Finally working on stuff again! Chapter 11 of Direction is coming along. A Hawke/Varric Casino AU because I can. And the long-awaited (by no one but me) Dirty Dancing AU!

blake kathryn

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Janaina Medeiros
sheepfilms

oozey mess
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Sweet Seals For You, Always

Product Placement
Xuebing Du

izzy's playlists!
noise dept.

ellievsbear
occasionally subtle
Peter Solarz
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Discoholic 🪩
$LAYYYTER

JBB: An Artblog!
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@valkyrish
Finally working on stuff again! Chapter 11 of Direction is coming along. A Hawke/Varric Casino AU because I can. And the long-awaited (by no one but me) Dirty Dancing AU!
This Moment
Still can’t talk about Mystery of Chopper Base, and I'm not ready for the season finale, but I can manage a short fic. Kanera, 373 words, cut for spoilers.
Game Face
Things always get a little out of hand on Wicked Grace night, and treading the line between friendship and the unknown isn't even the wildest thing Hawke and Varric have ever done. Give it a year and they'll both look back on this night and laugh. Probably. (3,605 words)
Fandom: Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age: Inquisition Characters: Amanda Hawke (female mage), Varric Tethras, Isabela, Merrill, Fenris, Anders, Sebastian Pairing: f!Hawke x Varric
Once again, @itshawkebitch has graciously let me borrow Amanda Hawke only to have me stomp on her heart. Rated T for heavy drinking and a bit of language. Read on AO3.
Sitting this hand out was the right decision. Varric took a swig of ale and propped his foot on Hawke’s stool to watch the cards fall.
“Three Serpents.” Isabela laid her hand down and Fenris pounded the table so hard the cards jumped.
“You win again,” he growled.
“I like your energy.” Isabela raked the pile of coins toward her. “But I like your coin more.”
Hawke smirked and started to clap while Isabela stacked her coins, and Varric chuckled.
“Easy for you to laugh,” said Anders. “Neither of you lost any money.”
Hawke shrugged. “Funny how the game works that way.”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Fenris said, laying down a stack for the next hand. “Twenty silvers.”
“Ooh, confident.” Isabela shuffled the cards with expert hands. “I haven't even dealt yet.”
Fenris swirled the wine in his goblet and stared her down, but naturally, Isabela was unfazed.
Promise
So I watched “The Protector of Concord Dawn” and I wrote a little Kanera fic. Cut for spoilers, PGish rating, 356 words.
Plus One
A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. Going stag to a wedding can’t be that bad, right? (11,561 words)
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Modern AU) Characters: Cullen Rutherford, Leliana, Josephine Montilyet, Dorian Pavus, Iron Bull, Cassandra Pentaghast, f!Trevelyan, m!Trevelyan, and many more. Pairings: Cullen/f!Trevelyan, Dorian/Iron Bull, Cassandra/m!Trevelyan, background Josephine/Harding and Sera/Dagna
A wedding guest meet cute featuring Cullen Rutherford and @itshawkebitch‘s Cat Trevelyan. I can’t thank her enough for letting me borrow her Inquisitor’s whole family for my modern AU madness!
Mild teen rating for some alcohol use and kissing. Originally posted one chapter at a time, but here it is in a masterpost! You can also read it on AO3.
Chapter 1 - Cullen works too much. Chapter 2 - Josephine takes wedding planning seriously. Chapter 3 - Cullen’s suit doesn’t fit. Chapter 4 - Cat and Cullen meet face to face. Chapter 5 - Like it or not, Cullen’s the belle of the ball. Chapter 6 - Cat makes her toast, and Cullen makes his getaway. Chapter 7 - A heart to heart between Cat and Cullen. Chapter 8 - Varric’s surprise and a new beginning.
Gestures
Cassandra does her best not to think about the Herald while cutting down corpses and collecting herbs in the Fallow Mire, but Wilhelm is an endless source of distraction.
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Characters: Cassandra Pentaghast, Wilhelm Trevelyan, Varric Tethras, Dorian Pavus Pairing: m!Trevelyan/Cassandra
Sunshine Series: Part 2 | 1,524 words | AO3 link
Another piece of my Wilhelm/Cassandra series, which I never would have continued without ideas and encouragement from witchythief.
“Look out!”
