Black Emporium Letter 2022

I hope there’s something in here that sparks your imagination! I love reading everything from platonic friendship/fluff to PWP - whatever you’re best at or speaks to you the most. I’d rather have something that you found enjoyable and fun to create than be overly restrictive with my preferences.

The exception is the ships in Request #7 where I am really interested in receiving a Mature/Explicit gift due to my preferred themes for those pairings. (I'll highlight this again when I get there).

If you find you have questions or want clarification, you can leave an anonymous comment and I’ll be happy to answer you :)

 

SFW likes:

• Awkward first dates, meet the family
• Humor and friendship, especially female friendship
• Arranged or accidental marriage leading to genuine companionship
• Mutual UST/pining that leads to friends using clue by fours to get them together, already
• Relationship evolution and building of trust
• Starting off as casual and catching feelings
• Nerds being nerdy together
• “It’s a bad idea for us to be together” angst that eventually gets worked out
• Alternate history / "what if” AUs
• Post-canon / “what happens next?”
• Custom Wardens/Hawkes/Inquisitors (be creative, or ask me what I want!)

NSFW likes:

• An established couple trying something new to spice up their sex life. Bonus points for the accidental "oh no that's hot, do it again"
• General D/S dynamics, especially with very enthusiastic subs/bottoms.
• Bondage of all kinds
• Kink negotiation
• Creative use of magic/artifacts
• Enthusiastic consent and dirty talk

DNWs:

• Watersports/Scat
• Humiliation
• A/B/O dynamics and other non-traditional reproductive biology (mpreg, etc)
• Modern/Mundane AUs
• Necrophilia
• Infidelity/cheating
• Daddy/mommy kink
• Non-canonical major character deaths

1. All The Sten
Female Adaar/Sten

Arishok Sten shows up at Skyhold after Iron Bull’s loyalty quest (it can go either way). Adaar greets him cordially, but stiffly, because she is no fan of the Qun. She refuses to budge even an ounce on her convictions. It isn’t until Varric tells her about his time traveling with Sten and Alistair (see: the comics) that she unbends enough to give him a fair shake. Adaar eventually opens up to him and discovers they actually have a lot in common. Sten, meanwhile, is still struggling with the fact that, as the Arishok, he’s supposed to embody the principles of the antaam – but his experiences in Thedas mean that he’s far more tolerant of differing views than pretty much everyone else in the Qun. He’s been falling for Adaar the whole time he’s been at Skyhold, and it all comes together one night. What happens after that? Is it only while Sten is at Skyhold, or does it somehow continue?

Leliana/Sten

I love the contrast between Origins’ soft, impressionable Leliana and hard, determined Sten. I can see him being worn down despite himself, unable to figure out why this silly human is affecting him so, and meanwhile Leliana is wondering if her flirting is ever going to do anything. OR: Inquisition era where Leliana has matured so much and that makes Sten all the more attracted to her - competency kink! Leliana knows the person Sten and not the Arishok, and I’d imagine that’s appealing and maybe makes her hard to resist.

Female Cadash/Iron Bull/Sten

Established Cadash/Bull has to deal with Sten showing up at Skyhold. I’d imagine this works better if Bull is Tal-Vashoth, but I’m open to loyal!Bull unexpectedly wanting to bang the Arishok and trying to get his girl on board.

2. Sten/Warden canon confirmed

Female Brosca/Sten
Female Mahariel/Sten
Sten/Female Tabris

Most of what I want can be accomplished with any of the backgrounds, so I don’t have specific prompts for Brosca vs. Mahariel vs. Tabris. All three come from extremely disadvantaged (in their own way) backgrounds and have seen the worst of what Ferelden has to offer. Maybe that makes the Qun attractive; maybe it makes them appreciate their position as a Warden all the more and not want to follow Sten when he leaves. How does the Warden break down Sten’s walls to reveal the softie underneath, and what does Sten think about this infuriating woman who breaks all his preconceived notions about the world? (Okay, I gave you a bit of a hint there, but I'm still open to other ideas!) I'm ok with either a bittersweet parting at the end of Origins (possibly with the Warden’s death, an exception to my usual no major deaths preference) or one of them making a sacrifice to stay with the other.

3. Kirkwall Moresomes

Fenris/Donnic Hendyr/Isabela/Aveline Vallen

Donnic and Fenris strike up a friendship that starts to develop into more. Who notices it first? How does Aveline feel about her husband being attracted to Hawke’s broody elf friend, and how long does she let it go on before she tells Donnic to just go kiss Fenris already? Does Fenris grow closer to Aveline as a result? Similarly, Isabela and Aveline have something that could easily become sexual chemistry. Is Donnic or Fenris the one to make a move? How about Fenris/Isabela making overtures to Donnic/Aveline? Look, I’ll take any combination of this foursome, up to and including everyone in the same bed, but everyone has to be on board with what happens. Some healthy communication and poly negotiation would be fun.

Female Hawke/Isabela/Merrill

I see these three as being an organic poly relationship rather than a 2+1, if that makes sense. Hawke flirts with them both and refuses to choose, and they’re on board with that. It’d be great to see Merrill getting involved with the Qunari tangle at the end of Act 2 as well as Hawke.

Fenris/Female Hawke/Isabela

Since Fenris and Isabela get together if Hawke romances neither, there’s obviously some chemistry between them. Is this a pair inviting in a third situation, or one where it becomes obvious that all three are attracted to each other? Similarly to F!Hawke/Isabela/Merrill, it’d be interesting to see how Fenris deals with the Arishok since he seems to have some knowledge of the Qunari.

