The importance of romance

pikapeppa:

Let’s talk about romance for a sec. 

In Dragon Age: Inquisition, when the Inquisitor sees Cassandra reading some smutty literature, she’s initially embarrassed but very quickly she gets over it and quite belligerently defends her love of romance. She then says the following quote:

“Romance is not the sole province of dithering ladies in frilly dresses. It is passion. It is being swept away by the pursuit of an ideal. What is not to like about that?”

I love this quote for a lot of reasons. First of all, that it comes from Cass: a certified grade-A badass woman warrior who takes no shit and gets shit done. Strong, competent women love romance too, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Cass might be unfair to those dithering ladies (such as Josie’s sister Yvette), but the main idea still stands: that romance is not a frivolous, silly thing to be scoffed at, but rather, it’s the concept of optimistically pursuing an ideal – of searching for a happily-ever-after not only in love, but in life in general. 

For this reason, I resent the fact that romantic storylines or romance stories tend to be viewed as less serious or less valuable than non-romantic storylines. In the Mass Effect and Dragon Age games, the romance arcs are a major part of what makes these games compelling and emotional for many players. The best romance stories strike at the heart of human nature and allow us to dig into the deepest parts of the characters’ personalities. Romantic relationships are transformational. They can lift you to the highest heights. They can make you a better version of yourself. They can force you to change for the better or worse. They can ruin you.

This is not at all to say that non-romantic stories are less valuable. Some non-romantic stories (like Horizon Zero Dawn) have no romance element and are absolutely incredible and transformational as well. All I’m saying is that romance stories have serious value, and do not deserve to be scoffed at.

Feel free to yell this at the next idiot who laughs at you/tells you off/rolls their eyes at you for shipping any characters in any fandom. 

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Abelas/Lavellan: Smut and sadness and oh my god why am I like this

pikapeppa:

Read here on AO3: The One Who Will Live On

As some of you might have seen, I started writing this little fic last week and finished it today. There’s smut. There’s cake. Maybe a few funny bits. Mostly it’s sad. And now I’ve ended up with a new DA bae to cry over. Whatever it’s fine I’m fine I’ll get over the game soon I promise

Oh yeah, and I actually make reference to his stupid jacked thighs in the fic because WHY NOT WHY NOT

makocartwheels:

A delicious ko-fi commission done by @nsfwfrosch! I’m screaming…! Here’s a little something it inspired.

Reyes woke before Laz, as usual. He had work to do despite it being Saturday; a CEO’s job was never really done. The calm of his sleeping fiancée stole his drive, though. I can afford to have a lazy morning.

Laz stirred and frowned when he brushed hair from her face. “Stop messing with me,” she said, words slurred. “I’m sleeping.”

“I see that.“

Her lips quirked in a smile as his brushed the curve of her ear. He let her be a few minutes more before kissing the corner of her jaw. Laz smiled again. “Reyes.”

“Lazuli.” He knew this game, and he always won it. He kissed a trail down her neck, skimmed a hand up her body. She groaned as her arms encircled him and said, “Come here, you.”

Victory. Reyes pushed up and slipped between her thighs, enjoying the feeling of her body beneath his. He wrapped a hand over her head to hold her close as he captured her lips. This Saturday morning wouldn’t be so lazy, after all.

AHHHHHH MY DARLING @makocartwheels‘ Laz Ryder and Reyes Vidal! SO GORGEOUS. I LOVE THESE TWO SO MUCH.

Source: makocartwheels