I've dropped these under the cut since the realtionship ones get a bit saucy.
Cullen in General
He's an excellent chess player, but he will simply never be good at Wicked Grace. Something about the game just makes his brain stop working: he approaches it too much like a tactician, not enough like a politician.
I always think that of the siblings, he and Mia look the most alike (perhaps taking after their father).
He definitely took Chantry choir seriously. No idea if that's at all a norm for templars, but it clearly was for him.
He genuinely enjoys reading and eventually starts to do more of it post-Inquisition (when he has more time). He prefers nonfiction.
He suffers from Classic Man Syndrome in that he's not particularly good at picking up whether women are actually nice or not. Fortunately, he's surrounded by a lot of good ones (now, at least) who genuinely have his best interests at heart.
I firmly believe he was oblivious to the fact Dorian's gay when he was playing chess with him. He obviously would not treat Dorian any differently or feel differently about him: I mean this in the most innocent, completely-went-over-his-head kind of way. I also think he just assumes Tevinter people roll differently given his current exposure to them are Dorian and Krem.
I actually have always had the headcanon that my Inquisitor, Mira, is the one who tells Cullen about Dorian after he admitted he was jealous of the time they were spending together (something Dorian picked up in about five seconds and had entirely too much fun with) and how close they seemed. I have a whole scenario of how that conversation goes down (and yes, she's trying so hard not to laugh).
Sometimes, he can be a bit slower to pick up on innuendoes than the others simply because his mind doesn't immediately go there. He's not naive and his ears have bled plenty from the time he's spent living in the barracks, but the "real" conversation doesn't always land quickly. When Sera starts talking to Blackwall about "ripe peaches," he wonders why they're talking about fruit. His lady love has to whisper it in his ear and his face turns ten shades of scarlet.
Cullen's good and sweet with all animals (not just dogs).
More below.
Cullen as a Partner/Husband
He is extremely dialed into her emotions, which is the exact opposite of what many would assume him to be given the nature of his role. He knows she's the type to put on a brave face. I've written in the past about my Inquisitor (Mira) becoming very conditioned to not reacting and protecting herself by not showing emotions at a very young age, even though she's already working to overcome her somewhat extreme guardedness and hurt at the time Inquisition starts. Cullen sees right through it from the start.
Cullen is a protector by nature, and while he hates seeing her upset or even crumbling (an extremely rare occurrence), he's glad that he can be a safe place for her. She's an unbelievably strong person, but she is still a person. She can be "weak" around him while he holds her steady, and vice versa. That he's never seen her as anything other than a person is comforting to her (and I think speaks quite positively to his groundedness).
This one's canon, but he shows his quiet, steadfast dedication in part through small touches: a hand on her shoulder/a shoulder rub, a hand at the small of her back, his fingertips brushing her jawline or cheek, holding her close, etc. It grounds him as much as it reassures her and makes her feel loved, seen, and safe. He doesn't fully understand just how deep this gesture goes with her, but he knows she likes it, that it seems to comfort her, and it does the same for him.
Also kind of already canon: this man hugs and kisses with his entire soul. It doesn't matter if the moment's dreamy and romantic, if it's hot and heavy, or if it's a small peck on the cheek or lips ten years into their marriage. He exudes love for her in every gesture.
He's the king of high romance gestures. It's not an act. He simply believes those are the things you do when you love someone: the hand kissing, the arm rested lightly around her without crushing her, the hand at the small of her back to guide her, and even instinctively putting himself between her and any potential threat (walking with her farthest away from the path, putting himself between her and a particularly grumpy goose when they're going for a walk, etc.).
He never catches the dancing bug, but it's not unusual throughout the years for the Inquisitor to have bouts of nostalgia and for him to pull her in and dance like they did at the Winter Palace.
He is either extremely inexperienced or a virgin by the time we get to Inquisition (which makes him about 10x hotter given how he looks and how easily he could've had anyone, but that's a different conversation). What he is not is incapable or unskilled. Pure, genuine, authentic, honest love and devotion go a long way on their own. Paired with someone who's such a model student and who's athletic? His lady's not complaining.
