Thank you lovelies: @celesenova @exia-1 @dirthera15 for the tags. I'm gonna go ahead and follow how exia did it cause I couldn't get that chart working for me how I wanted. đ
Blue: affection/positivity | Orange: it's complicated | Red: dislike | Purple: love
Cullen - Saethre is never entirely comfortable around Cullen. She likes him, has empathy for him and his struggles, trusts his military/battle counsel - but she essentially trusts Cullen because Cassandra trusts Cullen. Once he learns who Solas is and that Saethre wants to find a way to get through to Solas vs destroy him - that's where their relationship essentially stops (agree to disagree) - they do not see eye to eye on that at all. But she supports Cullen helping other templars get free from their addiction.
Josephine - Saethre and Josie become close. When Solas describes Josephine as a bastion of kindness in VG, that's exactly how Saethre would describe Josie. She finds reflections of herself in Josie - that preference for a diplomatic route, being an ambassador for your people, always trying to remember that lives aren't currency and knowing everything she can about everything. This image from the art book can speak for me.
Into the events of VG, Josie and Saethre continue working together, Saethre relies heavily on her and Josie is so committed - they are a tight partnership and play up their roles quite a lot in the years leading up to VG.
Leliana - No matter how Saethre might try she can't really get close to Leliana, and after awhile she stops as it's probably for the best. They are very good colleagues and work well together, but once Leliana becomes Divine it's a bit of a relief. She doesn't care to work with Leliana any longer than she has to and part of her dismantling the Inquisition is to get out from under the former spymaster's ever seeing eye. Their relationship is strained somewhat by then anyway, especially on Saethreâs end, because Lelianaâs failure to uncover anything about Solas feels like a personal disappointment. For someone as hypervigilant and control-driven as Saethre, that failure confirms that she can only trust herself to lead the search and their spy efforts. It's not Leliana's fault, Saethre is a just a bit driven.
Morrigan - Morrigan is not someone Saethre ever expected to become friends with, but over time they develop a begrudging respect and eventually friendship. At first, Saethre is wary and weary of Morrigan's attitude around elven history and ancient magic, but she also recognizes something familiar in her hunger for that knowledge and power - a need for control, especially after witnessing the encounter with Flemeth and Keiran. The years leading up to Veilguard is where their friendship develops. It's Morrigan who tells her what she knows of Solas and Mythal after Saethre gets the statuette, it's Morrigan that Saethre confides that the anchor wasn't fully removed from her and Morrigan confides in Saethre her own fears of possession. What essentially connects them is their shared experience of living in the shadow of ancient powers while fighting to reclaim agency over their own lives.
Cassandra - This is a love of sisterhood that Saethre has for Cassandra. Saethre and Cassandraâs friendship is rocky at first. Saethre keeps tight-lipped around her, but over time, they learn to trust each other deeply. If Josephine wins Saethre over with kindness and open-mindedness, Cassandra wins her over with dedication, commitment, and faith. Saethre does not share Cassandraâs beliefs and she wants the Chantry kept far away from her, but she understands Cassandraâs struggle to keep going, to do the right thing, and to find what the right thing is in a world full of darkness - and she admires her faith, relies on it herself in her darkest moments. Cassandra is a fighter like Saethre and they become battle maidens, sisters-in-arms. Each knows the other will have her back. When Saethre hears Cassandraâs sword being unsheathed in battle, she feels emboldened and ready to fight.
Blackwall - If Cassandra is Saethreâs sister-in-arms, then Blackwall is her brother-in-arms - the brother she never had. She takes to him easily, his humour wins her over. Which makes his betrayal cut deeply and strains their bond for a time. Still, Saethre sees the good man beneath the lies and recognizes someone trying to make things right. Her own hands are not clean, and she understands what it means to be a killer, so she can't deny him the atonement he's looking for. After Corypheus is defeated, she gives him what he asks for and sends him to the Grey Wardens, even knowing he may not survive the Joining and even knowing a romance is beginning between him and Josephine. It pains her, and they say their goodbyes just in case. When he survives, their bond becomes something like family, strengthened further by his relationship with Josephine and his place among the people Saethre loves.
Solas - It doesnât take long for Saethre to be drawn to Solas. He is someone who knows things, and she is someone who needs to know things. Sheâs intrigued by his experience, his perspective, and the way he views the world. He can be abrasive, rude, but Saethreâs dealt with worse. Sheâs been in love before, but what she develops with Solas is deeper, the kind of love that digs into the bones for he speaks to her mind and her soul. For someone who needs control, he makes her feel safe enough to loosen her grip. Sheâs so ready to build a life with him, which is why his sudden ending of their relationship shatters her. Solas values truth so much, yet he keeps the most important truths from her, and she canât understand that contradiction until she learns who he really is. For a time, she believes sheâs moved on but seeing him again forces her to face whatâs always been there - she still loves him. Subsequent shared dreams with him hovering, his presence both a balm and a challenge confirm for her his shaky resolve - so she's damned if she's going to let him destroy himself, and others, in the process.
