8061 réponses à ce sujet

[TanithAeyrs]

@Corker - LOL funny.  Poor Ruthna, to have Oghren remember that.  Good job with the whole conversation.

@payroo- Zevran's expression is perfect, and the short story leading up puts everything in context - well done.

@Hilde- I think Alistair and Zevran both have their hands full with your Warden - I like it.

@tankgirly - I know it's several pages back, but your "modernized" characters are awesome.  Love it.

@Shadow - ROFL - "why did you kiss my dog?" - wonderful - I love it.

@maradeux - you have done such a great job with both those kisses in your stories, it was fun to re-read them.

@wildannie- that was sweet.  I love how Zev falls so easily into the role of protector.

@caridounette- I like the way all your Wardens approach things differently, and how Zevran is perceptive enough to pick up on their different needs.  Well done.

@Kornichon- SO FUNNY.  Your poor drunk warden.  Awesome.

@FutileSine- wow, what a heartbreaking glimpse into Zev's life as a Crow.  Well done.

@frostjulie- you captured the youth and anxiety of your Warden beautifuly.  Her lyrium addiction makes her that much more real.  I hope she finds what she is seeking with Zevran.

Have to go for now, will catch up on the rest of the entries tonight or tomorrow.

[soignee]

Aisynia wrote...

caridounette wrote...

how about something done with those silver and gold bars that are supposed to be Zev specific gifts? He could haave had something made from one of them for the Warden.

That's what I've been thinking about too, so we're on the same page. He loves treasure, so really extra shiny rings and such would fit well.

Mixed metal rounds is a belt, but maybe one of the metal thingies could be taken off and put on a chain if you want to make it into a neckpiece.

Hope that helps

Basically what I was thinking

I'm glad we're on the same page. Thanks for the help

I've always attributed those bars to the Thedas equivalent to a briefcase of used $50 bills and a fake passport. It's a solid form of cash that speaks many languages, and is less politrically messy then lyrium.

But um, yeah I guess it can be made into pretty jewellry too. >.>

[/pragmatic mode off]

[ejoslin]

The thing is, with Zevran, he has never had anything. I think about it -- he would keep the gloves and the boots for sure; no one ever cared enough to give him anything before. That's what makes the whole thing so difficult -- Zevran had one thing of value, that earring, which he gives to the warden.

Edit: As far as the bars go, the codex says this:  Zevran shows an affinity for the finer things in life -- hardly surprising for an Antivan Crow--but his appreciation can be more poetic than he lets on. A simple bar of refined silver or gold, uncomplicated by a craftsman’s hammer, is elegantly valuable. 

Keepsakes are hard to come up with for a character who never had anything in his life.

Modifié par ejoslin, 03 octobre 2010 - 09:32 .

[LupusYondergirl]

Does he ever say anything that would indicate why he does like those bars or give the player some hint that they would be intended for him?

I've been trying to remember how I figured out they were his gift in the first place- I might have even looked on the wiki.

[ejoslin]

No, you just get a codex entry.



Awwww, I was looking through the conversation he initiates at 26+ and saw this if the romance isn't active):



Zevran: One simply assumes that, once your Grey Warden business is finished, you would have no need of an assassin to follow you about. Am I wrong? (reasonable)

Warden: I could always use a friend.

Zevran: Indeed? Hmm. I might even be glad to call myself such, come to think of it. (intrigued by the idea -- he's never had a friend)



Awwwww

[jenovan]

*pops in* Slightly less than 2 hours left for entries for this week's prompt! This is going to be a challenging decision ;


@SoLD - Thank you! :3 A new life, indeed -- though still plagued by troubles, sigh.

@Corker - "In sickness and in health" -- yes, now that I'm thinking about their story as a whole, very much so. XD;

Modifié par jenovan, 03 octobre 2010 - 10:15 .

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

LupusYondergirl wrote...

Does he ever say anything that would indicate why he does like those bars or give the player some hint that they would be intended for him?
I've been trying to remember how I figured out they were his gift in the first place- I might have even looked on the wiki.

ejoslin mentioned the codex entry, but I also got a hint from his personal item (Mixed Metal Rounds).

If you read the descriptions, Alistair has a Worry Token, which sets up the whole mystical runes and carvings thing, Leliana's Seeker's Circle points to her Maker/Andraste fixation, Morrigan's Wildstone Clasp suggests her 'eye for quality' and pretty thngs... etc. (Sten, who starts with nothing, was the hardest one for me to figure out).

Zev's attraction to unwrought metal is, I think, more than just an eye for wealth. His belt and Codex entry both suggest there's something sentimental or poetic behind it, though of course a like for rich ingots can be easily claimed/hidden as a lust for treasure. That's just my take, though.

[Corker]

Aisynia wrote...

I'm creating a small mod for Awakening. Basically, it's a collection of keepsakes from your Origins love interests that can be worn as amulets or rings, and have good stats. ....

With Alistair and Leliana, it was easy to convert their specific items (Seeker's Circle, Runic Worry Token) and some of their gifts into wearable items, but Zevran has be stumped.

A pendant; a plain silver disc.  On the reverse is carefully etched some really awful Antivan sex poetry.

Antivan Leather Belt.  Although the smell reminds him of home, maybe it reminds the Warden of him. (In addition to the normal holes for the belt tongue, there are also a few holes poked rather too close to the buckle  :innocent:.)

A Crow dagger; the blade is etched with "I am yours."  (But that'd have to be a heck of a dagger to compete with Voice of Velvet... sigh...)

[jenovan]

...and this week's prompt is now closed.  Results later this evening!  

Corker wrote...

Antivan Leather Belt.  Although the smell reminds him of home, maybe it reminds the Warden of him. (In addition to the normal holes for the belt tongue, there are also a few holes poked rather too close to the buckle  :innocent:.)

*beverage to screen* 

[Korina1982]

Corker wrote...

A pendant; a plain silver disc.  On the reverse is carefully etched some really awful Antivan sex poetry.

Antivan Leather Belt.  Although the smell reminds him of home, maybe it reminds the Warden of him. (In addition to the normal holes for the belt tongue, there are also a few holes poked rather too close to the buckle  :innocent:.)

Either of these seems really appropriate. hehe

Oh, and *poet fistbump*


@shadow: good eye! That's exactly what I was going for.

Modifié par Korina1982, 04 octobre 2010 - 01:15 .

[jenovan]

Prompt: First Kiss
This one is wide open, guys Only rule is that it has to involve Zevran somehow. Interpret as you will!

Entries:

[quote]soignee wrote...

(This is kind of cheating. Since I already wrote about the first kiss in the fanfic, I decided to illustrate it with my time for the prompt.)
____________________________________
She saw a flash of blonde out of the corner of her eye and Zevran emerged from the shadow of the house, looking away from them both politely. Dog went up to her and sniffed her boots, sneezing suddenly.

"Was that it?" Alistair asked. "That… shrew was my sister?"

Missa put her hands on her hips, watching as the mabari stretched out in front of her in a yawn. "Sorry salroka," she said roughly. "'Can't chose your blood, can't chose your caste,' as the saying goes. Well, for my folk anyway."

He looked at her with red eyes, confused slightly. "But… isn't that what family should do?"

She laughed at that, and Alistair looked at her sharply. "You say this to me now? After you heard me tell you about my Mother? And you expect me to answer that? Just because she's blood, it does not mean she should be your family, no. Not at all."

Alistair flashed her an angry look. "Don't rub it in, alright? Just… drop it." He turned on his heel and walked away then, and with an annoyed sigh she followed him.

