So what made you decide to make Athi a bartender in Three? Did you consider any other professions?
I considered quite a few professions for her, yes, trying to take into account her strengths and weaknesses. When I got the ask that spawned the fic (something along the lines of “in a modern AU, what would they do for a living?”), I thought about writing her as an auto mechanic, tattoo artist, late-night radio DJ, exotic dancer, or a barista. I also considered having her be unemployed, doing odd jobs to make rent.
To be honest, I think she could have become any of those things, despite how haphazardly some would suit her, and this would still be a story worth writing. But I wanted to write something I could write well, and I know nothing about fixing cars or applying ink, I barely even listen to the radio, and I’ve never stepped foot in a strip club. I’ve been a barista on and off for over a decade, but I didn’t want to do another coffee shop AU--as fun as they are (and as enjoyable as it would be to write the chapter in which “Oh No someone didn’t show for their open shift so Athi, despiser of dawn, has to fill in and serve Solas his coffee”).
A bar is a different beast than a coffee shop, but the two professions have a lot of similarities. Bartending also utilizes a lot of her skills. She’s good with her hands, just creative enough to take pride in a well-made cocktail, empathetic, a good listener, likes cleanliness, keeping busy, staying up and sleeping in late, and enjoys alcohol of all kinds. And in canon, she relies heavily on muscle memory to fight with the precision that she does--which translates to consistent drinks and fast, efficient service behind the counter.
I was at work, making drinks, when the idea crossed my mind. Thought about it for all of ten seconds and just went, “Yes.”
Thank you so much for asking, love!
