9058 réponses à ce sujet

[Galagraphia]

Awwwww, Avilia! Your story is sad and sweet at the same time. *runs to ff to read more*

Edit: hehehe, I caught the TOP virus from Miri 


Because I love Bryce and it suits the prompt 

Modifié par Galagraphia, 10 décembre 2010 - 06:13 .

[Avilia]

@Estral Thank you

@Wedger he's very cute isn't he? and Thank you

@Gala - thank you



Thank you all - I'm feeling chuffed that you liked my full story - I loved writing it. I am sorry its not longer but I'm still learning to draw things out....

[Miri1984]

@Avilia - I have that problem too, although I can't make chapters longer, I do seem to have stretched out fics a lot since I started. My first fanfic was 12000 words - Fractures is my longest and it's at 80000 or so. But I can't get chapters to be longer than 1500.

[LupusYondergirl]

Avilia, I love that. It's a good mix of sad and hopeful



Miri: I wish I had that problem. I'm lucky if my chapters come in under 6,000 words. I'm really bad at editing out the unnecessary crap.

[Miri1984]

@Lupus - years of writing surveillance reports beats that out of you. But you have NO unnecessary crap in your chapters. I love that they are long, and I wish I could make mine longer.

[Avilia]

@Miri - I'm glad its not just me! When I started the Alistair fic I promised myself a 2500 word min for each chapter. So far, I'm keeping my promise. It does mean I do a lot of pacing and cooking while I type though.



@Lupus Thank you I wish I had that problem - I'm with Miri - I don't think there's any fat in your writing.

[LupusYondergirl]

@Miri and Avilia: Thanks.  I just wish I could be more concise.  I honestly can't, at all. 

Here's my prompt response. I'll probably do another later in the week since I had two ideas for this and couldn't decide between them...
Edit to add: In this universe, for those who don't follow my fic, Alistair is king, the Elissa mentioned is queen, and I've deided the darkspawn taint functions essentially like an extremely overactive thyroid gland, given that it's one of the few real-world conditions that mimics basically every one of the Grey Warden physical changes lore provides.


Denial
This was their first vacation, well, ever. Sure, they traveled constantly, but Anders hardly considered recruiting, investigating darkspawn, Landsmeets, and the myriad other official functions they had to attend to be vacations. He sat with Alistair, drinking brandy, telling jokes, and wondering if this was how normal members of the nobility acted all the time. The queen was off somewhere with her brother, and through the open windows he could smell the ocean, scant miles from the queen’s ancestral home.

Alistair was telling him a story and, from what Anders caught, a rather amusing one at that. Two nobles, neither of whom Anders was particularly fond of, had spent an entire council meeting sniping at each other across the table only to be caught in a closet together several hours later. “And he comes running out, pants around his ankles, saying ‘this isn’t what it looks like!’”

Maggie was across the room, sitting on the floor. One of Alistair’s sons had climbed into her lap, the other was tucked against her side. She looked to be telling them stories. Unable to tear his eyes away, Anders watched the two dark haired boys react to whatever tale she was spinning for them. Eyes wide, they would occasionally clap their hands or laugh. I wonder if ours would have had dark hair, Anders mused, looking at the last bit of sun glint off her black waves.

“You aren’t listening to a word I’m saying,” Alistair said.

“Huh?” Anders replied, confirming the king’s suspicion.

“Riiight,” Alistair laughed. “I knew it. If you were you would be dying right now.” Anders raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me the idea of him stumbling after me trying to explain, tripping on his pants, and landing on a very sensitive part of his anatomy isn’t funny? Come on, who are you, Wynne?”

“Who am I?” Anders said, now laughing, since really, it was a hilarious mental image. “Who are you? I remember someone who would blush clear to the top of his ears if someone so much as mentioned that people even have sensitive parts of their anatomy around him!”

