owlmoose | Dragon Age Kiss Battle: 2013 Edition

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Dragon Age Kiss Battle: 2013 Edition

Welcome to the 2013 Dragon Age Kiss Battle!

Any kind of kiss is welcome -- het, slash, femslash; shippy, familial, gen; cheek kisses, mouth kisses, kissing of... other things; serious, fluffy, silly, or all three at once; fanfic, fanart, whatever you come up with; anything goes!

Update: The post is now open! The post will open to prompts and comments at approximately 9AM Pacific Time, Thursday February 7th (Click here for the time in your timezone). I don't anticipate closing it, so come by any time!

THE RULES:

To leave a request: Post a comment with a pairing (or moresome) and, if desired, a prompt. Put the pairing/characters in the subject line and the prompt in the body of the comment.

To respond: Reply to the prompting comment. Include characters, rating, and title in the subject line.

Multiple responses are both allowed and encouraged!

There is no limit to the number of prompts you can post.

Artwork can be posted inline, but try not to make it too large. Please link to images that are very large or NSFW.

Please, be kind to others regarding pairing choices, prompts, or anything else. This game is for everyone! :)

Anon commenting is on, as is OpenID, if you neither have nor want a Dreamwidth account.

Send your friends! :D

If you have questions, please ask them here. Thanks, and happy kissing!!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

The evening that Enchanter Surana left the tower as a Grey Warden recruit, Cullen sat beside his brethren at the dinner table, eyes unfocused, as he ignored his evening meal. Greagoir glanced at the young man from time to time, but chose to say nothing. The matter with Surana had been settled. Her life was no longer in the Circle’s hands.

Greagoir assured himself that it was all for the best, despite the arguments he had with Irving. The first argument occurred when Irving and Duncan approached Greagoir shortly after Duncan’s arrival. Irving proposed a preposterous idea: newly made enchanters should be sent to fight in the King’s army. Greagoir refused. No enchanter leaves the Circle until they’ve shown they can be trusted. Furthermore, the Circle had spared all of the mages and templars it could. There was no need to send recently harrowed mages, especially not when the libertarians vied to lead the mage’s army. This notion of sending recently harrowed mages would only bring trouble. New enchanters were unmanageable, puffed up by their first important accomplishment and their newly gained privileges. They suffered insatiable wanderlust. A recently harrowed mage should be put to work in the Circle immediately, not sent off to wander army camps, only to duck out of their tent in the middle of the night just to prove that they can evade a templar’s watchful eye. No. Greagoir’s answer was no.

The second argument occurred a few hours later when Irving pulled Greagoir aside. Irving wanted Enchanter Surana to join the mages heading to Ostagar. No, Greagoir told him, and it mattered not whether Wynne could be tasked with keeping an eye on Surana. No. Of all the mages in the tower, not Enchanter Surana. No. She had responsibilities assigned to her that would begin the following morning. And, for the love of the Maker and all things holy, Surana was one of few mages her age who had proven to be honest and trustworthy. Her sense of trust needed to be cultivated like an orchid. She had a future in the Circle mage’s leadership, which was why discipline, not wanton freedom, was needed. No.

Greagoir thought the matter was over when Irving shrugged and walked away, but their third argument occurred after two of Greagoir’s templars had been injured, a Chantry sister had been shamed, and one wholly irresponsible, erratic apprentice had escaped the tower. Greagoir knew he had been played. Check and check, until he stood one move from being checkmated. What choice did he have? Send Enchanter Surana into the horrors of Aeonar? Allow her to stay in the Circle while brushing all she had done under the rug? She had broken the Circle’s most sacred rules at Irving’s request. No. Greagoir had no good choice. Checkmate. The game was done. He let her go.

.

Irving breaks the Circle’s rules, Greagoir bends them. After Enchanter Surana was sent to her room to pack, Greagoir intercepted Cullen when the young man ran down the hall in a clattering rush.

“What was all the commotion?” Cullen blurted, ignoring protocol.

“The situation is being handled,” Greagoir said.

“But—”

“I said it is being handled.” Greagoir glared until the young templar backed down. “Go to the second floor.” Greagoir commanded. “See that Enchanter Surana finishes packing before the afternoon is over.”

.

The sun had already begun to set when Enchanter Surana was ready to leave. Cullen trailed three paces behind her, his eyes lost, his face pale. Shiny spots of berry-stained beeswax graced the templar’s cheeks, matching the crimson lipgloss Surana wore.

There was nothing more Greagoir could do in this matter, but at least Cullen would not resent him for Surana’s fate.

.