Since I know this is more along the lines of what people would rather hear: he is an extremely attentive lover by instinct. He's very aware of her and wants to make every moment of physical intimacy they share count.
He quickly memorizes her body: what makes her react and how, and just how long he can drag things out. That chessmaster patience is lethal. Those hands alone are...something else. If you've ever even shaken hands with someone who swings a bat, a sword, an axe, or a sledgehammer a lot, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Speaking of, chess has gotten spicy on occasion. Articles of clothing start piling onto the floor with every chess piece taken out of the game. Implications are always a bit heated when the knight and queen are in play.
He does in fact "need a woman over him" at times. Those honey-amber eyes change in the best ways, and his body's a show of its own.
He'll never be the type who can do nothing all day, but he does grow to sincerely appreciate slow mornings with her and the...lazier style of activities those entail.
He radiates hot husband and good-in-bed energy. He is oblivious to this fact. While he has gathered that women (people in general) find him attractive, he has no real idea of why this is.
Cullen as a Dad
I think he would be the perfect blend of gentle, fair, and firm.
He can be a little tough in some ways (like making sure his children understand the importance of being able to defend themselves, etc.), but there's no malice or cruelty in it. It's just straightforward, non-sugar-coating, informative guidance.
Cullen is fully aware of his own imperfections, and he never expects perfection from anyone else: not through actions, skill, demeanor, or faith. He's very grounded while he would of course want his children to be the best versions of themselves for their own benefit, he would not be the kind to get onto them for any weaknesses.
He'd be the one who'd help his kid get over a fear by standing by that child and taking baby steps to face and overcome it, and he'd teach them young that overcoming anything is a process. There's no shortcut, and there's no instant victory over a real challenge.
He will absolutely put his foot in his mouth and mess up sometimes (intending a comment as encouraging or comforting but it not coming out that way at all), but he catches himself quickly and rephrases it. This happens most often with a daughter (especially in her pre-teen/teenage years, when she's a bit sensitive about everything).
He'll make mistakes as a parent, but they won't be the kind of mistakes his children spend their adult years trying to overcome.
He'll teach them responsibility. He'll be fair and will naturally be the type to command respect from his children just like he does with the adults around him. The kids will always see him as a safe place they can turn to...and also know better than to try to pull one over on him.
I think the real danger with Cullen's parenting wouldn't be strictness, but the Inquisitor watching him parent and wondering way too often if they could handle having another kid. 😅
He has all of the qualities that make not just a good father, but a great one. And also a very, very hot one.
Not to delve too deep into psychology, but their kids will grow up to be highly independent, confident, and have every skill they could ever need to thrive. A daughter would also have high standards in any boys or men she eventually takes an interest in and will know her worth. A son would eventually become the type of man parents pray their daughter will find. They both would've had a very, very good example their entire lives right in front of them.
They will also always have a dog in the family (as they should). Plus, there's the full Rutherford bonus with those kids having Aunt Mia, Uncle Branson, and Aunt Rosalie (plus at least one chessmaster cousin). They also have Uncle Varric for the best storytime sessions.
Nothing brings him more joy than seeing his family safe and happy. Knowing that he's a part of it. Knowing that he played a role in that safety and happiness. To Cullen, that is bliss.
Cullens favorite types of movies? Also, I'm so happy to see a twilight saga blog in the year 2023 - it's so wild
Carlisle - Of course Carlisle likes older movies. There's no real genre, but if it's in black and white then he's probably a fan. He really adores the classics, and some of his favorites are Citizen Kane, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Maltese Falcon.
Esme - Esme is such a sucker for romance of all kinds, but classic romance can bring her to her knees. She loves a bittersweet ending, and she is TOTALLY a hallmark Christmas movie mom. She was a die hard Casablanca fan and a year cannot pass without her watching It's A Wonderful Life at least four times. Anything that makes her heart ache, she adores.
