The Lone Blade in a House of Mages

Oh @stark-illerbase, let me take you on a journey…

Anders and Carver don’t like each other in Act 1 of Dragon Age II. That’s putting it mildly. Carver is a young man probably suffering from PTSD, grieving over his twin sister and struggling with the new life his brother and mother are pursuing. He strongly identifies as a Fereldan, hence the tattoo he got at Ostagar being a mabari, and he sees his mother trying to recapture the Amell name and legacy as almost a rejection of the Hawke lifestyle back in Lothering. As to the PTSD, not only did he see his beloved Twin sister get crushed by an Ogre right in front of his eyes, he was also at the Battle of Ostagar. He had to be dragged away from the battle by his fellow soldiers and told to run for it, or else he would have stayed, and fought and died right there, so determined was he to protect his country and family.

“ Said he wanted to protect his family. That someone had to, because his father had died and, well you know how the Champion turned out. Carver took it real serious…” (World of Thedas Vol 2)

Along with a love of using a sword, this was Carver’s motivation for signing up with the army, the Blight was threatening his home, and his family, and he saw it as his duty to protect them.

“The more ground we lost, the harder he swung that plank of a sword of his. He was shouting that we had to win, that it was to keep our homes safe. I swear he was crying when we finally tackled him, but damned if I’ll hold that against him. It took three of us to drag him to cover. I had to slap him back to his senses, to make him see that killing five, or ten, more ‘spawn wouldn’t matter. The wall was on us, and dying there wasn’t going to help anyone. I said if he wanted to do his family good, he’d get them safe. “  (World of Thedas Vol 2)

So he’s a bit of a prickleberry.

And then in comes Anders. Instantly he’s hyper focused on Carver’s brother, because Carver’s brother is a Mage. And Maker have mercy Carver has been hearing about the Mage plight for years. His whole bloody life actually. 

He acutely understands the realities of living with an Apostate mage family, from the perspective of someone inside the family unit who doesn’t have magic himself. He couldn’t be too good at anything, or excel, because it drew attention. He wasn’t a Mage himself, but he too lived as an Apostate, in fear of drawing the Templars gaze.

And then Anders says, 

Anders: I’m sorry about your sister. She sounds like a special girl. 

Carver: Why? Because she was a mage? 

Anders:  (If Hawke is male) Your brother says she had a good heart. Being on the run never made her bitter. (If Hawke is female) Your other sister says she was a good person. That she never turned down a chance to help people. 

Carver: Yes, yes. I’m sure the Chantry’s got a shrine with her portrait on it. 

Anders: I was trying to be nice. 

Carver: Stick to surly. It works for you

And then this one

Anders: You don’t like me, Carver? 

Carver: I don’t like you. 

Anders: That’s unfortunate. Hating someone just because they’re a mage is a shameful thing. 

Carver: I don’t hate you because you’re a mage. I hate you because you won’t shut up about it. 

Carver: Oppression this, templars that. I’d heard enough long before you. 

Anders: Maybe it’s time you put some thought into it.

To Anders, Carver looks like the sullen, angry, bitter brother of two Mages, resentful of their powers or perhaps, even, hating them because of them.

This isn’t the case. Carver bitches and moans about his siblings, but most of his gripes are familiar to anyone who has an older or over achieving sibling.

When there is a legitimate threat, Carver immediately steps between Hawke and danger. When Fenris snarls about Mages, Carver, unprompted, says.

Carver: You have a problem with my brother/sister, you have a problem with me.

It’s instantly protective, and it’s far from the only incident in the game. He continually worries whenever Hawke talks to Templars, or stirs up Mage trouble, not because he hates Mages but because he’s worried for Hawke.

Anders however can no longer seem to see greys, it’s all black and white for him. Either you’re for Mages and then you want wholescale freedom and down the Templar order, or you’re a Mage hater, and as good as a Templar.

Carver’s stance on Magic is actually one of the most subtle and nuanced in the game, if not the whole series. He understands the dangers on a level most people, who haven’t lived with unfettered magic, can’t understand. But he also understands the joys and love of those with magic, and doesn’t believe locking them up in the Circle to be the right thing, despite his potential choice to be a Templar.

So Carver and Anders…

Enemies to Lovers

The fit this trope beautifully. Even in Act 1 with surly Carver and judgy Anders. But throw in Carver either being a Templar, the thing Anders hates most in the world, or him being a Grey Warden, the organisation Anders rejected. Oh the potential for angry arguments and heated kisses.

