You know how it's weird that every companion's room changes over time, except for Lucanis' pantry?
That's because the pantry isn't really his space. The dining hall is.
Dining space before Lucanis.
Dining space immediately after Lucanis arrival.
Dining hall by the end of the game (notice the fucking chandelier and the art on the walls).
And that just ... does things to me.
Of course he wouldn't decorate the utalitarien space where he (refuses to) sleep.
He adds his personal touch to a communal space instead, one that is warm and welcoming to everyone on the team. A space for good food and conversation, where he can do something he enjoys for people he cares about.
My wife and I have a little game we play called "Speaking From Ignorance."
To play Speaking From Ignorance, all you need is a phone with a voice recorder, and another person who knows considerably more or considerably less about a topic than you do. The topic can be anything: from "how to bake a quiche" to "what happens in the Peter Jackson Hobbit movies" to "who is Florence Pugh" to "how does the traveling salesman problem work." All that matters is that one of you has a firm grasp on the material, and one of you absolutely the fuck does not.
Then the person who knows about the topic turns on the recorder, and says to the person who knows barely anything: "Hey - tell me everything you think you know about [X]."
The speaker is then not allowed to ask any questions. Nor is the expert allowed to volunteer any information. The expert is allowed to pipe up with a faintly incredulous "Oh--really? Do you--do you think so?" from time to time, but for the most part, the expert's job is just to sit there and make encouraging sounds while the speaker digs their own grave.
This is never not funny.
The reason you record it is because, very often, the first thing the speaker wants to do after finishing the recording is find out how you actually make a quiche, or whatever. Then you both get to go back and listen to how wrong they were.
We have a small library now of Speaking From Ignorance recordings, and I'm going to be listening to them until I'm eighty.
Rook broached the subject of her House one day at dinner, her own curiosity getting the better of her judgement. Teia, Viago, Lucanis and herself were gathered for their weekly dinner at the Dellamorte Estate. Rook had been living with Lucanis for almost a month. In that time, she had much to think about - but one question nagged at her. She hadn’t taken on any jobs since her initial contract on Solas, well over a year ago.
“Am I still a de Riva?” she said, using her fork to stab at her dinner. Lucanis and Viago both seemed to choke on their food, and a late warning sounded off in her mind. But it was too late to stop herself. The implications of her question had not been a consideration: she was only thinking of her work as a Crow. Was she meant to take contracts under House Dellamorte?
Lucanis pounded on his chest for a second, then stared at her. “Rook-” he coughed.
“It’s fine, actually,” she said quickly, embarrassed by their reactions. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I imagine you would be a de Riva until Lucanis marries you,” Teia said, seemingly pleased by the turn in conversation. She pushed her plate forward and leaned on the table, beaming at Lucanis. Rook vaguely remembered that they all have knives.
“Teia!” Viago snapped. Rook winced, realizing the mess she had started.
“It’s uncommon to change it before marriage,” Teia said, ignoring Viago’s angry sputtering. “But he is the First Talon. Switching Houses is not unheard of. Think of Jacobus.”
“I said nothing of marriage,” Rook muttered under her breath, regretting speaking at all. Her hand twitched at her side. A small fire at the table could end this.
“Rook is a de Riva,” Viago announced, perhaps unnecessarily, his voice rising. “Rook is a de Riva until I say otherwise, and that day-”
“So you’re saying you’d give her away at the wedding,” Teia interrupted, her grin stupidly large. The Seventh Talon leaned back in her chair. Viago choked again. “That’s very kind of you, Vi.”
Rook covered her face with her hands. “This was a bad idea,” she said, her voice muffled.
“I didn’t realize we were discussing marriage, Teia,” Lucanis said, and Rook was gratified that he sounded relatively calm. She, on the other hand, felt like her body was going to erupt into flames. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying to be anywhere else.
“You are lucky Caterina hasn’t started on you about babies,” Teia said, and at that, Rook dropped her hands and stared at the other woman, betrayed.
“Teia!” Lucanis cried out. “Enough!” There goes him being calm, Rook thought absently.
Rook wondered if she had ever blushed so much in her entire life. She certainly couldn’t remember another incident where she felt so mortified - and this was an incident of her own doing. She wished, rather desperately, that she could crawl underneath the table, or that the whole room would just go dark. I could use magic to put out all the candles?
