Starting off OC Kiss Week with my De Riva, Ayden, and @marvelous-goose's OC Jasper Thorne
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The aftermath of a fight was always the worst part.
Ayden was shaking with the adrenaline of it but there was nowhere to put it anymore. Fighting darkspawn always made their skin crawl, it felt like the more time they spent around the blight the more sensitive they were to it. Like they could taste it around the boils massed on the ground, around the bigger ogres. And they’d all known, going in, that is was going to be a bad night. The horde encroaching Lavendel, the ragged group of villagers in the middle of the perimeter the Wardens had kept. Ayden was used to fighting, but not in a battle like this. Multiple fronts, swords and shields, it was nothing like any of the contracts they’d ever been on.
Even the occupation wasn’t anything like it.
Everything had been in extremes since the Antaam.
Magic, and Blight, and the Fade, and dragons, and darkspawn, and cleaning mud off their boots from a dozen places they never thought they’d ever visit.
A week beforehand, desperate for some kind of break, they’d dragged Jasper to the rooftop roads in Treviso. Stolen a bottle of wine from the stash Viago kept for his visits to the Diamond, gone up to their favourite spot to look over the canals from. Ayden had mostly been in Treviso when Viago and Teia were at their most involved, but they’d learned to love it along the way. And Jasper was always so generous with the things he loved; Ayden might not be used to sharing, but they’d wanted to try all the same.
Besides there was something kind of wonderful in the way Jasper’s eyes got bright when they used the ziplines, the way he seemed to relax when they talked him into doing something risky.
And it was high above the canals when Jasper, pink-cheeked and smiling, had taken a swig from the bottle they were sharing and said, “Anyone would think you’re trying to romance me.”
And they’d shot back, “If it’s romantic does that mean you’ll let me kiss you?”
But the thought of that only had them whirling around, scanning the battlefield. The two of them had started off fighting near each other, but things never went like they planned. Mages needed to spread out, cover more bases. Too many horns going off at once; Jasper had gone to cover the caves, Ayden had headed out to the battlements. But the fighting was over, people were checking bodies, dragging darkspawn corpses into piles to burn them, drifting towards medics to get their wounds treated, or towards the buildings to get new orders. All of Ayden’s nerves were jangling and they couldn’t see him.
“Where’s Jasper?” they asked, though after all the shouting in the fight it came out as a croak. They got a couple of glances from Wardens walking past but no answer. Had the look on their faces been pitying or just exhausted? The jangling nerves were starting to seem more like alarm bells. They swallowed, frantically trying to soothe the sandpaper-feeling in their throat, and tried again, “Anyone seen Jasper?”
There was a more desperate scream building in their throat before they heard a familiar voice call, “Over here.”
They turned so fast they nearly slipped in the mud, saw Jasper and Emmy leaning on each other as they walked back from the caves. Ayden ignored the way their legs were screaming, pushed themselves into a jog to meet them.
“You’re both ok?” they asked, feeling like they were vibrating with the effort of holding back, not sure if the twins were hurt or just exhausted, they didn’t want to make anything worse.
Jasper said, “We’re both fine,” in a soft voice, at the same time as Emmy snorted and said, “Calm down, sparky, he’s all yours,” and stepped aside.
Ayden burst into motion, genuinely might’ve lost control and fade-stepped into the space right in front of Jasper, reached up to cup his face and yanked it down to their own. Jasper’s hands grasped at their elbows, then one shifted to the side of their face and his other arm wrapped around their waist. His thumb slid along their cheekbone, and his mouth was gentle, and despite everything, Ayden felt themselves slowly start to relax.
Featuring my darling Jasper Thorne & Lorant Thorne, who belongs to the wonderful @theesteppenwolf !!!! Loosely inspired by some lovely art she did of the two of them :3
It was winter at Weisshaupt, and Antoine and Evka were throwing their annual Feast Day party—which was really just an excuse for their friends to dress up nice and get wasted, but who cares? Grey Wardens take joy where they can find it; it certainly won’t find them in the end.
Lorant lay across Jasper’s narrow bed, half dressed, his long red hair strewn across the thin blanket. He was still choosing between the two shirts on either side of him, but he decided to take a break from his internal debate to watch Jasper carefully apply shimmery eyeshadow around his eyes, the other Warden’s face mere inches away from the tiny mirror he and Emmy kept in their room.
