#playwithdinos

[snarkspawn]

Hello I found your tumblr this morning and spam reblogged your Lucanis & Rookanis art, thank you for the delicious food my friend

You're very welcome haha buen provecho!

[errata98]

Fanfiction I Read in 2020 

I didn’t realize how long this post was going to be until I was about halfway through. And it still is not even close to exhaustive. 

Soo, while 2020 has been such a tumultuous year one great thing about this time in my life is that I’ve had more time than ever to read. I am always so blown away by how much talent there is in fanfiction, so big, big thank you to all the writers that share their work and for whisking me away from real life into something far more pleasurable. It definitely makes my whole day when a fic I love has been updated, and I enjoy catching glimpses of rough drafts and the writing process via tumblr (I’m still trying to understand how their galaxy brains even work lolol). 

It’s long, but I am not putting it under a cut! They’re too good!

Long Fics (>= 50k words)

Roses From Where Thorns Grow by @bdafic​ [incomplete]- I started this a while ago, must have lost track of it, and then found it again this summer. Feels weird to type because this is not really me irl lol but accidental pregnancy fics are one of my favorites kinds of fics. Papa Solas is amazing. Somewhere, I once tagged something with ‘solas dad best dad’ and I think that probably sums up my feelings on the matter. The last chapter I read has left me anxious for more, so I’m eagerly awaiting what will likely be the first chapter posted in 2021. 

Ruins by @luzial [incomplete] - A real story of a couple who broke up, fought each other for twenty years, got sent back in time, and are now trying to make things work again ;) Lavellan here is older and wiser in all the ways that matter, and Solas is... well Solas in many ways is everything we wish he would (and could) be now. Had the most wonderful realization that I somehow missed the last chapter that apparently came out on my birthday, so I know what I’ll be doing later.

Fen’Harel’s Teeth by @5lazarus​  [incomplete] - the conversations in this fic are one of my favorite parts. They’re in character, but they’re also just interesting to read. The words just fly across the page -- it’s smooth, seamless, pithy. I love politics and I love a main character who has her wits about her -- both are in this fic. Also features fatherly!Solas, which I just adore.

By the Still Waters by [orphan account]. This is older, but I knew it was popular so I gave it a shot and... yes, I understand now. I loved reading something from Fenris’ perspective. I loved how he’s a foil for Solas. I love seeing Lavellan as this near mythical person because we see everything through Fenris’ eyes. I love Hawke and Fenris together. Merrill also featured more heavily than I anticipated and she had some of the best lines I’ve ever read.

Pressure Point by 17734 [incomplete] - this fic leaves me constantly unsettled (in the best, most addictive, under-your-skin kind of way). I’ve read the first 18 or so chapters twice, and it’s one of those stories that’s slightly different the second time you read it. I really like the author’s take on immortal beings, some of it is very reminiscent of some of the Greek mythology I read in school - characters are at turns both magnificent and terrifying. The language is also very beautiful, and I’m a sucker for anything close to prosaic. 

Out of Time by destinies - so, I don’t know how I found this beyond just “Twitter.” This isn’t Dragon Age related -- it’s from The Greisha Trilogy, which I had never heard of before -- something just told me I would really like this story. Forced/political marriages’, memory loss, enemies to lovers, the dichotomy between light and dark embodied by a single couple... yes, thank you. I had to kind of piece the world together as I read, which was admittedly a lot of fun, and um... wow, I really loved this! Another one of my ‘binged in a single night’ fics.  

Message Sent by @aicosu [incomplete]- this is coincidentally how I got my former partner into Dragon Age lol. I had originally read it the first time as it was coming out. The second time I read it aloud to them over the course of a few days, feeling very much like Cassandra trying to do certain character’s voices. It reminded me of how much I loved it, and so I feel like it deserves a mention here. Definitely an unorthodox but memorable way of cursing someone with being emotionally invested in the Solavellan romance 

Short Fics (< 50k words)

nothing on my tongue by @ellstersmash - the chapters here are short, and I loved seeing the fic updated put of order. This was my first time experiencing that, and I loved guessing where we were in the in-game timeline, and also, as more chapters were posted, which chapter numbers were still missing and therefore what the missing chapters might be about. I associate this fic with feeling kind of melancholy a lot. I think the word constraints really lent itself well to the Solavallen romance -- beautiful and poignant, but always leaving me wanting more.

