Another lovely day of daydreaming about Dragon Age…
This mug was gifted to me for Christmas. BlackCatUnicorns on Etsy if you’re interested in getting one yourself, or any of the other DA merch in their store.
Lucanis is a pretty fun subversion of what people expected him to be (an edgy assassin that lives up to the name of DEMON of Vyrantium, or the Mage-Killer). It's so interesting how helpful and caring he can be, despite taking lives for a living. Lucanis (as @dandyboyandy pointed out to me) treats assassination like it's just another office job.
This allows for him to be a sweetheart without falling into the trope of "asshole who only likes you and hates everyone else". On the contrary: he has friends everywhere - in The Wigmaker Job, Illario even mentions it in passing. Let this be a reminder that you should read Tevinter Nights!
There's so much I want to talk about I don't know where to start.
Lucanis saying he isn't a good teacher (dialogue with Taash)
He has a few adorable interactions with Taash trying to teach the Qunari how to be a good Crow. Lucanis has a hard time communicating his point, leading Taash to apologize for "being a bad Crow", which he then promptly replies with no, "he's the one who's a bad teacher". Luckily, it ends with Taash coming up with something perfect for them!
Taash: Hey. I'm sorry I'm a bad Crow.
Lucanis: You're not a bad Crow. I'm a bad teacher. The goal of the clever line is to unnerve your enemies, so they don't swarm you while you're vulnerable after you strike.
Taash: And to look good.
Lucanis: And to look good, yes. But you don't need a clever line to unnerve your enemies. Try your growl.
Taash: (growls)
Lucanis: Perfect! Your enemies' morale will be shattered. I will have Teia order you a cape.
Taash: Yes!
(This is the end of a dialogue chain, with three party banters before it.)
Lucanis gets a little exasperated at some points, but is always trying his best to get through to Taash and be supportive. He immediately clocks when his lessons aren't being helpful and corrects himself, switching tactics. His desire to find new, different ways to approach the subject instead of doubling down or giving up is very cute!
A jerk could've kept trying to make Taash learn the same way he was taught, not taking the way their brain works in account. Or he could've been like "it's not my fault you're stupid" and given up.
Harding calling Lucanis out for also being a people pleaser
Lucanis has a very cozy cutscene with Harding where they're drinking coffee and he realizes she doesn't like it (but keeps drinking it anyway). He tries to gently call her out on being a people pleaser, making herself smaller (no pun intended) as to not be a burden, etc. This sentiment is also present in some of their party banter:
Harding: I'm not always agreeable.
Lucanis: Aren't you?
Harding: Am I?
Lucanis: You're trying to agree with me right now.
Harding: I… damn it, Lucanis.
But at the end of this particular dialogue chain, Harding brings up an interesting point about Lucanis's own habits (UNO REVERSE):
Harding: You know, Lucanis… you always try to keep the other Crows and everyone around you happy.
Lucanis: No, I don't. It's impossible to make Crows happy.
Harding: Oh, yes, you do.
The interaction proceeds to split into two different branches, depending on whether or not you've completed the quest Inner Demons:
[BEFORE] Harding: You were rushing around helping Teia with funeral plans. Instead of plotting revenge or something.
[AFTER:] Harding: You do everything Caterina tells you. You spared Illario. You're nice to Teia and Viago.
Then it converges back into the most damning part with his response:
Harding: You made Taash five batches of deep-fried peppers yesterday.
Lucanis: Everyone likes deep-fried peppers.
Harding: That's exactly my point!
This reminds me of something he says in the romance scene where he prepares a dessert to pair with Rook's favorite drink: "there's enough for everyone". His sweet and caring nature isn't at all subtle when you stop to think about it, it's all around them. He's kind of awkward, but he's such a team player (which is interesting, given that in @dandyboyandy's words, "assassination isn't typically a team sport").
You wanna know what gets me about this shit?
Isn't it curious that he's shown these traits, to begin with? Other than what's relevant for Lucanis to be a competent assassin, what are the things that are important to HIM to remember? And the answer is: his friends' diets (Emmrich being a vegetarian) and preferences (Rook's favorite dessert), things the people he cares about might want or need.
Lucanis goes to the market to get each and every one something and never expects anything back. He's taken by an emotion akin to childlike wonder when you give him the wyvern tooth dagger. It's so GENUINE.
But why does he have those traits? Lucanis grew up in an empty ass house after losing most of his family to the War of Succession. It might be safe to assume he didn't have a bunch of friends growing up, either. From his childhood to the point where he was sent out on contracts, his inner circle must've been mostly Illario, Caterina, Teia and Viago.
Half of these are very closed off people. So this is an innate part of him (to remember, to care, to nurture) that he probably didn't have a use for for most of his life and he's just NOW getting to use it. It's not even just the romance side of things, but the friendship one too! And, after so long, Lucanis has the luxury to be able to care so openly. He's scared to lose it, but he can't help having faith that maybe this time it's different.
