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[Illyria]

I agree, I kind of like the way the romances were set up this time. It's kind of realistic.  But I also don't think a non-Lavellan makes greater sense with Solas, given the character development involved, his experiences with the Dalish, and his thoughts on and relationship with modern elves in general versus all his regrets and memories and traditions of the past. And, of course, having been vilified and all these things taught about him to the Dalish. It's super important that he falls for someone Dalish. 'It's complicated' only begins to describe the situation he then finds himself in.  And even if that Lavellan were male, it would make sense.

 

This, so much this. 

 

Heh, how so?

 

The more illogical pairings aren't to my taste either, though recently in discussing Tethraghast (talk about illogical) I was thinking, it's all fantasy, and for some people the idea of stretching or crashing lore/story barriers is appealing. I actually got complaints on my Loghain/Cousland novel that it was too canonical.

 

This is going to sound stupid, but it's because Trev is human.  In Thedas humans have been walking all over elven culture and elves in general for thousands of years.  The (human) Herald of Andraste and an elven god just makes me uncomfortable, which is a tad hypocritical because two of my three canons are human/elf pairings.

 

Also, Tethraghast.  Eww.  Varric has a girlfriend, people!  It may be unconventional, but it works for them.

 

I like Solas with elves solely for the drama. A human finding out they've been doing the horizontal tango with the Dread Wolf? Boring. An elf? Now that's drama.

 

And I mean, it also makes the most sense from a lore perspective, and is narratively cohesive and all that. Logically though, it seems like it was mostly a budget/narrative simplicity thing since the whole fire swamp scene relies on the object of his affections having vallaslin, and there'd have to be a whole other scene for non-elves and such. Too hard basket.

 

Apparently Weekes had already written the romance and written it elven ladies only when he was asked to write to the romance (Weekes is the best).  So budget+the story Weekes wanted to tell probably have equal weight.

[Siha]

He doesn't have these thoughts/feelings toward another character, so he wouldn't have the same things to say or truths to reveal to them. It doesn't mean he doesn't care about his friends, and it doesn't mean he cares about a romanced Lavellan more, she just invokes different thoughts/emotions from him.

 

I see your point. It's true. But I'm all undecided. The situation on the friendship path is similar: Dalish elf shows a thoughtfullness and open-mindedness that impresses Solas. He is different from what Solas is used to. He wants to learn, understand, see beyond his Dalish tradition. All this after Solas has been rejected by the Dalish over and over (?) again. I do see how Solas would reveal the true meaning of the vallaslin even to an unromanced Lavellan (and I used "he" by choice). Solas finally has the choice to actually share some real Dalish tradition with one of their representatives, one who will not turn away and disregard it all.

[Illyria]

I really, really wish that the vallaslin removal had been an option for male Lavellans. Really, I do. I understand the emotional weight Solas's arc shoulders--I understand. But I feel that Solas's character and Solas's deep friendships get lost under the emphasis everyone gives the romance. Yes, it's unresolved. And, yes, he's a big player. But I would like to see more variety and more consideration for relationships anterior to the romance.

 

I would also caution against privileging the female elf's Dalishness as a deciding factor. I do not mind pairings of Solas with humans, dwarves, qunari, raptors, whatever. These are imaginative possibilities in fanfiction/fanart that allows disclosure of desire and opens up the character for closer examination through an alternative lens. These are valuable viewpoints. I also see too many people in fandom fetishizing the Dalish in ways that are counterproductive and uncomfortable. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone, but I am pointing at the need to examine why the Dalish are so attractive and why we need to recognize that some of their characterizations are problematic.

 

Also, Solas was attractive to me before I knew he was a god. But, yes, his attractiveness quotient grew tenfold when I realized he was a God. 
I'm a simple girl with simple needs. One of those needs being to bang a god and to absorb his power.

 

I would only be happy with the vallaslin scene being given to male or friendship!Lavellans if there was more romance scenes.  This is the one scene that is totally unique to the romance and that's what makes it so intense and special.

 

EDIT: I have more to add.

 

A little while ago I saw someone on the forums questioning whether the true meaning of vallaslin was true because Inky only has Solas' word for it.  That bugged me a great deal because the revelation comes at a very intimate moment while Solas is speaking to the woman he loves (and, at the time, has no intention of leaving).

 

So if the scene was open to non-romance or male!Lavellan then there would be cause to doubt it and his motives for telling Lavellan.  Due to the context it is impossible to interpret it as anything other than the truth.

 

tl;dr: Illyria has a lot of thought today but can't remember how to English.