"Alistair, wait."

"Leave it," and he carried on walking.

Missa ran ahead of him and pushed him back. "No, you'll listen. You need to start standing up for yourself, toughen up and realise that there's not many people on this earth that give a **** about you. You have to start surviving."

"That's an awful thing to say," he said, looking down at her.

"I know it is," she said reasonably. "You have to start looking out for you. Because I can't be everywhere, even if you are my salroka."

Missa thought arrogantly her words would be a comfort. Instead he reacted in an entirely different way. "Are you happy now?" He shouted back, face red.

"I… Alistair, I'm not, no. I'm sorry that-"

"You're sorry? I doubt it. It makes it easier for you if the world is at your level, right? That way you don't have to think too hard and hope. And Maker forbid if anyone shows anyone some kindness or charity, because that doesn't exist to you, does it?"

She stopped then trying to reason, as angry as him. "You go very carefully now," she said, every word precise. "As you may end up saying something you regret, and I'll have to respond. And you won't like that."

"Fine," he said shortly. He left her then in the centre of the market, the people walking in the space he left.

"Damn it," she said to no one in particular. Dog padded up to her and butted her leg with a whine, and she pushed him away. "Damn it, damn it."

"Warden," Zevran said quietly to her then, appearing by her side.

"Still here?" She said shortly, hands on hips.

"Of course. I am a man of my word."

"Careful now. I can take that in many, many different ways."

Zevran chuckled and looked at her, eyes sweeping her face briefly. "Ah, the possibilities."

Missa looked up at him as appraisingly as he had done earlier, gaze lingering over tanned, lithe flesh before staring briefly into his peculiar eyes. She then did something she had no idea how she started, and grabbed his shoulders and kissed him roughly.



It wasn't an elegant kiss; it was teeth bumping and dry lips, and as soon as it melted into something more serious she pushed him away. "Don't know why I did that," she said, a hand to her mouth.

Zevran rubbed a thumb over his lower lip and raised an eyebrow. "Impulsiveness is the very blood of living; it does not need explaining. I do not mind, however. You can be impulsive around me as often as you like."

Missa fixed him a look and pursed her lips. "I was… angry. And took it out on you. So, uh, sorry." Zevran gave her look that said he wasn't fooled about something, but remained silent, a sardonic smile playing his lips.

"Of course."

"Let's go find the others," she said roughly. Missa shook herself before she moved, and refused to look at him for the rest of the day.
-----------------------------------------------------------

(rest of the story from this point found here.)[/quote]
* I love how you've caught the sense of impulse here. (And Missa's hands! Much love for well-done hands. /dork)

[quote]Corker wrote...

Dual Wielding Kisses

Sten had stared rudely at the young couple, muttering only, "Most unsanitary," before continuing on his way. But he had that look about him, so no one was surprised when he demanded later in camp: "What is the meaning of this pressing of the lips?"

Leiliana looked up at him, bemused. "It is a kiss, Sten. Do not the qunari kiss?"

"No, we do not. What is its meaning?"

"It shows affection," Leiliana explained. "Familial or romantic."

"The qunari do not form such bonds. They only serve to entangle."

"You've never been kissed?" Leiliana looked astounded. "Oh Sten! How sad!"

"Believe me, I am in no hurry to remedy the situation," the giant deadpanned. "It appears to be an unpleasantly moist experience."

"Oh no! Not at all! Why, I remember my first kiss." Leiliana clasped her hands around her knees, smiling as she gazed into her memories. "Lady Cecile was hosting a grand ball, a masquerade. I danced several times with a very handsome gentleman much too old for me, and he gave me the gentlest, loveliest kiss before he disappeared. I never did find out who he was."

"Hehhhh. Reminds me of my first time, too. Well, first kiss, I suppose," Oghren put in. The companions looked at him warily, mindful of how Storytime with Uncle Oghren usually ended. "Some noble's daughter thinkin' she could go slumming by the Proving Grounds without the Warriors knowing. Heh. Like the guard shadowing her didn't give it away, right? I was a young buck, barely into my beard; I remember she had the biggest, roundest - "

"Oghren!" Wynne protested.

" - shield, and an axe," he continued, unperturbed. "And a mighty fine rack. We went a few rounds, got good and sweaty, and swapped spit while her guard was busy sparring with a friend of mine. Never did catch her name. Good times, yeah... good times."

"And you, Warden?" Zevran's usual purr contained more than a bit of smirk, and half the group was hiding smiles. Ruthna Aeducan, former dwarven noble and noted axe-and-shieldmaiden, had grown progressively paler and more horrified as Oghren had narrated his anecdote.

"Uh... that is... well... surely I have nothing as interesting to tell as you, Zevran," Ruthna dodged.

"I cannot even recall my first kiss. What fair Leiliana neglected to mention, Sten, is that the kiss may be used to feign affection as well."

"Which is why I eschew them," Morrigan pronounced. The witch had appeared to take a portion of the stew that cooked by the main fire, but was apparently unable to leave without a parting sally. "I agree with Sten: slobbery, awkward and unnecessary."

"My dear, then you do not know what you are missing!"

"And do you propose to show me, then?" "Neither do I." Morrigan's sharp retort and Alistair's glum observation came out together.

"My friend Alistair? Also never kissed? Tsk, tsk. Come, there is no need for either of you to languish so. Allow me to remedy the situation."

Alistair blinked at him. "You're joking, right? Tell me you're joking."

Morrigan put her free hand on her hip. "Stab you in the face, I said, and I meant it. Do not test me on this."

Zevran sighed sadly. "You are both lacking in imagination and deviousness. Consider if you both accepted my offer!"

The witch and the templar stared blankly for a moment, but Oghren - not lacking at all in the imagination department when it came to this sort of thing - guffawed. Zevran swept a hand out dramatically to gesture to the rude dwarf. "Oghren understands! Come now!"

"I am glad to think differently than the dwarf," Morrigan sniffed.

Chuckling, Oghren said to her, "The look on his face...", nodding towards Alistair.

"The look on her face," Zevran spelled it out for Alistair, indicating Morrigan.

"Is this what passes for comraderie among you people?" Sten asked distastefully.

Morrigan and Alistair each considered the other for a long moment, weighing personal animosity against the cost of a kiss. Oghren chanted, "Do it, do it, do it," under his breath until Ruthna and Leiliana both swatted him.

"Absolutely not." "No, I don't think so." The assassin responded to the simultaneous answers with a long sigh that left him looking utterly deflated. "Well, let it not be said that I did not try to assist my boon companions in adding to the full experience of their lives."

Oghren perked up at that. "Hey, you know, the one who started this whole sodding conversation still - "

"No."[/quote]
* Ahahaha XD Everyone sounds note-perfect here, and I love Ruthna's reaction to Oghren's story... rofl. (omg but what about Wynne? XD)

[quote]payroo wrote...

Anyways, I finally found the time to work up something for the weekly prompt!

Here's a tiny bit of a story to go with it.

"I win again, Zevran." Taliesin, infuriatingly arrogant and cocky as always, pinned Zevran to the wall with far more force than was necessary to merely subdue him. Zevran writhed beneath the stronger man's grip but Taliesin continued regardless. "Perhaps if you spent less time chasing skirts and more time practicing, this wouldn't be so one-sided."

