#emmstrife

So, after 4 playthroughs (technically 3, the 4th was a redo of the first Rook with better knowledge of the game and thus a 'perfection' run), I'm on my fifth playthrough and I'm romancing Davrin (which has been absolutely wonderful and I really appreciate how unique Emmrich's and Davrin's romances feel from one another). Which means I FINALLY allowed the old men to hook up, and y'all...

Y'ALL...

I was NOT ready.

I had been used to Lucanis/Neve and Taash/Harding. I enjoyed them, even though it felt like Taash/Harding's came out of no where because my lame ass didn't take them out on enough adventures on my first playthrough.

Lucanis/Neve's is cringe, but in a good way. Two people who's both been let down so many times in their lives, both having trust issues, both WANTING to overcome their own cynicism and trauma to make that leap... both knowing how flawed they are, but still, you see them wanting to give love a chance (and when it finally happens and one of them can be spirited away? Oh, Lucanis, the angst, the ANGST.) Hearing them flirt is so awkward but you're still cheering them both on because you genuinely want them to find happiness, they DESERVE happiness, gdi.

Taash/Harding is equal part awkward flirting, equal part steamy, but still cute. A little weird with Taash going on about Harding smelling REALLY good, but you know what? I'm attracted to a necromancer that could, upon my decision, become a freshly peeled skeleton man, so I'm in no condition to judge them. But it's deceptive... one conversation they're both being the most awkward little high schoolers, the next, Taash is talking about pinning Harding to the wall and giving her the best [redacted] this side of Thedas. I go from 'aw, that's so cute' to 'Should I leave y'all here so you can have some privacy, gd' so fast with these two.

I haven't gotten to see much of Emmrich/Strife (I only play on my days off and honestly, I don't think they have a lot of scenes together anyways... bringing Emmrich to Arlathan doesn't seem to trigger any banter, but I suspect they'll have more to say come the final segment of the game), but what I have seen...

Let's just say I was NOT prepared for the amount of rizz those who exude when in the same room together. It comes out of no where (but not really in a bad way... it's more or less implied that it was happening behind the scenes while Rook is tending to other matters, like a certain Grey Warden, and that it was rather a sudden affair), and left me agasp. Like... damn, I knew Emmrich had game (I romanced the guy 4 times) but I was NOT expecting Strife to handle the matter so smoothly.