“I know dwarves don’t exactly frequent Haven, but this is just humiliating.” Varric swung his legs back and forth under him, then turned his attention back to his drink. “We like to drink just as much as the next guy, yanno.”
Cullen glanced at him at the corner of his eye. “Should I get you a box?”
“Go fuck yourself, Curly.” But he grinned, then picked up his beer.
“Remind me again why you’re here.”
“Cassandra will die before she admits it, but you guys need me more than you realize.”
Cullen took a moment to drink. He wasn’t exactly what one would call a barfly. Truth be told, he never had the time for it. He felt anxious in the dimly lit bar; he should have been doing something. But Varric had a point; there was nothing for him to do. Not until after tomorrow. After the Conclave. “We don’t even know what will happen tomorrow.”
Varric pointed his glass at him. “Exactly.” He paused, drank. “When shit hits the fan - and you know it will - you will need my expertise.”
“And what exactly is that? You’re no soldier.”
“Sure, not by your standards. But I’ve seen a war or two. And I know people.”
“What kind of people?”
“Don’t you worry that pretty blond head of yours.”
Cullen grunted, annoyed with the dwarf, and they had only just met a few hours ago. “I don’t know how you talked me into coming here.”
“Because clearly you need a fucking drink,” Varric said. “Tightass templar.”
“Not a templar.”
“Once a templar, always a templar.”
Cullen turned and sneered at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, come on, why are you getting all defensive? I thought templars were all proud and shit.”
Cullen turned to stare into his glass. “It’s complicated.”
Varric sighed. “Tragic. How do I always attract tragic people? Everyone’s got a fucking story.” He drank, then brightened. “Hey. Maybe yours will be worth writing.”
“What? No. Write what?”
Varric laughed. “I may be known to thread a tale or two.” He frowned. “I guess you haven’t read my books.”
“I’ll fucking kill you,” Cullen muttered.
“So, what’s yours?”
“My what?” he snapped.
“Your story. Sister killed by darkspawn? Lover killed in the blight?”
“What’s yours?”
Varric smiled. He straightened and pulled his shoulders back. “Me? Well, I always just seem to be in the right place at the right time.” He drank. “And that’s how I know that this may be a story worth writing about one day.”
The door to the bar opened, bringing with it a rush of cold, winter air that sent a chill up his spine. Cullen looked up at the two women who stepped into the bar, and his gaze met a pair of warm, golden eyes, bright and stark in the dim lighting, contrasted by the dark hair that fell in waves over her shoulders. Pointed ears that marked her as Elven jutted out from her hair, studded with various piercings. Her jeans hugged the natural curves of her body, while her blouse was looser, hanging off her shoulders delicately and exposing a bit of torso. Tattoos marked her arms and shoulders, vivid and bold, but were fainter on her neck and face, in fewer, softer tones, outlining her eyes in elegant swirls. She smiled before turning to the short haired blonde woman at her side, and they disappeared into the crowd.
“That was the first time he ever saw her,” Varric narrated. “The woman that would change his life forever.”
“Shut up,” Cullen hissed at him.
“She’s hot,” Varric said. “Even for an elf.” He laughed. “Now that would be a story.”
“You’re going back to Kirkwall after tomorrow, right?”
“Aw, come on, Curly. Loosen up. That’s why I dragged you down here. Hell, go talk to her. Take her in the back alleyway. Enjoy yourself, and never see her again.”
“No, thank you,” Cullen muttered.
“Aw, are you the romantic type?”
Cullen stood abruptly.
“Alright! Alright! I’m kidding! Sit your tight ass down and drink with me. I won’t say another word.”
Cullen grunted, but sat.
“I’m starting to think Giggles would have been more fun. I thought elves liked to drink? But then again, he is an apostate. Trying to keep a low profile and all. Ha. You must be dying over that, huh? Joining forces with a mage?”
“I’m not thrilled about it.”
“They’re not all so bad, you know.”
“I am aware.”
“One of these days, though, I am getting Cassandra drunk. We’ll see who’s all tough and scary, then! She seems like someone that has a soft interior, though. Like you.”
“Rum and Coke.”
Varric turned to the voice that came from his other side. His gaze met the dark haired woman’s, and he offered her his most flattering smile. “Well, hey there.”
She leaned against the bar as she waited, but turned so her body faced him. “Is that your phone in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
Varric laughed. “I’m supposed to be the one throwing out terrible pick-up lines.”
She smirked and shrugged. “Figured I’d save you the embarrassment.”
“Actually,” Varric started. “My friend here is happy to see you.”
“Varric,” Cullen hissed.
The woman’s gaze moved past Varric and met Cullen’s. “Your friend doesn’t seem to know what to do with himself.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Maybe I can help him with that.”
Varric frowned. “Is that gonna cost me money?”
