Ship sleep dynamics: Zalan x Harding
I didn’t manage to post this when it was first going around but better late than never (a lot of these are answers I’d already had down, it’s nice to know some things don’t change lol)
thanks @genjyoandgojyoandhakkai @aetherflowers @notyourmamasdeerbat @sandcastlekings for the original tags and @kogarashi-art for the new tag, I’m tagging you back because I’d love to see some of the other questions in this answered for saadrah and the others 💙
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How often do they sleep together?
Before veilguard they did occasionally sleep in very very close quarters, sharing one tent in bad weather, sharing inn rooms, sometimes even sharing a bed at the occasional inn or bedroll out on the road.
During veilguard after Lace confesses her dreams are keeping her up and Rook offers to stay with her it’s pretty much every night unless someone is too hurt and is in the infirmary. And even if dreams or insomnia keep them up they’re laying around or sitting up together.
Where do they sleep?
During Veilguard: in Harding’s room at the lighthouse in her nest of pillows and blankets, Zalan finds it comfortable enough there (better than the green solas couch) but they both keep finding more pillows and blankets to add as time goes on. If they’re out in the field usually on bedrolls pushed together.
After veilguard it’s still lots of on the road camping or on crow missions and stakeouts so bedrolls out on the road but when they get a chance to stay in Antiva Zalan does have a room in house de Riva they can stay in. They also do go back to the lighthouse sometimes, and sometimes visit Lace’s ma and stay there.
How do they prepare to sleep?
Harding doesn’t really do too much; unbraid her hair and brush it out, sometimes rebraid it again. But Zalan likes to bath and wash his hair (one of the only things he spends good money on is hair products) and has drug Lace into his routine too, happily washing her hair for her when she lets him.
What do they wear to sleep?
While Harding can’t control her powers it’s as many clothes as possible- Zalan wears his home clothes- pants and his long sleeve shirt but with the sleeves rolled down and buttoned all the way up, his fingerless compression gloves and long socks. He starts this immediately after talking to her about dreams and figuring out that it’s lyrium because he wants to keep his promise to sit with her (she probably thought he was really crazy before their kiss) Harding just wears her shirt and pants
After she gets more control they wear less, Zalan tends to only wear pants and Harding just an oversized shirt or her smalls.
Do they cuddle?
Always. Or as often as they can. Zalan really likes cuddling and it eases something in both of them to be close. Neither mind being the little spoon or big spoon. Even if they’re on the road sharing a tent with the team he likes to sleep close to her, usually just next to her pressed back to back.
What are their preferred sleep positions?
Zalan likes holding lace and snuggling up at least to start. Harding’s is whatever is comfy at the time, which means sometimes she’s sprawled all over him, draped across his middle, sleeping curled up next to him, on top of him, etc
How easy do they fall asleep?
Because he’s a crow and has been going on on missions a lot Zalan either falls asleep really fast when he wants to or he just doesn’t sleep at all. He can just fall asleep pretty much anywhere- if he can sit in a corner somewhere he can sleep for a couple of hours. Harding falls asleep first usually but dreams can wake her up and she has to be comfortable first but once she’s comfy she’s out like a light.
Do they toss and turn a lot?
Zalan sleeps like the dead, generally moving very very little while Harding will start in Zalan’s arms and then rotate like a clock and is known to roll around and throw herself over his body. If Zalan wakes up he usually tries to gather her back up in his arms and it starts all over again
Do they snore?
Zalan will if he’s: sick or on the rare instance where he’s super deeply asleep for like 12 hours straight (he does after he gets back from regret prison) Harding it depends on how she’s sleeping. If she’s draped strangely over Zalan’s body or laying face down she’ll snore but otherwise she’s quiet.
Who hogs the blanket?
Harding usually drags it with her while she’s tumbling and rotating around which Zalan doesn’t mind, he’d honestly rather sleep without one anyway (too easy to get all tangled in, he likes being able to hop up easily if he needs to fight someone) (unless it’s cold then he needs his own blanket)
What do they dream about?
Zalan doesn’t dream a ton but when he does he has more nightmares than good dreams, they’re usually about losing people or past mistakes, bad memories, what could have happened, things like that. He really loves talking to Harding about her dreams- she has every kind of dream since she’s still getting used to them. On good nights they’re silly meaningless dreams, nice happy dreams, or occasionally spicy dreams (he teases her about those the most) on bad nights she still has nightmares and Zalan will stay up with her and chat to distract her. She’ll sometimes dream of being chased even after they take care of the red lyrium Harding
How easily do they wake up?
Zalan generally wakes up really easily, he is an assassin after all. And sometimes normal everyday noises startle him awake and he’ll find himself reaching for a hidden dagger before he realizes it’s nothing.
Harding’s used to being a scout so she wakes up easily too but is usually groggy for a few moments until she can properly wake up.
How awake they are afterwards?
Zalan once up is awake, not always happy about it but awake, especially when on the job or missions. If it’s a day off he’s half asleep wandering around for a solid hour. Harding takes a little while longer to fully wake up but is use to waking up early
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I don’t know who has or hasn’t done this but gently tagging @serialsforbellara @serensama @davrinsleftpectoral @chaosherald @kabsey @grand-crow @bronzieinthedas @jenn2d2 @in-the-drowning-deep @jukkaricity @ratbagjasper @the-bug-witch @therivercrow @hedwigoprah @seaglassmelody
and if you see this and wanna do it this is me tagging you!