In and Out of Time Again by @luzial - hoo boy did I have a fun time reading this one. I actually rarely go for AU’s this “AU”, but I trusted this author, and it paid off. In fact, I think I subconsciously had more doubts than I thought because what started a curious perusal ended in one of those “up until 3 am reading” kind of nights. It was such a fast-paced, interesting read, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Ink is one of my favorite Lavellans; she’s just too cool.

The Fourth Day by sass_bot (@knightava) [incomplete] - this was just such a perfect example of how to build tension and dread for the reader, that I still think about it frequently. Also, who wouldn’t love a Skyhold murder mystery?

Beyond the Veil by Pyreite [incomplete] - A 200 years post-Veil fic. Abelas is in it, which is how I knew it was gonna be good hehe. I really like the world-building, and I like explorations of the romance with a more hardened Lavellan. 

I Come to You With Nothing by CommonEvilMasterMind. I’ll preface this by writing that this made me cry with a mixture of sorrow and happiness. The premise is an undercover mission in an alienage which involves Solas and Ellana masquerading as a married couple. It’s beautifully written, and just honestly kind of bittersweet. The writing is itself very touching but I also think it’s almost difficult to read because the Solavellan romance has an arc that looks like it’s just exponentially deviating from anything remotely happy lolol 

That Girl Is Like A Sunburn by @yourstrulycommandershepard - I just discovered this person’s writing this year and I’m kind of obsessed? I went on a whole binge this past summer and *fans self*. I picked this one for my list because I haven’t read that many Solas/Trevelyan fics, and hers are by far some of my favorites. I also love that the titles of some of her fics are Taylor Swift lyrics. I get Solavellan vibes from so many of Taylor’s songs - glad it’s not just me!

Aravel by @playwithdinos - More Papa Solas. I can’t say anything more than it hit me right in the vhenan. 

Wake Up by queenofkadara (@pikapeppa) - One of those fics I thought about for days afterward. The characterization was incredible, and it hurt me to read about Varric brining up Lavellan and seeing Solas’ reaction, and it hurt even more to be left wanting for more, just like Solas. 

[cedarmoons]

😍🤷‍♀️😭😎🌎

😍: what is your favorite fic trope? — answered!

🤷‍♀️What thing that your fandom loves do you just not “get”?

This applies to both Dragon Age and the Arcana: turning any and every male and male-presenting LI into a Daddy Dom, 50 Shades of Grey-style. There was that whole phase of 2015-2016 Solavellan where every modern au had Daddy Solas, and now we have people saying Asra, Julian, and even Muriel are Daddy Doms. (This shit is why I don’t follow any arcana blogs). I have to laugh. They get pegged. Every single one of them. That’s the that on that. ☕

😭 Has a fic ever left you inconsolable?

It’s very difficult to make me cry when I read. But a few that have reduced me to a sobbing wreck:

No Featherbed For Me, an Arya-centric A Song of Ice and Fire fic. The very first fic I remember that’s ever made me cry.

I Come To You With Nothing, a Solavellan “fake married” AU, which does not do the fic justice. 

Not technically a fic, but the angst AUs I brainstorm with @katharaya have me crying on the reg. Last week I was inconsolable between 1 and 3 am over an AU of Ziah as the Devil reuniting / reconciling with Kat’s apprentice, Rei, and Asra. It was uh... something.

😎 Who is your BroTP?

Dragon Age: Varric & Hawke. I think that’s just a given. I also love Solas & Cassandra, Solas & Cole, and Solas & Bull.

The Arcana: The Satrinavas! I also enjoy Portia and Julian’s dynamic.

🌎What is your dream AU?

Dragon Age: I once read a fic where Lavellan knew that Solas was Fen’Harel from the beginning, so an AU where she does DA:I doing everything she can to counter Solas, without Solas realizing what she’s doing, would be pretty sweet. Bonus if she still romances Solas!

The Arcana: Oh... Nadia/MC, where Nadia is the Devil and MC is the reincarnated Nadia-mancer MC. It would have Beauty & The Beast elements, reincarnated soulmates, monster romance and reintroducing reversed!Nadia to her humanity AKA... redemption narrative. Brb, putting this on my to-do list.