Teia held her hands up in the air, a mockery of a surrender. “A blind man could see that these two are going to get married,” she said. “It’s a matter of when, not if, she becomes a Dellamorte.”
After that, there was no way to wrestle control of the situation. Viago was standing, chest puffed, spouting at all of them about the work it took to make Rook a de Riva, let alone the headaches she had caused him. He rattled off the various incidents - almost a lifetime of them - wherein she had made his life difficult. Lucanis seemed aghast at Viago’s outburst, listening with a horrified look on his face. Teia was laughing so hard that Rook was sure she was going to pass out.
Rook stared down at her plate and did her best impression of a statue. Viago’s tirade was sure to end soon - she had, after all, done some good things in her time as a de Riva. And of course she wanted to marry Lucanis. That went without saying. But she had been very, very careful about not showing any indication of that to him. Rumours could spiral; Crows loved to talk. She has heard what they say about her - the things they insinuated, the way they spoke about her relationship with Lucanis.
Crows wished for complicated intentions: for drama. She remembered what her fellow fledglings used to say about Teia and Viago; about Teia and Dante. The Crows, though famous for their work, operated a spinning wheel of rumours and gossip throughout Antiva.
Lucanis stood, and walked behind her chair, smiling down at her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. Her anxiety melted away at his touch, as it always did.
“I would like it to be clear,” Lucanis said, composed again, “that I would marry Rook tomorrow.” Rook’s cheeks flared. “But she is still a de Riva.”
“Not for long,” Viago grumbled. Rook wanted to strangle him. “Teia is trying to strong-arm you into a proposal.” Viago crossed his arms and stared at Teia. “Not very subtly.”
Teia, the woman of the hour, only shrugged. “I’m sure he’s already bought a ring. I bet you it’s in his pockets, right now.”
Right - under the table I go. Rook sunk deeper into her chair and groaned when Lucanis’ grip on her shoulder stopped her from ducking her head below the table. “Rook,” he said, still laughing. “Relax. I am not going to propose to you in front of Teia and Viago.”
“I wish I believed you,” she muttered. “I really do."
Viago and Teia stood at Teia’s insistence, her arm tugging at Viago’s until he groaned and got up from his seat. “A lovely dinner,” Teia said, “as always, Lucanis.” Viago just nodded his head. Teia pushed him forward; Rook could almost see the smoke coming from Viago’s ears. She cringed as they walked out the door - she was going to get an earful from Viago when she saw him next.
Lucanis let loose a long, large breath. The tension in her body melted as he slowly massaged her shoulders; she leaned into his touch.
“That was a lot,” Rook said, sighing.
Lucanis murmured a low agreement. “Let’s go to bed,” he urged, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Rook groaned, but stood. She followed him back to their room, stomach churning as her mind worked through the dinner. Viago had been livid; Teia had said some things she didn't know how to think about. He noticed how quiet she was, but he didn't press her.
She stayed quiet as they slowly readied themselves for bed. He kissed both of her eyelids when her face was washed; he helped braid her hair in silence. It wasn't until she was in his arms, in their bed, her leg thrown over his own, that she finally said, “I would like to marry you.”
She was rewarded with a delighted, hungry kiss. He kissed her like their first night; he kissed her like he was drowning and she was air. The weight of his love felt undeserved; it was too much for her. She said as much, letting her insecurities tumble out of her mouth.
He was outraged - not at her, but himself - that she would ever doubt her place at his side. He spent the rest of the night murmuring sweet nothings, his voice thick and heavy with veneration. He promised her the rest of his life - Rook responded that he would never be able to get rid of her, not now, not ever.
It turned quickly into frantic and desperate hands on skin - Rook straddling him, Lucanis guiding her with his hands on her hips - and ended with silent, reverent cries; a kiss on her neck; her hands tangled in his hair.
Lucanis whispered, right before she fell asleep, “I meant what I said. I would marry you tomorrow.”
Rook barely managed to reply, her eyes closed, bliss morphing rapidly into sleep. “Then let's get married tomorrow,” she murmured, and promptly fell asleep.
