Alexandra

Hi! Call me Alex. Aspiring author, always drowning in a hyperfixation or two. Posts a lot about Dragon Age but I don't really have a theme here. Ace, autistic, all the fun things. Nice to meet you!

[alexandravakimova]

Item: Headphones Rarity: ⏶ Common

Name a video game song you still have stuck in your head.

Feed your dashboard by answering my question, blogger.

There are way too many. Let's see.... Irileth's song from Shadow of Mordor always comes for me. I listen to a lot of slime rancher 2 to go to sleep recently.

Oh. Wait.

Opening Credits from Deus Ex Human Revolution. That's probably it.

[alexandravakimova]

I know mabari in DA are supposed to be like, based off some sort of mastiff, and I can see it, but personally I think they always look and maybe act more like a boerboel.

Some mix of the coat colors, stance, and the intelligence I suppose. And they were bred to be guard dogs, and bond very closely with their owners, which all reminds me of mabari.

Anyway, just my rambles.

[eleni-anz]

alistair ft. philomena cunk

[eleni-anz]

[prettyandsarcastic]

One of my fave things about the DA games is the parallels of characterization between the protags.

The Warden and The Inquisitor both have a kind of dignity and honor about them. They're both like "I absolutely did not want to be in this position, but here I am and we'll get this done one way or another." They both force people to work together for a greater good and unite under their banner and both are reasonably competent at their jobs.

Hawke and Rook on the other hand... things are just going wrong constantly for them, they are both consistently on their 13th reason, and their main defense is a "the horrors persist but so do I" attitude. They also did not want to be in the position they're in but they're "DOING MY FUCKING BEST CUT ME SOME SLACK I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE STEPPING UP" and if one more thing goes wrong they're both going to just start biting people.

[tormentedpenguin86]

[hyperions-light]

Good (looks at clock) afternoon everyone!

Hey tell me like… a WEIRD thing about your Rook

Like not their job or books they like or food

Something they do or about them that’s kind of strange and/or off-putting lol

[alexandravakimova]

My rook is a male, human Mourn Watch warrior.

Nobody knows where he came from, they just sort of found him in a tomb one day. And he was born/found with odd scars all over his body. Occasionally, these will open up and start rotting away, before they eventually heal and go back to normal. It's like some sort of necrotic skin condition that comes and goes.

None of the companions knew what to do with this the first time it happened. Pretty sure Emmrich saw his face rotting off and was like, "You're gonna die in three weeks."

[herald-divine-hell]

One of the annoying parts of having almost chronic imposter syndrome and perfectionism is that whatever I feel like I write for long, mutli-chapter fanfics, these already written chapters feel not as good or I could make them better by rewriting, which gets me no where.

I get you, George R.R Martin. I really do.

[alexandravakimova]

I need everyone to know I watched Arcane and I'm gonna make it everyone else's problem. :)

[paradox-time]

Romancing Taash as a Mournwatcher has been funny as hell. They think death magic is all so icky, except when Rook does it. When Rook does it it's fine but anyone else? Nope.

[mohntilyet]

