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What is Briana's favorite thing about Alistair
This is going to be a boring answer, because it’s pretty much the same thing as my favorite thing: his comptentency. Recognizing his strenghts is an important part of his romance in my opinion and I think that’s what Briana would say too. His strengths come first, like battle strategy and ability to cross classes, then his affection, then his humor. They’re all very important to her, but competency comes first.
17 for your warden and her li?
things you said that i wish you hadn’t
“Sometimes I wish you’d never met me,” he says quietly.
Briana pursed her lips as she looked up to him, but did not respond.
They’d been sitting around the old map for the better part of an hour now. Alistair had argued if she was going to leave to chase this lead, he’d help her plan a route to give himself so idea of where she’d be. It was late night, candles burned low in their holders and no moon outside. Alistair was leaning against a collumn, which he only did when pensive.
“Not like, that way but… if whatever mad series of events meant you’d never become a Warden, you could be living a cozy life as some sort of Arlessa right now. I’d have to have stopped a whole Blight alone, sure, but… you wouldn’t have to do this. Now.” He picked at the skin of his thumb, already red and thin.
“You’d probably still have Leliana,” Briana deadpanned as she began rolling the map up.
Alistair’s frown could barely be seen in the candlelight. “That’s not the point and you know it. I just… I wish none of this had happened to you.”
“Stop it,” she snapped, pushing her chair back as she stood. “You’ll drive both of us mad talking about what could have happened.”
His thumb had began bleeding, nails having scratched too hard. Briana gently pried his hand open, cupping it in both her own. “No one’s making me do this. I’m going to follow this lead until I find a cure for the Blight, and then I will come back to you. I’d fight a hundred dragons to save you, and I never want to think of a world where we never met.”
Alistair sighed heavily, his forehead falling onto her shoulder. “Maker, what am I going to do without you here?”
“Run a country. Create budgets. Train troops. The normal things. Come on, let’s get you to bed before you say more things I don’t like hearing.”
[wait… they don’t love you like I love you]
also, i’ve mentioned how briana disassociates for a good bit after highever but I think after the added trauma of ostagar she becomes reckless. like her tactics become less planned and more Rampaging Bull which isn’t on brand for her. alistair would subconsciously notice this I think (going off my own brain and ADD) and... I’m not sure. probably clumbsily bring it up.
I think that’s what starts Briana’s cycle of hardening and softening during the Blight. still haven’t exactly figured out where she lands post-game but I’m thinking
Chapter 2 is up! A little earlier than I’d planned, but I like not having to think about it for the rest of the day.
“So, you’re known by name here? I thought you were from Edinburgh.”
Alistair’s brow furrowed, leaning back slightly. “How’d you know that?”
She stirred her tea, not looking up. “I’ll admit I may have Googled you before our meeting.”
Start from the beginning!
When Ferelden Enterprises purchases Highever Banking, new regulation requires the two families be tied in marriage. Briana Cousland and Alistair Theirin enter the arrangement resigned to do their duties, but soon find themselves caught up in a dangerous game of secrets and lies. That part was expected; what they didn’t expect was to fall in love. A modern arranged marriage AU, told in three acts.
liveblog tag
Id love to see how u write alistair and briana saying their goodbyes when she leaves to find the cure
“Promise you’ll write to me as soon as you reach the next town,” he insisted as he fidgeted with the clasp of Briana’s cloak.
“At Dragon’s Peak? That’s hardly worth writing back. I’ll send word when I reach Lake Calenhad.”
“How about partway through the Bannon? Or Lothering?”
“Alistair,” Briana protested. She took his hands in hers, resting her face against them. He leaned down, foreheads bumping. The dim light of the moon was all the light they had, having snuck out past the Denerim boarder. Yards away, Sigrun and Nathaniel had their backs turned to give the couple their privacy. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be. I’ll be back soon enough, I promise.”
“I love you.” It was a declaration, but his throat twisted it into a plea.
