#frogswithwings

[ramonadecember]

For the fanfic directors cut: can I do a whole chapter? Because I still think of chapter 25 of Light in This Darken'd Time Breaks often. Specifically the tattoo and Cullen tasting the lyrium when he kisses dorian.

fanfic directors cut.

Chapter 25, the sort of end to the slow burn... even if it was only temporary xD 

Realistically it was always only ever going to be a little tease to keep it true to form of Cullen getting way too in his head over every aspect of ‘them.’ Dorian has already edged into the territory of besotted (even if he has no clue what to do with that), but Cullen is slower to catch up, still trying to sort out how they’re even friends let alone anything more. 

Cullen hasn’t actively been trying to push Dorian away anymore though, if for no other reason than because Dorian is like, super intriguing to Cullen from bigger things like how Dorian defies what Cullen has come to expect a mage to be, to little things like a tattoo that curiosity demands to see the rest of. It ends up working out as a good excuse for Cullen, who also doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do with feelings, to keep his eyes on Dorian, to get his hands on him, since there has to be a reason for it, in Cullen’s mind. He can’t just want something like that. 

So then of course when they do end up kissing, Cullen gets his ‘ah yes obviously this is the only reason this is happening’ excuse in the form of Dorian still tasting like the lyrium potion, it gives him a ‘logical’ reason to stop things before they get more ‘out of hand.’ Because that’s an issue in itself. Cullen does NOT like to be not in control of a situation, so you have him thinking that he can’t even keep it together around a little lyrium (even if he’s just using it as an excuse, he can still feel bad and weak and a whole lot of other guilty words), but also Dorian in general always just leave him feeling at least a little out of control. So until Cullen can get a better hold on the situation, he needs to remove himself from it.

But also very base level of Dorian’s tattoo: I’m a big fan of a tattooed (and often pieced) Dorian, so I just had to work in that he had one some where. This tattoo is came into being before I knew that in that Dorian was given an arm one in his concept art, but saucy hip snake was more interesting for my purposes 😂

And also very base level horny brain of mine: kissing someone and tasting something on their tongue is always just so 👌🏻👌🏻 in fic lmfao

(Base level Cullen in that entire chapter/trip: fancy mage pretty, want to kiss now)

[jellysharkbat]

33 from the be nosy ask!

33. If money was no object, what would your wardrobe be like?

Probably not too much different than what I have now. I have a lot of comfy-type clothes. Maybe I’d get some that were nicer looking, fashionable-type? ....Fashionable loungewear? Is that a thing? rofl

[two-of-swords-621]

For the writing prompts: “Teach me how to play?” with Adam or Ronan, please

Thanks for the prompt! This is kind of an early Thanksgiving fic. Also, it’s been years and years since I have played an instrument of any kind, so hopefully I didn’t screw that part up too much. I really hope you like it! 

Adam knows Ronan is anxious. It’s the first Thanksgiving dinner at the home he’s made for himself, with family, now that old wounds have begun to heal, and with friends, who have been gone for far too long. Their own reunion three days ago was charged enough and Adam had only been gone for six weeks.

Gansey has been gone for six months. Just his phone calls over the summer were enough to send Ronan into a spiral of sadness and grief. Adam really wants this day to go well for him. He’s not surprised when Ronan slips away as soon as the turkey is in the oven, seeking some form of distraction.

Adam expects the distraction to involve cars and mud, so he’s bewildered when he finds Ronan in the living room sitting at the upright piano in the corner plinking away at the keys. As Adam crosses the threshold, he launches into a melancholy tune that stops Adam in his tracks. He knows that Ronan can play a variety of instruments thanks to Niall Lynch’s legacy, but Adam has never heard him. Halfway through the song, Ronan stops, shakes his hands and anxiously glances out the window.

“Hey,” Adam says quietly. “Want some company?”

Ronan pushes over so Adam can sit on his left.

Adam takes a seat on the bench. “Teach me how to play?”

“I’m not very good. Declan’s better.”