imagine being illario and finally finding the resolve to kill your cousin right. you seduce and fuck a blood mage venatori magister to get her to do this for you. you figure you’ll eventually kill her once you are first talon, tie up the loose end and make it look good for you. a vengeance story! except when your cousin’s body shows up your grandma retreats into herself presumably out of grief and you’re like jesus christ he’s a corpse and still the favorite. at this point you start feeling some regret and at the wake you’re beside yourself. it helps to be really feeling some of that to fool everyone else. but months pass and your grandma still isn’t even discussing the inheritance and you have to be normal because you don’t want to incriminate yourself. and then a year later some random guy (worse if its a de riva tbh) shows up saying they need your cousin to kill an elven god (what.) and he’s the only one who could (insulting). and its at this point your grandma is like “lucanis died… but he is not dead!”. record scratch freezeframe. while you juggle with the fact that the freak woman you fucked specifically to get her to kill your cousin didn’t even kill your cousin AND your grandma didn’t bother telling you (for good reason ofc but she doesn’t know that), you have to lead these assholes to go save him and unravel your hard work. so plan b. you kidnap your grandma and push your (now possessed) cousin away (and then get mad when he actually walks away. because you’re like this). and when your cousin comes dangerously close to figuring out what’s happened with you and the magister, you kill the magister. you ally with those elven gods and venatori (you aren’t sure how you’re going to get out of this one but it’s fine. that’s a hill for future illario) to make sure you have enough backing to stand up against the other houses if they challenge you becoming first talon. you continue to gaslight your cousin into staying away, because if there is one thing you can count on, it’s his literal inner demons and total lack of a support group, you’re certain he’ll fuck it up by himself. you know this because his support group used to be your grandma (dubious) and yourself (lol). you’re almost home free. and caterina will definitely acknowledge you as a player on the board. which isn’t important but it would be nice, right. BUT THEN IT TURNS OUT. YOUR COUSIN HAS RECENTLY MADE 7 FRIENDS. one of whom can speak to the fucking dead because of course he can. and then some of those friends show up to publicly humiliate you at the dinner party that should have been YOUR crowning moment. your grandma ALSO shows up to tell everyone you have gathered that your cousin is first talon. your cousin gapes at her because he doesn’t actually even want it so it’s kind of awkward for everyone. and then when you’re sure he’s about to ask viago de riva to poison you to death, he actually tells him just to take you away. because OF COURSE he’s being the bigger person. anyways the point is i’m surprised illario just lets himself be taken away because if i were him i would have started biting people and then bombed the villa

[alexandravakimova]

What each of the Companions smells like to Taash:

Pure headcanon but it's been rattling around in my brain for a bit so wanted to share.

Lucanis: Coffee (duh). Moonlit nights in autumn. Distantly of a river or water, and something otherworldly that can't be placed.

Emmrich: Dead and dying flowers. Old stone that has stood for hundreds of years. Early morning mist.

Harding: Sunshine. Distantly of the wood her bow is made of, and of thin, mountain air. There's something joyous about her smell, just like there is something joyous about her.

Neve: A million scents in one like a city, where everyone touches everyone else: Hal's fish, the smell of perfume Maevaris uses, the salt of the ocean at the docks. Ice, powerful, cold, biting, and enduring. A bit like ink and parchment from old notes.

Bellara: Forests under the spring sky, with buds in the trees and birds singing. Distantly of metal, and distantly of old magic. A flower that is blooming despite the environment it finds itself in. There's a certain sorrow to her scent that she's trying to hide.

Davrin: Leather and metal first, then wood. Lots of different types of wood - pine, oak, ash - anything he uses to craft. Smells like Assan too, like the warmth of his feathers when you wrap your arms around him, and the feeling of his purrs. There's something determined and unyielding about his scent - he's built to endure.

Bonus, my Rook, cause I said so: Incense. Like Emmrich, the scent of mist is there. There's something that doesn't seem quite lively about it, like it should belong to a dead person. Despite this, the scent is inviting and welcoming, and Taash has taken comfort in it.

[spookyookyoo]

fifty (more) questions for rook

‼️SPOILERS: companions and plot! Under readmore for next sixty days‼️

Round one (no spoilers)

The second round! Mostly concerning companions… eventually there will be more plot-specific questions

