Vilz. Old lady obsessed with Dragon Age: The Veilguard
My Rook: Gemma de Riva
My Works: The Tale of an Antivan Canary (a spookanis story)
SerialsforBellara on AO3.
Banner art and profile pic by @kogarashi-art
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For the Fanfic Ask Game please, for Rookie -- the end is so near!!
3 Share your favorite joke/gag (if applicable).
4 Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
5 Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Thanks for asking!!! Lots to dive into for Rookie!
---
🪶 Share your favorite joke/gag
Okay it's gotta be the little Freudian slip Rook accidentally makes in front of Davrin about riding griffons into battle, and he teases her about Riding Crow a couple more times throughout:
Davrin jerked his chin towards where Lucanis was now flying in lazy circles around the Lighthouse. "You already have a giant bird right there. He lives in your pantry."
She smacked his arm with a laugh. "Oh, please. Like that bird will ever let me ride him."
The words spilled out of her mouth before she could stop. She flushed scarlet. "I-I… don't know why I said that," she squeaked as Davrin turned to look at her incredulously. "Please forget I said that."
Davrin did not in fact, forget she said that.
And another time, when Lucanis had momentarily turned his back, Davrin whispered to her in an undertone, "So, did you ever get the chance to ride your giant Crow?"—which resulted in some furious, red-faced slapping of his shoulder as he laughed.
---
8. Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
I wrote the Bloodbath chapter for my answer in the previous ask but honestly I have trouble with romance scenes HAHA. Rookie is truly a slowburn and I didn't actually have to worry about romance for a very long time. Writing flirty teasing is easy. Writing budding feelings is easy. But writing the actual romance scenes, where they're on dates or kissing or anything more, I found really hard and self-conscious about it being too cheesy or too out of character or too cringe.
I'm also pretty sure I'm ace now which maybe also makes it more difficult to write these scenes. I don't like to go in too much detail like a blow-by-blow thorough scene (I'm just so embarrassed!!!) but I do like to give juuuust enough to get your imagination going, and that's always the difficult balance. For Rookie specifically, it's also just not that kind of explicit story anyway. So yes, every romance scene gave me a hard time and I have edited them so many times that they are no longer sexy to me and when I give up I just hit post.
---
9. Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Satinalia was my favourite scene to write! In particular, I liked to come up with new customs and traditions for Satinalia in Treviso, and how they would change/be slightly different for a Treviso under occupation. I wanted to show a Treviso whose people stand strong against the Antaam. They may be invaded, but it won't break their spirit, and so writing the singing and dancing in the streets was so exciting. Visiting the orphanages was also a fun one to write for the Crows, and of course all the food which made me hungry to write, and the fireworks at the very end (this sort of romance is easy to write HAHA. Hand holding!!!)
😂 I love the Davrin tease!! You've said before you're not comfortable with the romance scenes but it absolutely doesn't show. You write them with so much heart and in the last chapters, so much eagerness from Rook that's just adorable!!
For the Fanfic Ask Game please, for Rookie -- the end is so near!!
3 Share your favorite joke/gag (if applicable).
4 Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
5 Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Thanks for asking!!! Lots to dive into for Rookie!
---
🪶 Share your favorite joke/gag
Okay it's gotta be the little Freudian slip Rook accidentally makes in front of Davrin about riding griffons into battle, and he teases her about Riding Crow a couple more times throughout:
Davrin jerked his chin towards where Lucanis was now flying in lazy circles around the Lighthouse. "You already have a giant bird right there. He lives in your pantry."
She smacked his arm with a laugh. "Oh, please. Like that bird will ever let me ride him."
The words spilled out of her mouth before she could stop. She flushed scarlet. "I-I… don't know why I said that," she squeaked as Davrin turned to look at her incredulously. "Please forget I said that."
Davrin did not in fact, forget she said that.
And another time, when Lucanis had momentarily turned his back, Davrin whispered to her in an undertone, "So, did you ever get the chance to ride your giant Crow?"—which resulted in some furious, red-faced slapping of his shoulder as he laughed.