Adam grins. “Really?”

“Shut up,” Ronan nudges him with his elbow. “Do not tell him I said that. Put your hands like this.” He demonstrates the proper hand placement for Adam.

Adam smirks. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to handle this?” He asks, before leaning into his space to replace Ronan’s hands with his own.

Ronan nuzzles his hair before replying, “Yeah, Parrish. I’m sure.”

He’s concise with his instruction, just like the time he taught Adam how to drive stick. As with most things, Adam is a fast learner. Within thirty minutes he’s able to play a simple melody from memory.

Ronan rests his head on Adam’s shoulder and watches him finish the tune and start over again right away. Practice makes perfect.

“What if he’s different?” He asks as Adam finishes the song for the third time.

Adam pauses, his fingers hovering above the keys. “He won’t be. At least, not the way you think.”

“What if he likes Cheng more than me now?”

A laugh bursts out of Adam. “I think you need to prepare yourself for that very real possibility.”

Ronan nudges him again. “Asshole.”

“Come on. Play with me.”

“Wait, we need to switch positions.” Ronan gets up and Adam slides over, so he can settle in to play secondo to Adam’s primo. He lets Adam begin, but soon joins him, adding a beautiful harmony to Adam’s melody, and he doesn’t even swear when Adam messes up in the middle. When they finish, out of the corner of his eye, Adam catches the glint of something outside the window - likely the reflection of sunlight off the windshield of a Camaro.

“They’re here,” he says, quietly.

Ronan turns to the window and stands so abruptly that he nearly dumps Adam off the piano bench. He leaps over the bench and sprints for the door, throwing it open and bounding down the steps. Adam can hardly keep up with him. Gansey is barely out of the Pig before Ronan scoops him up in a ferocious hug, lifting him up off the ground.

“Jesus Christ, it’s good to see you, Lynch,” Gansey laughs.

Ronan puts him down and wipes away a single tear. Then he crushes Blue against his chest and Henry turns it into a group hug.

Adam holds out his fist for Gansey to bump.

“Oh no. That is not acceptable. You two need to get in on this,” Henry says, waving them over. “No exceptions.”

Adam drops his fist and shrugs, then reaches for Gansey and drags him into the fun.

“Ronan, I can’t breathe,” Blue’s muffled voice comes from the middle of the pack somewhere.

“That’s what you get for leaving me for so long.”

“I think he missed us,” Henry says.

“No way! I fucking hate all of you. Get off of my property.”

“I don’t think you’re fooling anyone, Ronan,” Adam says.

“Whatever. I missed you all, okay?”

They collectively squeeze Ronan a little tighter and Adam feels more at ease. It’s going to be a good day and he’s thankful.

[ramonadecember]

35 and 26 for the Fanfic Writer asks 👾

fanfic asks. 

26. Are titles for your stories easy to come up with?

oh god no 😂 I think all of them but one now have song lyric titles. and that’s gotten easier since I started making playlists for more characters/ships. easier to scroll through and find the song that suits the piece the best. even then I still take FOREVER. 

35. Where’s your favorite place to write?

it’s probably not conducive to productivity but... my bed! normally I just sit there with my laptop, but i’ve actually been writing more since I started copying chapters into a google doc so I can lie back and work on it on my phone/wherever I am.

[ramonadecember]

9 + cullrian from the 100 prompts list

Soft Prompts or 100 Prompts

this is a little short but!! thanks for sending in a prompt.

9. “It’s a hobby of mine to prove you wrong.”

–

Cullen didn’t know how many hmm’s or that’s an interesting choice’s or contemplative nods he sat through before he’d had enough. “Is judge my personal library really the only thing you have to do today?” Cullen questioned, fixing Dorian with a look he hoped said ‘regardless, please leave’ as the mage pulled yet another book off the shelf in Cullen’s office, stroking a finger down the spine before briefly flipping through the well-worn pages.

