garlicbreadbatstarion

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

hot artists don't gatekeep

I've been resource gathering for YEARS so now I am going to share my dragons hoard

Floorplanner. Design and furnish a house for you to use for having a consistent background in your comic or anything! Free, you need an account, easy to use, and you can save multiple houses.

Comparing Heights. Input the heights of characters to see what the different is between them. Great for keeping consistency. Free.

Magma. Draw online with friends in real time. Great for practice or hanging out. Free, paid plan available, account preferred.

Smithsonian Open Access. Loads of free images. Free.

SketchDaily. Lots of pose references, massive library, is set on a timer so you can practice quick figure drawing. Free.

SculptGL. A sculpting tool which I am yet to master, but you should be able to make whatever 3d object you like with it. free.

Pexels. Free stock images. And the search engine is actually pretty good at pulling up what you want.

Figurosity. Great pose references, diverse body types, lots of "how to draw" videos directly on the site, the models are 3d and you can rotate the angle, but you can't make custom poses or edit body proportions. Free, account option, paid plans available.

Line of Action. More drawing references, this one also has a focus on expressions, hands/feet, animals, landscapes. Free.

Animal Photo. You pose a 3d skull model and select an animal species, and they give you a bunch of photo references for that animal at that angle. Super handy. Free.

Height Weight Chart. You ever see an OC listed as having a certain weight but then they look Wildly different than the number suggests? Well here's a site to avoid that! It shows real people at different weights and heights to give you a better idea of what these abstract numbers all look like. Free to use.

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

And now… my smutty follow up to the amazing @fic--writer Rolan fic:

The Archmage Must Get Married

(Click the link to read)

Thanks again to @fic--writer for writing the original and inspiring/giving me permission to write a NSFW follow up.

1,350 Words

Warnings: NSFW, 18+ MDNI, P in V, Unprotected S*x (wrap it before you tap it!), and a healthy dose of fluff.

Rolan cast a locking spell on the office door as it slammed shut. No doubt Cal was running to tell Lia what he’d seen. But he couldn’t be bothered with that right now. Not when he had Tav sprawled out across his desk, little marks already blooming on her neck from where he’d sucked against her soft skin with too much fervor.

Her blouse was unbuttoned and Rolan’s robes had been discarded, but all modesty was still protected.

For now, Rolan thinks.

“Do you need to go after him?” Tav gasps breathlessly as she made to sit up.

“No.”

He says it firmly as he pushes her back down on his desk, the last of the parchment finally scattering to the ground.

She was honestly checking if he needed to see to his siblings right now. That was Tav, always so good. It’s one of the things that had always attracted him to her. It was irritating. But that was the best way to describe her,

“So attractive and so irritating”

He freezes with a jolt as he realizes he’s said that last part out loud. Tav’s face cracks into a wild smile as she bites her lips, clearly trying to stifle whatever surely infectious laughter is welling up.

“Hush you,” He hisses at her as he swats her side ever so lightly.

“Are you still mad about the table?” She smirks up at him as he climbs on top of the desk to draw himself over her.

“Mmmm”, His chest rumbles against her body as he thinks, “It was an expensive table, probably quite rare too.”

She leans up slightly to meet his face and kisses him softly, her eyes flutter open slowly to make eye contact with him when she says it.

“And if you’d shush you’ll find that I’m trying to pay you back.”

The distance between them closes quickly as their kisses verge on deep and desperate with an incendiary pace. His tongue presses into her mouth as his tail coils around her ankle possessively.

Between them both, he’s unsure who groans louder into the other’s mouth. The rush of knowing that his feelings are mutual is nothing short of elation.

Her fingers are loosening his undershirt from his pants with greedy little pulls on the fabric. Every time one of her fingertips slips and brushes against his bare skin, a thrill runs through his body like a powerful spell.

He needs more and he’s never been a particularly patient man.

Breaking their kiss quickly he sits up and pulls his undershirt off and over his horns, casting the garment off quickly and dipping back down to kiss Tav again. She seems to understand what he needs as her hands roam hungrily down his back and sides. The feeling of her touch alone has him half-hard as he presses his body against hers.

His hands slip under her clothes, eager for more of her cool skin under his fiery touch.