[Elira]

I don't have a cough, but I'm glad I read this back in my hotel room and not outside. (Btw, get better soon.)

 

So... what did you find out, is it illegal? ... for science.

 

From what I can tell it's illegal. I haven't found a straight up law or some such online about it, but considering live human mailing is illegal, I think body parts may qualify as well. Furthermore, there are number of news articles about illegal body part trafficking. I think the consensus would be illegal. Then again, I have poor web searching skills. 

 

To keep this on topic...uhm... Solas has nice body parts.

[nikki-tikki]

So... what did you find out, is it illegal? ... for science.

Should I be worried...

[KarateKats]

I don't quite get where people see a friendship between Solas and Cass. I think they respect one another, and that's hugely important. I love that about their relationship, but there's a few points where it seems like Cass suspects Solas, but keeps it to herself.

 

Sad as it is, I don't see Solas being friends with anyone except Cole.

I think you should listen to his banters more carefully if you think Cole is his only friend. He grows extremely close to Cass. Their mutual respect for each other is very clear. I think if Bull doesn't sacrifice the Chargers the two of them grow close together as well. It's very clear from his murals that he considers the members of the Inquisition his "wolf pack".

[BoscoBread]

I would only be happy with the vallaslin scene being given to male or friendship!Lavellans if there was more romance scenes.  This is the one scene that is totally unique to the romance and that's what makes it so intense and special.

I agree. If they were to do that, then the romance scene should be something that is wholly them.  Intimate for them.  It is intimate as it is now. Totally.  But it's just....I just think exploring why removing the vallaslin or choosing to keep it, is so interesting when roleplaying dalish that it should have been opened up to all Lavellans.  

[Kestrel]

Solas has several banters with other characters where he expresses his admiration for them, and vice versa. They even joke around and play games- his chess game with Bull is particularly notable. Hell, even he and Blackwall seem to warm up to each other- Blackwell expresses sorrow that Solas lost his Spirit friend. 

 

Honestly, he seems to have a pretty good rapport with most of the members if you spend enough time listening. 

[Illyria]

I agree. If they were to do that, then the romance scene should be something that is wholly them.  Intimate for them.  It is intimate as it is now. Totally.  But it's just....I just think exploring why removing the vallaslin or choosing to keep it, is so interesting when roleplaying dalish that it should have been opened up to all Lavellans.  

 

I actually edited my early post with more thoughts on this subject, if you're interested.

[Sable Rhapsody]

I don't quite get where people see a friendship between Solas and Cass. I think they respect one another, and that's hugely important. I love that about their relationship, but there's a few points where it seems like Cass suspects Solas, but keeps it to herself.

 

Sad as it is, I don't see Solas being friends with anyone except Cole.

 

I got hit with the banter bug pretty badly the first time around, so now with Cheat Engine and DanaDuchy's wonderful uploads of all the banter, I'm listening to it all.  But it's pretty colored by everything I know about the game.  I get the suspicion vibe too from Cass, but I have to wonder how much of that is me reading into the banter since I know Solas withheld information from everyone.  And some of it is probably Cass being Cass.  She does tend to jump to conclusions.

 

TBH I think the banter bug messed with my first impressions of the characters across the board, not just with Solas.  Listening to 5+ hours of banter helped a lot for getting to know them better.

 

 

I think you should listen to his banters more carefully if you think Cole is his only friend. He grows extremely close to Cass. Their mutual respect for each other is very clear. I think if Bull doesn't sacrifice the Chargers the two of them grow close together as well. It's very clear from his murals that he considers the members of the Inquisition his "wolf pack" from his murals.

 

I love the chess banters between Bull and Solas.  And Solas does actually call him "my friend" if he's Tal-Vashoth.  Which is IMO both sweet and odd.  On one hand, I'm all for friendship.  On the other hand, as the player, my impression of Bull as a person didn't turn on whether he was qunari or not.  And Solas's does.  I can understand why considering his beef with the Qun, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me on some level.

[Siha]

Should I be worried...

 

Why? You scared of science?

 

Btw, somebody today asked me where I bought my shirt with your drawing on.

[nikki-tikki]

I love the chess banters between Bull and Solas.  And Solas does actually call him "my friend" if he's Tal-Vashoth.  Which is IMO both sweet and odd.  On one hand, I'm all for friendship.  On the other hand, as the player, my impression of Bull as a person didn't turn on whether he was qunari or not.  And Solas's does.  I can understand why considering his beef with the Qun, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me on some level.

 

I sadly never get that banter because I always save the Dreadnaught...but youtube is helpful in that regard.