Edward - This dramatic asshole. Claims that he really only likes inspirational foreign French films because of the ~drama~ but you know what??? he secretly watches romance movies with Esme, not that it's actually a secret because everyone already knows. Pretty Woman? Yes. 10 Things I Hate About You? Absolutely. If he had the ability to cry, he definitely would have after watching A Walk to Remember.
Rosalie - Rosalie likes sci-fi and fantasy movies. Labyrinth is a special favorite, though it might be because of her crush on David Bowie. She was surprised at how much she enjoyed The Shape of Water, but you're more likely going to find her watching something like Close Encounters of the Third Kind or The Princess Bride.
Emmett - Emmett dabbles in movies - he really likes a bit of everything. Drama, comedy, action, fantasy - he wouldn't say he actually has a favorite. He thinks comedy might take precedence; he's a huge fan of anything by Mel Brooks.
Jasper - He hates how stereotypical it is, but he loves Westerns. He's seen pretty much everything that John Wayne has ever been in. Really, anything to do with history will be ok for him to watch, though it took him a while to be comfortable with some of the Civil War era movies. Loves The Patriot and Braveheart, though he isn't a fan of Mel Gibson, and Black Beauty has a special place in his heart.
Alice - Alice likes all of those corny teen romance films, like Princess Diaries or She's the Man. She isn't sure why, but they really make her happy!! They're always so cute and quirky, she adores them so much.
Hello can u write headcanons of the cullen clan with a female human s/o who can see Spirits and ghosts
Pls i love ur work❤
Carlisle
I think when you first tell him you try to make joke “oh you didn’t know? I see dead people.”
He’s and idiot who apparently doesn’t watch the classics and goes “yeah that’s what we are.”
No darling, like people who are vampires and are stuck halfway through life and death, ghosts?
Carlisle just blankly stares, he is somewhat surprised but I mean if vampires exists why not spirits?
Can he help them? No???? Probably says a prayer when you tell him you see them in hopes they find peace one day or something.
Doesn’t want to assume they’re evil but if they weren’t why are they still around???
Asks a lot of questions
Esme
She kinda just doesn’t believe you at first? “Haha. Oh okay dear.”
Like it just doesn’t process right away
I think after a while she probably has a lot of questions but her questions come from grief so she treads carefully
Does everyone become a ghost? No? What about kids do kids become ghosts (do you see where I’m going with this?)
Sometimes???
The answer is enough for her to ask you to go to where she buried her baby she wants to know he’s okay
You have to explain babies don’t really have the capacity to become ghosts they are young, they’ve never done anything wrong or have any unfinished tasks
Esme doesn’t know if she’s relieved or depressed
She’s glad the baby she lost so long ago isn’t stuck here but at the same to be able to talk them one more time even through you would be wonderful.
Esme realizes while she loves her adopted children she hasn’t allowed herself to grieve and you’re going to have to talk her through her feelings which you have become quite adept at doing since you’ve been helping people say goodbye for so long
Rosalie
She wonders if Royce is a ghost and hopes he’s miserable but other than the occasional question when you seem to see something she doesn’t press
She never stops you from saying anything
But she enjoys some of the stories you tell her from the spirits that stop and want your help
She urges you to help the kids and women who are stuck while someone who tormented them gets away scotch free
In fact if she knows how to find someone she will do something herself and tell you to tell them they’ve been taken care of. If you can help them she wants to help you
Emmett
Thinks it’s neat
Probably makes fun of some stories they’ve told you
He died how? Dude. Acts as if he can see the ghost too. You’re there with your head in your hands because you really need to stop telling him these things
Asks a few questions at first but also mostly listens to the stories you have.
Jasper
Thank god I don’t feel their feelings too
Literally first thing he thinks of. Because it sounds miserable when he already has to tolerate Edwards moods
After he gets over his relief he wonders how it weighs on you since it must be hard to see all of those people
Not really it’s not much different than you, but they can’t touch anything
This probably send Jasper into a spiral tbh
Tries not ask too many questions because he is honestly worried about dying and having to worry about a whole other world of deal with other peoples emotions
Alice
She knows
Doesn’t care
She probably relates to being the weird kid but she’s convinced she fits in perfect now and you two will be fine
You don’t tell her she is definitely not fitting in
It’s nice someone is understanding without needing to explain yourself
Edward
Worries that someone as wonderful is plagued by this
Does not listen when you say you are used to it
Worries about spirits bothering you
Because if they are stuck surely they are degenerates that couldn’t get to heaven
You ask him how it’s any different from vampires stuck here eternally
So I know Leliana teases Cullen for styling his hair...
