#gordon blackwall

[asparklethatisblue]

Dorian, a known necromancer…

The one school of magical medicine where you do not need to hurry

[lavellanvibes]

💕💕

[bisexualalistairtheirin]

I'm actually so glad Blackwall is finally getting his flowers as the best written companion (do not @ me) from Inquisition and that more people are playing his romance (banger after banger) and I guess I get why the 20somethings that played it when it came out and weren't interested are now 30somethings and more willing to give him a chance. It's sorta natural, ain't it?

[tavtiers]

A hypothetical god tier for Blackwall from Dragon Age: the Knight of Blood.

A Knight of Blood is among those who use paths, drive, and passion. They are motivated by themselves to utilize connection. (x) The Knight of Blood puts on a front to hide an insecurity and has a strong sense of responsibility. (x) They are the Defender Promised, defined by guarded connection. (x) Their opposite is the Page of Breath. Their inverse is the Rogue of Breath. They share their personality with the Prince of Doom. The Knight of Blood would quest on a planet similar to the Land of Haze and Blood, reigned over by Hera (Goddess of Marriage Vows) or Prometheus (The Titan rebel who was chained to a mountain for giving fire to man). They would rise to ascension on the wings of mosquitoes. (x)(x)(x)

[yourworsttotebag]

Blackwall-mancers are probably familiar with the scene where you hook up in the stables and when you wake up he's already gone. But the option where you choose not to be alone with him is sort of hysterical because you're sitting next to each other in the tavern and he just suddenly vanishes mid conversation like he's Batman and you're Commisioner Gordon 😭

[uchidachi]

Okay! New DA4 prediction post! Which very-dead character will make a surprise return?

In the reverse of the last poll, this is only for characters who die in every world state. Which means my poor little meow meow Jowan gets an honorable mention again. I also excluded bosses you defeat in battle, but maybe that will be a different poll in the future.

[faneth]

blackwalls name was gordon???

[most-hated-blorbo-bracket]

any chance of an updated list?

Of course!!

Also, this is the NEW and FUCKING IMPROVED LIST, I alphabetized it so it’s even better than before >:3

Currently, we have 340 unique characters (if I counted right) and 487 total submissions. The top three most submitted fandoms are Homestuck, Danganronpa, and One Piece, excluding submissions that were spelt wrong or spelt differently. The top three submitted characters are Haiji Towa, Vriska Serket, and Stella Goeta (stella has so many submissions it’s funny)!

Finally, this is the raw, unedited list of characters submitted so far. Just because they are here doesn’t mean they’ll be in the tournament; it just means they’ve been submitted, regardless of media or what character they are!

as always, list under the cut!

This first list is for characters with two or more submissions. Characters who have three or more submissions will get first dibs in the tournament!

Akechi Goro

Akio Ohtori / Himemiya

Anakin Skywalker

Ansem the Wise

April O’Neil (2012)

Ardyn Izunia

Ayin

Azula

Bill Cipher

Boston

Bramblestar

Buzz McCallister

Caillou

Chibiusa

Childe

Cici

Cullen Rutherford

Darkstalker

Dazai Osamu

Dio

Dio (Zero Escape)

Donald Trump

Donquixote Doflamingo

Dr. John ‘Jack’ Seward

Drannus

Eichi Tenshouin

Elias Bouchard/Jonah Magnus

Eridan Ampora

Evan Hansen

Every Genshin Impact Character Ever

Glenn Quagmire

George Wickham

Greg Heffley

Haiji Towa

Happosai

Her Imperious Condescension

Higashikata Josuke

Huey Emmerich

Ibara Saegusa

Izzy Hands

JD

Jace Herondale / Wayland / Lightwood / Morgenstern

Jin Guangyao

John Gaius

Julia Mazzone

Junko Enoshima

Jurgen Leitner

Katsuki Bakugo

Kokichi Ouma

Kristoph Gavin

Kromer

Kusaka Masato

Kylo Ren

Kyubey

Lance Dubois

Le’garde

Live Action Buggy

Makima

Mal

Marvin Falsettos

Meenah Peixes

Merlin

Micah Bell

Michael

Minoru Mineta

Mr. Bungee

Pierce Hawthorne

Pierre

Princess Daisy

Ranpo Edogawa (Beast)

Regal Farseer

Ronaldo

Rose Quartz

Santa Claus

Sasuke Uchiha

Scrappy Doo

Sentinel Prime

Shiver

Shou Tucker

Simon

Simon Laurent

Sosuke Aizen

Spamton

Stella Goetia

Teddy / Kuma

The Maverick

The Metatron 

The Once-Ler

Thistleclaw 

Tony Stark

Tsumugi Aoba

Ty Betteridge

Val Velocity

Viren

Vriska Serkat

William Afton

c!Dream

Ōchi Fukuchi

The next list is for characters only submitted once. If you want these characters to have a higher chance of being added to the tournament, feel free to submit more propaganda for them!