Jasper looked over to see Lorant staring at him. “What?”
“Nothing. You’re just cute when you’re focused.” Lorant smirked coyly.
Jasper rolled his eyes in response, but a blush was spreading across his cheeks. “Oh, shut up.”
“No, I’m serious!” He tossed his head back as he laughed, his hair glowing like fire in the warm candlelight.
Jasper gave him a fond smile. Lorant was an incurable and endearing flirt—and Jasper loved to tease him back. “I’m sure you saw cuter when you were a fancy noble in Orlais,” he shot back.
Lorant shook his head morosely. “Never. They all hide their faces behind masks, in Orlais. Such a shame.” He sighed. “Although, I do regret that I may never show you the unique beauty of those masquerade balls.”
“I always dreamed of attending a ball when I was a kid.” Jasper returned to the tiny mirror, now lining his eyes. “There was a book salesman who passed through my hometown once—my ma got me a novel about an Orlesian knight, and he attended a ball at one point in the story. It was so romantic.” Quick flicks of his wrist made fast work of the eyeliner. He looked back to Lorant, who was still watching him with…interest? Amusement? “What, do you want me to do your makeup too?” Jasper teased.
Lorant cocked an eyebrow and looked up, thinking it over. “You know what? Sure. You look so hot with that eyeliner, it’s only fair of you to level the playing field, give me some, too.”
The blush on Jasper’s cheeks spread even further. Without a word, he pulled his long, blondish-brown hair into a bun and stuck an eyeshadow brush through it to keep it in place. “Just eyeliner?”
Lorant nodded. “I don’t want to get too carried away…” He gave Jasper a crafty little grin and pushed himself upright, the muscles in his freckled arms and shoulders highlighted by the flickering shadows.
Oh, Jasper could fight back. He grabbed the tiny pot of eyeliner, wiped his brush clean, and walked over to Lorant—and before the redheaded Warden could do anything about it, Jasper placed a hand on his bare chest and pushed him back down onto the bed, then straddled his hips. “I’ll get a better angle with my wrist this way,” he said innocently. Lorant’s eyebrows shot up, but he said nothing; Jasper felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. He dipped the brush into the eyeliner, wiped the excess off on the edge of the pot, then adjusted it in his right hand like a pencil.
He held Lorant’s face still with his left hand and gently rested the side of his right hand on the redhead’s lightly scruffy, freckled cheek. Those eyes…sometimes Jasper forgot how beautiful they were. One a soft, cornflower blue, the other hazel. They both looked up at him with a mix of wonder and desire. “Close your eyes,” he whispered, and Lorant obliged. He gently swiped the brush along the line of his eyelashes, using short strokes. Lorant was making a clear, conscious effort to stay still, and Jasper rewarded him with a stroke of his thumb across Lorant’s cheek. The Warden hummed in appreciation.
With the first eye finished, Jasper lifted his hand, dipped the brush in the eyeliner once more, then rested his hand on Lorant’s brow. Again, he flicked the brush against Lorant’s lash line, applying just enough eyeliner to make his eyes really pop. When he finished with the second eye, Jasper set down the brush and gently used the pad of his pinky finger to smudge out the line a little. “Okay. You can open them.”
Lorant’s eyes blinked open and locked with Jasper’s. The breath caught in Jasper’s throat. Maker above, he was beautiful. The jet-black of the eyeliner was stark against the blue and hazel of his eyes, glowing in the soft candlelight; Jasper glanced down at his fellow Warden’s lips, imagined what they might taste like, how they might feel against his own. He and Lorant had been flirting for months, and he’d always thought it was a game they were playing, but…what if it wasn’t? What if it could be real, right now?
“Hey,” murmured Lorant, a dazed expression on his face. He smiled softly at Jasper and reached up, placed a warm hand where his jaw met his throat, deft fingers stroking the edges of Jasper’s short beard. Jasper melted into his touch.
“Hey,” Jasper replied, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart in his chest. Planting his right hand on the bed to brace himself, Jasper dipped to rest his forehead against Lorant’s, their noses bumping, their breath intermingling. He could close the gap between their lips right now.
He didn’t get the chance. Lorant pulled him down the rest of the way and their lips pressed together, sweet and warm. A giddy smile tugged at the corners of Jasper’s lips. “Ah, your mustache tickles,” whispered Lorant into Jasper’s mouth.
