Brief personal note:

This is a Modern AU of my OCs from Cousland is Alive. This is a playful story, written quickly and for fun. I love my modern muffins, I love writing them, and I have 9 chapters so far with an undetermined number of chapters in total. There is a planned end, but so many things to come!


It was actually a pretty nice night, despite the chill, the fog, and the existential malaise that loomed over her. Her favorite new words, existential malaise: fancy speak for 'questioning the meaning of your life.' It fit, it was clever, and Nyla liked being clever.

A night on the town. Just what she probably needed. Dancing - definitely what she needed. Pick a club at random, french braid her hair, put on something comfortable, a little on the classy side, something tight fitting. Something to feel sexy in, maybe? She settled on her favorite black, low-cut jeans, and a tight, low cut black shirt to match. And of course, comfortable shoes and her favorite black leather jacket.

I do feel sexy, catching a few glances and - whaaat the fuuuck…

Nyla's brain did an all-stop as she stared at the face of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her entire life. Awestruck, she licked her lips, and appreciated the glow of his long yellow hair, and the relaxed way he stood, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a drink. His face was elegantly tattooed, with three dark lines swooping down and across his cheekbone; it was really, really cool. Those swoopies are so cool. I wonder what he's drinking? Oh god he's looking at me, I should… good lord…

He noticed her noticing him. It was hard not to; she was clearly attracted to him, licking her lips that way. He was enjoying the way she moved, and he felt a little tingle on the back of his neck. He felt like prey and it was thrilling. She didn't look away though; that was weird. Usually when he meets their gaze, they look away shyly, or get uncomfortable and the contact is broken. This woman was brazenly looking right into his eyes, he was looking back into hers, and they stayed that way for several moments that should have become incredibly uncomfortable. Trying to flash his typical flirty smirk, he fucked it up, and genuinely smiled; that was weird.

Oh god he smiled-

"COLD!" Nyla wailed and jumped back, having run into someone holding a drink. " JESUS! Ohhhh shit I'm sorry!" she shook an ice cube from her shirt.

"No, I'm sorry I wasn't looking!" A friendly male voice carried, handing her his napkin.

"I'm sorry, let me buy you another." She dabbed at her chin and neck.

"How about I buy you a drink instead?"

"No no, this one is on me. Trust me, I was not even-" She looked up and smiled at a face that looked all too familiar. "Hey." Nyla was shaken, heart sinking hard and fast and suddenly things were no longer okay. In fact, they had rapidly become the worst. "I gotta run."

Blond hair, honey brown eyes, perfect teeth in a perfect smile, well groomed with a cheery voice and of all goddamn nights to bump into someone that looks exactly like him… fuck… she was just getting her shit together. She was literally just enjoying looking at another man. This wasn't fair. She stood on the sidewalk and lit a cigarette, considered getting a cab.

"Hey," the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her entire life greeted her. Having seen her walk out the door with feigned coolness and trembling hands, he was compelled to follow. They were having a moment, and he wasn't quite done. Her hands were shaking and she puffed desperately on a cigarette. Three drags in a row, without taking a moment for actual air.

"Hey." She turned toward him. What the fuck was the hottest man in the universe doing in my space right here, right fucking now? Not fair. She averted her eyes. If she was going to speak with the gentleman of unobtainable hotness, she wanted it to be fun and easy. "Excuse me, I'm not suitable company."

"No? Is it because you are upset?" He knows upset. He's cool with upset.

"Yeah." She sighed, smoking her cigarette down to the filter and lighting another off of it. "I'm upset."

"Upset is fine. Upset means you need a friend."

"This is a such weird conversation to have with a stranger." She chuckled, meeting his eyes; they were smiling. She could feel tingles in her belly and she was getting straight up… wet. "I like your accent."

"Zevran." He held his hand out and she shook it firmly. It was satisfying as fuck to both of them. "I am enjoying you, even as you are upset."

"Oh my lord. Seriously?" She chuckled nervously. "You're sweet. I'm Nyla." She responded with her cigarette hanging loosely between her lips. She let go of his hand, finally. "I just came here to dance and… the drink-spilling man looked like my ex, from the haircut to the smile." She shook her head and snorted. "Someone I was in love with. And on top of that I started the night stuck in an existential malaise. Yep. I just said all of that. Nice."

