#ellstersmash is The Best

[myreia]

15 Lines of Dialogue Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you’re free to include those as well!

thanks for the tag, @thevikingwoman and @bearlytolerant, ty frens!

tagging: @roguelioness @lilas @galadae @ellstersmash @fourteenthz

@tsunael @birues @ardberts @gatheredfates @anneapocalypse

@impossible-rat-babies @coldshrugs @gefiltefished @consulaaris

sorry if you've been tagged before, I have... lost track of who has done what. 😂 No pressure, ofc! 💖 tags also for anyone else who would like to share their writing! Feel free to tag me even if I didn't tag you or even if we're not mutuals, I'd love to see what you're working on!!

These are from published (and one unpublished) ffxiv fics. Because a lot of my favourite Aureia lines happen within the context of banter, I had a hard time deciding what to cut and where.

— 1: Far From Happenstance [ARR]

“What’s that thing on your arm?” “This? Ah… well… Perhaps this conversation is best saved for later, perhaps in a less conspicuous place?” “Or we could have it now. Your choice.”

— 2: Uncertainty [ARR]

“Tailing unsuspecting women about the city is nothing to be proud of.” “I have done nothing of the sort! Our meetings have been no more than happenstance, a quirk of nature drawing us to the same spot at the same time. I assure you, Aureia, I am not following you—” She stifles a snort, laughter tugging at the corners of her lips. “Oh…” He blows out a breath. “Oh, you’re joking? That was a joke. You have an unfair sense of humour…” “Don’t make yourself such an easy target next time.”

— 3: To Ash and Ember [ARR]

Lahabrea stares at her, startled out of his victory, mouth twisted with contempt. “How—” Aureia raises a hand, palm sheathed in blinding light. “Get the fuck out of him, you bastard.”

— 4: Sand and Stone [ARR]

“This is good for us,” she says quietly. “The Scions, I mean. We’re exposed here. Ascians, Garleans… it’s only a matter of time before they try again. Mor Dhona will afford us some means of protection we’ve lost.”

— 5: Bitter Frost [ARR/HW]

“You press on,” she says after a moment. She cups her palm between them, subconsciously pulling on the aether around her. A faint flame sizzles to life, warming her fingers. “Guilt can only carry you so far before it bleeds you dry. Just know that the next time… the next time will be different. Better.”

— 6: Divergence of the Heart, Chp 5 [HW]

“I don’t care what they say about me. I’m a hero to some, a villain to others. I can live with it.” “You should not have to. If there was a way—” “Please, Aymeric, I’m begging you not to draft a new statute on my behalf. You can’t decree change and expect centuries-old beliefs to shift overnight.”

— 7: Divergence of the Heart, Chp 7 [HW]

“Happiness? What makes you think I’m happy with this? With any of this?” “You’re the Warrior of Light. Defender of Eorzea and a beacon of hope. Blessed by Hydaelyn and beloved by all. What possible reason could you have not to be?”  “Oh, fuck you.”

— 8: Divergence of the Heart, Chp 8 [HW]

She blinks. It shouldn’t be more simple than that. Does he not comprehend why this is so profoundly embarrassing? “And..?” “And how would this fact be of such radical importance that it would be the sole cause of a change in my opinion of you? Do you believe it so crucial to your identity that I should judge you differently for it?” “No, I don’t think that at all. I suppose I feel I’m… a failure, somehow. As a person.”

— 9: For All the Truths Left Unspoken [HW]

“Oh? Because you seem a little haggard, Thancred. Why don’t you look me in the eye and tell me what time you went to bed last night. Or if you went to bed at all, for that matter.” “It is not your concern—” “No, but you could have at least done the decency of admitting what was going on before you started fucking my friend.”

— 10: A Question of Desire [HW]

She cuts him off with a kiss. [Aymeric] groans softly, leaning into it, and she laughs with delight. “Save it for later,” she murmurs against his mouth.

— 11: Bound by Faith, Chp 2 [ShB]

“Under pain of further admonishment, I told her what I could.” “Nothing unfavourable, I trust,” she says drolly. “Who do you take me for, Aur?” “An idiot, if I’m being honest. Next question?” “…stumbled right into that one, didn’t I?” “Yes.” Her eyes sparkle with fondness. “You did.”

— 12: Bound by Faith, Chp 2 [ShB]

“There. That’s it. Aureia was a name I took by chance. Not because I wanted it, but because I needed it. An alias intended for Ul’dah alone, one I intended to relinquish the moment I could escape the city. But then you called me Aur and it… stuck.” She hesitates, her voice breaking. “I don’t know why it felt right, but it did. You gave me a name, Thancred, without even realizing that that was what you were doing.”