Absalom

Abyss Sibling

Adam

Agamemnon 

Airy

Akane

Akito Shinonome

Akito Sohma

Alastor

Alexander Hamilton

Ali Lectric

All For One

Aloise Trancy

Anatole Kuragin

Angel Dust

Anne Hathaway

Any Character From Welcome to Nightvale

Anyone From The Locked Tomb

Aranea Serkat

Ashfur

Astarion

Asuka

Bella Swan

Ben Jackson Walker

Betsy Wolfe

Billy

Billy Hargrove

Black Pete

Blackbeard

Blitzo Buckzo

Booker

Box

Bro-Strider

Buck Cluck

Buzz (cheerios)

Byakuya Togami

Caesar Clown

Caliborn / Lord English

Captain Kuro

Cersei Iannister

Chloe Bourgeois

Chris McClain

Chrollo Lucifer

Cicero

Clara Oswald

Coco

Cozy Glow

Cynte

Damian Wayne

Dan Moroboshi

Dean Venture

Dean Winchester

Detective Saracusa

Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd

Disembodied Voice

Don Flamenco

Dr. Henry Miller

Drew

Duke

Edelgard

Elias Ainsworth

Elias Ainsworth

Elon Musk

Equius Zahhak

Erebus

Eric Cartman

Erlina and Brugaves

Eugene Coli

Every Single Country In 1993

Everyone In Romeo And Juliet

Father / Dwarf In The Glass

Feferi Peixes

Five

Five Pebbles

Floch

Foreman Oyun

France (Hetalia)

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu

Gamzee Makara

Georg Weissmann

God

Goeffry St. John

Gordon Blackwall

Graham Spector

Gra’ha Tia

Haiji Senri

Heath cliff

Henry Miller (OC)

Henry the Eighth

Himiko Toga

Hisoka

Hiyoko Saionji

Holly Blue Agate

House

Huey Laforet

Ianthe Tridentarius

Il Dottore

Inspector Tobias Greyson

Itsuki Shu

Izumi Sena

JJ

Jacopo Bearzatti

James T. Kirk

Jayne Cobb

Jiren

Joe Destefano

Johnny

Jonah Magnus

Jonathan Groff 

Judith Ford / Natalie Cook

Judo

Julia

Julie-Sue

Ken

Kevin

Kusunoki Muu

Kyouichi Saionji

Ladd Russo

Lady Catherine de Bourgh 

Lebreau Fermet Viralesque

Light Yagami

Liontari

Lotor

Louie

Louis

Luke

Mahiru Koizumi

Makoto Itou

Marie

Marlon

Mary Keay

Master Crown

Matou Shinji

Matpat

Me

Medusa Gorgon

Meredith Rodney McKay

Michael Scott

Miguel O’Hara

Millions Knives

Moash

Moeka Kiryuu

Monokubs (Except Monodam)

Mori Ougai

Morris

Mr. Collins

Ms. Valentine

Muu Kusunoki

Muzan Kibutsuji

Mystery Hunter (Jeremiah Hartley)

Nagito Komaeda

Nanami Kiryuu

Narumi

Natsumi Sakasaki

Nefera DeNile

Nickel

Nikola Tesla

Noor Pradesh

Ocelot

Octavian 

Ogai Mori

Orochi

Otto Apocalypse

Paul Von Oberstein

Pencil

Petyr Baelish / Littlefinger

Prince Louis

Queen Scarlet

Quiche

Quill Kipps

Rafal (FEE)

Rafal (SGE)

Rafe Cameron

Randy

Raven Queen

Rebecca Costwolds

Redd White

Riley Finn

Roger

Rohan Kishibe

Roland

Roshi

Rumpelstiltskin

Ruruka Ando

Sakazuki Akainu

Sandy

Sanji

Sebastian Mechaelis

Sheldon Cooper

Shen Jiu

Shiki Tohno/Nanaya

Shinonomes (both)

