City Elf Appreciation Week

The people have spoken...

City Elf Appreciation Week will take place between the 5th of August and the 11th of August 2024!

Optional prompts soon to follow <3

City Elf Appreciation Week

Day 7: Free Day

While the Battle of Denerim overwhelms the city, the families of her elven smugglers wait in the tunnels beneath their alienage for either death or salvation, and in their midst, Soris keeps a dangerous secret from the rest that may put his standing among them in jeopardy. 1513 words.

event hosted by @cityelfweek

How about “Hey! I may be a dumbass but I’m your dumbass!” for Alistair/Shaesa?

omg omg omg I was so happy when I got this prompt and I knew IMMEDIATELY what I wanted to do. So this is a lil scene after Alistair finds out that Shaesa had been previously engaged, and he gets a bit insecure about it cause Shaesa was his first love and finding out she had someone before him that she felt THAT SERIOUSLY about (jokes on him, it was arranged, but he didn't know that lol) sorta freaked him out. He started distancing himself from Shae but she noticed and called him out on it and so this is what happens after that :3 hope you enjoy! for @dadrunkwriting Rated G: Fluffy goodness, ~800 words

Try Again | By Exalted_Dawn

Shaesa stifled a snort into her palm, her smile curling against sword-formed calluses in a cheeky sort of way. Even so, the feeble attempt did little to hide the blossoming up-turn to her lips, or the way her eyes crinkled with joy, so the elf didn’t bother to pretend that she didn’t find this whole situation funny. “Maker, you’re such an idiot,” she chuckled, the words almost breathy as she spoke them, clouding on the brisk morning wind.

From the corner of her eye, she watched as Alistair’s face turned an even deeper shade of red (something she hadnt previously thought possible), scrunching in an adorably flustered scowl. “What? And you’ve never made a wrong assumption, hm?” he muttered, scrubbing at the back of his head. “It’s not as if you particularly liked to talk about it in the beginning, and when your father brought it up, I thought-”

Shaesa broke off with a laugh, curling in on herself. She rocked back against the Vhenadahl, using its sturdy trunk to balance against as she finally and truly succumbed to her amusement. She shook her head briskly, wiping a stray tear from her eye as she did. “What? That I’d lost the love of my life? That I’d never want to be engaged again?” She peaked up at the man standing beside her, all wrapped up in scarves and a thick-knit traveling cloak from head to toe. He really was too cute for his own good. It was hardly fair. She sighed deeply, sucking down a centering breath in an attempt to reign in at least some of her laughter, and reached over to grab his hand in hers. “Alistair. Just because I was once, doesn’t mean that I’m still spoken for. Sorta hard to be betrothed to a ghost… y’know?” 

He stared idly at their interlocked hands, fingers woven together tight, and Shaesa watched as something in him settled. His gaze grew distant, more contemplative and sullen. His head dipped in a tentative nod. So he wasn’t entirely convinced, then. 

Huffing, she turned and yanked him to face her, picking up his other hand so she held both aloft between them. She squeezed roughly, her conviction demanding. “Marry me.”

Alistair blinked. “I’m sorry- what?”

“Marry me, you dumbass,” she repeated, stern. 

“Uh-”

Shaesa frowned up at him expectantly, glaring down his baffled confusion. 

“Wait, are you serious?” Alistair asked.

“Of course I am.”

“What do you mean ‘of course you are’????” he quacked, balking. “You just ask like that? Out of the blue? With absolutely no warning or preparation?” 

Shaesa’s frown deepened a fraction. “Well I wouldn’t exactly say it was without planning, or entirely out of the blue. We were talking about it, and it’s been on my mind for some time now. I thought, if you really cared about me being engaged, then-”

Alistairs lips closed over hers, pressing and insistent. Warm, against the Denerim chill. Shaesa signed into the kiss, leaning up into him as he stooped to cup her face, drawing her closer. His thumbs brushed across her freckled cheeks in tender refrain, teasing a flush to them to match his own. 

They parted slowly, breath catching in the air between them. Shaesa could not help the silly, lopsided grin on her lips. “So I take it that’s a ‘yes’, then?”

“Absolutely not,” Alistair puffed indignantly, thunking his forehead against her own. “You don’t even have a ring- let alone flowers or proper mood lighting. I’m not some cheap date, you know. If you were going to propose, I would have liked to see some actual effort.”