With no small amount of maneuvering, they shed the last of their clothing. She shivered where the desk must be quite cool against her skin, one of his hands slips under her to share a bit of warmth.

Leaning back to look in her eyes, he’s pleased to find the same question seems painted on her face.

“Rolan, are you sure? I was joking about paying you back for the desk,” she whispers and he forces his eyes to focus on her face and not the way her breasts heave with eager pants of want.

He can’t help but roll his eyes at her.

“I thought you were smarter than this,” He grits out in his trademark sarcastic tone, “Of course I want this, I want you… Unless…”

A sliver of doubt rises from within and ambushes his thoughts, he closes his eyes for a moment like it would banish the thought.

“Rolan, I just committed an act of arson for you,” She laughs and leans up to kiss him again, so soft and so sweet.

“Ah right, you started a fire for me”

He allows himself to be pulled deeper into the kiss, the panic fades just as fast as it had reared itself.

Before long their passionate make out renews and his hands eagerly explore her bare body. His fingers slip between them and down to her center, her groans when he finds her already wet and wanting.

She gasps his name into his mouth.

Careful of his claws, he strokes her gently as he coaxes the most sinful and saccharine sounds from her.

The little breaths of “please”, “Rolan”, and “gods” encourage him as he grows bolder — beginning to lick and suck at her neck. Better to leave her mouth free to make that sweet music just for him.

When she finishes, her nails dig into her back as she bows off the bed — screaming his name so loud he could only hope that shop had closed early for the day.

Her eyes are blown with lust and hazy when they open again and focus on his. A small blush rises on her cheeks.

“More?” He asks her as he tries to hide the nerves in his voice. Opting for a sexy and smooth tone if possible.

She bites her bottom lip and nods nervously.

“This isn’t how I was going to do this,” He says as he strokes his length a few times and positions himself between her legs, “I wanted it all to be perfect but now I find, I care very little about all that.”

Rolan grunts a little bit as the head of his cock catches on her entrance as he teases her.

“Rolan, please!” She sounds frustrated.

He angles his head in mock innocence and leans down to kiss her again with a grin.

Tav kisses hungrily up his jaw so her next words can be heard clearly.

“If you don’t fuck me right now I swear I’ll light this desk on fire next” She hisses out.

With a laugh and a kiss he pushes into her — the laugh quickly dissolving into a moan at the sensation. Her moans join his as he seats himself fully inside her. Tav pants as she adjusts to the feeling and Rolan strokes her cheek with the hand he’s not using to hold himself up.

His mind races and it’s all he can do not to fuck her into the desk. But this is Tav, he’s wanted and waited for her for so long, always too scared to hope — to dream of something like this. His reverie carries him off for a moment until he feels her shift under him. She leans up to suck on his neck, his free hand shifts down to grip her hip so hard he’s sure it will bruise.

“Tav” He hisses it out with eyes shut tight, his face is alight with pleasure.

“Please,” She whispers.

Her head drops back down to the desk when he begins to move, gritting his teeth as he works himself in and out with deep, measured strokes.

The once proud and dignified wizard crumbles under the sensations from her body.

“You… feel so…. perfect,” He grits out as his tail quivers and coils around her ankle.

Before long he’s increasing the speed, lifting one of her legs up to go deeper. His body pistons into hers as he attempts to swallow every sweet moan and whimper, she emits. He shifts and angles himself within her until those sounds turn to screams, her nails clawing into the desk under her as he drags his cock against that spot repeatedly.

She screams his name and power washes over him like a spell beyond his grasp. He feels her begin to tighten around him and it drags him to the edge he’s been fighting off, he panics that it’s too soon but his body is powerless against her.

Summoning the last of his strength he leans his forehead against hers, groaning as he angles deep strokes against the spot he knows will finish her.

“Tav, fuck,” He pants, “I love you.”

No more waiting for the perfect time, he’s not going to let her leave this spot without letting her know how much he cares.

To his great relief she doesn’t miss a beat.

“I love you too Rolan” she moans into his mouth.

At the same time he feels her clench up around his cock and a rush of warmth, her eyes nearly roll back as she comes, screaming out again around him.

He follows her right over the ledge, finishing deep within her as he legs locked around his back. His mouth drops open as he gasps and groans, grinding his hips against hers as he draws out their orgasms.