Shredder

Sigma Klim

Silver Spoon

Skizzleman

Slayer

Solf J. Kimblee

So Sejima

Splinter

Stark Sands

Steven Universe

Stormcaller

Subara Akehoshi

Tatsumi Kazehaya

Teruhashi Makoto

Teruteru

The Eleventh Doctor

The Entirety Of Homestuck

The Groke

The Little Palace Mistress

The Mage

The New Ninja

The Old Palace Master

The Operator

The Pale King

Tim Drake

Tom Wambsgans

Tomaru Sawagoe

Touichiro Suzuki

Trishna

Tumblr Staff

Valens Van Varro

Verstael Besithia

Victor Frankenstein

Vivienne Medranno’s Impsona

Voice In The Calm Ad On Spotify

Volgin

Wanderer/Scaramouche

Wen Chao

Whiteout, Clearsight, and Benjamin

Will Shuester

Willy Stampler

Woodes Rogers

Xisuma

Yoshiharu Hisomu

Yu Ziyuan

Yumichika Ayasegawa

Yuri Briar

Zeke Jaeger

Zenos Galvus

Zhou Zishu

[theluckywizard]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you for the tags @rowanisawriter and @nirikeehan

1. how many works do you have on ao3?

32

2. what’s your total ao3 word count?

359,445 (since February lawdy)

3. what fandoms do you write for?

Only Dragon Age

4. what are your top five fics by kudos?

In the Shattering of Things (Cullen x Rose Trevelyan, Hawke x Trevelyan long fic)

The Boy Who Talked too Much (Alistair x Cousland fluff smut one shot)

Some Kind of Witchcraft (Cullen x Rose Trevelyan fluff smut one shot)

The Protestations of the Commander's Bed (Cullen x Rose Trevelyan fluff smut one shot... sensing a theme here? LMAO)

Unvarnished (Blackwall x Rose Trevelyan Smuuuut)

5. do you respond to comments?

Yes, always! Someone is going to take the time say something nice about my writing? I'm going to like awkwardly hug them with words.

6. what’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably toss up between

Fractures (Cullen x Rose Trevelyan whump smut)

and

Well Did You Miss Me? (Hawke x Rose Trevelyan angst)

7. what’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Oh this is tough. I end a lot of short fics on a very hopeful note where two people are teetering on the precipice of Looooooove.

But actually maybe a short Bethany Hawke drabble where she learns her brother Garrett is still alive in the Fade.

Contact

8. do you get hate on fics?

The closest I've gotten to hate, which wasn't really hate, just kind of funny is a few different commenters messaging me after I introduced Hawke in my long fic (the other clearly labeled Love Interest, 250k words in mind you) asking whether it was going to be Cullen in the end because they aren't interested in Hawke x Trevelyan and they don't want to read it unless it's Cullen in the end.

9. do you write smut? if so, what kind?

Yes. I try to write really characterful, joyful/emotional smuts generally-- the kind where it's just 'totally THEM'. I think smut is only as good as the set up and characters expressing themselves, because clinical/gratuitous descriptions of sex acts without those things doesn't interest me.

10. do you write crossovers? what’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Nope!

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge

12. have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope

13. have you ever co-written a fic before?

I have not but I would loooove to!

14. what’s your all-time favorite ship?

God I can't risk showing my whole ass here because a bunch of long fic readers follow me but suffice to say the race for my love is real tight between the two separate ships in my long fic - Rose Trevelyan x Cullen and Rose Trevelyan x Garrett Hawke.

Also Dick Grayson x Barbara Gordon in DC 😍

15. what’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Probably The Bequest which is my oc/oc/oc/oc/oc/oc spooky murder mystery fic. I want to believe I will but I would have to learn how to write a damn good mystery and I'm not sure I can. But will at least write some more chapters minimum!

16. what are your writing strengths?

-- snappy, authentic sounding dialogue and banter that captures the characters

-- joyful, ridiculous smut

-- setting descriptions when I really put my back into it

-- being inside a character's POV and capturing their narrative voice uniquely

17. what are your writing weaknesses?

