#avis thorne

[breath-of-fresh-aer]

Rookanis week day 1!

Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate

Please enjoy :)

The morning light shined through the windows of Villa Dellamorte as Avis awoke next to Lucanis, his soft and peaceful breathing making her smile. She kissed his forehead and got up to go to the kitchen. As she stood in the kitchen making herself a cup of coffee, a hand snaked around her waist while Lucanis laid his head on her shoulder.

“Oh, good morning darling. I hope I didn't wake you.” She turned and kissed him, smiling and moving a strand of hair from his face. “You didn't, I was already awake.” Avis turned back to the counter, grabbing two cups and walking to the couch. He followed behind and sat next to her then picked up one of the cups.

“Smells like ash.” Spite said, appearing behind him. Lucanis sniffed then tasted it, his tastebuds immediately felt attacked.

“Mi amor, did you make this?” Avis sighed as she took a sip, completely immune to the taste. “Yeah…I've never been good at making it. I'm sorry it's so bad.” He set the cup down, putting his hand on her leg.

“It's not too terrible, but if I may ask, who taught you how to make coffee?” She looked at him and smiled.

“When I was still a recruit in Weisshaupt, I stayed with my boyfriend at the time and his roommates. I'd usually always wake up first, so I kind of taught myself how to make coffee, but I could never figure it out and pretty much burned the beans every time. After months of drinking my burned coffee, everyone just got used to it. So if I'm being honest, I don't know how to make coffee.” Lucanis snickered and kissed her cheek.

“I'd love to know how they managed it for so long.” Avis chuckled weakly, looking into her cup. “Me too, but…they're all gone now.” The acrid smell permeated the air as a suffocating silence fell over the room. Her hands began to shake slightly, when Lucanis put his hands under her own as she looked at him.

“I'm sorry mi amor. Would you like me to show you how to make it correctly?” He said, smiling at her lovingly. A weak smile appeared on her face.

“I'd love that darling.” As the morning turned to afternoon, the acrid and ashy smell was replaced with a nutty and caramelized aroma that filled Villa Dellamorte till the sun eventually set.

[draco-illius-noctis]

For @ferocious-notes and their Rook, Avis Thorne 💜 Her magic specialty lent itself perfectly for our poetic professor 🌩️

To my storm-born heart,

There’s thunder in the air tonight—not literal, not quite, but the kind that hums beneath the ribs and sets the blood stirring. I imagine you know it well. I always think of your magic when the wind shifts—how it gathers in your shoulders before it ever leaves your hands, like the storm is waiting for your permission. I could swear I’ve seen clouds change course just to match the tilt of your brow.

You were lightning long before I knew your name.

I told myself I had no business wanting you. That you’d never look twice at a man who speaks in footnotes and spends his evenings in conversations with the dead. I told myself you would think me ancient, absurd, irrelevant—just another fussy academic left to haunt the edge of your life. But Maker, Avis, I looked anyway. And what I saw—what I still see—has brought me to my knees with more force than any spell I’ve ever conjured.

You are brilliance in motion—a Grey Warden, yes, but also a mind sharp as cut glass and a heart far too generous for the world you’ve been asked to bear. You walk into danger without hesitation, offer a healing vial without a word, press a leaf into my hand with a note about where you found it and what it might cure. I find traces of you everywhere: pages from your herbarium tucked into my books, scraps of embroidery, little bundles of herbs labeled with dry wit—one tucked into Fade-Borne Phenomena read “for headaches caused by mages who think they know better.” I keep them all. I can’t seem to part with anything that’s passed through your hands.

And when you touch me—Maker. The first time, I thought I imagined it. I’ve seen you wrap arms around shoulders, press kisses to cheeks, bold and warm with everyone but me. With me, you hesitated. For a long time I thought it was revulsion. That you saw me as untouchable in the worst sense. But now I think—hope—that it was something else. That I mattered more. That your hands waited not because they didn’t want, but because they did.