Alistair chuckled at that. “I think marriage and fatherhood has made me a bit less… nervous about that sort of thing.” He dropped his voice and leaned over. “Did you know children have a naked phase? I swear, if you turn your back on them for ten minutes they’ll be running through the halls, clothes flying everywhere!”

“But… why?” Anders said, not entirely understanding.

“You think I would know?” Alistair said. “I lived in a barn at their age! Elissa insists it’s normal, though. I guess her nephew did the same thing.”

“Huh,” was all Anders said. He’d never spent much time around children that young, though. Four or five was about the youngest you would find at the Circle, and even children who displayed signs at that young an age, like Maggie and Jowan had, were a rarity.

“Don’t worry,” Alistair said, misreading Anders’ expression. “Even I know she’s gotten much better with kids over the last few years. I’m sure she isn’t telling them something wildly off color. And, well, if she is… that means I don’t have to explain how all that works to them later on.”

Anders did chuckle at that. He had expected the king to show up on their doorstep in a decade or so with the princes so he could avoid telling them where babies came from. An hour or two of listening to the crude talk of a bunch of warriors and lunatics would make everything more than clear to them. And, in all likelihood, scar them for life. “No, she’s fine,” he said. “She’s around kids fairly regularly these days. Two of her closest friends have daughters, after all.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right,” Alistair said. “How are the girls?”

“Fantastic,” Anders said. “Oghren’s daughter is an unholy terror, and Jowan’s daughter is her partner in crime. The two of them have managed to burn down a shed, nearly spook a horse to death, and I’m pretty sure they held down Tobias to give him a haircut. That’s the only explanation I can think of for why he suddenly shaved his head.” Anders chuckled, adding “and this was all in the last month.”

“Ouch,” Alistair said. “I’m not looking forward to these two getting that old.”

“I don’t think you have as much to worry about,” Anders assured him. “After all, you’re not Oghren. Although Jowan insists his daughter is basically Maggie at that age without the frost spells.”

“Now there is a disturbing thought,”

“Isn’t it?” Anders agreed. “But… like I was saying, she’s around kids a lot. Actually takes the both of them into the city once a month or so. They all get dressed up and have tea.”

“You’re kidding me,” Alistair said, shocked. Anders shook his head.

“I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.”

“So… why?” Alistair asked. Anders shrugged. He had suspicions. She claimed it was because the girls never left her alone and promising that kept them off her back long enough that she could work. She was a pretty lousy liar, though. “Whatever the reason, I can’t believe Felsi allows it. She thinks Maggie’s a bad influence on Oghren.”

“She also feels bad for her.”

Alistair raised his eyebrows at that. “Feels bad for her? Why?” Maggie was right, Anders decided, Alistair could be dense as a brick on occasion. “Oh,” Alistair said after a moment, watching her move a hand through the air, laughing as she imitated a dragon.

“Does she know?” Alistair asked quietly. “Felsi, I mean. Better question: does Maggie know Oghren’s been blabbing Warden secrets?”

“Alistair, we’ve been together for more than six years. Wardens or not, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out if it was going to happen it would have by now. For a while I wondered if it might, if maybe she was wrong about that… but no. I’m a healer, believe me, it is absolutely not possible. Not for her anymore, at least. Probably not for me, either, but that’s harder to tell.” Alistair gave him a curious look. “Well, once a month most women—”

“Woah, got you,” Alistair said. “Understood.” He made a face and then, a moment later, changed his expression to concern. “Is… is she all right? I mean, I know there’s nothing you can do, but…?”

“Physically? Just fine. From what I know that’s normal for any woman who’s been a Warden as long as she has. It’s been nearly a decade after all.” Alistair nodded. “As for the rest… She won’t even admit it bothers her,” Anders said.

“And you?” Anders sighed, shifting in his chair. Alistair reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Does she know?”

“No,” Anders said quickly. “And that’s how it’ll stay.” He paused. “Well, that isn’t quite true. She knows. How could she not? But I deny it.”