Rolan takes a last look at Tav before he flops down on to the desk next to her. She’s covered in love bites and blemishes from his rough grasp, her hair is a mess and her lips are swollen with kisses. Her eyes are barely open as she tries to stay awake, looking lovingly into his eyes.

She’s never looked more beautiful.

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

I made a thing! I posted it on Bluesky but forgot to put it here.

Feel free to reblog and take your own requests!

(I’m not taking requests but I might use this as fic inspiration)

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

Omg Grayyy...the incredible characterization in such a small amount of text?? Pop offfff.

My last line is Rolan being a happy (on the way to horny) dork at the end of part 4 of Who Takes Care of The Hero? lmao

You nod enthusiastically and Rolan’s grip around your shoulders grows tighter, “I think that’s an excellent idea Gale! Tav, would you like to follow me?”

Thank you for the tag friend :)

Last Line Tag Game ✍🏻

Thank you for the tag @darkurgetrash! From the author that brought you the Rolan masterpiece Lead Me Through The Dark, if you're a Veilguard fan, check out What Is It That Stays My Hand!

Some no pressure tags if you'd like to share @garlicbreadbatstarion @vera-king-hrfl @faetouchedfool @underdark-dreams @little-paperboat @littleplasticrat

Hoooo boy. I was literally writing this when I saw this tag. This is last line I wrote in the How to Keep a Man and Lose a Devil draft, though it is not in the next chapter.

Relevant content tag: Implied child abuse.

“That’s not when he stopped though. Came a day I was big enough and sick enough of his shite to throw a fist back. Knocked him down and didn’t stop ‘til I gave him a few scars of his own. Never touched me again after that,” Aradin spat. “Coward.”

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

Who Takes Care of The Hero? Part 3

SFW, angst (like, so much angst), comfort

pairing: gn!reader x Rolan, gn!Tav x Rolan

word count: 930

A/N: This is a short, but very angsty part 3 for your reading pleasure.  If you need a tender tiefling moment, please read below :)

Part 2

The night air is cool and you look out over Last Light from the cliffs by the beach.  Your party is resting after defeating Ketheric, and the entire inn is preparing to travel to Baldur’s Gate in the morning.  You’re exhausted, but relieved to finally be heading home to the city, and prepared for the fights that lay ahead of you.  Nonetheless, you feel a heavy weight in the pit of your stomach.  The wind is frigid, but your body is exhausted and the cold feels good against your strained muscles.  You lean against a tree as your eyelids grow heavy while you listen to the water lapping at the shore below.

“I have been searching everywhere for you! I-” Rolan stops short when he sees your tired body slumped against the tree.  You turn silently towards him on the ground and he drops down next to you upon seeing your puffy eyes and reddened cheeks. 

“Tav, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to be cross with you. I was just so worried.” He takes off his outer cloak and wraps it around your shoulders before pulling you against his chest.  The heat radiating off of him relaxes your numb muscles further as you bury your face in his shoulder.  You feel but a moment of relief in his embrace before the impending sense of dread rips at your heart, and you don’t even notice the tears streaming from your clenched eyes.  Rolan feels the dampness of his shirt before gently leaning you back so that he can softly rest his forehead against your own.  After a long moment, he kisses your nose and leans back to look at you before a smirk tugs at his lips.

“Sooo…how was your evening?”

You can’t help but laugh at his antics, a grin spreading across your face as you do.  He beams upon hearing your laughter and your heart flutters as you stare into his eyes, their bright yellow reflecting almost cat-like under the moon’s glow.  Your smile is tired, and you sigh as you look back at the water.  You open your mouth to speak, but your throat tightens and tears sting at your eyes so you bite your lip, afraid any sound you make will cause you to burst into tears again.  Rolan reaches out to cup your cheek and you gratefully nuzzle against it.  After a few moments, he softly breaks the silence with a low voice, “Astarion informed me on your endeavor.  He mentioned you will be facing even greater foes in the city.  I know you’ll do what you must, as I will go to Razamith’s Tower for my internship.  But I shall be there whenever you need me.  You will find me once you settle into the city again?”

You nod your head earnestly, but a tear still escapes as you blink and it sparkles on your cheek in the moonglow as your voice shakes, “Rolan, I fear Astarion was rather reserved about the enemies we face.  I am not sure…I’m not sure we can beat them. They all look to me, but the more we learn, the more it feels we’re surrounded by death on all sides.”