Greagoir said nothing as Cullen pushed his meat and peas across his plate, hardly eating any of it. Nothing in the Circle is guaranteed, not for a templar and definitely not for a mage. Greagoir had thought well of Surana. The young woman had been a model apprentice. She took her studies seriously, she ``volunteered her time to work in the library. If she broke curfew, it was never to steal, run off, or involve herself in a dangerous prank. On the nights that Greagoir found Surana up beyond the twenty-second hour, she was finishing her chores in the library, always while chatting with Cullen. As the tower’s Knight Commander, Greagoir would remind Surana that it was her responsibility to heed her curfew. He would wait as she hurried to shelve whatever book she held in her hand. Then Greagoir would command Cullen to escort her to her dorm and to return to the templar’s quarters immediately thereafter.

.

A good Knight Commander manages all of his charges, mages and templars alike. He learns how to motivate them, how to makes them most productive.

When Cullen came to the Circle, he did so with a heavy heart. The young man became a Chantry orphan after his apostate mother could no longer care for him and, whereas most of the recruits wanted to become soldiers, Cullen wanted to be a knight. He read the Chant not as holy writ but as sacred poems whose secrets must be unlocked. He pondered a single verse for days before moving on to the next. Other recruits thought him absentminded, but Greagoir saw Cullen for what he was. The young man was a thinker. Not an intellectual who thought for sport, but spiritual-minded theorist who sought comfort knowing that his questions had been answered.

As for Surana, Greagoir was never bothered by her friendship with Cullen. The young man was besotted by her elven beauty, enchanted by wickedness hinted by her smile. But the elf was a devout Andrastian, not a creature of the forest wilds. Still, she inspired Cullen to pen poems late at night. With Surana in Cullen’s life, the young man grew less moody, less argumentative. She motivated him to perform his daily duties and, in Greagoir’s eyes, this was clearly a boon. As long as the two of them remained loyal to the Circle, he saw no reason to complain. Surana held favorable views of templars who led honorable lives, and it was always better that a promising mage felt loyalty toward the Templars and the Chantry than join with the blighted Libertarians. But while Greagoir saw benefit in Cullen’s friendship with this mage, Irving disapproved.

And now the matter was done and the young enchanter gone. The lovesick knight loitered in the dining hall after his brethren left, a gloomy pallor cast over him. Poems smoldered in the fire. All his dreams dashed.

Edited (fixed title of post) 2013-02-10 11:48 (UTC)

Much enjoyed!

:) Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

As Guard-Captain, Aveline didn't rest and let others do the rough work like Captain Jeven did. She was right out there with them, pounding the pavement. It was her connection, deep and visceral to the place that had become her new start. There was much potential in Kirkwall, if they didn't squander it all with the infighting between all the various factions.

She rounded a corner near the docks, surprised to see a group of people in uniform. They were too well-armed to be slavers or bandits, too tall for the Carta. A passing thought made her think they might be smugglers before she got close enough to inspect the uniforms in the dim light of evening. They were blue. Warden issued.

"Aveline." Hearing her name from one of the assembled people made her tense with shock, but her rigidity faded when she saw Carver peeling away from the group. Warden Carver. A smile pricked the corners of her mouth and she did her best to suppress it, failing miserably.

"Hello Carver, and company." She said, feeling awkward as she nodded at the group of Wardens. They gave cordial if cool hellos and nods back to her behind Carver's brawny plated shoulder.

"First time back in Kirkwall?" Aveline asked.

"No, but don't tell my brother. Only here for a moment, anyway." Carver shook his head. "I don't want him or Mother waiting for me to come for a visit. We have business, and the Wardens are my family now."

"You can't just forget about all of us here. Family is important, Carver. They should know." Aveline protested, a frown on her face. Loyalty wasn't so easily forgotten, and after all they'd lost, neither was family.

Carver ducked his head down, lips unexpectedly capturing her still downturned mouth. The kiss was neat and hard, as if he'd done it a multitude of times before. His warm lips pushed into hers, insistent and forceful - just like the Carver she knew. What was different was the confidence behind it, the dark heat, the way it made her head swim. He was young, too young, but had come into his manhood in the Deep Roads and found a life that fit. All the time since that trip had made him keenly sharp, no longer a blunt instrument to wield, but a thinking man turned weapon. Deadly and fierce, his kiss said it all as it seared her lips. Time suspended, she didn't think to breathe as they kissed, just feel his touch, the hand lingering on the small of her back, her palm spread flat against the griffon insignia that he now called home. Her hand on his chest pushed gently, prying the two of them apart. This wasn't right, but that was probably why it felt so good.

"We'll have to agree to disagree about the family thing, but I won't tell your brother I saw you." Aveline said, coming back to her senses, desperate for something to say.

Carver let out a hard burst of laughter, as if the sound had been trapped in his chest and had finally broken free. "Agree to disagree, huh? You just won't tell him about that kiss."