— 13: Bound by Faith, Chp 4 [ShB]

“They don’t hurt. At least, not like this. Sometimes, with astral fire…” She closes her eyes and swallows hard. “He did something to me, Thancred. Whether it was his intention or not, he left a mark that is more than skin deep. Like a part of his aether was seared onto mine. It makes me powerful, yes, but… my magic is not always controlled. It’s never been the same since then.”

— 14: Untitled Post-5.3. Fic, Chp 2

She glances at him and finds him glaring at her. It’s not a real glare—behind the dark look and mock exasperation is a knowing smile. “She’s taken full reign of the apartment. Mess everywhere. Looks like a tempest went through the place.” “Far too easy to imagine that.” “I don’t know where she gets it from.” “Oh, I know for certain. That’s the influence of your bad habits, not mine—” “I—listen here, you ass—” “Oh, an ass, am I? Bit early to deteriorate to name calling, no?”

— 15: Untitled Post-5.3. Fic, Chp 4

“Aur… that suite I mentioned earlier… I was quite serious about it.” “The suite or the sex you want to have with me in it?” “The whole matter.” She pauses, holding the soup out to him. “You should finish it,” she says quietly.

[bearlytolerant]

15 Lines of Dialogue Rules: Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

Tagged by @thevikingwoman thank you!

These are from a wip and it’s Gwyn from dragons dogma 2. Putting below the cut for length.

1. “A senseless request when you are all that consumes my thoughts now.”

2. Ah, another pretty boy in distress. Shall I throw you over my shoulder then?”

3. “You can leave, if you wish. Know I would miss you dearly, if you choose that path, but my joy is brightest when you are defying what destiny has ordained for you.” She reaches up to tuck a stray hair behind his ear. “And you shine brightest when your actions are of your own volition.”

4. “Raise your hand against her again and I’ll wear your fingers as charms on a chain around my neck.”

5. “Now if I told you that, it would no longer be a well kept secret now, would it?”

6. “Do you three gossip about me as well while I am away?”

7. “Have you lost your senses?” She reels on him in the dark recesses of the dim lit halls, a draft sending a chill down her spine and raising the hairs on her neck. “Times such as these require playing the part of the feckless dullard. Either play the part with me or wait here.”

8. “No, it does not bother me that he takes Disa to his bed. In another world perhaps—“ She laughs. “I have always enjoyed a bit of sugar with my cream.”

9. “If this is my destiny,” she spits, fists balled in seething anger. “If this is only what I was made for in this world, then perhaps I should unmake this world.”

10. She hovers in the doorway, eyes fixated on the bandit leader. “You can milk him all day but I believe this billy goat is better repurposed for slaughter.”

11. “Fear grips my heart nearly every waking hour, but when we are yoked together, I know only courage.”

12. “Senseless from the moment I met you.” She tsks. “You are a fool to think my heart does not ache for you. Not just your touch but those words whispered and carried off by the winds during our midnight trysts.” She takes another brave step toward him. “I miss you and long for you. I did the night we met and even more so now.”

13. “Have you seen the view from here? How unfortunate to have been made arisen. I should have liked to have been made with wings.”

14. “I hear the brine calling and it sounds like it’s begging for supper,” she says and delivers an arrow to its eye.

15. “His objective is dubious at best but I admire him. Though I believe his thorough research methods could be used for better means, his spirit is unwavering in resolve.” She offers a wry grin. “And I’m not just saying that because he carries the same resolve in the bedroom.”

Tagging @ellstersmash @fangbangerghoul @lisa-and-shadow @myreia @staticpallour @a-cosmic-elf @roguelioness and anyone else who sees this and would like to do this for their oc (and no obligations of course)!

[ladymdc]

hi friend!! just wanted to let you know that I super enjoy seeing you on my dash; you're such a lovely person and I'm glad I follow you! hope you're doing well. 💙 what's something that's been happening in your life lately?

Hi friend!! This was an absolutely lovely surprise ❤️ ❤️

I super enjoy seeing you on my dash too! Great art, great fic (like super great fic, Three... *melts*), great asks, super supportive - wonderful person!

I’ve been doing great considering life has been... well incredibly busy. But it is what it is when you have a full time job & two smol boys (3 & 5) & hubs travels a lot for his job & ACKKKK  xD It’s good though. I can’t really complain. In the end, I know I have a lot to be thankful for. 🙌 

Not much out of the ordinary is happening. Perhaps the ONLY thing I could say is “something new” is I’ve been doing more for me. Which probably doesn’t seem like much, but there for a bit I didn’t splurge on clothes for myself or a quiet lunch out or even tell the boys to play in the other room for a little bit so I could read. Since indulging in more “self care” I feel a lot less tired. It’s done wonders for my mental health. Thanks for asking!!!