PLOT. GAH. I only got into Fanfic in January and that's because I languished in Original Fiction Hell for two decades where I wrote and wrote aimlessly. I am a shit plotter and a shit planner. Stories come to me in scenes and feelings. So you can imagine that getting to write something that is fully plotted and world built for me is like THE BEST FUCKING THING EVER. It is so satisfying.

18. thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I have written in French a little bit for effect in the Winter Palace, but generally I don't do it, no.

19. first fandom you wrote for?

I wrote a sequel to the book The Witch of Blackbird Pond when I was thirteen maybe because the main ship gets together in the last pages and then it just ENDS and it was written in the 50s and the author was dead. I HAD TO RESOLVE THIS FOR MYSELF.

20. favorite fic you’ve ever written?

Aside from my long fic which is my ongoing baby and I am very proud (I am in the midst of Act 2 and still loving it), it would probably be --

The Commander, the Tevinter and a Bottle of Lightning which is Dorian getting Cullen drunk on fussy Tevinter booze and Rose showing up after he's sauced. (Fluff, Cullen POV)

or

Good Old Garbolg which is Rose and Hawke getting into the storage room to try a bottle of mystery booze (one of the Bottles of Thedas) and it having some unexpected consequences (Fluffsmut, Rose POV)

I have read both of these A LOT.

Tagging @crackinglamb, @greypetrel, @bluewren, @kiastirling, @melisusthewee, @rakshadow, @ar-lath-ma-cully, @ir0n-angel, @smutnug, @monocytogenes, @skyeventide and @ammoniteflesh

[kojottek]

The night was cold, bringing back the memories of her struggle in knee-deep snow right after the Haven onslaught. But Hrafn felt safer now, seeing the warm glow of firepits all around Skyhold. Safer, when she knew she was climbing up the stone steps next to Blackwall's calm presence. He never asked for laurel nor even took credit for possibly saving the world from being swallowed by the Breach. For saving her for the second time. She learned about his heroic deeds from Cullen, who with shame informed her they all stopped looking for her at some point because they had to because there was a blizzard and they couldn't risk more.

Hrafn didn't blame Cullen at all, it was the right decision at a time, rendered bad only in the light of Blackwall's stubbornness to tear her right from the death's embrace. People talked.

And Gordon Blackwall never owned to his heroics when they spoke.

"Why?" She wanted to ask but never did. There was an answer in the way he looked at her, the first time she opened her eyes after days of feverish dreams. There was an answer in the way he held her hand back then and in every sleepless moment he spent by her cot in the healer's tent, thinking she wasn't noticing.

They reached the top of the wall, it was surprisingly calm, camp noises but a distant buzz up there, even the wind calmed down, like it too went to sleep with nightfall.

"We'll be able to spot Corypheus miles away," he said, overlooking the narrow bridge and snow-covered slopes.

The view was breathtaking. Sharp edges of snowy mountains cutting the dark sky in half with an irregular line. A single patch of orange light flickering in the distance.

"I'm happy the path led somewhere, just like Solas told me. I would hate to be lost in these mountains again. There's still frost in my bones."

Blackwall sighed very quietly.

"You never told me you were ready to sacrifice it all for me," Hrafn nudged and it visibly confounded him.

"I'm-- that's my duty, my lady. That's what I promised you to do when I joined the Inquisition."

She stood next to him, arm to arm and hip to hip, looking at the horizon. Their breaths crystalised in the icy air.

"You came back for me when everyone gave up."

"Of course!" He cleared his throat not looking at her, " I'd have done anything to save the Herald of Andraste."

"Oh. Was it stupid to think you were saving... Me?"

His head jerked up, mouth open, ready to form an answer that never came. And for a moment he looked like a schoolboy caught on an unruly act, a bit of redness on his sharp cheekbones.

"No," he whispered. "But it's not for me to say."

He leaned on the rampart eyes focused on some distant point beyond the foggy mountain landscape. A gust of wind that hit them untangled a single strand of hair from his ponytail and weaved it in the middle of his forehead.

"I know my place," he started, voice firm, "it's better if it stays this way."

It was hard to break through this defensive stance of his, especially now when all she could see was his back and side and Blackwall meticulously made sure he wasn't even looking in her direction, eyes still fixed on the landscape.

"Your place?"

"Yes," he paused, looked at his hands like he was expecting to find the right words written there, "I am your soldier, my lady. And as a soldier, I admire you from afar and take an approbatory look as my reward. That's all I can ask for."

