore]

Amatus

[black-emporium-exchange]

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR BLACK EMPORIUM!

Yes sweet nuglets, it’s that time of year again: Time to sign up for Black Emporium!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP!

↳ Helpful Links:

Rules & Assignment Requirements || Participation Walkthrough Guide || FAQ || Requests on Ao3 || Tagset || Nominations Spreadsheet || Request Database || Parent Collection (All Past Years) Signups end: July 13th @ 9 AM US Pacific / 12 PM US Eastern / 4 PM UTC+0 || Countdown

↳ Reminders

RULES & ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS: Please take the time to re-read our Rules and the requirements for assignments before signing up. RATINGS: If you are interested in receiving or creating Mature/Explicit level works (see Ao3 rating(s)), you must "opt in" by checking the "E" box for both offers and requests. Please note you must be 18+ to offer/request/create Mature or Explicit level gifts. For a more detailed explanation, click here. TREATS: If you are open to receiving treats, or a specific type of treat (single-recipient, multi-recipient, fanart, fanfic), you must "opt in" by saying so in the sign up description box. This field does not apply to your offers. For a more detailed explanation, click here.

For a how-to-guide of the whole exchange that includes all of the information in this post, please take a look at our Participation Walkthrough Guide and FAQ.

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO SIGN-UPS BELOW THE CUT:

1. SIGN IN TO AO3

If you don’t have an Ao3 account, contact the mods for help!

2. GO TO THE BLACK EMPORIUM SIGNUP FIELD (LINK)

3. SCROLL TO THE “REQUESTS” FIELD

Once nominations are finished, you'll be able to sign up. In your sign-up, you'll specify the works you'd like to receive and the works you're willing to create. (They do not necessarily have to be the same!)

You must fill out at least three requests and three offers. You may only select each pairing once, but may give multiple ideas per pairing in your prompt.

If you are interested in receiving Mature- or Explicit-rated works, you must be at least 18 years old and opt-in by checking the appropriate box ("E"); this is not a guarantee you will receive a higher level.

You will have to fill out several fields on the sign-up form:

↳ Relationships

Here you can write in the relationships that you wish to request. As long as it is part of the tag set/eligible nominated pairings, it should be able to be selected here.

If your chosen relationship is in the tag-set but isn't auto-completing, this is unfortunately a bug on AO3's end that we cannot fix -- but if you copy and paste your relationship from the tag-set into this field, you should be able to submit. (Please contact moderators via email at blackemporiumexchange@gmail.com if you get an error and let us know what the error was.)

You may list between 1-3 pairings in the same Request field. That does not (necessarily) mean you want all three ships in the same fanwork. We allow multiple pairings in the same Request Field because it allows participants to request up to 30 unique pairings, rather than just 10. Some people group thematically, or by character.

Example of someone requesting three, non-connected pairings. The participant here loosely grouped their "platonic" ships together into one Request Field.

Example of someone requesting a pairing.

↳ Additional Tags

This field is to mark if you're open to receiving fanfiction, fanart, or both (check both boxes), for this request.

Example of someone requesting ONLY fanart for any pairings listed in this Request field.

↳ Ratings (Requests)

If you are open to receiving Mature- or Explicit-rated works, please check the box to indicate your interest. We use the AO3 ratings guide as far as judging what each rating entails.

Any participant under 18 should NOT indicate interest in M or E works, as those are intended for 18+ audiences only.

Please choose your ratings carefully! Indicating interest in receiving higher rating works does not mean you are guaranteed to receive them, just that other people will be allowed to gift them to you in this exchange. If you're not comfortable with that possibility, do not check this box.

This recipient did not check the "Explicit" box; they will not receive any Mature or Explicit level works.

↳ Letter

This is a place to put a link to a letter, if you have one. A letter generally is a completely optional, longer version of the description field, and might include more details you'd like your creator to know, or things like pictures that are hard to paste into the description box.

Letters are commonly hosted on Dreamwidth, Tumblr, Google docs, or other such freely accessible websites.

Please note that the moderators cannot enforce any DNWs you put only in your letter.