“But if I did have all that stuff…?” She tried not to sound too hopeful, in case he was simply deflecting through humor. But her worries were swept away as Alistair grinned something goofy and pecked her nose with another kiss. 

“I suppooooose you’ll just have to ask me again and find out, won’t you?” He grabbed her hand again and tugged her along, back towards the direction of Shaesa’s family home. His ears were pink to their very tip, but his grip was firm and sure.

The nerves in her softened, as did her smile. She squeezed his hand back, stumbling to catch up with him. “You really are a dumbass,” she murmured, love swelling in her chest. How could he have doubted her for a second? As if she ever stood a chance against him.

“Yeah, well,” he started, not even bothering to look back at her. “I’m your dumbass now, so I guess you’re stuck with me. Afraid it's a bit too late for regrets.”

Regrets?

Never.

Never.

City Elf Appreciation Week

~ 5th of August - 11th of August ~

Here are some optional prompts for next week! Please feel free to do whatever you like with them. Remember to tag @cityelfweek or use the tag #cityelfweek24!

Day 1 - Vhenadahl - A pillar of many alienage communities. Firewood in others.

Day 2 - Folklore - Show the folklore that city elves have created over time. Superstitions, stories, heroes, villains... anything!

Day 3 - Community - Close-knit family, or claustrophobic little box?

Day 4 - Customs and Tradition - Andrastian? Dalish? Somewhere in between, or something all new?

Day 5 - Alienage - The only home many city elves ever know.

Day 6 - OC - A day to celebrate original city elf characters!

Day 7 - Free Day - All things city elf!

[original post][divider credit]

"I am many things: a murderer, a thief, a lover. But I am no cheat." - Zevran Arainai, DA:O

“Well, it’s the lucky grooms themselves. Hello Soris. Hello, dear.” “Now, love. He probably doesn’t remember us.” “Oh, of course. I’m Dilwyn, and this is Gethon. We were friends of your mother’s. We haven’t seen much of you since she… well…” What can you tell me about my mother? “Your father still doesn’t speak of her, does he?” “Adaia was beautiful and full of life. And a bit wild.” “She wanted you more than anything. It’s sad she never got to see you all grown up.” “We just wanted to see you today and express our good wishes.” Any friend of my mother’s is a friend of mine. “It means the world to us to see you happy.” “We’ve saved a bit of money for this day. We’d… we’d like you to have it to help start your new life.” I can’t accept this. “Please, we want you to have it.” “Are you nuts? Take it. When are you going to get this much money again?” Thank you. I’ll take it. “Maker bless you.”

*

“Many blessings, young one. We hoped to stay for the celebration, but we must be off.” You’re not staying for my wedding? “I wish we could.” “The human who owns our building has decided to sell it for storage space. We can’t afford to live anywhere else here, so we’re leaving Denerim.” Where are you going? “The Ostagar ruins. The army camp there is calling for laborers.” “We wanted to look for work in Highever…” “But that’s just not possible.” Why not? “Moving to a different alienage isn’t easy. Travel and bribes cost money. Humans are a suspicious lot. I’ve heard the ones in Highever are worse than here.” Is there anything I can do to help? “You’re still a child. You can’t do anything. Enjoy your special day, and put us out of your mind.” “What my husband means is, you’re very generous, but… we don’t need charity to solve our problems.”

*

“Wait… can I talk to you a moment?” Of course. “I apologize for my parents. They’re too proud to accept help, much less ask for it. My parents will labor in the army camp, and they’ll expect me to do the same, but… I don’t like the idea of being surrounded by human soldiers who haven’t seen a woman in months.” Maybe you should stay here. “I would, but my father would have to believe I have a future here…” Would some money help? “Of course, but I can’t imagine anyone here has much to spare. We’d need another three silvers to make it to Highever. And if we got another ten silvers, we could rent a house here. Maybe one large enough to start a business. But… that’s just dream talk. Nobody has that much money, and if they did, why would they give it to us?”

Maybe he’s a big fool, can’t help himself to help other, as long as he can. Darian give her three silvers help the family go to Highever. His not that fool, forget he also has a big family need money. And he thought a family shouldn’t be separated. Choose this just for role-play.

Dragon Age: Origins Screenshots 1920×2160

City Elf Origin, Part 1 ½: "Nobody has that much money, and if they did, why would they give it to us?“

i went to bath – they have a vhenadahl :)

Please don't hurt her in the next games

When the party asks why the Warden is recruiting Zevran