#the anders content that my life need

[legoprime]

On the topic of the previous post, I've been having some Thoughts about Varric and my (pro-mage, Andersmancing) Hawke lately, let me see if I can get them down into words.

Like... okay, let's start at the beginning. Varric meets this refugee who he's heard a lot about, hires him onto an expedition. They start working together and Varric realizes this guy is pretty funny, always down for a laugh and a drink at the Hanged Man. They have very compatible personalities and quickly become good friends.

Varric is settled in deep in Kirkwall, and over the years Hawke gets settled in pretty well too. His family retakes their estate, he starts doing jobs for and around the Viscount, and he seems to be the only one the Arishok will talk to which is pretty important for the overall wellbeing of the city. This culminates in Hawke becoming the literal Champion of Kirkwall, the savior of their city. That's about as entrenched as you can get.

Alongside all of this is Anders, who is also friends with Varric and generally down for a joke and a good time, but who can get a bit too serious about mage rights for Varric's tastes. It's not that Varric has a huge difference of opinion on the matter, it's just that he'd rather not have to think about difficult things like that. He's happy and content in his life, and he has everything he needs right where he is. What happens in the Circle stays in the Circle, it doesn't affect Varric.

When Hawke begins his relationship with Anders, Varric jokes about it. "Are you sure about the possessed mage?" It's taken lightheartedly, because Hawke is his best friend and he supports whatever weird relationship choices he makes. "You do you, Hawke, but that's probably gonna end badly."

And then The Last Straw happens. And then the Chantry is destroyed, and fire rains down over the city, his city, and Varric watches his best friend side with the man who did it, his lover and partner who he has supported all of these years, and for the first time Varric is forced to actually recognize that Hawke and Anders share the same values. "I'm not sure we should be doing this" he says, in some vain hope that, I dunno, maybe Hawke will turn around and say, "You know what you're right bestie, let me just put the lid back on this stewing mage rebellion and then everything will be normal again and we can forget this ever happened".

Instead he watches Hawke put a different cause above the wellbeing of his city--their city, the one he thought they both cared just as deeply for--for the first time, and then he watches Hawke and Anders and all the newly freed mages leave.

Years later when the Inquisitor asks Varric about all of this and he reminisces about Hawke and scoffs about Anders, it's in this almost longing, mournful way of someone who lost a friend and blames their significant other for it. There's a part of Varric that, even then, is still thinking, "if only Hawke had never gotten in bed with Blondie, then maybe he'd have made the 'right' choice and we'd all still be together having drinks at the Hanged Man." But he knows that will never happen again, because he knows even when Hawke comes to Skyhold that when he leaves he's going back to Anders.

When he tells stories of Hawke's adventures and leaves out the parts about Anders, or actively talks shit about him, it's because it's easier to blame everything that happened solely on Anders rather than admit Hawke was a different person than Varric thought he was.

#been having a lot of feelings lately about the immediate post-da2 events #because hawke and anders and bethany get the fuck out of town #does varric go with them? #does he stay behind? #how bitter is he if he goes vs if he stays? #if he goes how long does he stay with them before he can't do it anymore? #lego talks da #avery hawke #anders #varric tethras #dragon age

[comphy-and-cozy]

Note: I try to tag triggers as bet I can, but ultimately you as the reader are responsible for your own media consumption. If any of my content bothers you, please do not continue reading. If I am missing a tag, please feel free to shoot me a message. * = smut (18+ ONLY)! players I do not write for | tv/movie masterlist

ANDREI SVECHNIKOV - full masterlist here

BRADY SKJEI

Adore You (Brady Skjei x POC fem!OC) - 8.3K Freshly shipped from New York, Brady is new to the city of Raleigh and the Carolina Hurricanes. While he’s learning the city, he meets someone that just might change his life forever. Four times Brady thought he loved her, and one time he actually did.

The After Party* (Andrei Svechnikov x Reader x Brady Skjei) - 6.3K When your new fling Andrei invites you to his joint birthday party, you’re surprised to learn that it’s a past flame who shares his birthday. And surely a double birthday calls for a double celebration — even if that means that you are the gift. The After Party II* (Andrei Svechnikov x Reader x Brady Skjei) - 6.3K A year after your illicit tryst with your current fling and your ex-fling, you meet again.

Blurbs ✿Midnight Rain* ✿Picnic in the Park

BROCK BOESER

You Got What I Need (Brock Boeser x Reader) - 5.5K When Brock says something horrible in the midst of an argument, you take off and leave him alone to face the consequences of his actions. Will he be able to win you back, or are you gone forever? Chronicling the aftermath of a fight, featuring big brother Anders Lee.

Blurbs ✿A Jealous Distraction ✿Secrets ✿"Send. Pic. Of. Dog. Now."

CHRIS KREIDER

✿“I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.” ✿"I'm pregnant." ✿"Why would I stop when it gets me what I want?"*

CONNOR MCDAVID

Work For It* (Connor McDavid x Reader) - 4.2K After a road trip, Connor is determined to show you how much he missed you, but only if you work for it.

GABE LANDESKOG

✿Date Night at the Drive-In* ✿Blood Drive ✿Mystery Machine

JEREMY SWAYMAN

Blurbs ✿"Don't mind me, just enjoying the view." / "I won't bite, unless you're into that sort of thing."

JT COMPHER - full masterlist here

MAT BARZAL

Love It If We Made It* (Mat Barzal x OFC) - 9.3K Aurora Foster and Mat Barzal are friends. Sometimes with benefits, sometimes with unspoken feelings, but always with a little something extra. When they have the opportunity to close the cross-country gap between them, will they be able to overcome the skinny love and take their relationship to the next level?

MATT MARTIN

Chaptered Fics/Series Sugar Daddy Marty Masterlist (Matt Martin x sugar baby!Reader)

MIKKO RANTANEN

Bad for Business* (Mikko Rantanen x Reader) - 4.2K Mikko has a crush on his massage therapist.

Bad for Business II* (Mikko Rantanen x Reader) - 2.5K Mikko learns to accept that his teammates are your clients, too.

MITCH MARNER

✿“My friends get annoyed by how much I talk about you sometimes”

NOLAN PATRICK

✿“There is no way this much stupid can fit inside one person.” / “Take my jacket, it’s cold” ✿Cheek kisses

TYSON JOST

Third Time’s the Charm* (Tyson Jost x plus sized!Reader) - 11.1K Tyson Jost has been your best friend since you were kids. After a drunken hookup, you thought you’d lost him forever - that is, until he gets traded to the Minnesota Wild, conveniently the city in which you now reside. Will the former flame return when you reunite, or has the time changed everything forever?

A Night in Paris* (JT Compher x Reader x Tyson Jost) - 10.6K Anything can happen on a Friday night at the Hard Deck. When you run into some old friends in search of a night to remember, you just might end up getting exactly what you wished for. Blurbs ✿“Wait a minute. Are you jealous?” / “You’re pretty.” “You’re drunk.” ✿Wedding Day ✿Jost Family Reunion ✿Disaster Strikes ✿Trade Angst ✿"It feels like torture but I don't want it to stop."* ✿Pre-Wedding Festivities

#hockey #masterlist #divider by @firefly-graphics

[merge-conflict]

interview with a thief

tagged by @ghostoffuturespast thank you! I also decided to play with the framing of this one because it seemed like it'd be fun. please note that 'Hellman' within the text of this piece is actually Johnny in disguise, which hopefully becomes obvious after a bit of the interview. The number of line breaks means it's long under the cut, fair warning.

<>

Kerry Eurodyne has refused all media interviews since he moved into the penthouse suite at Maximus Turrim, but we were lucky enough to catch two of his associates: Dr. Anders Hellman and Valentina Myśliwiec, both former employees of Arasaka, at the Regis bar. They agreed to an interview on the condition that they would not answer any questions about their current legal entanglement, Rogue Amendiares, or Eurodyne himself. They have also chosen the questions for this interview. Due to technical issues, no video or photos are available.

Dr. Hellman has been reclusive since his widely publicized break from Arasaka, and looks very little like the tall, polished doctor who once presented at prestigious conferences around the globe. Myśliwiec is a dark horse, but with the kind of studied intensity one would expect from Arasaka SpecOps. They seem to be old friends, spending the first few minutes of our time arguing about the contents of the questionnaire.

Thanks for agreeing to the interview, I really appreciate it.

Hellman: Sure, although just to be clear I’m only a bystander.

Myśliwiec: You’re never only a bystander. Magnanimous of you to share the spotlight with me, though.

Well, you’re something of an unknown to our audience, so it’s great to get a chance to know more about you.

Myśliwiec: Oh, well that is exciting.

Let’s start with the basics. Name? Nickname?

Myśliwiec: Valentina Myśliwiec. You need me to spell that? No? People usually call me V.

How should I address you?

Myśliwiec: Thief. Any pronouns is fine.

Thief?

Myśliwiec: Is that a problem?

No, just unexpected, given your background. Is that from your days as a mercenary?

Hellman: Mercenary? (laughs) Two-bit gonk at best.

Myśliwiec: Takes one to know one. And to answer the question: yes. It was a very transitory period of my life.

Hellman: (scoffing) Really?

You could change it to fugitive now, I suppose.

Myśliwiec: (laughing) Maybe I should.

So, what’s your star sign?

Myśliwiec: I knew you were going to ask me this but I’ve just forgotten.

Hellman: Libra.

Myśliwiec: How do you know that?

Hellman: I looked it up, right here. Not sure you’re very diplomatic.

Myśliwiec: If I was undiplomatic you’d know.

How tall are you?

Myśliwiec: Six two.

Where are you from?

Myśliwiec: Born and raised in NC. This is actually the furthest I’ve been from home.

Hellman: Damn, V. Now that’s a sad story.

Favorite fruit? Do they have fruit in Night City?

Myśliwiec: …Kerry Eurodyne?

Is that a question?

Hellman: Alright, wise guy, Kerry isn’t an option on the list.

