The Cackling Crow

Indi Zevran DA rp blog. Est. June 2017.  Art backing by moralbirthright  writer is 21+ ENFP he/him.  No minors allowed. NSFW and mature themes within. Discretion is advised.

[dryadalismagicae]

@thecacklingcrow asked: There you are~)

For but a moment, mayhap a few heartbeats more, Lyrian can find no words to speak nor form any variety of thought within his consciousness. He hadn't set eye on the other in... well, frankly it had been a damn long time. His sudden disappearance had been concerning, even in the beginning but it only grew more so the longer it had gone on.

Lyrian had been petrified to leave their camp in case he returned, but eventually... he had no choice but to leave with pressing threats lingering too close for comfort. He had often wondered just what had happened...where the other had gone to, why--- but he had resigned himself to never knowing.

"Zevran." He finally manages, voice erring somewhat on the side of surprised and breathless. "You---" He's happy, he's angry, he's uncertain and confused all in one volatile mix and, frankly, Lyrian doesn't quite know where to start. With his anger, perhaps? With his upset? With his relief?

"I thought you had been killed somewhere-!" Though he attempted to show anger first, his sheer upset and emotional turmoil was clear in his pale expression. His heart clenched, his stomach twisted, and he found that he could do naught more for a moment other than sit himself down and breathe.

[thecacklingcrow]

"An attempt was made, yes. Thankfully I am incredibly lucky." Sweet Andraste, how long had it been? Years, truthfully. Things had spiraled out of his control faster than he could blink in a whirlwind of events as the Crows had all but gone to war in Antiva with one another. He sits beside Lyrian ,cape tossed easily behind him and his hand offered, palm up upon his own knee. Honey gold eyes look to Lyian and he gives the other a soft smile. "There is much to tell, if you would hear it?"

[weltenwellen]

Mary Oliver, from “Hum Hum”, A Thousand Mornings

[loafed-beans-deactivated2020082]

I know many of you out there are feeling a bit down. Have a crow to Wouldn’t it be Nice by the Beach Boys to lift your mood.

[thedoctorknits]

He stops and looks both ways?!?

[bettsplendens]

You wanna know what makes this better?

Crows normally walk. This one seems to have both legs working, so he’s not hopping out of necessity, he’s doing it for fun. Corvids can sometimes be seen doing things like this for no evident reason other than enjoyment.

[jcgreen72]

This is my new favorite post

[dovewithscales]

I can’t ever not reblog.

[sunflower-cathedral]

Have some happy crow vibes

[thecacklingcrow]

ooc~

It seems like many have moved on to greener pastures when it comes to dragon age rp. )

[thecacklingcrow]

ooc. oops

Ha. found my password. 

[thecacklingcrow]

Trying to muster muse and it’s not going well.

I’ve been having a lot of trouble mustering muse for this blog. I think....that one spell where I came back and about 70 mutuals hadn’t been active in about a year was....kind of a blow. I went from 70 people to maybe 12.  As much as I want to tell myself it wasn’t Carona, I prefer the ugly truth to a pretty lie. It probably was. And every time I come back here to write, I think about it. I’m not sure how to get past this wall. I hate not being able to say goodbye. 

[trueshot-deactivated20221124]

thecacklingcrow​:

“The memory is always worse than the nightmare my friend.” Zevran chuckled knowingly and took up the Warden’s pack and hefted it over his shoulder as he stepped back into the room to leave the pack by the fireplace. The inn He’d found was mostly stone walls and floors, made cozy with a fireplace, rugs and wood furniture.  The elf’s dinner is still untouched on the darkwood table. A cut of roast and some greens the Antivan didn’t know the name of. “I haven’t touched dinner, you can have it if you like. Did you find everything you hoped to in the Deep Roads?”

“I found something I would never hope for.” How else could one describe a broodmother, after all? How could he describe what happened to those poor women, who’d trusted the head of their house, only to be betrayed, and given over to something worse than death?

Tanassan frowned to himself, and shook his head with a sigh. “But I still found what I needed to, I suppose. Not that luck has ever been on our side, but Orzammar will have its new king, and then in theory be able to uphold their end of the treaty.” Creators knew they needed the help. Not just in numbers, though soldiers were always needed. But no one knew darkspawn like dwarves. They had numerous ingenious devices and strategies for dealing with them.

Slowly, the taller elf made his way over to the table, his steps slow, but graceful. Almost imperceptibly (and certainly it would be to someone less observant than Zevran), his fingers reached out to find the edge of the furniture, guiding him to a chair. To an outsider, it would be easy to miss what the Dalish lacked.

“What sorts of trouble have you and the others been getting yourselves into while we’ve been gone?”