She laughed. “Maker, no!”
“Maybe it should,” the blonde woman said, pushing herself through the crowd and sliding up beside her friend. “If you’re gonna keep looking to get laid, you could at least make some money off of it.”
The dark haired woman grinned, then held her hand out. “Calliope.” She gestured to her friend. “This is Jenny.”
Varric shook her hand. “Varric,” he said. “Cullen.”
Calliope met Cullen’s gaze once more and smiled. “A pleasure, gentlemen.” She took a moment to look him up and down, then winked. “I do have a thing for templars.”
“Don’t waste your time,” Varric said. “He wouldn’t know what to do with a beautiful woman.”
The bartender returned briefly with her drink before hurrying off to tend to other patrons.
“You flatter me, Varric.”
“I only speak the truth, my lady.”
“Ugh,” Jenny said. “I think I’m gonna be sick.” She turned away from them.
Calliope took her drink, then moved to follow her friend, glancing at Varric and Cullen one last time and offering a smile in parting.
Varric turned to Cullen and frowned. “What the hell? I set you up! Where the fuck were you? She was ready! She practically threw herself at you! You had her!”
“I - what?”
“You could be fucking her right now!”
“You’re impossible,” Cullen muttered.
“You need to get laid,” Varric said. “It’s painfully obvious. What’s the harm in a little stress relief?”
“I don’t -”
“I don’t care, you giant baby! You’ll never see her again! Get out of your damn head for one night, will ya?”
Cullen moved his gaze around the bar, but in the dim lighting, he could not pick her out. “I don’t… I wouldn’t… what do I even say?”
Varric shook his head. “Curly, you poor, deprived boy. You work too much. You’re too serious. It’s bad for your health. You need to have fun once in a while.”
“Bad for my health?”
“Just go out there and flirt with her. You can do that, right?”
Cullen hesitated, and Varric sighed.
“She is way out of your league. She’s smart, witty, beautiful. One word out of your mouth and she’ll be running for the door, no matter how much she might want it.”
“Thank you for that confidence boost,” Cullen muttered.
Varric grinned. “You’re considering it?”
Cullen sighed, then quickly finished his drink. He tapped on the counter, signaling for another.
“Alright! Let’s get you laid!”
A second drink was brought over, and Cullen quickly finished it off.
“Don’t over do it,” Varric warned. “We don’t need you sloppy and embarrassing.” He scanned the room for a moment until he finally picked Calliope out. “There. With her friend. Tell ya what. I’ll distract the friend so you can get her alone. Buy her a drink. Talk to her like she’s just another person. You got this.” He turned to the bartender. “Four of those rum and Coke things.”
When the bartender brought the drinks, Varric slid two to Cullen, then took the other two. “Let’s go!”
Cullen begrudgingly took the drinks, then followed Varric into the crowd as he approached the two women. Calliope smiled when she met Varric’s gaze.
“Ladies,” he said in greeting.
“Couldn’t stay away, I see,” Calliope said.
“We brought drinks.” He offered his to Jenny, and she rolled her eyes.
“I don’t do dwarves,” she said.
“I think I could make you change your mind,” Varric said with a wink.
Jenny laughed sharply. “You’re just trying to get them alone together.”
Varric raised a hand defensively. “You got me.”
Jenny shrugged. She took his drink, then flashed a grin at Calliope. “Bye!”
Calliope frowned, then turned and met Cullen’s gaze. “Is that for me?”
“I guess so.”
Calliope smiled and took it, allowing her fingers to brush against his. They lingered for a moment before she pulled away. “You’re really bad at this, huh?”
“Ignore him,” Cullen said. “Ignore everything he has said tonight.”
Calliope gave him a flirtatious smile. “So you do know what to do with a beautiful woman?”
“I - uh - no. Yes. I mean. You’re not - you are, but -”
Calliope laughed. “Man, and I thought you templars were smart.”
“I’m far smarter than I must appear right now,” he muttered.
Calliope smiled over her glass as she drank, meeting his gaze. “I think it’s cute.”
“I guess that’s something.”
“You two are funny,” Calliope said. “How long have you known each other?”
“Oh, about ten hours.”
Calliope’s eyes widened. “What? Really? That’s hilarious.” She paused to drink. “Let me guess; he dragged you out here tonight?”
“We’ve known each other forever,” she said. “Practically grew up together. Now we’re just out here traveling. Seeing the world. Living life. Are you from around here?”
“Ferelden.”
“Ah. Sure.”
“What about you?”
Calliope smiled devilishly. “Around.” She finished her drink, then grabbed Cullen’s wrist, pulling him to the bar. “Buy me another?”
“That depends,” he said. “Are you going to keep using me for free drinks?”
She smiled. “Alright, fair enough. This one’s on me. It’s the least I can do since you finally made… some kind of a move.”