---
8. Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
I wrote the Bloodbath chapter for my answer in the previous ask but honestly I have trouble with romance scenes HAHA. Rookie is truly a slowburn and I didn't actually have to worry about romance for a very long time. Writing flirty teasing is easy. Writing budding feelings is easy. But writing the actual romance scenes, where they're on dates or kissing or anything more, I found really hard and self-conscious about it being too cheesy or too out of character or too cringe.
I'm also pretty sure I'm ace now which maybe also makes it more difficult to write these scenes. I don't like to go in too much detail like a blow-by-blow thorough scene (I'm just so embarrassed!!!) but I do like to give juuuust enough to get your imagination going, and that's always the difficult balance. For Rookie specifically, it's also just not that kind of explicit story anyway. So yes, every romance scene gave me a hard time and I have edited them so many times that they are no longer sexy to me and when I give up I just hit post.
---
9. Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Satinalia was my favourite scene to write! In particular, I liked to come up with new customs and traditions for Satinalia in Treviso, and how they would change/be slightly different for a Treviso under occupation. I wanted to show a Treviso whose people stand strong against the Antaam. They may be invaded, but it won't break their spirit, and so writing the singing and dancing in the streets was so exciting. Visiting the orphanages was also a fun one to write for the Crows, and of course all the food which made me hungry to write, and the fireworks at the very end (this sort of romance is easy to write HAHA. Hand holding!!!)
😂 I love the Davrin tease!! You've said before you're not comfortable with the romance scenes but it absolutely doesn't show. You write them with so much heart and in the last chapters, so much eagerness from Rook that's just adorable!!
I'm thinking the JerJuanitto fics? But you can choose what you want to respond to. Feel free to pull @sandcastlekings along for the ride too!
4. What things did you research for this fic?
5. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
8. Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
9. Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
so we're baking something that requires a lot more planning and editing than booty shorts and sangria... But it also has one of my new favorite bits in it.
So here's some still in development Juan and Jer stuff!
What things did you research for this fic?
Transcripts, mostly. This ties much closer to game canon than the other AUs so we really do need to know who said what and where. Also some Fade & Bloodmagic stuff. You know, the classics.
Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
This is the beginning of my new favorite running gag: dumb shit Juan genuinely believes all Vints can do because they don't know any better.
Juan is real dumb about magic.
---
"Well, I don't typically get pulled into other's nightmares. Not intentionally, anyway." He sighed.
"This is a first for me. I'm just used to being alone." They looked around, frowning a bit as the trees twisted around them. "I thought you had a way out of here."
"Where did it…?" Jericho looked around them. They'd wandered into a dense growth of trees, seemingly where the doorway he'd created had been. But it was nowhere to be seen. "Venhedis. How did that… Never mind, I can do it again." It didn't take much effort for him to twist the branches ahead of them once more, creating a second opening for them to take. With luck, this one wouldn't disappear.
"Oh, you're a Vint. That's why you can—Right. That makes sense now."
Jericho looked at them in surprise. "You think all Tevinter mages can do this?"
"They all talk like they can."
Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
Writing a climb is hard. Basically anything that would be represented in game as a long run with banter points where we need the context of the banter but not the 15 minutes of combat waves around them.
Also Solas, because neither of us are good at or enjoy writing Solas.
Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Jericho having to deal with Juan in the Fade is objectively hilarious. And it's going to keep happening over and over and Juan will not get smarter in the intervening time. Jer and Neve keep threatening them with books. Gross.
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I'm thinking the JerJuanitto fics? But you can choose what you want to respond to. Feel free to pull @sandcastlekings along for the ride too!
4. What things did you research for this fic?
5. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
8. Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
9. Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
so we're baking something that requires a lot more planning and editing than booty shorts and sangria... But it also has one of my new favorite bits in it.
So here's some still in development Juan and Jer stuff!
What things did you research for this fic?
Transcripts, mostly. This ties much closer to game canon than the other AUs so we really do need to know who said what and where. Also some Fade & Bloodmagic stuff. You know, the classics.
Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
This is the beginning of my new favorite running gag: dumb shit Juan genuinely believes all Vints can do because they don't know any better.
Juan is real dumb about magic.