Rolan’s cheeks pale, but he continues to gently rub your cheek with his hand, “They look to you because they trust you, and despite what lays ahead, you have already led them this far.  You must know you have already done the impossible?”

You look into his eyes and the adoration that radiates from his expression cuts through the dark anxieties in your mind.  You wrap your arms around his neck and pull yourself onto his lap as you cling tightly to your wizard.

You whisper into his pointed ear, “I don’t want to part from you. I don’t know how soon I will be able to reach you once we arrive in Baldur’s Gate.”

Rolan rubs soft circles on your back as he rests his chin on your head and his voice is soft and calm, “I know, but we will find each other.  You can’t seem to stop yourself from appearing when I need you!” He chuckles at his own teasing and you smile against his chest.  He pulls his face back and his fingers gently slide up your neck and under your chin, gently guiding your face upwards to face him again.  He smiles warmly at you as he takes in the details of your face.

“Tav, you know I will wait for you.  I will be at Sorcerous Sundries, learning everything I can to help you.  You need only to find me when you are able, I will be there.”

“You promise?”

He leans in and plants a soft, but deep kiss on your lips as his hands rest at your hip bones. 

“I swear it on my life.” He gently lifts both of your hands to his lips and he delicately plants kisses across each of your knuckles. 

“Rolan, will you stay here with me until it’s time to go?”

He nods before gently laying you onto the ground as he snuggles up behind you, joining you in the warm bubble the cloak provides.  His body heat is more than sufficient to keep you both comfortable despite the cool wind.  You finally give into your exhaustion and fall asleep listening to Rolan’s steady heartbeat.  Unbeknownst to you, Rolan gently strokes your hair and spends the next several hours watching over you, memorizing every detail of your appearance and asking every deity he could think of to keep you safe, until you can return to him.

If you read this far thank you, and if you have kept up with the series I actually love you.  I’m planning to write 6 parts total, sort of following along with the events of the game, but obviously if we all had the chance to romance the world’s most attractive grumblemuffin. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions in the ask box.   If you have any requests, please lmk! I love getting to see what aspects of the characters you guys want to explore further. Please take care of yourself, talk soon :) -Lib

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

For the Rolan art contest on twitter.

Nature seems to test Rolan at every corner he turns. Abandoned. Displaced. Abused.

And yet, he persists.

Remember that you will always be LOVED, even in the face of hell, shadows, and monsters.

REMINDER: Things WILL get better.

You will survive.

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

Pssst...I'm posting the next part of Who Takes Care of The Hero tomorrow 😉😁 Y'all I'm just really in love with Rolan and I'm glad you guys seem to love him too☺️ I'll delete this later, but if you see this and think you may want a short angsty/fluffy Rolan snack for the weekend...get ready. (Also also not to brag but I have 3 other fics queued up after this too and I'm really proud of myself)

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

hope you're keeping well, friend!

(greeting cards here)

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

OC Questions on the Seven Forms of Love.

A little list of OC questions based on the seven types of love identified in Ancient Greek thought. Obviously this is a highly simplified presentation of some quite complex philosophical concepts from Classical History, intended more for the purposes of entertainment than education. I also left out Mania, which is arguably an eighth type of love (Obsessive), because I'm keeping it mostly positive in these tricky times!

Eros – Romantic, Passionate Love.

Is your OC romantic in the traditional sense? Do they enjoy giving or receiving gifts of flowers or confectionary? Or are there other courtship traditions from their culture of origin that are important to them?

How important is sex to them in a relationship? Do they see it as something essential to their happiness? Would they be able to remain in a monogamous relationship with someone they loved without sex?

How do they feel about public displays of romantic affection? Does it make them uncomfortable? How do they feel if a romantic partner kisses them in public?

Do they believe in love at first sight? Have they ever developed a crush or romantic (or erotic) fixation upon a stranger based on their appearance alone?

How closely is their opinion of their own beauty (or lack thereof) linked to their confidence? Do they see themselves as more or less worthy of love or sex based on how attractive they feel?

Philia – Affectionate, Platonic Love.

