>A Song's no fun with only one person singing! Melody needs Harmony, after all...
#BARDICCHORD— an ind & mutually exclusive. multi-muse feat. characters from FINAL FANTASY XIV, DRAGON AGE, ASSASSIN'S CREED, TRANSFORMERS, and other Fantasy/Sci-fi media. original and canon characters, multi-ship/verse & crossover friendly. loved by Void ( 26, they/them, pst ). Adventuring since 2013!
Carrd || Memes || Worldstate
Template: the-ninth-house// Art: dovahcaine
Telling the tale with: @fevyrroot/@calenheir| @haludh | @felledarrow | @petalsoftheabyss | @onceawake |
Blog Roll: @magusanima (hof)
Muses under cut!
Video Games
Anders Dragon Age. Canon. He/him. bi. PREV SPIRITHEALS
Fiona Dragon Age. Canon. She/Her. bi. heavily affiliated with @fevyrroot's Maric and Alistair PREV WARDENCHANTER
@bardicchord sent: ❝ Perhaps my lack of education is showing. ❞ From Hawke!
"Even the very educated may be ignorant," shrugged Solas. "A willingness to learn is a far greater virtue than simply possessing a wealth of knowledge.” He paused a moment, considering, before casting a simple barrier. Any mage could do the same, and though his fell over them in a confident and impenetrable blanket, there was nothing overly special about his spell. “No Circle taught me that,” he said with a slight grin, “and yet it protects just as well.”
Any mage could do it, if they allowed themself to have a gentler hand, of course. That which they could not claim, as covered in cuts and bruises as they were. The elf was right, it was not for lack of knowledge, but perhaps a lack of patience. Spirit magicks came to mages with deft and delicate hands the same way primal and force magicks burst forth from violent ones. It wasn't to say one couldn't exist without the other, they just...found it difficult. Scarred hands couldn't be made for healing.
"Circle or no, I feel as if any barrier from my hands might strangle someone." That's fine, play at a bitter jest if you want, it's what you're known for, Hawke. Not...as charismatic as Varric writes you to be, of course...but you're trying to get better. "...I always let Anders handle this sort of thing...even without Justice, he was always an apt healer. Justice simply...guided him when the hurts were deeper-set."
moving the furniture around in the house today and added some more muses to my roster! So this is just my little reminder that the muses under my "private muses" are available for request! Any of my mutuals are allowed to ask for them, I just won't default to any of them when answering asks or threads!
lanaya looks up from her books, rolls her eyes once she lands on him and returns to her book. in no way was her book (or any of the books in the library) all that interesting. she would much rather give in to whatever he was planning.
" i already practiced for the day, i doubt there is anything new you could show me that i haven't already figured out on my own. " her words are quick, but her tone is light and airy -- and borderline teasing.
" -- unless you would care to enlighten me? " she still doesn't look up from her book, appearing as if she were completely engrossed in it. truth be told, lanaya wasn't much of a reader. she'd rather be doing anything than sitting there and read the same paragraph over and over again.
anders was pretty, at least. he was a nice distraction.
Annnnnnd there it is! That foxlike little grin he'd been wanting to pull out of her, eyes crinkled with that hint of mischief...where else could he find such a thing? There's a satisfied giggle that climbs the column of his throat, before he eyes the other with a daring gaze. "It wounds me that you think so little of my skills with such confidence! Am I not a competent and reliable healer when I mean to be~?"
Right, when he meant to be, of course! But not all the time. Not when most times he felt like slacking off because it all came so easily anyways. Most of the time, mages took so long to harness their skills because their fear and guilt clouded them. What if I hurt myself? What if I hurt someone else and they condemn me to a terrible death? Touching the Fade makes me no better than a demon! Magic was magic, and one could really do with telling people 'no.' Maker knew he had on many occasions.
"Have the enchanters taught you anything of wisp summoning? I know they haven't spoke a word of it to me, but it's there in the folded pages if you really give them a glance~ They're fun things, those wisps, and bloody useful when you're in a pinch." And they were knowledge seekers besides, so it was always fun to learn something the Circle refused to tell them.
@silverwoodcursed has written: ❛ i need to make this right. this is my only chance. ❜ (Estinien to Vrtra~)
Heavy is the burden that lays itself across the dragoon's shoulders, for it is more than any mortal should have to bear. Estinien has seen through the eyes of dragons, felt their pain, steeped himself in their very blood and became one with his brood brother. There was no hatred like Nidhogg's, and yet...there is a warmth in his chest still, the satrap could sense it. There was good in him, a goodness that had long since fled his elder brother of ebony scale...and perhaps that sense of justice had melded itself to him...he was but a hatchling when Midgardsormr had bestowed his duty upon Nidhogg, but he recalled it still..."keeper of Etheirys, hearthwarmer." These things reflected in him.