---
"Well, I don't typically get pulled into other's nightmares. Not intentionally, anyway." He sighed.
"This is a first for me. I'm just used to being alone." They looked around, frowning a bit as the trees twisted around them. "I thought you had a way out of here."
"Where did it…?" Jericho looked around them. They'd wandered into a dense growth of trees, seemingly where the doorway he'd created had been. But it was nowhere to be seen. "Venhedis. How did that… Never mind, I can do it again." It didn't take much effort for him to twist the branches ahead of them once more, creating a second opening for them to take. With luck, this one wouldn't disappear.
"Oh, you're a Vint. That's why you can—Right. That makes sense now."
Jericho looked at them in surprise. "You think all Tevinter mages can do this?"
"They all talk like they can."
Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
Writing a climb is hard. Basically anything that would be represented in game as a long run with banter points where we need the context of the banter but not the 15 minutes of combat waves around them.
Also Solas, because neither of us are good at or enjoy writing Solas.
Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Jericho having to deal with Juan in the Fade is objectively hilarious. And it's going to keep happening over and over and Juan will not get smarter in the intervening time. Jer and Neve keep threatening them with books. Gross.
Specially for you, because you helped me get here. 🥰
The hidden room was a bedroom, likely belonging to the target in question. Most of the furniture was draped in sheets covered in dust. The thick rug in the center of the room held the pattern of footprints, as if two people had been dancing.
Standing in front of the bed was Ignacio Cantori. A Crow exiled after leading a rebellion to overthrow a previous Cantori Talon, saved from death only by the pleading of his mother. This was why Crows rarely showed mercy. Mistakes came back to haunt you. Haunting described Ignacio well; tall and pale as if he hadn’t seen the sun in decades. The aged lines of his face were drawn down into a scowl as he flickered his eyes to her and then back to Lucanis.
The canopied bed behind him was draped with heavy curtains, tattered with age. Illario was spread across the once luxurious covering, fully dressed, each of his limbs tied to a post. It was not a position he would put himself in lightly. At least not clothed. The rise and fall of his chest assured her he was alive.
#19: Are there any particular headcanons or theories of yours that found their way into the fic?
Thanks for the ask!! From the Fanfic Ask Game.
19. Are there any particular headcanons or theories of yours that found their way into the fic?
My fluffy Crows! I headcanon that Viago was tired of the abuse and torture that occurred with fledglings and thought Crows were throwing away their future through it. When Viago became Talon, he implemented changes in House de Riva. House Cantori adapted these changes when Teia became Talon. So, Gemma’s experience as a fledgling was not awful. Yes, her first kill was at 7 or 8, but even before she became a de Riva, she was well-fed and well-supported during her fledgling years.
Then there’s my Illario headcanon, which boils down to one thing: while his path is the same as the game, the intentions behind it were different because Gemma befriended him. (See fluffy Crows above.)
and 5. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue from The Antivan Canary/any other fic you want 😃
Thanks for the ask!! From the Fanfic Ask Game.
What was the inspiration behind CLAMS
That’s a good question! I had drafts of A Storytime for Bellara: The Masquerade and A Storytime for Taash: The Infiltration of the Dellamorte Villa, both as stories of Gemma knowing Lucanis in the past and him not knowing her.
I figured a third story would be too much for poor Lucanis, so I wanted something where neither he nor Gemma realized it was the other.
The only person who could possibly know this was Illario.
The person who would most enjoy realizing this was Spite.
And since Gemma decided she hated clams, it had to do something with clams.
Thus, CLAMS.
6. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
This is from Part 2, Chapter 6. I love the friendship between Rook and Lace.
Lace tilted her head against her shoulder. After a few minutes, she asked, “Rook?”
“What?”
“Does he know he broke up with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, he didn’t say he wasn’t interested in you anymore. He said you were a distraction, which he didn’t realize was a trigger, and that he needed to focus on himself. Which is what you told us all to do. To work through our distractions and unfinished business. Isn’t that what he’s doing?”
She blinked. Felt something bubble up inside her. It felt like hope.
Harding continued. “He told Bellara he’s never been in a relationship before.”