Zevran didn't know why the human fixated on him so, but frankly, he was sick of it. Every foible, every stumble of his was met with much more interest and criticism than was strictly necessary between two members of the same House. At first he had thought it was some sort of hazing ritual (Taliesin had been in the House for a year when Zevran had first arrived) but as other new members were initiated and untroubled, he had come to another conclusion entirely.

At some point, Taliesin's face had gotten close enough so that Zevran could feel on his cheek his breaths, still fast and ragged from their sparring session. Maker's breath, he was still rambling on.

There was only one logical thing to do at this point. Zevran tilted his head forward and closed the distance between their lips.


[/quote]
* Ahh, Taliesin and Zevran. XD That certainly was the most logical way to shut him up... X3 I love the look in Zev's eyes here!

[quote]Hilde wrote...

56 minutes, thought I may not finish this one in time!

Zevran's Lesson....


Zevran sat with Leliana and Alistair near the main entrance of the spoiled princess watching Auryn barter with the shopkeeper. The two days spent in camp recovering after the circle tower had been needed by all of his new traveling companions and today the warden had decided it was time to purchase supplies and be off at dawns first light.

The past weeks since joining them, Zevran had been mostly ignored but all but Auryn and Leliana who had tentatively tried to approach him on occasion, curious of their new companion. The other attention he received often came in the form of glares and questioning reproaches of his motive. He lacked amusement, he longed to hear joyous laughter, but these new companions of his were proving quite dull. He would remedy this.

“My good friend Alistair…I have noticed this little dance you play with our fair warden.” mused Zevran aloud, his fingers lightly tapping at his chin.

“What? Oh…I…it’s none of your business.” replied Alistair flatly. With that, Zevran only saw a challenge.

“Come come, I have watched you two. She throws you obvious hints and lingers longer than necessary in your presence and yet….Oho! I get it. You are playing hard to get, No?” he chuckled leaning in closer to Alistair, “Very clever indeed.”

“No!” exclaimed Alistair nearly jumping from his seat, blushing from the neck up. Alistair clearly bristled, weighing a possible decision to confide in him and to Zevran’s undisguised delight the Templar weakened.

“You see…” Alistair said faintly, “It’s just I have never...you seem like a man who has had many women right? How do I woo her?”

“Woo her? Are you quite serious” Zevran exclaimed a little too loudly causing the ale Leliana had been finishing to spill from her mouth as she choked in surprise. Zevran held in a laugh, he had indeed found amusement today.
From the look on Alistair’s face as both Leliana and Zevran leaned in closer to share in this juicy piece of gossip they were about to lose him to silence. Zevran had to recover quickly.

“No, no… I have just never heard it put in quite those terms before, please, I will be of service in any way I can.” Zevran caught the amused glint in Leliana’s eyes as he continued on. “Let’s see… you have not yet kissed the lady you wish to woo, no? Perhaps we should start there.”

Alistair let out a clearly exasperated sigh, “I would if I even knew how to approach…that, look…I want to but I am not exactly smooth.”

“Oh! But that is not so a big a problem. Here, I will tell you how. First you approach her with confidence yes! Look deeply into her eyes and lean in close….” The look of fear on Alistair face stopped him from elaborating further. He would have to approach this differently, “The best way to teach is to show yes?”

“Sorry?” stammered Alistair as his attention refocused on the elf in front of him, his eyes growing wide.

“Do not fear my good friend; I will not kiss you…well, unless it is what you desire?” purred Zevran as he moved slightly closer to the warden.

“Maker’s Breath! No!” Alistair was clearly relieved but the confusion at Zevran’s declaration sank back in.

“No? Now let’s see. I will need an assistant yes?” Zevran declared as he lifted from his seat.

“Wait…” followed Alistair’s voice after him, but Zevran had already found his target.
………
As Auryn turned to rejoin her companions and exit the Inn, she caught the look of horror reaching across Alistair’s features as she approached the table, countered only by the laughing and amused expression on Leliana’s face. Her gaze continued to travel across the table and rested on Zevran who was moving languidly toward her with a growing smirk.

Before she was able to question their expressions Zevran was in front of her, his arm snaking around her waist pulling her closer while his eyes lingered momentarily, giving her a chance to break away.

As Zevran’s lips descended upon hers, the kiss that should have been short and chaste became a long lingering motion, his lips melting into hers as his hand curled into her waist pulling her closer. As he broke away, his gaze remained fixed on her for a moment. With the realization of where he was, he cleared his throat and turning to Alistair “That my friend is the way…”

Zevran’s statement was immediately cut off as Auryn lifted her hand to cup his cheek pulling him in for another kiss. The kiss quickly deepened as her tongue found entrance to his mouth forcing a stifled moan from Zevran. Auryn’s arms wrapped round his waist pulling him closer still. As she finally broke the kiss leaving them both a little breathless, she smiled at him, running her fingers lazily down his arm.

“That Alistair is how you approach someone for a kiss.” She said dryly but with a wicked smile. Turning to her astonished companions her expression once again neutral “Well, are we ready to go?”

Auryn grabbed her pack smiling over at Zevran and turned to head out the door.

Zevran remained stunned momentarily as he and Leliana watched a horrified Alistair follow wearily after Auryn. As Leliana moved to stand beside Zevran she laughed and elbowed him in the side.

“Well…?” Leliana’s question lingered in the air. “What now?”

Zevran, still unsure of how to answer the question Leliana had posed grabbed his pack and headed back to camp.[/quote]
* Oho, good on Auryn! XD Although now I imagine both fellows are a bit confused...! I enjoyed the teasing banter between Zev and Alistair :3

[quote]Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

I *really* don't expect this to win since I've read the entries already and there is so much awesome(!!), but the prompt zapped this out of me and it was fun to write, so that's all that counts

Place Your Bets...

“Five silvers on the nug-licker,” Oghren said.

“Hmmm. Ten for me, on the mabari,” Alistair said.

“Ooh, feeling brave, little pike-twirler? Fine, fine. What do you say to fifteen?”

“I say ‘Hello, my shiny little friends! You will buy Alistair a small mountain of fine cheeses when he wins this bet!’”

“Feh, not on your best day, Chantry-boy. No way that sodding mutt’s gonna beat a master assassin like Zevran, right? Eh? Elf?”

“If the captive audience does not mind,” Zevan said calmly, his face a mere hand-span from Ferrix’s muzzle and his golden eyes not making the smallest flicker away from the mabari’s brown ones, “this demands a great deal of concentration. Please, a little quiet.”

An almost reverent silence fell as elf and dog stared at each either, the Crow kneeling and the mabari sitting on his haunches so that their eyes were level, neither so much as blinking.

A shadow loomed over the two combatants.

“What is the point of this ritual?” Sten’s voice demanded.

“Ritual? It’s a sodding bet, qunari,” Oghren informed him. “The elf’s giving us a demonstration of his cat-like reflexes.”

Sten stared downwards with no noticeable change in expression. After a couple of seconds, when no one moved, he asked, “When is this ‘demonstration’ due to begin?”

“It goes whenever one of them moves first,” Alistair explained. “Zevran reckons that he can move faster than Ferrix. Personally I think he doesn’t have a chance…Ferrix can outrun him even on a bad day, right boy?”

The mabari’s eyes remained unwavering, but his short tail wagged.

“Not so!” Zevran protested mildly. “If I poisoned him he would not be able to run far, true? Ha ha, I jest! Stop growling at me!”

“Aannnyyyway,” Alistair said, “it’s quite simple, really. Ferrix is going to try and give Zev a big lick across the face. All Zevran has to do is be quick enough to see it coming and get out of the way.”

