And now I want to know more about the fallout of Felassan's betrayal, such as it is; specifically as with Mo's blog
ask me questions about solas’s verses | accepting
it leaves him with complicated feelings, in both instances. and i want to note this is based entirely upon solas’s perception of these events (based on the information i have about them, so subject to change!) and he could be wrong.
the first time, solas is likely awake at this time, but given masked empire is set a year or so before inquisition he hasn’t been awake that long. the dysphoria is real, and his symptoms of derealisation outside of the fade are difficult to fight. the world is new to him, and not in an appealing way. felassan’s betrayal comes as an utter surprise, he’s experienced betrayal before. the rebellion doubtless had people who betrayed it for the sake of their gods, or their empire, or whatever other loyalties they had, but felassan clearly wasn’t betraying anyone for his own gain. in fact, he risked losing everything for the sake of people that to solas’ eyes were utterly flat-- they frowned or smiled, went through the motions of being alive, but in a reality where the sixth sense of the pre-veil world was absent it felt flat.
he gives felassan ( @asomniari ) another chance and turns his plans away from the eluvian for the moment. it is possible for him to strive towards his plans while felassan is allowed to see how the chance he gave briala to play out. given the amount of trust he placed in felassan, it planted a small seed of doubt that takes time to grow.
and, of course, even if solas doesn’t kill felassan he still carries guilt for considering it. especially as inquisition progresses and solas is allowed the same exposure to the modern world felassan was. he admits as much, and as by inquisition he clearly admires briala to the point where his approval in WE&WH is dependent upon her getting the inquisition’s support. modern elves begin to join their ranks and are potentially allowed the same level of trust as those he has known centuries (though it mostly depends on how they are recruited-- those recruited by agents who have never met him such as gaius display a different level of understanding of him than bruno, who was recruited by miraen, albeit indirectly). felassan plays a role in that allowance, as he does in plots where solas directly approaches briala to establish an alliance.
yet at the same time felassan’s role is greatly reduced, to the point where it’s unlikely felassan is placed on assignments alone anymore. when it’s clear his feelings for theria ( @youriinquisitorialness ) are beginning to blossom, part of solas sort of guessed that felassan defecting permanently would happen. mo and i haven’t plotted much about how it plays out, so i don’t want to talk about the logistical fallout and implications and instead i’ll move onto how solas feels.
it’s a confusing mix of anger, sympathy, understanding, and jealousy.
he’s angry because like, felassan isn’t just betraying him, and if he were then it would still be upsetting, but not to the same extent. he’s betraying the hundreds of ancient elves that are depending on their plans, the thousands of spirits beyond the veil whose existence is stifled by the veil, it goes far beyond just being about solas. and he’s doing it for somewhat selfish reasons from solas’s perspective, compared to the briala betrayal which was more selfless in his eyes.
which is where we come to the understanding and jealousy. solas ultimately wants a world where the People can be selfless, to choose themselves over some grand plan or rebellion. they spent their time before the rebellion serving others, and then devoted their freedom in fighting to keep it. he genuinely wants a world where someone like felassan can retire with his wife on a farm and idk eat bark together. he gets it.
what’s more, there is part of solas that is envious that felassan has the bravery to be selfish. by trespasser solas is reasonably certain he could be happy living the rest of his days out with ian, wandering the world and learning. there might be something missing, but it would probably be the happiest he’d been in a long time. or, it would be, if he could pretend he wouldn’t be saddled with constant guilt when he remembers the people he promised freedom and delivered instead a broken world.
solas is certain his story will end with his death for the sake of their future, but he has to find a way to secure that future. yet there is an undeniable part of him that longs for the ability to do what felassan did, and a part of him that hates that desire. that part of him is the part that’s angry with felassan, as well as himself.
