Cullen Romance/Tropes

Dragon Age: Inquisition

 * Cullen and the Inquisitor’s first kiss is interrupted..
 * Cullen and the Inquisitor’s first kiss is interrupted..


 * As Commander of the Inquisition’s forces and leader of the Inquisition itself, they certainly qualify for this.
 * As Commander of the Inquisition’s forces and leader of the Inquisition itself, they certainly qualify for this.


 * Common Law Marriage
 * Should the Inquisitor decline Cullen’s marriage proposal in Trespasser, they stay together, happy and in love. Cullen agrees they don’t need to marry to make their love more true.


 * Should the Inquisitor accept, Cullen and the Inquisitor can share a private dance on the balcony of the Winter Palace.
 * Should the Inquisitor accept, Cullen and the Inquisitor can share a private dance on the balcony of the Winter Palace.


 * Cullen has this problem when romanced by a Mage; due to the troubled history between Templars and Mages.
 * Cullen has this problem when romanced by a Mage; due to the troubled history between Templars and Mages.


 * After suffering through the events of the first two games and if Cullen stays off lyrium, he finally gets this. He seems to consider having it been worth the wait - especially if he’s romanced.
 * After suffering through the events of the first two games and if Cullen stays off lyrium, he finally gets this. He seems to consider having it been worth the wait - especially if he’s romanced.


 * Cullen’s romance is plot-gated; the stages of his romance will only unlock as the game unfolds.
 * Cullen’s romance is plot-gated; the stages of his romance will only unlock as the game unfolds.


 * Should a human female Inquisitor choose to romance him, Cullen is the first potential love interest she encounters.
 * Should a human female Inquisitor choose to romance him, Cullen is the first potential love interest she encounters.


 * Good Luck Charm
 * Cullen shows (and, if she accepts it, gives) the Inquisitor a coin given to him as a good-luck charm by his brother when he left to join the Templars.


 * Cullen does this a lot during his romance, demonstrating that when it comes to matters of love, he’s really rather shy and easily embarrassed.
 * Cullen does this a lot during his romance, demonstrating that when it comes to matters of love, he’s really rather shy and easily embarrassed.


 * In Trespasser, Cullen and the Inquisitor can elope. The epilogue shows them to be truly happy together, living a private life with their dog.
 * In Trespasser, Cullen and the Inquisitor can elope. The epilogue shows them to be truly happy together, living a private life with their dog.


 * Cullen and the Inquisitor gently touch their foreheads together the morning after they commit to each other.
 * Cullen and the Inquisitor gently touch their foreheads together the morning after they commit to each other.


 * Happens numerous times between Cullen and the Inquisitor.
 * Happens numerous times between Cullen and the Inquisitor.


 * Cullen will only take the risk if romanced.
 * Cullen will only take the risk if romanced.


 * This can be a factor with a Mage Inquisitor, since Cullen was a Templar, though with the Inquisitor’s encouragement, Cullen gets past it.
 * This can be a factor with a Mage Inquisitor, since Cullen was a Templar, though with the Inquisitor’s encouragement, Cullen gets past it.


 * Should the Inquisitor be an elf.
 * Should the Inquisitor be an elf.


 * The Inquisitor leans back on Cullen’s desk, accidentally knocking over a wine bottle. Given what a workaholic and control freak Cullen is, she’s naturally concerned he’ll be upset. Instead, Cullen shoves all his things off his desk and they climb on, showing that he realizes paperwork and duties are not as important as his love.
 * The Inquisitor leans back on Cullen’s desk, accidentally knocking over a wine bottle. Given what a workaholic and control freak Cullen is, she’s naturally concerned he’ll be upset. Instead, Cullen shoves all his things off his desk and they climb on, showing that he realizes paperwork and duties are not as important as his love.


 * When the Inquisitor commits to their relationship (and accidentally knocks over a wine bottle), Cullen shoves everything off of his desk before they climb on it. It’s an indication of how much he cares for the Inquisitor, because for a workaholic and control freak like him, his tidy desk is very important.
 * When the Inquisitor commits to their relationship (and accidentally knocks over a wine bottle), Cullen shoves everything off of his desk before they climb on it. It’s an indication of how much he cares for the Inquisitor, because for a workaholic and control freak like him, his tidy desk is very important.


 * Cullen’s romance has shades of this; Cullen even calls the Inquisitor “my lady” when asking her to dance.
 * Cullen’s romance has shades of this; Cullen even calls the Inquisitor “my lady” when asking her to dance.


 * Should the Inquisitor tell Cullen to start taking lyrium again, his old Templar discipline comes back and he breaks up with the Inquisitor.
 * Should the Inquisitor tell Cullen to start taking lyrium again, his old Templar discipline comes back and he breaks up with the Inquisitor.


 * Meet the In-Laws
 * In Trespasser, should Cullen and the Inquisitor elope, the epilogue reveals they paid a “long overdue” visit to Cullen’s siblings, who are thrilled to meet their sister-in-law.