Completely optional field. Leave blank if you don't have a letter.

↳ Description

Please feel free to use this field to go into some detail about what you would like; this helps give the creator of your work some different ideas about what they could make for you.

If you are open to treats, please indicate interest. See "Treats" for more.

Examples of prompts or helpful information you could share with your recipient (reminder, your creator is not required to follow your prompts/likes):

General trope likes, e.g., Fluff, First Kiss, Dwarven lore, There Was Only One Bed, Enemies to Lovers, etc.

Stylistic likes, e.g., 2nd person writing, Tarot Card art, chat-fic, etc.

World state options you favor that are relevant to your prompt, e.g., Anora is Queen/Alistair is King, Canon Divergent - Multiple Wardens, Modern AUs, etc.

A sentence or two about why you like the pairing, e.g., "I love Cassandra being flustered around people she likes!"

"What If?" prompts, especially open ended ones, e.g., "What if Blackwall did the Joining ceremony with the Hero of Ferelden in DAO? Or met HoF in the Deep Roads during the Jaws of Hakkon DLC in DAI? Would they have similar perspectives, or different?"

Rating restriction clarifications, e.g., interested in E rated smut, but not E rated violence

Be sure to list your Do Not Wants (DNWs) — if they're not listed in the Description box of your sign up, then the mods cannot enforce your DNWs. If your DNWs are poorly worded or go against exchange rules, they will also be considered unenforceable.

Example Description. This person has NOT opt into treats and cannot receive any. Please see here for more help formulating your DNWs.

4. CONTINUE TO THE “OFFERS” FIELD

The process to Offers is similar to Requests when it comes to pairings and denoting interest in creating fanart and/or fanfic. However, there are a couple differences one should make note of:

↳ Ratings (Offers)

If you are interested in creating Mature- or Explicit-rated works, please check the box to indicate your interest. We use the AO3 ratings guide as far as judging what each rating entails.

Any participant under 18 should NOT indicate in creating M or E works, as those are intended for 18+ audiences only.

Please choose your ratings carefully! You will be matched on this field; if you're not comfortable with receiving prompts that may include NSFW or "E" elements, do not check this box.

↳ "Notes to mods" Field

If you want, you can write notes to the mods, but this isn't required. Some things you might want to include:

If you are under 18 or do not want to receive any "E" requests/prompts from your recipient, please put a simple "No 'E' requests" or in your sign up. This will not disclose your age as we have adult participants who have asked this of mods over the years.

If you're attempting to avoid all spoilers related to Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including any details that may be included in a prompt sign-up, please write a note to alert mods.

The AO3 username of any individual(s) you don't want to be matched with. You don't have to provide a reason as to why you don't want to be matched with someone, but we will rely entirely on the name(s) you enter; if you ask not to be matched with FanficWriter69 but you meant FanficWriter96, we can't guarantee you won't get matched. For the sake of everyone's stress level, triple check any names and make sure you're giving us their AO3 username.

Please do not use this field to ask to be matched with a specific person.

↳ "Any Relationship" Box

If you would like, you can offer to create a work for "Any Relationship."

PLEASE ONLY CHECK THIS BOX IF YOU TRULY MEAN ANY RELATIONSHIP.

The only qualifications you can make are the category of pairings (i.e. F/F, F/M, M/M, Other, Gen, or Multi) or by DA game (i.e. DAO, DA2, DAI). You cannot differentiate by any other qualification or request.

An example of someone offering to draw fanart for any F/F pairing.

An example of someone offering to create fanart and/or fanfiction for the pairing "Fenris & Donnic Hendyr," but requesting not to be matched with a specific user.

5. A NOTE ON MATCHING

After sign-ups are completed, creators and recipients are matched based on their sign-ups. Matches are one-way; that is, while it is possible A may write for B and B may write for A, you are more likely to have A writing for B, and B writing for C, and C writing for A.

You will be assigned to someone who has at least one request that matches at least one of your offers for the below two fields: relationship pairing and type of fanwork.

