#trocp

[cassandra-pentughasst]

I commissioned the wonderfully talented @za-ra-h a while ago for a portrait of my Inquisitor Ellana and I honestly don’t think she’s ever looked this good, not even in my own head. 😍💕

[cassandra-pentughasst]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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Cassandra liked her solitude, she didn't need anyone to make her feel complete.

Then everything went wrong.

Enter Ellana, a small silver-haired elven woman with a glowing mark on her hand that makes her the only person capable of defeating this unknown threat, and it would seem changing what Cassandra thinks she knows about herself.

[cassandra-pentughasst]

The Romancing of Cassandra Pentaghast Chapter 17 // The final chapter

The only upside to working herself to exhaustion during the days was it made it easier to not miss the warmth of Ellana beside at night.

The first two nights she collapses onto her cot falling asleep almost immediately. 

On the third night, she finds her sleep restless and wakes several times feeling like something is missing, but in her sleepy haze she can’t quite figure out what.

It's not until her last night at the encampment after waking yet again during the night and idly wishing that she had the sound of Ellana’s breathing to lull her back to sleep that Cassandra realises that is precisely the problem. In a few short weeks, Cassandra has managed to get used to having the warmth of another beside her and now with the absence of it even something as simple as sleep has become difficult for her.

Read more on Ao3 // Start from the beginning 

[cassandra-pentughasst]

The Romancing of Cassandra Pentaghast 

Chapter 16

But Ellana was in meetings all morning, and Cassandra for once had little to do on her own, so she tried to distract herself by reading one of her books in the chair that Ellana had ‘found’ her. But it was no use. What was the point of indulging in fantasy when she had Ellana who would be happy to give her what she needed if she just said the word?

And she wanted to say that word.

And three others.

They sat on the tip of her tongue waiting for the right moment.

But she was beginning to suspect there was no such thing.

With a sigh she settled on one of Varric’s books, Hard in Hightown. The familiar narrative a comfort she could distract herself quite easily with.

She was so engrossed she didn’t even notice how much time had passed. Or that she was being watched.

“You look like you’re enjoying yourself”

Read on Ao3 || Start from the beginning

[cassandra-pentughasst]