They are not so ideologically opposed that I think they couldn’t understand each other I think, and I think if they actually hashed it out together they’d actually find a lot of common ground. It’s just whether they could get there without the prickles throwing them off course is the question…and no Carver isn’t the only prickly one.

Templar Carver

Carver joins the Templar order for two reasons.

1. His brother/sister hasn’t returned from the Deep Roads with the rest of the expedition. Bartrand has likely told him they’re all dead. That leaves him and his mother alone in the world, and Carver can’t get work. The Guards won’t have him because Aveline told them not to, and the other options are mercenary jobs or the Templars. He no longer has any mage siblings to worry about being caught, and he doesn’t have to disclose that he had Mages in his family if he doesn’t want to.

2. His namesake was a Templar. I think giving him his piece of his identity makes Carver interested in the order in a  different way. Up until then they’ve kind of been the boogeymen of the Hawke children’s lives. ‘Be good or a Templar will get you’. But his father named him after a Templar, ‘skill thoughtfully applied’. There was some value to that path. And you can’t tell me that Carver wasn’t, in many ways, his family’s personal Templar. If Bethany or Hawke had fallen…would another Mage have been able to stand against them? They would have needed a swordsman. Carver.

Anders thinks Carver has joined the Templars out of spite, or hatred. But there is a wonderful array of fiction you can have with Anders and the Order and the fact they are continually trying to hunt Anders down. Carver wouldn’t stand for it, if one of his brothers companions was threatened, and he certainly wouldn’t want him to be hurt, killed or made Tranquil, which would have been his fate should Meredith have gotten her hands on him.

Grey Warden Carver

As for the Grey!Warden path, Carver thrives as a Warden, he blossoms under that structure and purpose where Anders did not. But they have the connection of Anders having been the one to beg Stroud to take him, to put him through the Joining.

We also know that Carver knows Nathaniel, who was friends with Anders during Awakening. This likely means he knows a number of the Ferelden Wardens, and you can’t tell me they wouldn’t be curious about Anders.

Alternate Universes ideas I have toyed with writing

Tevinter - Mage Healer who refuses to use Blood Magic and the son of a powerful Mage house who doesn’t have magic himself.

Special Agents AU - Agent Hawke and Anders have a turbulent relationship because the boy always comes back hurt.

Coffee Shop AU - Anders is an overworked and exhausted Doctor. Carver is his caffeine supplier.

Werewolf AU - Alpha Carver learns that being dominant doesn’t always mean barking orders, and Omega Anders learns that brooding wolves are definitely better lovers.

Mirror Universe - What it says on the box…darkfic.

Angel AU - Carver is Anders’ guardian Angel, and he grumbles about it a lot. He also keeps losing his feathers everytime he swears, and it makes Anders laugh at him.

and many many more.

To close out this rambling dissertation on the beauty that is Canders (praise be)

Enjoy this lovely fanart drawn by the talented @frikadeller in a commission for @autumnyte-old​

Oh @stark-illerbase, let me take you on a journey…

Anders and Carver don’t like each other in Act 1 of Dragon Age II. That’s putting it mildly. Carver is a young man probably suffering from PTSD, grieving over his twin sister and struggling with the new life his brother and mother are pursuing. He strongly identifies as a Fereldan, hence the tattoo he got at Ostagar being a mabari, and he sees his mother trying to recapture the Amell name and legacy as almost a rejection of the Hawke lifestyle back in Lothering. As to the PTSD, not only did he see his beloved Twin sister get crushed by an Ogre right in front of his eyes, he was also at the Battle of Ostagar. He had to be dragged away from the battle by his fellow soldiers and told to run for it, or else he would have stayed, and fought and died right there, so determined was he to protect his country and family.

“ Said he wanted to protect his family. That someone had to, because his father had died and, well you know how the Champion turned out. Carver took it real serious…” (World of Thedas Vol 2)

Along with a love of using a sword, this was Carver’s motivation for signing up with the army, the Blight was threatening his home, and his family, and he saw it as his duty to protect them.

“The more ground we lost, the harder he swung that plank of a sword of his. He was shouting that we had to win, that it was to keep our homes safe. I swear he was crying when we finally tackled him, but damned if I’ll hold that against him. It took three of us to drag him to cover. I had to slap him back to his senses, to make him see that killing five, or ten, more ‘spawn wouldn’t matter. The wall was on us, and dying there wasn’t going to help anyone. I said if he wanted to do his family good, he’d get them safe. “  (World of Thedas Vol 2)

So he’s a bit of a prickleberry.

And then in comes Anders. Instantly he’s hyper focused on Carver’s brother, because Carver’s brother is a Mage. And Maker have mercy Carver has been hearing about the Mage plight for years. His whole bloody life actually. 