Hrafn huffed. Her leadership was as fictitious as the entire story behind it and the frames she's been pushed into - because of the mark - now seemed particularly narrow.

"Well, I think my saviour," she emphasized the words, "deserves a thank you for saving my life when I most needed him."

She leaned far to kiss him on the cheek but Blackwall flinched and turned his head to her, surprised by her sudden closeness. This wasn't how she planned it, but it also didn't matter, she wanted to do it anyway, damned be the consequence. Her lips landed on his. This blink-of-an-eye moment when he processed his shock felt like an eternity. But then Blackwall kissed her back, his whole body turned to her, his hand cupped her cheek and... oh, creators, suddenly he was all that existed in the world around her. His warm lips, his hand in her hair, his entire form pushing her gently against the stone when he stepped into her space. That single strand of hair which tickled her nose when she swallowed a moan, trying to act composed. Hrafn laughed at herself at the thought. Composed? She was a mess. She wanted to stay that way, but Blackwall broke the kiss and heavied a breath, their foreheads touched.

"We can't," he huffed and let go of her like he'd only now realised he'd been holding her. "We can't, you can't afford to think of me like I'm more important than any other soldier. That's not right."

"You're not just a soldier, you--"

"No." He moved a step away. "I'm sorry. We have to stay focused. There's a breach in the sky, there are enemies all around..." He took a big haul of air, "Maker knows how much I want this." His face frowned in visible distress, "but... our lives are not our own."

[facial-hair-fight]

The brackets are here!

Much like @blue-character-brawl, the 128 characters that made it in have been split into four brackets, where the four winners will fight in the semi-finals, and then the winners of those will fight in the finals to find out who the best character in fiction with facial hair is! Brackets will last 24 hours (except for the finals) and the first set of polls will be posted on April 26 between 4:00 and 4:30 PM EST! Here are the matchups:

Bracket 1

Matt (Wii Sports) VS. Saburo (Wii Sports)

Rockhopper (Club Penguin) VS. Sensei (Club Penguin)

Mario (Super Mario) VS. Wario (Super Mario)

Luigi (Super Mario) VS. Waluigi (Super Mario)

Toadsworth (Super Mario) VS. Penguru (Super Mario Galaxy)

Cranky Kong (Donkey Kong) VS. Bluster Kong (Donkey Kong)

Vitruvius (The Lego Movie) VS. Sandy (Lego Monkie Kid)

Rex Fury (Lego City Undercover) VS. Forrest Blackwell (Lego City Undercover)

Dr. Coomer (HLVRAI) VS. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)

Colonel Mustard (Clue) VS. Mr. Monopoly (Monopoly)

War Doctor (Doctor Who) VS. Wilfred Mott (Doctor Who)

i Tony Stark (Marvel) VS. Steve Rogers (Avengers: Infinity War)

Stephen Strange (Marvel) VS. J Jonah Jameson (Spider-Man)

Grandpa Fletcher (Phineas and Ferb) VS. Balthazar Cavendish (Milo Murphy’s Law)

2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb) VS. Major Monogram (Phineas and Ferb)

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars) VS. Count Dooku (Star Wars)

Bracket 2

Ganondorf (Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom) VS. Dr. Eggman (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Wilford Warfstache (Markiplier) VS. Old Mark (In Space With Markiplier)

Oliver Queen (DC Comics) VS. Mobius (Loki)

Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation) VS. Stanley Hudson (The Office)

M. Rasmodius (Stardew Valley) VS. Gus (Stardew Valley)

Lewis (Stardew Valley) VS. Linus (Stardew Valley)

Chief Bookem (Kirby: Right Back At Ya!) VS. Mayor Len Blustergas (Kirby: Right Back At Ya!)

Top Chef (Deltarune) VS. Asgore Dreemurr (Undertale)

Senshi (Dungeon Meshi) VS. Mustache Girl (A Hat in Time)

Santa Claus (Christmas) VS. Julius Pringle (Pringles)

Present Mic (My Hero Academia) VS. Edward Newgate (One Piece)

Drayden (Pokémon) VS. Kamado (Pokémon)

Cirdan (Lord of the Rings) VS. Gimli (Lord of the Rings)

Alex Louis Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist) VS. King Bradley (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Richie Tozier (It) VS. Murray Bauman (Stranger Things)

Homer Simpson (The Simpsons) VS. Jasper Beardly (The Simpsons)