"That's why you did it, you prat." Aveline said, smiling for the first time as she swatting at him. He jumped out of the way with a grin on his face.

"Maybe. Maybe I just wanted to kiss you. Take care, Aveline." He said, moving back towards the group at the edge of the dock.

She watched him stride away without looking back over his shoulder, black hair ruffled by the invisible hand of the sea breeze. The hard indent left by his lips was fading into memory on her own, but the feelings he conjured weren't so easily cast off. No, she would likely never mention that kiss - or that she saw him to anyone. But she was serious about agreeing to disagree. Family was never discarded, but she realized that this was probably for the best. His new life didn't allow for visits for tea or slow kisses, for what if and I wonders. What it called for was just what she'd gotten, something hard and quick that nearly felt familiar.

Aww, so sweet and lovely.

This was absolutely wonderful. Gorgeous and bittersweet - poor sweet Cullen and Surana.

I really like this. I like how Carver has changed, and how easily Aveline sees it, and their contrasting ideas of what family should mean. Nicely done!

Ha. Possibly, so do I. XD

Thank you! :D

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed. :)

Thank you! I just loved the idea of Alistair upsetting stuff in his "aaaaaah WHAT" reaction. XD

This is fantastic! Something I never knew I wanted. :)

oh

;_;

my heart. ow.

It was definitely awkward. The first time, Alistair had knelt down, leaned in to sink one hand, half-tentative, into the hair into the back of her neck, beneath her braids, and pressed their lips lightly together. They ended up about right light that--Alistair was tall enough in the torso that it left them about equal. But now he was in his armor, and kneeling just didn't seem quite possible in the brief moments that they had. He tried to kneel down, putting one hand on the wall behind her, but the angle was terrible, and he bumped her nose into her cheek and she bit his lip by accident.

"Ow!" he yelped, and she laughed out loud. When she saw his indignant face, she just laughed harder, holding one hand over her mouth to try and stop as she doubled over.

"Sorry, sorry," she said. "You just looked so--haha. Mm. Sorry for laughing."

"See if I try to kiss you again, you minx," he said.

"That's so unfair, my height isn't my fault," she said.

"You're laughing at me," he said.

"Just a little," she replied. "Besides, I'm laughing at me, too. That was just sad. You'd think two experienced warriors, Grey Wardens even, would be able to figure out a little kissing."

His face relaxed, and a fond smile tugged at one corner of his lips again. "Yes, well, look at our past history," he said.

"Is that a dig at my leadership of this band of miscreants?" she demanded, but she was smiling, too, and reached up to rest both hands on his breastplate, curling her fingers around the straps and yanking him down. "Now, let's try that again."

She had to go up on her toes to meet him, as far as he could lean over in the armor, but she threaded her fingers into his hair as lightly as she could in her gauntlets, and he sighed into her mouth, lips soft and eager against hers. She tilted her head into it, avoiding any problem with noses, and let her eyes slide closed, just for a moment.

She bit down on his lip again after a moment, and grinned at his startled yelp, but swept her tongue into his mouth before he pulled away, and he sputtered a little, then kissed her back again, fumbling at first, then hotter, with more passion. When he pulled away, they were both panting.

"Ow," he said, "my back. Maker's breath." But he grinned at her, mouth kiss-stung and eyes sparkling.

"Next time," she said, "I'll stand on a tree stump."

Ahhh adorable. :)

The pomp and circumstance finally over and done with, Anora stepped into her rooms and let the door fall closed behind her, leaning against the solid wood with a sigh. One duty over with. But another was yet to come, and she found herself dreading it more than the first. At least she'd only be expected to sit through the one wedding ceremony. Alistair would most likely be visiting her every night, at least until an heir was safely conceived.

By the time he arrived, she'd removed her wedding finery and changed into a simple dressing gown, her hair pulled into a simple long braid. Before departing, Erlina offered her a glass of wine; she'd declined, but now she regretted that decision. She rose from her chair, and he paused in the doorway that connected their separate suites. He wore a heavy red robe, the mabari crest embroidered over the right lapel, and she realized this was the first time she had seen him out of armor.

He bobbed his head and swallowed. "Anora."

"Alistair," she replied coolly, lifting her chin. "Shall we get this over with?"

"I-- yes." He shut the door and came into the room; she turned and headed for the bedroom. "No, wait."

She paused, then pivoted back around to face him. He was holding his hand out, fingers reaching outwards. "Why?"

"I just-- I want to talk. First." He took a few careful steps in her direction, arm lowering back to his side.

Anora shook her head with an impatient sigh. "Why?" she repeated. "We both know our duty."