You will be matched with someone who requested:

at least one of the pairings for which you offered to write or draw ("Relationship" field), and

at least one type of fanwork you offered ("Additional Tags" field aka fanfic, fanart, or both — if both, you can create an assignment in either format; you are not obligated to create two assignments), and

whether or not you've both indicated interest in Mature- or Explicit-rated content ("E" checkbox)

You are guaranteed to have a match by the end of the date listed under "Assignments" in the schedule. If you do not have a match by then, please contact the mods via email at blackemporiumexchange@gmail.com.

[theluckywizard]

WIP Whenever

Here's a little tease from an upcoming chapter of my DA2 Hawke x Trevelyan matchmaking fic Kiss Me Moonstruck, a scene between a certain Lowtown herbalist and Rose Trevelyan.

The herbalist flicks her eyes over Rose’s crimson cheeks and then fishes in her apron for a key to open a trunk behind her. “Got yourself a strapping fellow, then?” she asks casually. Strapping. Slight understatement. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” fibs Rose. “I certainly would,” answers the herbalist, wrapping the five vials in last week’s newsprint, shoving them into a burlap pouch. Shit. What does she know? How could she know? Rose doesn’t like the answer to that question. She continues in a sly hush behind her hand. “Little bit of advice about Hawke. Try licking his ear. He’s mad for it.” Rose is staggered by her presumption, by the implications, by the precision of her assault. She looks the woman over, the discovery rankling inside the deepest recesses of her core until indignance and envy seeps from every pore. Suddenly the herbalist is even more bloody flawless than before, her nose a dignified Alamarrian swoop, her eyes a sultry amber, her skin clearer than Andraste’s backside— “That’ll be seventy five silver,” says the woman, holding the pouch up by its strings. It dangles between them as awkwardly as Garrett does.

Read the fic here!

(Art of these two goobers by me is actually for my DA:I longfic. I think this means it's time to draw some KMM art)

@greypetrel, @crackinglamb, @skinwalkingxana, @exalted-dawn-drabbles, @breninarthur

[liaragaming]

Started thinking what kind of Solas rare-pair fic I might write if inspiration struck me and....

Something is going on with Harding and these new magical powers, presumably from Solas's retitual. So, AU fic where Harding is the one who's able to communicate with Solas, not Rook. Solas walks her through what's happening to her, she learns more about him, they fall in love.

.... yeah, I might end up writing that...

[greenapplespider]

Samson/Bethany from Dragon Age

Interesting rare pair. Rating cute but tragic.

Prompt follows as such: Bethany and Samson start a bit of a romantic fling in act one. Samson catches feeling for Bethany rather hard and the fact that she doesn’t come back from the deeproads hits him like a truck (if they existed in Thades). He spirals hard into depression and his lyrium addiction.

Making the song of red lyrium all the sweeter, by Inquisition, because what else is left for someone as pathetic as him?

[sourfacedlemon]

"sweetened by the thorn" 🔒

Written for MeganMoonlight ( @meganmoonlight ) for the Rare Pair Exchange 2024!

"Mountains. Cold. Let's bring Dorian."

Rating: Explicit

Category: M/M

Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition

Relationship: Blackwall/Dorian Pavus

Additional Tags: Post-Dragon Age: Inquisition Quest - Revelations, Developing Relationship, Complicated Relationships, Sharing a Bed, Huddling For Warmth, Inappropriate Erections, Bickering, Affectionate Insults, First Kiss, First Time, Hand Jobs, is it erectile dysfunction if he's literally just an older dude who's tired?

Words: 2,771

Collections: Rare Pair Exchange 2024

[whereismywarden]

planning my future datv romance knowing full well i'm gonna hyperfixate on an unromanceable character and/or impossible pairing like rook x solas or some shit like that

[blarfkey]

Fandom: Dragon Age

Pairing: Solas/Dorian

Rating: M

Tags: Dear Fen'harel prequel, college/university au, omg they were roommates, darker than Dear Fen'harel (mind the fic tags)

[plisuu]

Just boys being boys

[maharellasa]

um are these two chevaliers fighting or flirting

[uchidachi]

I know i’m fixated on “what are the canon veilguard romances” right now, but i want to assure you all that canonocity and romanceability continue to mean nothing to me, and i will for sure become obsessed with a pairing that is improbable and/or unpopular within the first 3 hours of playtime. That’s just my way.