kiss prompt, 6! pairing of your choice 💖

6 lazy morning kisses before they’ve even opened their eyes, still mumbling half-incoherently, not wanting to wake upI was a little conflicted with this because I started writing it and it ended up being the thing I was looking for in the current chapter I’m writing at a point I was stuck on so I used it there also (but this is shorter than thats going to be) She wakes with the sun the next morning feeling content and a little sore. There’s no escaping a lifetime of early mornings no matter how much she exerts herself apparently.Not that she minds. Not when she can watch Ellana sleeping peacefully beside her.There is a tenderness that warms her, spreading through her chest leaving her almost giddy with happiness. As much as she hesitated to say it the first time, those three words spilled easily from her lips for the rest of the night, and well into the early hours of the morning.She smiles now just thinking about it.Smiles even wider at the sight of the mouth shaped bruise on Ellana’s collarbone and the memory of how it got there. She always knew she was a quick study, this just helps prove it. Even now her skin still tingles, her fingers want nothing more than to bury themselves in Ellana’s flesh, her lips want nothing more than to taste her mouth, her skin, her sex. But Ellana, as terrible as her sleeping habits were needed to rest. Cassandra sighs shuffling closer to her, her hand settling on the curve of her waist and stroking lightly. Her skin is warm through the sheets and Cassandra has a renewed desire to feel it as close to her as possible, warm and slick with sweat like she had the night before. Looking at Ellana sleeping in front of her Cassandra feels like a small child in a sweet shop, free to look but not to touch.But then again, there are worse things to wake up to than a kiss from the woman you love Cassandra reasons to herself.She starts slow, kissing the scars and breaks in the Vallaslin that wraps its way around Ellana’s bicep. Ellana doesn’t begin to stir until she reaches her neck and even then it’s only to tilt her head even in sleep.She feels her wake as she kisses along Ellana’s jaw, laughs to herself when she sees Ellana try to keep her face as relaxed as possible but is betrayed by the grin pulling at the side of her mouth.“I know you’re awake,” Cassandra chuckles pulling away to watch Ellana’s face.“M’not” Ellana mumbles unconvincingly, and Cassandra can only laugh at her half-hearted protest.“Oh I see, my apologies for the mistake. I’ll let you keep sleeping then?”“Ugh, no,” Ellana groans, glaring at her as best as she can through half-open eyes.“What do you want then?” Cassandra asks, knowing by the tilt of her chin and pout on her lips that there is only one thing that Ellana wants, and gives it to her before she has the chance to ask.Her kiss is slow and languid with none of the heat or desperation from the night before, but it still stirs something within her and before long Cassandra finds herself resting in the cradle of Ellana’s thighs with her hands trailing down her spine.Cassandra sighs when she pulls away from her, pressing one last lingering kiss to her brow before resting her forehead against Ellana’s.“Good morning,” Ellana chuckles, her finger stroking one of the dimples in her lower back.“Good morning my love,” Cassandra smiles, her amazement at how easy the words come to her now making her giddy, after thinking they were impossible to say for so long.“It really is isn’t it,” Ellana grins smugly, and Cassandra can’t help but roll her eyes at her. “I love you too Cassandra,” She says, serious compared to a few moments before.“How are you feeling,” Cassandra asks her earnestly, knowing that the previous night was a whirlwind of emotion for both of them. “Like I have the love of the most beautiful woman in all of Thedas and I woke up to her kisses and her beautiful face,”“Flatterer” Cassandra sighs in mock exaggeration.“I try.”“You succeed,” Cassandra admits earnestly, because in truth she does succeed, and a small part of her preens at such compliments,  a part of her that would have scoffed at such words before she met Ellana. “Good.” 

[cassandra-pentughasst]

Hmmmm.... how about ALL the emojis for the OC OTP ask prompt for an OC of your choice? :D

Thanks friend! All of them? Are you sure? This is gonna get long for Ell and Cass so I’m gonna pop it under a cut 

❣️ When did your OC first realise they were in love? How did they react to the realisation?EllanaShe knew she loved Cassandra in the future Redcliffe after she realised that Cassandra was willing to sacrifice herself for her and that despite how much she went through her resolve and faith never broke.She knew she was in love with her when she woke up in her arms after the battle of haven. All she remembers before that is hazy and she vaguely remembers Cassandra being the one to find her in the snow, but waking up warm and safe in her arms she realises just how hopeless a situation she’s found herself in because she feels like its a one-sided thing. CassandraWhen Ellana is helping her get cleaned up after being shot in the arm with a poison arrow. Its the first time she lets herself admit it to herself even if she realised it way before then. Naturally she’s scared by the realisation because she knows how dangerous the future is for the both of them. 

💝 What kinds of gifts does your OC receive from their partner(s)? What kinds of gifts do they give in return?Cassandra gives her the most valuable thing (in Ellana’s mind) that she can give her - time and energy. She doesn’t put much stock in material things, so Cassandra tending to her herbs in the garden when she’s away and can’t means a lot to her. The most valuable thing she’s ever given her is the Dragontooth pendant which she pretty much never takes off for various reasons. In return, she gives Cassandra things she likes, books, tiny trinkets that remind her of her things like that. Food of certain significance is also a notable gift.  