I hope you’re doing well, as well!!! ❤️ People like you make this fandom great!

[kittlesandbugs]

top 3 fictional character crushes

OH GOD ONLY THREE??????  i die

Atton Rand (KotOR2), Ovan (.hack//G.U.), Snow Villiers (FFXIII)

[thevikingwoman]

WIP List of Shame

Tagged by @bearlytolerant @roguelioness and @redinkofshame thank you! and thanks for the name Rolo and Redink for titling it that, lmao. I feel this.

Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and I'll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it. And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

I will do my best, though I don’t only have one WIP folder. I also tried to exclude things that are only a few lines. I did include Old Stuff which may never turn into something. All DA save the last one.

Figure Skating - chapter 2

Figure Skating - chapter 1 real

fall pt2

failure

plaster

skyhold the city

pride

peg

knots

ties2

tranquilAU

non canon Trespasser chpt 1

non canon Trespasser chapt2

bdsm au

bdsm 2

bdsm 3

pirates 

pirates 2

pirates 4 5

fairy

infidelity

au

drenched

coffee

photo

bayek

so, I tend to have a lot of ideas, and random notes, and I think these are all more than few sentences, but I can’t guarantee. 

I’m not sure I’m able to tag enough people to follow the rules, but here is some tags

@a-shakespearean-in-paris @galadrieljones @ladylike-foxes @luzial @little-lightning-lavellan​ @beaubashley @buttsonthebeach @noire-pandora @cartadwarfwithaheartofgold @musetta3 @ellstersmash @barbex @fiadhaisteach @pikapeppa @allaganexarch @salexectria anyone else!

[starsandskies]

F*ck off, 2020!

I considered not posting anything this year because, let's be honest, it's been probably one of the worst years of our life. But I'm not going to dwell on all the things that went wrong because we all already know them; I'm just going to send you all that big hug we all would like to give to our loved ones and my sincere best wishes for the new year.

Everything will get better. Step by step. Little by little. But I'm sure everything will get better. We’re stronger than we can even imagine.

I hope that 2021 will be easier for all of us. I wish you love, peace, a well-paid job, human rights, health, a speedy recovery if necessary, calm, HAPPINESS, and above all, I wish that all the things, all the dreams we have to postpone this damn year will finally come true.

Stay safe and strong, happy new year! 

@spicevalleys, @minilev, @refinedstorage, @theknifegame, @outranks, @briarfox13, @sneaky-apostate, @alyssalenko, @slothssassin, @liaorban, @felan-daris, @charlatron, @cartadwarfwithaheartofgold, @ashalle-art, @jeannedarcprice, @jentrevellan, @jessicamariana, @savbakk, @teamhawkeye, @amistrio, @chuckhansen, @noonvvraith, @gugle1980, @elveny, @kunstpause, @barbex, @vorchagirl, @captainsaku, @minhels, @sephiratales, @mapplestrudel, @princess-underthemountain, @thefathersbride, @reyesvidals, @geronimo-11, @decertatio, @fadedjacket, @red-nightskies, @nightingore, @themysteriouslou, @gharashambles, @inkprintedfox, @ma-serannas-vhenan, @coffeebird-eccentric, @tessa1972, @padme4000, @occorner, @illusivesoul, @naromoreau, @natalyelle, @potatowitch, @veinereastath, @noire-pandora, @do-androids-dream-ao3acc, @schoute, @scharoux, @pikapeppa, @lobanhart​, @angrykittybarbarian, @aghostfromtheages, @dravenxivuk, @wholelottatiffy, @mila-belle, @fluttyseed, @shallow-gravy, @chyrstis, @ja-crispea, @stitchzin, @guileandgall, @catherea, @slaytanic​, @scarlettkat86, @obvidalous, @cdrkateshepard, @ainzaphir, @effelants, @agentkatie, @a-shakespearean-in-paris, @ellstersmash, @natsora, @foofyschmoofer, @seigephoenix, @lonyn, @badwolf626, @feylen, @amarmeme, @puppypopcornpizza, @oblivionscribe, @uriellactaea, @elfrooted, @pookydraws, @resjade​, @sayurinitta, @autodiscothings, @cobb-vanthss​, @namesonboats​, @satanxclaus​ and all the people I know I’m missing! 