Myśliwiec: Tough crowd.

Hellman: Mango isn’t on here either. There, strawberries. What’s with this list, anyway? Where are the bananas?

Myśliwiec: (laughing) What?

Bananas?

Hellman: What?

Myśliwiec: Bananas have been extinct for thirty years.

Hellman: I knew that.

OK. Moving on. What’s your favorite season?

Myśliwiec: Spring.

Hellman: And how long have those been extinct?

Fifty, at least.

Myśliwiec: At least.

Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?

Myśliwiec, Hellman: Coffee.

How many hours of sleep do you get on average?

Myśliwiec: Ten. Twice as much as I used to.

Even with Arasaka gunning for you?

Hellman: (waving his finger) That one’s not on the list.

Sorry. Can’t blame me for trying. Are you a dog or a cat person?

Hellman: She loves dogs.

Myśliwiec: Cat person. (peering over Hellman’s shoulder) You’d better have selected cat.

What’s your dream trip?

Myśliwiec: The moon. I’d love to see the Earth from up there.

Hellman: Ah, you are a romantic.

Myśliwiec: Don’t tell anyone. Can we strike that from the record?

Sorry, no.

Hellman: I’m going to select ‘outer space’. There’s no option for moon.

Who’s your favorite fictional character?

Myśliwiec: Hackerman.

Hellman: Who the hell is Hackerman?

Myśliwiec: The most powerful hacker of all time?

Hellman: Alright, better question: who the hell are all these people?

Myśliwiec: Let me see. Oh, definitely Maria the Destroyer.

Hellman: Hard to argue with a name like that.

Number of blankets that you sleep with?

Myśliwiec: Just one.

Hellman: Depends on how you define blanket. (Myśliwiec elbows him in the ribs.) Alright, alright, “one”.

What’s a fun fact?

Myśliwiec: Did you know there’s a kind of butterfly that preys on ants? The caterpillars pretend to be ant larvae and get taken back to the nest, where they use additional mimicry to act like an ant queen. They eat all the ant larvae, get big and fat, and then pupate right there in the nest.

Hellman: You and your disgusting bug facts. I’m not typing all that.

Myśliwiec: Well, what’s my result?

Hellman: It says Purple Force.

Myśliwiec: Absolutely not. Purple Force? I’m obviously Red Menace. You picked dog, didn’t you?

Hellman: What, you think I’d lie to you?

Myśliwiec: Uhuh. I guess that’s the end of our time.

Hellman: Your first interview. Not so bad, huh?

Not bad at all. Thank you for your time.

Tagging @corpocyborg, @corphoe, @gamerkitten, @dani-the-goblin The original questions for the interview are:

Name Nickname Gender Star Sign Height Nationality/Ethnicity Favorite Fruit? Favorite Season? Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? Average hours of sleep? Dog or Cat person? Dream Trip? Favorite Fictional Character? Number of Blankets you sleep with? Fun fact?

#tag game #ffor canon compliant oc interview I guess #love the idea that they have a ban on interviews but #valentine and johnny are drinking in the bar doing uquizzes and spontaneously decide to reward this guy's initiative #alt fried the video footage and images naturally

[revenantlore]

. wip introduction .

press start . game over . try again

a trilogy about a depressed, struggling alcoholic who’s tired of making mistakes, being replaced, and leading an aimless life. he eventually finds himself and his people, and takes up the stage as the lead vocalist of an immediately successful rock band called the filthy vandals … after enduring a lot of loss, trauma, and learning

premise for press start :

Rem's never known much about his biological parents, just that his mother overdosed soon after he was born and his father's a no-show dirtbag. He's content to keep that part of his life buried, content to believe his adoptive mothers are the only parents he's ever had.

When one of his mothers decides she's ready to pursue her dream of running an in-home daycare, it means kicking Rem out, causing a huge rift between them. She says it's because they need more room, but Rem knows better. Knows it's got nothing to do with space and everything to do with them thinking Rem's a shitty influence to keep around.

Their adoption of four-year-old Ramona soon after is all the proof he needs.

Rem’s got no job, and even if he did, he'd have zero chances of keeping it for long.

A sudden twist of fate has his father returning to Warren Creek begging for a second chance at parenthood almost twenty-four years too late. Rem’s never been one to forgive, but he’s got nowhere else to go, so he agrees to move in with Ross one town over in Jackson Grove.

It’s not long before Rem realizes he would have been far better off never meeting Ross again.

characters :

rem ashwell aka my best favorite jackass

There isn’t much Rem wants out of life, isn’t much he enjoys about living, and if not for Oliver, for music and pancakes, for good sex with an even better soundtrack, he probably wouldn’t be here anymore.

He’s used to temporary, to painful goodbyes, and often finds them easier than commitment, but a string of unexpected happenstances lead him to friendships, to love, to feeling for once in his life like maybe he does want more.

Like maybe he deserves it, too.

oliver de la croix

So much of Oliver’s time is spent focusing on anyone but himself, to the point it’s left him a little lost in life. Aimless, maybe, but his Gran’s business would fail if not for him taking up extra shifts, and Rem might not survive another night without Oliver’s shoulder to lean on—often quite literally.

To Oliver, it’s all worth postponing finding himself, and amidst his selfless acts and endless devotion, he eventually discovers some important truths about who he is and what he wants.

jonah kincaide

Home has never been a place for Jonah, it’s always been a person.

All his life he’s gone from house to house, family to family, never fitting in and never feeling wanted. Zev changed all that for him, showed him what it meant to be wanted, to be needed, to be loved.

But danger calls to Jonah in urges harder to tame than the fires he’s caused. Staying in one place isn’t an option, not when he’s running from the law, which means leaving Zev behind time and time again.

ziggy kennedy

Music has always played an important role in Ziggy’s life, from early childhood memories of night rides with her father, vibrations from the bass like magic under her fingertips, to learning guitar on a whim with her best friend Lex. It was always a hope, a vague dream, that she might become part of something bigger.

Alongside Lex, their roommate Oliver, and a crush from work at the record store, Ziggy’s dream is brought to life in the shape of a grungy garage band. Jellyfish Mayhem, however, isn’t all Ziggy hoped it would be—there’s too much drama between them to maintain a stable band, and before long it’s in shambles and Ziggy’s left to pick up the pieces.

lex anders

Working as a bartender at a strip club is either the worst or best job for an asexual man. Lex leans heavily towards the ‘best’ part of that spectrum because the cash is easy, there are zero distractions outside of rowdy customers, and he has nothing but support for the actions of his co-workers. Their bodies to do with what they will and all that. So long as they give him the same respect as he gives to them, he’s content to keep the job.

Besides, it’s just something to pay the bills until he, Ziggy, and Oliver can make something of their music.

Something more than just noise in Oliver’s grandma’s basement.

zev roswell [first appears in game over]

Zev’s been chasing a sense of belonging for as far as he can remember. He finds that in Jonah, more home than any house has ever been, but Jonah’s been chasing something else entirely that jostles Zev’s abandonment issues into the extreme.

If Jonah’s not finding trouble, trouble’s finding him, and it always ends with a rushed goodbye, an I’ll see you later, but Zev’s running out of hope that later hasn’t already come and gone.

That Jonah’s not coming back this time.

Devotion and more love than Zev’s ever known what to do with has him back on the road hunting Jonah down to bring him home, assuming he’s not already too late.

#this and mtd are my most belovèd projects #reese made oliver zev & lex #wip : game over #which i will forever love #wip : press start #wip : try again #my edits #writing #writeblr #wip intro #wip introduction #wip masterpost

[leggywillow]

Fic Writer Interview

I was tagged by @feralkwe

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

10 🙈

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

170,541

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

He Thought Her Unsinkable (50)

Never Free (41)

Failed Attempts at Simpler Lives (24)

Ashes (12)

Torture Of Your Own Design (10)

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to! I really can’t overstate how much I love and value every comment and how they make my day and really keep me going when I worry that no one’s interested, lol. I want the commenters to know that, even if sometimes all I can say is “thanks!” Because I can’t grab them by the shoulders and just shriek right in their face.

People engaging with my characters and ships and little situations is like… the point for me. It’s the DREAM, for real.

5. What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

Technically it’s the short Ashes, since that ends with Hawke dead and Anders and Justice gone. The one that makes me the saddest, though, is Strange Bedfellows. That fic spends more time getting to know the characters before destroying them.

6. What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

Never Free ends the most hopefully, I feel.

7. Do you write crossovers?

Nah.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

No, which is the good part of focusing on niche content with OCs, lol. I may not rack up numbers but I also don’t get attention from the meanies.

9. Do you write smut?

Not really, but god I want to. I’ve put a grand total of like 2.3 smut-esque scenes in my stories, because I just chicken the hell out. I get SO self-conscious, and it just feels so bad lmao. No idea how to overcome this.

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge, and I can’t imagine anyone has. Another benefit of creating niche content.

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I’m aware of. That would be pretty cool though.

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, but it’s something I’d be open to if the right circumstances came up. It seems pretty unlikely at this point in my fandom life, but you never know.

13. What's your all-time favorite ship?

I feel like the Simpsons’ “SAY THE LINE, BART!” meme right now because it’s obviously Carver Hawke/my Surana. You know, the only ship I ever write and talk about.

The only other ship I’ve been both feral and inspired enough to write about is Hawke/Alistair, so that ship gets second place.

Mind you, this is strictly from a “writing fanfic” perspective. I love lots of different ships, including multishipping for the above characters.

14. What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

I don’t post many things so the only unfinished WIP (besides the one I’m currently working on) is my Hawkistair fic, He Thought Her Unsinkable, that I last updated in 2016. Two years ago I would have said it would stay unfinished forever, but now I DO have intentions of coming back to it. (I got thoroughly stuck with progressing both the plot and the ship and I’ve since thought up solutions for both.)

I’ll probably rewrite the whole thing though. There was a lot of room for improvement, and I cringe looking back.