“So they are, then? They’re actually your books?” They hadn’t simply been left here by the previous occupants of the keep to rot, or stocked in an effort to make their Commander look like a double threat, scholarly as well as soldierly. “I didn’t expect you to be so—” Well-read is how Dorian intended to finish that, but a warning glance from Cullen had him snapping his mouth shut before he could. “Some of the titles surprise me,” Dorian amended. Yes there were books on tactics and history, but that wasn’t all. The several poetry volumes tucked amongst the rest were what really threw Dorian for a loop. “They’re not ones I would have expected you to own.”

“You once told me I needed a hobby.” Something that, to quote Dorian, didn’t involve, ‘skulking around the keep or terrifying recruits,’ if Cullen recalled correctly. “It’s a hobby of mine to prove you wrong.”

Dorian had been nodding his head sagely as he continued to survey Cullen’s collection, as if he completely understood what Cullen’s hobby was and that it was a fully respectable one—he would know, cultivating a massive personal library was also his thing—until Cullen finished with that. Dorian slowly turned toward him, an eyebrow raised. “Was that a joke? Careful, Commander,” Dorian tsked, unable to keep the twitch from the corner of his mouth that threatened to turn into a smile. “You may just have me believing we could actually be friends.”

[ramonadecember]

Dorian and Cullen "war's end kiss" or "kiss on the ear"

kissy kissy.

have both!!

13. kiss on the ear

Cullen would probably call it ‘thoughtful silence’ or ‘quiet reflection,’ but to everyone else, it’s brooding. He’s already at it when Dorian opens the office door to find Cullen staring hard out of the narrow slits that pass for windows. It’s in the arms folded across his chest, the slump of his shoulders, the set of his jaw. Wordlessly, Dorian slips his arms around Cullen’s waist from behind, hooks his chin over his shoulder.

“You think too loud,” Dorian remarks, words only a murmur as his lips brush Cullen’s ear. There’s the faintest nip to the lobe before a kiss is pressed in the space just behind. It always does the trick.

Cullen sighs like he’s going to say something but never does, only relaxes back against Dorian. One small kiss and the tension is already easing. No more spiraling thoughts, just Dorian, warm and solid against him. 

9. “war’s end” kiss

There’s celebration after the fall of Corypheus. It’s subdued—many lives were lost—but there’s no denying the current of mirth, of relief, that spreads through the keep. The inquisitor has even gathered some of their closest companions in the main hall in memorialization of their triumphs.

Dorian tries not to monopolize Cullen’s time even though he wants nothing more than to permanently attach himself to his side. There’s several others who wish to congratulate the Commander on his part in their success, and Cullen deserves the praise. And Dorian knows he’ll get his moment, knows Cullen will slip away from the festivities earlier than most, and after waiting just enough time as to not seem too eager, Dorian follows suit.

Cullen is waiting for him in his office, leaning up against the desk. It only takes a few quick steps for Cullen to cross the room to Dorian, taking his face in his hands. There’s a moment’s pause, and then Cullen is kissing him. Then kissing him again. Dorian gives himself to it fully.

There’s no certainty in what comes next, but for the moment, the war is over, and he has Cullen, and that is enough for Dorian.

[singersargentboi]

Also, tangentially related to the previous post, since i hadnt changed my username since i made the account in oh 2011-2012, it somehow has triggered all the emails people new to tumblr get and im not sure how to unsubscribe without losing the emails notifying me of new follows/asks

[avalonjoan]

1, 6 and, 17 for the Ao3 wrapped, please :)

6: Favorite title you used?

the knight, dressed in armor, kneels in prayer --it's part of the description of the statue at the MFA, and it's my favorite sculpture there, and I feel like it conveys the kind of reverence Ronan and Adam have for each other (even though the fic has goofy blowjob jokes)

I already did 1 and 17, so I'll do 7 instead:

7: If you use song lyrics, which artist’s songs did you pull from the most

okay so. fun fact. i mostly picked lyrics from songs I sang when I studied music in college (info about each song in the notes)

fear no danger to ensue, the hero loves as well as you 

mo mhúirnín

vinum bonum et suave