💕 Describe an ideal date form them!Somewhere quiet and where they can’t be interrupted. Neither of them are big on the idea of doing anything ‘big’ around people so discretion is preferred. For Ellana it would be something simple, a picnic in a meadow under a shady tree, them feeding each other and talking about everything and nothing, making flower crowns for Cassandra just so she can watch her blush when she calls her beautiful.For Cassandra it would be something candle lit and under the stars, the two of them sharing folk tales about the constellations and just talking or cuddling in silence. Alternate - A candlelit dinner somewhere discrete and spending the rest of the evening wandering the streets hand in hand going with the flow of the crowd, the smell of the ocean and summer nights thick in the air, Ellana in something long, low cut, and flowing, Cassandra dapper in breeches and a loose flowing tunic, neither of them looking like the important people they are and anonymous in the crowd, spending most of their night laughing and talking quietly in each others ear. (This is giving me post trespasser ideas and Antiva vibes)      

💔 Has your OC had a bad breakup or nasty ex? If so does this have any affect on their current relationship?EllanaThere was the whole ordeal with Rihari and her clan that leaves her a little weary when it comes to anything longer than a night, so she’s a bit of a mess when Cassandra rejects her, and even more so when they first get together, so her giving Cassandra the lead when it comes to what they do and when is as much for her own comfort as well as Cassandra’s.CassandraCan you count dying in an explosion as a bad break-up? Finding out Galyan was unfaithful hurt her more than she thought it would, so it leaves her a little weary not so much of Ellana’s commitment to her, but of the people that try to hit on her constantly because she is a tad insecure about herself and does wonder why Ellana chose her over the women who literally throw themselves at her on occasion. The Galyan thing makes her better at communicating her needs and wants though. 

💘 What do they love most about their partner(s)? What do their partner(s) love most about them?EllanaHonestly, the thing Ellana loves most about Cassandra is Cassandra. She loves her smile, her laugh, her first thing in the morning, the last thing she feels and sees at night. She loves her self confidence, her shyness, her temper, her strong sense of right and wrong even if they don’t always agree on what those things are. She honestly loves everything about her and she can’t just pick one thing because they all bleed together and can’t be separated. CassandraShe loves Ellana for her strength, and her determination and her willingness to do things that need to be done when no one else wants to do them. She loves how she makes her feel - valued, loved, desired, wanted - which is big for her after a lifetime of being expected to fit into certain roles and never to explore what she wants, and being told that she was too much, too headstrong and needed to tone herself down to be more ’palatable’.   

💖 What are some little subtle ways they show that they love each other?EllanaFlowers, and long looksCassandraSoft touches and placing herself between her and danger

💗 Describe your OC’s partner(s) from their point of view! What do they really think about them?Ellana“Cassandra radiates a strength that is unspoken, of both character and physical presence. Her smile is like witnessing the first light of dawn on dew covered leaves on an early summer morning - pure and radiant, beautiful in a way that few see, and even fewer appreciate”Cassandra“The moon pales in comparison to her beauty, fades when I think of how much I love her. They will write tales of her exploits, of me the woman she loved, and none of them will come close to describing the strength of her or her character and how she faced down the wrath of a would-be god and walked away unharmed.Ellana is like a cool breeze on a hot day, the kiss of rain on hot skin, a thunderstorm. She is tender, caring, but furious, tempestuous, unforgiving and full of rage when she needs to be, but never long enough to be destructive or spiteful. She is fiercely devoted to those she cares about - those she loves, and I am lucky enough to be one of those few”  

💓 What is their favourite activity to do together (that isn’t time in the bedroom)?Reading together. Well, more Cassandra reading to her because it helps her deal with how overwhelming everything is. Napping together is a close second. 

💞 What do their respective families think of their relationship?Neither of them are really in contact with their actual families, but their found family is happy for them. Leliana is happy for Cassandra because she’s spent so long telling her she deserves her happiness on her own terms and she glad that she’s finally letting herself have just that. (She lowkey never saw what Cassandra saw in Galyan, and she liked him even less when she found out about his unfaithfulness, even if she said nothing about it at the time as much as she wanted to) After learning about Ellana’s past Dorian is happy for Ellana because she deserves something good, and to be accepted and loved for who she is, and not to be used to satisfy a curiosity or for her body or one-night stands. He grows to be quite protective of them both though the more he gets to know Cassandra and when he sees how good they both are for each other and to each other.    