15. What are your writing strengths?

This is hard for me because I’m so riddled with imposter syndrome and anxiety, but I think I do character dialogue well. I can hear voices very clearly in my head and it’s one of the few things my memory holds onto, so I fiddle with my lines until I can hear the character saying them in their cadence.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

I struggle with descriptions for sure. Knowing how much or little to include, yes, but I also find myself just blanking out on descriptive words when I need them.

Me, desperately, to my own brain: We’ve seen a house before! I need words to describe a house!

Brain: I have never seen one of those before in my life.

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

This is something where I try to stay pretty firmly in my lane, because I know it can be done poorly if you don’t know what you’re doing. And I do not, lol. If a character is speaking in another language, I just say that. I try to keep my usage of other languages to exclamations and terms of endearment if they come up naturally.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

I wrote Animorphs fanfic on an old typewriter at my dad’s office when I had to be there after school as a kid and then later on some little word processor software for kids that looked like you were typing in a little book. (I’ve been desperately trying to figure out what 1990s software this could have been to no avail, for nostalgia’s sake.) I made some kind of human/Hork-Bajir hybrid OC that was basically like Wolverine with the badass retracting blades in her skin.

19. What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

I only like writing fic when I have BIG AND SPECIFIC IDEAS that grab me, and that only comes with being incredibly hyperfixated on the source material until I’m comfortable with the setting… so basically I’m very content in my Dragon Age sandbox and don’t have much desire to branch out. That said, I do love my Dark Urge from Baldur’s Gate 3 and am very tempted to write about her someday.

20. What's your favorite fic you've written?

I think I’ll have to go with Never Free. Failed Attempts at Simpler Lives has more character interactions that I deeply enjoyed writing, but I’m really proud of the plot I wove together in Never Free.

Tagging @theluckywizard @rakshadow @inquisimer @nirikeehan and anybody who thinks it looks fun!

#leggy writes #memes

[transandersrights]

happy Friday :D for DADWC this week, perhaps some modern AU Anders? 😊

(I take prompts! See info here)

Ty for the prompt!! I took this as an excuse to write ~850 words of Anders in my big DA modern AU for @dadrunkwriting. Content warning for a discussion of an injured child (injured in an accident) and emotional abuse (by a templar).

“Welcome to my pride and joy!” Anders span a full circle, arms outstretched as he indicated the room. “I’d call it cheap and cheerful, but it’s free and we’re based in Darktown, so…”

“Skint and simple,” Lirene surmised. Anders laughed. “Illegal and impoverished?”

"Not illegal,” Anders corrected. “Look.” He pointed in sequence to a poster stuck on each wall of the single-room clinic, which read, in large black and bold letters: ‘ANDERS VALEN DOES NOT HAVE A MEDIAL LICENSE. HE HAS FIVE YEARS OF CIRCLE TRAINING, EIGHT YEARS OF HYBRID CIRCLE/TRADITIONAL MEDICAL TRAINING, AND TWO YEARS OF FULLY QUALIFIED PRACTISE. BY CONSENTING TO TREATMENT BY ANDERS VALEN, YOU FOREGO ANY RIGHTS TO COMPLAIN TO THE FREE MARCHES MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.’

Lirene blinked. “Dubiously legal, then. But you’re just… offering this?”

“Of course.” He said it so simply. Like it was obvious; like people weren’t, two blocks over, being forced to pay hundreds for treatment or wait three months. “There’s a lot I can’t do, of course, with no equipment and no authority to prescribe anything, but if there’s anyone you think I might be able to help…”

“I’ll send them your way,” Lirene confirmed. “What can you do?”

“Emergency healing,” Anders said. “Injuries, mostly. I can give advice or instructions, and there are a few diagnostic tests you can run with magic even if machines are more precise. I can ease symptoms of illnesses, too — but I can’t cure them. Infections still need antibiotics, but if a kid can’t breathe with a chest infection I can ease that, if you want an example.”

“Right.” She wrote as he spoke, but honestly she was most of the way to convinced already. He was a persuasive young man, clearly sure of himself, and clearly should have been qualified, but… “One last thing, so I know what to tell people. Why aren’t you in one of the Lowtown or Hightown clinics or hospitals, charging more than most can afford for a hybrid approach that heals faster than a traditional doctor?”

Anders grimaced. “They’ll leave as soon as they come in if you don’t warn them in advance, right?”

“Depends on how desperate they are,” Lirene said. She saw a lot of desperate people, these days — including people who would go to quacks just if there was a chance of fixing something. All she could do was inform them as to what they were getting into. “But if you can give me something to tell them, I’d hear it now.”

“Alright.” Anders sighed. “I worked emergency care in Central, and I was earmarked for all mage patients that came in. You get cases where kids have been hurt for or because of their magic, so seeing someone like me— meant to be good, right?”

“Of course.” Lirene didn’t need to be told twice when it came to what mage kids had to deal with in Kirkwall, even now. She saw it in the news plenty, and from experience she imagined actually living it was worse. “So, something happened?”

“A lot of somethings.” There was a hard edge to his voice when he spoke, something that just hadn’t been there when he was showing her the clinic earlier. “Sometimes there were kids who’d injured other people as well as themselves. Didn’t matter how injured the other party was — if someone else got hurt, then when the mage kid came into the room, they had to have a Templar escort.

“They were always brutes — nasty when they thought no one was looking. Even when they were meant to be looking after a kid in one of the most difficult experiences of their life so far. These kids are being rushed in to see urgently, and one of them that night? It was past midnight. Poor kid was crying his eyes out, electricity burns all up his arms. He’d zapped his mum hard enough that she was out cold, so he was unaccompanied other than this Templar. Six years old. Could barely get a word out, and the Templar shouted at him to speak up.”

“Bastard.”

Anders chuckled darkly. “I’m glad someone agrees. Anyway, I told the woman to fuck off, get out of my examination room. Legally, the kid had to be accompanied by a Templar, but the woman was so heated I had to— well. I called someone from security I could trust, and he removed her anyway. Boy stopped crying, all the healing was done in five minutes, and I returned him to his lovely handler. I lost my license for breaking the law; endangering the hospital by removing the confessed perpetrator of a magical crime from Templar custody.”

He looked furious, and Lirene was sure her expression mirrored his own. It was patently unfair, and… well, she knew it couldn’t have been the whole story, but it was enough of one that she knew what to tell anyone who came looking for her advice.

A free clinic for anyone willing to seek out a mage healer, manned by a doctor who lost his license in a miscarriage of justice for protecting a child. It certainly wouldn’t earn him any enemies in the kinds of people she saw on a daily basis.

#da drunk writing circle #dragon age fanfiction #dragon age 2 #dragon age anders #anders

[celestiall0tus]

Once you get this, you have to say five things you like about yourself, publicly. Then you have to send this to ten of your favourite followers (non-negotiable, positivity is cool~)🌈🌈

Round 5, everyone.

For this one, I talk video games

Final Fantasy 13 Trilogy. A bit of a cheat, but I can't exactly place one game before the other. I love the franchise, the story, the characters, Lightning, the combat, the gameplay, everything. And, again, it gave us Lightning, the most badass woman ever (I will die on this hill).

Dragon Age 2. Yes, yes, the black sheep of the DA franchise, but fuck y'all I absolutely love this game and it's all because of Hawke. The gameplay, maps, and combat are simple, but the story of Hawke is just so devastating. You have this character who is just trying to survive, gets roped into every problem in the city, and they lose damn near everything. It's a heart wrenching tale that is made all the better with your companions (not Anders, Bethany, and Merrill). I love everything about them, plus sarcastic Hawke is best Hawke.

My Time at Sandrock. I adore this game. It is such a massive improvement from Portia in terms of everything. Gameplay is beautiful, the desert is oddly gorgeous, the characters are all so endearing (not Burgess. He can jump into the oasis) and even the villains I can't help but love. It's such a fantastic game and I love every bit of it.

Sea of Thieves. A bit of an odd one, but a game I've grown to love again. It's definitely one of those better with friends, but even when I'm soloing, it's an enjoyable experience, so long as you stay away from the PvPers. It's become my go to recently to relax.

Elder Scrolls Online. I have such a hate/love relationship with this game. I adore it, but it can be difficult to keep playing given I'm endgame and need people to do the content I want to. That means having to get close enough to people and have that chance of being abandoned or betrayed, which is where I hate it. But, such is life.

[nebulousmistress]

On Midwifery

It seems to be a trope in Dragon Age 2 fanfiction that Justice is generally confused and disgusted by the vulgarities of mortal existence. It’s not uncommon for him to be written in fic, especially early relationship fics, as not knowing what all this weirdness is. It’s biological, it’s gross, it’s weird, it’s squishy, etc. I cannot believe that for a second. Destroys my immersion right there. Why is that?

Something Lirene said in Act 1 before we even meet Anders:

“He’s treated their wounds, delivered their children.”

Justice is not unfamiliar with the vulgarities of mortal existence. He’s had to deal with the worst of it for months. Years. It’s what he gets for joining with a midwife.

Under a read more because you can BET this is gonna be gross and weird and terrifying and heartbreaking. Consider those your content warnings because with pregnancy nobody comes away unscathed.

Justice, through Anders, has soaked his arms to the elbows in amniotic fluid, collapsed exhausted on a crate and just watched the blood of creation drip from his hands as he hears the cooing and delight and congratulations around him. On a good day that’s all that happens.

Justice, through Anders, has tasted amniotic fluid and vernix caseosa when an infant is born not breathing and he needs to suck the fluid from the baby’s lungs. He’s in a sewer, you think he’s got a sterile rubber bulb for easy suction? No, use your mouth like a farm vet in a barn. Pipette by mouth like a bootlegger in a shack. Suck it out of the child’s lungs then rub its chest, hang it upside down and smack it, do what it takes to get that baby its first breath. Breathe for it, give it your own breathe until it cries.