But what if Leliana is the REASON behind Cullen's wild makeover in Inquisition?
"People must take you seriously now that you are the face behind the Inquisition's forces."
"These poultices will fix the bags beneath your eyes. If you refuse to sleep, you should at least look like you do."
"That hair is absolutely dreadful, Commander. We are doing something about that at once."
Imagine him complaining about the eye poultices being silly Orlesian frivolity, and then realizing they actually feel really friggin amazing. He quietly requisitions boxes of them twice a month and begs Leliana to keep it a tightly guarded secret.
Cullen Rutherford: Leliana's personal secret fashion project.
Hello love, how are you? So I have an english mastiff, he's basically a giant sweetheart who's never met a stranger; at 8 months he's tall enough to look over the kitchen counters, and he's broken 110 lbs. I was wondering: how you think some of the characters would handle this big, drooly baby looking at them and deciding "Ah, yes, you! I love you! Cuddle!"?
I would be very interested to see how your dog interacts with strangers - particularly when you aren’t around. I only recently found out while on holiday that my big ‘ol pupper gets quite protective when left alone.
Carlisle enjoys dogs, but he wouldn’t want one for himself. He prefers to interact with strangers’ dogs - but he worries that they can sense his true nature and occasionally this can put him on edge.
Esme thinks all animals are adorable and she’d never be able to resist a snuggle with a dog. You’d have to watch her though, she’ll be spoiling that dog with treats by the dozen!
Alice is more of a cat person, admittedly. She prefers the self-sufficiency cats have to offer and she thinks they’re classier, if that makes sense? Still, she finds it very hard to say no when a dog rolls over on it’s back for a tummy rub.
Jasper doesn’t give a lot of thought to animals. I mean, it’s Jasper. Still, he’s sensitive to the moods felt by other people’s pets and he always tries to ensure that the pet feels happy and content, or at the very least comfortable.
Emmett thinks dogs are better than people and would spend all day and night with one if he could. He’d be the type of person to play with dogs - to wrestle and run around with them in the dirt.
Rosalie is similar to Alice in having a preference for felines - but not to a point where she’s a total cat-person. Rose still loves dogs and tends to bond well with animals.
Edward likes dogs, also. Not as much as the rest of his family, but he’d be happy to walk the dog with you and he’d always make sure the dog is being properly looked after. That being said, he is much like Carlisle in keeping a safe distance. ‘If a dog thinks I’m a monster, what’s the point in living?’ *queue internal emo screaming*
Bella is likened to Edward. She likes dogs a lot, but big ones always knock her over and she trips over the small ones. Her clumsy self doesn’t mind it, but she’ll usually aim to sit down somewhere before the dog came near her to avoid falling over.
Charlie. The man loves dogs, okay? Whether they’re big, small, or in-between he just gets the overwhelming urge to bond with them. He’s really close with all the police-dogs, and he’d save them before saving himself.
Speaking of bonds, I headcanon that the whole wolfpack really dig dogs - and the bigger they are, the better! Jacob would, in a way, feel a kinship with your dog. He’d be like ‘oh hey, sometimes I have paws and fur, too!’
Top image credit: @cantkeepmyeyesoff Bottom image credit: Unknown. (If you recognize your image, please let me know so I can give you credit!)
I think it’s so cute and telling that stern, practical Cullen takes the time to style his hair every morning. It’s the one facet of his physical appearance that he takes any care with: he obviously doesn’t shave every day because of his handsomely stubbled jaw, and he has the fashion-sense of a clod with that ridiculous fur mantle-thing he wears. Yet, he takes the time to do his hair. It’s an interesting conundrum, is it not?