[Armdin]

I think you should listen to his banters more carefully if you think Cole is his only friend. He grows extremely close to Cass. Their mutual respect for each other is very clear. I think if Bull doesn't sacrifice the Chargers the two of them grow close together as well. It's very clear from his murals that he considers the members of the Inquisition his "wolf pack" from his murals.

 

I get that Solas and Cass greatly respect one another, but Solas only refers to Cassandra as "Seeker", same as Varric, although I imagine he says it with less venom than Varric does. xD If he did consider her a friend then he'd call her by her name, or otherwise. I actually forgot about the chess banter between Solas and Bull, (especially when he says "You have the Inquisiton, the Inquisitor, and me"), that's a good point. Also he has card games with Blackwall.

 

The "wolf pack" is more interpretation I believe? That the Inquisiton functions as a pack, rather than "these are my buddies" type image.

[Cee]

On the subject of banters and friendship, well he does grow to have a lot of respect for most of the companions. He still doesn't wind up liking Vivienne much, and he nerds out with Dorian over magic but I think he thinks he might still be slightly naive even with good intentions in the end. Still, I found Solas switching gears with Sera, who he even comes to admire and starts giving tips on rebellions, to be quite amusing. He trolls her, she trolls him, then it becomes this oddly respectful thing.

 

For example, he doesn't show up to Wicked Grace, but he does play cards with Blackwall separately. He definitely comes to see even some parallels to Blackwall and apologizes. Solas can be harsh and judgmental, but he learns from his experiences.

 

But respect and fun and philosophical conversations do not always equal closeness. And I think that's what we're getting at here.

 

Closeness, I don't know if that's there, somewhat by necessity, with those other than the Inquisitor (romanced or not) and Cole.

[nikki-tikki]

Why? You scared of science?

 

Btw, somebody today asked me where I bought my shirt with your drawing on.

 

 

....................you're lying...................

 

P.S. I love you.

[Cee]

I sadly never get that banter because I always save the Dreadnaught...

 

[BoscoBread]

I actually edited my early post with more thoughts on this subject, if you're interested.

I am and I did. Ok, I can see that.  My thing with that is, he lies so little - if ever - that I just never got that from him. But I can see how people may and obviously the writers were concerned because Weekes was compelled to write the romance to negate this concern.  I've just had so much fun digging into it, I just wish all the Lavellans had it.  Again, I agree that it's incredibly intimate and for a Lavellan she probably thinks he's going to give her something special or...if you were me...thought they were going to bang in the woods ( )   and he does give you something special, an important truth.  I think, however, if written well they could have done something just as special and given that truth to all Lavellans.   

[Mims]

The only person Solas doesn't seem to care for is Vivienne. But to love Vivienne, you pretty much have to embrace the hate/love.

 

Even the people he gets a bit rough with, like Sera, eventually sort of come to an understanding. Or at least a concession, like he does with Dorian. 

[nikki-tikki]

Solas can be harsh and judgmental, but he learns from his experiences.

 

Ha. Ha Ha. HA HA HA. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAA.

 

That's a good one...

[Siha]

....................you're lying...................

 

P.S. I love you.

 

I'm a bad liar. I'd have stuttered even in a written statement. You might want to consider opening a shop in London. 

I appreciate the love but I didn't do anything to deserve it, actually.

[Sable Rhapsody]

I sadly never get that banter because I always save the Dreadnaught...but youtube is helpful in that regard.

 

LOL, I'm the opposite.  Most of it was a roleplaying thing.  My Lavellan's too much of a softie to make a call like that, and my Adaar's distaste for the Qun can rival Solas's.  But some of it was me the player wanting to spite Gatt  No one throws shade on Dorian like that and gets away with it.

[nikki-tikki]

LOL, I'm the opposite.  Most of it was a roleplaying thing.  My Lavellan's too much of a softie to make a call like that, and my Adaar's distaste for the Qun can rival Solas's.  But some of it was me the player wanting to spite Gatt  No one throws shade on Dorian like that and gets away with it.

 

YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH. GATT IS MY BABY. <3333333333

 

HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT FACE. 

 

[Kestrel]

Can we make Gatt the new thing? Please? 

[nikki-tikki]

I'm a bad liar. I'd have stuttered even in a written statement. You might want to consider opening a shop in London. 

I appreciate the love but I didn't do anything to deserve it, actually.

 

Like London England??

 

I'd have to go quite the distance for that....

 

But for you darling....anything....

[nikki-tikki]

Can we make Gatt the new thing? Please? 

 

JOIN MY TRASH SHIP. I have yet to make it...BUT STILL