With a slash, then a splash, the top half of a corpse landed in the murky water at the Herald’s feet. Its rotting legs crumpled to the mud. Cassandra sheathed her sword and Wilhelm flashed her a smile as he stood, freshly picked blood lotus in hand.
“Thank you, Cassandra.”
Cassandra nodded in his direction, avoiding his gaze. His defense had improved but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t teach him to stay focused.
“‘Of course we should go in the ominous, reeking cesspool,’ says the Herald. ‘Let’s have ourselves a nice swim in the freezing bog. Perhaps wash our hair.’” Dorian never kept his comments to himself, but this time, he had a point.
“No one said you had to go in, Sparkler.” Varric shouldered Bianca from the safety of the grass. “Though I’d have thought this would remind you of home. Demons, malicious spirits, walking corpses…”
“Yes, if I close my eyes, plug my nose, and pretend that this place sees the sun more than three days a year, it’s just like I’m back home,” said Dorian, wringing out the back of his robes.
Keep reading
Of course, now that I have Inquisition for the PC, I had to make it happen.
Plus One (Chapter 8)
A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. Going stag to a wedding can’t be that bad, right?
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Modern AU) Characters: Cat Trevelyan, Cullen Rutherford, Leliana, Josephine Montilyet, Cassandra Pentaghast, Gabe Trevelyan, Varric Tethras, and a surprise guest! Pairings: Cullen/f!Trevelyan, Cassandra/m!Trevelyan, implied mystery pairing (ooooh)
Plus One: Chapter 8 2,300 words | AO3 link
Varric's surprise is revealed, Cassandra and Gabriel make their escape, but where does that leave Cullen and Cat?
At some point, dancing had turned back into walking, hand in hand now. Cullen barely paid any attention to where they went, lost in conversation with Cat.
“So when I came to pick Gabe up after the race, he and Cassandra were so deep in conversation that I left and got lunch. When I came back, they were still talking in the middle of the park, so I took them to a coffee shop and made myself scarce.” Cat grinned at him. “They’ve been attached at the hip since then. Naturally, my parents think they orchestrated the whole relationship. Funny how they only jumped on board once they found out she was a Pentaghast.”
Her earlier comment about failing to secure a husband (twice) weighed on his mind, but he didn’t want to pry. “And how did you and Cassandra become friends?”
“She made a point of getting to know me,” Cat said, a little smile on her lips. “And she knows a thing or two about breaking free from family expectations, which is a topic near and dear to my heart.” She squeezed Cullen’s hand. “What about you? Did your parents always hope you’d be a templar-turned-charity-executive?”
Cullen thought back, but he couldn’t remember his parents being anything but supportive. “If they had other hopes for my career, they never mentioned them.”
Cat let out a dreamy sigh. “That sounds wonderful.”
Knowing that an understanding family was the stuff of dreams for her made his heart ache, and left him feeling more than a little guilty for losing touch with his siblings. She didn’t have anything to add, and he wasn’t ready to volunteer, so he returned to familiar territory.
“And how did you meet all of my coworkers?”
Her expression was flat, as if it were obvious. “Karaoke night.”
Catching All the Lights
A tale of friendship and romance, told through the dances that could have been and the dances that were.
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Characters: Wilhelm Trevelyan, Cassandra Pentaghast, Josephine Montilyet Pairing: m!Trevelyan/Cassandra
Sunshine Series: Part 6 | 2,622 words | AO3 link
A three-part story framed around dancing at the Winter Palace. In dances between friends and lovers, timing is everything. Josephine, Wil, and Cassandra got the timing right.
Preparations
Wil had only asked a simple question.
“You’re making me nervous gaping at me like that, Josephine.”
Josephine closed her mouth but kept staring. “Forgive me, Inquisitor. I assumed, given your family—your station in Ostwick, that you would be used to formal balls.”
“I was always too young to go. Then, I started preparing for life in the Chantry,” he said. “Though I’d wager that a ball in the Free Marches is nothing like an Orlesian fête.”
“You have me there.” She set down her papers and smiled up at him, tension leaving her shoulders. “Sometimes I forget that you had planned to join the Chantry.”
“Am I that blasphemous?” asked Wil. He intended it to be a joke, but Josephine’s eyes went wide.
“Oh no! Please don’t misunderstand. I only meant that it’s hard to imagine you locked in a library all day.”
