#commonevilmastermind

I didn’t realize how long this post was going to be until I was about halfway through. And it still is not even close to exhaustive. 

Soo, while 2020 has been such a tumultuous year one great thing about this time in my life is that I’ve had more time than ever to read. I am always so blown away by how much talent there is in fanfiction, so big, big thank you to all the writers that share their work and for whisking me away from real life into something far more pleasurable. It definitely makes my whole day when a fic I love has been updated, and I enjoy catching glimpses of rough drafts and the writing process via tumblr (I’m still trying to understand how their galaxy brains even work lolol). 

It’s long, but I am not putting it under a cut! They’re too good!

Long Fics (>= 50k words)

Roses From Where Thorns Grow by @bdafic​ [incomplete]- I started this a while ago, must have lost track of it, and then found it again this summer. Feels weird to type because this is not really me irl lol but accidental pregnancy fics are one of my favorites kinds of fics. Papa Solas is amazing. Somewhere, I once tagged something with ‘solas dad best dad’ and I think that probably sums up my feelings on the matter. The last chapter I read has left me anxious for more, so I’m eagerly awaiting what will likely be the first chapter posted in 2021. 

Ruins by @luzial [incomplete] - A real story of a couple who broke up, fought each other for twenty years, got sent back in time, and are now trying to make things work again ;) Lavellan here is older and wiser in all the ways that matter, and Solas is... well Solas in many ways is everything we wish he would (and could) be now. Had the most wonderful realization that I somehow missed the last chapter that apparently came out on my birthday, so I know what I’ll be doing later.

Fen’Harel’s Teeth by @5lazarus​  [incomplete] - the conversations in this fic are one of my favorite parts. They’re in character, but they’re also just interesting to read. The words just fly across the page -- it’s smooth, seamless, pithy. I love politics and I love a main character who has her wits about her -- both are in this fic. Also features fatherly!Solas, which I just adore.

By the Still Waters by [orphan account]. This is older, but I knew it was popular so I gave it a shot and... yes, I understand now. I loved reading something from Fenris’ perspective. I loved how he’s a foil for Solas. I love seeing Lavellan as this near mythical person because we see everything through Fenris’ eyes. I love Hawke and Fenris together. Merrill also featured more heavily than I anticipated and she had some of the best lines I’ve ever read.

Pressure Point by 17734 [incomplete] - this fic leaves me constantly unsettled (in the best, most addictive, under-your-skin kind of way). I’ve read the first 18 or so chapters twice, and it’s one of those stories that’s slightly different the second time you read it. I really like the author’s take on immortal beings, some of it is very reminiscent of some of the Greek mythology I read in school - characters are at turns both magnificent and terrifying. The language is also very beautiful, and I’m a sucker for anything close to prosaic. 

Out of Time by destinies - so, I don’t know how I found this beyond just “Twitter.” This isn’t Dragon Age related -- it’s from The Greisha Trilogy, which I had never heard of before -- something just told me I would really like this story. Forced/political marriages’, memory loss, enemies to lovers, the dichotomy between light and dark embodied by a single couple... yes, thank you. I had to kind of piece the world together as I read, which was admittedly a lot of fun, and um... wow, I really loved this! Another one of my ‘binged in a single night’ fics.  

Message Sent by @aicosu [incomplete]- this is coincidentally how I got my former partner into Dragon Age lol. I had originally read it the first time as it was coming out. The second time I read it aloud to them over the course of a few days, feeling very much like Cassandra trying to do certain character’s voices. It reminded me of how much I loved it, and so I feel like it deserves a mention here. Definitely an unorthodox but memorable way of cursing someone with being emotionally invested in the Solavellan romance 

Short Fics (< 50k words)

nothing on my tongue by @ellstersmash - the chapters here are short, and I loved seeing the fic updated put of order. This was my first time experiencing that, and I loved guessing where we were in the in-game timeline, and also, as more chapters were posted, which chapter numbers were still missing and therefore what the missing chapters might be about. I associate this fic with feeling kind of melancholy a lot. I think the word constraints really lent itself well to the Solavallen romance -- beautiful and poignant, but always leaving me wanting more.

In and Out of Time Again by @luzial - hoo boy did I have a fun time reading this one. I actually rarely go for AU’s this “AU”, but I trusted this author, and it paid off. In fact, I think I subconsciously had more doubts than I thought because what started a curious perusal ended in one of those “up until 3 am reading” kind of nights. It was such a fast-paced, interesting read, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Ink is one of my favorite Lavellans; she’s just too cool.