Justice, through Anders, has given a straining mother a stick to bite down on and scream through as he’s slid his hands up to grasp the legs of a baby in the breach position to pull it out. He’s gone elbow deep into a screaming woman to save her life. What, you think he’s got clamps for that? What is this, a modern ward? Strip off that coat and use your hands, yes she’ll tear but you can heal that after you save her life. Even if the child dies you’ve saved her life. If you do nothing they’ll both die and you know it.

Justice, though Anders, has had to deal with the filth and mess of a mother in labor, urine and bowels emptying against her will as her pelvic floor opens just to get the baby out and the job done. No there isn’t an extra bed for her to move to. It’s Darktown anyway, there’s nowhere cleaner than this, get a volunteer to boil some water and soak some towels for cleanup later, he’s got a job to do right now.

Justice, through Anders, has had to hold the dead infant in his arms, the cord still wrapped around the baby’s throat. There was no way to know or stop it, sometimes it just happens that way. Strangled on their own cord during the birthing, never meant to survive. Someone says something about a Maker and a Plan but he doesn’t hear them. Because there is no Plan, only Purpose.

Justice, through Anders, has had to make a choice, which one to save. He’s had to hear lovers, family, or nobody at all arguing and screaming and fighting over who it should be, and in the end he has to choose because he’s the only one who can.

And Justice, through Anders, has been so exhausted at the end of it all that he’s cut at least one umbilical cord with his teeth.

Magic is a lot of things. But it’s not going to shield a spirit from that. Any of that.

Justice knows what sex is. He knows the disgusting depths a mortal body can reach. Any aversion is due to something entirely different from Inexperience.

#justice dragon age #whatever I'm going to end up naming my DA world state #tw: pregnancy #anders the midwife #mortals are gross #dragon age 2

[meowmeowmage]

on a similar line of thought as reaver!hawke, what are your thoughts on the handers dynamic when hawke's a blood mage? he's taking just about every possible risk, including stabbing himself, and anders cant even heal him during the fight. plus, anders has some hangups about blood magic that he'll probably have to reevaluate after seeing hawke boil a templar or something

I guess I'll disappoint here, but I'm not a fan of blood mage Hawke. I'll take this opportunity to talk about blood magic and Anders's reasons for disliking it since I couldn't help it but it's also relevant, sort of.

I always play Hawke as a "I'm not touching blood magic with a ten foot pole but if others want to bargain with demons that's their potentially fatal gamble and idgaf, but also I understand why so many would resort to it in fear and powerlessness, and maybe I might as well, who knows" type of person. Depending on the situation, he might actually resort to it indeed, like Malcolm had. But that time has never come.

Anders's dislike for blood magic is partially why I don't care for blood mage Hawke. My preferred handers flavor is the one where I can make Anders as happy as possible lol, so there's that. But also, I like the idea of mage Hawke rising through the ranks in life and becoming Kirkwall's champion, and doing all that without resorting to blood magic even once. Anders thinks of Hawke as a mage model for everyone to see how mages can be when free. And I think this works best with non-blood mage Hawke. Here's the place to mention that I don't particularly project morality into whether someone uses blood magic or not, but I do think regular people in Thedas do, so for that reason non-blood mage Hawke works best imo.

Now for Anders's dislike of blood magic - it's not smth I think he needs to change his opinion on actually. Not bc I think blood magic is bad by default, but bc I think his reasons are valid enough for the situation, at least by half. The first reason is due to Justice hating demons. That doesn't need changing, and since DA2 presents blood magic as only taught by demons, Justice has every right to hate it.

And the second reson is Anders thinking mages resorting to blood magic only worsens their oppression. Which is... kinda true, but ultimately he still gives his oppressor more credit than they're due, bc regardless of blood magic, the Chantry would still be stepping on mages' necks. Mages being "good" by not resorting to blood magic wouldn't make that go away. And the Chantry uses blood magic simply as a handy excuse (which only works better the more they oppress them). If they couldn't, they would find other reasons. So this reason of his is flawed, but still comes form the good place of wanting mages in general to suffer less, so I'm not irritated at him for it.

So to summarise - blood mage Hawke comes with stuff I just don't care for in my handers content. Hawke resorting to blood magic once to protect Anders when literally nothing else would've worked is the only exception. And even then I'm picky.

#asks #anders #hawke #handers #my posts #sry this got long oops #basically reaver hawke comes with the same positive stuff blood mage hawke comes #but with none of the negative

[ally-holmes]

A deal with Hades | Anders Johnson x OC Fem!Hades (Ch.1)

Series Masterlist

Next chapter

Fandom: The Almighty Johnsons

Pairing: Anders Johnson x OC Fem!Hades

Rating: Explicit (for blood and cussing)

Content warnings: free call on mythology and beliefs, swearing and stabbing, blood.

Summary of the chapter: Axl gets stabbed. Anders makes a deal with Hades to keep him alive. 

Word count: 2977

More content in My Fanfic Masterlist | Multifandom

Also avialable on AO3

This work was created to be part of the Deanobingo2023 event by @deanobingo​ It fills the Character Card with Anders Johnson and the General Prompt Card with “Who are you?”

A deal with Hades | Chapter One

Gods had always been known for getting quickly infatuated with mortals. Since the beginning of times, the gods that now mortals thought were only part of ancient myths had felt attraction towards those humans with a life span so short, powerless, and a life full of work and misery at the best of times. How could they live with the uncertainty of not knowing what they were meant to do? What was the purpose of humanity?

This infatuation did, at times, transform into love and even be reciprocated by those mortals. The norm, however, was that the god forced its will upon the mortal. Zeus was a clear example of this despicable behavior. His narcissism and self-importance allowed him to procreate a huge amount of offspring; including the poor Minotaur.

Some gods were too idle in their immortal lives, hence the need to peer at mortals looking for havoc or entertainment. She was never one of those gods. She had a proper job that had to be done daily. Of course, taking care of some parts of the Mediterranean and sharing her realm with others gods made things easier. The Roman Empire helped her trace the borders of her influence among mortals; except for the North of Africa, which belonged to her colleague Anubis.

One might think that with time and the rise of monotheist religions, they ended up being pushed away from the mortal domain. The truth is, that Loki, who had been punished by Odin for a few centuries among humans in Midgard away from the Norse kingdoms who idolized him still, ended up in Jerusalem completely bored. Some ancient gods who were also bored to death, as most mortals were now too busy to pay proper cult to them, befriended this young prankster and… well, with all due respect, they invented Jesus when all the "one God" was not being properly spread. Long story short, they found it incredibly funny if Loki dressed up and started using his magic and illusions on humans, they thought he was the real deal and yeah, the rest is history.

In a very sweet turn of events was this religion the one that ended up chasing the Norse gods to exile.

Unfortunately for humans, the true gods were the ones still holding power but they were seen now as a pagan religion. Fake idols. Most of them dropped everything and turn to their immortal realms, like Mount Olympus, leaving mortals to their own volition. No more help from the gods, no matter how hard they prayed for their harvest or their lives; there was no one there to listen. There were gods that, no matter how offended they had been by the way mortals treated them after all these millennia next to them, still had a job to do for them; especially since the prank that Loki pulled on humanity ended up with massacres in the name of the one and only God. Poor souls, they were hoping for a Heaven, unaware that after mortal life there was nothing else than the netherworld.

She had always been quite fond of her realm although it was full of souls. Sometimes she felt a stroke of pity and decided to allow a bunch of them to go back to the mortal world and live another life. She did it with the ones she liked best. Of course, she fucking hated it when someone tried to escape. Escape where exactly? Those souls belonged to her now and her realm was nice and comfortable for every one of them, bigger than the mortal world. Sure, some souls deserved to be heavily punished, and her employees took their jobs passionately. So what? She was nice. She opened the doors of her palace frequently because she was very fond of guests. Anubis visited every other decade. Maybe she gave the impression of being kind of cold and stern, but people should learn to differentiate between professional and personal life. How many times did she unleash her wrath? Five times. In millennia!! And all those times it was because some stupid and ludicrous mortal tried to take souls that belonged to her. Apart from that, she was quite fair for a god.

It took some time for her to feel comfortable leaving the netherworld. At first, she might've left for a couple of hours, maybe a day or two. Then the lament shrieks from these monotheists that had been scammed became noisy. They gave her a migraine and she loathed migraines. She decided to look for Loki and make him pay. At least for a few centuries of torture; she was certain that Tityus could use some company. However, when she reached Earth she found out that the Norse gods had been chased out of their realm and that they had found a place to hide in New Zealand. The cherry on top was that they were not true gods anymore. They were some energy or force that needed mortal vessels to survive until Odin found Frigg, properly, and transported all of them to Asgard to be their true god selves.

That's where everything went south for her.

New Zealand was amazing! The local gods weren't intimidated by her and understood that she wasn't there to eradicate them. She was just trying to enjoy a few years of vacations, maybe. She was still traveling to the netherworld periodically to take care of things, as well as being on call when a major inconvenience resulted in a traffic jam at the gates of her realm.

Loving law as much as she did, her cover was a law firm. She had always been keen on knowledge, there was nothing that escaped her. It was fun, this pretending to be mortal. She wasn't expecting to meet Anders Johnson and feel the infatuation rushing over her, though.

She wanted him to belong to her. For all eternity.

No matter what the myths said —they were just stories written by mortals with few pieces of truth— she had never been infatuated by a mortal before and no, she had not abducted anyone. She most certainly was not about to start now.

Anders was witty and charming and handsome and smart and ambitious and– He had his defects, of course, but after all her existence she had seen way worst mortals, and do not get her started with the gods! Nonetheless, she wasn't going to do anything about it. She saw him first on his twenty-first birthday, the moment he held the family sword in the air, and BOOM he became Bragi's vessel. His jacket had been ruined, though, and he was very upset about it.

At some point, their paths crossed when she wasn't paying attention. She felt the presence of Heimdallr just before her body crashed with Anders on the street, so he might've been the one to blame. She had been so tempted to accept Anders' flirtatious behavior… but no, she mustn't. What she wanted, as a god, was him; all of him for eternity, and she knew that he was not going to give her that. She helped him with his business, however. As a lawyer, she had pretty influential clients that needed public relations management, and so she provided Anders with them.