He acutely understands the realities of living with an Apostate mage family, from the perspective of someone inside the family unit who doesn’t have magic himself. He couldn’t be too good at anything, or excel, because it drew attention. He wasn’t a Mage himself, but he too lived as an Apostate, in fear of drawing the Templars gaze.

And then Anders says, 

Anders: I’m sorry about your sister. She sounds like a special girl. 

Carver: Why? Because she was a mage? 

Anders:  (If Hawke is male) Your brother says she had a good heart. Being on the run never made her bitter. (If Hawke is female) Your other sister says she was a good person. That she never turned down a chance to help people. 

Carver: Yes, yes. I’m sure the Chantry’s got a shrine with her portrait on it. 

Anders: I was trying to be nice. 

Carver: Stick to surly. It works for you

And then this one

Anders: You don’t like me, Carver? 

Carver: I don’t like you. 

Anders: That’s unfortunate. Hating someone just because they’re a mage is a shameful thing. 

Carver: I don’t hate you because you’re a mage. I hate you because you won’t shut up about it. 

Carver: Oppression this, templars that. I’d heard enough long before you. 

Anders: Maybe it’s time you put some thought into it.

To Anders, Carver looks like the sullen, angry, bitter brother of two Mages, resentful of their powers or perhaps, even, hating them because of them.

This isn’t the case. Carver bitches and moans about his siblings, but most of his gripes are familiar to anyone who has an older or over achieving sibling.

When there is a legitimate threat, Carver immediately steps between Hawke and danger. When Fenris snarls about Mages, Carver, unprompted, says.

Carver: You have a problem with my brother/sister, you have a problem with me.

It’s instantly protective, and it’s far from the only incident in the game. He continually worries whenever Hawke talks to Templars, or stirs up Mage trouble, not because he hates Mages but because he’s worried for Hawke.

Anders however can no longer seem to see greys, it’s all black and white for him. Either you’re for Mages and then you want wholescale freedom and down the Templar order, or you’re a Mage hater, and as good as a Templar.

Carver’s stance on Magic is actually one of the most subtle and nuanced in the game, if not the whole series. He understands the dangers on a level most people, who haven’t lived with unfettered magic, can’t understand. But he also understands the joys and love of those with magic, and doesn’t believe locking them up in the Circle to be the right thing, despite his potential choice to be a Templar.

So Carver and Anders…

Enemies to Lovers

The fit this trope beautifully. Even in Act 1 with surly Carver and judgy Anders. But throw in Carver either being a Templar, the thing Anders hates most in the world, or him being a Grey Warden, the organisation Anders rejected. Oh the potential for angry arguments and heated kisses.

They are not so ideologically opposed that I think they couldn’t understand each other I think, and I think if they actually hashed it out together they’d actually find a lot of common ground. It’s just whether they could get there without the prickles throwing them off course is the question…and no Carver isn’t the only prickly one.

Templar Carver

Carver joins the Templar order for two reasons.

1. His brother/sister hasn’t returned from the Deep Roads with the rest of the expedition. Bartrand has likely told him they’re all dead. That leaves him and his mother alone in the world, and Carver can’t get work. The Guards won’t have him because Aveline told them not to, and the other options are mercenary jobs or the Templars. He no longer has any mage siblings to worry about being caught, and he doesn’t have to disclose that he had Mages in his family if he doesn’t want to.

2. His namesake was a Templar. I think giving him his piece of his identity makes Carver interested in the order in a  different way. Up until then they’ve kind of been the boogeymen of the Hawke children’s lives. ‘Be good or a Templar will get you’. But his father named him after a Templar, ‘skill thoughtfully applied’. There was some value to that path. And you can’t tell me that Carver wasn’t, in many ways, his family’s personal Templar. If Bethany or Hawke had fallen…would another Mage have been able to stand against them? They would have needed a swordsman. Carver.

Anders thinks Carver has joined the Templars out of spite, or hatred. But there is a wonderful array of fiction you can have with Anders and the Order and the fact they are continually trying to hunt Anders down. Carver wouldn’t stand for it, if one of his brothers companions was threatened, and he certainly wouldn’t want him to be hurt, killed or made Tranquil, which would have been his fate should Meredith have gotten her hands on him.

Grey Warden Carver

As for the Grey!Warden path, Carver thrives as a Warden, he blossoms under that structure and purpose where Anders did not. But they have the connection of Anders having been the one to beg Stroud to take him, to put him through the Joining.