Bracket 3

Warden Blackwall (Dragon Age Inquisition) VS. Dorian Pavus (Dragon Age Inquisition)

Pops (Regular Show) VS. Alex Dorpenberger (Close Enough)

Kili (The Hobbit) VS. Bofur (The Hobbit)

Alador Blight (The Owl House) VS. Phillip Wittebane (The Owl House)

Iknik Blackstone Varrick (Avatar: Legend of Korra) VS. Iroh (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Murro Morton (Identity V) VS. Percy (Identity V)

Jeff Winger (Community) VS. Gregory House (House MD)

Rico Rodriguez (Just Cause) VS. Tom Sheldon (Just Cause)

King Triton (The Little Mermaid) VS. Frozone (The Incredibles)

Harry Du Bois (Disco Elysium) VS. Kim Kitsuragi (Disco Elysium)

Gashu Satou (Your Turn To Die) VS. Hades (Hades)

Kogoro Mouri (Detective Conan) VS. Shaggy Rogers (Scooby-Doo)

Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso) VS. John Wick (John Wick)

Otokichi Shirabe (Suite Precure) VS. Asuma Sarutobi (Naruto)

Gomez Addams (The Addams Family) VS. Frederick Loren (House on Haunted Hill)

Cap’n Cuttlefish (Splatoon) VS. Lionel (Animal Crossing

Bracket 4

Abe Lincoln (Clone High) VS. Rex Mohs (Scott The Woz)

Hercule Poirot (Poirot) VS. Seneca Crane (The Hunger Games)

Bob Zanotto (Psychonauts) VS. William Riker (Star Trek)

Alexsandr Kallus (Star Wars) VS. Steve (Minecraft)

Sea Hawk (She-Ra) VS. Boris Badenov (Rocky and Bullwinkle)

Victor Sullivan (Uncharted) VS. Yosemite Sam (Looney Toons)

Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) VS. Qui-Gon Jinn (Star Wars)

Din Djarin (Star Wars) VS. Alec Hardy (Broadchurch)

Buford Tannen (Back To The Future) VS. Scott Howard (Teen wolf)

Halt O’Carrick (Ranger’s Apprentice) VS. Jack Pearson (This Is Us)

Thomas Magnum (Magnum PI) VS. Dedue Molinaro (Fire Emblem)

Barbarian (Clash of Clans) VS. Adam Jensen (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided)

Remus Sanders (Sanders Sides) VS. Grandpa Harley (Homestuck)

Massimo Marcovaldo (Luca) VS. Dr. Erasmus Craven (The Raven)

Toki Wartooth (Metalocalypse) VS. Richard Kimble (The Fugitive)

Deputy Dewey Riley (Scream) VS. Walter White (Breaking Bad)

[asparklethatisblue]

An unfortunate side effect of romancing Blackwall… oopsie. At least Adaar can… tattoo the proper name over it. Eventually

[lavellanvibes]

You make me feel like springtime

[ocean-in-my-rebel-soul]

From the sensory prompts: 18) Red wine stained lips

For the pairing of your choice?

Here's me noodling around with Gordon Blackwall/Thom Ranier. I'm not sure if this is going in my canon or not, but this is the first real thing I've written for them. Playing a little fast and loose with their story, as it's been a while since I read anything about Warden Blackwall. Anyway. This takes place roughly 9:35 Dragon. Thanks for the prompt!

@dadrunkwriting

===

They're laughing, They're drunk. It's been a great night.

They long ago ran out of whisky, so Gordon brings out another dark bottle of wine. Thom doesn't know from where he gets them, but he doesn't care too much. The only thing that matters is Gordon's smile, his full lips stained red. He can't help but look at them, tear his gaze away, and then look back.

Thom sits in his customary spot at the rough dining table. It's funny to think it's been a year since Gordon took him in, saving him from drinking himself to death in that no-name Orlesian village. A year since they'd first talked about the Grey Wardens, and what it meant to be one. A year of living together, not pursuing joining the order yet. Gordon said that there would be 'the right time' for Thom. There isn't a blight going on, he'd said around a mouthful of stew one night. You can take your time, Thom. Joining is a serious, lifelong commitment. I need to know you're ready for it. Until then, train with me, won't you?

Thom didn't know why Gordon had said that, what he initially saw in him, or why he was letting him take his time in deciding. Truthfully, Thom wasn't sure which way he was leaning regarding the Grey Wardens, but he knew he trusted Gordon, and so he'd stayed.