There’s a hush to the way you move when we’re alone, as though some part of you still believes you must hide what you feel. But I’ve felt it, my love—in the stutter of your breath, in the way your fingers clutch at me when you forget to hold back. You’ve had to be careful for so long. Too long. If you’ll let me, I would give you the kind of safety that doesn’t require silence. Not through promises, but through reverence. Through time. Through every brush of my mouth against your skin until your body sings without restraint.

I think about having you beneath me—often, and in far too much detail. The way your thighs tense when I grip them. The soft part of your belly I want to kiss until you’re writhing. How you’d sound if I held you open and used my mouth the way I’ve been aching to. I want to watch you fall apart, slowly, again and again, until you forget how to be quiet. Until all that careful control gives way to want.

And now I’ve gone and let my thoughts stray further than I meant to. I was going to write you something respectable. Instead, I’m sitting here flushed and ridiculous, thinking about the way your legs would feel over my shoulders.

You see what you do to me?

I will not ask for forever. We are both sworn—to duty, to fate, to the end of things. But in this moment, I am yours. Entirely. And if all I have is a string of moments lit by your presence, I will spend each one writing your name into the marrow of this life.

With all that I am, Emmrich

[breath-of-fresh-aer]

Rookanis week day 7!

Free day!!

This was a project I started a while ago and finally thought up a way to continue it! Hope you enjoy :)

~~~

“Hi, I'm Warden Avis Thorne, but everyone calls me Rook. Are you Lucanis Dellamorte?” The world stood still for a moment as Lucanis heard a familiar voice. At first, he thought it was the effects of being imprisoned in the ossuary for ages. As if fate hadn't tormented him enough, now he was hearing the voice of a person who disappeared all those years ago. But as he turned around, that face he'd seen in dreams was staring back at him, still as beautiful as the day he lost her.

“Mavis? Is that you?” Avis looked around confused and scratched her head.

“I'm not sure we've met before. I would've remembered meeting one of the Dellamortes, especially the Demon of Vyrantium, and my name's Avis not- that doesn't matter right now.” The three of them stood in awkward silence as Lucanis stared at Avis, who began to rock on her heels.

-

Making their way back to the lighthouse, Avis called everyone into the dining room.

“So, everyone, this is Lucanis Dellamorte and he'll be helping us from here on out. Our next order of business is to find a monster hunter, right Harding?” The entire time she was doing this, Lucanis just stared at her.

“Alright! Great chat, I'm going to go back to my room. If you need me, you know where to find me!” She turned to leave when someone spoke up,

“Oh Rook? Could I talk with you about something real quick?” Neve asked, standing up from her seat. Avis stopped and turned around. As she was listening to Neve's question, she slowly rocked on her heels. Lucanis quickly excused himself and walked to the pantry, shutting the door firmly behind him. ‘There's no way that's her. It's been almost 20 years.’ He thought to himself. After a few minutes, a small knock on the door was heard. Avis entered, closing the door and tilting her head.

“Sooooo, you know we have other rooms available? You don't have to sleep in the pantry.” Lucanis chuckled, she was the same after all these years.

“Why would an assassin choose a closed off room with obvious choke points? Plus I'm closer to the coffee.” Avis looked around and moved the hair from in front of her face awkwardly.

“Ah. You make an excellent point. Well if you need someone to talk to, I'm just right across the courtyard.” As she turned to leave, the candlelight caught her left eye, the violet gleam shining brightly. On the other hand, her right eye was blackened with a large scar going across it. Lucanis cleared his throat and Avis turned back towards him.

“Would you like to have coffee with me in the morning? I have some questions about the contract.” She smiled brightly, making his heart ache.

“Sure thing! I'll see you later then :)”

The next morning arrived as Lucanis anxiously sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee for himself and another cup to his left. Sounds of footsteps approached the kitchen when the door was pushed open and Avis walked inside, a wide smile on her face.

“Hey Lucanis! Sorry if I took a while, couldn't find my shirt, the damn wisps probably stole it..” He noticed she was wearing something different than yesterday. Instead of her usual attire, she had on a simple black tank top.

“That is alright, I grabbed you a cup.” She sat down in the seat next to him, grabbing the cup with her left hand, her nails painted a pale purple.

“So, what do you want to know?” The next hour or so was filled with Avis telling him all the information about the gods, blight, and anything else she knew that would help him.

“Well, that's about all I have on the contract, did you have any other questions?” She said sipping her coffee again. Lucanis quietly tapped the side of his cup and cleared his throat.

“I do not know anything about you, but only if you are willing to share.”

