#especially considering that he retired from inquisiting with so much bitterness in his heart

[invinciblerodent]

Going through my old Ray tag to remind myself of JUST who he is, is.... honestly an experience.

Man, I used to be so funny. And charming, and creative.

What the FUCK happened.

[trulycertain]

fic writer interview

Tagged by @skogrr Thank you very much! It's a while since I've done one of these, and I've missed them.

Name: Tru/"Oi you" Fandoms (that I write for): Dragon Age, mostly. Still the fandom of my heart. Mass Effect, Deus Ex... uh, accidentally GreedFall? I don't know how or when that happened. Two-shot: Hmm... The actual last two-shot I wrote was Terms & Conditions, a very silly Dorian/Inquisitor modern AU where Gal is the guy Dorian hires to stop his late father's house falling apart. Recently? I suspect that's going to be Driftwood, which can stand on its own as a sort of weird post-canon first-meeting AU, but is trying to tempt me to continue it. (Vasco ends up going looking for Tír Fradí, which has disappeared - and finds it. He also finds De Sardet as a highly avoidant tree god of the island, post-Bad Ending, who transformed against her will. And he ends up falling in love with her anyway.) Weird tree gods! Pining by literal pine! An eventual happy ending! More grumpy commentary by Vasco!

Most popular multi-chapter: Either An Unquenchable Flame or Distraction, probably - both juggernaut pairings, the former close to the game's release and the latter with some fancy forbidden romance, so not so surprising. But surprisingly, Prague, 10:42 PM has done really well, considering it's for a small fandom (Deus Ex) and a rarepair age/rank-difference pairing that I thought would be a one-off experiment? I get it, guys. I like sad repressed stoics too.

Actual worst part of writing: Editing - which can be fun, but that "over and over" stage when you're about to post, especially in a longfic if you fear you've lost the spirit of the thing and the character voices and you can't see the wood for the trees. And when I have to remove a whole scene which Jenga-unbalances the fic, and then I have to redux from the top. Basically, most things to do with pacing. How you choose your titles: I like double-meanings and one word titles. If that fails: quote from a song. If that fails: quote from poetry, but very rarely. Do you outline: Only a little. A bulletpointed list of events or noted-down major lines of dialogue, that's usually it.

Ideas I probably won’t get around to but wouldn’t it be nice: Uh... oh god. I blame so many people for some of these.

Post-Destroy ending where John is attempting to build a shed on Rannoch because that's the kind of thing retired people do, right? and Tali is far better at it than him, and it's just... disgusting fluff.

Actually, just reduxing the early John/Tali stuff with a bit more nuance and a stronger style.

Eva and Kaidan, and their mutually wary first meeting. ("Wow, that's a lot of pomade." "Wow, that's a lot of death-glare.")

AU where Gal and Dorian never met in DAI, and after everything went down, Gal tried to fade into the shadows and leave. He ended up working in Tevinter as an occasional informant/odd-jobs guy the way he was pre-Inquisition. He ends up being a gardener for a bitter, wry magister who seems to hate the entire Magisterium, has recently lost his father to political scheming and murder, and wants to take down the entirety of the remaining Venatori with one staff and maybe his teeth if he has to (hi, Dorian). But first, Dorian's going to drink his own body weight in whiskey and be a recluse for a while and start thinking about time magic again. Gal is trying to keep his head down and should definitely not be falling in love with said magister. Who's someday going to end up at one of the more southerly ports, come across a statue of the great Inquisitor, and go, Oh.

Stuff on Jensen's PT and rebuilding himself post-augs. More of Proprioception, basically.

Mer-AU where Marie De Sardet is still a diplomat attempting to make new connections, just not a human one, and it's a disaster. An awkward disaster. Highlights include her being framed as the beast trying to drown their best captain; her attempting to wobble about on brand-new legs and Vasco's coat while everyone assumes the dear captain has had a few too many; her asking Vasco if his "fascinating markings" glow; them getting into a duel, and her (fondly) getting punted off the side of the ship going "Woo-hoo." OK, I wrote a bit of that, but only a 1k doodle I'll probably never return to.