[chocolatecatcupcakecheese]

I’m nominating bg3 tags on ao3 for a truly narsty fic exchange 🥰 Slipping fried chicken into the tag set the doves are so dead

[black-emporium-exchange]

NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN!

Nominations for the Black Emporium are live until July 3rd! Reach out and tell someone (namely: us) about your favorite rare-pairs (namely: any pairing under 300 complete fics on Ao3). You have twenty nominations to use. Pairings can be twosomes / threesomes / moresomes / etc. We believe in sharing the love.

How do you, in fact, become a true Fereldan buckaroo by nominating a rare pair or 20?

Go to the Dragon Age Rare Pair Tag Set and click Nominate (you have to be signed into Ao3 for the button to appear). For inspiration or to check if someone had the same idea as you, we have a Searchable Nominations Spreadsheet that we manually update.

For more information on this stage of the exchange and how best to format your nominations, please see below the cut:

Full Participation Walkthrough Guide || FAQ

Important things to remember: 

Pairings/groups must be nominated in order to be requested during the next phase of the exchange, Sign-Ups.

Nominations require a set format — keep reading for more details

All nominations should be under Dragon Age - All Media Types.

Pairings/groups cannot have more than 300 completed works on AO3.

We allow original characters in this exchange as well as canon characters. 

Nominating a pairing/group is not “binding”; you do not need to request or offer the pairing later.

Nomination Formatting: 

All nominations should be nominated under the “Dragon Age - All Media Types” fandom. 

Nominations do not need to auto-complete to be accepted; if Ao3 does not complete your ideal nomination, just type it in manually. 

For romantic/sexual relationships, please nominate the characters you wish to nominate with a “/” between each character. For familial, platonic, or otherwise non-sexual requests, please use a “&.” e.g., “Meredith Stannard & Orsino” would not have any sexual or romantic undertones. “Meredith Stannard/Orsino” would be considered sexual and/or romantic, even if the fanwork itself didn’t include any sexual acts.

Nominations should be spelled correctly. e.g., “Merrill”, not “Meril”

Nominations should ideally be in alphabetical order, by last name. If a character does not have a last name, use the first name instead. e.g., “Zevran Arainai/The Iron Bull/Solas”

If a character has multiple names or aliases, go by their “main” name. e.g., “Blackwall”, not “Thomas ‘Thom’ Rainier”

For Dragon Age player-characters (such as the Warden, Hawke, and Inquisitor, etc.), we treat different surnames and gender as different characters. Female Surana will be evaluated differently from Female Brosca, Male Surana, etc.

Nominating Dragon Age “Player Characters”

For the purposes of this challenge, the Dragon Age protagonists will be considered different characters based on their gender and surname. The three genders we utilize for this exchange are: Male, Female, and Nonbinary. 

When nominating characters, please format as such: 

Male [Warden Surname / Hawke / Inquisitor Surname]  (e.g., Male Trevelyan)

Female [Warden Surname / Hawke / Inquisitor Surname]  (e.g., Female Hawke)

Nonbinary [Warden Surname / Hawke / Inquisitor Surname]  (e.g., Nonbinary Brosca)

So, for example: “Male Trevelyan/Male Cousland” will be accepted as a nomination; “Inquisitor/Warden” will not.

You can nominate pairings where one version of the pairing is over the limit as long as the version you nominate qualifies. For example, you can request “Male Lavellan/Solas” or “Nonbinary Lavellan/Solas,” even if “Female Lavellan/Solas” is over the limit. 

Customized or individualized Wardens/Hawkes/Inquisitors are not valid nominations. For example, “Mary Trevelyan/Vivienne” would be ineligible; the requester would need to use “Female Trevelyan/Vivienne,” “Male Trevelyan/Vivienne” or “Nonbinary Trevelyan/Vivienne.”

