Some Solavellan thoughts - mainly on the distance Solas has to keep from Lavellan. The Trespasser dream slides indicate that Solas and Lavellan met in dreams - how often over time is up to the player and how one might interpret Solas. But those slides highlight Solas keeping his distance. In VG He writes a letter because it's safer to express how he feels while maintaining that distance. In talking to Rook about Lavellan we see that distance yet again - he can't talk too personally on Lavellan, it's too dangerous for Solas. So, that distance can be viewed in a lot of different ways but one way in particular that I keep thinking on is Solas keeping that distance in order to keep himself as the monster/villain. The moment he looks into Lavellan's eyes, he'll see himself, his true self, within them. He can’t allow himself that reminder - not when he has to walk the din'anshiral.
Some say we fall in love with the people who reflect us most clearly, because love begins with being seen - and these two truly see each other and are similar in many ways. Their romance scenes have evocative silent moments of them just staring into each other's eyes. Their romance dialogue is filled with themes of seeing and being seen:
Lavellan: You’re an admirable man. Not many people know who they are the way you do.
Solas: Thank you. Both for saying that and… for seeing that. Few in this world can see me.
Solas: I’m so sorry for causing you pain. It was selfish of me. I look at you, and I see what you truly are.
Lavellan: I know you told me because you wanted to help, but the vallaslin is part of who I am. I hope you can see past-
Solas: Stop. You are perfect exactly as you are.
Solas: You saw more than most.
This really is apparent in the atonement ending to me. Doe-eyed has been a not-so charitable description used for Lavellan in that ending - but I remember being so captivated by Lavellan's eyes and always saw the symbolism of their themes of seeing and being seen continuing here. How adamant Lavellan was to keep looking at Solas, trying to hold his gaze except he's the one who continuously looks away. He still has a terrible duty to complete, and seeing himself through her eyes threatens that emotional distance he needs in order to do it. I felt that every time he met Lavellan's gaze, he couldn't look too long. He eventually turns his back to Lavellan, almost as though he can't risk another look at her.
I think it's also why he can't look Mythal in the eyes. It's a similar, yet different reflection. Where Lavellan might reflect back to him who Solas is and wants to be again, Mythal, with their ancient life together, fragmented before him, reflects back a fragmented being, in addition to "all the things that I have done" and us being left to our imagination of what all those things Solas has done over his ancient life.
And then after all that, we have Solas and Lavellan just staring at each other. And I just loved the focus on their eyes, Lavellan's eyes so big and bright - Solas' eyes, haunted and hurting but so soft upon her - each filled with such emotion. There's no monster in Lavellan's eyes and he doesn't look away.
I don't know, was just having some Solavellan thoughts over my morning cup of coffee.
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