“Why?” Alistair asked. “Maybe if you talk—”

“No,” Anders repeated. “I almost did once. You know what she did? She told me I should leave her and find a normal woman. Since she wants me to be happy.” He made a face. “So no, I’m not bringing that up. Ever again.” He shrugged. “Just as well, really. Magic is hereditary, after all, and I think the Grand Cleric would mess her vestments if someone even suggested letting a couple mages take in an orphan. But honestly, do you remember what it was like to be a Warden?”

“I’m still a Warden,” Alistair said, sounding defensive.

“You know what I mean. I might not be alive in a month, she might not… We’re not even supposed to, anyways. In other countries Wardens have to either leave the order or give up their children, unless they’ve got someone outside the order to take care of them.” He shrugged. “It’s not that big a deal.”

Whatever Alistair might have said to that was cut short by two toddlers launching themselves at him. “Did you really kill a high dragon?” one asked.

“Two, actually,” Alistair said, they both looked suitably impressed. “Which one did you tell them about? Not Flem—”

“Maker’s breath, no, I didn’t tell them that one.” Maggie rolled her eyes at him. Anders couldn’t blame her, even she knew a story about killing a shapeshifting abomination wasn’t exactly toddler friendly. “I told them about the evil dragon high in the mountains besmirching the prophet’s holy name.” Alistair looked relieved and excused himself, one child under each arm, as they struggled against being put to bed while there was a chance to wheedle another story out of someone.

“Wonder where his guards are,” Anders mused.

“In the hall,” Maggie replied. “He can’t stand to have them in the room. He wants the boys to grow up as normally as possible, without every move being watched.” She sat next to him in silence for an uncomfortable length of time. Anders could tell she was upset, but she was taking such pains to hide it he went along with it. “They’ve gotten big,” she said finally.

“Well, their father is enormous. Maybe they’ll take after him.”

“Probably,” she agreed. Anders looked out the window, eventually he realized Maggie was looking over at him when she said his name quietly.

“Hm?” he replied, turning to face her.

“You really aren’t upset that we’ll never…” she shrugged, words trailing off.

“Never what?” he said, feigning ignorance. “Have a kid?” She nodded. “Maker, no. Can you even imagine? I’d probably drop it. Or forget it on a battlement somewhere.” Before he could stop himself Anders blurted out “why, are you?”

“What?” she said, sounding surprised. “Of course not. I’d be a terrible parent. Probably try and bring it to fight darkspawn or something.”

Anders managed a smirk at that and squeezed her hand. Sitting in silence, they watched the sun set outside.
-------

And if you need something to cheer you up go look at this since I've been giggling like a fool over it for ages.

Modifié par LupusYondergirl, 10 décembre 2010 - 09:32 .

[Avilia]

@Lupus . but lovely too. I liked seeing Ali as a responsible adult too.

[Avilia]

Oh and that linked image - mere words cannot express how much I'm loving it.

[Miri1984]

 @Lupus:



But YES, the linked image. I faved that as soon as I saw it. Always cheers me up.

[Wedger]

@Lupus ~ Loved the Anders & Alistair dialog.

And thanks for the link. Cracks me up everytime. Poor cat was trying to sleep.

[Galagraphia]

 Awww, Lupus  Poor Maggie, poor Anders.  But I love how Alistair is telling dirty stories like that and that he has a happy family life. Who will dare to say now that recruiting Loghain was a bad idea? 

[SurelyForth]

@Avilia Your story made me tear up and it's very intriguing.



@Lupus Your story also made me cry (a ridiculous amount, but I am all bummed out already because of sad Christmas themed television that gave me sad Christmas themed dreams). The conversation at the end could have pretty much been lifted directly from my life...only minus the darkspawn and battlements.

[Sarah1281]

@Lupus: That was so sad. I think Anders really does want a child given how much thought he puts into it. He denies it but so does Maggie. Regardless of whether either would really want to have a child if the opportunity came up, I guess the fact that they CAN'T have one makes them a little jealous at least sometimes.