Cole - Saethre loves Cole, though itâs hard to define what that love is. He soothes her, sparks her curiosity, and brings out a deep protectiveness in her. Because Cole is more spirit than person, he canât offer the same kind of friendship she has with Cassandra or Blackwall, but Saethre understands that he doesnât need to. What grows between them is its own kind of closeness, built on accepting him fully for what he is. For someone with Saethreâs need for control, Cole should unsettle her more than anyone, instead, the opposite happens. If Solas makes her feel safe enough to loosen her grip, Cole makes her feel like she isnât responsible for everything. They become close in the only way one can with a strange, gentle spirit who sees too much and means only to help.
Varric - Saethre is never fully sure whether Varricâs commitment to hunting down Solas comes from their friendship, or from him seeing her as some kind of holy figure. She notices that he never gives her a nickname, even though they seem to come easily to him for almost everyone else. Thereâs a strong connection between them, and certainly a friendship - Saethre makes good use of the house Varric gifts her, holding many strategic meetings there, but sheâs never fully comfortable with the title of Comtesse. Thatâs part of what complicates it. At first, Varricâs gifts feel like his way of helping her, but when she looks back, she wonders if it was him continuing to subconsciously place her in this elevated position. In the beginning of the Inquisition, Varric is one of the first people Saethre feels comfortable with and they seem to grow close quickly. But as the divine symbol around her becomes harder to escape, a certain distance forms between them - it grows after Hawke is lost to the Fade. His death leaves a stain on her heart, but once the grief settles, she realizes she isnât entirely surprised by his decision.
Dorian - Very good friends - the sending stones are put to frequent use. Being thrown forward through time into the worst possible future creates a quick bond between them - theyâre the only two people who shared that experience. Their friendship becomes strained after Trespasser, when Dorian canât understand why Saethre still wants to anything to do with Solas. They say harsh things, and for a while, the sending stones go quiet. Eventually, though, one hums again, and Saethre knows exactly whoâs on the other end. They rebuild their friendship from there. Dorian remains protective of her, but ultimately, heâs with her all the way. Alongside Josie and Morrigan, he's pulling strings behind the scenes during Veilguard to help her. Still, heâs the one person Saethre canât bring herself to tell the full truth - that if given the chance, sheâd leave Thedas behind to be with Solas. For some reason, Dorianâs opinion is the one she values most but fears most.
Vivienne - Saethreâs relationship with Vivienne isnât exactly friendship, but itâs built on deep respect and each won't hesitate to do a favour for each other - and call on those favours. Sheâs never fully sure if she can trust her, but she respects Vivienneâs intelligence, discipline, and the choices sheâs had to make to survive. For Saethre, leadership has always been tied to the owlâs lesson - watch carefully and look past the masks people wear. Vivienne is one of the few people Saethre canât fully read. She wonders if Vivienne is being honest with herself, or if the woman she presents to the world is a carefully maintained mask. Still, Saethre canât deny that Vivienne inspires her in a strange and unexpected way and she has an affection for Vivienne she can't ever quite explain.
Iron Bull - They get along well - not great friends but they hold genuine warmth for each other. She respects him as a leader, respects his strategic insight, but their relationship always has a slightly contractual edge to it. They joke that if Bull ever needs a reference, sheâll give him a glowing one. She does try to steal Krem away from him during her pursuit of Solas, after seeing his quality during the side missions he takes on for her. But Krem is loyal, and Saethre understands that - if anything, it makes her respect Bull more for the loyalty he inspires in his people.
Sera - Saethre and Sera have the vibe of orphaned siblings, with Saethre taking on the role of big sister and reluctant mother. She puts Sera in her place when needed, but she also enjoys the fun Sera brings out in her. Sera can annoy the hell out of her one minute and make her burst out laughing the next. At first, getting to know each other is awkward, Saethre wouldnât have thought much of it if Sera had left in those early days. Over time, though, they settle into their odd sibling dynamic - always on the edge of irritating each other, but with a current of grudging affection underneath it.
I'm behind the game here and so a lot of people already tagged - so some new tags? @davathe @isatunolll @dreadfulsanity @foxeareddevilish @unbloominglily @wingedblack @darkchocola @swordsandshields99 - and open tag to anyone
izzy806
discoholicmusic
areudirty
baratheonpilled
andulkaphoto