¡Feliz año nuevo!

[baejax-the-great]

Bad Synopsis Meme

Tagged by @swaps55 to describe my WIPS in the worst way possible. Thank you =)

Tagging @bearlytolerant @ellstersmash @thehawkewithgoldeneyes @hermiowngranger @midnightprelude @juliafied @blarrghe

Overboard: A templar is astoundingly bad at his job, but unfortunately the ship he's on is even worse at its job.

Serenity: Hawke takes a nap or two, and everyone is really upset about it.

Pillow Talk: Insomnia is better with friends.

The Silence of Your Deep: Bioware really didn't explore the 'dragon jizz' phenomenon as carefully as they should have.

Antique Shops: Garrus practices using the best gun in the galaxy.

[redinkofshame]

Fanfic Writers Appreciation Day

Ink’s Fic Recs

I’ve always wanted to be more supportive of the other creators in the fandom but I’m a slow reader and I have a shit memory. I can’t remember who writes what, what OC belongs to who, or if I’ve read something already. I decided to start tracking the works I was reading as a draft, just for my own reference, so I can participate in ask memes and stuff. But apparently it’s Fic Writer’s Appreciation Day, so I thought I’d share it!

This is no where near a complete list of fic I’ve read or enjoyed, just what I’ve read since I started doing this. I will continue to update it as I read. If you’re a mutual and/or someone who reads my fics please reach out and tell me to read your stuff if you’re not on this list!!

Also I just FINALLY got my AO3 subscription emails to work correctly, so hopefully I can actually start keeping up.

The vast majority of these will be Solavellan.

@blarfkey AO3 Solas/Ellana Lavellan  Dear Fen’Harel is the cutest damn thing. It’s supposed to be inspired by Dear Daddy Long Legs? Which I can only assume is cuter than it sounds, based on this fic. It’s not quite done, but getting close. There’s a museum date chapter that’s to die for.

@broomclosetkink AO3 Solas/Ellana Lavellan and Solas/Harea Lavellan I think this was the first Solavellan fic I ever read, and I’ve gone back to it a dozen times. I was frustrated with the relationship in game and had to google where people did fanfiction these days. NSFT, because that’s definitely was I was looking for at the time x.x

@ellstersmash​ AO3 Solas/Athi Lavellan I’ve only read one of fics so far but it was lovely! Some big Solavellan angst simmered down to give you just as much pain in smaller word counts lol. Great characterization of Solas, and Athi is very fierce.

@elveny AO3 Solas/Lyssa Lavellan (born in an alienage) Her Spark of Hope timeline covers Lyssa’s life from early childhood up to and including Trespasser, and honestly of all the fics I’ve read I think this is the most I’ve ever felt connected with the author through the work. What she chooses to touch or focus on reminds me so much of my own experience in the fandom.

@bardinhightown AO3 Solas/Naia Lavellan A very cute Beauty and the Beast AU set in France, called La Belle et La Bête and set in France. Not quite complete, but almost there. I really like the interpretation of the curse. I think the Lavellans count as human in this one? Open to interpretation I suppose.

@keturagh AO3 Solas/Pangara Lavellan Ket (frequently blamed) is working on a big Lore Meta I’m majorly looking forward to. In the mean time, they have many small fics covering the course of Pangara and Solas’ relationship, from domestic to kinky AF, through the Inquisition timeline.

@luzial AO3  Solas/Ellana Lavellan I powered through Luzial’s (and Maerisk’s) Overgrown faster than I’ve read anything in a long time. Ellana is a reporter and Solas is her expert consultant. No where near complete if I had to guess, but you gotta love a fic with both Enemies to Lovers AND Fake Dating.

@roguelioness tumblr AO3 Solas/Samarra Bayart, Solas/Thalia  and Elise/Cullen A Whole New World is a longfic of a modern woman falling into Thedas, with dark!Solas. Very long, and more to come. For Goodness Bakes is absolutely adorable. She’s also got some Cullen/Trevelyan and some Krem/Maryden. 

@thevikingwoman tumblr AO3 Solas/Iwyn Lavellan One of my best friends in the fandom, Viking has dozens of drabbles, perfect bite size pieces of friendship or romance for when you just need a moment to unwind. She’s got a very gentle Solavellan fix it I recommend. Iwyn is a dom can be found in canon, modern AU, or the ice skating AU! 

[errata98]

Fanfiction I Read in 2020 

I didn’t realize how long this post was going to be until I was about halfway through. And it still is not even close to exhaustive. 