🖤 Have they ever had a really bad argument where they almost broke up?Not one that I’m willing to talk about at length - but short answer, yes. 

❤️ How did they end up in a relationship with their current partner(s)?Ellana would say fate, and Cassandra quietly agrees. But after some foolishness on both their parts they got to where they needed to be, with a little more heartache than they really needed. 

💍 Which one of them would propose? How would it happen? (or write if you feel like it!)They both would, but Ellana would probably do it first. She wouldn’t make a grand event of it, it’d be something simple and private, and tender because its them and that just how they be.

💋 Who is the best kisser? (if you’d like write a short smooch scene!)Both of them would argue that the other is the best, but they both do things that the other enjoys so they’re both biased. Cassandra always kisses Ellana with a tenderness that makes her feel safe and appreciated, but when she wants to she kisses her in a way that leaves her breathless and thoughtless of little more than what’s happening on an immediate physical level. Ellana kisses her mostly in the same way, but there is always a sense that she can’t get enough of her and Cassandra loves it.

💌 Write a love letter from your OC to their partner(s). BONUS: write a reply!E - The days with the recruits are long, but it is rewarding to see them improve where they once faltered as the days pass. But that satisfaction fades with the setting sun when I eat quickly and retire to an empty bed, so it is safe to say sleep has been elusive these past weeks and I have been the poorer for it.Waking from dreams of you beside me and the things we do in the quiet hours of the morning are a sweet torture, and make me miss you all the more, and I find that I am counting down the days to your return, and do not plan to leave your side, or our bed or quarters for at least a day after your return. I know you will be thinking that I only want you for your body and you know that on a fundamental level that it is true, but the truth is I miss waking up with you in the mornings. Last night I read something particularly amusing in the book you gave me before you left and I can’t wait to share it with you, or to show you the new blooms in the garden, or to share my morning meal with you.I find that I miss sharing things about my day with you the most, and there is so much that has happened that you would find amusing but I’m afraid my limited ability with words fail at the prospect of ever fitting such stories into a letter.I eagerly await your return, but please stay safe my love, you know how I worry.Yours always- CVhenan, You know me too well my love and for someone who claims to be so poor with words, you never fail to take my breath away.I too have missed you dearly, just this morning I watched the most radiant of sunrises and wished that you were there to share it with me, just so I could have that moment of peace with you beside me, see how much it paled in comparison to your beautiful face. Most of the rifts here are closed and have stayed that way since our last expedition here. But next time I decide to leave you behind at Skyhold during an expedition call me the fool that I am. Proving Dorian and Leliana wrong is not worth my sanity, and is never sound logic, not when I wake from troubling dreams without you there to comfort me and soothe me back to sleep, and leaves me in a mood foul enough to rival one of yours when you and Varric are in the finest of form.Our work should be done here within the week if the weather and our luck holds.I look forward to seeing you soon, and am going to hold you to your words about a day not leaving our bed or quarters (though I admit, even just spending the day asleep in your arms sounds like a blessing after these past weeks) I miss you, and I love you vhenanYours always- E

💜 Give a random fact about their daily life together!They always tale breakfast and dinner together. There’s something special about starting their days in peace together, and ending it sharing a meal and the events of their days together. So they always try to have both together.  

[cassandra-pentughasst]

Last(ish) line meme

Tagged by @bohemiantea-scorpiocoffee and @dalish-ish ❤

“Cassandra… ma vhenan, ar lath ma.” Ellana murmurs softly, her breath warm across her neck.  There are those words again. Well, she thinks its them. The other ones are new and she’s not sure if she’s heard them before. Cassandra is curious as to what she’s been saying to her all these weeks.  But Ellana changes the subject before she gets the chance to ask. Again.

[cassandra-pentughasst]

Some asshole that no one asked: "Don't take this as criticism"

*goes into a depth about something no one asked for more information on*

"I hope you keep writing though lol"

Me: oh hey get fucked.

Y'all just making me not want to write at all though.