Maybe the fact that she didn't budge to Anders' advances made him desire her more. Maybe it was because he could feel her power and was pulled by it. Maybe it was because she was way too smart and well-spoken, too successful to look so young. The exact reason was unknown to her, but in the end, it didn't matter, he kept talking to her and she kept falling and falling for him. Her infatuation became love, caring, worry, devotion… She knew he would never be truly interested in her, and he was still a mortal whose soul would never belong to an ancient god from the Mediterranean when he had been born a Kiwi and was the vessel to a Norse god. It was a forbidden and impossible love. Also unrequited, mind you.

Living surrounded by mortals gave her time to read their romantic novels and watch their romantic comedies. She knew what she was talking about.

So, anyways, the ups and downs in New Zealand led her to be in the bar that belonged to Mike Johnson as the whole family was reunited and enjoying some drinks. The bar had a bunch of mortals enjoying themselves as well. As far as she knew, Axl —Odin's vessel— had suffered from a strong illness that nearly killed them all. There were some sore spots among the brothers, something money-related, but Anders was back after so fucking long being away that she couldn't help the amount of happiness that boiled under her skin. That's her excuse if someone asked her about how it was possible that a true ancient god, one of the most powerful of them all, did not notice the demigod within the crowd.

She approached the bar asking for a drink. Sjöfn's vessel, Michele, was flirting with Mike who was serving drinks. Ty was arguing with Anders and Axl about something that got them laughing. There was also Stacey, Fulla's vessel, sharing some drinks with the oracles Olaf and Ingrid; Baldr, and Snotra respectively. Anders left his brothers to accompany her on the counter.

"You have some parasite on your face," she joked.

Anders caressed his beard, "You don't like it?"

"I like it more than the fact that my clients called me complaining about J: PR closing and forcing them to look for someone else, just to backpedal in the last moment."

"Right. I could say I have an explanation for that, but both of us know that it would be a lie."

"A humongous one."

"So… How about I treat you to dinner as an apology?" He flirted with those beautiful blue eyes fixed on hers.

Pressing her lips together to prevent a smile that came out anyway, she leaned into his personal space, "And give you the chance to lure me into pestering my clients to give you another chance? Hum… What is in there for me?"

He smiled involuntarily. She knew when that happened because Anders tried to sober his expression almost immediately; too afraid of showing what was inside of his well-built facade. He was about to say something else when the long limb of his baby brother hooked his shoulders. Axl gave her a sweet smile and introduced himself. Ty was right behind him too pleased with himself.

They were talking about nonsense when it happened.

Fuck, she should've noticed that there was a demigod within the crowd.

This demigod stabbed Axl right under his ribs. Two stabs on the back before turning him over and stabbing him three more times, throwing him to the grown and stabbing him one last time under the collarbone. All too fast and clinic. With a maniac smile, the demigod locked eyes with her.

The mortals had run away. Ty and Anders assisted his baby brother, trying to stop the bleeding with their hands while Mike did his best to go from the other side of the counter to where the demigod was.

"Odin will be no more." The demigod laughed. Mike tried to get a grab of them but in a blink, they had disappeared.

"I'm calling the ambulance!" yelled Stacey.

"Axl! Axl, don't close your eyes." His brothers were pleading.

Mike was looking at the scene in pure shock unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"The ambulance won't do," she whispered in defeat. Now she could see what the demigod wanted to accomplish, and oh boy, they had succeeded. "His wounds are mortal. Axl will die in a few minutes."

"You don't know that!!" Ty yelled at her. Anders was pressing his brother's abdomen; the blood leaking between his fingers, slick and unstoppable.

"I do know, actually. As with him dying in front of me, I am the one who has to collect his soul. Not only Axl's, but Odin's too as his mortal body is a vessel." The gods looked at her unable to find their words. "We all know what that means for you. The moment his heart stops beating, there would be a big catastrophe and you will all die. Without exception. If you don't want to belong to me, you better start running."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Mike blurted out.

"Who are you? Are you Hel again?" Ingrid inquired.

"Something worse, I'm afraid." Her skin started to glow with a bluish tone, her clothes merged into a greek robe in dark blue with shiny silver details, and her hair transformed into flames, also blue. Her eyes were now completely white while looking at the gods in front of her. "Hades is one of my names. And your souls do not belong to me. Technically. If you die in front of me, then you're mine. For eternity. That means that Odin's soul will be collected and deposited in the netherworld that belongs to me. He would never reincarnate again. No more Asgard. This means your extinction."

"Then leave!! If you have to take him if he dies in front of him just leave and–" Ingrid pleaded.

"Mortal wounded is as good as dead. He. Belongs. To. Me." The earth began to tremble. "You are going to die too, I'm afraid, but you still have a shot if you leave. Your own gods would take care of both, your soul and the one of your god. If not, you will belong to me as well."

Using her words as a cue, Michele ran out of the bar as far away from her as she could. Ty shook his head, Axl's one resting on his lap fighting to breathe. The time was running out. Stacey glanced at Olaf and Ingrid in terror, he made them a sign and both women left as well.

"We're not leaving him to die alone," Olaf stated soberer than he had ever been.

The trembling became an earthquake.

"Aïdi," Anders whispered the name for which he knew her. "Hades…" He corrected; pale and sad. It broke her heart. Anders stopped pressing Axl's wounds and got up. His eyes were bloodshot, and wet with tears; his look was determined. "You are known for being a compassionate god of the dead. A fair judge of the living. Only–" he cleaned his cheek from the tears with the sleeve of his shirt. "The only line that cannot be crossed with you is your possessions. And right now there are two souls here that belong to you no matter what. Nobody said they have to be Axl's."

"What are you talking about? He's the one dying!!" Mike spat offended about Anders talking now that everything was lost. Anders just waved him off closing the distance to Hades, looking directly into those white eyes as the most dangerous of the abyss.

"I propose you a deal. An exchange. My souls for Axl's."

That was… unexpected. Hades crocked her head to the side slightly.

"Anders!!" yelled Ty getting out of his stupor.

"If Axl dies we all die, but if I do then they survive, don't they? And no more catastrophe."

Above the voices from the Johnsons furiously complaining about Anders' decision and the chaos and confusion from the second earthquake from outside, she talked just for him. "If you do this, there won't be a way out. You will be mine. You will belong to me for all eternity. That's a lot of time, Anders." She held her hand up, close to his chest, barely touching him. "There's no way back from this."

"I, Anders Johnson, and Bragi's vessel on Earth will belong to you from now to eternity."

With that, said in a solemn voice echoed by Bragi's, Anders closed the distance between him and Hades' hand. The moment she touched him in the chest, the air from his lungs disappeared. A burning sensation, cold and short, stroked his body from head to toe focusing on his chest. He went dizzy losing the balance of his body, but when he blinked she was gone. The earth had stopped trembling and Axl… Axl was still covered in blood, although there was no sign of wounds in his body.

Anders looked at himself, completely dumbfounded to still be alive. Mike dragged him into a strong hug. His hands dug into the muscles of Anders' back. He had been so scared. Anders' knees gave up and neither Mike nor Olaf were able to keep him standing. The blond hovered over Axl, who looked exhausted and yellowish due to the loss of blood. His baby brother gifted him with a sad smile.

"That was kind of cool," Axl whispered.

"Why on Earth did you do that?" Ty questioned with tears in his eyes, still unable to manage the profound sorrow that had surrendered his body. "Anders, why did you do that?"

"What? Did you really expect me to just let us all die?" He laughed showing self-loathing. "Although you better stop saying that 'for once in your life' bullshit, Ty. I fucking saved your life."

"Why are you still alive, though?" Olaf inquired.

He didn't have the answer, not the energy to respond. His dizziness got worse and Anders finally decided to lie down next to a recovering Axl. Some fuzziness and itchiness in his chest made him open the buttons of his shirt; he hissed as his fingers brushed against his skin. Straightening up, supporting his weight on his elbows, Anders looked down to his chest where an ancient mark had appeared in silver ink. He looked up to the others, who frowned in concern.

Whatever the reason why he was still alive did not mean that he did not belong to Aïdi; to Hades. 

To be continued in Chapter Two

#deanobingo2023 #anders johnson #anders johnson x oc #original character #fem!hades #hades #bragi #the almighty johnsons #fanfiction #fanfic #dean o'gorman #dean ogorman #hurt #blood #fiction #recovery #gods

[essayofthoughts]

I would love to know what your Delia AU is about? It sounds very interesting!

Oh, sure! You can find some of it on AO3 Here (I've posted roughly the first half of the first arc, and I'm working on the second half of it right now as well as the next arc of Ghost Cass) but it's kind of a spinoff of my old Ripley's Assistant AU, and both AUs have warnings attached.

The premise of Ripley's Assistant is that Professor Anders isn't Percy's tutor - it's Doctor Ripley. And, well... Ripley is utilitarian and mercenary and isn't one to let something useful go to waste - so she saves Percy because having him around makes refining the whitestone into residuum easier and faster and means she's freed up to dabble in her own experiments. And, in turn - Percy's whole family is dead and all he's got left is his tutor who he admires and who (as far as he knows) saved his life, so he gets a bit codependent.

The rest of this is going under a cut because it gets more than a bit fucky and not everyone is down for that. For anyone wondering, the content warnings are: Ripley, manipulation, emotional abuse, dubious consent and abusive relationships.

The tl;dr is that Percy kind of feels in love with Ripley because of her lies and manipulation and the fact that as far as he knows she saved his life - she is the one person he feels safe with and the one person from before he has left, and his continued life kind of hinges on keeping her happy. This all circles around to a very unhealthy relationship which Percy is eager for, Ripley isn't opposed to, and which Ripley absolutely leverages to better manipulate Percy. Arc 1 of RA ends with Percy realising and killing Ripley due to Cass' return to Whitestone; Arc 2 and 3 are about how easy it is to get caught up in toxic relationships/fall back into those unhealthy dynamics, and the healing process from that.