In your prompts in your sign-up, you can request preferred details (such as specific OCs, a first name, looks, personality traits, class, background, etc.), and creators may choose to incorporate those elements into their gift for you. However, creators are not required to incorporate those preferred details, and works will not be checked for that by moderators.

Nominating "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" Characters

Yes, DATV characters are eligible for nominations!

For nominating "Rook," reports show that Rook's surname will be decided by faction, though the surname options haven't yet been revealed at the time of updating the Walkthrough/FAQ. Therefore, to make it easier for future tag-wrangling, please nominate Rook by gender (Female, Male, Nonbinary) and faction (as we currently know them):

Grey Wardens

Veil Jumpers

Shadow Dragons

Lords of Fortune

Mourn Watch

Antivan Crows

Eligible nominations could include: "Female Shadow Dragon Rook" or "Nonbinary Antivan Crow Rook" or "Male Mourn Watch Rook."

Nominating Characters from Other Canons (i.e. Crossovers)

We allow crossovers from other series so long as they are interacting with at least one canonical character. However, when nominating a character from another specific series, please put the name of the fandom the character is from in parenthesis after the name, for example: “The Iron Bull & James Vega (Mass Effect)”

For crossovers that are from different media within the Dragon Age fandom, no specification is needed, e.g., “Merrill/Solas.” 

Nominating Other Original Characters

Original Characters who are not Wardens/Hawkes/Inquisitors are also allowed to be nominated, provided they follow the following guidelines:

The OC is listed in such a way as to give someone freedom in how to write them. 

OCs should be generalized or archetypal. e.g., “my OC Gerald D’Vivir” is too individualized and customized, but “Male Orlesian Noble” is eligible

A good rule of thumb here is whether the character idea can be summed up in 3 or less words; if you can, it is probably a good option. If you cannot, it probably is too complex for this kind of exchange. e.g., "Tal-Vashoth Mercenary" or "Original Templar Character" is eligible; but "Older Blonde Warrior Dwarven Warden Widower” is not

If the gender of an OC is considered important to your request, please include it. If you are fine with any gender option, gender does not need to be added, and the creator of the work can choose their choice of gender options for the character. e.g., "Orlesian Noble" or "Female Orlesian Noble”

The OC is not listed in such a way that would, essentially, reflect the spirit of a canon character that is otherwise not permitted in a relationship. 

As an example, while it is possible to have an Original Female Elf Inquisitor who is not Lavellan, it is so close to canon based on that description that it would essentially function as the same character.

Lastly...

What are you waiting for? GET YE TO THE NOMINATING!

[theluckywizard]

WIP Wednesday

Thanks for the tag @greypetrel 🥰

OPE today I have some Kiss Me Moonstruck for the first time in ages (for the uninitiated it is a ridiculous romantic comedy set during DA2, Act 2 where Leandra Hawke and Alsatia Trevelyan attempt to fix up their children Garrett and Rose over Satinalia week). I whipped this scene up this morning and I'm still working on it, but godddd it is so fun to write. BELOW THE CUT 👇

The leaden force of Rose’s hangover had done nothing to stop mortification from claiming her at breakfast. Instead she sat unable to stomach more than a few spoonfuls of porridge and suffering an excruciating blush across from the man she vaguely remembers trying to accost with kisses on a few too many occasions. The Nug King. Every bit of enchantment the night before was now twisted by her own doubts. They’d danced for an hour or more, faces plastered with heady grins. And as ill-advised as that first kiss had been, she remembers it being rather delicious. But he’d declined more. He’d been kind about it, she recalls that much, but she’d clearly misinterpreted all his attempts to be a proper host.

And to add to her bewilderment he’d done nothing but pitch her mushy, solicitous looks across the table. He’d discreetly sent his manservant for a tiny corked vial, a cure for what ails her, she correctly assumed, and ferried it across the table toward her behind the teapot. Still, he was mostly tongue tied and chagrined, so when he invited her to take an unchaperoned stroll her surprise was genuine.

But it was not to be.

Instead, Prince Sebastian Vael of Starkhaven himself shows up to call on her. Of all the things! Of all the people! Her mother may never recover from the honor.