The Fourth Day by sass_bot (@knightava) [incomplete] - this was just such a perfect example of how to build tension and dread for the reader, that I still think about it frequently. Also, who wouldn’t love a Skyhold murder mystery?

Beyond the Veil by Pyreite [incomplete] - A 200 years post-Veil fic. Abelas is in it, which is how I knew it was gonna be good hehe. I really like the world-building, and I like explorations of the romance with a more hardened Lavellan. 

I Come to You With Nothing by CommonEvilMasterMind. I’ll preface this by writing that this made me cry with a mixture of sorrow and happiness. The premise is an undercover mission in an alienage which involves Solas and Ellana masquerading as a married couple. It’s beautifully written, and just honestly kind of bittersweet. The writing is itself very touching but I also think it’s almost difficult to read because the Solavellan romance has an arc that looks like it’s just exponentially deviating from anything remotely happy lolol 

That Girl Is Like A Sunburn by @yourstrulycommandershepard - I just discovered this person’s writing this year and I’m kind of obsessed? I went on a whole binge this past summer and *fans self*. I picked this one for my list because I haven’t read that many Solas/Trevelyan fics, and hers are by far some of my favorites. I also love that the titles of some of her fics are Taylor Swift lyrics. I get Solavellan vibes from so many of Taylor’s songs - glad it’s not just me!

Aravel by @playwithdinos - More Papa Solas. I can’t say anything more than it hit me right in the vhenan. 

An obscure AU. So it was inspired by something i’m a little looked on at the moment. I believe in the US, Strictly Come Dancing is known as Dancing with the Stars. Hope you enjoy.

It seemed like half of Orlais tuned in to watch Strictly Come Dancing, whenever the series started. It was a reality competition show that somehow managed to show real skill, the artistry of the dances drawing viewers every week, people getting hooked by the improvements of the competitors through the series. Every series, people got to know the professional dancers as well as their celebrity partners, and there was one who didn’t exactly appear as a dancer. That was until he hit the dance floor.

Solas. The only male elf professional they had on the line up. He was also, intriguingly, not the shortest man there, so he had been partnered with both human and elf celebrities.

Solas always appeared completely supportive of his partner and it was clear that he pushed her to her limits to get the best dance routines. His dances were complicated, technically advanced and looked stunning but his more withheld attitude often meant he lost the public vote. His quiet sense of humour was lost behind the extroverted nature of some of the other candidates. Viewers preferred the stories of close partnerships formed with the other professionals and their partners. Solas acted just like that, as a professional. As such, it was often viewed as a curse to be partnered with the talented elf.

Thins changed when the ‘Herald of Andraste’, Aeda Lavellan, became one of the contestants on the show. Unsurprisingly, it seemed, she was partnered with Solas, both being the only elves there. Casual racism at its finest. However it seemed they were just the right height. The perfect fit.

Thanks to a few dance lessons when Aeda was young, they managed to perform surprisingly well together. Solas’ routines were still just as perfect but now, it was clear to everyone there was a story being told. A chemistry seen in their routines, rehearsals and interviews. It didn’t take long for rumours to start.

Aeda was asked in every interview, sometimes tactfully, often not so tactfully, whether she was sleeping with him but every time she said no. That he’s the perfect professional. So they were the couple on everyone’s lips. Rumours and questions, all of them false. But every week it seemed there was more evidence to support them. The power of their Paso Doble. The fluid grace of their Argentine Tango. The fervour of their Charleston and sensuality of their Rumba.

Constant refusals only shot fire into the rumour mills and people needed to watch their obvious chemistry. Because somehow, the quiet elven Herald and the reserved dancer brought something out in each other. No one denied the connection between them.

Popularity feeds ratings, and unsurprisingly, Aeda and Solas battled through to the final. They stood nervously as the announcer dragged out the announcement of the winner. They held each other tensely, each glancing at different times, and managing to completely miss eye contact.

Then their names were called. They had won Strictly.

Solas lifted Aeda in a full twirl and she hugged him tightly. The crowd were cheering wildly as Aeda landed back on her feet and delicately leaned up to press a small, almost hesitant kiss to his lips.

Their eyes met and Solas was seen shaking his head. In one swift move, almost as smooth as if it was practised, he pulled her towards him, she curved back in his arms and their lips crashed together. Somehow the noise from the crowd became even louder, a deafening thunder of encouragement and whooping at the hottest news in Orlais happening before their eyes.