“And I love you. That’s why I’m doing this.”
She swallowed tightly before pushing her head forward, capturing his mouth. Briana held tightly to his hands, knowing if he laid a hand on her, she’d never leave. She placed one final kiss on his lips before walking off. Briana wouldn’t let herself look back.
Nathaniel did, and his eyes met Alistair’s. Later, when he’d try to bring it up, she’d cut him off before he can say more. “We leave all our love and our longing behind,” Briana would say, gazing into the firelight. “We can’t carry it with us if we want to survive.”
send me writing prompts
I'm shit at prompts but like.....Alistair and Ivonne's first meeting? Or any interaction between them!
Technically, they had already met. Teryn Cousland’s men had arrived at dusk that day, and the new soldiers were unpacking their supplies in the southwest corner of Ostagar. Alistair had been carrying a crate back to the other Grey Wardens when he had accidentally bumped into another soldier moving too quickly.
The small woman would have been knocked backwards, but she caught herself on a nearby tree branch. They met eyes as she righted herself and Alistair quickly apologized. She huffed a laugh without much mirth and walked off.
Later, sitting by the pond outside Flemeth’s hut, Alistair would wonder who else might possibly still be alive. Several faces would flash through his mind, including the black-haired archer he’d bumped into.
-
Briana and Alistair had drifted from each other’s sides after the coronation, mingling with their friends and fellow nobles. Eventually, he felt a soft hand on his elbow. Briana stood behind him with another woman, short with dark hair.
“Alistair, this is Ivonne Maris. I know I’ve told you our past, but you might know her better as the Highever Liberator now,” Briana smiled softly. Her hand rested easily on the other woman’s lower back; they both seemed comfortable with this level of touch.
He frowned, his brain kicking in. “Wait, I know you... you were at Ostagar.”
Ivonne didn’t smile, but her eyes sparked. “I remember. You nearly dropped a box of armor padding, and thought if this was the caliber of Grey Warden supporting our battle, we were doomed.”
“Well, it looks like you were right. We did lose,” It was Alistair’s turn to laugh without feeling it.
Briana bumped him lightly on the bicep. “Given the fact that we’re standing here, I think we’ve won.”
send me prompts
a romantic evening somehow incorporating "you had me at jell-o"
“You’re tense, and I can’t figure out why. Talk to me,” Alistair insisted, tugging lightly on Briana’s sweatpants.
She sighed, slipping her phone into her pocket. She’d come home not too long ago, and had barely spoken to him before she’d isolated herself to shower and change out of her business clothes. Now, she was damp and soft and pink- just the way he liked her- but also still wound nearly as tight as when she’d walked in.
“Third quarter earnings aren’t going to be nearly as competitive as predicted and home loaning rates are down. It’s not disastrous, but… it’s less than ideal.” She walked around the couch, easing herself down next to Alistair.
“Well, thankfully, I don’t care how the company’s doing. How about this: I heat up leftovers, make that jell-o pudding mix we found under the sink, and we put on a Disney movie and just forget about work, yeah?”
Briana smiled, pulling him in for a quick kiss. “You had me at jell-o.”
send me writing prompts
don’t mind me; just gotta write down a bit a meta
Anora always viewed her husband as a fool, lovable and charming, but a fool nonetheless. [x]
I think, as much as I compare the two, this is a major contrast between Anora and Briana. While Anora views Cailan as a fool, Briana knows Alistair is smarter than he presents himself, and that a lot of his apparent shortcomings come from ADHD and self-sabotage. I presume Cailan had some of the same problems, given how much canon says they were alike. It doesn’t make Briana a better person than Anora, but maybe just more insightful?
Then again, maybe Cailan was a fool, since he got himself in a position to lose his entire legion. Then again, there are hints he knew the battle wasn’t as much of a sure-thing as he put on, so why...? Lots of questions, few answers. There’s a lot for me to think about when I compare and contrast Briana/Alistair and Anora/Cailan but it’s still digesting after all these years.