[Galagraphia]

Sarah1281 wrote...

@Lupus: That was so sad. I think Anders really does want a child given how much thought he puts into it. He denies it but so does Maggie. Regardless of whether either would really want to have a child if the opportunity came up, I guess the fact that they CAN'T have one makes them a little jealous at least sometimes.

You know, I think Anders wants to have children not only in AOA universe. He loves to take care of small defenseless creatures, doesn't he? And if he was taken to the tower as a teenager, from a normal family, he probably had grown up in that surroundings where everybody eventually are married and with children. I think if he could've stayed out of the Circle, he would've ended up like daddy!Hawke. With 3 heroic children 

Modifié par Galagraphia, 10 décembre 2010 - 10:28 .

[Avilia]

@Surely thank you



I agree that Anders would want children. Its one reason I had to give him one despite the slight stretch in game logic.

[LupusYondergirl]

Thanks, everyone. I figured that would come out slightly, well, miserable. Which is why I want to do another that is... less miserable. (or not miserable at all, ideally.)

[Miri1984]

He would be a great father. I wonder if maybe there might be a few little Anderses running around from before Awakenings - given that he escaped so many times. He might have knocked up a barmaid somewhere .

[cave_fatuam]

@Avilia - This ----> ;_;

@Lupus - That made me feel like something was about to explode as soon as Alistair left. The inability to have children would be heartbreaking even if you didn't want them. It takes away the freedom to make a choice. :/

Modifié par cave_fatuam, 10 décembre 2010 - 08:52 .

[SurelyForth]

Edit: NM, I'll have to deal with formatting nightmares when I get home later.

Modifié par SurelyForth, 10 décembre 2010 - 09:54 .

[Miri1984]

Oooh, Surely prompt fill? *can't wait*



Mine's coming, again in short fits and bursts.

[SurelyForth]

For real this time. Shoot.

So, for context: Brand Cousland is the Warden-Commander of Ferelden, her son is Bryce Guerrin and he's a little over 3 1/2 when this story takes place (so it's about 5 months before the beginning of Undertow).

~~~

"I can help?"

The woman in the marketplace had long hair the color of honey that she wore pinned loosely at the sides. When she spun around to confront the small voice offering help, it fanned out about her shoulders and caught the sunlight to gleam a warmer shade of gold.

"Excuse me?" Her confusion was legitimate. She was running her hands over an oversized solid oak chair that probably weighed at least four times as much as the auburn haired child that stood beside her, lips curved into the tiniest hint of a smirk even as his green eyes gleamed with sincerity.

"I can help," he shrugged and glanced away as if this was no big deal. Either she could accept his offer or refuse; he wanted to help but didn't have to.

"Ah...but this chair is very, very heavy," the woman looked between the chair and the boy and she remained incredulous. "It would take a very strong young man to help me move it."

"I am strong! Anders says that I can kick hard and I can carry Pounce all by myself now without dropping him!" The boy moved to glance behind him and then, as if remembering something of utmost importance, returned his attention to the chair and the woman. "I can help."

"No doubt." The woman had noticed the child's attention wander and her expression switched to one of complete understanding when she looked back to see Anders standing about five feet away, one shoulder pressed against the side of a neighboring stall, arms across his chest and his posture even more casual than Bryce's shrug.

He waved.

She rolled her eyes and turned back to Bryce.

"Is that you father?"

Bryce giggled and glanced at Anders out of the corner of his eye.

"That's Anders. He's my friend," Brcye tugged at the edges of his red tunic. "He said I could help you."

"Of course he did," the woman frowned and shook her head. "Well tell your friend Anders that I don't want help, and that he should be ashamed of himself."

"He has no shame," this was from memory and was probably the first thing Bryce had been taught in regards to Anders. Well, first was can make cool things happen with his hands and then came he has no shame. "Fiona told me."

"Come on, kiddo," Anders' arms fell to his side, and he gestured for Bryce to join him. "We need to get back to the palace, anyway. Anora hates it when we keep her waiting."

"Bye!" Bryce paused for a second before bounding the few steps back to Anders, his hand tucking automatically into the mage's. He didn't see the way the woman scoffed at Anders' blatant namedropping of the queen. "She was pretty."

"She was," Anders let go of Bryce's hand and rumpled his hair. "But there are thousands of pretty girls in this world. Eventually one of them will let you help her."

"All right," Bryce was momentarily preoccupied with his new boots as they caused tiny puffs of dust to rise with every step he took, but then he looked up, his face twisted in curiosity. "Can you help?"

Anders laughed at this question.

"Of course I can, but it's much cuter when you offer."

This earned a smile and a head ducked into the side of Anders' leg. This is probably pretty cute, too. We should add this to the repertoire.