[thecacklingcrow]

“I’ve actually stayed out of trouble. The ale here is....well enough, but alas, it’s not Antivan red wine. I finished the one book in the room while you were gone. The author can’t write sex to save their life, but the murder mystery was delightful.”

 Zevran did notice just how worn the other man was. One copper finger nudged the plate a little closer. He wondered if the Warden was lacking some form of sight now, or just weary. He’d have to watch a little longer before he was certain of anything.

 The elf himself hardly looked kept up. He had yet to change out of his loose linen sleeping shirt and cozy leggings. He hadn’t even bothered to tie his hair. It had been a stay-in bed and read sort of day.  “I’m not the biggest fan of closed-in spaces, so it was easier to stay in and read. I couldn’t tell you what the others have been up to but I’m sure Wyne has probably been enjoying ale.” Bare feet made little to no sound as Zevran moved to sit in the opposite chair to the Warden, one foot tucked up on the seat and an arm resting on his bent knee. “Did you need to talk about it? Or is it something you’d rather forget?”

[wolfrider-ruavi]

Do me a favor. Reblog this if you welcome the use of ask memes as icebreakers between characters that have never, or rarely, interacted before.

[trueshot-deactivated20221124]

@thecacklingcrow​​:  ❛ No offense my friend, but you look terrible. ❜ Zevran was chuckling lightly behind a gently curled knuckle. He couldn’t help it. ||  Platonic Prompts

Tanassan gave Zevran a ‘look’ as he let his pack drop to the floor with a heaving sigh. He didn’t just look terrible, he felt terrible. Exhausted, half starved, body aching, and covered in dust, grime, ichor, and darkspawn blood. He looked as if he’d been run over by several carriages.

“I’d watch it, if I were you, Zevran. Or next time, I’ll take you to the Deep Roads, and let another stay in an inn for a week and a half instead.” He was sure that Alistair or Morrigan would be delighted to remain in Orzammar, as Zevran had this time, instead of trudging down into the depths of the earth, fighting darkspawn and all other manner of monstrous creature.

“You’re lucky we came back at all. That was a nightmare. Even worse than the actual nightmares.”

[thecacklingcrow]

“The memory is always worse than the nightmare my friend.” Zevran chuckled knowingly and took up the Warden’s pack and hefted it over his shoulder as he stepped back into the room to leave the pack by the fireplace. The inn He’d found was mostly stone walls and floors, made cozy with a fireplace, rugs and wood furniture.  The elf’s dinner is still untouched on the darkwood table. A cut of roast and some greens the Antivan didn’t know the came of. “I haven’t touched dinner, you can have it if you like. Did you find everything you hoped to in the Deep Roads?”

[thecacklingcrow]

Apologies <3

The holidays and FFXIV Endwalker have stopped eating all of my time. I will try to be around more often.

[santo-sussurratore]

thecacklingcrow​:

“A storm blazed in and covered the path and I wandered. I’m far more familiar with the lowlands and Antiva. It was take shelter somewhere strange or continue wandering with wet feet and getting frostbite. So here I am. I used to have a friend, Alistair. He was very good at Navigating the Ferelden winters. I’ve been looking for him, no such luck so far.” As his feet dried Zevran let the blanket slip away from his frame, body slowly warming and the feeling returning to his fingers. “something is calling you say? A longing perhaps?”

He listens with a curious tilt, seeming thankful for the elf’s fortune in finding shelter. However, the warm smile fades somewhat as he considers the accuracy of the word ‘longing’. And Ianthe eventually nods, concluding its sufficiency. “That is one word for it, yes. Though I am uncertain if it is my own or that of the source.” He pauses. 

“Would you like help, or company, during your search? I am in no rush.”

[thecacklingcrow]

“The company could not hurt. Once the Strom has passed we can find our way down the mountain and back to the valley. Last I heard Alistair was still king, if a little grumpier than usual.”  Zevran let the blanket fall away from his frame as he had finally warmed up. He rolled up the sleeves of his Tunic and readjusted to sit cross legged, far more at ease now that he was warmed. “Well, if you were meant to find your goal in your wanderings, you will. so when did this mysterious longing of yours start? Was it recent?”

[santo-sussurratore]

thecacklingcrow​:

“Well, in all fairness Ferelden winters are entirely unfair travel companions. I’m also fairly lost. Though I must say, you make being lost far more bearable with such amicable company! What has you so far into the mountains might I ask?” Zev scoots the blanket higher up his frame to hood his head and ears, toes peeking free of the blanket and boots lain out by the fire to dry out.

“Thank you, friend. The feeling is quite mutual.” There is a moment of quiet as he considers his answer, not entirely certain of what he may find in the frozen peaks. “I cannot say I know myself…” Ianthe sighs as he rests his hands over delicately crossed ankles. Voice airy as he continues. “…But I hope to find what is calling me.” He looks to the elf then, warm and welcoming in expression. “What caused you to lose your way?”

