Thursday Bangers 3/12

Rules: Free form a blurb or drawing based on the weekly lyrics prompt. It doesn’t have to include the prompt just whatever you’re inspired to do, do it! Then tag some friends so they can play as well. It doesn’t have to be finished on Thursday, just post it whenever you can (you have a whole week between Thursdays!)

Thursday Bangers Masterpost

Mafia AU Bullshit with @kabsey Ilene de Riva and @sorcerousadventurer Lydia Ingellvar and these lyrics

T-tell your boyfriend if he says he’s got beef
That I’m a vegetarian and I ain’t fucking scared of him ~ DONTTRUSTME by 3Oh!3

“Were you followed?” Riley’s cigar flared to life as he hid in the back alley shadows. His mismatched irises fixed on the small elf woman as she appeared beneath the beam of the single street light above– a rare glimpse at one of the most dangerous of the Crow assassins.

“Am I ever?” she chuckled with a grin as shoved her hand in her pocket and turned to him. She was the picture of casual indifference in the misty Minrathous night, though he knew Ilene de Riva better than that. He didn’t miss the coiled tension beneath the hard set of her shoulders as she stalked towards his hidden recess among the darkness.

“I don’t know…” he replied as he took another long drag from his cigar before snubbing it out on the wall. “That brother of yours has a way of staying up your ass 24/7.”

That drew a real laugh from her, a high-pitched sound that grated on his nerves. It wasn’t the moonlit sweetness of Lydia’s giggles, but more the sound of knives carving against steel.

The contrast was jarring, but he would endure if it meant getting what he needed from the only de Riva he could really trust with such matters.

“So you mentioned a job–”

And this was precisely why he liked Ilene, she was all business when business was in play.

“Yes. A job that requires a Crow’s discretion.” He handed over the file as she raised an eyebrow with a curious glance before flipping through the pages.

“Discretion even from our First Talon?” Her voice held that devious lit– the one that meant he would owe a lifetime debt if Ilene pulled this off.

By the Maker, if only Lydia knew the things he did for her.

“Especially from my husband,” Riley hissed as he pushed himself off the wall. He loomed over Ilene, using every inch of his seven foot tall frame to intimidate as his tone dropped to a deadly edge. “I want this taken care of– in the usual way.”

He knew he didn’t need to elaborate, not when her smile split so wide she looked like a viper ready to strike. “Of course, my Don. It will be done.”

With those words she disappeared, vanishing as if she had never been there. The only trace of her was a single black crow feather left on the sidewalk, one he picked up and slipped in his jacket pocket before running his fingers through his mist damp hair.

He should question the wisdom of this decision, but he knew Ilene would do as he required. And even if he might regret the cost later, for tonight he would sleep easier knowing this was done for his angel.

Finished flat colour commission with simple background for @hedwigoprah, featuring their two Rook’s, Jericho and Veryl, sharing a peaceful moment in the Shadow Dragon hideout.

This piece was both a pleasure and challenge; I’ve not undertaken many backgrounds in recent years, and Dragon Age is not short of wonderfully detailed and characterful environments! But I learnt a lot during the process, and I’m pleased with the result 😊

If you’re interested in a sketch, line art, or flat colour commission of your own, you can check out MY KO-FI.

Dollmaker

Tagged by @depmode thank you!

You can find the dollmaker here!

Tagging: @master-of-the-elements @fenrelmercar @idunnaldwir @virevas @introvertedfangrl @mildlyupsetzebra

Vesper being cheeky while someone takes her picture probably (she is saying it with love lmao).

@thefadediscordserver 1 year anniversary 🥳

Art I made for the occasion.

1 year of gushing over the dapper necromancer with other people. 🎂 (8 months for me but still. On the server I mean. I been gushing since they published the trailer lol)

Happy International Women’s Day!