 * Cullen is one of the Inquisitor’s three advisors, being the leader of the Inquisition’s forces. He provides information that the Inquisitor needs to complete her missions.
 * Cullen is one of the Inquisitor’s three advisors, being the leader of the Inquisition’s forces. He provides information that the Inquisitor needs to complete her missions.


 * Cullen and the Inquisitor’s first kiss is interrupted. The Inquisitor feels as if the moment was ruined, though Cullen feels differently and kisses her anyway when the interruption leaves.
 * Cullen and the Inquisitor’s first kiss is interrupted. The Inquisitor feels as if the moment was ruined, though Cullen feels differently and kisses her anyway when the interruption leaves.


 * Muggle–Mage Romance
 * Cullen has no magical properties naturally, while the Inquisitor can be a Mage.


 * In Trespasser, should Cullen and the Inquisitor elope, their only audience is the ceremony officiate and their newly adopted dog.
 * In Trespasser, should Cullen and the Inquisitor elope, their only audience is the ceremony officiate and their newly adopted dog.


 * Office Romance
 * Commander of the Inquisition’s forces and leader of the Inquisition itself. Cullen is also one of the Inquisitor’s advisors.


 * Should Cullen’s romance be completed.
 * Should Cullen’s romance be completed.


 * By the time the Inquisitor asks Cullen to dance while at the Winter Palace, he’s had to turn down so many invitations that he tells her “no” on reflex. He has to do some hasty apologizing when he realizes how crestfallen she is at his abrupt rejection.
 * By the time the Inquisitor asks Cullen to dance while at the Winter Palace, he’s had to turn down so many invitations that he tells her “no” on reflex. He has to do some hasty apologizing when he realizes how crestfallen she is at his abrupt rejection.


 * When Dragon Age: Inquisition was delayed by a year, the developers added Cullen as a romance option, though he’s only available to female Inquisitors who are either human or elven.
 * When Dragon Age: Inquisition was delayed by a year, the developers added Cullen as a romance option, though he’s only available to female Inquisitors who are either human or elven.


 * Downplayed, Cullen would rather his and the Inquisitor’s relationship remain private when they first get together.
 * Downplayed, Cullen would rather his and the Inquisitor’s relationship remain private when they first get together.


 * A pair of NPCs hanging around in Skyhold’s throne room will make shippy comments at various stages of the relationship between the Inquisitor and his/her chosen love interest, in this case Cullen. If Dorian and the Inquisitor’s friendship is maxed, he notes that he finds Cullen and the Inquisitor’s relationship “adorable.” Sera also seems to find it amusing, judging by her comments to the Inquisitor about her “Cullen-wullen.”
 * A pair of NPCs hanging around in Skyhold’s throne room will make shippy comments at various stages of the relationship between the Inquisitor and his/her chosen love interest, in this case Cullen. If Dorian and the Inquisitor’s friendship is maxed, he notes that he finds Cullen and the Inquisitor’s relationship “adorable.” Sera also seems to find it amusing, judging by her comments to the Inquisitor about her “Cullen-wullen.”


 * Cullen and the Inquisitor’s first kiss ends up being this. After Cullen moves in to kiss the Inquisitor, they are interrupted. The Inquisitor starts to tell Cullen that she understands if he needs to get back to work. She gets as far as “If you have to –” before he cuts her off with a kiss.
 * Cullen and the Inquisitor’s first kiss ends up being this. After Cullen moves in to kiss the Inquisitor, they are interrupted. The Inquisitor starts to tell Cullen that she understands if he needs to get back to work. She gets as far as “If you have to –” before he cuts her off with a kiss.


 * By all accounts Cullen is the nicest and most adorkable of the love interests.
 * By all accounts Cullen is the nicest and most adorkable of the love interests.


 * Sleeping with the Boss
 * Cullen is certainly doing this.


 * When the Inquisitor asks to speak privately to Cullen to kickstart their relationship, they go outside and he does exactly this, becoming shy and nervous. She can even call him out on it.
 * When the Inquisitor asks to speak privately to Cullen to kickstart their relationship, they go outside and he does exactly this, becoming shy and nervous. She can even call him out on it.


 * In Trespasser, Cullen and the Inquisitor can elope.
 * In Trespasser, Cullen and the Inquisitor can elope.


 * If Cullen’s romance is completed, he sends a letter to his family. His sister is pleased that he sounds happy in his letters, but complains that he’s withholding details - previously he had referred to the Inquisitor as either that or “Her Worship” or “the Herald of Andraste,” but now he’s addressing her by first name.
 * If Cullen’s romance is completed, he sends a letter to his family. His sister is pleased that he sounds happy in his letters, but complains that he’s withholding details - previously he had referred to the Inquisitor as either that or “Her Worship” or “the Herald of Andraste,” but now he’s addressing her by first name.