[thecacklingcrow]

“A storm blazed in and covered the path and I wandered. I’m far more familiar with the lowlands and Antiva. It was take shelter somewhere strange or continue wandering with wet feet and getting frostbite. So here I am. I used to have a friend, Alistair. He was very good at Navigating the Ferelden winters. I’ve been looking for him, no such luck so far.” As his feet dried Zevran let the blanket slip away from his frame, body slowly warming and the feeling returning to his fingers. “something is calling you say? A longing perhaps?”

[santo-sussurratore]

@thecacklingcrow​

Zevran had the pressed wool blanket wrapped around himself, scooted right next to the fire for warmth. “I had hoped to be somewhat acclimated to a snowy winter by now. Alas. More trees shall suffer. At least the company is good this evening, no?”

A smile graces Ianthe’s features, chuckling softly at the elf’s statement. “Indeed, you are a charming fellow.” He settles beside the other amicably, albeit a little further from the flames. Long accustomed to the bite of winter’s worst. “Though I did not expect to meet someone so high up in the mountains.”

[thecacklingcrow]

“Well, in all fairness Ferelden winters are entirely unfair travel companions. I’m also fairly lost. Though I must say, you make being lost far more bearable with such amicable company! What has you so far into the mountains might I ask?” Zev scoots the blanket higher up his frame to hood his head and ears, toes peeking free of the blanket and boots lain out by the fire to dry out.

[thecacklingcrow]

❝ i just added firewood into the fireplace. ❞

Zevran had the pressed wool blanket wrapped around himself, scooted right next to the fire for warmth. "I had hoped to be somewhat acclimated to a snowy winter by now. Alas. More trees shall suffer. At least the company is good this evening, no?"

[stelacole]

WINTER STARTERS/PROMPTS

➊ ❝ did you just threw a snowball at me ﹖ ❞ ➋ ❝ skiing with you is actually fun﹗ ❞ ➌ ❝ this cabin was a bad idea. ❞ ➍ ❝ i’m stuck in a DAMN snowstorm with you﹗ ❞ ➎ ❝ damn it’s cold in here. ❞ ➏ ❝ did you turn the heat on﹖ ❞ ➐ ❝ let’s go iceskating﹗ ❞ ➑ ❝ i hope you brought hot chocolate﹗ ❞ ➒ ❝ i just added firewood into the fireplace. ❞ ➓ ❝ it’s FREAKING cold. how are you not freezing ﹖ ❞

[stardustprompts]

dark rise  -  c.s pacat  sentence starters change tenses/pronouns as needed !!  some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying  tw :   death ,  murder

‘kill me. (name), please. if you ever felt anything for me.’

‘you’ve never really lived at all.’

‘you think I felt something for you? you’ve forgotten who I am.’

‘you shouldn’t have come back here.’

‘none of us are safe. but I think you know that better than any of us. don’t you?’

‘not all that is written has passed, and not all that has passed is written.’

‘everyone who had ever helped me is dead. I didn’t want that to happen to you.’

‘I couldn’t run from what was part of me. neither can you.’

‘no one knows what you are except you.’

‘it feels familiar to you, doesn’t it? as if you’ve been here before.’

‘you may come to wish you had never sought the truth.’

‘dark times lie ahead. but even in the darkest night, there is a star.’

‘kindness is never a mistake. somewhere in the heart it is always remembered.’

‘outside, the world sleeps like an innocent who is not afraid of the dark. but in here we remember. what has come before will come again.’

‘you’re not ready. but which of us is ready for what life asks us to face?’

‘we don’t choose the moment. the moment comes whether we will it or no, and we must make ourselves ready.’

‘i’m just walking. or isn’t that allowed?’

‘whatever you’re hiding, i’m going to find it out.’

‘even those that think themselves powerless can fight with small acts. kindness. compassion.’

‘when the past is forgotten, then it can return. only those who remember have the chance to stave it off.’

‘the dark is never truly gone; it only waits for the world to forget, so that it may rise again.’

‘will you fight with strength, or compassion? will you kill, or show mercy?’

‘I will watch for you, and you for me, and we will fight the darkness for each other.’

‘there’s something you’re not telling me.’

‘time is short. enjoy these moments of high spirits while you can.’

‘you have a habit of being in places that you don’t belong.’

‘we didn’t have much, but we had each other. we were family.’

‘would you go back to that? to not knowing?’

‘better a lion than a lamb to the slaughter.’

‘you’ve been kind. kinder than I thought. you shouldn’t be part of this.’

‘it’s all right. you’re safe. you’re home.’

‘I thought you’d died. I kept replaying the attack, trying to imagine a way that you’d survived.’