Tonight, the drink makes him brave. And stupid.

Thom reaches out and catches Gordon's hand.

"What?" Gordon asks, looking at Thom's fingers folded around his wrist.

There are so many answers bubbling in Thom's head, and just as many questions, besides. He doesn't know how to say exactly what he wants. He's never desired another man, anyway; this is new territory for him. How could he possibly put all that he thinks and feels into words?

"You're beautiful," Thom says softly instead.

Gordon grins. His red-brown hair gleams in the firelight of their cabin, and his fair, freckled face is a rosy pink. There are constellations in those freckles--Thom's traced them with his eyes, and now he'd give anything to trace them with his fingers, to press his mouth to them upon Gordon's cheeks.

"You're drunk," Gordon says. "Maker, I'm drunk. Maybe I didn't hear you right."

"I said," Thom says, and his chair shifts as he rises to his feet. He rounds the table to stand in front of Gordon, who's turned to watch him. "I said you're beautiful, Gordon."

"Oh..."

He readies himself for the rejection. Gordon would let him down easy, he was sure, and tomorrow they'd blame it on the drink and wouldn't talk about it again. It would be a simple thing, not necessary to talk about. Their friendship would remain, and that mattered the most.

But Gordon doesn't let him down. He says, in a hushed tone, "You are, too. I've always thought that."

Something flutters in Thom's chest. Gordon is a good six years older than him but he looks almost boyish now, eyes warm with surprise where they study him, his smile open and easy. Thom swallows down the lump in his throat.

Gordon stands. He's a little shorter than Thom, but that never stopped Thom from looking up to him. The fingers of his right hand dip to find Thom's wrist, and his thumb rubs a light circle there.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Thom asks. He turns his hand to lace his fingers with Gordon's own, and tugs lightly, a gentle suggestion. Chuckling, Gordon steps closer until Thom can feel him against his chest, pressed together easily.

"Why didn't you?"

"Nervous."

"Same here. Plus," Gordon adds, "I felt it wouldn't be appropriate. You're living with me to potentially join the Wardens, after all."

"Wouldn't be appropriate, eh?" Thom muses on that for a minute, swaying on his feet. "Would it be appropriate if I kissed you?"

Gordon laughs heartily. "I'd like that."

"Good. I'm glad." Smiling, Thom ducks his head to meet Gordon in a gentle kiss. Gordon's lips are plush, soft, and it's unlike any kiss Thom's had before. Something moves within him, butterflies tickling at his ribs. They pull apart to look at each other with wide eyes, but press together again, and again, and again.

[v-arbellanaris]

What IS IT about Hawke that makes everyone with functioning eyes clock him as a straight-up feast? Look, I like a hark worker with muscles (Hawke is a farmer, canonically), but I mean Ferelden has a lot of those???? Are the Free Marches just lacking in the sweat/grime babes???

yeah, gordon "thom ranier" blackwall took all the sweaty grimy hunk energy with him when he left markham MGDFKGJDFGJ

what makes you think all the fereldans in kirkwall aren't getting unimaginable amounts of pussy and dick. basically drowning in it constantly. hm? HM?

hawke is a farmer canonically?!

[wickedwitchofthewilds]

Chapter 6: Leaving Haven

The breach cast a sickly green glow over the fresh packed snow, giving Haven a green tinge, even in the middle of the night. Makenna should be asleep. Cold bit into her thighs as she sat upon the stone steps by the gate. Raina was set to return from The Hinterlands, and Makenna found herself unable to sleep. She waited until she saw the haggard group walk through the gates with another in tow.

“You’re still awake?” Raina called to her as Makenna stood up from the steps.

“Couldn’t sleep.” She brushed the snow from her backside. “I see you brought back another stray.”

“I seem to like collecting them. This is Warden Blackwall,” Raina said, gesturing to the heavily bearded man behind her.

“I’ve heard a lot about you Lady Makenna,” he said, offering a meaty, calloused hand for her to shake.

“Oh?”

“He was keen to join after I told him what can come out of a rift.” Varric winked at her.

Makenna laughed. “Is Warden your first name?”

Blackwall’s eyebrows furrowed at her question. “Gordon is my first name. Warden is my occupation. Have you never heard of Grey Wardens?”

“I can’t say that I have.”

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