The fight against Ghilan'nain has some of my absolute favourite Lucanis romance content and it's not even romance-specific content! lol.
First off, this is just hot. But also like... Rook handing the dagger over to Lucanis because she trusts him to get the job done. And he walks off looking all determined because he won't let her down.
But then Lucanis is captured in Blight tentacles! And Rook is left to fight Ghilan'nain and hordes of darkspawn on her own. And poor Lucanis can't do anything but watch the woman he loves fighting for her life while he struggles (in vain) against his restraints. And, of course, Rook manages to free Lucanis from the Blight but the second she does, she gets dragged across the floor by a Blight tentacle and strung up in front of Ghilan'nain.
And look at Lucanis's face as Rook is dragged away!! He is PISSED!
And then once Ghilan'nain is dead - and Elgar'nan has appeared, his ritual complete! - Lucanis immediately runs straight for Rook! Because the most important thing to him in that moment is making sure she's ok.
And it's so good (from a Lucanis-romance point-of-view) that it's Rook's fear that Lucanis is dead that starts the whole "getting trapped in Fade Prison" sequence! Her rushing over to his prone body! Her confusion when it turns into Varric and Solas's voice starts taunting her!
Urgh - it's so good! I romanced Lucanis for my first playthrough and assumed some of that content was just because I was romancing him. But then I did further playthroughs and - NO! - Lucanis and Rook just really care for each other, whether they're romantic or platonic.
And that's it. A total of 14 pages DA fancomic to give my Rook (Rindhil) personal motivation & stakes to defeat the Evanuris. Thanks for indulging me on this series and for the kind comments💓 Until next time!
It's not a Ballroom scene without a staircase moment. Give me a good staircase yearning moment anyday...so much so I might have 2 more planned.
other DATV Masquerade ball narrative sketch explorations:
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 /Part - Bridgerton /Part 4 dance (???)
Title: "A Life That Fits", Chapter 9
Rating: M
Story Summary: After a year of imprisonment, Lucanis is no longer the man he used to be. When rescue comes in the form of a bright and colorful elf called Rook, he finds freedom is a lot more difficult to achieve if you hate what you've become. But Rook is there. And she is stubborn and patient and willing.
A slow-burn romance of the moments in between.
Read here on AO3
(Link to beginning)
According to the devnotes in the text file, the prison was originally different from what we see in the game. Rook first wandered in the darkness, then along a bloody path among fallen comrades. In the end, the path was supposed to lead to the Demon of Regret who could change its appearance and voice to put pressure on Rook. There was a choice to confront it or give in.
Alone in the Dark
Rook awakes in darkness, alone. Chains appear to have attached themselves to Rook.
Attempting to gain a bearing, Rook starts to hear a voice. The voice sounds like Solas, but different. A path appears before them.
Rook attempts to get answers from the voice while following the trail.
Blood Leading the Blind
The path resembles blood dripping over the edge of a cliff. The trail disappears after rook moves forward.
The Voice returns to inform Rock they have swapped places with Solas.
Rook Demands answers, but is taunted in return.
A small light appears at the end of the path.
Reaching the Light fills the screen with white.
A still image of Solas appears when the white fades. He is striding out of a opening in the fade. This scene is identical to the one where Rock was moments ago.
Approaching Solas triggers a banter about Solas with the voice.
Approaching the Portal triggers a banter about the prison.
Reminded of the Lost
The set pieces fade away into the darkness, the path continues beyond.
Escaped, but the battle has just begun.
Figures come into view as Rook travels down the path. They are the fallen followers from the Ghilan'nain's battle, Frozen in their death throes.
The scene is frozen in time capturing the moments Rooks followers died along with a scene of Ghilan'nain.
Taunted by the Lost
The followers that died taunt rook.
Banter will play as players fumble around the space and while they progress down the path.
Banter line about the First Fallen Follower
Banter line about the Second Fallen Follower
Another flash of white fills the screen.
The mighty have Fallen
Rook finds themselves on the walls of Weisshaupt. Similar to earlier, the scene is frozen in time.
Rook walks the ramparts with the still battle around them. The voice speaks of moments from the battle.
Banter line about Ghilan'nain.
Manipulation Manifest
The voice asks why Rook is here. Rook responds by mentioning Varric. The scene fades away.