That is the grounding needed to then explain Delia AU.

The Delia AU is much like Ripley's Assistant in the premise, except that due to various things, Ripley is the one initiating the relationship with Percy - though due to all of the fuckery, Percy is not opposed - and they have a kid.

The kid is a daughter named (by Percy) Cordelia - Delia for short.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it doesn't take long for Percy to realise that not only is Anna Ripley a terrible mother, she's also a terrible person, and may in fact know a lot more than she's been letting on and oh wait, things are so much worse than he thought.

So in Delia AU, Percy is actually aware of what's going on from a lot earlier, and is able to have a bit more autonomy on certain things! But the thing is, due to the circumstances, this doesn't necessarily make any of it any better.

Arc1 of Delia AU will end at the end of the Briarwood Arc, and it's Arcs 2 & 3 will also be about Percy's healing process, getting to know Vox Machina, and also a lot more of Delia herself. Because I love this little OC baby, she's very endearing.

#Delia AU #crithaus #ask

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

[half agony, half hope] ch1: the night before, there was a thunderstorm

ch1 | ch2 | ch3 | ch4 Read on AO3

Pairings: Warden!Carver/Merrill Rating: M [for future sexual content] Summary: Merrill had every reason to reject Carver the night before the Deep Roads expedition, as much as it… Creators, as much as she didn’t want to. Carver left her home that night, and she hasn't seen him since. He has a new life with the Grey Wardens now, and Merrill's accepted that their friendship, and the chance to be more, has ended.

But, five years later, Hawke comes to the Hanged Man with some exciting news: Carver's coming home.

Note: I've worked on this long, self-indulgent, multi-chapter story of mine for what feels like ages. It's loosely based on Jane Austen's Persuasion; the basic premise of two people who were in love break up after a persuaded rejection then reunite years later, and the story title is a nod to it. It's set between acts 2 & 3, and Carver's a Grey Warden serving in Fereldan... because we need more fics with Warden Carver. So I hope y'all enjoy the first chapter!

Also HUGE thank you to @pi-creates for beta-reading and putting up with my nonsense in writing this fic!

-x-

A pretty evening, one not long after Merrill first left her clan to settle in the alienage of Lowtown, ingrained itself in her memory for the past five years. To think so much time had passed and yet she could recall it all verbatim.

No matter how many hours she sat before the eluvian, focus trained to repair the mirror with so little progress, or how often she distracted herself with the companionship of her friends in the Hanged Man over drinks and cards… there always came that moment.

It usually struck her when she spent too much time cooped up in her home, eyes sore and mana drained from every desperate attempt to make the eluvian work. That night would rush through her mind like adrenaline in blood.

The heavy onslaught of angry rain against her door, and the even angrier rumblings that shook all of Kirkwall. Gooseflesh that spread along her damp skin, prickled at the heat of fingers on her cheek. The way her breath caught. Heart pounded. Butterflies trembled in her belly.

Those soft brown eyes, reflective like a polished tiger’s eye stone, that peered down at her through dark lashes.

The scent of wet dirt and steamy tea, and something else so familiar that Merrill couldn’t describe it as anything other than as him.

“Merrill…?”

Five years ago, the Hawke brothers, as well as Anders and Varric, went on an expedition to the Deep Roads.

The night before, there was a thunderstorm.

Unassuming as it was at first, the air flowed with in an electric gust that carried the warning of the impending rain. They’d gone to the Wounded Coast in search of replenishing Merrill’s stock of embrium, elfroot, and what other herbs and greens she could find. She hadn’t expected Carver to offer his company for the trip; surely he had much to do before such an expedition, and he still chose to spend that time with her.

Kirkwall tended to be so dull and dusty that Merrill welcomed the rain, but Carver hadn’t shared her enthusiasm.

“Haven’t you heard?” he had asked, glaring up at the sky. “Fereldan dogs don’t like to get wet.”

“I thought it was cats who don’t like getting wet? I wonder why. It’s not like a little rain hurts anyone, unless it falls into your eye, I suppose. Or you catch a cold and die. But you’re not a dog and… Wait. Oh, that was dirty, wasn’t it?”

“What? No!” Her playful accusation made him trip over a loose rock. He paused. “…Not intentionally.”

“Then you do like to get wet?”

“Merrill!”

A giggle had bubbled up out of her at the way he blushed when he scolded her, biting his lip to suppress a grin. But one look at her and he was laughing, too.

Carver had the sweetest dimples when he smiled. She remembered them fondly, and had even poked them a few times. But only when he was extra grumpy and needed cheering up. To be the one who made him smile like that gave Merrill the strangest rush. She made him lose composure. She flustered him.

It was only fair; he made her heart race just the same.

The two of them spent a lot of time together back then, whether they were following Edgar all over Kirkwall, or just enjoying each other’s company over drinks and cards—which both of them were terrible at—in the Hanged Man. He hadn’t been the most talkative, especially when compared to his brother, but Merrill never understood the scorn he tended to receive within their little group.

Oh yes, he could be rather surly and grumpy, and he could bicker with just about everyone. But he was quiet with her. Kind. Awkward at times, but so was she. Carver was reserved in such a curious way, yet passionate when he allowed himself to be. Merrill hadn’t many friends when she first arrived, but she counted him as one of her closest. He made her happy, and… there was a loneliness in him that she recognized, and their friendship…

They hadn’t made it back to Lowtown before the rain hit with full force. Drenched, they ran through the muddy streets against the sharp onslaught of wind. Merrill laughed gleefully the entire way, splashing around in the puddles until mud slathered her feet and leggings. Carver followed close, less thrilled about all the mud, with arms raised above his head to shield himself as best he could. Many colorful swears were shouted.

They were both breathless by the time they made it inside Merrill’s home, a sad pair of sopping friends tracking water and mud on the wooden floor. She didn’t mind, though, and insisted he wait the storm out with her.

He initially refused to remove his shirt or pants even though the material clung to him uncomfortably. Merrill didn't have anything for him to wear, but she was hardly disturbed by the idea of seeing him undressed, and reassured him so. That didn't help, but eventually she coaxed him out of his shirt. He accepted the blue blanket she offered, quickly covering up by the fire. Humans were strange about their bodies, she learned.

Merrill made them tea and grabbed her own blanket. Together they sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, but Carver was quieter than usual.

“Are you nervous? About the Deep Roads?”

“A little.”

“You and Eddie will come back in one piece. Varric and Anders, too. If any darkspawn tries to bite you, you’ll just stab them!”

“Right.”

Maybe Merrill should’ve known. She missed things, sometimes.

Carver refused to look at her, instead staring into the fire, deep in thought. The way she watched droplets fall from his hair and run over his jawline, down his neck, one might think it was the most interesting thing in the world. It sort of was. Strangely.

Merrill bumped his shoulder with hers and tried to offer him an encouraging smile, but the contact only caused him to take a sharp inhale. He clutched the blanket around himself tightly.

“Merrill?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve been thinking about some things. We’re leaving tomorrow, and I don’t know when we’ll be back. I… do you—I mean, have you ever...”

Carver swore under his breath, and wiped at his face. When he twisted around to face her, the frown he wore was different. As if it were directed at her, but more… frustrated. Desperate.

“Look, Merrill, I want—I was wondering if you ever… thought about me?”

Yes. More than she ever should’ve.

By Andruil, she still did.

But confused, she had replied, “Sure. Usually, I wonder if I’ve said something wrong to you. I haven’t, have I?”

“No, nothing wrong, I just mean….” He broke their shared gaze to peer down at the wooden floor, and in a quiet voice, one much softer than usual, said, “…I think about you.”

“Oh? Good things, I hope?”

Stupid, stupid Merrill.

He smiled at her then, a small one. Those dimples revealed themselves.

“Yes. Good things. You—” Carver paused, staring at her before tilting his head. “Uh, you have mud on your face.”

“Oh?” Merrill moved to rub it away, though she imagined she had mud on more than just her face with how many puddles she splashed in. "Did I get it?"

"No, other side, uh," Carver hesitated before lifting a hand, and asked, “May I?”

Merrill hadn’t expected his gentle touch to make her nerves sing. His thumb started at her temple, smoothing specks of dirt away, all while Merrill peered up at him with big eyes. Heat bloomed across her cheeks when his hand moved to wipe away dirt by the corner of her mouth.

An inconsequential flash of light outside. Distant thunder.

The blanket fell off his shoulder, exposing part of his bare chest. Merrill's hands twitched, an urge to reach out and run her fingers over the thin, fine hair that grew there.

Carver had made her nervous before. Not in a bad way, of course, but in that she worried she’d said something wrong and offended him. That she'd done something to make him not like her anymore. But this nervous feeling was different. It pooled in her belly, and pumped her heart faster. She was all too aware of how close they were in that moment.

He paused his movements, but didn’t remove his hand. Merrill was supposed to say something; a thank you, a comment on how kind he was, or one on how she thought only dwarves grew hair on their chests; a note on how the glow of the fireplace bounced off his tanned skin and danced in his eyes beautifully, something.

But for once, even Merrill couldn’t find the words to ramble like she did.

Then Carver’s gaze drifted down.

Settled on her lips.

His brow softened. Mouth parted to speak, but no words came. His thumb caressed her cheek.

The realization hit. A gasp caught in her throat. Merrill shuddered. Their breaths mingled as he drew closer.

Slow. Cautious.

She didn’t pull away.

Those eyes, pupils blown, met hers with a silent question, one she didn’t know how to answer. She couldn’t think. The warmth of his hand nearly stung as the heat spread through her veins to pump her heart faster and harder.

The way he looked at her. Eyes fluttered shut. Deep inhale.

Earthy rain.

Him.

Carver’s nose brushed hers.  Her name barely above a whisper.

“Merrill…?”

His top lip, feather-light, grazed hers, ooh—

A clap of thunder.