‘the only good thing you ever did was leave. but you were too selfish to stay away.’

‘you’ve got a head full of intrigue. you think there’s a spy behind every curtain and a dagger in every sleeve.’

‘they think that I’ve got bad blood. that I’m destined to serve the dark.’

‘I don’t care what they say. you’re good and you’re true. whatever happens, I won’t let them hurt you.’

‘if you’re lying, I suppose you’ll kill me. but for even the smallest chance that you’re telling the truth, I’ll take that risk.’

‘it has to be me. you know that.’

‘I think he wants you because you were the jewel in another man’s crown.’

‘I think what people were is less important than what they are. and what people are is less important than what they could be.’

‘you’re not what I expected.’

‘fathers hold a lot of sway over their sons.’

‘no one else has ever asked me that.’

‘we pay a terrible price. we do it because we must. it’s the only way we can fight.’

‘you show me the kind of compassion that I did not show to you.’

‘(name) was never afraid to die. it’s the half life he feared.’

‘I came for you. maybe at first I thought—- but the moment I saw you, it was like nothing else mattered.’

‘you can’t stay here. if (name) learns what happened—- if he thinks you’re connected to me—-’

‘at the first sign that something is wrong, run. don’t stay as the warnings pile up, telling yourself that (name) is a good man.’

‘let me go. I have to—- have to help them. let me go—-‘

‘listen to me. listen. we don’t know who did this. they might still be here. we’re in danger.’

‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.’

‘I told you that there was more than one way to fight. I hope you remember that, when you make your choice. I hope you remember me.’

‘I wish I could give you comfort … instead I must ask one more thing of you.’

‘you didn’t do this. you don’t carry the blame.’

‘you’re not alone.’

‘this is not our darkest hour. that is still yet to come.’

‘they’re not like that. you twist everything.’

‘you’re like me. we’re the same. you’re more like me than you’re like them. it’s in your blood.’

‘you’ll betray every person you love to serve him.’

‘you were there. did you hear them die? did you watch?’

‘he’s been in love with me since we were eleven. don’t tell me you didn’t know that.’

‘well he’s dead. they’re all dead. because of you.’

‘I keep my promises. i’m loyal to my friends. I told you.’

‘that’s how his objects work. you think you’re using it, when it’s the one using you.’

‘I couldn’t do this without you.’

‘my mother spent her whole life running.’

‘i’m sorry. if it weren’t for me, you’d still have that life.’

‘I wouldn’t want it. not knowing that it wasn’t real.’

‘you’re lying. you’re lying to me. you’re lying to everyone.’

‘you might have fooled the others. you haven’t fooled me.’

‘I know you do it all the time but I’d never killed anyone before.’

‘I was tired of running.’

‘you know, we’re similar, you and I.’

‘magic is our inheritance, yet it has been taken from us.’

‘you think that it’s yours. that it’s owed to you.’

‘my god, what is this? some pitiful boy’s revenge?’

‘I won’t leave you here.’

‘i’m the only one who can buy you the time that you need.’

‘so you know who you are.’

‘I should have killed you.’

‘i’d know you anywhere. after ten thousand years, i’d know you.’

‘he would have hurt you. he would have hurt the people I care about.’

‘it’s not here for me. it’s here for you.’

‘it was never me, (name).’

‘you shouldn’t have come here.’

‘I don’t think you’ll hurt me.’

‘I didn’t think you’d stop (name). I didn’t think anyone would.’

‘(name) is dead.’

‘believing he still controlled me would have given him pleasure.’

‘my whole life, all anyone’s ever wanted was to possess me. the only one who ever set me free was you.’

‘I lived a half life. it’s like this world was a blur. no one else was in focus. until you.’

‘I didn’t think you’d save me.’

‘I never thought I’d be free to choose my future. but I am.’

‘I don’t want to follow them. i’m here to follow you.’

[stelacole]

FLUFFY STARTERS

﹡ ❝ i like this. cuddling with you.   ❞ ﹡ ❝ can you hug me﹖ ❞ ﹡ ❝ can i draw some letters on your back ﹖  ❞ ﹡ ❝ you are so soft. like a pillow.   ❞ ﹡ ❝ hey cutie. i missed you﹗  ❞ ﹡ ❝ can you hold my hand ﹖ ❞ ﹡ ❝ your lips are so warm.   ❞ ﹡ ❝ i care about you so much﹗  ❞ ﹡ ❝ hold me close please ﹖  ❞ ﹡ ❝ you are so warm.   ❞ ﹡ ❝ i love being here with you﹗ ❞ ﹡ ❝ i’m so glad i met you﹗ ❞ ﹡ ❝ you are all i have ever wanted.   ❞ ﹡ ❝ i really am so glad you are here.   ❞ ﹡ ❝ you need a hug ﹖ ❞