Rook finds themselves on another trail, however this time there is a doorway at the end outlined in the darkness.
Passing through the doorway leaves Rook inside Varrics room.
Suddenly the furniture and the walls will fall away, revealing a pile of rocks.
Approaching the rocks triggers the Varric Reveal scene.
First/second/third/fourth banter of characters. Get the Characters speaking about Varric.
Challenge the Demon of Regret by walking towards it.
Regret Changes its appearance and voice to imitate characters Rook has interacted with in an attempt to stop Rook in their tracks.
Changes again to another character.
Changes to one last character.
Within the Conversation there are non-standard game overs depending on which response is chosen.
Give-in to Regret
Confront Regret
Approaching the Demon, Rook overcomes their regret. Triggering the outro cine.
Rook emerges from the Prison, where all their followers await them. After the hugs and jubilation, the group sets off to stop Solas and Elgar'nan will new found determination.
The text also contains some lines from the dialogue with the demon.
----------
What is this!
Is someone there!
Hello!
Rook.
Solas?
Solas, you...!
It's like... walking against a wall.
Follow the line, I guess.
Where does this lead?
What... what am I seeing?
It's what you chose. The tipping point.
What are you? What's the point of this?
This is the truth of your actions. Your tipping point.
The moment of freedom. A god walks free, because another took his place.
Someone who played the role.
Solas built a cage that could hold the gods. You trapped him, but were also his way out.
You're not Solas. What are you?
Another god?
I am the lock on this prison.
Keep going, Rook. It's a long way back.
Back? To what...?
I'm not moving without answers!
I deserve answers.
You will get what you deserve.
You're more like Solas than you know. It's the blood on your hands.
What blood? Show me!
Neve/Bellara? No. You're fake, like Solas.
(Neve banter)
I fought for you, Rook. You led me to this.
She'd call me Trouble, make some joke to hide how she feels.
She wasn't fighting for me. She wouldn't say that.
(Bellara banter)
Was this what I fought for, Rook? Was it worth it?
She'd never say that. Every moment was worth it.
She knew why she was fighting. Didn't need me to tell her.
You're not her. Not real.
Live long enough, the only thing that's real is what you've lost.
(Harding banter)
I did everything for you, Rook. And then you left me.
Lace would blame herself. That would hurt more.
Her voice, but she'd never try to hurt someone like that.
You don't know her. Not like I did.
(Davrin banter)
I saved you, Rook. What was the point?
That's not how he'd challenge me. How he'd tease me about it.
He'd have saved anyone. Done it for the challenge alone.
You don't know him. Not like I did.
If the pain is great enough, appearances can be all that matter.
You're stealing these voices. If this is the Fade, are you a demon?
I am Regret. The Regret of a god. And you are a speck that I will consume forever.
You feed me regardless.
Wardens, hold the wall! This is our house!
Hold that wall, Wardens! Push them back!
A face in the sky. Like no Blight before.
The Mother of Monsters. Like no Blight before.
That's Weishaupt. I saved the Wardens.
You saved some of the Wardens.
And they're dead, aren't they.
I came to warn them. Their plan wasn't going to work.
I tried to warn them. The gods changed everything.
They didn't know about the gods.
Why were you here?
I told you, to warn them.
That's what you came to do, not why you were here.
But why you, Rook?
Because I trapped Solas.
Because Varric—
Why show me this? To make me give up?
Ascend.
What?
Rise to match the gods. Rise above those who died.
See why you lead.
You won't keep me here! Said it yourself, this cage is for gods!
I'm not like them! Not like Solas!
"A cage built for gods."
Or mortals with delusions.
I'll get out, you know. I get out of things.
Solas got out.
Stubborn. Another thing you and Solas share.
Another? What's the first?
The regret. The blood on your hands.
You want to know how he swapped places with you? How your regret could match his?
Every choice you've made, you owe to this.
This is the moment that put lives in your hands.
Welcome to your cage. The moment why you lead.
When Varric showed you the cost of leadership.
And the god of lies regretfully killed him.
He was always...?
Always.
The first fight against Solas? Varric is still...
Right where you left him.
This... is the moment Varric died. But this regret isn't mine.
The god of lies abhors blood magic, but made an exception for you.