Non-Naut court AU where Marie gets promised to Bastien D'Arcy, because he's a bit of a layabout but he's also rich, popular at court, and amenable to bribe - [cough] suggestion, and the D'Arcys have prominent trading links with the Alliance. Instead she falls for his far less of a social butterfly, tired, worried-numbers-guy brother Léandre, who's pretty damn uncomfortable around Nauts because he's well aware he nearly got sold to them and he is not the favourite.

Straight-up role-reversal AU (another thing where I've put down 1k that I'll probably never return to), where Marie's Naut name is Paz, and she's a fed-up second-mate who's tired of noble idiots and feels a little strange and conflicted about her mark (and has context for it, because they make frequent crossings to Tír Fradí). Also a little more jaded, without the love of her mother, and not nearly as much of a tryhard as Vasco in canon; she ended up here because she had nowhere else to go and the Nauts were like "Ooh, free kid," and she's well aware. She gets stuck escorting the D'Arcy brothers to Tír Fradí for their new venture and is not looking forward to it. Except one of them is intensely bright and wry and keeps asking questions about the ship and noticing shit he is definitely not meant to notice, and they keep ending up in strange conversations, even if he seems really, really wary and uncomfortable about Nauts.

Some vague stuff about Vasco's thoughts on Jonas and that whole side quest, considering he's also a sea-given and implies sea-given take some shit in the Nauts, and also how damn difficult it must be watching a sea-given's parents endeavour to get their kid back when he knows full well his didn't do that for him.

Actually, just more Vasco POV in general, even though he's damn hard to nail down. I've written much pining for him from Marie's perspective, and I'd like to try things from the opposite. This guy's idea of wooing someone perfectly normally is to panic and then recite Baroque poetry. You know he's sappy as hell in the privacy of his own head, even if he's trying not to be.

Jean and Síora having the "I'm a sad healer who just lost my mother and I'm trying so hard not to crumble under the weight of assisting the leader" mutual talk way too late at night around the campfire and maybe him crying on her shoulder a little, with mutual kindness and the beginnings of attraction, and her finally getting past his jokey-smug facade to understand him.

More stuff about Jean's past in general, and how he wanted to be a doctor before he was dragged away from it by looking after Constantin and being nobility.

Síora and Eseld and the ways they changed over the years; something like an exploration of grief and growing her own will and the ways they very differently view the renaigse. Also maybe more about the en ol menawi magic, if I can worldbuild well enough?

I'd also love to do a GreedFall soulmark AU - it's generally not my kind of trope, I'm not into biological determinism type tropes - just because names and aliases and assumed identities are such a mess in GreedFall and it's a repeated plot point. That said, I feel like it's been done so beautifully in this fandom before that I wouldn't have much to add.

Callouts @ me: So. Many. Commas. So much over-explaining everything. If they get out of the car, your readers do not need a five-page manual of "and then he undid his seatbelt and leaned over to grasp the door handle, and then pulled it, and then stepped a foot out before he almost thought better of it - but no, he was going to get out of this car. The other foot joined the first, and he nearly banged his head on the doorframe."

Best writing traits: People say I have a head for finding small-but-important moments. I'm also told I write likeable protags. People have more than once said my writing makes them feel safe or makes them smile, and I really couldn't ask for more than that. I'll take those.

Spicy tangential opinion: I don't think I have any, really? Oh god, that makes me sound so very boring. Oh! Um. There should be more tree body horror in fandom. And body horror in general. *thumbsup*

No pressure tagging: @artemis-crimson, @eridanidreams,@rainypixel, @aphreal42.

[maruzzewrites]

Idk if you’re still doing the yandere prompts but if you are could you do #46 with Abbacchio and #14 with Fugo?

Fugo now and I will eventually do Abba too…….

14. “I fucking need youmore than I need to breath.” 

Content warnings: yandere content, obsessive behavior, light violence, not much else.

When you met the team, you were surprised to findsuch young members. Bruno was pretty young himself, barely reaching twentyyears when you were recruited into this unit of Passione; but then you werefaced with teenagers, most minors, with the exception of a single other man whoappeared to be the oldest – older than Bruno, too. You were, on the other hand,already entering your adult life before you were sent into the spiraling worldof crime that was Passione and all its affiliates, and you could feel thedifference in age by the inane arguments and the pointless discussions thatwere brought up during breakfast, or lunch, or dinner.