[thaisha-lloys-future-wife]

💬

Thanks for the ask! One piece of my writing I’m definitely still proud of is this villanelle about Manon Blackbeak from the Throne of Glass series:

Not born a monster, yet one she became,As beautiful and deadly as a well-crafted blade.Manon Blackbeak is no longer a pawn in anyone’s game.

The cloak she always wore was the color of flame,Not knowing that her true heritage it betrayed.Not born a monster, yet one she became.

Her grandmother’s cruel teachings she overcame,And no matter to whom, her debts she always repaid.Manon Blackbeak is no longer a pawn in anyone’s game.

For months she pretended that she was tame,Yet when faced with her Second’s execution, no longer could she keep up her charade.Not born a monster, yet one she became.

Her grandmother she attempted to maim,And with her own life she nearly payed.Manon Blackbeak is no longer a pawn in anyone’s game.

Her Crochan heritage she now openly stakes her claim,Using a scrap of that red cloak to tie off her braid.Not born a monster, yet one she became,Manon Blackbeak is no longer a pawn in anyone’s game.

[thevikingwoman]

Inquisitor ask meme, for Ilwyn: 4, 8, 14, 33, 36

Thank you!

4. how did they feel about being called “the herald of andraste”? 

Iwyn think it is strange. She never claimed to be the Herald of Andraste, she is, at best, Dalish Agnostic when it comes to religion. In the beginning, she is curious about the Inquisition people, as it allows her to interact with types of people she has never met before, but she doesn’t enjoy being some sort of religious icon. 

8. who is their rival?

I am not really sure she has a rival? Other than everyone who wants her step back at the Exalted Council ;). She doesn’t really cultivate rivalry - she tries to find a way around it. She does do things, especially after the Inquisition that both Orlesian and Ferelden nobility as well as some Dalish are not happy with, but as for a straight up rival I don’t think I can name one. 

14. which demon is most frightening to them?

I think Despair Demons are the most frighting. From a pure physical perspective, any ranged fighter is more worrying for her, being an archer. She also is a natural optimist, and feelings of despair are not something she knows how to deal with. The most likely demons to corrupt or tempt her would probably be desire or pride.  

33. are they afraid of anything specifically? 

Iwyn worried about failing, and most of all about not being able to protect those who love, or those she likes, or anyone she feels tasked with protecting (aka - ALL of Thedas, she needs to slow down. See pride, above)

36. are they especially protective of certain inquisition members, even those capable of defending themselves? 

She is generally very protective, but she is especially protective of Solas, because she loves him and worries about him. She sometimes get the feeling he doesn’t care much about his own safety. She worries about Sera, because she is young. She worries about Josephine, because Josie is not a fighter, even if she plays the game. She would worry about attacks on the Inquisition when they travel etc with Josie. She worries about Cullen, because of his struggle with lyrium addiction and she worries he puts too much stress on himself. 

Inqusitior asks! 

[izzym-art]

@playwithdinos replied to your post: @playwithdinos replied to your post: ...

okay for real the first result was a highly questionable “science” article about cat/raccoon hybrids which i am saving to read later because it looks like a riot

the website itself is extremely questionable tbh

[selenelavellan]

Would you ever write... hm, an AU where Selene, Dirthamen, Fear, Deceit, and Des are just.. actually all ravens. Like run of the mill, sittin in trees and making cawing noises ravens. Possibly rolling around in the snow for fun. Mostly just being birds and doing bird stuff.

No.

Because Des would be a cat.

[destinyapostasy]

"Twice" for Solavellan

He grabs her by the arm. Her hand is forcibly pulled in front of the rift; locking on like a magnet being draw to a piece of metal. She nearly falls to her knees, but his hand on her wrist yanks her back upwards before she can break the connection. Her body is a conduit between the mark on her hand and the rift, and for a moment she feels as though she will be split in two between them. She grits her teeth, feeling them rattle in her skull until the rift finally dissipates and the power running through her recedes; strong enough to send her sprawling. He catches her, and pulls her back up to survey the mended sky.

“What did you do?” She asks, wringing her hand.

He holds her by the arm. Her hand is outstretched and almost impossible to be seen through the blinding light of the anchor leaking through every pore on her skin, from palm to forearm. What can be seen is mangled and in raw agony, forcing her to her knees. He follows her down, his hand clutching her so gently she can barely feel it through the rush of magic ripping through her arm. When his mouth touches hers, everything goes numb.  

“Solas, what have you done?” she gasps as the remains of her hand disintegrate into the air.