My illustrations for The Duchess and the Spy, for @adoribullmb! It’s a raunchy rule 63 regency AU– if that sounds like your jam, please check it out, you’re gonna love it.
And big thanks to the author, who provided me with tons and tons of really useful references, even though I ended up drawing them half-dressed anyway, and whose enthusiasm made this really fun to work on. <3
So, I was really nervous when it came time to assign artists for the minibang. I was a little worried that I would get shouted down for writing genderswap or femslash, but mostly that my assigned artist wouldn’t understand why it was so important to me that Bull stay… well, Big.
I’m sure it’s obvious that I lucked out, because DAMN. That is a Giant Woman with Giant Horns.
And, like. She’s not made into some male-gazey idea of what a queer woman (or any woman!) “should” look like in order to be palatable.
Story Title: The Duchess and the Spy Link to story: Voilà! Rating: Explicit Warnings: This is a Genderswap Regency romance AU, containing rampant historical anachronism, slapdash borrowing from canon, trashy regency romance tropes, vague Tevinter nastiness toward queer people, and one extremely brief reference to marital/corrective rape. Plus, fisting!
Story summary:
Doria is the Duchess of House Pavus— the only heir of a powerful and ambitious family, and a favorite of the Tevinter Regency gossip mill. The Iron Bull is a mercenary captain from the colonies, whose service to the Imperium has led her into high society with her small company in tow for several weeks of fêtes and parties.
The two meet first at a soirée, then again when Bull accidentally climbs into Doria’s library window in search of letters regarding a Venatori conspiracy against the Inquisition—and despite how mismatched they may seem, the pull between them is too much to ignore. Has Doria found the answer to her problems in a seven-foot-tall Tal-Vashoth woman with one eye and the most horrid taste in clothing she’s ever witnessed?
Link to art: Here! (also included on AO3! Art is not explicit)
I DID IT! I WROTE THIS! IT IS VERY SMUTTY AND ALSO INVOLVES DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF REGENCY GOWNS! AND FISTING! DID I MENTION THE FISTING?! THERE’S A PINTEREST LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT THE LINK TO THE PINTEREST!
A friendly reminder that a GIANT MAN called IRON BULL with a HUGE AXE liked PINK STONES and LOST HIS EYE DEFENDING A TRANSGENDER MAN and DATED MEN AND WOMEN and did NOTHING WITHOUT CONSENT so FUCK TOXIC MASCULINITY
Iron Bull: So that Tevinter guy sent you into the future? (Grunts.)
Dialogue options:
Flirt: I’ll protect you. [1]
General: Tevinter magic goes too far. [2] + Iron Bull slightly approves
General: It was incredible. [3] - Iron Bull slightly disapproves
General: Weird, right? [4] + Iron Bull slightly approves
1 - Flirt: I’ll protect you. PC If you’re worried about magic, I can protect you. Iron Bull: My blade pretty much protects me. PC: Perhaps I can do things your blade can’t. Iron Bull: I don’t know. It has blood grooves. Well, technically it’s the fuller, but “blood grooves” sounds so much more violent. Anyway, I hope our new friends have what it takes to close the Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
2 - General: Tevinter magic goes too far. PC: I’ve got no problem with normal magic, but Tevinter goes beyond all reason. Iron Bull: I know, right? The Vints are always pushing. Anyway, I hope our new friends have what it takes to close the Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
3 - General: It was incredible. PC: The things magic can do are fascinating. Iron Bull: (Grunts.)Anyway, I hope our new friends have what it takes to close the Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
4 - General: Weird, right? PC: Every time I think I understand magic, the rules change. Iron Bull (mage PC): And you’re a mage, so that’s saying something. Iron Bull (non-mage PC): I know, right? If I were a mage, I’d just throw fire at people. That’s honest. Iron Bull: Anyway, I hope our new friends have what it takes to close the Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
Iron Bull: Inquisitor, huh? Well, you’ve got the fortress for it. Speaking of which, when you’ve got a second, there’s something I wanna show you.
General: You had something to show me? PC: What did you want me to come see?
Iron Bull: Here, come on. I’ll show you.
The scene cuts to night, and the PC is in mercenary armor.
PC: Why am I dressed like this?
Iron Bull: You’ll see. Come on, it’ll be worth your time. I promise.
The two of them join a couple of soldiers playing cards. They sit.
Iron Bull: Evening. Iron Bull. My merc band just joined up.
Tanner: Tanner. I’m from Jader. Well, near Jader.
Mira: Mira. I was guard-captain for Lady Pendall. Signed on after shit blew up at the Conclave. Share a drink? Who’s your friend?
Iron Bull: This is Grim. [They don’t] talk much.
Dialogue options.
General: Nice to meet you. [1]
General: How’s it going? [2]
General: [Say little.][3]
1 - General: Nice to meet you. PC: It’s a pleasure. Tanner: Hey, Grim, do I know you from somewhere?
2 - General: How’s it going? PC: They treating you all right out here? Mira: Seen worse. Tanner: Hey, Grim, do I know you from somewhere?
3 - General: [Say little.] PC:(Grunts.)
4 - Scene continues.
Iron Bull: So, you ready to kill some demons or Venatori… or whatever that Corypheus asshole is?
Mira: This isn’t just about killing. We’re helping the Inquisitor save the world and build the next empire.
Dialogue options:
General: The Inquisitor’s helping. PC: Sounds like the Inquisitor is doing some good work. [5]
General: The Inquisitor’s just a [person]. PC: The Inquisitor isn’t a god. [They’re] just a [person] trying to do the right thing. [5]
General:[Say little.] PC:(Grunts.)[5]
5 - Scene continues.