There was, however, a young boy who was moreserious, less focused on futile debates on insane topics that those men decidedto throw around every time they had a meal together. Fugo had been politelywelcoming, friendly all through your initiation and your introduction to theteam, accompanied to the more exuberant reception of the other two boys – Mistaand Narancia, they were called – and the mostly bitter, cold indifference ofthe last member – Leona Abbacchio. The whole ordeal of settling in the teamwent smoothly, mostly accepted by the others to Bruno’s relief. When you wereasked about your motivations, though, you had to be sincere and admit you wereto be transferred sooner or later.

“What? Why?” Narancia asked you curiously,leaning on the table dividing you from him and the three curious teens. Youexplained you were placed in their team temporarily, until they found a betteruse for your Stand, considering it wasn’t made to be deployed in combat. Mistatilted his head, and then voiced the question they probably were all thinking,“And what does your Stand do?” At their inquisitiveness, you answered with thedemonstration of its abilities, by confiscating Mista’s hat and a bright, tensethread stretched from his body to the stolen piece of clothing. Narancia letout a bark of laughter after a short beat as Mista grumbled to pick up his hat,while Fugo simply observed your Stand and acknowledged its usefulness should beplaced elsewhere in Passione’s ranks.

Just as the conversation came up, it was easilyforgotten in the rush of missions and assignments that followed the initialdays of your initiation. The first week felt quite awkward on your part, withthe dynamic of the group still obscure to you and their familiarity with eachother overshadowing your interactions with each member. Yet, with the friendlydisposition of most of the team, you were introduced in the social patterns ofthat clique with more ease than you anticipated. Even more, you seemed to changesome preexistent relations in ways others didn’t think possible: Bruno waspleasantly surprised when Abbacchio actually started to discuss music with you,despite your lack of formal knowledge on the topic; you managed to shut upMista’s weird questions with even more outlandish remarks or with seriousanswers that would leave him disappointed in your lack of surprise; you helpedNarancia with basic math and reprimanded Fugo when he got too violent with hisfriend.

Overall, you tried to balance the relationshipsin that group, without shattering the harmony they built in spite of theircontrasting, often caustic, personalities. Bruno seemed to appreciate yourwork, seeing the others interacting with you in friendly terms that made themforget that your placement among their team was temporary. Especially Fugoseemed to take a liking to you, as you didn’t excuse his temper and forgive himfor his outbursts, yet didn’t isolate yourself from him when he was calmer. Youeven accommodated his more cautious nature, his more inner fears of seeing hiscompanions getting harmed or toeing the line of death with rash decisions. Whenhe would get into a rage, you would simply stand up and yell with just as muchvigor, until one of you retired from the argument, ready to discuss with morecivility once the both of you calmed down; but when he would stammer and beghis teammates to think over decisions he didn’t deem necessary, you defendedhim, explained what you thought was his reasoning, reassured him to push himinto action. He even questioned you on the reason of your behavior towards him.

“I think your worry and anger come from your goodheart,” you started to answer, and you noticed how taken back he seemed at yourwords. Maybe he was so used to people remembering him for his negative traits, forhis anger issues and his bad decisions and his tendency to step back ratherthan face challenges bigger than him. But you couldn’t blame him; despite notknowing who he was, his history and his life, you could feel he had his fairshare of pain and sorrow that was never addressed and lead to poor managementof his own emotions. You finished your thought just to give him peace of mind, “Youjust need to do something with constructive with them.”

After your words, he left the room to let you doanything you were occupied with before he came in to ask. And you noticed, consequentlythat encounter, he stuck at your side with more insistence that he displayed before.When he was around you, he would be softer in teaching Narancia or speaking tothe others, he would attempt to voice his thoughts with more clarity wheneverhe was starting to feel frantic about his partners, and he always ended up lookingin your direction to catch a glimpse of approval of his new behaviors. With asmile, a nod or a gesture, you would signal to him you were aware of hisefforts. You even admired his composure when Mista and Narancia started totease him about his actions, never noticing the light blush coloring his cheekand the bridge of his nose, extending to his ears when he grumbled about hownosy and annoying they were.

