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Adoribull is the slash ship between Dorian Pavus and Iron Bull from the Dragon Age fandom.

Canon[]

Should Dorian or Iron Bull not be in a romance with the Inquisitor, they will get together. Upon their “romantic banter” being achieved, Dorian and Iron Bull will be marked as a couple. The beginning of their romance will start with the voice line, “So, Dorian. About last night…” Their romance is engaged entirely through party banter within the base game, along with additional content in the Trespasser DLC. At first they merely hook up, until they realize they’re actually happy being together; slowly becoming official.

Dragon Age: Inquisition[]

Accompanying the Inquisitor on a quest, Iron Bull lets it slip that he and Dorian had spent the previous night together, much to Dorian’s annoyance of it being brought up in the presence of others. Dorian had left his “silky underthings” in Iron Bull’s room, leading to Iron Bull questioning if he had left them “like a token,” or soon accuses him of “forgetting” them so he’d have an excuse to by and retrieve them. Should Iron Bull leave his door “unlocked like a savage,” Dorian may or may not come by again.

The Inquisitor can ask Dorian and Iron Bull on separate occasions what of their relationship. Iron Bull is forth coming, telling the Inquisitor that yes, they’ve “been spending time together,” along with a TMI comment regarding how Dorian had gotten “excited,” and set the curtains on fire, from being a mage. Dorian on the other hand is a tad annoyed with their relationship being out there now. In talking with the Inquisitor, he lets it known that they had first gotten to together because of an “ill-considered night of drinking,” only to be followed by more nights after.

Following the defeat of Corypheus, the Inquisitor can speak with Dorian. It’s there he reveals that he has decided to stay with the Inquisition for the time being. The Inquisitor asks if this “would that have anything to do with Iron Bull,” leading to Dorian tell them it might.

Dragon Age: Trespasser[]

Two years following the fall of Corypheus, Dorian informs the Inquisitor he’s going back home, to Tevinter. He had gotten word that morning of his father’s suspected assassination. Upon asked how Iron Bull feels about this, he tells the Inqistior, “He wants to come with me. It can’t happen, of course. A Qunari cannot simply walk around the Imperium, even in a Magister’s company. I don’t want him hurt, he doesn’t want me hurt. We’re working it out.”

Upon returning back, the Inquisitor can speak with Dorian, asking how things are going with Iron Bull. He tells them Iron Bull had “nearly crushed three of their ribs with that ridiculous hug,” and for “such a great beast, he’s a terrible sap.” The Inquisitor teases him how he likes it, with Dorian telling them to be quiet, as Iron Bull could overhear them.

Epilogue[]

Dorian and Iron Bull romance (Iron Bull’s whereabouts)

“Many of the jobs brought the Chargers close to the Imperium’s border, where, from time to time, in a border-town villa… Bull and a certain Tevinter magister would spend a few hours together before life pulled them apart again.”

Dorian and Iron Bull romance (Dorian’s whereabouts)

“On one occasion, Venatori forces ambushed Dorian, who likely would have died… had not an unnamed mercenary band led by a Tal-Vashoth warrior crossed Tevinter’s border and mounted a dangerous rescue operation. The mercenaries left a trail of freed slaves and dead Venatori in their wake, enabling Dorian to escape. When asked about the Tal-Vashoth in question, Magister Pavus declined to comment.”

Quotes[]

Dragon Age: Inquisition[]

