Part of the "Wings and Blades" Lucanis x Rook Stories
Pairing: Lucanis x Rook (she/her)
Rating: G
Words: 1k
Available on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62380600
Summary: Lucanis and Rook settle into Villa Dellamorte. Lucanis has a gift for Rook.
A Place to Call Home is a story written for @ andoralsbreath (X), as part of my "Wings and Blades" series exploring the romance between Lucanis and different Rooks.
Morning sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains, casting soft golden streaks across the polished wood floors of Villa Dellamorte. The air carried the scent of blooming jasmines and freshly brewed coffee, blending with the faint citrus tang from the gardens outside. A gentle hum of activity echoed through the villa as the staff prepared for the day – murmured voices, the clinking of porcelain, the rustling of flower arrangements being carefully placed throughout the hallways.
Lucanis Dellamorte ran his hands through his freshly trimmed hair as he stared into the mirror. Mathilda de Riva had done the cut herself the day before, her fingers quick and deft, but soft with him in a way she wasn’t with the rest of the world. He could still feel the phantom trace of her fingertips against his scalp, the memory of her teasing laughter as she scolded him for letting his hair grow so unruly.
The room smelled faintly of sandalwood, a scent he had never cared much for growing up here, but now he found it grounding. The villa didn’t feel like the house he’d left all those months ago – it felt warmer now, more alive. And yet, Lucanis couldn’t help but fret over whether it felt like home for Mattie.
He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, dark as a raven’s wing, and stepped into the hallway. Caterina Dellamorte’s portrait hung at the landing of the grand staircase, her sharp eyes and elegant posture a constant reminder of the legacy he was meant to uphold. But today, that wasn’t his foremost concern.
The sound of hurried footsteps and the distinct creak of the third stair gave him a split second of warning before a disheveled whirlwind of energy came rushing toward him.
“Luca! Where in the name of the Maker are my boots?” Mattie’s voice seemed seeped in desperation.
Lucanis turned to see her bounding toward him, barefoot and still tugging on a loose braid that had come undone during her sleep. (He’d have to ask Spite to braid it again for her, later.) Mattie’s linen shirt hung slightly crooked, and there was a smudge of ink on her nose. She stopped before him, her hands on her hips, her brows drawn together in confusion.
“You mean the boots with which you tracked mud through the kitchen yesterday?” Lucanis’ lips quirked into a knowing smirk.
Mattie groaned. “Yes, those boots. Where are they?”
“I had them sent off to be cleaned,” he said, his tone light but teasing.
“What?” Mattie’s eyes widened as she clutched at her chest dramatically. “I could’ve cleaned them myself!”
Lucanis chuckled, his rich laughter echoing through the hallway. “Tesoro, I’ve seen how you clean. Trust me, this was better.”
Mattie stuck her tongue out at him, her indignation melting into a playful grin. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, you stay.”
She laughed as she bounded down the stairs, still barefoot and full of energy. Lucanis followed more slowly, his gaze soft as he watched her. She had a way of filling every space she entered with life, her presence like the sun breaking through the clouds.
He found her in the dining room, Mattie having perched herself on the table’s edge, sipping from a steaming cup of black coffee. Lucanis joined her, picking up his own cup from where the servants had placed their breakfast tray before settling into a chair, savouring the moment of quiet between them.
“So,” she began after they’d finished their coffees, her eyes twinkling with curiosity, “what important business do you have today, First Talon?”
Lucanis leaned back in his chair, a small, secretive smile playing at his lips. “Something more important than First Talon business.”
Mattie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “More important? What could possibly be more important than your oh-so-grand new job?”
Lucanis set his empty cup down and stood, offering her his hand. “Come with me?”
Her curiosity piqued, she slid off the table and slipped her hand into his. He led her down a corridor she hadn’t explored yet, the scent of fresh paint mingling with the earthy aroma of wood and stone.
Lucanis stopped in front of an unremarkable door, glancing at her nervously before pushing it open. “I hope this is… Adequate.”
Mattie stepped inside, and her breath caught in her throat.
Shelves lined the walls, each stocked with vials of rare ingredients and meticulously labeled jars. A large workbench stood in the center, covered with alchemical tools – beakers, burners, and intricate glassware. A small sink with running water occupied one corner, and an open window let in a soft breeze.
She turned to Lucanis, her eyes wide with awe. “Luca… This is… This is incredible.”
“I asked Viago what you might need,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck worriedly. “I wanted you to have a space of your own here. A place where you can do what you do best.”
Mattie’s gaze swept over the shelves again, her fingers brushing against a jar of frost lotus. She recognized some of the ingredients as incredibly rare – things she hadn’t seen since her training with Viago. “You stocked it too?”
Lucanis nodded, his expression both proud and bashful. “Of course. I wanted it to be perfect for you. That’s the least you deserve.”
Mattie turned to him, her heart swelling. “Luca, this is more than perfect. I don’t even have words.”
“You like it?”
“Like it?” She laughed, stepping forward to throw her arms around his neck. “I love it. This is the best thing anyone has ever done for me.”
Lucanis held her tightly, his tension melting away as he felt her unbridled joy. “You deserve it, Mattie. You’ve given up so much for me, for us. I want you to have something that’s just yours.”
Mattie pulled back, her hands resting on his shoulders as she looked up at him, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Thank you, Luca. For this, for everything.”
He smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “Anything for you.”
My brothers in Dragon Age (and everyone else) coming over here from TikTok you gotta reblog art you think is cool - you gotta reblog stuff. Not just art but gifs and writing and meta/analysis posts, literally anything you think is cool reblog it. Your blog is like a big old scrapbook that you pass around during show and tell
The op can see any tags/comments you make on their posts, I have lost count of the times I've seen people just starting a mile long argument in mine before I block both people involved but the same can be said for the amount of tags that have made me genuinely laugh and smile on posts that are just my own but ones that I've reblogged from somebody else as well
You gotta filter tags and you've gotta block people left right and center, there's no algorithm and you're the only one who curates your space. Cringe is not a thing here and Tumblr is not a popularity contest
Okay that's all peace and love here is a nug in some grass to look at
if I was in charge I would have added a side quest called "Herald of the Dread Wolf" that would involve finding smaller, more recent statuettes that would reveal new murals of how Solas fell in love with the world through Lavellan and this would unlock the option to reunite the two send tweet
We finally know which tattoo stands for which faction, thanks to @pinkyjulien's folder!
These were a little bit trickier, but I also wanted to include the full body tattoos. Please note that while the files list Dalish and Veil Jumper tattoos the same way, I felt like it was worth making a distinction between the two of them in this list. You can definitely just read all tattoos as either Veil Jumper or Dalish tattoos, however. Also, pretty sure the devs didn't label them so no one would feel restricted.
pixelskylines
blakekathryn
origamiaround
kaledo-art
titsay
germansingergirl
discoholicmusic
snowghoul
areudirty