A gasp, and Merrill jerked away.

Carver immediately leaned back, too.

“Oh, uhm, well,” she stuttered out, scrambling to her feet with the blanket pooling around her ankles. Merrill wasn’t just at a loss for words as her thoughts raced so dizzyingly fast, it was like she never knew words at all in that moment.

Carver had nearly kissed her, and Merrill couldn’t untangle why he’d want to do such a thing, but more so—she nearly let him.

Creators, she wanted him to kiss her.

Upon looking back, she couldn’t believe she’d been so oblivious, not just to his feelings but to the affection she held for him in return. That she wanted him to kiss her—no, that Merrill wanted him to hold her against his chest while he kissed her deeply, to feel his hands everywhere and to lay her against the blankets on the floor... it terrified her.

In that moment, she said nothing as it all washed over her. Carver remained on the floor, face scarlet with shame.

“I…” he seemed to be at a loss, as well, yet he found his voice before she did. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I thought—I should’ve—” Then he was on his feet, still clutching his blanket around him. He sighed, though it nearly sounded like a wince. “I should’ve asked if I could—I didn’t mean… shit.”  

More thunder roared outside, but neither noticed.  

Merrill stared at the floor, and managed out, “It’s okay.”

 They stood in silence for what felt like forever, only the drum of rain against the roof to fill the silence.

Carver shook his head and began to pace.

“I’m sorry,” he said once more. “But Merrill, I…” The more he struggled, the more exasperated he became. “I care for you. A lot. Very much. You’re probably the closest friend I have. Shit, sometimes it feels like—like you’re my only friend here and you’re… Maker’s breath, you’re brilliant, and funny, and beautiful. I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

She could hardly believe him, yet he spoke so sincerely. Not even she could mistake the meaning of his words. Wet heat prickled behind her eyes. 

“And I was wondering,” he continued as he drew closer. Merrill had to tilt her head back to look at him given how tall he was, blinking back tears. Something she never heard in his voice wavered his words; a trepid vulnerability as he asked, “Do you—could you ever feel the same way? About me?”

No matter how many times she replayed all of this in her mind years later, how she justified her decision, the regret still lingered inside her.

“I’m sorry, Carver.”

Merrill had every reason to reject Carver that night, as much as it… Creators, as much as she didn’t want to.

She could admit that to herself now.

But the Keeper’s voice whispered in her ear, admonishing such things with a tight fist wrapped around her heart. The Keeper would never approve, and her clan would have even more reason to despise her. To hold such affection for a human went against everything Merrill was brought up to know. Anything she might’ve felt for Carver couldn’t be real.  

It’s a keeper’s job to remember; she’s supposed to preserve who they are as the elvhen. 

Back then, she still held onto a thread of hope that if they could just see—if they would just listen to her and trust that everything she did was for the people, they would welcome her back with the love she knew they could hold.

But five years later, the clan still remained at Sundermount, and with more contempt of her than she could wrap her head around. The Keeper, the woman Merrill could closest call “mother,” made sure the clan remained cold. It killed poor Pol, and with his death came reality; the Keeper wouldn’t ever listen to her, and the clan wouldn’t ever welcome her back… not even if she did fix the eluvian, proved herself strong and clever and worthy of a keeper’s position.

Merrill spent too much time shoving those feelings aside to dark corners with plans of leaving them untouched. She told herself that she did care for Carver, but could not love him, not romantically. Even though he too was one of her closest friends, and he listened to her ramblings and never made her feel stupid for it. He explained human things that puzzled her and often helped her with things around her humble home. He went on scavenging trips with her and sometimes brought her things like flowers or pretty stones because they reminded him of her, and he thought she’d like them.

Thoughts of brushing the dark hair from his face as they sat there that night, of tangling her fingers in it as she kissed him… to push the blanket off his shoulders and confess she thought of him, too. Maybe she wouldn’t have been completely sure about a relationship, but if taken slow...

Merrill wished she had stopped him from leaving. That she'd grabbed his still damp shirt before he did, and asked him to stay... just a little longer...

But Merrill’s remorse didn’t stop there. She held her rejection of him close to her heart, but even closer she held the day after; the day Carver, Edgar, Anders and Varric left for the Deep Roads. She had intended to see them off, to wish them luck and say goodbye.

But Carver’s hurt was clear as he accepted her answer, and Merrill believed he wouldn’t want to see her. She didn’t want to make things awkward, and…

She should’ve gone.

Why didn’t she just go?

Carver left her home that night into the pouring rain and she hasn't seen him since.

Merrill had the chance to see him and the others off for the expedition and she didn’t go. She knew it’d be uncomfortable for both of them, and she had assumed… she assumed he’d come back. Carver would come back, and they would talk then. They would work it out. Remain friends. And maybe...

But he didn’t come back.

Edgar broke the news the night he, Anders, and Varric returned to Kirkwall. He stood there in her home, exhausted in every sense of the word, and told her Carver caught the blight. He was taken away by the Grey Wardens.

He didn’t know if he’d ever come back.

Merrill tried not to cry, not when Edgar himself was on the verge of tears, but it all overwhelmed her. The disbelief. The hurt, the regret. Anger drowned down by grief. The way Edgar, who wore his confidence well and always had his wit prepared, stood before her looking lost for the first time since she’d known him… not a single clever word on his tongue.

For three months, no one knew if Carver survived.

A terrible, awful three months.

It was only when Anders wrote to the Hero of Fereldan that they got their answer: Carver survived, and had agreed to serve under Warden-Commander Rosalie Tabris in Fereldan, at Vigil’s Keep.

Merrill wanted to write him. Wanted to talk to him. See him. Apologize. Tell him the truth, and…

No. It didn’t matter anymore.

To know he lived was enough.

Merrill could dwell on it all she wanted. Nothing would come of it.

Couldn’t.

Carver was a Grey Warden. He had a new life. Without her.

And Merrill lied to herself every time she was reminded of him: she’s okay with that. 

#dragon age 2 #carver hawke #da2 merrill #carver/merrill #carver x merrill #dragon age fanfiction #da2

[skrtl]

Girl, the way you are filling my feed with all this Ivan & Patrick is just… Something I didn’t know I needed in my life. Many many thanks. Mouto obligato.

OMG anon, i am literally obsessed!!!!!!

It was only a random rec in my feed and then there it was: Iván all charming speaking Portuguese being cool and looking fresh and now i’m in love. Like!!!! He’s this beautiful emotional honest sassy Brazilian speaking Spanish like he owns it all while wearing his heart on his sleeve and I AM IN LOVE!!!!!

I’ve been watching them everyday for two weeks now like WHAT IS MY LIFE?!?!

I’ve never watched elite even though i watched Omar and Ander, but these two have made me watch season 5 with all the craziness with Cruz and Ari, which somehow, for some unknown reason, doesn’t bother me!!!

And I need more and there’s no fic of them and it’s driving me nuts… like. I can’t be the only one obsessing about these two?!?!

WHERE ARE THE FICS????

Where’s all the content? I am gjdnhfhfhfdjsifhghidj please fans gimme patrick x iván content otherwise i am gonna die until next season i cannot live on canon of 8 eps!!!

#patrick x ivan #ivan carvalho #patrick blanco commerford #andre lamoglia #manu ríos #elite season 5 #fanfiction

[persephoneggsy]

Now that I’m on my (xx)-teenth replay of DA2, I’ve been having thoughts on Marian Hawke’s relationships.

Varric (Rival): They’re not exactly friends. Oh, Varric tried, but Marian’s extremely antagonistic and selfish attitude made it pretty hard to stick up for her in a lot of situations. He doesn’t like how her instinct is always to fight first; like seriously, the woman has no sense of tact. Sure, there are times he finds her fun to have around (mostly when she’s threatening someone he doesn’t particularly like), but on the whole, they don’t get along. Doesn’t stop him from basing characters on her, though, and that’s Marian’s main gripe with him. The thinly-veiled “Marielle” character from Hard in Hightown is absolutely nothing like her; she’s more like what Varric wishes she was like (though Marian is more upset at how Varric portrayed the characters based off of Carver and Sebastian). Don’t get her started on “The Tale of the Champion”, she absolutely despises it. She never gave Varric permission to write down her life story, much less sell it so OTHER people can read about her, and the fucker made a lot of shit up because she barely had him around enough for him to know what really happened. After the book comes out, she refuses to even speak to Varric. The only thing that manages to break this is when Varric writes to her about Corypheus, but even then, she prefers not to speak to him at all when she’s at Skyhold. To Varric’s credit, he gets it. He finally leaves her alone.

Anders (Rival): She’s immediately on edge around Anders since the first thing he wants her to do is fight Templars and break a mage out of the Circle. And, you know, he's also technically an abomination. Marian, someone who looks out for herself and her family, doesn’t give too much of a shit about the plight of mages (or rather, she’d just prefer to not think about it), so naturally Anders finds her frustrating, especially since she herself IS a mage. They’ve gotten into a lot of arguments over the years, mostly started by Anders pestering her; Marian is content to ignore him whenever possible. She also hates his whole “you were luckier than most mages” thing he keeps telling her. She knows she was, but he doesn’t know her life, and even if things were better, they still weren’t good. The one point of credit she does give him is that he offers free healing to the downtrodden — Marian acknowledges he’s better than her in that regard (she’s a healer, and a better one than him, but she’d absolutely charge money for her services). However, after the events of "Dissent", she can't stand him anymore and sends him away.

Merrill (Rival): Honestly, Marian found her a bit annoying at first, and Merrill’s use of blood magic didn’t help improve her opinion of her. But for the most part, Merrill’s sort of a neutral presence to have around, and Marian gets used to her over time. For her part, Merrill finds Marian fascinating but equally aggravating. Since in my headcanon, Merrill becomes close friends with Sebastian, she can’t really understand why he likes Marian as much as he does, but she acknowledges that they both seem good for each other. Also, because Marian softens up towards Act 3, she makes more of an effort to befriend Merrill, due to her being Sebastian’s best friend. She takes a more active role in looking out for her — they’re still by the game’s logic “rivals”, because there was no way Marian trusted that whole eluvian thing so she didn’t give Merrill the tool she needed to fix it, but they have a lot of conversations afterwards that sort of mend that rift.