“Oh, of course! My name is Avis Thorne, I joined the wardens at 17 although it did take me 7 years to actually become an official warden but I won't bore you with details!” He sat and watched her as she spoke excitedly while past memories began to resurface. “-but as I was saying! Did you want to know anything in particular? Lucanis?” She waved her hand in front of his face, causing him to blink rapidly.

“Oh, yes, sorry. Your left eye is such an interesting color, but what happened to the other one?” There was a lingering pause until she spoke, tracing the large scar on her face.

“Darkspawn attack about 7 years ago. My entire squadron was wiped out after a horde suddenly showed up while on a routine check. I escaped with my life only because…” She paused and moved her finger around the cup in her hands. “my fiance risked his life for mine.” Lucanis placed a hand on his leg to stop it from shaking as she wiped her eyes.

“I'm sorry for asking such a painful question.”

“No, it's alright. I've had time to grieve for him and my comrades. Besides, I swore an oath to the wardens, they took me in when I had nowhere else to go.” He raised an eyebrow, trying to calm the desperation he felt.

“Where were you from before you joined them?” She pulled her ponytail over her shoulder and fiddled with the strands.

“Not sure. According to the first warden, they found me in the wreckage of a carriage with 3 deceased people. I hadn't the slightest clue about who I was, still don't. That's why I made a new life for myself and now I'm here, leading a team against my own gods, what a strange turn of events huh?” A smile curled on her face as she haphazardly braided a few strands of her hair. Lucanis was about to say something when someone entered the kitchen.

“Oh Rook, there you are! I got a response from that couple, they want to meet soon so we should get ready to go.” Harding said, standing in the doorway.

“Okay! I've gotta head out Lucanis, but thanks for the coffee! I hope we can do this again sometime :)” He nodded his head as she stood up, turning her back to him and that's when he knew, one hundred percent, that she was that girl from long ago. A large tattoo of a crow rested at the base of her neck, only able to be seen because of her tank top. The door slammed shut as he breathed out, covering his eyes with his hand while tears seeped out from in between his fingers.

“Mierda.”

[breath-of-fresh-aer]

Rookanis week day 3!

Warmth/Touch/Romance

“Mmph, Lucanis, we should probably get up now.” Avis said as his arm was wrapped around her.

“Just a few more minutes. You're warm.” He whispered, pulling her closer. The warmth of his body felt nice as she knew that it was going to be freezing today.

“I guess I could be persuaded.” She said turning around and kissing him.

-

“First Talon, what do you think about this? First Talon?” Someone asked as Lucanis snapped back into the conversation. He was in a meeting with the other talons as Avis sat next to him, his hand intertwined with hers. After a few hours, the meeting ended and the two of them walked out, still holding hands.

“I need to stop by the market, you can go home and I'll meet you there.” Avis said, releasing his hand. He quickly grabbed it again, locking eyes with her.

“I'll come with you.” She looked at him with concern but softened and smiled.

“Alright, let's go then.” His arm was wrapped around her waist as they walked through the market and Avis noticed that he wasn't leaving her side. She wondered why he was being so clingy today. They finished up at the market and headed home, Lucanis still not letting her go from his grasp. Avis sat on the couch and let out a heavy sigh as Lucanis sat next to her, reaching for her hand. She gripped it and looked at him.

“Lucanis, is something wrong? You haven't let go of me since we woke up this morning?” He quietly traced circles on her hand, not looking at her face. “Are you scared of something darling?” Avis asked, placing her other hand on his chin and lifting his head up. His eyes simply looked worried, he wasn't crying, just worried.

“I don't know mi amor. There are days where I feel ok being away from you, but then there are others where you're the only thing I think of. My mind tells me you'll disappear again if I don't hold onto you.” Looking into his eyes, Avis's smile wavered as she leaned into his chest.

“I had a feeling that was what it was, but I'm right here, right now and I'll do everything in my power to stay, you know that.” He wrapped his arms around her and leaned back on the couch, pulling her down with him. Suddenly, there was a loud banging sound as the wind blew wildly outside the window. Avis's head shot up in surprise, but then she started laughing.

“What is so funny mi amor?” She caught her breath and smiled at him.

“I just think it's funny. I think the wind is trying to tell us something ;)” Lucanis stared at her for a moment before chuckling.

“Are you talking about that stupid joke you made when you were 17? Mierda Avis, what am I going to do with you?” She smiled and kissed him, pulling back after a moment.

“Oh I don't know, but maybe for tonight, just hold me, please?”

[breath-of-fresh-aer]

Rookanis week day 6!

Dreams/Growing Old

*This one in particular is a part of a larger story that I'm writing! When it's finished maybe I'll post it here, but for now, I hope you enjoy the first part of what I've currently titled: The Calling