"Our duty, yes." Alistair came even nearer, then rested a hand on her arm. "But no one ever said that we can't take pleasure in our duty. Right?"

His fingers were warm, even through the heavy fabric of her gown, and they curved just right over her upper arm, but Anora refused to lean into his touch. "I know I am not the woman you truly want, not in your bed, nor as your wife."

Alistair lowered his eyes. "It doesn't matter," he murmured. "I know... I know that's not to be." He lifted his gaze and met her eyes with a wry smile. "No more than I would be your first choice to be here. But I am here, and so are you, and I would prefer to make the best of it." Tightening his gentle grip, he leaned in, and he placed a light kiss on her cheek, then on her lips, and his kiss was so soft, unexpectedly yielding, a question rather than the demand Cailan would have made; she found herself responding, kissing him back, her own hand falling on his broad shoulder, and wondered what it would be like to pillow her cheek there.

Then he drew away with a tentative smile. "See?" he said. "Not so bad."

"Perhaps not," she replied, a half-smile tugging at her own lips.

Alistair lightly fingered a tendril of hair that had escaped her braid. "Then show me the way."

PERFECT. <333333

Fffffff yes ♥ oh, so broken, both of them. yessssss. Thank you!

Ooooh! Great interpretation of the prompt. Liked it!

"It wasn't how I wanted our first kiss to go," Anders admitted.

Hawke smirked. He wouldn't be able to see it, spooned behind her in the bed she now thought of as theirs, but he probably knew she was smirking all the same. "So you admit you'd thought about it."

Anders' arm squeezed around her waist, and voice was almost indignant. "You know blighted well I thought about it. I barely thought about anything else. Three years--" His arm squeezed harder, and one leg moved so it rested between hers, skin sliding on skin. "--three years of imagining kissing you--"

"Among other things."

His chuckle was a low rasp that tickled her ear, and one hand slid northwards, seeking and finding curves; not with intent, just warm, wonderfully familiar contact. "Many other things. But I thought our first kiss would at least involve some finesse. I wanted to leave you breathless, and instead I just sort of lunged at you. I should be ashamed of myself, really."

He didn't sound in the least ashamed of himself, or of where his hand was wandering, and Hawke laughed. "Believe me, love, you left me breathless."

"Mm." His mouth nuzzled at the skin below her ear. "Not good enough. I want another attempt."

"Another first kiss?" Hawke rolled over in his arms. "Well, I've always been a believer in second chances..."

A few minutes passed before they came up for air, and when they did, Hawke was grinning. "Also third and fourth chances. Ninth chances, even. How many first kisses would you like?"

Anders laughed. "How high can you count?"

author's note: Yep, the TMBG song is thoroughly in my head now.

Edited 2013-02-10 23:20 (UTC)

Ooh! I love this, it's just what I wanted. Thanks!!

...if this isn't cheeky to ask, did you roleplay for a while with Natia? Because I remember interacting with a Natia Brosca and I adored her. So happy to see her again in fic. =)

Please continue this? Mmm.

I know something you don't know

Hee! Wonderful. I love the way Sebastian flirts with her.

Love that last paragraph. Yay. =)

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Page 8 of 17

Dragon Age Kiss Battle: 2013 Edition

La belle dame sans merci (Cullen/Surana, G)

Re: Cullen/F!Amell or Surana - T/PG-13 for language

Re: Dog/Ser Pounce-a-Lot, G

Carver/Aveline - Kirkwall, for One Moment, T

Re: Varric/Isabela

Re: La belle dame sans merci (Cullen/Surana, G)

Re: Carver/Aveline - Kirkwall, for One Moment, T

Re: The More Things Change, Isabela/Alistair/(f!Cousland)

Re: The More Things Change, Isabela/Alistair/(f!Cousland)

Re: The More Things Change, Isabela/Alistair/(f!Cousland)

Re: The More Things Change, Isabela/Alistair/(f!Cousland)

Re: Carver/Aveline - Kirkwall, for One Moment, T

Re: La belle dame sans merci (Cullen/Surana, G)

If At First You Don't Succeed (f!Aeducan/Alistair, PG)

Re: If At First You Don't Succeed (f!Aeducan/Alistair, PG)

Duties (Alistair/Anora, PG)

Re: Invitation (Nathaniel/Bethany/Anders, T)

Re: Duties (Alistair/Anora, PG)

Re: Carver/Aveline - Kirkwall, for One Moment, T

Another First Kiss, Anders/f!Hawke, T

Re: Interrupted - f!Brosca/Leliana - G

Re: Invitation (Nathaniel/Bethany/Anders, T)

Flemeth/anybody

Re: Sebastian/Bethany, G

Re: Anders/Hawke, PG-13