“This is pointless,” Sten said flatly, looking at the dog. “You should simply pin your adversary to the ground. Victory would be yours.”

“Nope, that’s against the rules,” Oghren said. “A lunge and a big ol’ wet dog-kiss. Except it aint gonna happen that way.”

“Indeed?”

“Yep! Sodding dog don’t stand a chance. The elf’ll get out of the way, no problem.”

“Your confidence is truly inspiring, ser,” Zevran purred.

“That’s what I’m here for,” Oghren said, downing a mouthful of ale and belching loudly. “Just call me the cheerleader for Team Zevran.”

“What a frightening vision you have just conjured…”

“Interesting,” Sten said. “But incorrect. I have seen both the elf and the mabari on the field of battle. It is clear that only the warhound will triumph in this…demonstration.”

“Hah!” Alistair punched Oghren’s arm. “See? Sten’s on my side! Go Ferrix!”

“Oh…yeah? Well…put your money where your mouth is! Fifteen silvers, qunari! You in or are you a coward?”

“…it is cowardice to not contribute coin in this venture?”

“And if—when Ferrix wins, you get more back,” Alistair said cheerfully. “So you can buy…uh…cookies? Or another painting?”

“Antivan artists do some fascinating things with pastels,” Zevran offered. “I knew a fine oil painter once! A beautiful silver-haired creature who wanted to paint me unclothed, reclining upon a crimson-upholstered chaise lounge for the price of a single gold sovereign. If you wish to add a true masterpiece to that collection of yours, I would be pleased to donate it to you. Oh, I could even sign it!”

“Fifteen silvers on the mabari,” Sten said flatly.

“Ah, confidence! That is what I like to hear.”

After a moment of dramatic staring, there was a rustle of footsteps—unheeded, and then the disapproving voice of Alistair’s fellow Grey Warden.

“What in Thedas is going on here? You men are supposed to be on watch!”

Oghren, Alistair and Ferrix jumped guiltily at Asleena’s rebuke—and as soon as the mabari’s head turned Zevran lunged. His arms wrapped around the warhound’s neck and he barely managed to plant a kiss on the animal’s muzzle before he pulled away with a startled yelp and fled to his mistress’s side.

“A-ha!” Zevran laughed, half-sprawled on the ground as he propped himself up with one arm, chin on fist. “That would be a victory to me, no?”

“And thirty silvers to me!” Oghren gloated, extending one hand to Alistair and the other to Sten. “Cough up and make it snappy! Come to Oghren!”

“That so doesn’t count!” Alistair protested.

Asleena, flanked by Leliana, Morrigan and Wynne, took in the scene, the arguing dwarf and Templar, Sten’s usual deadpan expression, the smirking elf reclining on the grass and the mabari cowering behind her own legs, and said in a level voice, “Zevran?”

“Yes, my Grey Warden?”

“Why did you just kiss my dog?”[/quote]
* I laughed out loud when I read this -- the atmosphere of boys being boys (and dragging Sten into it) is great. XD (Hehe, poor Ferrix. XD)

[quote]caridounette wrote...

So heres my entry. Im sorry it turned out to be so long.
I couldnt choose so her are my mage, CE and castless views of Zevran's first kiss. They are all linked through that "friendship" idea Zevran has...

What friends are for

Yeesha stormed back into camp. She was about to yell, or she wished she would. None of her comrades had spoken to her yet. Leliana and Alistair were talking together, shooting her concerned glances from times to times. Morrigan had respected her silent wish for privacy, keeping Wynne at bay as well.

The young mage had crossed Fereldan more then once now, helping the needy, settling disputes, and going out of her way to keep Alistair happy. As if it that wasn’t enough, she had just been forced the accept the most reckless request since she left the Circle Tower: to chase a woman lost for years to the Deep Roads in hopes that Orzimmar would finally lend her assistance against the Blight.

She was hopelessly tired. It seemed like ages since she gave a thought about her own happiness. Lost in her head, her chin in her palms, she did not hear Zevran approach. The lithe elf took a seat by her side.

Her jaw tightened. The last thing she needed to hear were some more demands, some more concerns to calm. Instead, the elven assassin asked her if she knew anything about Antivan poetry. Brushing back her short black hair, he leaned toward her ear to perform his declamation. It was certainly the most atrocious poem she
had ever heard.

Yeesha bursted into heart-felt laughers, something she couldn’t remember happening since the eve of her Harrowing. Without giving Zevran the time to react, she turned her head and caught his lips between hers. They stayed locked in that position for a while, his hand caressing her side while her arm found its place around his
shoulders. When their mouths finally parted, Zevran was smiling slyly. They both felt silent while the elf reached for a flask of dwarven spirit and two cups at the bottom of his bag.

“Thank you for trying to cheer me up” said the mage playfully.

“Well it is always good to see ones efforts rewarded” answered Zevran with a wink, as he poured her a cup,“As for putting a smile on those gorgeous lips, that is what friends are for no?”

*******

Darriel and Zevran were walking side by side on the small path leading toward the Dalish settlement. They had taken the back of the line to allow themselves some privacy as they discuss the respective fate of their mothers.

Having a fellow elf around was something Darriel appreciated. It was also good to have such a worldly friend, someone who knew more then the hard but sustaining life of the alienage and the occasional pickpocketing scam in Denerim’s market. After all, it was only a few months since he left home for the very first time.

“Well at least you got to meet the woman… I can’t say I ever laid eyes on mine.” summarized the antivan elf, “Now lets talk about something else shall we?”

Darriel nodded.

“So it must be quite exciting for you to finally see what lies beyond your alienage.” pursued the assassin “As I understood from our previous chatter, you did not feel quite free to… explore within those walls.”

“Well there have been a few girls, but that’s mostly because they asked me, and… it’s complicated. You see, all of us living around the vhenadahl tree, we were like a big family” explained Darriel, knowing the argument would hardly convince his friend.

“So how do you know you prefer men if you never…”

“I... isn’t that something you just know?” stated dryly Darriel, more then a little
annoyed.

Before he could step aside, the young elf found himself leaning against a tree. In one swift move, his assassin friend had skilfully pinned his left arm to his while holding his right wrist at shoulder height. Before long, both elves were joined in a forceful kiss. Zevran’s tongue found its way through the dark haired elf’s lips, parting them. Surprised at first, Darriel finally closed his eyes, attentive only to the shivers going down his spine. When he eventually opened them again, Zevran had taken a small step back.

“It looks like you were telling the truth, my dear Grey Warden” said the antivan elf as he was looking down to appraise Darriel’s reaction, “you do like men.”

“Oh and I guess you expect me to be thankful as you helped me verify that?” spat the young rogue back, still out of breath.

“You are welcome indeed” laughed the older elf, “plus isn’t that what friends are for, helping
each other?”

*****

“What is it Morrigan?” said Nikky. The young dwarf wasn’t known for her patience and the witch’s stern attitude was definitely starting to annoy her, “If you are to be walking by my side, then you better tell me quickly.”

“What it is? I’m surprised you even have to ask!” barked the witch, “First you take that assassin with us – what’s to keep him from poisoning us I wonder – and now that!”

Nikky knew pretty well what the dark haired woman was implying. Last night, she traded Zevran his last cup of dwarven spirit for a kiss. As much as she recalled this morning, it had been a very good deal.

“Not that it’s any of my business,” spat the dwarf “but I can tell you haven’t been around our kind for long.”

“Your kind?” asked the witch, somewhat surprised, “Am I to understand a former Crow assassin and a former Carta tug have that much in common?”