~~~

The life of a grey warden is one that comes with a guaranteed expiration date, seeing as you don't die to darkspawn first. At 24 years old, Avis officially became a warden and now at 44 years old, she thought about the timer on her head. Night had fallen as she laid in bed, Lucanis's arms draped over her, his small breaths indicated that he was sleeping peacefully. Sleep had been rare for her lately because when she did, the nightmares followed. She felt her eyelids getting heavy and gripped Lucanis's hand as she drifted to sleep. 

-

“Come warden. Join us.” Avis shot up from the bed, breathing heavily.

“Avis, what's the matter?” Lucanis said from next to her. She took shallow breaths and looked at him.

“Sorry Lucanis, just a nightmare.” He sat up and held her hands.

“It's ok mi amor, I get them too.” Placing a kiss on her cheek, Lucanis wrapped his arms around her as she laid back down. It had been 8 years since they defeated the Evanuris and sealed the veil; the nightmares happened sporadically, but this was different, something had been calling to her for the last few weeks. Avis knew what it was. The unfortunate fate of all wardens, The Calling. Sleep didn't come to her for the rest of the night as she laid there thinking of a way to explain to Lucanis that she was out of time, when she suddenly remembered a story. A story that Lucanis told Davrin during their time in the veilguard. ‘Sometimes wardens initiate a contract, with themselves as the target.’ Avis held Lucanis's hand that was draped over her stomach and quietly cried.

“Mi amor, tell me what's the matter.” Lucanis said quietly. She sniffled and turned over, meeting him face to face.

“I'm alright, just thinking about stuff from before.” He looked into her eyes when a sudden small knock was heard at the door. Avis quickly wiped her eyes as they both sat up. The door creaked open and holding onto the handle was a small girl with raven black hair, bright violet eyes, and pointed ears.

“Mama, Papa I'm scared." Their expressions softened as Lucanis motioned for her to come closer. He lifted her up onto the bed and she wrapped her arms around Avis. She stroked her hair as Lucanis spoke gently.

“Lucy my darling, what seems to be the matter?” One of Lucy's small hands gripped Avis's shirt while the other reached for and gripped Lucanis's finger.

“I dreamed that something happened. Papa and Mama won't leave me alone, right?” Avis and Lucanis shared a look.

“Not in a million years, my darling.” He said, squeezing her hand. Avis had so many thoughts coursing through her mind at the moment and didn't know how to respond.