Soo, while 2020 has been such a tumultuous year one great thing about this time in my life is that I’ve had more time than ever to read. I am always so blown away by how much talent there is in fanfiction, so big, big thank you to all the writers that share their work and for whisking me away from real life into something far more pleasurable. It definitely makes my whole day when a fic I love has been updated, and I enjoy catching glimpses of rough drafts and the writing process via tumblr (I’m still trying to understand how their galaxy brains even work lolol). 

It’s long, but I am not putting it under a cut! They’re too good!

Long Fics (>= 50k words)

Roses From Where Thorns Grow by @bdafic​ [incomplete]- I started this a while ago, must have lost track of it, and then found it again this summer. Feels weird to type because this is not really me irl lol but accidental pregnancy fics are one of my favorites kinds of fics. Papa Solas is amazing. Somewhere, I once tagged something with ‘solas dad best dad’ and I think that probably sums up my feelings on the matter. The last chapter I read has left me anxious for more, so I’m eagerly awaiting what will likely be the first chapter posted in 2021. 

Ruins by @luzial [incomplete] - A real story of a couple who broke up, fought each other for twenty years, got sent back in time, and are now trying to make things work again ;) Lavellan here is older and wiser in all the ways that matter, and Solas is... well Solas in many ways is everything we wish he would (and could) be now. Had the most wonderful realization that I somehow missed the last chapter that apparently came out on my birthday, so I know what I’ll be doing later.

Fen’Harel’s Teeth by @5lazarus​  [incomplete] - the conversations in this fic are one of my favorite parts. They’re in character, but they’re also just interesting to read. The words just fly across the page -- it’s smooth, seamless, pithy. I love politics and I love a main character who has her wits about her -- both are in this fic. Also features fatherly!Solas, which I just adore.

By the Still Waters by [orphan account]. This is older, but I knew it was popular so I gave it a shot and... yes, I understand now. I loved reading something from Fenris’ perspective. I loved how he’s a foil for Solas. I love seeing Lavellan as this near mythical person because we see everything through Fenris’ eyes. I love Hawke and Fenris together. Merrill also featured more heavily than I anticipated and she had some of the best lines I’ve ever read.

Pressure Point by 17734 [incomplete] - this fic leaves me constantly unsettled (in the best, most addictive, under-your-skin kind of way). I’ve read the first 18 or so chapters twice, and it’s one of those stories that’s slightly different the second time you read it. I really like the author’s take on immortal beings, some of it is very reminiscent of some of the Greek mythology I read in school - characters are at turns both magnificent and terrifying. The language is also very beautiful, and I’m a sucker for anything close to prosaic. 

Out of Time by destinies - so, I don’t know how I found this beyond just “Twitter.” This isn’t Dragon Age related -- it’s from The Greisha Trilogy, which I had never heard of before -- something just told me I would really like this story. Forced/political marriages’, memory loss, enemies to lovers, the dichotomy between light and dark embodied by a single couple... yes, thank you. I had to kind of piece the world together as I read, which was admittedly a lot of fun, and um... wow, I really loved this! Another one of my ‘binged in a single night’ fics.  

Message Sent by @aicosu [incomplete]- this is coincidentally how I got my former partner into Dragon Age lol. I had originally read it the first time as it was coming out. The second time I read it aloud to them over the course of a few days, feeling very much like Cassandra trying to do certain character’s voices. It reminded me of how much I loved it, and so I feel like it deserves a mention here. Definitely an unorthodox but memorable way of cursing someone with being emotionally invested in the Solavellan romance 

Short Fics (< 50k words)

nothing on my tongue by @ellstersmash - the chapters here are short, and I loved seeing the fic updated put of order. This was my first time experiencing that, and I loved guessing where we were in the in-game timeline, and also, as more chapters were posted, which chapter numbers were still missing and therefore what the missing chapters might be about. I associate this fic with feeling kind of melancholy a lot. I think the word constraints really lent itself well to the Solavallen romance -- beautiful and poignant, but always leaving me wanting more.

In and Out of Time Again by @luzial - hoo boy did I have a fun time reading this one. I actually rarely go for AU’s this “AU”, but I trusted this author, and it paid off. In fact, I think I subconsciously had more doubts than I thought because what started a curious perusal ended in one of those “up until 3 am reading” kind of nights. It was such a fast-paced, interesting read, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Ink is one of my favorite Lavellans; she’s just too cool.

The Fourth Day by sass_bot (@knightava) [incomplete] - this was just such a perfect example of how to build tension and dread for the reader, that I still think about it frequently. Also, who wouldn’t love a Skyhold murder mystery?