“It did get lonely, sometimes. But I suppose we’ll never know how that would have turned out.” And Wil was surprised to find that he wasn’t sad about it. Of course, now that he had people to discuss books with, he had almost no time to read.
“An unintended consequence of the Breach, albeit a pleasant one.” Josephine stood and rounded her desk, her hair and blouse shining in the sunlight. “Now, what did you want to know?”
What was the most urgent question? Wil scratched his chin. “Do I get to wear a mask?”
Plus One (Chapter 7)
A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. Going stag to a wedding can’t be that bad, right?
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Modern AU) Characters: Just Cat and Cullen in this chapter Pairings: Cullen/f!Trevelyan (for real this time)
Plus One: Chapter 7 1,645 words | AO3 link
Cat finally gets Cullen all to herself, but it's all in good fun.
It was much easier to deal with stately noble types when they were depicted on canvas. I wonder how much the parties here have changed. The only difference Cullen noticed as he strolled through the dark hallways was that the people in the paintings wore elaborate masks.
He wandered into what must have been the library; the shelves were stacked with ancient books, giving the room a distinct aroma. Unable to resist, he dragged a finger across one of the substantial wooden tables, surprised to find no dust when he examined his finger.
“Awfully clean for a place no one lives, huh?”
Cullen almost jumped at the sudden noise. He whirled around to find Catherine Trevelyan standing between two bookshelves with her arms folded across her chest. That smirk was even cuter up close, and he took a step back. “Forgive me, I—”
Catherine held up a hand in front of him. “There’s no need to explain. I knew you’d come for me.”
Plus One (Chapter 6)
A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. Going stag to a wedding can’t be that bad, right?
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Modern AU) Characters: Cullen, Sera, Dorian, Iron Bull, Dagna, and so on... Pairings: Cullen/f!Trevelyan with Dorian/Iron Bull, Cassandra/m!Trevelyan, and Dagna/Sera
Plus One: Chapter 6 1,266 words | AO3 link
Cat has a captive audience for her toast, and Cullen finally makes his escape.
As it happened, "Sourpuss" was Catherine.
Fitting.
A droning toast from Edmund left Harding's eyes drooping. The occasional rude noise from Sera couldn't make the speech interesting, and even Vivienne's eyes had glazed over by the end. Polite applause started Varric awake, and Cullen stifled a yawn.
But when Catherine stood, Cullen straightened his spine and gave her his full attention. She could barely keep it together during the ceremony. How would she handle a room full of people? Her face gave nothing away, but Cullen's heart pounded a bit faster—sympathy nerves. He could give a presentation on disaster response efforts in his sleep, but standing in front of friends and family for a toast? Just thinking about it made his stomach turn.
As soon as Catherine had the microphone, her grimace eased into a regal smile. Cullen's breath caught in his throat.
Plus One (Chapter 5)
A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. Going stag to a wedding can’t be that bad, right?
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Modern AU) Characters: Cullen, Sera, Dorian, Iron Bull, Dagna, and so on... Pairings: Cullen/f!Trevelyan with Dorian/Iron Bull, Cassandra/m!Trevelyan, and Dagna/Sera
Plus One: Chapter 5 1,184 words | AO3 link
Cullen finds himself knee deep in unwanted attention at the reception.
The receiving line turned into a ferry line as guests were sailed over the Waking Lake to the old Winter Palace. It hadn’t been used a palace for almost a century, but it was restored and kept in its former condition, which might have been interesting were it not for the reception.
After half an hour, there were seven untouched drinks sitting in front of Cullen, only one of which he had ordered himself.
“From the young man at Table 33,” said a waiter, placing a martini glass in front of Cullen.
Eight drinks.
Ongoing Projects
Dragon Age
Prequels to the canoe!AU - should I post these? Scrap them? Rework them?
Post-Inquisition Garrett Hawke longfic - reworking for Trespasser, trying to get motivated.
Cat/Cullen modern!AU wedding guest meet cute - DONE!
Dragon Age 2 quasi-modern!AU starring Addie Hawke - I wrote an intro!
Dirty Dancing!AU
John Hughes movie!AU Wilsandra
Star Wars Rebels
Direction - seriously need to finish this one.
Dirty Dancing!AU
Persona
Interpersonal - seriously need to finish this one even more.