Not the least bothered by the words used to describe her, Nikky shot a glance behind her. The elf was there, chatting aimlessly with the chantry girl while obviously admiring her voluptuous assets.

“Look, I expect to be doing far more then kissing him, so if it offends you” exposed the rogue without a hint of shame, “well you better start getting over it already.”

“Offend me? Tis the most absurd thing I heard from your mouth yet” shout the tall woman, “If you haven’t realized yet, I am concerned for my own safety, and yours as well.”

“Then you should not” answered the dwarf, while looking straight ahead, “for I learned to keep both my friends and my enemies close enough to avoid surprises. Plus, I could enjoy a little comfort, you see? After all, that’s what friends are for.”[/quote]
* Aww, a neat compilation of kisses! It's interesting to see how different Zev's relationship is with each of them, and how some of that comes from their origins. :3

[quote]FutileSine wrote...

Oooooh! Contests! Sweet!

This took me 54 minutes. Unless you count the time formating this for the board...then it goes over. Scout's honor!!

And may I just say what a fun exercise in creativity! I've *really* been missing out...

FYI, I like angst. I revel in it, actually. You've been warned.

~~~V~V~V~~~

~In Antiva~

“And how was my Bellita’s thirteenth birthday?” Her mother asked from her chair in front of the crackling fire, a full cup of the best Antivan wine in her hand, “Come, would you like a glass of wine, carita?”

Her father laughed from the small table as he poured himself another glass, “Don’t you remember when you were her age? You refused to drink any wine! I think the first time was our wedding night…” He said over his cup as his eyes twinkled in jest.

Her mother waved him off while clucking her tongue, “Aei, silencio caro, hmm? My carita is a woman now, yes? I am sure she would like a glass of wine.”

“I am sorry, madre, but I am so tired….” Bella said softly as she rubbed an eye. Dealing with a parade of Antivan nobles had worn her out. However there had been one…a boy…

“Ah! Perhaps you would like to dream of Torioni, hm?” That caught Bella’s attention and she looked up at her mother with shocked eyes while her mother laughed, “Ah, Bellita! You should know my now that little escapes a mother’s eye!” She paused to take another sip of wine, “I saw you two sneak off, carita...” her smile turned into a sly grin, “Was he good to you?”

“Aei, Rossa, you go too far! Let our daughter enjoy the rest of her day,?” Her father scolded her mother, though he had a grin on his face the whole time. “Come Bellita, are you still able to give your padre an abbraccio?”

Bella giggled and ran up to give her father a hug, enjoying the feel of his spare hand stroking her hair before she broke away and ran over to her slightly tipsy mother and gave her an embrace as well. She bowed to them before she darted off to her room, to, Maker-willing, sweet dreams of Torioni.

~V~

Zevran wiped his dagger along the rich silk of the woman’s night-robe, leaving a bright red streak against the fabric, pleased that everything had gone well. His eyes darted over to the bottle of wine that was nearly empty and smiled to himself. Amazing what a little bribe can do. It was so hard to find good, trustworthy people these days…much to his benefit.

His work completed in this room, he silently padded over to the doorway, lubricating the hinges for good measure before opening the thick door up and peering into the quiet dark hallway.

Two down, one to go.

~V~

Bella awoke with a start. She had always been a light sleeper, but when she opened her eyes and saw nothing but a dark room she heaved a sigh. False alarm. However, there was still a heaviness on her heart, which she couldn’t explain…After taking another look around the room and seeing nothing out of place, she laid her head back down on her pillow, eager to return to her dream. While earlier in the day, Torioni and herself and only shyly talked, in the Fade he had been about to give her her first kiss. Even though she knew it wasn’t real, she hoped desperately that she could return to that dream.

Her eyes went wide as she felt a hand suddenly clamp itself over her mouth and felt cool, sharp metal rest against her neck.

~V~

He never had an issue completing contracts on men and women in Antiva. Who amongst them were really innocent anyways? Children however…completing a contract on a child always bothered him. It was hard to think them guilty of anything but being born to a house with many enemies. But such was life in Antiva; He shed no tears.

When she had awoken soon after he had entered her room, he had been worried that he was going to be found out. While no guards stood immediately outside their rooms, there were plenty of servants that were easily within a shout’s distance. He loathed having to fight his way out. It was always so messy.
He wasn’t going to take a chance. As soon as she laid herself back down, he had acted. He had found from previous experience that the feel of a blade against their throat was enough to keep a child silent, and such was the case here.

He brought himself around to face her directly, smiling darkly as her eyes widened in realization. Everyone in Antiva, from the smallest babe to oldest grandfather knew when a Crow came for them. A few moments passed while nothing changed expect the rate of her breathing.

His grip tightened, and he quickly pressed down and to the right, bright red blood spurting out at him.

~V~

She gasped, though it sounded more like a gurgle as blood dripped out of her mouth. PAIN. Her room went hazy, and the blonde elf in front of her morphed into the dark-haired face of Torioni. While her life leaked out of her she actually smiled.

“K-k-ki-ki-ki-ssss m-m-me T-t-or-i” she said, or at least her mouth moved to form the words in that command. Little did she realize that each syllable she spoke was unrecognizable through the gurgling of blood in her throat.

~V~

His victims often saw someone other than himself in their last moments. He wasn’t offended. But he was surprised when he realized what she wanted as he read her lips. What a peculiar request.

Her body twitched as the last bit of her soul was leaving her, her eyes glazing over as the Fade loomed nearer. He watched her for a few more moments, before he placed a hand over her wound, feeling the warm liquid rush over his fingers, and brought his lips close to hers. As her last breath left her, he kissed her.

It was the first time he had kissed the lips of death

~V~

She was nearly gone, but somehow she still felt the pressure of lips against hers, and she saw the dark brown eyes of Tori gazing into her own.

It was her first, and last kiss.

The Fade embraced her.

~~~V~V~V~~~

Anyone see the House episode where the Aussie doctor (LoL - can't remember his name for the life of me) kisses the dying young girl? I had that episode totally in mind while writing this, plus the lovely phrase "Kiss of death" Combine those together.....[/quote]
* Hooray for angst! I love all the little details, and the glimpse into Zev's thoughts about having to fulfill a contract that included killing a child... as well as the tiny mercy of granting her last request.

[quote]frostajulie wrote...

This is my first attempt at my own fanfiction for Dragon Age I have not written anything in a couple years so I may be a bit rusty but this is Zev and Antiva, she's a Dalish Elf with a bit of a problem and Zev was her intervention. This is their first kiss. Its sloppy I did it during Rachel Maddow and it took the entire hour so I didn't edit it.

Also I type dyslexically sometimes, so if I did that sorry.


Antiva slid a small vial of the warm blue liquid into the loose fold of her sleeve. The calm feeling it induced had long since worn off and she found herself trembling with the weight of her anxieties.

They use lyrium to control the templars. Its addictive…

Antiva hated him for teaching her about the addictive nature of the substance. She hated herself for using it more. She slid easily through the trees, climbing up a steep embankment to sit on a tall stone faced wall overlooking a cerulean pond gleaming silver in the moonlight. She was far enough that the light of the evenings fire could not reach her, but close enough that she could hear the noises of camp.

Without ceremony she pulled the stopper from the vial and quickly gulped down the lyrium potion. The warmth of the elixir uncurled in her stomach and spread a calm lethargy to her limbs. She sat on the edge of the cliff, dangling her feet over the side and staring into the dark water below her.