Here are 5 fictional woman that I admire (in no order)

Neve Gallus (Dragon Age: Veilguard)

Abbey Bartlet (The West Wing)

Sara Connor (Terminator)

Eowyn (Lord of the Rings)

Elsbeth Tascioni (Elsbeth)

Things I write in my 10 minute break

For @sorcerousadventurer

Riley walked into his apartment to the scent of burnt coffee and the sound of quiet sniffles. His brow furrowed as he stalked towards the scene of the mayhem– Lydia curled on the floor with her knees to her chest, his old coffee pot ruined beyond repair on the stove, and the worst were the big tears rolling down her soft cheeks as she cried.
“Angel…” he called quietly as he knelt down beside her. His fingers brushed her forearm, a gentle caress as he tried to call her back to him. She was spiraling, and even he knew the signs of a day gone to complete shit. “Hey it’s ok. Nothing’s on fire, which is better than I do most of the time.”
But he couldn’t even draw a laugh from her as she just buried her face in her arms. And the harsh sob that escaped her split his chest down the center as he ached to draw her into his arms.
So instead he just sat beside her, a steady comfort as she let it out. There. Present. Waiting.
Until finally her breathing evened, the tears slowed, her small form pressed to his side as she sought his comfort.
He did not speak, did not need to as a strong arm wrapped her shoulders and he leaned down to brush his lips against her hair.
He was there, and he wasn’t leaving. And some days, that meant more than anything else.

The 5 Core Traits of Nöa Costa (Mercar)

Thanks for the tag, @kogarashi-art! I had a lot of fun with this.

Passing a gentle tag to: @tkwritesdumbassassins, @novarunestone, @himluv, @serensama, @sageadvice, @jenn2d2, @crimsonwolf715, @imrowanartist, @fenrelmercar, @eiluned, @therivercrow, @kaleido-moon, @princessjerboa, and anyone else who’d like to do this.

Stubbornness/Determination

Depending on who you ask, this is either Nöa’s greatest strength or her greatest weakness. Either way, her stalwart nature is undeniable. She’s been called a lot of things in life, but never a quitter.

Nöa’s determination has seen her through every second of her life, quite literally from the moment she took her first breath (far too long after she was actually born.) If she’s set on something, that’s the end of it. She’ll see it through. It’s a trait as indelible to her as its own nature. She’d tell you it’s the thing that has kept Death from actually claiming her, though her loved ones would tell you it’s the thing they’re all worried is going to get her killed one day.

Ingenuity

One thing about Nöa is if there’s a problem, she’s going to find a solution. And it’ll probably be a weird one. Hers is the mind that created the first Candlehop while she was enslaved in the Amladaris estate. Her rise to the Mourn Watch was granted due to a thesis on establishing an Undead Legion of agreeable spirits to defend the Neceopolis’ more rowdy halls. She is also credited with the invention of the Thedas equivalent of a tattoo gun, as well as blood transfusions.

If love really is the beginning of invention, she’s the proof. She loves to find solutions. Coming up with a solution, having a problem to solve, it’s like a dog with a bone. She cannot resist. And she won’t be satisfied until she has an answer…and that will only last until she finds a new puzzle to solve.

Hubris

(I use a photo of a Fangscorcher here for good reason.) Much like her ancestor, Nöa is a prideful bastard. She plays it well, but she lives and dies on her own ego. She’s always determined to be the best. She had excellent marks as she strove to become a Mourn Watcher. She’s an overeager Shadow Dragon, constantly doing the most to the point of self-destruction because she believes herself capable of endless feats. She even stretched her blood magic/shapeshifting to the limits during the Battle of Minrathous to become a Fangscorcher - with a little help from Morrigan.

She’s self-assured and not well adjusted at all, which makes for a potent cocktail that doesn’t take much to go right to her head. Which makes for yet another problem for her to solve. Thankfully, she’s excellent at solving the mess that is herself. As her mother would tell you - you’ll never meet anyone so egotistical about themselves who is also so ready to fall on their own sword.

Loyalty

Nöa’s sense of loyalty is a hardwon thing, and very few have the privilege that is having her loyalty. She doesn’t see your loyalty as a thing that people start with and keep until they do something to lose it. Life taught her the foolishness in that thinking quickly. At the end of the day, she’s really only loyal to her family, and eventually the members of the Veilguard.

She sees loyalty as all or nothing. You either have her or you don’t. And hell comes down on the few who have ever managed to lose that loyalty. She is not one to be crossed, and her loyalty, once earned, is a boon most who have it would tell you is not to be taken lightly.