“But he’s so beautiful,” she protested weakly.
“And brutal. Focused on work. Ready to work the moment he’s rescued for a year of torture. I can’t imagine why he hasn’t had tons of relationships.” Lace sighed. “I mean, you’re a Crow too. You had time for so many relationships, right?”
Letting out her breath slowly, she lay back onto the stones and stared at the unchanging Fade above her. “Am I just a fool?”
“Most definitely. But maybe you should try talking to him. Find out what he really intends? And if he says yes, he intended to break up with you, you get to yell at me.”
She curled around her friend and hugged her. Talk to him. No stabbing, no burying the emotions so deep they would never see the light of day. “I so appreciate you aren’t a Crow.”
“You and me both. Though I would make an excellent assassin.”
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For the Fanfic ask game, since we are new moots and I'm still learning your Rook, the fic is your choice to tell me about please!
1. Summarize the fic in 3-5 sentences.
3. What was the inspiration behind this fic?
4. What things did you research for this fic?
5. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
And I am happy to answer! 😄(though, number 5 I really have to think about!)
Original ask game -Here-
Honestly, as the whole "If I Lead" series (so far published) is pretty short right now, I'm just going to apply this to the entire thing rather than one singular fic. Answers 3-5 below the cut for length.
1. Summarize the fic in 3-5 sentences.
ahem!
*newscaster voice*
Is it too cliche for a necromancer to have at least one skeleton in her metaphorical closet? Does our main character know how much of a world of hurt she's being written into? Is the author capable of writing a story without mentioning the music that inspired the ideas? The answers to all of this may surprise you!
3. What was the inspiration behind this fic?
Previous joking aside; I was super taken with Lucanis' romance in the game, the truly soft romance plot-line, the will-they-won't-they, he wants it so badly but doesn't trust himself or Spite enough yet, etc. If you look closely at these moments when you interact with Lucanis in game, the silence between the words is gentle. He is thoughtful, he notices things about the others' needs and behaviors; and while that sharpness was almost certainly trained and beaten into him by the crows (an assassin who doesn't notice things is a dead assassin), he uses this skill purposefully to navigate his personal relationships with the rest of the team in an incredibly warm and caring way. He is rarely if ever shown in game as being overtly selfish.
I think the lack of obvious romantic content with Lucanis in the game, while sad for us in some ways, isn't necessarily a bad thing, in fact the way it was written leaves us with so much room for imagination! It's so easy to imagine a quiet afternoon with Rook and Lucanis, doing some menial task, sharing space, happy in the others' presence simply because they're there to share it. Or, a thoughtful conversation, or a nap, a pot of coffee, a good cry, a good kiss, a good fuck, anything you could imagine. That room they left us in his romantic plot-line and the attention he is able and willing to spend like pennies is the perfect scaffolding for so many potential stories. Not to mention the delicious constant line of tension threaded throughout with his own struggle with self-trust (and self-Spite!).
Essentially, the inspiration for this story was my desire to:
A) Make a blorbo who's a little bristly, deeply flawed, fucked up, and both desperate for and terrified of the possibility of someone seeing through them and loving them anyways (aka me lol)
B) Take said blorbo and chuck them at the similarly fucked up but still capable of gentleness "I see through you" machine
C) Make them both kick and scream a little while I push them together like barbie dolls and force them to heal each other. and then fuck.
4. What things did you research for this fic?
Veilguard is actually my first DA game! I do remember seeing the occasional content on my dash about Inquisition after it came out back in the day, but I didn't have all that much exposure to it personally. So, I've been having to do a lot of research on the world of Thedas to help me form my ideas.
I've also done some more research into floriography, the art of flower language. I had some previous knowledge, but I wanted to turn it up a notch to really help me weave nature into the story in ways that help tell it, to those who know to look. Almost every chapter I've posted in the "If I Lead" series has at least one flower written into it which has a significant thematic meaning. Perhaps it could even become a treasure hunt one of sorts one day!
5. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
This one. This one is so fucking HARD! I had such a difficult time choosing, I'm going to share three just for the hell of it: Two that are published (one of which I know you have already read Vilz), and one that is not.