~~~

The palace foyer was chilly as ever, even though the day beyond the castle walls had been clear and warm. Windows set near the ceiling allowed some sunlight to stream in and Bryce had decided that those small pools of gold were the only places safe enough for him to be, so he leapt from sunbeam to sunbeam with the intense focus of someone whose very life depended upon landing in exactly the right spot.

"Hey, Bryce," Anders was seated below an ostentatious painting of a blond man who had probably been king at some point in the past age. But the king was dead and, therefore, unimportant. Unimportant unlike the three women who were approaching him from one the long hallways that led to the palace dining hall. "You're on."

The boy went from entertaining himself to sprawled across the stone floor of the foyer with admirable alacrity, the three women spilling into view just as he went down with a small cry of Anders!

"Maker!" The most striking of the trio was short and voluptuous, eyes of light blue startling against her much darker coloring. One small hand went to her very not small bosom and she motioned for her companions to stop. "My little dear! Are you all right?"

Anders was already on his knees beside Bryce, his expression one of deliberate concern as he gingerly rolled the child onto his back and brushed hair away from a pained face.

"Ohhhh," Bryce moaned and his eyelids fluttered dramatically.

"Oh!" The three women responded with simultaneous gasps of sympathy.

"Just hold still, Bryce," Anders was quite proud of how convincingly Bryce cringed as Anders tested his limbs for injury. "You're safe now."

"Awww!" The chorus of swoons emboldened Bryce a bit.

"Anders," he gasped, his voice faint. "My elbow hurts."

Mustering strength from some unknown source, he pointed feebly to his stomach and Anders was forced to stifle a giggle.

"Should we take him to the castle physician?" One of the less voluptuous women moved closer and her skirts rustled near Anders' head, a gentle whiff of lavender following seconds later. He looked up, his face as grave as he could possibly make it with Bryce twitching on the floor in front of him.

"We haven't the time! Besides, I am fully capable of saving this child's life. Trust me, there's not a physician in Thedas that can compete," Anders returned to his task only to see that Bryce had decided to die on him, complete with tongue lolling out of his mouth. Little ****, going off script. "No! You're far too young!"

He sought out Bryce's shoulders to administer a gentle shake and was rewarded with Bryce sputtering back to life, gentle coughs signaling his revival and a soft moan indicating that he wasn't out of the woods yet.

"Maker! What's happening here?" The voice that came from behind the trio of women was familiar, but Bryce did not break character, not even when his mother joined him on the floor, her palm cupped to his cheek and her eyes wide with stunned disbelief. "Oh, my baby! Can you save him, Ser?"

"My lady, I have sworn myself to saving your son," his tone turned reassuring and Anders placed one hand on Brand' shoulders, their eyes meeting across the child who had decided that coughing was definitely the most dramatically efficient way to play this. "I promise you, the two of you will walk out of this palace together."