How could he deny him his purpose, even if it meant parting from a piece of his brood once more?
The dragon bowed his head in solemn understanding, eyes blinking as slow as a cat assuring their owner of it's comfort. Estinien did not need his permission to take his leave, to save the stars, of all things...but he was all the more grateful for it. There were many farewells he had not been able to give, after all..
"You need not seek my permission to do your duty, though it fills me with warmth all the same that you choose to consider me in your farewells...know that I will pray for your safe return."
Oh, boy. Human courtship, his favorite. Grace sighs. Dramatically. There is not nearly enough time, not in this universe or the next, to adequately unspool so massive a topic. And, yes, that goes beyond their doomed-to-end-partnership with their incompatible atmospheres and his dwindling, withering stores of drink and food, because suffering through a topic with a bite this bleeding?! Tylenol, Grace withers. He can feel it rend. Ugh. He admits it: compared to a number of a Pixar mascots, Grace's resume on romance just about dies at the onset. So, in a sense, Rocky is being lectured by a rookie, a no name of a corner and a seventh round pick, and Grace is deaf, he's hearing. Grace is gigantic idiot, statement. That's rude. His kids on the other hand will say he's no aura.
And that's fine, but parked in the back of his Celine Dion-hindbrain, there's the knowledge that a rock's got more game than him. The devil!
"What does that even mean? I'm not coarse enough?" Grace's brows quiver. He swivels his head around to regard Rocky, his friend, his criticizer among the stars — yeah, figures he's got one even all the way out here — with a leveled look. He doesn't care. He seriously doesn't. But how is he to sit here, comfortably pretzel-legged, roguishly nerdishly handsome, and simply let his bachelorship be so reasoned by anything but choice?! He shakes his head. "Okay, well, whatever. Fine by me. I, like, would preferably exfoliate before I start meeting Eridian standards, anyway."
Now, stop shuddering! Moving on! "That's... I don't have a possible mate, Rocky. I don't think I had anything like that since Linda. You could even say before Linda. Or never. Possibilities still require some sort of connection, pal, and at least some level of interest, and, to be upfront about it, between you and me, I like where we are. Nothing to mess up like this, is there? ...why are you bringing Banks up anyway?" Now, it's Rocky's turn to be a pebble. That's right! Go on and be skittish! Try sparing Bank's ego this time around! "Did he say something to you? Rocky." Mr. Grace folds his arms before his chest. "When someone is speaking to to us, we make eye contact."
Negative negative, more negative. Okayyyy so this was a touchy topic with Grace. Banks had warned him as much. Don't prod Grace too much about his relationships, he gets squirmy. He was only doing some light nudging! Honest! It's what human friends did, right? But then, he wasn't human, maybe he had understood wrong? Again with the Earth films giving him poor examples of human behavior...but fine. However indirect, Grace had given him his answer. Banks and Grace couldn't be mates because...being mates would mess everything up.
...it wasn't his favorite answer, but he would have to settle with it.
But now Grace is prodding him with questions. Why is this about Banks? What did he say to you? This is important to him. Banks is important to him. Being mates would mess everything up. WHY??? They did everything mates did. Well. Most things...but Banks had explained that some human mates didn't rely on reproductive activity in order to survive, in fact, some were entirely averse to it. Another human emotion thing. It was so very fascinating. And anyways, even if they didn't partake in such things...they did everything else! Was Grace afraid to 'put a name to it' as the actors said? Or maybe...Banks wasn't his "type." Humans said that a lot when they thought someone was 'ugly' or 'weird'. Human vanity things...ugh.
Weird...Banks had said a lot of people called him weird. Was that why Grace didn't want to say anything? Grace wanted him to be happy and if Banks knew he thought he was weird...
This was complicated. And Grace is trying to play the authoritative figure now, which he's not very good at because he's a leaky space blob who would still be considered a pebble on Erid. But still, his probing causes Rocky to hunch, a low hum escaping him as an expression of guilt before he rests on his limbs like a cat would 'loaf.' "...Is not for Rocky to say. Promise to keep between Rocky and Banks. Just like Rocky not tell Banks about this." There's a gentleness to his voice, a protective thing, before he seems to turn his attention back to the projector screen. A defiant little thing, not unlike an unruly middle schooler. He didn't like keeping things from people, but he'd learned better a long while ago to keep things to himself sometimes. His mate (Erid bless them) had made sure to hammer that into him. "...When Banks talk about life with Grace...Banks happy happy happy. Banks also tell Rocky about time without Grace...not happy...when Banks Grace have to leave Rocky..."