We also know that Carver knows Nathaniel, who was friends with Anders during Awakening. This likely means he knows a number of the Ferelden Wardens, and you can’t tell me they wouldn’t be curious about Anders.

Alternate Universes ideas I have toyed with writing

Tevinter - Mage Healer who refuses to use Blood Magic and the son of a powerful Mage house who doesn’t have magic himself.

Special Agents AU - Agent Hawke and Anders have a turbulent relationship because the boy always comes back hurt.

Coffee Shop AU - Anders is an overworked and exhausted Doctor. Carver is his caffeine supplier.

Werewolf AU - Alpha Carver learns that being dominant doesn’t always mean barking orders, and Omega Anders learns that brooding wolves are definitely better lovers.

Mirror Universe - What it says on the box…darkfic.

Angel AU - Carver is Anders’ guardian Angel, and he grumbles about it a lot. He also keeps losing his feathers everytime he swears, and it makes Anders laugh at him.

and many many more.

To close out this rambling dissertation on the beauty that is Canders (praise be)

Enjoy this lovely fanart drawn by the talented @frikadeller in a commission for @autumnyte-old​

as requested by anon. note: some of these work better if one of the muses is pushed up against a wall

Angry

“Make me.”

“I dare you.”

“Bite me.”

“You think you can just run that pretty mouth of yours whenever you want?!”

“Wanna bet?”

“If you complain that it’s hot one more time, I’m going to give you a reason to sweat.”

“Prove it.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“If you bite your lip one more time, I’m going to do it for you.”

“Oh, well fuck me, then.”

“Shut up!”

“Yell at me again, and I’ll give you a real reason to scream.”

Flirty

“I wish we weren’t out in public…”

“Wow, you’re really strong.”

“Wanna go for a ride?”

“You sure can’t keep your hands to yourself…”

“Ah, I think I need a new bed.”

“Can you help me with my tie?” / “Can you zip up my dress for me?”

“You have really nice fingers…”

“Are we going downtown?”

“You should come by my place…I’ll give you the grand tour.”

“That outfit looks good on you. But, you’d also look good without the outfit.”

“What do you wear to bed?”

Awkward

“Do you have to eat it like that?”

“Uhm–t-those shorts look tight–”

“Hey, stop biting your lip…”

“Wha–is that a banana in your pocket?”

“You’re standing a little close to me…”

“Hey–you’ve got a little something on your face–”

“My keys are in my pocket. Can you get them for me?”

“Help me find the D? I mean, the variable–i-it’s math…”

“I just wanna grab your bu–hand. Grab your hand.”

↪ A list of SENTENCES from the Dragon Age Generator blog on Tumblr, to be used and changed however you see fit. possible trigger WARNINGS for profanity and violence.

↪ All parts can be found here.

“I’m cold… I’m cold.”

“You murdered him.”

“I heard you kill him.”

“Insanity is contagious.“

“They’re trying to kill me.”

“No one’s trying to kill you.”

“I don’t want to dance with you.“

“You’re going to be all right, kid.”

“You don’t want to sleep with me?”

“You have a morbid aversion to dying.“

“From now on, I’m thinking only of me.“

“Now you’re asking me questions, again.“

“Anything worth living for is worth dying for.”

“I used to think it was immoral to be unhappy.“

“What the hell are you getting so upset about?“

“He’ll hate you… to his dying day he’ll hate you.“

“Well, he died. You don’t get any older than that.“

“I wouldn’t want to live without strong misgivings.“

“You wouldn’t be normal if you were never afraid.“

“That crazy bastard may be the only sane one left.“

“Subconsciously, there are many people you hate.“

“He was going to live forever, or die in the attempt.“

“Anything worth dying for… is certainly worth living for.“

“He was never without misery, and never without hope.“

“Who, specifically, do you think is trying to murder you?“

“Be glad you’re even alive. Be furious you’re going to die.”

“The point is to keep them from dying as long as you can.“

“There’s nothing negative about running away to save my life.“

“They think that they’re smart and that the rest of us are dumb.“

“I’d certainly be a damned fool to feel any other way, wouldn’t I?“

“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. It isn’t even good grammar.“

“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.“

“I’m not running away from my responsibilities. I’m running to them.“

“Now you’ve given them hope, and they’re unhappy. So the blame is all yours.“

“You’re dangerous and depraved, and you ought to be taken outside and shot!”

“Anybody could do it; it required no brains at all. It merely required no character.”