Fenris (Friend): He’s actually Marian’s best friend. They’re both brooding, aggressive assholes. He’s the only person who doesn’t give her shit for her attitude and even encourages her at times, so she finds him easier to talk to. Fenris likes having her around, too, since she never gets on his case about his feelings towards magic unlike some OTHER mages he knows. Soon enough, Marian is confiding in him, and he in her. He’s the first person she tells about her growing crush on Sebastian (though he knows her well enough by that point that he already guessed she had a Thing for him). They can communicate pretty much exclusively through grunts and eye contact, to the confusion of most people around them.

Isabela (Rival): They got along well enough, at first. Isabela thought Marian was a riot, though like Varric, she though she could use more tact. Marian thought Isabela was fine, she just wished she would stop flirting with her. Then the Tome of Koslun thing was revealed and Marian was PISSED. She hates that Isabela lied to all of them for years, she hates that she was stupid enough to steal a religious relic from the fucking Qunari, she hates that she was inadvertently protecting the reason the Qunari were stuck in Kirkwall for so long. Marian absolutely despises the Qunari and hated dealing with them (though ironically she earned the Arishok’s respect), so she ended up blaming Isabela for that, too. So it was kind of a shock that Marian didn’t let the Arishok take Isabela when she returned with the Tome. She was tempted to, but she didn’t want to give the Arishok anything else. They never really recover from the incident. She also doesn’t help Isabela get her new ship (I’m not letting a goddamn slaver walk away just so you can have a new ship, seriously.)

Aveline (Rival): Honestly, they don’t interact much, because I think it’s weird that the captain of the guard would go traipsing around old dwarven ruins and the sewers with Marian and her gang of rabble-rousers. They have more a professional type relationship, with Aveline calling in Marian if she needs something done that the guard can’t normally handle on their own. Marian doesn’t care because she gets paid. She helps Aveline with Donnic, though, because at the time she was asked, she was still dealing with her apparently “hopeless” crush on a certain chantry brother. So she figures, shit, someone in this shithole city deserves to be happy, even if it’s Aveline. She’s (rightfully) furious with Aveline after the whole “All That Remains” incident, but I think she doesn’t take it as personally because they’re not friends. She does start charging more for her services afterwards, and I think Aveline feels guilty enough that she doesn’t protest that.

Sebastian (Friend): I think I’ve gone on enough about Marian and Sebastian that I don’t really need to elaborate on how they feel about each other. I will say, that due to Sebastian’s influence, Marian becomes much more “diplomatic” (though not completely. She’s still a bitch at heart ❤️). She lets herself be vulnerable and remorseful, in large part thanks to his counsel. Maybe enough so that she tries to repair some of her bad relationships (like Merrill, and I think she tries to smooth things over with her mother and later uncle Gamlen, too). On his end, I think Marian’s influence makes Sebastian bolder and more assured. I like the idea of these two polar opposites finding each other and helping each other heal, even taking on some of the other’s traits (though ultimately remaining themselves at their core).

(Bonus) Tallis: Marian hates Tallis. You can’t say shit like “I think you’d be happy under the Qun” to a mage (you know, they people whose mouths they sew shut) and expect her to just be chill with you afterwards. Plus, you know, she misled Marian about the Heart, got her captured, and still had the audacity to ask for her help without explaining what was really going on.

#marian hawke #female hawke #pardon the word wall i had a lot of feelings when i woke up this morning lol #so yeah she rivals just about everyone save three people #her brother her bestie and her lover #sometimes i alternate between friend and rival for sebastian bc i love both paths #but if you friendmance him you get married and he gets the very funny 'brother' banter with carver soooo #sebhawke #gonna tag this as #varric critical #isabela critical #anders critical #aveline critical #tallis critical #just in case

[spainkitty]

I saw this amazing picrew that a blog I just started following used to make all their OCs. I just HAD to do it, too. (I started with all my DA girls, but it kinda spiraled, anyway) @merrybandofmurderers thank you so much for your content🤣 My sleep and ADHD don't thank you, but *I* do.

The "Canon" Girlies

Aleandria Cousland(-Theirin)- Age 19-20; Mabari: Toby; charismatic, persuasive, and determined. She saved as many lives as possible, forgave almost unforgivable trespasses, and saved the world and perhaps a very Old Soul. She would do anything to help her friends, willing to break laws, sacrifice limb and life, and even give up a throne if they asked it of her. While she refused to give in to the need for personal revenge, she felt overwhelming relief when Howe & Loghain died.

Class: Archer Warrior & Templar (Favored Weapon: Misery longbow & Cousland sword & shield)

Love Interest: Alistair

Best friends: Morrigan, Leliana, & Anders (and she really liked and respected Justice fuck you bioware).

Erin Hawke- Age 24-31; Mabari: Falcon; firstly, she thinks she's hilarious. She's cunning and fast, always ready for a quip and a fight. While pro-mage, she takes her title of Champion seriously and did everything she could to mitigate damage and keep the peace. It took looking at the Chantry's rubble, the immediate regret for her initial reaction at Anders' decision, and finally her sister's heartfelt plea, for her to stop straddling the line of protector and true rebel, and later fugitive.

Class: Shadow Rogue, dual wielding daggers, poison-user

Love Interests: (prev) Isabela, Anders (fugitives together)

Best friends: Isabela, Bethany, Varric.

Unfortunately, Fenris died by Hawke's hand when he joined the Templars. We don't like thinking about this, I'm still crying.

Lanil (Surana) Lavellan- Age: 30. Willful. Powerful. Ruthless. Although she lost her entire memory to the Nightmare, she regained her earliest memories of the Ferelden Circle & how she remade herself in the Clan when they accepted her after she escaped during the Blight. She learned to care deeply about her culture and doing the right thing for her People. The Inquisition would be her tool to continue helping them, and mages, across Thedas. She learns empathy and kindness slowly and painfully with the help of her Inquisition companions. (She secretly loves pranks and is a huge horsegirl. Favored mount: Reckless the Green Dales Feral.)

Class: Rift Mage (Spirit & Storm; Sceptor of Razikale)

Love Interest: Cullen (Mabari: Fetch)

Best friends: Dorian, the Iron Bull(ouch), Cassandra, & Varric. Solas is her special snowflake friend and she is enamored of the Fade thanks largely to him.

Unfortunately, her journey was not fast enough for her to choose to save the Chargers, believing that the power of the Qun was more useful to her ends. She blames herself entirely for what happened with the Iron Bull and this experience is what makes her choose to forgive and save Solas in the end. +Hardened!Divine Leliana.

#so hard to be brief #mygod did you need to lay out all this info? #yes yes i did becuz I LOVE THEM #DA Girlies #dragon age oc #kitty writes a thing #DA Cousland #DA Hawke #DA Lavellan #long post

[ashereadsstuff]

'Ander & Santi Were Here' By: Jonny Garza Villa

I received an ARC from Wednesday Books through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Rating out of 5:⭐⭐⭐.5

Release Date: April 25, 2023

Content Warnings: Racism, Deportation, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Sexual Content, Violence, Trafficking

——————————————————————————

SYNOPSIS:

Finding home. Falling in love. Fighting to belong.

The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Lopez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce. The mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially their job at their family's taquería. It's the place that has inspired Ander as a muralist, and, as they get ready to leave for art school, it's all of these things that give them hesitancy. That give them the thought, are they ready to leave it all behind?

To keep Ander from becoming complacent during their gap year, their family "fires" them so they can transition from restaurant life to focusing on their murals and prepare for college. That is, until they meet Santiago Garcia, the hot new waiter. Falling for each other becomes as natural as breathing. Through Santi's eyes, Ander starts to understand who they are and want to be as an artist, and Ander becomes Santi's first steps toward making Santos Vista and the United States feel like home.

Until ICE agents come for Santi, and Ander realizes how fragile that sense of home is. How love can only hold on so long when the whole world is against them. And when, eventually, the world starts to win.

——————————————————————————

MY REVIEW:

I received an electronic ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

This book was...Something

Even though the book was a little slow for my taste and I have a short attention span (take that as you will), I did like the book, and the amount of diversity was fucking great and made every character fun and interesting to read about. But there were times where the dialogue annoyed me or sounded like something a person wouldn’t say in real life; it was sometimes written like how an alien thinks 20-ish-year-old humans talk. There were also many pop culture references that were amusing at first but quickly became annoying and cringey. I thought that the Spanish incorporated into the book was nice, but there is no translation for the Spanish. It would be nice to include the translations in footnotes or in parentheses. As someone who is bilingual, I understand that sometimes English can not really emphasize the urgency of some words and phrases, and being a minority is very important for the characters and the plot, but people still need to understand what the characters are saying. Given the subject matter of this book, some of the conflicts seemed to be resolved far too quickly. And this book definitely didn’t feel like a YA book considering how many times it references sex and that the main characters are literally adults as well.

At first, I thought everyone should read this book because of the political and cultural topics that are being discussed and challenged, but my view changed dramatically after chapter 40. It’s incredibly slow. I somehow finished the book, but it took me a long time to get there because I had to take breaks. To give you an idea of how long it took, I started this book on January 25th, and this book is only 336 pages. Normally I finish books like that within 1-2 weeks, depending on my personal life. But I do like the ending; I saw it as very fitting considering the trajectory of the book.

I would not read this book again, and I would only recommend it to people who like cheesy, romantic movies. I don’t even know if I like the book.

#netgalley #book reviews #advanced reader copy #2023 releases #YA #young adult #lgbtq #fiction #queer fiction #Contemporary #nonbinary #wednesday books #romance #lgbtq romance #Jonny Garza Villa #Ander & Santi Were Here #ashe reads stuff