When she had lost her clan Antiva believed she would die in this cause. She was ready to die, afterall everyone she had loved was lost to her now. She had no ties to the earth, why should she survive the blight that threatened to swallow all of Ferelden? Antiva raised a delicate wrist to trace her collarbone and lifted a knee to rest her head upon. She pushed her ebony hair behind her ear. Alistair had changed all that for a time. She really thought she had found a connection, and to a Shem no less! He was gallant and sweet and like her people he believed the act of copulation was a reverent and sacred act that should only be engaged upon between two adults who were ready to cleave together for the entirety of their lives. Whether it was the rush of constant battle and the constant specter of looming death or her own aching loneliness that made her susceptible Antiva had fallen for the charismatic Templar and fallen hard. The romance had seemed so right and she felt there was no one she could trust more than him. After Freeing the werewolves in the Brecilianforest, beneath the aged golden boughs of trees older than her people and his Alistair declared his love upon her body and she declared hers upon his.

Then in redcliff he revealed himself. He was to be king. Oh he pushed aside her shock but Antiva was not stupid. The writing on the wall was clear. With no heir to the throne and Alistair the last of the royal bloodline Warden or not he would be made king and be taken from her. Hurt she lashed out at him declaring bitterly that she never really knew him at all. And just like that it was over. There was no discussion, not even a declaration of ending. He loved her one night and by daylight he didn’t. That was what broke her. She had turned her back on tradition for him and after one fight their fairytale forever love was ended. The pain was even worse than the joining. That was the night she stole a bottle of lyrium for the first time. She was shocked at just how quickly it worked and how good it made her feel. Her armor was tight on her skin and she shed it quickly in exchange for a bastardized version of a mages robe she had found enchanted with armor protection. The sleeves were voluminous and fell off her shoulders revealing the milky swells of her breasts. The skirt was so incredibly short it was as if she wore nothing at all. Delicate sandals laced a crisscrossing path up her shins that made her feel light and swift. Her ponytail came down and she created intricate twirling braids that made her appear soft and delicate. She darkened her lips regularly enjoying the contrast of rose red lips against milk white skin. Though Alistair no longer desired her Antive made herself a dream of beauty and the object of desire. But when the lyrium wore off she still felt empty and alone and her anxieties swelled and Alistair still looked to her to lead and she knew her people needed her to do this. So she drank another potion, and then she lead them to victory again, slaughtering darkspawn and undead with her arrows, raining death and destruction from a fog of calm. She was untouchable and unreachable and unstoppable when she had her little blue friend on hand.

A sudden quiet fell over the trees and Antiva knew she was no longer alone. The bard had taken to ignoring her when her advances had been rebuffed. The elder mage had withdrawn in a huff when the Dalish warden had failed to live up to her expectations of what a Grey Warden was supposed to be. Sten was on watch and no one took duty as seriously as Sten. Alistair would not track her into the woods, their days of hidden kisses were lost to the past and Alistair was willing to be a friend but she found the pain of his betrayal too raw to take and so he left her alone. Morrigan never bothered her enjoying solitude almost as much as Antiva did and so it was The Dalish elf knew who it was that had silenced the sounds of evening..

“Hello, Zev.” She drawled idly peering in the direction she suspected he stood. He uncloaked and took a seat beside her.

“Warden.” He answered smiling enigmatically at her. She eyed him as one would a bug, something strange and foreign, something to be studied. He was completely different from any elf she had ever met. He was also the complete opposite of Alistair. That was what attracted her to him. They had flirted casually. She had even debated asking him to join her in her tent, she was sure he would not deny her. She was reasonably certain he wouldn’t try to kill her. She knew he found her attractive. That alone endeared him to her because after Alistair’ about face she was not quite as confident in her charms as she had once been.

“It’s a cool evening tonight isn’t it?” She asked her eyes locking with his. He didn’t look away.

“It is at that.” He answered noncommittally.

“Sometimes the nights are very cold.”

“mmmmmm?”

“Didn’t you once say something about bedwarming.” It was humorous how suddenly he stilled. Antiva couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Indeed she didn’t even try and her hair slid in front of her eyes as she giggled softly. Zevran recovered quickly.

“If the night gets too chilly for you my warden, I am only a few feet away should my services be needed.” Antive felt her breath hitch as he leaned in close. He was so close she could feel his breath on her lips. She tilted her head towards him and was surprised when his mouth slid to the side to plant a chaste kiss on her cheek. He rose in one fluid motion and was gone as quickly as he came. And just like that Antiva could suddenly see a future full of possibilities that did not necessarily need to end with her death.

Antiva was a strong proud Dalish. But she was also a young woman with a woman’s heart and fancies, and many often forgot that, to her own people, she was actually still considered a child. Was it so wrong that while she fought to save the world somebody needed her not because she was a warden but because she was Antiva? There was a girl behind the title. As she rose to follow the assassin back to their camp the lyrium bottle dropped to the ground forgotten.[/quote]
* Oh, neat, one usually doesn't think of anyone besides mages or Templars using lyrium, but if Templars, who are, I think, normal people, can use it and become addicted, it makes sense that others can, too. A very intricate picture of what can come of heartbreak, but also a little glimpse of hope at the end.


[quote]Sarah1281 wrote...

Okay, here's my prompt entry:


Alistair was still grinning goofily a full twenty minutes after Anastasia had left him. From what Zevran had been able to tell (though Alistair was strangely reluctant to discuss the matter) he was a virgin and so if that had finally changed then perhaps he could understand such prolonged and unabashed glee. He had certainly seen other men celebrate in similar fashions although he hadn’t been so inclined after his first time.

“Ah, my dear friend,” Zevran said jovially as he approached the warden.

Alistair, so caught up was he in whatever was going on in his head, jumped. “Oh, uh, Zevran. Did you need something?”

“No, not particularly,” Zevran said breezily. “So good of you to ask, however.”

“Then why did you come over here?” Alistair asked confused.

“What?” Zevran asked innocently. “I can’t simply wish to bond with one of the prettiest Grey Wardens I have the pleasure to be travelling with?”

“There are only two Grey Wardens that you’re travelling with,” Alistair pointed out. “Me and Anastasia.”

“True, so I suppose that’s really not that much of a compliment,” Zevran mused. “I would change that to ‘one of the prettiest Grey Wardens I know’ but I never made it a habit to associate with your order before this mission.”

“I…see,” Alistair said, clearly feeling this to be a good thing given Zevran’s assassin upbringing.

“So you appear to be in a good mood,” Zevran noted. “Any particular reason?”

“What?” Alistair practically squawked. He cleared his throat and tried again. “What? No, no reason.”

“It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I just saw Anastasia over here?” Zevran pressed.

Alistair colored. “You saw that? Well, let’s have it.”

“Have what?” Zevran asked, tilting his head slightly.

“Oh, you know,” Alistair said, trying to cover his embarrassment. “The jokes, the teasing…if you don’t hurry it up I might turn as red as I can get without you even having to say a word.”

“Now that would certainly be a sight,” Zevran considered slowly. “But I see no reason to do any such thing. Really, Alistair, it wounds me that you think so little of me.”

“Wait, it’s not-I’m not trying to insult you or anything,” Alistair insisted, running a hand through his hair. “I just would have expected you to give me a hard time. You seem to do that about everything else and to everyone else.”

“Why Alistair!” Zevran exclaimed, greatly amused. “I would never stoop so low as to mock someone at the beginning of a great romance!”