Charisma

Oh, boy. This little charmer. A heartbreaker. A daydream. A killer bard in another life. To know Nöa is to love her, mostly because of her charisma.

She knows exactly how to draw you in. She’s engaging, she’s witty, and I’d say she knows how to play people, but she’s usually just that interested. Described as “supremely lovable,” once you’ve met Nöa, it’s already too late.

Her charm is one of her best tools, especially as someone with clear elven lineage running a bar alongside her husband in the heart of Minrathous. The Somniari’s Nightcap was an institution before her, but it drew in even more after she married Legate Charon Mercar’s son and started tending bar with him, hamming up her persona as his hot and fierce Antivan wife.

Her charisma has also been the downfall of quite a few Venatori. Whispers are shared of her temptations, though those warnings mean nothing once a poor, unsuspecting cultist hears her voice.

THE CRYPT???

Emmrich, why?? Why is there no mention of his final romance scene being IN A COFFIN??

That took me out.

Worm on a String Picrew 🪱

Tagged by @depmode 💚

This is such a funny picrew. you can fiddle with it here.

Tagging: @master-of-the-elements @amellderiva @virevas @introvertedfangrl @mildlyupsetzebra and everyone who wants to do it!

Picture taken by @virevas thank you 💚

Vesper as a worm is surprisingly cute (don'y worry about the blood or the sword, she is a professional and can be trusted with sharp objects). She’s a bit in a bind right now, but she knows what she’s doing.

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (Video Game), Dragon Age (Video Games)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Lucanis Dellamorte/Rook
Characters: Rook (Dragon Age), Lucanis Dellamorte
Additional Tags: Male Rook (Dragon Age), Trans Male Rook (Dragon Age), Demisexual Lucanis Dellamorte, Demisexual Rook (Dragon Age), Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Soft, Trauma, Bathing/Washing, Comfort, Post-Game(s), The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known, and being cared for when you’ve only cared for others
Summary:

“Shall we get you out of that armor?” Lucanis asks, quiet.

“If I say I can undress myself, will you say to let you do it?”

There’s a small twitch at Lucanis’s mouth. “I see I won’t need to argue with you on this.”

In the aftermath of a fight to save the world, all that’s left is to pick up the pieces. He’s so used to picking up after others that he doesn’t know how to take care of his own pieces. But then there’s Lucanis.

Thanks for the ask!!!

10. How many pillows do they sleep with?

He’s a one pillow kind of guy. We actually had a discussion once about pillows and qunari horns and the logistics of that 😅

32. What’s their favorite thing to do with their partner?

Was answered here

Wanna make sure I’m not slow burning too close to the sun

Got DA4 on a discount, and BELLARA IS SO CUTEEE

Short Blurb Sunday

Are we doing it, anyway?

All participants from the previous evening’s gathering showed up for their “date”: the training ground at the Dellamorte estate was among the best in Treviso — if not all of Antiva — and ideal in terms of comfort and safety. Aurora was the least athletic of the five, but even she didn’t refuse a jog.

Then the Crows showed the guests a few exercises from their own training routines. Rory hid her face in her hands, refusing to watch “this horror.”

After that, Zea grabbed two staffs from the weapons rack and tossed one to Gladius. She’d guessed right — he caught the staff, spun it skillfully, and easily parried the first strike Zea delivered without warning or wind‑up.

They clashed with the fierce enthusiasm of seasoned fighters, quickly finding a rhythm. They exchanged blows with such force and speed that splinters flew from the staffs. Zea’s staff snapped first, and the spectators grew concerned: she’d lost the slight advantage of longer reach.

Only Lucanis remained unperturbed. He knew full well that his bodyguard didn’t truly need weapons — and with a staff in each hand, Zea was more dangerous than a sniper with a rifle. To demonstrate this, he pulled Aurelia into the circle, and the three of them pressed Zea together — or tried to.

She slipped away effortlessly, always ending up behind one attacker. This naturally gave her the upper hand and hindered the other two. Had her goal been murder, the Tevinter guests would have been dead long ago, and Lucanis would have been severely wounded — at best.

“Alright, enough, enough!” Aurora pleaded. She probably wasn’t counting how many times her brother and sister nearly died, but the spectacle was still formidable.