"Then I will entrust my heart to your capable hands." The tremor in her voice was believable enough, but the corner of her mouth tugged back in barely contained amusement and it made Anders hard-pressed to keep a smile from spreading across his own face.

"For the love of Andraste," this voice was unmistakable, the cultured but clipped cadence of the queen of Ferelden calling attention to the fact that Anders had lost the bulk of his audience. "Who in the world would be mentally deficient enough to fall for such nonsense?"

Anders, realizing that his ruse had failed (probably right around Bryce's over-the-top death) sat back on his heels and offered Anora his most suggestive smirk.

"Aren't you the least bit...intrigued, Your Majesty?" Majesty received an extra caress from his voice and Brand, who had gotten Bryce to his feet and was helping him dust off, shot him a look that was somewhere between impressed and you're pushing it.

"Not even, Warden," she turned her sapphire eyes on Brand, her pale lips twisting into something like a grin. "I suppose if it doesn't bother you that he uses your son to trick women into acknowledging his presence..."

"If anything, I bet she's jealous she didn't think of it first," Anders stood and ignored the way Anora flinched in reaction to that bit of familiarity. "Besides, it's not like that."

"It's for fun," Bryce smiled at Anora and it was very much a copy of something he'd seen Anders break out in the Vigil, slightly crooked and quite different from his usually sunny grin. "And I'm cute."

Even Anora seem to appreciate this, but her attention went to Brand, thus ignoring Anders standing right there, looking hopeful that he'd at least get partial credit for Bryce's charm.

"I have a meeting with Eamon scheduled for next week, Commander, and I imagine that he'd like to speak with you while he's in the city. Should I expect to see you again?" This was back to business, the queen's posture regal and even Bryce recognized the shift from merriment to seriousness.

"I..." Brand's gaze lingered on her son, who had fallen back against Anders' legs, his focus on an ostentatious painting of a blond man who had probably been king at some point in the past age. He seemed distinctly unimpressed by the image. "Yes, Bryce and I will be in the city to visit with Arl Eamon. I'll make a point to come by the palace, your grace."

Anders had not a clue why the conversation had turned so vague and he didn't have time to ask before Anora was gesturing them to the main entrance, the guard there readying to pull open the heavy wooden doors.

"I would ask you to stay for dinner, Brand, but I don't know if I would be able to withstand the considerable charm of you and your children. And they would certainly be a menace to my staff's productivity."

"You have no idea," Brand jerked her chin towards Bryce. "Last week Bryce somehow got the seamstress to use a bunch of fabric scraps to stitch up a wee little cowl for Anders' cat. It took her almost all afternoon and she was nearly in tears when she realized she'd not finished the mending for the day."

"But you have to admit, the hat was incredibly adorable." Anders omitted the fact that Pounce had spent much of his time wearing it lockedlimbed and cat-scowling, the furious twitching of his tail signaling a fathomless amount of disproval.

"Oh, I'm certain it was," Anora obviously saw no appeal in cats in cowls, or elaborate schemes that never yielded any results beyond laughter and humorous stories.

Her loss, Anders thought as they sailed through the palace doors and on their way back to the market district, Bryce taking his position between Brand and Anders, his hands split between them. He was recounting their adventures that afternoon and only stopped so Brand could tease him and Anders about how awful they were at their little game.

Anders supposed he really was terrible at it, since he was already having difficulty remembering the women he'd been trying to impress but was certain that he'd be recounting Bryce's miraculous return to life for months to come. It's all just a bunch of silly fun with a friend who is always up for some silly fun. In a world of darkspawn and bandits and prisons for people guilty of nothing but being born, there really isn't anything better.

Modifié par SurelyForth, 11 décembre 2010 - 02:33 .

[Estral27]

Lupus that was beautiful. Who's cutting onions by my computer??

[Sarah1281]

@ Surely: Aw, that was adorable! Anora doesn't really 'get' kids, I see.

[Miri1984]

Bryce and Anders FOREVER!!!