My headcanon about Cullen’s hair is that he has always hated his curls, thought them far too girly for a man, especially a tough warrior. I think that maybe the other Templars teased him about them, maybe called him pretty, because of his hair and his handsome features. So, when he leaves the Templars to join the Inquisition, he decides that since he’s trying to change other aspects of himself that he doesn’t like, he might as well do something about his hair, too.
Cullen: *in his office in the morning, attaching his armor piece by piece*
Josephine, Dorian, Vivienne and Leliana: *enter*
Cullen: Uh, good morning? Have you heard of knocking?
Vivienne: Deepest apologies, my dear Commander, but we need to talk about the Orlesian dignitaries who are visiting later today.
Cullen: Can we talk about it a little later? I haven’t had breakfast yet. *fidgets nervously*
Josephine: It won’t take long, Commander.
Leliana: And besides we know you don’t eat breakfast. *eyes suspiciously*
Cullen: *furiously trying to think of something*
Vivienne: The good ambassador has told me that you have refused the dinner invitation and the request to show our guests the barracks.
Cullen: I honestly have work to do, and have no time to be parading around nobles.
Dorian: Do you hear something weird?
Cullen: All I hear is the open door behind you.
Vivienne: But these nobles have deep interest in warfare and you made quite the impact on them at the Winter Palace!
Josephine: And they could be persuaded into sponsoring - I hear something too. Is there a bird upstairs? We really should renovate your roof, Commander.
Leliana: No that is the sound of water. Is someone using your privy upstairs, Commander? *eyebrow lift*
Dorian: *smug grin*
Cullen: *blush* I, uh, I’m sure you’re just hearing noise from outside.
Upstairs: *sound of door opening, steps on the floor, rummaging*
Cullen: *urgently* You know we could continue this discussion at your office, Josephine?
Upstairs: Did you say something, vhenan?
Josephine, Dorian, Vivienne and Leliana: *look at each other and then at Cullen*
Cullen: *covers his face with his hand* No.
Upstairs: No? Well I know you’re not much of a morning person, so fine. Have you seen my trousers?
Vivienne: *about to say something*
Leliana: *stabs Vivienne with her elbow to shut her up*
Dorian: *delighted grin*
Josephine: *having the time of her life*
Cullen: *kicks said trousers from the floor to behind his desk* I don’t know but I definitely think you should stay upstairs for a bit longer.
Upstairs: Oh are you coming back up here? Did you change your mind, Mr. ”I can’t possibly go again yet?”
Cullen: No, no!
Upstairs: Well I suppose twice last night and once this morning is quite a lot.
Dorian: *silent applaud at Cullen*
The ladies: *looking at Cullen from head to toe with very approving nods*
Cullen: Maker’s breath, you’ll be the death of me.
Inquisitor: *slides down the ladder in a flurry of bare legs, wearing no trousers*
Vivienne: Good morning, your worship.
Josephine: I hope you had an invigorating night.
Leliana: And an energising morning.
Dorian: How many times was it for you?
Cullen: Never you mind. *throws the Inquisitor her trousers*
Inquisitor: Six. *catches trousers*
Cullen: *groans and facepalms*
Leliana: Nothing to be embarrassed about, Commander!
Josephine: Six? And three? That’s… amazing.
Dorian: Hell yes it is. *offer to high five with Cullen, switches to the Inquisitor when he doesn’t*
Inquisitor: *high fives Dorian and pulls on trousers* You know you could have said there was someone here.
Cullen: I tried to tell you not to come downstairs.
Inquisitor: Oh I did come downstairs, that was the first one of six, remember?
Cullen: *mortified*
Dorian: *absolutely pissing his pants*
Inquisitor: Anyway, I’ll let you talk about whatever you’re here for.
Vivienne: Oh we wanted to talk to you about the visiting dignitaries too-
Inquisitor: See you in the evening, Cullen, byeee *flees through the open door*
Cullen: I knew everything was going too well for me.
Josephine and Vivienne: *proceed to bombard Cullen with boring questions and duties*
Leliana and Dorian: *continue to insert a lot of double entendres*