Iron Bull: Well, long as I get paid, I’m happy. That’s why I signed up.
Tanner: I just couldn’t spend my whole life on a farm. Needed to live a little, you know?
Iron Bull: What about you, Mira? Why’d you join up? I thought you were serving some noble.
Mira: I saw what happened at Haven. The Inquisitor staring down that monster and his Archdemon… I don’t sing the Chant of Light as much as I should, but you can’t see something like that and not believe.
Iron Bull: Well, Grim and I should find our tents. Thanks for the drink.
They leave and stop a bit away.
Iron Bull: I know every soldier under my command. You don’t have that option… but a few faces might help.
6 - Dialogue options:
Investigate: Why did you act like that? [7]
General: This was good. [8] + Iron Bull slightly approves
General: Their attitudes surprised me. [9]
General: This was depressing. [10] - Iron Bull slightly disapproves
7 - Investigate: Why did you act like that? PC: You made it sound like you didn’t like the Inquisition. Iron Bull: People don’t always tell the truth when you’re polite. You gotta poke them a bit.
Dialogue options:
Special: They may think less of you. [11]
[Back to 6]
11 - Special: They may think less of you. PC: But those two soldiers might think you’re an asshole. Iron Bull: So? [Back to 6]
8 - General: This was good. PC: It was good to get their perspective. Iron Bull: Yeah. Sounds like we could use an easy win for boys like Tanner. And vets like Mira have seen enough to be wary. You’ve got a good army coming along. Remember that, no matter what comes next. [12]
9 - General: Their attitudes surprised me. PC: I knew some of the soldiers felt like that, but to actually hear it… Iron Bull: It’s hard to be just an idea sometimes. That’s all you are to most of them. It’s why you could stand right in front of them without being recognized. You’ve got a good army coming along. Remember that, no matter what comes next. [12]
10 - General: This was depressing. PC: I might be sending these soldiers to their deaths. Now I know their names. Iron Bull: If you’re sending them to their deaths, you can give them that much. You’ve got a good army coming along. Remember that, no matter what comes next. [12]
Iron Bull (if in party for CotJ): Demons. It had to be demons. Iron Bull (if not in party for CotJ): Heard there was a big demon at the Seeker Fortress. Iron Bull: Getting into your head, messing around… (Grunts.)
Dialogue options:
Flirt: I’ll protect you. [1]
General: It was worth the risk. [2]
General: Maybe it never stopped! [3] - Iron Bull slightly disapproves
General: We killed it. [4] + Iron Bull slightly approves
1 - Flirt: I’ll protect you. PC If you’re nervous about demons, I can protect you. Iron Bull: My blade pretty much protects me. PC: Perhaps I can do things your blade can’t. Iron Bull: I don’t know. It has blood grooves. Well, technically it’s the fuller, but “blood grooves” sounds so much more violent. Anyway, I hope our new friends have what it takes to close the Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
2 - General: It was worth the risk. PC: What matters is we defeated it and brought the templars to our side. Iron Bull: With all these damn demons popping up, I guess we need the help. Anyway, With the templars on board, hopefully we can close that Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
3 - General: Maybe it never stopped! PC: For all you know, the demon never stopped, and this is all in your mind. Iron Bull: Oh, for… Now I’m gonna spend the rest of the day thinking about it! Thanks. Anyway, With the templars on board, hopefully we can close that Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
4 - General: We killed it. PC: It’s dead now. Iron Bull: That’s why I like you, boss. Always staying positive. Anyway, With the templars on board, hopefully we can close that Breach. Damn thing gives me a headache. [5]
So excited to share my preview for the @adoribull-fairytales Zine! A tender moment for The Iron Bull and Dorian !!!!! Details for how to purchase the charity zine are available here!
Thank you to everyone who has managed to get my original Iron Bull romance video to almost 200,000 views, you honestly have no idea how much it means to me. <3
Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost 2020… That went by quick! Here selected are my favourite pieces of my work from over the past decade since I first started as ‘AKMA’.
Heya! I have come with more art, and another animatic
I’m a sappy gay so like- Bull and Lavellan and an adopted kid. Yup. That’s everything-
This is Atlan Lavellan! Bull found him (in da animatic) in a burnt down villiage and really went “Let’s keep him ” but now Cyrrion would die for this child but also more than likely, he would kill for this child
Anyways- I absolutely love them and Atlan is ABSOLUTELY in my modern au fic I’m working on (more info on that late)
Ok- I realised something really damn hilarious and I can’t get it out of my head
Hi! So I’m a biromantic dude who just, goes bonkers for fictional men so dragon Age makes my gay little heart happy
Putting together my cannon playthroughs that I want to take into DA4 I realised that I am REALLY gay, and also I REALLY like elves.
So just- over the course of over a decade the three biggest figures in Thedas’ history were either a: Gay for an elf OR b: A gay elf
LIKE SRSLY- DA:O I ROMANCED ZEVRAN
DA:2 I’M GONNA ROMANCE FENRIS
DA:3 I PLAYED A ELF AND ROMANCED THE IRON BULL
JUST IMAGINE SOME RANDOM PERSON IN FERELDAN IS JUST TALKING TO THEIR BUDDY LIKE- “Hey wait… frank? Why is everyone Gay? NO- FRANK LISTEN. The hero of Fereldan? Gay. The champion of Kirkwall? Gay. EVEN THE DAMN HERALD OF ANDRASTE AND THE INQUISITOR WAS FUCKIN GAY MAN. ” and they’re just- having a breakdown.