Does your OC have a Best Friend? If they do then how long have they known each other and how did they meet? If they don't then do they have a close group of friends they love equally? Or are they more of a loner?

Does your OC find it easy to make friends? Or are there barriers to them doing so? If so then are these due to issues of inclination, communication, or something else entirely?

What qualities does your OC most value in a friend? Loyalty? Shared sense of humour? Or something else?

Is your OC able to build close friendships with people very different from themselves? Perhaps in terms of culture, age or personality?

What is their most fervent wish for their best friend(s)? How far would they go to make it happen?

Storge – Unconditional, Familial Love.

Did your OC's parents love them unconditionally? If so then has this helped them feel confident as an adult? If not then how has this affected them? What were the conditions their family attached to their relationship?

Does your OC have children? If so then how fiercely do they love them? If they have more than one then do they love them all equally? If they do not have children then is this part of their future plans?

How far does parental approval (imagined or expressed) impact upon their current sense of self-worth? What might they sacrifice or attempt to achieve in order to ensure the approval of their parents?

Does your OC have any siblings? If so then did their parents have a favourite growing up? Has their relationship with their sibling changed in adulthood? If they don't have any siblings then do they perhaps feel they have missed out on an important relationship? Do they have any especially close friends who go some way towards filling that role?

Is your OC able to love without necessarily needing or expecting reciprocation or reward? Or are all their relationships to some extent transactional? Have they ever loved another person unconditionally, whether a child or another adult?

Agape – Selfless, Universal Love.

Does your OC wish to make the world a better place? How far do they see that as being their responsibility? What lengths would they go to in order to help achieve this?

Does your OC feel a spiritual connection to the world around them? Do they have a particular love for nature or living things?

To what extent does your OC believe in the value (or even existence) of true altruism? Do they see an unselfish concern for the welfare of others as being naïve or foolish? Or as a moral quality to which people should aspire?

Does your OC have a religious faith which emphasises the importance of a love for all people? If so then do they try to follow these teachings authentically? Or do they just pay lip-service to them? If not then do they follow a more martial or mercantile faith? Or none at all?

Does your OC find it easy to empathise with their enemies? Or do they see it as important to dehumanise them in order to combat them with sufficient determination?

Ludus – Playful, Flirtatious Love.

Does your OC have any particular favourite chat up lines? If not for themselves then perhaps ones they have suggested to a friend? How effective do these tend to be?

Is your OC particularly skilled at flirting? Have they had to practice this or does it just happen naturally?

How does your OC feel about one night stands? Have they ever enjoyed a night of passionate romance with a stranger? Is this something they are quite keen on recreationally? Or only something they might engage in under specific circumstances (such as the eve of a battle or after a difficult breakup)?

Who was your OC's first crush? How do they feel about it now?

What seduction techniques are most likely to be effective when it comes to your OC? Are there some things guaranteed to get them going? Or are they immune to such things?

Pragma – Committed, Long-Lasting Love.

Is your OC in a committed long-term relationship (or relationships)? If so then what has contributed to this relationship lasting so well? If they are not in such a relationship, then is this something that saddens them or which they regret?

What is the biggest challenge that your OC has had to overcome in a long-term relationship or friendship? What helped them get through this?

Are your OC's parents still together? To what degree do they look to their own parents as a model for their own ideal relationship?

After the initial fires of passion cool to some degree, what would keep your OC engaged in a relationship? Shared goals? Similar values? Or contented companionship?

What importance or value does your OC attach to marriage? Do they believe that it is important to make a public statement of commitment to another person (or persons)? Or are they more concerned about inheritance rights and security for their family? Or do they not see marriage as a necessary signifier of commitment and loyalty?

Philautia – Self Love.

Does your OC have a healthy sense of their own worth and value? Or do they see themselves as failing to live up to their original potential? Perhaps they are convinced of their own sinful or inadequate nature?

Does your OC believe that it is important to love themselves in the first instance? Perhaps in order to be able to give and receive love authentically? Or because they believe first and foremost in "looking after number one"?

Does your OC judge themselves by the same standards as they apply to others? Or are they sometimes hypocritical in condemning others for faults they also possess? Or perhaps they find it easier to forgive others for things that they cannot abide in themselves?

Which of your OC's qualities makes them the most proud? Do they think more people should be like them in this regard? