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Taash smiles

Okay, let's talk about the coming out scene, because people are saying Taash was the one out of line.

Shathann is a sympathetic character. That does not make her a good person. She saved her child from a life of servitude by leaving the country she loved and tried to preserve that culture in her child. I respect that. I also wish there was a way to encourage Taash to embrace both sides of their culture.

BUT.

From the moment we meet her, Shathann criticizes literally everything her child does. Taash runs an errand for her, and Shathann criticizes their posture, pronunciation, gender presentation, AND sexuality, completely unprovoked, yes, in one fucking conversation. Shathann invites Taash over for dinner and then makes Taash cook that fucking dinner. And this has happened before, as stated in the dialogue. Taash is so affected by this behavior and probably worse they have endured their entire life that they say "you don't get to tell me who I am" at a simple question about their heritage, out of pure instinct.

Now to the actual scene.

Taash invites their mother to their new home and prepares a dinner for her, which Shathann immediately criticizes and has Taash make vegetables to go with. Can you imagine inviting someone into your home for dinner you prepare only for them to shit on it and ask you to cook more. And Taash does so, with a grunt. I'd be like bitch you're in my house, I cooked, eat. But they just do it.

Then they say it. "Im nonbinary." Shathann asks what that means, completely fair, and Taash explains that it means they're not a man or a woman.

Shathann asks if this is because she criticizes their gender presentation. Now listen. I have a parent who thinks nearly everything "wrong" with me is a reaction to their actions. It pisses me off. So Taash is getting reasonably frustrated, and insists that's not why. VALID. They were asked a question and they answered.

Let's talk about the Qun and gender identity. Yes they have a word for people who identify as a different gender than they were assigned. But this is implied to apply to trans men and women, not nonbinary people, so Shathann is asking Taash if they "just" identify as a man, because that's something Shathann can better understand, something more convenient for her to process. Sort of like when trans people come out to someone and are asked if they're "just gay."

No. And Taash says no. They have explained who they are. If Shathann was just having a hard time processing it that would be one thing, but she basically talked over Taash and tried to suggest that they were just a man, which they are not. Taash is being vulnerable. Taash doesn't even HAVE to tell Shathann this, but they want to, they think she deserves to know.

And what Taash says next is not purely to do with this one conversation, as explicit in the text. "why am I never enough for you." Never. Not now. We have seen Shathann critique Taash in every scene they share, and that's with a whole other person present who is not in the family. We don't know what happens in private. Shathann signed her child up for a fucking war without even talking to them about it. What Taash says is the build up of years of being talked over and criticized for everything they do, provoked by offering themselves to that person in a vulnerable position only to be talked over and criticized more.

"Why am I never enough for you."

And Shathann does not answer. She doesnt say "of course you are." Even if she disagreed with Taash's identity, which would be shitty, she could still affirm that they are enough for her. She doesn't.

She fucking leaves.

Maybe she thinks that's what Taash wants. Maybe not. But if someone asks you something like that, you affirm them. You say they are enough. Especially if they're your fucking child. But no, this conversation is too inconvenient for Shathann, she's not getting her way like she did when she signed Taash up for a war without their consent, so she just leaves. She could've said "I don't understand, but I love you." She couldve said anything. But she just left.

I'm sad she died. Im glad she accepted her child in the end. But no, Taash was not in any way out of line in this conversation.

Shathann was.

Taash’s introduction is so much funnier when you remember that they have NO idea who Rook is

Rook literally rocks up in the middle of their work and is all, “Hey, nice to meet you, can’t wait to work together :)” and Taash is just ?????

They have no idea where this clown came from mid job or why Rook thinks they’re working together. Who is this rando? Did the lord’s hire them? Taash has done this job some many times before, why would they need help now?

Rook then proceeds to immediately step on Taash’s hot Qun button and it’s amazing they don’t just get punched.

Then it turns out that Rook is their new boss! That their mother hadn’t bothered to tell them about!?

Absolutely wild from their perspective

cottage. quiet. [chapter 02]

Cottage. Quiet | Chapter 02 [ Ao3 Link ] [ ch. 01 ] [ ch. 02 ] Word Count: 4500 Rating: 16+ Summary: After a heart to heart with Ma', Taash and Harding visit their local market.

If you enjoy the fic, please consider leaving a kudos or a comment. It does help me stay motivated!

Authors Notes under the cut.

Authors Notes: This chapter went through a few different outlines before I settled in on this one. I thank @grimrevolution for helping guide me in the right direction. The Good: I pushed through and finished it. Usually I drop projects once I start, but I actually feel like this will be a fun project to keep up with. I've met so many great people on here who are insanely talented writers, and they've been nothing but supportive. It's giving me motivation to keep up with my practice. This fic is still just me living out my sapphic farm fantasies through the two. I don't know why I adore the two as much as I does, but I does. The Hard: It's been a challenge to combat imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy. Teaching myself how to not compare, but to observe and learn. Always practice. Self-growth or some shit.

Leliana at the Battle of Denerim when I make her wear heavy armor so she can survive the Darkspawn

Thinking about them (Taash)

I would love love LOVE it if Taash wasn’t constantly misgendered!!! It’s genuinely really fucking insane that MONTHS after Veilguard has been released and people STILL can’t get it right.

Deadass i literally don’t care whether or not anyone here even likes Taash, but the BARE MINIMUM is to use their correct pronouns.

Apologies for sounding so angry about it but like I’m beyond tired of seeing it, especially since Taash is one of my favorite Dragon Age characters.

ive found that partially treated mental illness can sometimes look to uninvolved onlookers like faked mental illness.

taash dragonage if you read this I am free on Thursday night and would like to hang out. Please respond to this and then hang out with me on Thursday night when I’m free.

I am a Taash enthusiast and encourager.