Beyond the Veil by Pyreite [incomplete] - A 200 years post-Veil fic. Abelas is in it, which is how I knew it was gonna be good hehe. I really like the world-building, and I like explorations of the romance with a more hardened Lavellan. 

I Come to You With Nothing by CommonEvilMasterMind. I’ll preface this by writing that this made me cry with a mixture of sorrow and happiness. The premise is an undercover mission in an alienage which involves Solas and Ellana masquerading as a married couple. It’s beautifully written, and just honestly kind of bittersweet. The writing is itself very touching but I also think it’s almost difficult to read because the Solavellan romance has an arc that looks like it’s just exponentially deviating from anything remotely happy lolol 

That Girl Is Like A Sunburn by @yourstrulycommandershepard - I just discovered this person’s writing this year and I’m kind of obsessed? I went on a whole binge this past summer and *fans self*. I picked this one for my list because I haven’t read that many Solas/Trevelyan fics, and hers are by far some of my favorites. I also love that the titles of some of her fics are Taylor Swift lyrics. I get Solavellan vibes from so many of Taylor’s songs - glad it’s not just me!

Aravel by @playwithdinos - More Papa Solas. I can’t say anything more than it hit me right in the vhenan. 

Wake Up by queenofkadara (@pikapeppa) - One of those fics I thought about for days afterward. The characterization was incredible, and it hurt me to read about Varric brining up Lavellan and seeing Solas’ reaction, and it hurt even more to be left wanting for more, just like Solas. 

[befooled]

ellstersmash replied to your post: 5 thangs

WE LOVE YOU TOO and omg da'len that’s so cute! Pics pls. :D

empresstress13 replied to your post “5 thangs”

💕💕💕 I too wish for pics of da'len!

YOU GOT IT, ima make a separate post for her pics

[beaubartley]

WIP WEDS.

I was tagged by @nug-juggler and I can’t resist the chance to share a bit from a story I’ve got a lot of hope for.

So, here’s an opening scene from a tentatively titled “The Taming of Fen’Harel”, which is more or less the Road Trip AU/DA4 speculative feel good angst of my dreams. Ellana Lavellan/Fen’Harel shenanigans ensue.

Enjoy?????

——————

Cole had betrayed him.

Cole.

Cole, of whom Solas had always thought was incapable of knowingly deceiving anyone, had managed to ensnare him in this scheme of Ellana’s, or at least, he could only assume it was the ex-Inquisitor’s provocation that the present set of events were coming to pass. Here he was, trapped in her dreamscape and everything.

They were in the end game now, there was assuredly some desperation behind Cole’s decision to participate. It was foolish of him to drop his guard as he had, but he was working off faulty information, which must have been the plan all along.

He tugged at the snares. No use. As much control as he had over the fade, this wasn’t his dream and ergo he wasn’t the one that was completely in control. If the dreamer's own will was great enough, then he was rendered helpless to their whims. He could wait this out. He could weather his own foolishness until she awoke.

Bearing this in mind, he settled in.

So, as Solas tried his best to get comfortable with his fluffy ass over kettle and his wrists strapped to his own ankles in the snowy landscape of Lavellan’s subconscious, well really, it was only to be expected that maybe he should have done more to escape and that he should have known better than to underestimate what his heart was capable of.

Solas felt Ellana approach and he bared the teeth along his muzzle with a tenuous growl.

“Now, now. None of that,” she chided, finally coming into view. She waved her hand, lighting an enchantment embedded into his entrapments. He felt a great surge through him before his lupine guise was reversed against his will.

That was disquieting.

Being tangled up like an opulent hog for roasting definitely wasn’t doing much to dissuade the feeling.

“Really? Must you strip me of even the slightest dignity?”

“Says the man with all his clothes still on. Speaking of which, I have something for you.”

——————

Tagging @buttsonthebeach @yourstrulycommandershepard @ellstersmash @bearly-tolerable and @neroli9

[bearlytolerant]

Wip Wednesday

Thank you @toxiclizardwrites for the tag! Tagging @fangbangerghoul @ellstersmash @thatsgoodsquishy0 @spookyspecterino @atonalginger and anyone who sees this and wants to show off what they’re working on ☺️

This is from the next chapter of split skin. Hoping to get this chapter out by this evening.

Wandering back to her bed, he plops down and hits play on the first slate.

“Hey, darlin’ I know I could’ve sent you something on the comms but I just wanted you to have something you could keep. A little reminder if you will. Now, I know you’ll be itching to tell everyone just what a softie I am but this one is for you. Only you. You’re uh.” There’s a pause. “You are the single best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m beyond grateful for what we have. I love you and later, when I see you again, I can’t wait to show you how much.”