With the passing of weeks, you simply settledinto the routine of the group, but eventually you had to be relocated. One day,after several months of camaraderie with those guys, Bruno called you over andinformed you that your new rank would be with investigative teams, underanother boss and with new teammates. You were rather disheartened when youheard the news, but you accepted the new orders without a single thought to goagainst the will of the leader. Your now former boss smiled at you and proclaimedhe would update the others later, when they were all eating together. And so hedid, just as you were preparing to leave the base and before you reached thetable – Bruno opted to stay in a familiar place, away from the public.

You were distracted from your current task by theruckus and the screams coming from the other room, down the hall and into thecommon areas of the building. Unsure if you were under attack or if it was asimple, average discussion of the men you shared the last few months with, yougot out and stalked towards the living room. With each step, you started torecognize the screaming voice: it was Fugo, apparently enraged beyond measure,a waterfall of words cascading from his lips as his eyes bulged and his handsgripped the table with violence. At his side, was an odd creature, evidentlyfuming just as he was and with something that looked like spit spilling fromits mouth; you assumed it was his Stand, but you had never seen it before thatmoment.

Bruno, meanwhile, was trying to calm down theboy, while the others were just adding up to the chaos with their own screams.You stepped into the room with a loud thump of your shoes, announcing yourpresence as if it would be useful; yet, somehow the sound commanded silencefrom all of them, their heads swiftly whipped towards you and their gazes intensefrom the previous argument. You felt the impact of those eyes all in one hit,but willed your mind to keep steady. You looked at each one of them withinquisitive curiosity, your eyes stopping to look at Fugo and then Bruno,before you spoke up, “What is going on?”

“You’re going away!” Narancia lamented, and you foughtthe urge to sign heavily at the whiny tone. They were being difficult becauseof that, because you would have to move base and say your goodbyes to them,possibly become a rival. But you were ready to reassure all of them, that youwould never betray them and that you were still in the same syndicate, youwould meet and talk and you wouldn’t forget about them that soon. However, thestatement made by Narancia seemed to stir something inside Fugo, who regainedhis earlier explosive fury and looked at you with fire burning deep into his eyes.

“You can’t go away!” He yelled, his fingersdigging into the hard wood of the table, knuckles white and fingertips bloodyred by the sheer tension. He suddenly stood up, his chair falling and slammingon the ground with a loud thud, the creature besides him growling all the whileat the new wave of anger. Abbacchio started to demand him to stop, to call backhis Stand with alarming worry coloring every word; Bruno seemed apprehensivetoo, his eyes darting from the furious boy to the creature, while Mista frozeon the spot and Narancia walked away from him with too much haste to be comforting.

“Fugo, I don’t have a choice.” Your voicetrembled in your throat at the sight of the others’ reactions, unsure how tomanage this new situation. You could only assume Fugo’s Stand was dangerous,and you didn’t want to experiment that theory on your own skill. You watchingwith horror as he backed away form the table, circled it under the prying eyesof his teammates, and approached you with careful steps that contrasted thestill manic look he had on his face. His hands were shaking, just like hisarms, but he extended them to grab your shoulders with too much care to be fromthe seething man right in front of you.

“I fucking need you more than I need to breath.”He whispered in a livid, hushed tone that made the others rush to stand up andapproach the two of you. As Abbacchio rested his hand on Fugo’s shoulder, theboy went to punch him, easily overpowered by the man’s bigger size and evident prowess.With quick glances in the direction of the Stand left behind, now busy withshrieking and drooling over itself in rage, Bruno brought you away from thescene just when you saw Abbacchio hold Fugo’s elbow with so much force that theboy let out a yelp. Your former boss busied himself with piling your clothesand other belongings into several bags and sending you out in the streets withthe help of his Stand. When you looked back, the zipper he used was alreadyclosed and you were facing the wall of the building, faint yelling coming frominside.

You left with a worried look on your face, anddidn’t hear much from those men after that evening. You were assigned to a newteam. If the first few months were relatively calm, eventually you started to catchglimpses of blonde hair around you, too familiar in color to be a coincidence. Eventually,you started to see purple too, but you didn’t know what to do with thatinformation.