“Are you expecting me to make a move?”
She met his gaze. “Do you want to make a move?”
“I did not come here looking for a hookup.”
She smiled. “That wasn’t what I asked.” She leaned closer, putting a hand on his chest and whispered in his ear. “If you want to make a move, then make a move.”
A chill ran up Cullen’s spine and his pulse pounded in his ears.
Calliope leaned away slightly. “Or, I can go rescue my friend and continue on our way. I’m down either way.”
“I guess I’d have to be an idiot to pass up that offer,” Cullen said.
Calliope shrugged. “Not at all. But for what it’s worth, we’ll never see each other again after this.”
“Alright. To never seeing each other again.” He held his glass up, and she tapped hers against it. She smiled, then grabbed his wrist once more, guiding him through the bar and out a back door.
*****
Calliope strode down the alleyway, stepping around the corner and down the sidewalk. Jenny was leaning against the far end of the building, a cigarette between two fingers as she moved it to her lips. She glanced at Calliope, then straightened as she approached.
“Anything?”
Calliope shook her head.
“Fuckin’ piss,” Jenny muttered. She flicked the cigarette to the ground and put it out with the toe of her boot.
“Doesn’t matter,” Calliope said. “We’ll find out everything we need to know at the Conclave tomorrow.”
“I dunno how you do it,” Jenny said. “I wanted to kill myself hanging around that dwarf. How you can flirt around and shit? Where’d ya go, anyway? Don’t tell me you fucked that templar.”
Calliope smiled. “Let’s go,” she said simply, and she strode across the street to the parking lot. She clicked the button on her keys, and the black car beeped twice, unlocking. She slid in behind the driver’s seat, turned the key in the ignition, and peeled out of the parking lot, leaving Haven behind them for good.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Hobbit - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield
Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
Additional Tags: Soulmates, Soulmate marks
Series: Part 3 of The Fall
Summary:
Bilbo Baggins is born with a mark that covers half his arm the day he is born,
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 12/?
Fandom: The Hobbit - All Media Types, The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit (Jackson Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Fíli/Ori, others, Dwalin/Nori, Dís/Canonical Husband, Future Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield
Characters: Ori - Character, Dori, Nori, Brothers Ri - Character, Family Ri, Ri Sisters, Ri Mother, Fíli
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Names on wrists
Series: Part 1 of The Fall
Summary:
Why does a name on your wrist guarantee love? Or even knowing the person?
Ori does not think of Fíli, son of Vimli, most of the time. But his name is in stark black on Ori's left wrist, has been since he was twenty. Eventually, that will mean something.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Rating: T
Pairing: Fíli/Ori
Other Pairings: Dwalin/Nori, Dís/Spouse, future Thorin Oakenshield/Bilbo Baggins
Warnings: Language, sexual situations
Summary: Why does a name on your wrist guarantee love? Or even knowing the person?
Ori does not think of Fíli, son of Vimli, most of the time. But his name is in stark black on Ori’s left wrist, has been since he was twenty. Eventually, that will mean something.
For the Silver Lady who likes her privacy, and for @pangur-pangur
I just read a thousand stars I wear AND THEY FIND OUT!!!! I'm so glad you did it from Sori's pov. I thought Dori would FAINT but I'm glad he didn't. By the way are you going to make Dori and Dain sort of related like what you did in What Tradition told you? Thank you for writing you're the best!
Dori and Dáin share a father in the What Tradition Told You ‘verse, so I’m not sure how well that work out in this one. It is a good question though.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Rating: T
Pairing: Fíli/Ori
Other Pairings: Dwalin/Nori, Dís/Spouse, future Thorin Oakenshield/Bilbo Baggins
Warnings: Language, sexual situations
Summary: Why does a name on your wrist guarantee love? Or even knowing the person?
Ori does not think of Fíli, son of Vimli, most of the time. But his name is in stark black on Ori's left wrist, has been since he was twenty. Eventually, that will mean something.
And another posting. I promise, I have been working on things, I’ve just been so tired with all the holiday stuff at work. But now that things are slowing down again, and my brain is functioning above barely, we are back on course.
I wa watching sense8 (my first time watching!!) and Sun Bak reminded me of Sori and what Nomi's gf did for her reminded me of Dwalin helping Nori escape from Erebor in Until You See the Light. Sorry if you haven't seen the show please feel free to delete this ask without answering bye!
Sun Bak does look a lot like how I picture Sori, though Sori of course has longer hair and a beard. Doona Bae just has great body language. But personality-wise, she’s more like Mori, in the sense of “a problem is usually solved by me confronting that problem with my fist”. Sori is usually Mori’s back-up.
Ah, Nomi and Amanita are the couple we all aspire to be, and Amanita is the best girlfriend ever. That they evoked any positive comparison to something I wrote is amazing to me, thank you so much!