“You wouldn’t?” Alistair asked, confused.

“No, no, no,” Zevran assured him. “So she kissed you?”

The goofy grin was back. “Yeah. I think it went rather well but it’s not like I have anything to judge it by. She’s mentioned that she has, though, and she seemed pleased.”

Zevran couldn’t help the smirk that formed on his lips. “Are you, dear Alistair, by any chance telling me that I had the unexpected pleasure of witnessing your first kiss?”

Alistair winced. “Hey, I thought you said you weren’t going to give me a hard time!”

“Who’s giving anyone a hard time?” Zevran retorted. “I just asked a simple question. I will take your lack of a response as a yes, of course. And let me tell you that I find the matter decidedly adorable.”

“Adorable?” Alistair repeated, looking a bit shocked that the assassin had used that word.

“But of course,” Zevran assured him. “And since you seem the good little Chantry boy type then I’m going to have to assume that if this is your first time being kissed then you also haven’t had very much experience with certain other fun ‘grown-up’ past-times.”

Alistair turned a darker shade of red. “No, I haven’t. Why?” he asked suspiciously.

“Well, as you may or may not be aware I am quite well versed in all of them, including several that I do not believe are even legal here in Ferelden,” Zevran informed him. “So if you would, at any point in time, like some advice or even pointers – or you think that Anastasia might – then I would be happy to-”

“No!” Alistair practically shouted. “I mean, no, I think I’ve got it under control.”

“Are you sure?” Zevran asked, sounding concerned. “Because if you’re not then I can always-”

“I’m quite sure,” Alistair said firmly.

Zevran shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

With that, he left Alistair to futilely recapture the magic of his first kiss while he went off to go find Wynne. It wouldn’t do to spend too much time teasing the same person or his words might get less effective. Well, that or they might attempt to kill him. Really, neither scenario was particularly desirable.

Wynne looked up as he approached her. “Yes?” she asked cautiously.

Zevran smiled winningly at her. “Say that I believed that murder was wrong…” [/quote]
* LOL, I am now imagining Zev having a little timetable of rounds for teasing the other companions. XD His needling and Alistair's flustering are right on target

[quote]Korina1982 wrote...

I tried doing the literal first kiss, but Keiran was being a huge dork about it. So you get this instead. Symbolic first kisses count, right? [smilie]../../../images/forum/emoticons/uncertain.png[/smilie] 55ish minutes all together.


Don't ask me why I wrote poetry. My muse works in strange ways...

---------------

In the streets of Antiva, that's where I found you.
Alone, surrounded by Crows.

You notice me.
Our eyes meet across the crowd.

Your expression barely changes, but recognition and relief is what I see.
Took you long enough to get here, amora.

We need say nothing. Even after all these months apart, we know what the other is thinking.
I got caught up in Amaranthine. I got away as soon as I could.

The Crows finally notice me. They realize Zevran isn't alone.
What they don't realize is that as long as I draw breath he is never truly alone.

The battle begins.
With axe and sword I fight my way to you and we stand back to back.

I feel an arrow pass close to my cheek. Archers.
In a flash, I draw my own bow and the first archer falls from the roof with a strangled cry.

Your blades whirl in a blur, protecting me while I shoot down the archers.
It's so familiar... it's as if we were never parted.

Soon enough... it is over. We are wounded, but alive.
The same cannot be said of the Crows; the street runs red with their blood.

The longing I see in your eyes matches what I feel in my own heart.
Surrounded by death, still holding daggers and bow, we kiss for the first time in months.

It is full of promise.
I missed you.

A promise for a future together.
I missed you too.

A promise to never be parted for so long ever again.
I love you, Zevran.

We pull apart rather quickly. We are too exposed here.
I know.

You grab my hand and pull me towards the nearest alley.
We need to disappear if we want a proper reunion.[/quote]
* Even though it's a short poem, this really describes the scene vividly I love the idea that they can fight together as fluidly as if they'd never parted, it kind of seals the unbreakable nature of their bond :3

[quote]TanithAeyrs wrote...

Can't remember when this is supposed to close today, so if this is too late it can be a non-entry. 59 minutes with edits.

The Kiss


Zevran lounged against the railing, looking down at the sparring session in the courtyard below. Tarzi, house Arainai’s Weapon Master was putting the newest addition to his cell through her paces. The dark-haired woman had been part of a House Arainai cell in one of the southern cities of Antiva. The rest of her cell had been slaughtered when their attempt on a minor noble had turned sour. The noble had apparently been warned of their plans and even Rinna had barely escaped with her life. It had been several weeks since she had been reassigned to Taliesen’s cell; her broken ribs and badly sprained ankle had kept her out of the practice yard until today.

Her movements were smooth and graceful, scarcely reminiscent of the shy, awkward child he remembered from the apprentice barracks. She jumped and spun with almost no hint of the pain from her barely healed injuries, she reminded Zevran of the sleek black hunting cats that stalked through the coastland forests in predatory silence. There, Tarzi had tapped her, a thin line of blood streaking her wrist in payment for a careless overextension. A wry grin twisted the blood elf’s lips as he remembered many a similar correction from the Weapon Master. Once a Crow passed the apprentice stage they did not practice with blunted weapons, and a sparring session with Tarzi always resulted in blood and bruises.

The grey-haired Weapon Master drew the woman into the same set of maneuvers again, this time she pivoted and jumped instead of overextending; she was a quick study. Zevran decided she was worth watching, if merely for the aesthetics of her movements.

******************************************

Two months later, a steamy summer night found their cell guarding an Orlesian diplomat’s house. He had hired Crow protection to avert an attempt to remove him from The Game. A light drizzle did little to cool the silent watchers in the sweltering heat. Zevran was keenly aware of Rinna crouched in the shadows to his right, her presence a still spot in the restless breeze and light rain. His fascination with the newest member of his cell had continued; her sharp wit as attractive as her skills in weapons and stealth.

There, across the courtyard, a shadow slipping over the wall. Zevran kept his breathing even, if their information was correct this was only the vanguard. Their contract was to eliminate the bard and all of his companions. The shadow stole across to a tiny servant’s gate and, within moments, had the lock opened and was ushering in more stealthy figures. He glanced over to Taliesen’s position across the courtyard, careful to move only his eyes. The deeper shadows beneath a stand of magnolia trees concealed the rest of their force; Taliesen’s group would take care of the main force, Zevran’s job was to secure the gate and prevent their quarry from escaping. He and Rinna would also locate any enemy scouts left outside the walls and remove them. He frowned a little at that thought, their role tonight was similar to Rinna’s mission in the strike that had resulted in the deaths of all of her cohorts. With a mental shrug he returned his attention to the task at hand. Now all the opposition was inside; it was time to move.

They slunk from shadow to shadow, concealed in the darkness and rain. Zevran left Rinna to guard the gate while he slipped outside to look for enemy reinforcements. One on the roof across the plaza, and three, concealed by the flapping curtain of the fruit stand; he signaled Rinna to take the roof as he started the process of approaching the group at ground level. They needed to be quick, to be back in position to stop anyone trying to escape from Taliesen’s ambush.

Zevran’s tiny crossbow twanged as he took the first lookout in the eye from scarcely ten yards away. His shot would alert the other two, but it evened the odds considerably. Trusting Rinna to secure the archer on the roof, he moved across the plaza, burying a dagger in on man’s neck while they were still trying to support his first target. Some quick dagger work and the third man was down – quick and neat. Zevran was scarcely breathing hard when Rinna rejoined him, her own target down. Taliesen’s group scarcely took longer and in the space of less than fifteen minutes they were done with the task and headed back to the House.