4. Obligatory Crack Ships

Esmeral Abernache/Movran the Under

Movran the Under may be my favorite random side character because he throws a goat at Skyhold’s walls. How can you not love a guy who does that? Anyway, if the Templars are saved, you have the option to pair him with Esmeral Abernache and they develop a grudging mutual respect and basically play Good Cop/Bad Cop with Tevinter. Run with this. PLEASE. There are some gems from their respective missives back to the Inquisition that I would love to see you use as inspiration.

Female Aeducan/Female Brosca/Female Cadash/Dagna/Lace Harding/Sigrun

LADY DWARF STACK. I don't care how you get them all in the same place at the same time but just make it happen. Smut? Fluff? Both?!
 

Ten-high lady warden stack

Party at Weisshaupt! Did I say party? Pretty sure I meant orgy. Or both. Warden stamina, amiright?
 

5. Low-Key OTPs

Herren/Wade

Herren and Wade are such an old married couple, I love them so much. I'd be interested to see how they manage the chaos of Denerim and later Amaranthine, Herren trying to keep Wade aware of the circumstances that AREN'T strictly related to the crafting of armor and weapons.

Fenris/Isabela

Since Fenris and Isabela get together if Hawke doesn't romance either of them, I'd definitely be interested to see a little more of that relationship. It's implied that it's somewhat of a FWB relationship, but like I keep saying, I love seeing what happens when real feelings start to creep in!
 

Nathaniel Howe/Velanna

I would love to see Nathaniel and Velanna get the full relationship treatment. They definitely seem like they’re edging towards mutual respect and even a little admiration. How does Nathaniel help Velanna with her sister’s fate? What does Velanna think of Nathaniel’s sister? Do they stay at Amaranthine after Awakening, or go somewhere else?
 

6. Varric’s Gonna Get Some

Bethany Hawke/Varric Tethras

This exchange has won me over to Bethany/Varric. I’m partial to something where she shows up at Skyhold and Varric introduces her to everyone in such a fashion that causes them to be mistaken for a couple. Which causes them to re-evaluate their relationship and oh look, now they are a couple.

Female Adaar/Varric Tethras

SIZE KINK. Varric adores his tall girlfriend and doesn’t mind that she has to pick him up to kiss him. Adaar is charmed by this.

Female Aeducan/Varric Tethras

F!Aeducan's attitude towards Orzammar is almost the exact opposite of Varric's. Maybe an AU where she's Queen; or maybe Warden Aeducan actually shows up in person at Skyhold and initially clashes with Varric, but then finds common ground with him.
 

7. Let’s Get Kinky (Mature/Explicit Only!)

Blackwall/The Iron Bull/Vivienne

D/S relationship with Viv and her two burly subs, please! Vivienne is the one person in the Inquisition that Bull can see himself actually submitting to, and she is more than happy to use him for her own ends. Blackwall feels immense guilt over his actions as Thom Rainier and finds release in letting Vivienne dom him. And sometimes Vivienne just tells the pair of them what to do to the other, which makes all three of them happy. Established Bull/Viv + Blackwall or organic OT3 - honestly, I’ll be happy with whatever here.
 

Ser Cauthrien/Anora Mac Tir

D/S again! Cauthrien is immensely devoted to Anora. In all senses, including the bedroom.

Carver Hawke/Velanna

Warden!Carver meets Velanna and annoys her enough to have her use her vine magic on him. They both find that incredibly hot.

8. The More The Merrier

Female Adaar/Female Hawke/Isabela/Josephine Montilyet

Established Adaar/Josephine and Hawke/Isabela decide to mix things up a little bit while Hawke and Isabela are at Skyhold.
 

Morrigan/Celene Valmont/Vivienne

Morrigan has made herself invaluable to Celene, which is a position that Vivienne once held/aspired to hold. Vivienne attempts to get back in Celene's good graces at Halamshiral, and finds out that includes buttering up Morrigan. They don't really get along, but somehow that doesn't matter with Celene to bridge the gap between them.
 

Nathaniel Howe/Sigrun/Velanna

Velanna’s torn between Nathaniel and Sigrun, and decides she wants them both. It might take some time, but eventually everyone’s on board. A ‘V’ relationship is fine, as well as the full OT3.

9. Blackwalllllll

Blackwall/Female Cadash
Blackwall/Josephine Montilyet
Female Adaar/Blackwall

A canon romance I love that doesn’t get enough attention. No Blackwall-bashing, please; the Inquisitor/Josephine doesn’t have to instantly forgive him for his deception, but there should ultimately be a reconciliation and the promise of a solid relationship. Angst, fluff, flirting, PWP -- I’ll take it all!

10. Angsty F/F

Female Aeducan/Dagna

Dagna and F!Aeducan have a forbidden romance in Orzammar, both of them dreaming for something they can never have. Everything changes when Aeducan leaves, then comes back – what is their reunion like? How does Aeducan feel about Dagna going to the Circle, and then later working with the Inquisition?
 

Leliana/Morrigan

Leliana and Morrigan didn’t get along at all during Origins, but they find themselves moving in similar circles by the time Inquisition comes around. They’ve both matured and changed and find their old bickering doesn’t matter anymore. Leliana gives the Inquisitor a positive review of Morrigan instead of a negative one, and respect turns into something more.
 

Female Cousland/Anora Mac Tir

F!Cousland finds herself married to Anora for all the same reasons that a M!Cousland might marry her, and a grudging respect turns into mutual pining and someone needs to whack them over the head to have them realize they’re actually in love with each other.