“Watch yourself. The pretty one’s are always the worst.”
— Iron Bull to the Inquisitor, meeting Dorian for the first time (Mage version).
Iron Bull“That staff’s in pretty good shape, Dorian. You spend a lot of time polishing it?”
Dorian“[groans]”
— Flirty party banter.
Iron Bull“So, Dorian, about last night...”
Dorian“[sighs] Discretion isn’t your thing, is it?”
Iron Bull“Three times! Also, do you want your silky underthings back, or did you leave those like a token? Or… wait, did you “forget” them so you’d have an excuse to come back? You sly dog!”
Dorian“If you choose to leave your door unlocked like a savage, I may or may not come.”
Iron Bull“Speak for yourself.”
— Beginning romance party banter.
Inquisitor“So… Dorian?”
Iron Bull“Yep! [laughs] [clears throat] Yes, we’ve been spending time together.”
— Iron Bull, on the beginnings of his and Dorian’s relationship.
“Dorian’s a sweet guy. He’s gentle, and cares under all that bluster. I’m hoping we’re good for each other. Plus, I’ve never done it with a mage before. One time, he got so excited he set the curtains on fire. [laughs]”
— Iron Bull, to the Inquisitor.
“At first it was an ill-considered night after drinking. The there was a second time, and then… I don’t know what’s ‘going on,’ to be honest. I suspect neither does The Bull.”
— Dorian, to the Inquisitor.
Dorian“I’ve decided to stay with the Inquisition. For now.”
Inquisitor“Would that have anything to do with Iron Bull?”
Dorian“It might. You know how it is.”
— Saying with the Inquisition means staying with Iron Bull.

Dragon Age: Trespasser[]

Inquisitor“How does Bull feel about this?”
Dorian“He wants to come with me. It can’t happen, of course. A Qunari cannot simply walk around the Imperium, even in a magister’s company. I don’t want him hurt, he doesn’t want me hurt. We’re working it out.”
— Dorian on returning home.
Inquisitor“Things are going well with the Bull, I take it?”
Dorian“He’s happy I’ve returned, if that’s what you mean. Nearly crushed three of my ribs with that ridiculous hug.”
Inquisitor“You say that as if you didn’t like it.”
Dorian“For such a great beast, he’s a terrible sap. ‘I want to talk about my feelings, Dorian.’ Ugh.”
Inquisitor“You do like it!”
Dorian“Quite, you. He’ll overhear, and then where will I be.”
— Being back.
Iron Bull“Hey, I’m great at foreplay.”
Inquisitor“Maybe we should see what Dorian thinks.”
Iron Bull“[laughs] We should absolutely see what Dorian thinks!”
— Foreplay.
Dorian“Are you alright?”
Iron Bull“Never better, Kadan.”
Dorian“I’m glad to hear it… Amatus.”
— Final battle, should Iron Bull still be loyal to the Inquisition.

Fanon[]

Adoribull became a fan favorite ship once it was discovered Dorian and Iron Bull get together should either not be in a romance with the Inquisitor. Iron Bull is loud and goofy, while Dorian is civil and well mannered. Their relationship is thoroughly enjoyed from starting out as two people hooking up to become two people who truly love each other no matter how life pulls them apart.

On AO3, Adoribull is the 4th, technically 3rd, most written ship within the Dragon Age - All Media Types tag.

Fandom[]

FAN FICTION

Dorian/Iron Bull tag on AO3
Dorian/Iron Bull tag on FanFiction.net

FAN ART

Adoribull tag on DeviantArt
Doribull tag on DeviantArt

TUMBLR

Adoribull posts on Tumblr
Doribull posts on Tumblr
Dorian x Iron Bull posts on Tumblr

Trivia[]

  • Adoribull is a portmanteau of Dorian and Bull, with an ‘A’ added to the beginning to make it sound like the word “adorable”.
  • When Iron Bull calls Dorian “Kadan,” he’s calling him “My heart,” and when Dorian calls Iron Bull “Amatus,” it’s a term of endearment in his native tongue.
  • Players wishing to make Adoribull canon need to cycle through Dorian and Iron Bull’s banter together until they reach their romantic banter. This is achieved by taking both characters out together during quests outside of Haven or Skyhold.

Navigation[]

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Dragon Age/ShipsDragon Age/Characters
SHIPS het Alistair RomanceCullandraCullen RomanceCullenWarden
slash AdoribullCullrianDorian RomanceKandersKrembullLackland
femslash Hira x MiriamMiriam x Qwydion
non-binary Anders RomanceFenris Romance
family FenrisVarania
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