He didn't want them to be sad again. He liked when they smiled and ate their disgusting food and slept soundly while he worked on his personal projects. He didn't like the things that made them leak, and would do anything to fix it, but...he couldn't do that if he wasn't there. And he couldn't go with them. Erid needed him. His mate needed him. But so did they, in a way...
"...Grace should talk to Banks. About feelings. Banks no ask Grace. Not want to make Grace squirmy...Banks Grace both need talk." Mate or no, they really needed to be on the same page.
So, Rocky lacks facial features. That much is obvious. It's as much a fact as the sun is warm, or, among Destiny's Child's unforgettable discography -- and legendary, quite frankly -- their unquestionable bop was Say My Name. Yet, in spite of this inarguable factoid, Grace is finding he can somehow still manage to read his thoughts. Uh oh. What's with this judgement?! And who made him the judge, anyway?! Is this a gulag?! Not every down-on-his-luck blond is fudging DiCaprio!
He takes offense to that. He's not a creep!
"Okay. Let's back it up. You can't just smash two people together and expect wedding bells, Rocky. There are requirements to this sort of thing. A process. Think of it sort of like...like steps to a dance." Right. A dance. A dance like how dodging in-laws and bullet fire mirror a tango. Anyway, how did it end up that that he's become the sole lecturer on human companionship?! You don't go to Helen Keller to sniff out mines, do you?! Banks owes him, he grumbles. At least his coffee. "Friends care about each other." Oh, boy. "And sure, making him happy is what I want to do, and him supporting me is kind of the point, but what you're describing here is... That's different. Intense. Mates want to share everything together. More than friends do. They even share names -- at least where I'm from, anyway, and, ideally, I guess, they go on to share futures." Which. Well, he supposes that is what they're doing for however far a future goes around here. "Point is, being mates is about being vulnerable with one another. There's a whole lot of trust in that sort of thing. I mean, if all mates were were just really good friends, then we'd be mates, and can you imagine? Not in a thousand years, buddy!"
... "Uhhhhh. No offense. You're a great guy. Good on Adrian. Besides, you've got to be compatible, too. There's a reason why we call it chemistry." Rocky's counting. Actually counting. Grace wishes he can ball his fist around Rocky's claws and stop that.
...Okay. So Grace starts to make some sense about the whole thing. He mentions dancing, he likes dancing! Two people dancing...that brought to mind the film he'd watched with Banks...Walle-E! He liked Wall-E. EVE reminded him a lot of Adrian...when EVE dances with Wall-E...it's a very beautiful moment, they're understanding one another. Yes yes yes okay! So when two people are good at dancing together, working together...that's when they know! But that still begged the question...why not Banks? Banks liked dancing, and singing (even if it had just been around him. He should do it more! He was good at it!) and he was good at following steps...so...more complication. Okay.
But then he keeps bringing up more things that they do! He swears, if Grace didn't jump at loud noises, he'd swear he was deaf! He clearly can't hear himself...he shudders in response, a way of shaking one's head in disbelief at what he was hearing. At this point, they could go all night with their back and forth of 'You do that, and that too' and Grace would still try and find more examples. So why do that!? Why not just say, Rocky, you're a damned genius! I can't believe I never figured this out myself. (well, for one because Grace would say 'gosh-darned' instead. That was just how the leaky space blob operated)/
"...Grace not stand chance as Rocky mate anyway. Rocky require Adrian approval. Grace not Adrian preference. Not rugged enough." He says it very matter-of-factly, because it's true! Grace just didn't have the right amount of edge (physically and emotionally) that Adrian liked! and that was okay. He cherished their friendship for what it was. That aside, Grace would do much better with someone who liked leaky, soft science humans, and if it wasn't going to be Banks then...
Oh. Oh...Banks made a joke while they were watching Wall-E, hadn't he? Rocky had said Wall-E could also be very very Grace, but then who would be Eve? Banks? Banks had laughed, but there was...something sad about it? Banks made a lot of happy things sound sad sometimes...what a fascinating thing humans could do. Anyways, he'd mentioned a name. Eva. Like what Wall-E called Eve...This Eva...she was more like Eve? Had Eva and Grace danced like Wall-E and Eve? WAS THIS WHY GRACE WAS COMPLICATED?
He was thinking for too long, Grace would start doing his uncomfortable squirming again if he took any longer. "...Grace have someone else then, question? Not mate...possible mate. Is why Grace confusing, question?" ...that'd be a little unfortunate. He wanted Grace to be happy, but...he wanted Banks to be happy too, and after what he'd confided in him the other day...
But he couldn't meddle, that was pebble behavior! If only Banks and Grace talked to each other about these things...maybe things would start making sense to him too.