“Sorry—“ Jasper was cut off with another kiss, more fervent than the last. Lorant’s teeth grazed across his lower lip, and Jasper shuddered. He shifted his hips against Lorant’s and the redhead let out a low groan—
—When suddenly, the bedroom door opened and Emmy, Jasper’s twin sister, barged in. Lorant and Jasper sprung apart.
“Hey, Jasper, can you—ANDRASTE’S FLAMING KNICKERS.” She immediately covered her eyes with one hand and backed out of the room. “Maker’s breath, the least you can do is put a sock on the doorknob or something next time. Fuck.” She left and slammed the door behind her.
When Jasper and Lorant finally looked at each other again, Jasper’s face was beet red. Lorant giggled. “I love how easy it is to make you blush, you know.”
Day 3- Desperate staring Ash Thorne/Jasper Thorne the latter belongs to @marvelous-goose
“JASPER!” Ash rushes over barreling through the last of the darkspawn reaching where Jasper lay far too still. Pulling him into their arms scrambling for a potion; hoping, praying to a god they don’t believe in he’s okay. Placing the green potion to his lips tiling his head back and holding his throat open, “DRINK DAMN IT! I am not explaining to Emmy you died!”
With a stuttering cough as the potion goes down & starts to take effect, Jasper’s eyes snap open looking around wildly as they grip at the straps of Ash's armor. Clinging to them like a lifeline.
“Ash?” His eye finally focus on their face, and with a shaking hand he reaches out toward’s their face smudging the war paint, “Did we win?”
“Of course we did,” Ashe takes his face in their hands darkspawn blood still staining their armor, “I am going to kiss you now.”
“Okay- hmp-“ Ash crashes their lips against Jasper’s, the kiss is inelegant and sloppy with too much tongue and too much teeth chased by the bitter taste of the herbal potion and Jasper’s blood. But it doesn’t matter because Jasper is alive is breathing here in their arms. That relief takes over every thought, fuels them to kiss him again and again and again, pulling him tighter against their armor with each one as if they can bring him into its protection, keep him safe as long as they stay just like this.
“Ash, can’t breathe” Jasper pats against their armored chest pushing back just a little but staying in their arms, staying safe.
“Oh shit, sorry,” Ash ducks their head down breathing in the salt, sweat and blood from Jasper’s hair.
“Hey,” pulling gently at the little braid he put in for them today Jasper forces them to look at him, “I said I couldn’t breathe not that I didn’t like it.” With a soft tug pulls Ash back in.
No prompt, just vibes. Featuring my darling Jasper Thorne and @nonagesimus's Ayden de Riva!!!
“You really didn’t have to do that, you know.”
Ayden sat at the dinner table in the Lighthouse, a cold compress held against their black eye, their long elven ears drooping from embarrassment and frustration. “He was talking shit. He deserved what he got.”
“I don’t disagree, but I can take care of myself.” Jasper shook his head fondly from the kitchen, where he stood by the stove, waiting for the water to boil.
The kettle started whistling, and Jasper poured the boiling water into a teapot containing a blend of herbs he’d learned from his mother, all chosen to encourage healing—and to make the recipient feel a little better. Once the tea was ready, Jasper poured Ayden a cup, then walked over to them and sat down in the chair next to them. He gently took the cold compress from their hand and set the cup on the table. “Let me take another look, alright?” Ayden nodded.
A bruise blossomed around Ayden’s right eye and across their cheekbone, purple and red and swollen. The impact had broken some of the blood vessels in their eye as well—their sclera was tinged lightly red. Jasper grazed his fingertips along the edges of the bruise as Ayden held themselves perfectly still. They wanted to flinch; Jasper could tell. But they didn’t. He tilted his head, let his eyes drift around Ayden’s face. Tried to count the freckles on his cheeks.
Ayden squirmed under Jasper’s scrutiny. “What?”
“I’m just…looking.” He smiled softly, let his hand fall away from Ayden’s face. “You’ll be fine. You want me to heal it for you?”
“Please.”