Published:
1) From ch 2 of "In a Week" - Dialogue spoken by Lucanis as he and Adelaide finally confront the thing between them.
“I am not good. I am not whole. I am a hopeless thing and you save me anyways. I am a knife in the dark, and you make me think I could be something more in the light.”
2) From ch 5 of the main fic itself "If I Lead (Would you Follow?)" - Dialogue between Lucanis and Adelaide in the pantry after Spite's outburst.
“Did you have any other questions?”
“Not as such no, I am eager to return to work whenever you are ready for me. Though, I could kill for a decent cup of coffee.”
“Well, we don’t have that, but if you want a bad cup of coffee that could kill you- ask Neve.”
Not Published:
Context? Spoilers Martha!
“Forever is a very long time, child. Longer than any living person can ever comprehend. I have seen a mere mote of forever, and I am ready for it to end.”
Thank you so much for asking @serialsforbellara!!! I hope this satisfies some curiosity, and stokes some more! muahaha >:}
Thank you!!! I love your inspiration and how you think of Lucanis. The first dialogue i do remember and love it and the second is so good!! I'm excited to read this!!
ey boss gimme a numbah 4 and numbah 8 on that ask game
Thanks for the ask!! From the Fanfic Ask Game.
4. What things did you research for this fic?
Thedas and DA lore. Veil Guard was my first DA game, so there was a lot to catch up on! I researched and then I changed what I wanted to change.
8. Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
The absolutely hardest scene to write was the Veilguard leaving Minrathous in the final chapter (Part 4 Chapter 20). I started with a Spite elevator callback joke – that was easy. Everything else that happened felt like one word at a time. To set up the sequel, Gemma needed to talk to Morrigan and a needed more hints Illario’s troubles. It took a while, but I finally got there. It was a very painful weekend. (But I’m done!!!)
12. Is there any aspect of your fic you considered changing? How would it have been different?
and
15. What element of the writing itself are you most proud of (e.g. dialogue, imagery, pacing, etc)?
Please and thank you
Thanks for the ask!! From the Fanfic Ask Game.
12. Is there any aspect of your fic you considered changing? How would it have been different?
Big picture aspect? No. I would like to someday go back to Parts 1 and 2 and clean them up because to me, they clearly represent a me who was trying to remember how to write. I am happy with my characters and what I put them through. While Part 4 written mostly from Illario’s point of view may seem weird, it brought me so much joy.
15. What element of the writing itself are you most proud of (e.g. dialogue, imagery, pacing, etc.)?
I am most proud of my dialogue because I like to think I presented each character’s voice clearly.
Thanks for the ask and thanks for all the support you gave me during Canary!!! From the Fanfic Ask Game.
6. Share a snippet of your favorite imagery.
Imagery is not one of my strengths. But here’s a piece from Part 3, Chapter 3 during Inner Demons.
It was the Ossuary. With only one cracking stone path leading away from where they stood, she tugged at his hand to follow her.
There was no water surrounding them in this version of the prison and the Fade sky was wrong. There was no scent in the air. No sounds except those of their footsteps.
Lace would hate this version more than the original.
The path they followed twisted and turned and eventually, the walls faded away, leaving it suspended in the void of the grey-tinged sky. The path twisted and buckled and sometimes Spite needed to help her climb over the stone. Through their clasped hands, they kept each other grounded.
This was not a path anyone was supposed to traverse.
7. Share your favorite joke/gag (if applicable).
Part 4, Chapter 15. Rook is in the Fade Prison. The rest of the Veilguard (minus Harding and Neve plus Viago and Illario) are at dinner. It’s layered conversation and it still makes me giggle. Because Viago.
“How far did you scout?” Viago asked.
“Two blocks in each direction,” Lucanis said. Even the short scouting mission had revived and excited him and Spite, and they both felt more alive than they had in two weeks. “The streets were empty, but it was night. I have spent enough time in Minrathous that I should have recognized something. I think the eluvian is outside the gates.”
“Fuck,” Viago muttered.
“We need confirmation,” Emmrich said. “I believe we should bring in Strife.”