Plus One (Chapter 4)
A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. Going stag to a wedding can’t be that bad, right?
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Modern AU) Characters: Cullen, Cat, Dorian, Iron Bull, Cassandra, Gabe... Pairings: Cullen/f!Trevelyan with Dorian/Iron Bull, Cassandra/m!Trevelyan, and Josephine/Harding
Plus One: Chapter 4 1,181 words | AO3 link
In this chapter: Cat hands out flower petals and Cullen gets the stink eye.
Cullen probably should have felt guilty for watching Catherine through the entire wedding. When the Revered Mother mentioned Gabriel's loving parents, Catherine rolled her eyes and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. At one point, one of the other bridesmaids nudged her, smiling pointedly. Catherine answered by baring her teeth in a forced, malicious smile that almost made Cullen laugh out loud.
He wasn’t sure if she resented all the fanfare or if she was upset about the wedding itself. Maybe something else entirely. It certainly wasn’t the bride and groom, for she reserved her soft, beautiful smile for them. When they exchanged their vows, Catherine’s face was almost dreamy, exuding happiness and stirring Cullen’s chest in long forgotten ways. And when the couple kissed, she looked a little choked up, though she quickly covered it with a genuine grin.
With that, the ceremony was over, and Cassandra and Gabriel made their way back up the aisle. Cassandra was radiant—he really should have looked sooner—as she clutched her new husband’s hand, and Cullen hoped it was the storybook wedding of her dreams.
Plus One (Chapter 3)
A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. Going stag to a wedding can’t be that bad, right?
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition (Modern AU) Characters: Cullen, Iron Bull, Dorian, Lace Harding, and Cat Trevelyan herself! Pairings: Cullen/f!Trevelyan with Dorian/Iron Bull, Cassandra/m!Trevelyan, and Josephine/Harding
Plus One: Chapter 3 1,614 words | AO3 link
In this chapter: The awkward affair begins, but Cullen finds a way to make it more than tolerable.
Dorian was right—he really should have tried on his tuxedo before the day of the wedding.
Ceremonial templar robes had always been required for events in Kirkwall and at Kinloch Hold, and while he didn’t miss the heavy armor (or the skirts), he did miss the simplicity.
He couldn’t remember when or why he acquired the tuxedo (maybe some sort of college formal), only that his mother had purchased it for him.
Unfortunately, as Josephine had explained, Black Tie meant he couldn’t just wear a work suit. But so long as he didn’t have to breathe deeply or run, it would be good enough.
At least his hair looked good today. He even indulged in a few of his more expensive products (which he usually rationed) to give it that special touch. To show Cassandra I care about her big day, he told himself. It had nothing to do with what Mia said. And even if he were to meet someone nice, or cute, he’d have no idea what to say. Better to just—how did Leliana put it?—sit in the corner and “look pretty.”
Fanfiction Masterpost
Dragon Age 2
Tethered (T) Kirkwall is crumbling, his relationship is strained, Dog wants to lie on the bed, and even Champions get tired. M!Hawke/Anders pairing, set before The Last Straw. 1,956 words.
Fresh Air (T) Aveline finally worked up the courage to ask Donnic on a date, but not without volunteering Hawke to come along. Naturally, it snowballs into a group outing, with more canoodling than canoeing. A fluffy Dragon Age 2 modern AU also known as the canoe!AU. M!Hawke/Anders established with lots of others in the works. 13,720 words.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Noble Intentions | Through the Night (T) Hawke is determined to fix her mistakes on her own, but Fenris is determined to be by her side. A two-part study in sleep deprivation, set after Here Lies the Abyss. F!Hawke/Fenris pairing. 2,972 words.
Shelter (T) The last thing Hawke wanted was for Anders to follow her to Weisshaupt, but Varric chose the worst time to start telling the truth. More Inquisition-era Hawke, but F!Hawke/Anders this time. 2,587 words.
Lying in Wait (T) Just because Carver went along with Hawke and Aveline’s plan doesn’t mean he likes it, but Merrill breaks in with news that changes everything. An Inquisition-era tale of Carver/Merrill. 3,540 words.
Sunshine (PG-T) Wilhelm Trevelyan never learned how to take a hit, but luckily, he takes everything in stride. An ongoing series of snippets of the growing relationship between Wilhelm Trevelyan and Cassandra Pentaghast. 9,531 words.