The assassins and warriors froze, weapons raised. Zea had managed to acquire a whole staff, wresting it from Aurelia, and now leaned on it with a cheerful grin — drenched from head to toe and clearly enjoying herself. Rory decided to join them.

A gentle, impressionable girl, a born healer with an unexpectedly firm core — a perfect blend of beauty and intellect. Zea found it amusing to watch how tenderly Lucanis looked at her. The Demon of Vyrantium’s heart had melted. Did Rory even notice…? Zea wondered.

“Maybe time for a snack?” Gladius suggested, flashing one of his open, sincere smiles.

@palenecromaniac @frotees-corner @crownofjuniper @woundedsoul12 @talkmagically @selennes @tintarelladluna @antivan-sprig @direlie @awardenandacrow @imrowanartist @hedwigoprah @serensama @pandawithawand @himluv @jenn2d2 @genjyoandgojyoandhakkai @pixiedurango @adhd-riddled-crow @jukkaricity @serialsforbellara @hawkesflight @consuming-unhealthy-particles @aiyestel @eiluned @semicolonsunflower @auberry2 @ubiquitous26 @2mercia2furious @strugglinggranola @justmaddieztumbler @lambchop0502 @ladyofcrowsandcoffee @shippingmyworld @cyenna-whitbrew @silvergryphon @babydinosaur930 @hwat @morrriigan @davrinsleftpectoral @blackwall-my-tiny-husband-main @sorcerousadventurer @necromanticsoul are you in?

Silly Saturday

It’s my thing, kitties. And, obviously, anything becomes silly if you add one big soft guy with an open smile 🥰 Just tell me you love him too!

@jenn2d2 would you assest your blorbo? Authentical?

Zea quietly slipped away from the table. As far as she could judge as a professional, her charges were safe — perhaps more so than ever before. Even Lucanis had relaxed in the warm company of the three Mercars. He was smiling — for the first time in the past eighteen months. He hummed while cooking. Little Rory had warmed his heart, and Zea was happy for him, both as a sister and a partner.

She herself, however, could barely remember how to breathe. The habit of living in constant tension made her feel like a fifth wheel on a cart — a shadow melting under the midday sun. The laughter hurt her ears; she barely caught the essence of the table conversation and flinched every time someone addressed her. The only elf at a table with three Tevinters… They tried to avoid patronizing or condescending tones, but the awkwardness was still palpable.

A thin stream of smoke rose upward toward the sky. The night was moonlit and windless; even the clouds — small and light — remained motionless. Zea loved nighttime Treviso. A handful of colorful lights strung along the canals, nestled in the palms of a mountain valley. The muted hum of the city calmed her, though her reflexes never let her fully relax.

Zea sensed a person behind her but didn’t turn around — she merely adjusted her grip on the wine glass she had been sipping all evening, ready to turn it into a weapon if needed.

A huge figure hesitated beside her, then sat down within arm’s reach — close, but not intrusive. Gladius Mercar, the “himbo” as Aurelia had described him; to Zea, he seemed rather kind and a bit naive. As for his appearance, she found it hard to judge — she never viewed humans from an aesthetic perspective, only as potential adversaries. Gladius was tall, powerful, yet swift and agile. A good opponent. Interesting.

“Are you alone here?” he asked, stating the obvious — a type of question Zea detested.

“Did you want something?” she inquired, preferring not to waste time. Usually, people wanted something from her. A Tevinter human certainly might want something from an elf.

“Well… you could say that,” Gladius faltered. “I wanted to ask — what kind of flowers do you like?”

Zea turned to face him, catching his gaze. That was probably the last question she expected.

“I asked Rory, but she didn’t know,” Gladius smiled, and she thought his smile was pleasant.

“I don’t like flowers,” she replied, trying not to sound too harsh.

“What do you like, then? Jewelry? Good wine? Coffee?”

“No.”

“Uh… okay… listen, I just thought about inviting you somewhere. Where do people around here go? Somewhere you’d enjoy?”

“You want to invite me out?” Zea was taken aback. “Why?”