And worse yet, his Majesty is outrageously handsome. His dark auburn hair and tanned skin set off his eyes like mystical blue flames. She found herself glancing back and forth to see whose eyes were bluer and wound up blinking away a minor headache.

A tour of Kirkwall’s chantry was proposed and the prince was so brimming with genuine enthusiasm for it that it almost sounded appealing to her. She was mentally on the fence about it until he mentioned the gardens and the archery range, which perked her up better than the mysterious cure-all she’d been given earlier.

On the walk to the Chantry, strolling between slushy puddles, the prince proved to be fearsome in his earnestness. His language was so imbued with Andrastian reverence that Alsatia was reduced to near wordless simpers and nods, but it was not so devoid of charm that Rose was immune. Indeed, the combination of the wry twist of his conversation and piercingly genuine looks felt like some kind of witchcraft. Despite the high polish of his manner, he seemed inexplicably captivated by her. And who was she to dismiss the attentions of a prince?

But it was also clear Garrett Hawke was twitchy about the whole thing.

And she relished that a little bit too.

Inside the splendor of Kirkwall’s crowning architectural achievement, Prince Sebastian slips into a practiced tone as he expounds upon the history behind it, his voice echoing in multitudes. Rose glazes over, too focused on the lilt of his singular accent to bother with actual learning at the moment.

“Kirkwall’s thurible is the largest in Thedas, made to commemorate the end of the fourth blight sometime in the Exalted age,” explains the prince, gesturing at the golden cauldron in the center of the nave that a pair of sisters load with incense before a small crowd of pious Hightown residents. “The daily ritual is a Satinalia tradition.”

Plumes of white smoke pour from the slots in the massive artifact.

“As if the foundries need the competition,” snorts Garrett quietly beside her, as joyfully blasphemous as he’d been the night before. She only rewards him with a raise of her brow.

The mothers gaze upon the ceremony, rapt. The sisters lift it on a pulley system before sending it swinging in an extravagant arc from one end of the chantry to the other, bathing everything in its cloying holy smoke. Rose can't deny its impressive. If she had to guess it had grown to such excess to outshine ceremonies in the Chantries of the surrounding Marcher states. Kirkwall did everything in excess.

As Prince Sebastian stands beneath the smoldering absurdity, expounding upon its top speed, Garrett leans into Rose and speaks again in a low voice. “I’ve always wanted to ride that thing to be honest,” he remarks.

Rose bites down on her smile. “Watch you don’t burn your arse.”

Tagging @nirikeehan, @monocytogenes, @leggywillow, @crackinglamb

@ammoniteflesh and @skyeventide

Let me see your work!

[thejabberwokk]

14 Days of DA Lovers Day

I have not seen anything about a 2024 14 Days of Dragon Age Lovers, but I never finish the full lists so I still have some of the previous two years to do.

14 Days of Dragon Age Lovers

Prompt: Captured

For @14daysdalovers writing prompts :D

Pairing: Cassandra Pentghast (Divine) x Solas

Rating: G

I'm having a blast just writing short scenes and poem-ish things this year

The portrait in the Divine's private chambers wasn’t overly large. The frame was lacking in the anticipated frivolity of the Orlesian styles, but patient hands had shaped its form. The glass was crystalline clear and gifted from Serault, sparkling softly as candle light flickers. The figure contained within the delicately carved frame, when inquired upon, was always explained with a soft, half smile and a slight blush upon the Divine’s cheeks.

Captured by a well intentioned, but still learning hand, the elven man is dozing beneath the canopy of a myrtle. Auburn lashes delicately drawn upon softly flushed cheeks. An attempt at dappled shadows cast him in a delicate light, the slightest of smiles upon his lips. A spall scar mars his brow, but the man upon that canvas seems all the more breathtaking for it.

“He is the Haven I seek when the woes of the people and the clamoring of the Chantry gets to be too much.” She’ll say, eyes gazing upon the picture with tenderness.

“You endeavor to do too much, no mere mortal can shoulder all of their woes.” A husky impression that sets her to fits of giggles, surprising whomever is graced her with normally stoic presence.