"You did!" Zevran laughed, and it felt profoundly good for someone to make him laugh like that. He enjoyed her bravery, her sharing, and even the nervousness that followed. "That's very sad. Your upset makes sense to me."

"God you're sweet." She chuckled and shook her head, puffed on her cigarette. He was so intimidatingly hot, and she was trying not to mention it. "I'm going to call a cab now. Go home and lick my wounds. Maybe brood a little. It was nice talking with you, though."

"I would like if you stayed," he asserted before he could think to stop himself. "The dancing gets fun in half an hour. More people. Maybe dancing instead of brooding?" Zevran was sure of only one thing in that moment; he needed to see her dance. She laughed, threw her cigarette on the ground and smirked at him.

"Yeah, there's a lot of wisdom in that. You going to dance with me?" She smirked at him again and met his eyes. Wow, those were nice eyes. Don't look at his lips. FUCK. Don't lick your lips… FUCK… don't flirt. Stop flirting, it's not cool Nyla, quit flirting. Her inner world was a cacophony of incoherent wailing, and he was just staring back at her with his panty-melting smile. Oh my god . "Help me out here, Zevran." She was beginning to sweat a little.

"I was… enjoying this whole thing." Zevran chuckled, pointing a finger, gesturing at her with his drink and eyes. Nyla blushed. Damn. Cute. She was too much fun. Too cute. Her energy was too much fun. Her entire face was too pretty. "Maybe I will dance."

"Oh, maybe Zevran will dance." She mimicked his accent. Biting her lip and walking backward, she pushed the door open with her shoulders, watching him follow her with a smouldering smirk. He was fun. Too much fun to look at. Too much fun to flirt with. Too sexy. His voice was too sexy. The whole god damn night got too sexy. Her shirt was wet and she didn't care and she was going to masturbate furiously when she got home. Dildo arsenal is going to see the light of day for the first time in forever. It needs to happen.

"I'm glad you will dance." He wanted to see her relax, she's had a rough night, wet shirt, unhappy reminder of lost love, she needed to move. She needed to shake it out, shake it off, and he needed to watch her do it. He shouted over the music, "The dance floor will pick up soon."

She responded with a shrug and started to feel awkward, until he turned around and gestured with his head to keep following. Stopping at the bar, he dropped off his empty glass.

"Let me order you a drink?" He looked at her expectantly.

"Oh, I don't know. Orange juice." She spoke loudly, and he tilted his head at her. She tilted her head at him. "What?"

"May I order you something sweet? Sour?" He wanted to buy her a good drink. He wanted to help her relax. She got closer to him, spoke up for herself and she was kind. It felt fucking amazing to him. The assertive woman gently rested her hand on his arm and she looked directly into his eyes, and smiled.

"I don't want alcohol. Thank you, Zevran."

"Thank you." He nodded graciously, picked up his brandy on ice, handed her an orange juice, and he guided her with a playful gesture to his favorite spot where he can see the dance floor. "This is where I watch people dance."

"Oh you're a people watcher!" She sipped her orange juice and leaned on the tall table next to him. Then, she held up a finger. "This… song…" she stripped off her jacket. "Dancing now. Come on!"

"Zevran will watch!" He took her leather jacket and draped it over his arm. That's when he realized it. We're wearing the same fucking jacket. Staring at her face so hard, he forgot to look at her other parts and, oh hell yes, he was about to watch this woman dance. By herself. On the dance floor. Which did not phase her at all, as she backed away she nodded at him, smiling, and he instantly became aroused.

Nyla stood alone in the center of the floor and swayed dreamily to the beginning of her favorite song. Odd, she would hear it at a club, she thought it obscure. Hell, the band was obscure. This was literally, the best night ever.

Zevran watched her sway, and she looked at him often, smirking, happy and sassy; she enjoyed her swaying. He enjoyed her swaying. She loves dancing. He smirked back at her, biting his lip. It was getting awfully hot in this place. With an abrupt tempo change that she met spot on, her arms swung with her hips, and her fun began.