“Well, you know… you took me down so skillfully, I thought, what a cool girl — I mean, woman — I hope she’s free… I mean, not called for,” Gladius corrected himself unnecessarily, and Zea didn’t immediately realize it was just a Tevinter linguistic quirk. “You aren’t dating anyone, are you? No boyfriend? No husband?”

“No.”

“Great. So, shall we go out somewhere? Your choice.”

She scanned him with a sharp, professional gaze, searching for a hidden agenda. Why would a Tevinter guy suddenly want to ask an elf out? He didn’t seem to lack female attention. Maybe he wanted to get back at her for “taking him down”? Wait for her to relax and then… No — his face was too open, every thought written plainly there. And she didn’t really know how to relax anyway.

“Alright. Tomorrow morning. Eight o’clock.”

“Eight in the morning?!” Gladius’s eyebrows shot up toward his hairline.

“Yes. You said — my choice.”

“Okay. What should I wear?”

“Sportswear,” Zea smiled and took a sip of wine.

No pressure tags for @palenecromaniac @frotees-corner @crownofjuniper @woundedsoul12 @talkmagically @selennes @tintarelladluna @antivan-sprig @direlie @awardenandacrow @imrowanartist @hedwigoprah @serensama @pandawithawand @himluv @jenn2d2 @genjyoandgojyoandhakkai @pixiedurango @adhd-riddled-crow @jukkaricity @serialsforbellara @hawkesflight @consuming-unhealthy-particles @aiyestel @eiluned @semicolonsunflower @auberry2 @ubiquitous26 @2mercia2furious @strugglinggranola @justmaddieztumbler @lambchop0502 @ladyofcrowsandcoffee @shippingmyworld @cyenna-whitbrew @silvergryphon @babydinosaur930 @hwat @morrriigan @davrinsleftpectoral @blackwall-my-tiny-husband-main @sorcerousadventurer @necromanticsoul if you have something silly to share.

Five Sentence Friday

Ah-ha!! Still Friday! Thanks for the tag @jenn2d2 Gladuis my love. Oh, btw, I’ve got a bit of him from Abduction AU. My sweet soft teddy bear. 🥰🥰🥰

It wasn’t even really a question. Gladius’s gaze mixed sympathy with outrage. His next touch was so light and careful that Zea sensed it more energetically than physically.

“Tie me up,” he murmured quietly.

“What?” Zea flinched.

“Tie me up.”

No, she hadn’t misheard. He wanted her that much?

“Why?”

“So you’re in charge.”

Right. Logical.

He wasn’t joking or mocking. He was offering a perfectly reasonable solution — naive, silly, funny… selfless.

No pressure tag-list @palenecromaniac @frotees-corner @crownofjuniper @woundedsoul12 @talkmagically @selennes @tintarelladluna @antivan-sprig @direlie @awardenandacrow @imrowanartist @hedwigoprah @serensama @pandawithawand @himluv @jenn2d2 @genjyoandgojyoandhakkai @pixiedurango @adhd-riddled-crow @jukkaricity @serialsforbellara @hawkesflight @consuming-unhealthy-particles @aiyestel @eiluned @semicolonsunflower @auberry2 @ubiquitous26 @2mercia2furious @strugglinggranola @justmaddieztumbler @lambchop0502 @ladyofcrowsandcoffee @shippingmyworld @cyenna-whitbrew @silvergryphon @babydinosaur930 @hwat @morrriigan @davrinsleftpectoral @blackwall-my-tiny-husband-main @sorcerousadventurer @necromanticsoul

Oh, I feel bad for everyone here 😬 Vesper started training at a very young age because her parents were very paranoid and protective (well, not without reason since one is a high ranking military officer and the other a former spy), so the Shadow Dragons now have to deal with a very distrusting child who is very good at hiding and cannot be trusted with sharp objects 😬😬😬 Luckily, if they can get a hold of her parents, she will calm down and ‘guard’ the shop instead (she takes her job very seriously, nothing will get past her).

hmmm I started playing veilguard again…..

she’s gonna romance Emmrich bc I love the warden/Emmrich vibes

Was replaying DA4 and paused for a moment only to find out Rook does these emotes when near a ledge:

Back view:

Tumblr has a 1 limit video postage, but if you face Rook forward near a ledge, they do some other little emotes like almost falling lol