The recording ends and Delgado grimaces. How could he compare to that? Sam Coe was a lovesick sap. Why would she want someone like him at all when she had that?

He hits play on the second one. It’s Sam’s voice again.

“There are a million, billion stars out there. To find anything that really matters is kind of a miracle. So to find you, the brightest and most beautiful star of all. Well—shit this sounds sappy as hell.” Sam chuckles. “I don’t know. Sounds real romantic to me.” There’s some shuffling noises. “Well, hell. You weren’t supposed to hear that. Now I gotta rewrite the whole thing!” The sound of Verity’s happy laughter makes Del ache inside. “Good thing I recorded it then!” There’s some static and shuffling. “Give that here!” Sam yells. There’s a clatter and then the recording ends abruptly.

[luzial]

How about one, two and three?

Thanks for asking! 

1: are there any fics that you wanted to leave multiple kudos for, and were disappointed when you could only leave one?

Oh definitely, all the time. Especially with the fics I return to again and again. But to name one specifically, Moored to Distant Shores by flabbadence. After 5+ years in Solavellan hell, this is still “The Fic” for me. It’s PWP and has one of the best characterizations of Solas I’ve ever read. I would leave so many more kudos on this one if I could. 

A more recent fic that I really enjoyed was nothing on my tongue by @ellstersmash . Again, great writing/characterization for Solas, and I loved the idea of the fic - each chapter is inspired by/written to correspond to a particular song. Great writing AND great song recs? Hell yes. Multiple kudos for sure.

2: coffeeshop AU or soulmate AU?

Hmm. Not sure I have a huge preference on this one. I like both. A coffee shop AU I’ve been enjoying recently is For Goodness Bakes by @roguelioness . I love how cozy and fun the story feels, and of course I’m always happy to see Felassan show up in a fic. (I mean technically it’s a bakery not a coffee shop, but I tend to group these tropes together, you know?)

3: slowburn or established relationship?

Again, I like both, but slow burn is probably my preference. I love all that build up and angst. (Probably no surprise to anybody who has read anything of mine, lol.)

[kittlesandbugs]

ANDIII 2, 19, 23, 37

02. What is one of your character’s biggest insecurities? Are they able to hide it easily or can others easily exploit this weakness? Andi is desperately terrified of losing anyone else she cares about in Andromeda.  It’s exploitable, but largely circumstantial when it comes to a head, and when asked about it, she generally tries to brush off concerns about her anxiety as just being stressed out. 

19. Would your character be the kind to get into fights? (physical or verbal) Would they be a good fighter or cave in rather easily? Andi’s not so great at verbal fights, words get really hard when she’s emotionally compromised.  She won’t cave per say, but she won’t be able to continue the discussion until she cools down.  (Or she’ll just go do what she wants, fuck you very much.)  Physical tho, she is a little scrapper yorkie who is convinced she can take on a fucking rottweiler.  She is not afraid to go punch someone, and she will not quit until someone is down.

23. What is your character like when it comes to school? What subjects are they good/bad at? Do they get in trouble a lot or are well behaved? Andi got in far more trouble for being a total space cadet than actually starting things.  She was really good at math and tech.  She was mostly well-behaved, only acting out occasionally when certain people warranted getting knocked down a few pegs.

37. What are some of your character’s pet peeves? What are some things that annoy them or disgust them?Don’t borrow her shit without asking, and if you break it, own up to it.  Do not leave it for her to find later.  Also she thinks talking with food in your mouth is The Worst.

[thevikingwoman]

Year End Writer’s Roundup 2020

Thanks for the tags, @luzial and @noire-pandora !!

Tags for @galadrieljones @a-shakespearean-in-paris @buttsonthebeach @ellstersmash @midnightprelude​ @ashetrashe​ @roguelioness​ @ma-sulevin​ and @idrelle . Sorry if you already been tagged, I’m late!

Word Count for 2020: 29,442 Words

This is published words, not everything I wrote as I don’t have full tracking for those. This was less than previous years (in fact my word count seems to be decreasing), but I think I did ok. I finished Temporal Arrangements, my longest fic to date, I did a bunch of AU stories for a challenge in August, which resulted in an unexpected AU chapter fic that’s really fun. I ended up returning to some DWC drabbles in December, which was nice. This year was hard in many ways (as I’m sure for all of us), and working full time and being school teacher part time didn’t leave me with much energy for writing, so I will take any words as a win. 

Breakdown and previous years below the cut.