“The enemy is anybody who’s going to get you killed, no matter which side he is on.“

“It doesn’t make a damned bit of difference who wins the war to someone who’s dead.“

“Just what the hell did you mean, you bastard, when you said we couldn’t punish you?“

“While none of the work we do is very important, it is important that we do a great deal of it.“

“You’re an intelligent person of great moral character who has taken a very courageous stand.“

“Of course you’re dying. We’re all dying. Where the devil else do you think you’re heading?”

“It was neither possible nor necessary to educate people who never questioned anything.”

“I’m an intelligent person with no moral character at all, so I’m in an ideal position to appreciate it.“

“Let’s take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.“

“Even the bravest men experience fear. One of the biggest jobs we all face in combat is to overcome fear.“

“There was no telling what people might find out once they felt free to ask whatever questions they wanted to.“

“How many honest men were liars, brave men cowards, loyal men traitors, how many sainted men were corrupt?”

“I used to get a big kick out of saving people’s lives. Now I wonder what the hell’s the point, since they all have to die anyway.”

relation meme

send a symbol for a relation type you want our muses to have

👪 parental figure

👼 guardian

🤗 siblings

🤝 friends

💲 friends with benefits

😈 toxic friends

👨‍🏫 mentor / disciple

❤️ mutual love (shipping/romance)

💔 one-sided love (unrequited love)

💓 crush

🖤 previous ex (spouse or partner)

💜 toxic love

💪 rivals

🗡️ enemies

😐 indifferent

Send in a symbol from YOUR muse to see how MY muse will react to yours!  For the ones where YOUR muse gives or says something to mine: WILD CARD! Your muse can pick the item, sings a specific song, or says a specific thing!

Family/Platonic:

✩  Grooming, brushing, or tending to their hair.

✪  Rubbing their back after a stressful day or disappointment.

★  Cooking them their favorite meal and feeding them.

✬  Making them their favorite hot beverage.

☼  Cuddling on the sofa next to each other.

☀  Singing them to sleep.

☆  Getting them something they need before they ask for it. 

☄ Leaning your head on their shoulder while they talk.

✥ Play fighting!

❃  Mussing their hair or tugging at their clothes (a hat, sleeve, etc.)

Shipping/Romance:

♥  Laying by their side and watching them while they sleep with a fond smile.

♡  Kissing the corner of their eyes.

❥  Running your hand over their arm and gently pulling them close.

❤  Whispering sweet nothings in their ear. 

❦  Holding hands and nuzzling somewhere ambient and low-lit.

❣  Staring deep into their eyes with adoration.

ღ  Rubbing your leg against theirs under the table.

ℒ  Pulling them into a hall/alley to kiss them passionately.

￡ Brushing your hand over or gently squeezing their bum.

Ω Running a hand over their collar bone or décolleté.

Sexual/NSFW:

✖  Soft nips at the neck and shoulder line.

✗  Bathing, washing, or soaking together quietly after sex.

♦  Body worshipping their naked form, slowly.

✚  Painting honey dust, edible paint, or other soft brush strokes on their body.

✦  Giving a sensual massage.

♢ Straddling their lap and holding their face to yours for a deep kiss.

▲ Dressing them up in lingerie (or gear) with gentle attention.

▽ Running your hand between their thighs, and splitting their legs apart.

|HERO|

“You’re not getting away this time!”

“Your tools are impressive, but they can’t beat natural born power.”

“Don’t you ever grow weary of the same routine?”

“You’re a monster.”

“I must say, of all the people I put behind bars, you’ve got to be the worst.”

“I don’t want to play your sick mind games, I’m not one of your victims!”

“You can’t control me like you can your little puppets, can you?”

“Ugh, I feel bad for whoever has to sort all this mess out.”

“I’m just…tired. I’m tired of everyone’s lives lying on my shoulders.”

“Why can’t these people just learn to take care of themselves?”

“I enjoy my work, I’m a savior! I wouldn’t trade that for anything!”

|VILLAIN|

“What’s the matter, are you afraid of me? Good.”

“I have to say, you are giving me quite a bit of trouble.”

“You’re about to piss me off, brat.”

“Come on, you can get out of that, can’t you? At least try.”

“Go on, at least put on a show if you’re going to challenge me.”

“The last guy didn’t end up so well, if you’ve heard. I admire your bravery.”

“As much as I appreciate tenacity, I don’t appreciate annoying flies interrupting my plans.”

“Now that I’ve got you, what should I do first?”

“Relax, kiddo. Not everyone’s out here for mass murder or world domination. Maybe I just wanted to take this car for a joy ride.”

“Why do you always have to ruin my fun?”

“Why did I turn bad? Why do heroes ask such inane questions?”

“You don’t need to understand me, I don’t WANT you to understand me!”