Zevran trailed his comrades, his heart still racing with the exhilaration of the chase, the shear predatory joy of matching wit, skill and speed against an opponent. Rinna dropped back with him, stopped for a moment to gaze at the moon as it crept from behind a cloud. Her eyes gleamed like justice and Zevran found his hand on her jaw, his lips seeking hers; a kiss of shared victory, a kiss of kindred spirit, a kiss because she appealed to him as no other woman had.

Its effect was electric, he felt the surge in his blood, the breathless gasp she made in shared experience. It was their first kiss, but it wouldn’t be their last.[/quote]
* More Crow goodness (lots of that this week)! I love all the little details of the job itself -- it feeds well into the sense of victory at the end. And now I'm curious how their relationship progressed, with a start like that!


And non-entries:

[quote]wildannie wrote...

Okay, so I tried to write something, it took me about 70 minutes including editing and hand wringing -

Layn awoke with a start, the moon was out, the camp was quiet and her companions asleep.

The tainted nightmares stalked her sleep and as yet, she had made no progress in blocking them out and it was starting to tell. She knew that it was her state of mind that was allowing these horrors to persist. She had been emotionally lost since being forced from her clan. The world of the Grey Wardens and shemlen was confusing and the task at hand seemed insurmountable.

Although she had approached Wynne to provide sleeping draughts to aid her, the potions had only prevented her waking, they did nothing to block out the twisted dreams and she would awake harrowed and drained every day.

Now at the end of her tether she quietly crept over to the Assassins tent. Pulling back the fold of leather that passed as a door she jumped as her arm found itself in the grip of another.

‘Ah, Grey Warden, this is a surprise… are you needing me to warm your bed after all?’ He chimed as leaning out of his tent he gently released her… ‘you really should be more careful you know, I have reflexes that only an assassin could have, I could have hurt you before I even knew what I was doing!’

‘ha, I thought I could take my chances, I did manage to defeat you when you were fully awake after all!’

‘This is true Zevran sighed… you are so cruel to wake me up in the dead of night to remind me… …or was there something else you needed?‘

‘I can’t sleep Zevran…

Zevran chuckled ‘What is it that you wish me to do for you my Grey Warden? There are many ways that I could make your nights more enjoyable…’

He paused mid jest, he could see that Layn was close to tears and even in the darkness he could make out the dark circles under her eyes.

Looking with pleading eyes she asked ‘have you knowledge of any sleeping draughts that will give me peace through the night? I have terrible nightmares…’.

He looked quite shocked, ‘Why certainly, I must say I’m surprised that you ask this of me considering our past…’

‘What, you think I should fear that you will kill me? If I don’t get any sleep I fear I’ll be dead anyway’ she said with a tired smile.

‘As you wish’

….

Zevran looked upon Layn as she drifted off to sleep, he had insisted that he watch her to make sure she did not go too deep, but that had been an excuse, he was intrigued by this woman. She was so strong and yet so lost and alone. Without a thought he lent over and kissed her softly on the cheek the touch of her skin on his lips sent warm shivers through him. Shocked by this impulse and the sensation Zevran returned to his tent… Lying back, it was now he that couldn’t sleep as confusion first introduced itself to his mind.

….

Layn drifted through pleasant dreams that night accompanied by Zevran and a gentle kiss, as she dreamt she smiled. [/quote]
* Ahh, an interesting point to introduce Zevran's confusion about his feelings for the Warden I like seeing people address the nightmares -- the game almost uses them for plot devices, but they must make at least some of the companions worry...

[quote]Kornichon wrote...

here it is (but don't know if it can be count for the prompt because clearly more than 1 hour to do ^^' )
first kiss between Tabris and Zev : Drunkiss
"the 4 drunkards buddies went to a drink contest..... naturally, Messalyn defy Oghren and naturally, Oghren won"
click to see!

[/quote]
* Bahaha XD Totally adorable, and hilarious. Lucky for Zev, indeed. XD I wonder if Messalyn will remember in the morning...?


Man, what a field to have to choose from! I've been weighing things back and forth for a couple of hours here, but in the end, this week's winner is:

Shadow of Light Dragon!

This little wager had me grinning from start to finish, and it was definitely an unexpected twist on the prompt XD

I'll PM you about the prize


Thanks for playing this week, everyone! :3

(Edit: OKAY GUISE this post actually exceeded the character limit, rofl.)

Modifié par jenovan, 04 octobre 2010 - 02:55 .

[Sarah1281]

Congrats.

[Korina1982]

Congratulations!

[tankgirly]

Gosh, I only away for three days and I got so many pages to catch up!



@TanithAeyrs, thank you!



Tank

[Hilde]

Congratulations Shadow of Light Dragon!!!! !!

[Sue]

Shadow of Light Dragon - Congratulations

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

This came as a total surprise o_O Thanks guys! jenovan, I'm still thinking about that prize...I'll let you know!

@Tanith - I loved the action in this one, and the impulsiveness of the kiss after a moment of exhilaration.


(banner by Minaleth)


Prompt: Rogue Specializations: Bard, Ranger, Duelist, Shadow, Legionnaire Scout
Involve Zevran with a non-assassin specialization in any way you please. (Assassin stuff can be included at your discretion, but at least one of the others listed must be used somehow...)

Time: 1 hour
 
Formats: All

Deadline: Monday October 11th, 8:00am GMT (4am EST, I believe)
 
Prize:  A Zev-flavoured piece of writing, with or without another character/Warden. Alternately, while I haven't flourished my drawing talents in these parts, I have been known to produce (mildly NSFW) stuff like this and ye olde (SFW) character portraits if you're prepared to wait a little longer.

Annnd...go!

Modifié par Shadow of Light Dragon, 04 octobre 2010 - 09:20 .

[Aroihkin]

Ha, I've had a bunny roaming around in my head for a while that would fit that. I may write this later as a non-entry or something.

[FutileSine]

Congrats SoLD!!!   Also - loved the drawings...How wonderful to have such great writing AND drawing skills!!   And interesting prompt idea as well...Hmmm....


@Tanith - A bit late, but better late then never, ehh?   I loved your interesting take on the first kiss between Zev and Rinna!!  I'm always a sucker for lore, and I love the Antivan lore you covered in your story.  Me likey!  Oh and BTW....any chance there is going to be an update to your FF sometime soon???  

[caridounette]

congratulations Shadow! I would see your story made into a little drawn strip or something ... it was so visual

[jenovan]

re: prompt, ooooh, interesting... will have to give that one some thought.

... why does this make me wish my Amell was a rogue...

Modifié par jenovan, 04 octobre 2010 - 12:56 .

[Corker]

Congrats, SoLD!



Eeeenteresting prompt. Two warring ideas already popped up...

[jenovan]

Question for SoLD about the prompt: What about the Awakenings specs, Shadow and Legionnaire Scout?  Or are we keeping to the base game? :3

[Corker]

jenovan wrote...

Question for SoLD about the prompt: What about the Awakenings specs, Shadow and Legionnaire Scout?  Or are we keeping to the base game? :3

pffffffffft...

Sigrun: Wait, you're from Antiva?
Zevran: I am. What of it?
Sigrun: Stay away from me.
Zevran: (sigh) I get that a lot.

Modifié par Corker, 04 octobre 2010 - 03:18 .

[wildannie]

congrats shadow, nice new prompt too!