New things I tried this year:

Using a daily word tracker, modelled by @ma-sulevin​. I really liked that, it was nice to count the words I write, not just those I published. I did a 100 words/day challenge for Oct, and I started the word tracker after. I didn’t hit my goal of 100 words for Nov and not at all for Dec, but I like the idea, and I think it will help me. I do need to balance time with writing and gaming and house stuff, but I want to continue. October, where I did get my 100 words/day for 29 days was my most productive. 

graphs below the cut. 

Fic I spent the most time on:

Temporal Arrangements. It was really difficult for me to bring it home. I had a hard time figuring out what would make the action/plot part interesting outside of the romance, and how to wrap everything up without it being drawn-out and boring or too fast. 

Fic I Spent the Least Time On:

I’m not sure? I feel like everything is slow, bwaahaha, but I also write a lot of short little glimpses. My shortest fic this was Secret, at just 200 words, so maybe that would be it? 

Favorite Thing I Wrote:

Probably either the Mer-man AU, Waves since it was so fun, or Everything, a Sola drabble where I played a bit with form. I also really enjoyed Orlais, because it was really really hot. IMHO. One of my best pieces was Din’anshiral because I finally allowed Iwyn to have a wider array of emotions, and I realized how much I love her, and how much care put into her. 

Favorite Thing I Read:

Fanfic:

@roguelioness​‘ For Goodness Bakes. It’s just such a warm and lovely Solavellan AU - a bit of drama, a lot of love and longing, a bit of smut. I really like the tiny details of the AU world, and how complete it is, you read it and step right into it, everything feels so lovingly crafted. The story and the characters make me feel warm and happy when I read. 

Other:

@idrelle​ / @idrellegames​ Wayfarer demo - it’s a game, but it’s still reading, right? I love the writing, the characters, the world the choices, the dialogue, the writing. Just in awe and it was SO great to play the demo - it flowed so well and held my interest. And did I mention how much I love the characters we’ve met already? 

Published fiction: 

Alyssa Cols’s Reluctant Royals / Runaway Royals series. Frankly, I saw one of these suggested on Amazon, I thought it sounded a bit out there, but very romance typical. I ended up buying the first one and loving it. The premise is classic AU-fanfic-ish: People who are unaware they are royalty or unwilling, but there they are. The cast is diverse, racially and identity-wise, and the characters are well rounded, the romance is convincing, the writing is pleasant to read, and frankly the stories take place in a world that is a little bit nicer and kinder and sometimes we just need this. All the books and novellas are just delightful.

Writing Goals For Next Year:

My goal next year is to finish Hay, and start on writing my Pirate AU - I have ideas, but I have to work it all out. I hope to complete that before posting, once again dealing with my schedule and feeling people loose interest make me antsy. I also hope to work on an OC who is a friend of Iwyn’s, because I need more than one OC I really know, and I want to write my Professor Lavellan AU as a full story? Or at least start. Frankly I’m toying with the idea of making this a piece of original fiction, because why not? I just want to get back to it mostly, because I love the dynamic I have to play with here. 

Wordcount details:

in 2016 I only wrote one quarter, but I’m pretty happy that my total fanfic wordcount is close to 180k. This means I can toally write a book in 5 years, right? Right. 

On the other hand my average length of a piece/chapter is just under 1000 words!

Word tracker

For Nov

as you can see I started well, but didn’t really continue. I found it hard to balance with AC: Valhalla and with our personal project we started in Thanksgiving break (painting and updating our kitchen). Overall I think it is really nice to keep an eye on how much I write; I find that as soon as I stop it gets harder to start again. 

[baejax-the-great]

I was tagged by @midnightprelude​ =) 

I have I think seven ten WIPs going, but of course this morning I woke up and started a new one, which means 3 of those WIPs are now Bethistair. 

~~

Alistair had not chosen to be born. He had definitely not been chosen to be born a bastard, and furthermore if anyone had asked him, he never would have chosen to be born of royal blood. Likewise, he did not choose to leave Redcliffe and get sent to the monastery for templar training, and most damning, when a king was chosen during the turmoil in Ferelden, it was not Alistair who thrust the crown onto his own head and condemned himself to a lifetime of servitude in a job he was not suited for.

So, five years later, when Eamon “suggested” an arranged marriage to ensure peace and hopefully heirs, Alistair did was Alistair did best. He acquiesced.

Eamon, for his part, did inquire if Alistair had any preferences in the woman that would be procured for him, but Alistair already felt so sorry for her he refused to reply. 

~~

Tagging forth @asaara-writes @hermiowngranger @ellstersmash @wardenari @songofsaraneth