When Nyla really got into it, it was hair raising. Zevran could feel her enjoyment of the song as she expressed it with so much movement, wide open arms, and she was good at it! People were watching her, and Zevran just could not even, as he held her jacket in front of himself to hide and adjust his erection. She was flirting with him with her eyes and smile, for fuck's sake, and her graceful arm gestures seemed to beckon him. It was literally blowing his mind. He felt the strongest urge to sketch her. He was going to sketch her. Beckoning him. What a flirt! What a gorgeous fucking flirt with those hips, that ass! Bosom! So much bosom! And now she subtly puckers her lips and smiles. Zevran does not get shy OR BLUSH! Biting his lip, the song slowed.

The calm before the crescendo, he could see her excitement building. Other people had gathered to dance and to watch. Nyla was the lone dancer to start the party and fuck... it was blowing his mind. Zevran shivered at the burst of noise, that high energy, the way her fist raised to the sky with excitement and vigor, and her arms, hips, ridiculously long legs were expressing so much lovely, sexy energy and Zevran was absolutely going to bust his fucking zipper. Fuuuuck!

The song ended far too soon. That was the shortest four minutes and forty-five seconds of his life. He wanted to see her do that again, but she was strolling to him, body warm and lithe, cheeks flushed, smiling. Fuuuck.

"Should have gotten water." She panted, grabbing her juice and downing it. "That was my favorite song! Thanks for talking me into staying."

Zevran cleared his throat and blinked several times to clear away the dream that was her, so he could actually talk to her. This was new. Everything about this was new, and this woman… he could not even with this woman.

"Zevran, you okay?" She started to feel a little awkward with his silence.

"Your favorite song? It's a good song." He made words just to try and pull his shit together, and he hoped she would not reach for her jacket anytime soon. "What is the song?"

"Comedown by ohGr." Her breath was slowing and she was standing tall with her hands on her hips. He needed to sketch this, too. Yes, there were several moments he needed to sketch.

"I enjoyed your dance… Excuse me, Nyla." He sighed, grateful for the distraction of the phone vibrating in his pocket. "Roommate is here."

Weirdest shit ever, for this guy to have a gorgeous redhead walk up to him and kiss his cheek. Nyla was confused. He had flirted way too hard with her to be taken; it was weird, and Nyla needed to get far away from it. Pfft. Roommate.

"Leliana, meet Nyla. Fantastic dancer, her favorite song is Comedown by ohGr and she blasphemes when confounded." Zevran watched Nyla closely, she was blinking with brow furrowed, and her discomfort was obvious as she took her jacket from his hands.

Leliana, a brilliant woman, could see what was happening as she walked up to them, and thoroughly enjoyed the predator that suddenly looked like prey. She also noticed the discomfort she brought with her.

"Hi, Nyla! I'm just a roommate, we're not a thing." Leliana, while sweet and charming, also had a tendency to be a little blunt. "Wait… you work at the diner next to my office! Don't you?"

"I… yes I… Oh my god he's right… fucking… yes. Leliana, hi. You've made things so weird." Nyla spoke in a desperate attempt to make shit stop being weird. She wasn't even trying to obtain the unobtainable hotness, she knew better.

"Leli does this." Zevran pulled Leliana close and rested a cheek on the woman's shoulder. "She is dead to me."

"Okay, Zev, listen, Anders is here…" Leliana spoke seriously.

"Shit." he cringed.

"You have to help me." Leliana pleaded playfully. "He's already drinking."

"Fuck." Zevran chuckled and shook his head. He was busy. "Why?"

"Exams, he just really needs this, needs to unwind. Help? You monitor his drinks this time. He's had three at the house, he gets three more. I'll make sure he doesn't go home with one or more people he will regret later." Her face was scrunched up with pleading, and she was squeezing his hand tightly between hers.

"Of course." He sighed, glancing at Nyla, who appeared to be infinitely entertained.

"Okay, okay, he's… I lost him. Okay… Zevran, Nyla, exchange phone numbers immediately." She grabbed Zevran's phone, and typed as Nyla shouted her number over the music, because why the hell not? "See? Easy. Okay I need to go find him, it's only been five minutes and... okay I'm going."

"There's a man on a table." Nyla chuckled and pointed. "Is that yours?"

Zevran sighed. Taking Nyla's hand in his, he kissed it while meeting her eyes, and then gave her his best sexy smirk. He liked the way she went wide eyed and licked her lips as he backed away from her.

She watched him turn and run, on damage control as he went to help his friend posing playfully on a table; that's when she finally noticed they were wearing the same black leather jacket.