“Mama? Why are you crying?” Lucy said, staring up at her with bright eyes. She didn't even notice she was still crying, but quickly wiped her eyes and smiled.

“Would you like to hear a story about your Papa?” Her daughter's smile lit up as she nodded her head.

“Ah, Mi amor what story is this?” Avis smirked and spoke in a playful voice.

“Your papa and I have known each other since I was 8 years old and we did everything together growing up! The summer that I turned 15, your papa took me on a boat ride through the canal. Halfway through it, some people noticed who your papa was and chased after him! You see, he was supposed to be somewhere else at the time, but skipped it to see me.”

“Aw Papa! You love Mama so much!” Lucy said, her bright smile shining towards Lucanis. Even in the dark room, the moonlight shone through the windows just enough to see him blushing slightly.

“Of course I do. I love all of you very much.” He said, placing a hand on Avis’s stomach as she cleared her throat and continued.

“After we got away from them, he apologized to me and as he was walking away, tripped and fell into the canal! I helped him out and he looked like a sad wet bird. Have you noticed that Papa always holds my hand when we walk next to the canals?” She whispered the last sentence to Lucy, causing her to burst out in laughter. Lucanis had his face in his hand as Avis chuckled along with her daughter.

~~~

[breath-of-fresh-aer]

Rookanis week day 5!

Family/Spite

“Thanks for walking me home Teia, I appreciate it.” Avis said, opening the door to Villa Dellamorte.

“No problem Avis, but please remember to get some rest, maker knows you and the baby need it.” She smiled and closed the door, sighing heavily as footsteps approached.

“Mi amor, are you home?” Lucanis asked from a distance.

“Yes, Teia walked me home. How are you darling?” He came around the corner and smiled at her brightly, placing one hand on her cheek and one on her stomach when he reached her.

“I am well. How is my dear wife and child?”

“We're…alright,” her shoulders sank as she leaned into his hand. “Actually, not really. I spoke with Catarina about some things…my parents included.” Lucanis wrapped his arms around her shoulder and escorted her to the couch, sitting down next to her as she continued speaking. “After I got my memories back, I remembered my parents for the first time in 20 years. All the things they lied to me about and kept me from doing, I don't want to be like that Lucanis. I'm terrified I'll become my mother.” She put her hands on her face while tears welled in her eyes. He pulled her close to him and kissed her forehead.

“Mi amor. I know the kind of woman you are, and you're nothing like her. You are loving, and attentive, and most of all, you're strong. I'm sure they'd be proud of who you've become.” Avis sniffled and leaned into his chest and after a few moments, she chuckled.

“You know, it's funny,” “What is mi amor?” “the fact that I, a grey warden, am going to have a family with the first talon of the crows. What a strange thing, fate.” Lucanis was playing with a strand of her hair as he listened. “Oh by the way, Catarina said that it's definitely a girl.” He chuckled and moved one of his hands to her stomach.

“I trust her, she just kind of knows these things. My two beautiful girls, whatever will I do seeing as how I'll be outnumbered now?” She placed her hand over his and smiled.

“Well, if she takes after her father, I think you'll have met your match.” Her smile faded into worry. “I do hope that we do this right. Everything has to be perfect for her, for our little family.” Lucanis leaned his head on hers and spoke, a small smile forming on his face.

“Of course mi amor, everything will be perfect. For family, our family.”

[breath-of-fresh-aer]

Rookanis week day 2!

Open doors/Cages

The sound of someone moving woke Avis from her sleep as she creaked an eye open, seeing Lucanis walk out of the bedroom, leaving the door partially open. She waited a few minutes to see if he would come back, but he didn't so she got up from the bed and walked out into the center of the house. What was odd was that all the doors in the house were now open.

“I swear I closed all of these? What the hells going on.” she muttered, when a voice spoke from a room to her left.

“Mi amor? I'm in here.” Avis walked to the room where the voice came from, realizing it was Lucanis's office. Entering the room, she saw Lucanis sitting in his chair writing something.