He had to do it. You made him do it.
Varric died at that ritual. You didn't want to face it. And with a little blood magic, you didn't have to.
The moment Solas used. When the blood on your hands clouded your mind.
Solas was trapped in his own cage, but if your regret grew, he could escape.
Only by trading you. Shaping you. Until your regret matched his.
So Varric lived on, in your mind, until it could hit you all at once.
This is the end. When he traded his regret for yours.
This is the very real loss that let Solas swap his regret... for yours.
Regret is the price we pay for acting when no one else will.
That's what leaders say. When they get people killed for the greater good.
When they toy with lives.
It was lies. The whole time...
I was toyed with. Lied to.
This mistake. This failure.
And it can never be undone.
Do you see? How everyone says one thing, but you hear another?
(Laughs.) Poor "injured" Varric.
Give up. Lucanis has only spite for you.
Give up. Emmrich could never love you.
Give up. Die. Taash doesn't care.
Give up. Harding deserved better.
Give up. Neve deserved better than you.
Give up. Bellara needed better than you.
Give up. Davrin deserved more than you.
Give up. Your fortune is wasted. End it.
Give up. Die. No one will mourn you.
Give up. Die behind the Veil.
Give up. End this contract. You failed.
Give up. You failed your calling. Die.
Give up. Fade like the failed shadow you are.
Give up. You're a poor example of your kind.
Give up. You failed what's left of the elves.
Give up. Your time in the sun is over.
Give up. You can't fight your way out of failure.
Give up. Your magical powers can't help you.
Give up. There's no evading this death.
Give up. You're alone in the dark, like you deserve.
Give up. You could never match those who came before you.
Give up. Death is the only role you deserve.
Give up. There's no point in even trying.
Give up. Die. Like Solas knew you would.
Give up. This is what your failure deserves.
Give up. No one believed in you. End it.
You're right. I can't go on.
I can't deal with the loss.
Lies win in the end.
Regret is too much to bear.
It's too much...
There's nothing...
I give up. I failed Harding/Neve/Bellara/Lucanis/Davrin/Taash/Emmrich.
I give up. I'm no Shadow Dragon/Warden/ Veil Jumper/Mourn Watcher/ Lord of Fortune.
I give up. I failed the Crows.
I yield. I failed as a human/elf/qunari/dwarf.
I'm a failure as a mage/warrior/rogue.
I give up. I have no one.
I failed the heroes before me.
Delicious.
I'll face regret. Keep going.
Things always seem impossible. Just fight one battle at a time.
You're not in this alone.
Go on, Rook. It was always you. You got this.
You know bullshit when you smell it, and that demon is full of it.
Varric?
How dare you make me lose him twice!
Using Varric was a mistake.
If you really knew what Varric meant, you wouldn't have used him.
You didn't take his voice. You couldn't, could you? Because it's always been a comfort!
"Things always seem impossible. Just fight one battle at a time."
"I know I can handle this."
"It's not a personal failing to be scared!"
"I'm not in this alone."
What are you doing?
Varric knew the risks. Knew what it might cost.
I didn't lose him. Solas killed him!
Solas did this, and he'll pay!
You think you can break me with what I've lost? What Solas took?
I don't regret this. But gods be damned, Solas will!
He built this prison, not me!
Solas lied, made me lie to myself!
I won't be caged by what he did!
I can see through the regret. I see through you!
I can regret, but keep going!
That loss might have ended me! But not now!
You think you can hold me? That you're the first regret to try?
I have friends to fight for!
And no regret will keep me from them!
I get beat up. Get sad. That's what life does.
It hurts, and then I get back up!
All I can do is keep going!
All I can do is keep trying!
Varric chose me. Saw something worthwhile!
You're damned right he's why I'm here!
I can't regret what he did for me!
More time with him was a gift!
All you've done is remind me why I try.
The value of the friends I have left!
Shown me how much I need them!
I know they're waiting for me!
You think you can keep me from them!
You think you can keep me here? Keep me from what matters?
All of this hurts, but you're wrong about me!
I'm not alone! Not in my heart!
I found love! That's my light in the dark!
Nothing can keep us apart! Not gods! Not you!
I regret nothing about the time we had. Nothing!
(Growl!)
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