“How many assassinations in Minrathous are we talking about?” Taash wondered.
“Hundreds,” Illario offered. “Tevinter mage contracts never go out of style.”
“Strife is a solid plan,” Lucanis said with a frown at his cousin. “We need to connect with the Shadow Dragons.”
“What is that chemical smell?” Bellara asked.
“Not my dish,” Lucanis said quickly.
“Find a candlehop,” Davrin suggested through a mouthful of food. “Tell them you know Rook and they’ll make it happen.” He swallowed. “Lucanis, this is good. Really good. There is so much flavor.”
“It could be me,” Viago said. “I was testing that recipe we found in the lab. Gemma befriended the candlehops?”
“I liked the spicier version better,” Taash muttered. “But yeah, this is really good.”
“She did a whole series of tasks to help them out,” Bellara explained. “It was really interesting, actually. We—”
“Why is Viago eating flatbread?” Davrin interrupted her. “This dish is the best thing you’ve made. Other than those eggs.”
“I’ll suggest the candlehop idea to Strife,” Emmrich said.
“Mole is hard to find in Treviso,” Illario said with a smirk. “Because it’s the easiest dish to poison.”
“Wait, the poison recipe you found in the lab?” Bellara asked Viago and looked down at her partially eaten plate of food. “You figured out how to craft it correctly?”
Viago took a bite of flatbread. “I’ll know in about two hours.”
Oooooh, for the fanfic ask game!
#2 - Summarize the fic using 3-5 memes.
#11 - If someone were to draw one moment from your fic, which moment would you pick?
Thanks for the ask!! From the Fanfic Ask Game.
2. Summarize the fic using 3-5 memes.
(I'm terrible at memes! 😂)
11. If someone were to draw one moment from your fic, which moment would you pick?
I commissioned @kogarashi-artto draw my favorite moment. (I share at every opporunity!)
This is Part 2, Chapter 21 where Gemma and Lucanis realize it’s love, but they aren’t ready to admit it to each other yet.
The second moment I would ask someone to draw is during Part 4, Chapter 12: Inner Demons the Sequel: Illario’s journey. Spite pulls Illario into Lucanis’s head because he’s retreated there after Rook is trapped in the Fade Prison.
When they finally find Lucanis, it’s in a blank white memory of the first Inner Demons scene with Lucanis, Rook, and Spite hugging.
“What is this?” He could see three forms standing in a loose hug in front of them. There was nothing else. Just empty white space as far as he could see in all directions.
Spite knocks Lucanis out of his memory, so after they tussle on the ground, Spite and Lucanis hug and this happens:
Illario placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “Look at us. We are three Dellamortes, kneeling. We are better than this. Are you done trapping yourself and Spite in your head, Lucanis?”
That’s the scene I want. Pure white background, with Lucanis, Gemma, and Spite in a loose hug with Lucanis and Spite hugging and Illario kneeling next to them, a hand on each of their shoulders. 🥰
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For the Fan Fic Ask game, how about from your recently completed Into the Grey? (YAY YOU!!!!)
4. What things did you research for this fic?
5. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue.
8. Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
9. Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Aww yay. Thank you Questions here
4. What things did you research for this fic?
So the first thing I looked up was what terms were used for lengths of pregnancy. Felt Trimester was too modern. Another was dreams and how to convey grief proper. The history of Ferelden.
5. Share a snippet of your favorite dialogue
So this wad kinda hard. I did enjoy writing this bit from chapter 7
“Neve, Something wrong?”
“Not at all. You know if you cover one of his eyes-”
“He looks just like him,” Zea interrupted, a little too excitedly.
“A spitting image, just chunkier cheeks and more adorable.” Neve chortled, pinching Alli cheeks.
“Quite right, Neve. The most adorable.” Zea reached up towards Emmrichs face, grabbing hold of his chin turning him to face her.
“Only because he stole it from you,” bringing his face down until her lips locked with his.
8. Did any particular scene give you a hard time?
Yes. Not so much a screne but most of chapter 9. Chapter 9 deals with grief and I struggled with trying to show Zea's fears and despair on top of having an uncharacteristically quiet Emmrich. I wasn't sure I showed it well or not but I tired.
