Rules: A photo of your OC, 6 or more photos that fit how they are when they are in love, and 3-4 songs.
Okay I'm like about thirty mentions out of date with several of these tag games so ya'll are gonna get a lot of insight in the next few days. sorrynotsorry 😅
Thank you @el-las-in for the tag on this one!
Are we talking Ame'lin Lavellan? Of course we are.
Ame'lin is that type of person who has an endless font of kindness and can't help but give it. It puts her in a difficult place given her role in her clan; she's a warrior, and warriors aren't really looked at as someone who should have a soft heart.
But she can't help who she is; she was given unconditional love and kindness at an early age when her original clan was destroyed and the Lavellan clan found and took her in. From her perspective, they had no reason to do this; even the flimsy excuse of adding to their small ranks doesn't justify taking in another mouth to feed when the Dalish live the way that they do. That generosity has stuck with her and, no matter the circumstances she finds herself in, she can't help but at least try to extend grace first (even when it might not be deserved).
This comes to eventually bite her in the ass and makes it easy for others to take advantage of her good intentions. It's unfortunately not a lesson she learns very well; the only thing that protected her as she grew older was her physique and combat prowess, so only those who bother to take the time getting to know her understand she's more than her surface level.
That brings us to Solas. She finds Solas at one of his lowest points; frail, alone, and quite frankly, terrified of the new and dangerous world he's found himself in. It's obvious he needs help, so that's exactly what she gives him: a rescue, a warm place to sleep, and a hot meal. When she realizes he's a lot worse off than a night of generosity can fix, she winds up giving him more than that: a home. Solas, as an individual who reflects what he's given, responds in kind. He listens to her when no one else ever has. He sees the parts of her that she's been forced to hide under the armor and muscles. And once she's trusted him with who she really is, he finds he's compelled to do the same.
When he finds that doesn't change the way she looks at him or treats him, it changes everything.
That there is such a give and take between them is ultimately what drives their romance. They have both been forced to be that which goes against their own nature, and so being able to see who they believe themselves to be through each other's eyes is the attracting force. It makes being someone else entirely when they're up against the world a lot easier. At the end of the day, if the only person who can see the truth of them is the other, that's all they need.
That really only gets us up through what I've covered in Cascade of Kindness. I'm working on Part II (name pending) while I wrap up The Dalish Champion. Things get more complicated later (as they are prone to do with Solavellan lol), but for the sake of potential spoilers, I'll cap it off here for now.
It's hard to pick any picture more relevant to them than the one @ingellvarphd made to pair with Cascade, but if you haven't seen it, please enjoy it in all its glory:
I also have to share this absolute gem she did because mood, I am so right there with you Solas.
I do think they have a bit of the gentle giant/jock + squishy nerd couple vibes, at least for the majority of Cascade and into most of Inquisition era. This fades a bit and changes over time as Solas grows stronger (both physically and in regards to his god-like powers) and circumstances begin to change... but then I'm getting into spoiler territory. 😜
Both of these two are extremely touchy feely people for entirely different reasons: Solas because he is love-starved and Ame'lin because that is just her love language. She knows physicality best, so it's how she expresses herself. They are always touching one another when they can be, whether that's innocently or otherwise.
Ame'lin absolutely enjoys picking him up, if only because the first time it shocked Solas entirely. He has since returned the favor and now it's just a bit of a game of who can lift who first.
There's also a protective air to the way they hold each other. Ame'lin has seen Solas at his most vulnerable and has that caregiver streak. She's always looked out for others, but she can (and does) do everything she can to protect Solas in particular from harm. Solas is simultaneously touched by and mildly horrified at this revelation: no one has ever been that kind or affectionate to him, not so genuinely, nor does he believe he deserves such devotion.
Meanwhile, Ame'lin has never really opened up to anyone like she has with Solas, so when she does and she's truly being vulnerable, there's nothing in the world that makes Solas feel more protective... or remind him how important his dinan'shiral really is.
I should also make it a point that just because the references above suggest Male/Female in specific positions doesn't mean that's who I see occupying that spot.
I'm unfortunately no good at picking songs or music for characters. I am genuinely pop culturally challenged in this regard. I know a few of you know my version of these two well and are much better at it than I, though... so are there any songs that remind you of Ame'lin and Solas that I can educate myself with? Please share them!
Tagging (for vis or to pass along if you haven't done it already, I know I'm late on this bus): @ingellvarphd (our girl <3), @luzial, @theriothag, @elfyroot, @elynnism, @hallahart
