Hi Dissonant Verses (think you know that haha) 2, 8, and 15 for the Rook Partner Asks if you don’t mind!
From This List
(thanks for the identifier anyway, i'm *horrible* with remembering blog attachments!)
Since Liano is poly, I'm going to do a few names under each question, depending on how much info I've got for each one.
TW: some drug usage talk
Also, I'm a Hardened Lucanis romancer cause I like exploring how that could actually work
2. When does the partner realize that they're in love with Rook?
Lucanis: The particular moment of knowing he had fallen for Liano was a particularly bad night, Lucanis was exhausted, Spite was angrier than usual and at some point, Lucanis had fallen asleep (passed out actually). When he woke up, instead of any possible scenario that he thought he'd be in, he found himself on his little cot, his head cushioned on Liano's lap, the elf's head tipped back against the wall, asleep. Spite was quiet in the way he only is after a talk with Rook. Looking up at Liano, the dim candlelight flickering over his equally exhausted features, everything comes to a head in Lucanis's mind, an aching, terrifying, beautiful feeling of love blooming in his chest.
Elgar'nan: Sometime after Arlathan Crater. While there had always been a thread of interest towards Liano since the escape, there was something / when he speaks to Liano again at Tearstone Island, that's basically him wooing/proposing Liano. (there's a point of pride that a few of the Tevinter have become enamored with Liano as well, showing that Elgar'nan's chosen was a good choice)
Emmrich: love at first sight. However, since Emmrich is the type to do that so often, it wasn't until later that he realized 'oh, this is Love love'. [still need to develop the actual details for this one]
Bellara: she had a flame going for him for a while, but it's not the first time she's had crushes like that so ignored it. Until she realizes that she's not apologizing to him as much about her behaviors, that she's unmasking while around him and he's enjoying it. It's after one of their talks, where she did 98% of the talking and it's mostly about their shared culture and ancient magic and other such things, after he's left she has the image of him smiling at her with this softly fond look on his face and her heart flutters. Oh, she's in trouble now.
Taash: it kinda smacked them upside the face. Like yeah, sure, they've liked Liano just about from the get-go, but Love? That took a while. Especially since the two of them were more play partners for a while, then Taash fell hard for Lace, and dealing with the assumption that you can only have one partner to learn that you could ignore that and have more??? Learning lots about themself on this trip. But there was a quiet moment, when Taash had invited Liano over to be introduced to their mother, when everyone was full of emotions. Liano had gone after Taash's tama, talking for a good long while. Later, he approaches Taash, who was able to cool down on their own a little. Their eyes meet, and Taash really notices the exhausted starting to bruise around Liano's eyes. Yet, he still goes over to them, talks, explains things, and puts so much fucking effort into making sure Taash feels seen...Taash isn't sure what kind of love they're feeling at the moment, but they know it's fierce and bright and it's theirs.
8. What does their ideal date look like? Do they go on much?
Lucanis: cafe dates all the way, baby! Or if not cafes, then it definitely involves food, whether Lucanis is cooking something special for them or going to a good restaurant, touring food carts, etc. Afterwards, it's a lot of cuddling in bed and Lucanis being able to let his guard down.
Elgar'nan: you'd think it would be grandiose and public, but those types are for the publicity, not for them. No, for this pairing, a quiet and private date would be best, one where they can get away, Elgar'nan still making it lavish and spoiling Liano as much as possible. Particularly where they can end the night indulging in each other's bodies.
Emmrich: he's hesitant to admit it, but Emmrich has gained a little taste for adventuring thanks to his experiences with the Veilguard. So him and Liano going off and having mini-adventure dates would be splendid.
Taash: they really like dates that are basically like friend hang outs but Extra. But for the most part, dates aren't much of a thing with these two.
15. What was the partner's reaction to Rook being imprisoned in the Fade? How did they cope? How did they react upon seeing Rook again?
Lucanis: Devastated. Especially after that almost kiss and walking away. Double especially after asking to take time after the Blighting of Treviso. He's in a state of shock for a bit, feeling like the rug has been pulled from underneath his feet. It's really only Spite mentally smacking him that gets him moving again. And once he finds a plan that will work to get Liano out, he throws his entire self at the problem with the same maladaptive intensity he does everything else.
Elgar'nan: if he had known about it, Solas would have burned. The only reason there wouldn't have been copious amounts of retributions would be the thought of Liano being safe for the moment (Elgar'nan would not be above caging Liano to keep him out of harms way until events had passed and then he could deal with his little lover).
Emmrich: He ran himself ragged trying to get that false dagger done. Drugs, he returned to using substances to force himself to keep going. (there was talk some time ago about Emmrich going back to bad habits/roping in Johanna to help with the dagger and I subscribe to that newsletter)
Bellara: right in the same boat as Emmrich. Fully embracing her manic state (trying some of Emmrich's substances for the first time as well [he didn't know about it at first])
Taash: was fucking ready to burn everything down and crack Solas like the egg he is. There was very little Taash could do while others worked on ways to get Liano out, so with Lace's help, they made sure to keep the others as stable and fed as possible (you know things are bad when people eat Lace's food without much comment cause they're too distracted). The next time they see Rook, the very instant there's a moment to pull him aside, Taash is yanking him close and sinking their teeth into his neck, leaving a deep mark, growling all the while.
Basically, everyone's coping is to briefly go off the deep end :D
I know I'm leaving off a number of his partners but I've not developed everyone/played through all the routes yet so don't have enough info to go into detail for them yet.