“There you are. You really vanished from the bedroom to work?” He turned to her and smiled, the bags under his eyes were so dark.

“I remembered that I had more work to do and thought it best to just get it done now.” She walked over to him, putting her arms around his shoulders.

“Do you know what happened to all the doors and why they're all open?” Lucanis stopped writing and sighed, leaning into her.

“It just felt…stuffy.” Avis walked around the chair and sat on his lap.

“Was it that nightmare again? About the ossuary?” The room was quiet till Lucanis breathed in heavily as his head fell on her shoulder.

“I was trapped in there again, no way out. It felt so real and when I eventually woke up, the air felt so suffocating that I just had to get out.” She stroked his hair and rested her head on his.

“I’m sorry Lucanis, I wish there was something I could do to help. We can leave all the doors open if that’ll help?” He chuckled and looked into her eyes.

“Thank you mi amor, but if we left all of the doors open someone would see us.”

“What do you mea-” Avis was cut off by Lucanis pressing his lips against hers. She stood up to close the door while a mischievous smile crossed her face. All the doors in the house had been opened except for one, one that would remain closed as long as the night was young.

[breath-of-fresh-aer]

Rookanis week day 4!

Relaxation/Peace

(This one is part of my modern au that I've lovingly tilted, Modern age: The Veilguard)

The white sandy beaches were just what Avis needed after years of hard work at the tech startup company she managed. She laid out on a chair near the ocean while Lucanis sat next to her, quietly reading a book. A heavy sigh escaped body as she pulled her sunglasses off.

“What's the matter mi amor?” Lucanis asked, looking up from his book and seeing a worried look on her face.

“I'm glad we finally were able to go on this trip and I know I don't have to worry because they're probably having a blast with Emilia and Neve but, I just can't stop thinking about the kids.” Avis said, fiddling with the sunglasses in her hands. This was the first time she had been away from them since Lucy was born 5 years earlier. She sighed again and put her head in her hands. “I'm sorry, I'm totally ruining this for us.” Lucanis set his book down and took her hands away from her face.

“Avis you aren't ruining anything, I know how much our children mean to you but, you need to let yourself relax. Would you like to go for a walk in town?” Her head lifted as she smiled at him, nodding in agreement.

“That would be nice.” They packed up their things and walked down the colorful streets with brightly lit shops. The sun slowly set, descending below the ocean as the night sky crept in when they arrived back to their room. Avis sat on the bed, taking her long black hair out of her ponytail as Lucanis sat next to her.

“That was a good idea, I never knew how relaxing it was to just walk around in a new place.” She said looking at Lucanis. He looked tired and his shoulders tensed as she touched them.“Lucanis? What's the matter?”

“Sorry, just a little tired.” Avis felt more relaxed than she had in a while, but it seems that Lucanis was feeling quite the opposite.

“Hey, we didn't have to go into town if you didn't want to. I know that your idea of relaxing is sitting peacefully and I'm all for relaxing with you, but my mind races whenever I'm not doing something and I don't know how to shut it up. You'd think that someone who manages other people would know how to manage herself.” She mumbled the last sentence, looking at her hands as Lucanis placed his on top of hers.

“Avis, we've been married for how many years at this point? I know that we both relax differently and you know that if I didn't want to do something, I wouldn't do it. I love seeing you turn your mind off and enjoy the things around you.” He rubbed her hand as she smiled at him. “Now, why don't we turn on a shitty movie and stay up past 9 pm?” Avis laughed and gasped dramatically.

“Past 9 pm? You rebel!” They both changed into their pajamas and settled in bed, the TV playing whatever was on that channel. Avis had her arms wrapped around Lucanis's torso, while he draped one arm over her, the other holding a book.

“I think I like this kind of relaxing better than everything else.”

“Me too mi amor, me too.