1. How did Rook and Varric meet? What’s their relationship like?

2. A scene from Rook’s year with Varric and Lace:

3. What are Rook’s first impressions of Solas?

4. What does Solas think of Rook?

5. Who does Rook romance? What was the moment that sparked their interest?

6. Describe Rook through the eyes of their LI(s):

7. How does their romance start?

8. Rook and their LI(s) first kiss:

9. A sweet scene between Rook and their LI(s):

10. A spicy scene between Rook and their LI(s):

11. What’s their relationship like?

12. An argument between Rook and their LI(s):

13. What would Rook’s LI(s) say are their flaws?

14. Do any romances bloom between the other Veilguard companions? What does Rook think of the pairings?

15. Who else has a crush on Rook?

16. Which companions does Rook like most?

17. Any companions they don’t get along with? How does Rook navigate this?

18. Does anyone notice Rook talking to Varric? Do they say anything?

19. A scene from book club (or another group activity):

20. Which faction allies does Rook like best? Do they dislike anyone?

21. What’s Rook’s relationship with Assan? What about Manfred?

22. In Rook’s opinion, was the best meal Bellara prepared? And Lucanis?

23. What does Isabela think, when she meets Rook? What’s their relationship?

24. What were the thoughts growing through Rook’s head, at D’Meta’s Crossing? What did they decide to do with the mayor?

25. Does Rook save Minrathous or Treviso? How did they decide?

26. What does Rook tell Emmrich, when he asks them about funerary rite preferences?

27. Dorian’s opinion of Rook:

28. What does Rook think of Dorian?

29. Do the companions give Rook any gifts?

30. Does Rook give their companions any additional gifts?

31. Which locations (Docktown, Arlathan etc) does Rook like to visit the most? And the least?

32. Did Rook uncover Solas’s memories? Any particular revelation shake them especially?

33. What does the Inquisitor think, when they first meet Rook?

34. What’s Rook’s opinion of the Inquisitor? What’s it like, working together?

35. Who do they support to become Archon, and why?

36. Does Rook support Emmrich’s aspirations of lichdom?

37. Who does Rook find themself turning to for advice?

38. Which companions best compliment Rook’s abilities on the battlefield?

39. What’s it been like, living in the Lighthouse?

40. What was going through Rook’s head, facing down the first archdemon at Weisshaupt?

41. Who does Rook choose to bring down the wards, Neve or Bellara? How do they feel about the outcome?

42. Who leads the second charge, Lace or Davrin? What is Rook’s response, at the end?

43. What does Rook do if they can’t sleep?

44. A scene where Rook or a companion is seriously injured:

45. Does Rook have any disabilities or prosthetics?

46. What does Rook think of being the leader of the Veilguard?

47. A scene at the Lighthouse while Rook is still trapped in the Fade:

48. Does Rook have any unfinished personal business that needs to be resolved? (What’s their loyalty quest?)

49. A scene between Rook and their LI(s) before the final showdown:

50. What ending does Rook choose for Solas?

+1 What is Rook’s ending?

[alexandravakimova]

Ask game? Yes please. :)

Feel free to ask me anything about my boy, Alek Ingellvar.

[jupi-tercreates]

Another thought but also SPOILERS

When Solas mentions wanting to save his people, he doesn't mean the ancient elves...he means the Spirits. Because of everything he has seen since awakening, the friends he's lost, the fade, "demons," and possessions. His people aren't the elves... but the Spirits from which he originated himself.

Thoughts??

[alexandravakimova]

Like most people in the game, including Varric: Hey, Rook, you should redeem Solas and remind him who he is.

My Rook, about to go down in history as the funniest man in history: ....yeah but what if I didn't?

[high-dragon-bait]

I can't say Rook goes through it more than any Dragon Age protagonist given that Hawke exists but goddamn they come in second by an inch

[wanderingibon]

[the-infinizyck]

K but Rook so would

[alexandravakimova]

I have not slept all night, again, and I gotta get up in like two hours so this is a great time to infodump about my Rook, right?

I make good on my threats. ^-^

SO

His name is Alek Ingellvar, and he is a male human Mourn Watcher warrior, specialization Reaper, of course. He, as per actual background in the game, was just sort of found in a tomb when he was a few days old and was raised by the Mourn Watch since.

(Seriously. How did they think they could drop that batshit insane lore and just not explain it beyond that? I love it.)

He's blind, and has been since birth, and his ability to navigate the world is a skill he's learned from wisps growing up in the Necropolis. No superpowers, just them teaching him ways to be aware of his surroundings and confident when navigating.

He does romance Taash cause of course he does, and they are very happy couple together.

He vibes hardcore with Emmrich cause he was raised by undead half the time and so he is entirely very comfortable with and among them, and so he and Emmrich get to have a lot of fun conversations about that which would freak the rest of the team out probably.

Oh, and there's a possibility he was spawned from an undead or pair of them. The tomb he was in was empty, and no signs of someone being there, and it's really some big mystery how he wound up down there in the first place. Nobody really knows exactly what he is in relation to if he's fully living or not, but beyond the blindness, the scars all over his body that he's had since he was an infant, and the occasional "his skin sort of rots away every so often; don't worry it grows back" thing, he's pretty normal.

I could go on a much longer rant about him but I'll try not to just post an essay. Yet.