Jasper nodded. “Hold still.” He closed his eyes and lifted his hands towards Ayden’s face, then reached out to the Fade, willed Ayden’s broken blood vessels to heal. When he opened his eyes, the bruise was almost completely faded, and Ayden was staring at him, hazel eyes glinting in the firelight. Jasper leaned in, pressed a kiss to Ayden’s cheek where the bruise had once been. “Drink your tea. It’ll get cold.”
He pushed back his chair and stood up, turning back to the kitchen, when Ayden reached out and grabbed his wrist—and pulled him back down into a kiss, quick and messy, Ayden’s fingers in his hair. Jasper floundered for a moment before reciprocating, and when they broke apart, he asked, “What was that for?”
hi hello i’m gonna post about jasper/cullen on here too (credit to @hightowerqueen for suggesting this to me at some point like a month ago bc the incubation period is over and im insane about it for real now)
this is a ship of vibes and vibes alone. yes jasper is my rook and yes he’s a dude don’t QUESTION it
the fun thing about this to me is like. okay. jasper is a mage raised by a circle runaway apostate (his mom, tess) who basically bargained for protection from templars by offering her service to this small farming community as a healer. jasper never lived in fear of the circle as anything more than something from his ma’s past that hurt her, but she didn’t talk about. she trained him as a healer from a pretty young age, including practical skills outside of just healing magic.
there’s something so juicy about two farm boys—one of whom is a templar, who believes wholeheartedly in the importance of the circle of magi, who was deeply traumatized at the hands of mages, who went on to turn a blind eye to mages being abused and said shit like “mages aren’t people like you and i”—and the other of whom is a mage, who has never once stepped foot in a circle and only knows of them through others’ stories, who was trained from the moment his magic manifested to be a healer, who makes an effort to see the humanity in everyone, even his enemies—kissing. with tongue
Created by idunnaldwir. Color the words that most resonate with your Rook. Count where you collected the most words, and then search for the corresponding Evanuris codex and add it to the post! Add a pic of your lovely Rook as well (if you want).
Thank you for the tag @hightowerqueen ily !!!! I am going to tag @lucaniseyebrowlicker @orangeandclover and @nonagesimus :3
This is my darling Rook, Jasper Thorne :3
Sylaise
It is Sylaise who gave us fire and taught us how to use it. It is Sylaise who showed us how to heal with herbs and with magic, and how to ease the passage of infants into this world. And again, it is Sylaise who showed us how to spin the fibers of plants into thread and rope.
—From Codex entry: Sylaise: the Hearthkeeper
Mythal
It was at this moment that Mythal walked out of the sea of the Earth's tears and onto the land. She placed her hand on Elgar'nan's brow, and at her touch he grew calm and knew that his anger had led him astray.
—From Codex entry: Mythal: the Great Protector
Mythal (13)
maiden-mother-crone, diplomacy, motherly instincts, supportive, extinguishing fires, deeper meanings, idealism, resilience, survival, fine leathers and fine silks, silver filigree, raven feathers, driftwood, the iris flower, overwhelming yet restrained power, the dark moon, ultramarine fire, double meanings - double desires, hope, the Hawthorne, undeterred belief in oneself, veiled yearning for power
Elgar'nan (4)
the black sun - the blood moon, Patriarch archetype, possessive protection, authoritarian, hunger for power, relentless yet sometimes passive, subjective, strategic, leader, restrained emotions, tradition, heavy leathers and heavy golds, envy and desire, retribution, a fiery temper, conditional generosity, ancient ideals, consuming fire, thorny roses, wings of gold, birds of prey, domination, manipulation and temptation, obsessive, abundance
Falon'din (4)
black waters, myrrh, dark soil, hushed sounds, white, dark side of the moon, rebellion, vanity, the fade, journeys, shadows and reflections, illusions and deep knowledge, arcane, the dark arts, immortality by looking at the abyss, owl calls through the darkness, mania, desire to be admired, the Undertaker's hands, Nightshades, easily corrupted, deep emotions, ambition and competition, onyx
Dirthamen (5)
ravens and bears, hunger for knowledge, whispers, mercury, thick fog through pine forests, North, mountains, blacks and purples, books and libraries, deep blue ink, matters and facts, initiation through knowledge, masters and disciples, order and discipline, loyalty, delve deep, power through knowledge, know-it-all, teacher, curiosity