9. Was any particular scene extra fun to write?
Oh yes. Chapter 2 has a dream sequeence that was not planned but as I was working on it it just...happened
I won't spoil it but I did add it under the cut and because it's a bit nsfw as it deals in blood and whatnot
It was dark. She could hear nothing. Yet, felt a pulsing sensation permeating around her. Searching in the pitch black for the source, she caught sight of a dimmed red light slowly pulsing through a closed door.
Her body moved on its own, weightlessly gliding towards the light. Like a beacon calling her near, the light grew brighter. The door suddenly disappeared, melting away into a pile of blighted blood and pus. Her body floated over the threshold into a corridor. Dread rose in her throat like bile. The pulsing light was red lyrium. The blighted mineral covered the small corridor from floor to ceiling.
The area was unrecognizable, yet the lyrium lit a spark of nostalgia. She couldn't explain how she knew but she was in the deep roads; or a twisted version of one. Normally the deep roads would be enormous tunnels, spanning in all directions. However, this one was smaller and only led in one direction.
As her body continued to traverse the unyielding blighted deep road, the rhythmic pounding of the red lyrium grew the deeper she went, faster and brighter. Finally the corridor had come to an end and she found herself in a wide open cavern, nearly identical to the one containing the titan heart she and Harding had found. Only instead of a giant heart in the center it was replaced by an angry, massive red orb surrounded by increasingly pulsating red lyrium.
All at once the lyrium ceased its cursed beat. The silence was deafening. There was a shadow Zea could barely make out contained in the strange sphere. Something felt familiar. Calling to her. Suddenly it began to vibrate, the red lyrium surrounding the room followed suit. Whatever was inside this monstrous orb was emitting a powerful aura that drew her closer. Almost hypnotic. Then it moved, violently, and she doubled over in pain.
She opened her mouth to scream but was met with silence. She turned to flee but found her exit blocked. Returning her gaze back to the orb, it continued to move violently, every time sending an unbearable wave of agony through her core. Looking down, her abdomen began to swell, to her horror. She dropped to her knees, face contorting from the intense pain, holding the side of her rapidly expanding belly. She felt her skin stretch, ripping, by the sudden change. A crimson liquid seeped from her stomach and between her legs. Her throat raw from the soundless screaming until…
14. What is your favorite chapter (if applicable)?
Hehe thanks for asking. From the Fanfic Asks Here
From The Last of the Real Ones
7. Look I know everyone loved Carpet!Juan and Scrappy Doo!Juan. This whole damn thing is funny but at the beginning where Riley goes over to Gladius' and this happens- "Hey! Open up, Mercar!" Riley hollered the last name like they didn't share it.
Also Miss Piggy Gemma and Jesus Riley
8. The body swap. That's why it didn't make it in. I couldn't find a way to do it without turning it into a massive arch.
14. You know I love all the AUs. And the end. But looking back I have to say chapter 4 where they are in the Crossroads and Find Gemma and Juan. I was in rare form there and just so fucking funny.
Ashur made sure he was trained in all manner of combat, but he always defaulted back to what he knew best. And what he knew best, was zapping enemies like southern deep-fried chicken.
Damn Beasty and their Texas roots- clearly rubbing off on him yet again. - I shit talk myself so much here and I love it
Though he wasn't as blindsided as their enemies when none other than Gemma and Juan- the de Riva disasters- appeared out of the shadows like the silent assassins they were. It was so ironic even Beasty couldn't have written such foolishness as the pair joined the fray. Who could have imagined it, the very people they were looking for suddenly slicing through the remaining Venatori like a hot knife through butter? - fucking just calling myself out
And I got to Beetlejuice Nona. The only line missing is the one about Johnny MacTavish. The later AUs are great but the beginning is just so good where Riley is full on roasting me
I love it all but I understand why you like those early chapters. Somewhere you said something about "that's how all Rooks stand when we want the floor."
All the Rooks being themselves was as special as Miss Piggy Gemma. 🥰🥰
