From the moment Dragon Age: Origins introduced elven assassin Zevran Arainai, he was tossing innuendos and flirtations at the Grey Warden player character like beads at a Mardi Gras parade. Regardless of the Warden's gender, Zevran was interested, and he really didn't care too much at first who else the player might be involved with.
Despite the fact that the player met Zevran during the assassin's botched attempt to take out the last of Ferelden's Grey Wardens, he offers to serve them in whatever way they see fit if they agree to spare his life. Bodyguard, grunt, bed slave, whatever the Warden wants, he'll do it -- but it's only a matter of time before a playful romp in the hay has the opportunity to become something lasting and serious with a man who never believed love was in the cards for him.
Dragon Age's romances rely heavily on the player's approval level with their companions. Recruiting the assassin doesn't exactly please fellow Warden, Alistair, but accepting Zevran's offer of service without constantly asking how long before his inevitable betrayal is the first step toward earning his trust. Zev is generally laid back, and earning his approval beyond that is relatively easy if the player knows how to respond to his tales of prior sexual conquests and assassinations long past.
Zevran has had a hard life. From being raised in a brothel after his mother's death to being sold to the Antivan Crows while he was very young, Zev had no choice in his experiences. Being sympathetic and understanding is key to warming him over, and when he begins talking about how many partners he's been with, being nonjudgmental and accepting of his history is an important step toward Zevran openly trusting the player.
Players can also raise his approval through gifts and conversational flirtations. Zevran's gifts of choice tend come in the form of gold and silver, unique Antivan leather and gloves like the ones he remembers his mother having when he was very small. Additional approval can be gained using the items sold in the Feastday Gifts and Pranks extension, with Antivan Brandy raising his approval to the maximum without any effort at all.
Flirting with Zevran and raising his approval is a fast way to get him to sexually proposition the Warden, even shortly after recruiting him. Allegedly, he's learned a lot of intriguing massage techniques having grown up in a brothel, and he's willing to demonstrate his expertise. Early on, there is a lot happening, especially as the player gets to know their companions and is deciding whether to pursue other characters like Alistair, Morrigan or Leliana.
Turning Zevran down might bruise his ego a little, but as long as it's done tactfully, the player can initiate sex with him when they're ready later. Or, they can sleep with him when he offers and enjoy his company however often they like afterward. Sooner or later, however, if multiple partners are being romanced, they will begin to force the issue of making a solid choice. They all have to work together, and having the Warden refuse to commit to one relationship could unnecessarily raise tensions.
Repeated interaction with Zevran is a surefire way to draw him closer to falling in love with the Warden, but to truly seal the deal, they need to earn his loyalty. His failure to assassinate the player means the Antivan Crows will be coming for him, and if he's been treated well, he will want the player to have his back against his foes. If Zevran's approval is too low, even if he's been sleeping with the player, he will turn on them and rejoin the Crows.
Standing with Zevran to fight them off and securing his freedom will earn his absolute loyalty, and his love if he's been romanced throughout the game. Though he isn't comfortable admitting to his feelings, he will gift the player with an earring that is very important to him. If the player asks if he's proposing, Zevran gets very upset and says it's just an earring that he wants them to have -- If they don't want it, fine! The next time they try to sleep with him, he will actually refuse the offer.
Leaving camp and returning to talk with him again prompts a conversation during which Zevran confesses that he's fallen in love with the Warden. This is something he never thought he would feel in his life, and it's new, confusing and a bit terrifying for him to realize this. Accepting the gift from him, the player can take it as a proposal, or permanent commitment to the relationship. From there, Zevran will follow wherever the Warden leads for the rest of his days, so long as they don't die fighting the archdemon.
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