Andruil (4)
the hunter's moon, fur, iron, anger, spilled blood, dense woods, swamps and dark lakes, the beating of hooves, autumn rains, moose racks, thick moss, the thrill of the hunt, courage, determination, sensual desires, will to possess, purpose, strength and clarity, bluntness, blind to nuance, restless, victory through blunt force, physical prowess and flexed muscles, strained bows, blood-red
Sylaise (14)
harvest moon, flowers and herbs, warm bread and home, everlasting fires, tales around the hearth, healer and protector, hiraeth, the call of the home, beauty and warmth, respite and refuge, potions and balms, intoxicating scents, flower crowns and white gowns, sensuality, fertility, a large family, deep devotion to a partner, hidden devastating power, high goals, underestimated yet beloved, glory and creation, dreams come true, pink gold and apple flowers, sun rays filtered through leaves
June (2)
creation and invention, bronze and quartz, puzzles and labyrinths, lyrium, leather and wood, smouldering embers, anvils, geometric shapes, innovation, mastery, desire for progress, technology, high tech, logic, hard work, diligence, bolts and oil, welding sparkles, practical outfits, protective gear, sharp blades, mechanic whirring, sharp logic, discovery, technical drawings, teamwork
Ghilan'nain (4)
devotion, mystery, fearless, experimental, direction and motivation, medical knowledge, objective morals, orchids and hallas, love for animals, deeper understanding, emotional and sensitive, delicate, persuaded by loved ones, blurred lines, hyper focus, cruelty, ruthless, childish, shrewdness, flesh, blood and bones, creator, perfector, blood garnets and trembling sinews
Fen'harel (5)
the wolf moon, pride and vulnerability, wisdom and mania, sharp teeth, furs and leathers, rebels and isolationists, planet Pluto, the great change, uproot, unearth, fixations and deep knowledge, paradoxical subjectivity, hypocrisy, eyes that see it all, silent judgement, adaptability, revenge, blind purpose, grey morality, unfulfilled purpose, ether and dreams, mournful howls, thwarted purpose, thwarted heart, Loki archetype, well laid plans that fail, sharp tongue, sharp mind
I was tagged by @nonagesimus (sorry for not seeing this until just now !!!) and I'm tagging @tinylilemrys and @steppenwolfslair :3
GENERAL
Name: Jasper Thorne
Alias(es): Rook, Jas (but only by his twin sister, Emmy)
Gender: Trans man
Age: 27 when Veilguard begins
Place of Birth: Fenhold, in the Hossberg Wetlands
Spoken Languages: Common and a bunch of elaborate Orlesian curses he learned from Lorant and Antoine (he understands generally what they mean but could not use them in a sentence to save his life)
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual
Love Interest(s): Lucanis, @nonagesimus's Ayden de Riva, @theesteppenwolf's Lorant Thorne
Occupation: Grey Warden
FAVORITE
Color: Indigo
Entertainment: I'm gonna be so real with you, I don't think Jasper has much in the way of entertainment beyond daring his Warden friends to arm-wrestle in the canon setting. Although I do think he quite enjoys music when he goes out drinking. In a modern AU, he's definitely a fan of medical dramas and procedurals (he watches them with his mom & they shit-talk the nonsense plotlines)
Pastime: Card games, but especially solitaire when he needs to turn his brain off for a bit and focus on something that isn't whatever is bothering him. Nature walks and gardening--he and his mom had a beautiful herb garden growing up.
Food: Shepherd's pie, or whatever the thedosian equivalent would be
Drink: Herbal tea with honey, or black coffee if Lucanis is making it. In terms of alcohol, whatever's the cheapest.
Books: The corniest, pulpiest fiction nonsense you could possibly imagine, or the densest magical tome. No in between.
HAVE THEY
Passed university: Does joining the Grey Wardens count as passing university? (I think in a modern AU, he'd at least get his AA.)
Scared easily: Nope
Jealous easily: Not in the context of a romantic relationship.
Trustworthy: Jasper defaults to trusting most people a little bit. How you use that trust determines how much trust he's gonna give you moving forward.
FAMILY
Siblings: One, a twin sister named Emmeline (Emmy for short). He's ~8 minutes older than her. They are technically identical twins, but since Jasper is trans, it's not like most people can tell.
Parents: Teresa "Tess" Thorne and Jack Thorne. Jack died when Jasper and Emmy were about seven years old; Tess is still alive.