The Long Haul (T) Once the dust settles, things make a little more sense. It’s Hawke. Of course it’s Hawke. But that doesn’t mean anything has to change. A Hawke/Varric piece written as a gift, takes place from the end of Inquisition beyond Trespasser. 4,673 words.
Game Face (T) Things always get a little out of hand on Wicked Grace night, and treading the line between friendship and the unknown isn't even the wildest thing Hawke and Varric have ever done. 3,605 words.
Plus One (T) A suspicious piece of mail turns out to be an invitation to Cassandra’s wedding, and Cullen has turned down one too many invitations to get out of it. A Trevelyan/Cullen modern AU written as a gift. 11,561 words so far.
Star Wars Rebels
Rough Patches (PG) Sometimes, admitting that you’re wrong is easier than admitting someone else is right. The highs are easy, but we are made or broken in the lows. In other words, Kanan and Hera are having a bad week. Takes place before Rebels. 2,274 words.
An Abundance of Caution (T) Hera’s almost certain that Kanan’s packing a lightsaber. Now, if only she could get him to show it to her… A bit of pre-Rebels humor. 1,800 words.
Consummate Faith (PG) Kanan is plagued with self-doubt after Ezra’s brush with the dark side, but he’s always found his peace with Hera. Kanera pairing, takes place after “Gathering Forces” but before “Path of the Jedi.” 1,148 words.
No Time for Romance (T) Kanan and Hera are partners, working in harmony towards a common goal. It’s more than enough, but that doesn’t make it easy for either of them. A three part exploration of the romantic possibilities between Kanan and Hera, pre-Rebels through Call to Action, barely off-canon. 2,477 words.
Promise (PG) Kanan remembers a promise he made to Hera. Takes place during ”The Protector of Concord Dawn.” 356 words.
This Moment (PG) This would not be the last time Hera held Kanan. Takes place during “The Secret of Chopper Base.” 373 words.
Not a Total Loss (T) Kanan is going nowhere until he crashes into his destiny. Then again, maybe it’s just a fender bender. A modern AU meet-cute for Kanan and Hera. 5,312 words.
Direction (T+, only on AO3) Hera has direction and Kanan’s a distraction. When their paths cross at a party, it’s not love at first site, but it is a break from reality. An ongoing Kanera modern/college AU with some cameos. 25,210 words so far.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Interpersonal (T) Labyrs and Sho find themselves drawn to each other as they explore the finer points of human communication. An ongoing series of Shobrys stories that I swear I will finish eventually. 8,505 words so far.
All but the shortest of these can also be read on AO3, where I also go by valkyrish.
Interpersonal
Labyrs and Sho find themselves drawn to each other as they explore the finer points of human communication.
Fandom: Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Characters: Labrys, Sho Minazuki, Aigis, Margaret Pairing: Shobrys
An ongoing series of Shobrys stories that I swear I will finish eventually. Originally posted one chapter at a time @rockihiko-sanada, also available on AO3. Rated T for language. 8,505 words so far.
Chapter 1: Something Akin to Affection Chapter 2: Modern Communication Chapter 3: Disarm Chapter 4: Sisterly Bond Chapter 5: Infinite Possibilities Chapter 6: Answers and Distractions
Series: No Time for Romance
Kanan and Hera are partners, working in harmony towards a common goal. It's more than enough, but that doesn't make it easy for either of them.
Fandom: Star Wars Rebels Characters: Kanan Jarrus, Hera Syndulla Pairings: Kanera
Exploring the romantic possibilities between Kanan and Hera from before Rebels through Call to Action, slightly AU. Rated T for suggested sexual situations.
Already posted separately on my personal blog rockihiko-sanada (huge thanks to anyone who read it) and on AO3, but here they are together.
Part 1: A Meditation on Strength Life is good, but Kanan and Hera are both holding back. When they break, they have each other. 823 words.
Part 2: Pulse Losing Kanan shattered the balance on the Ghost, and getting him back did not instantly restore it. Hera and Kanan manage to find a moment of peace in between. 546 words.
Part 3: Fleeting Domesticity Nothing and everything has changed. War rages on, but life does not stop, and Kanan and Hera have learned to appreciate what little time they have. 1,108 words.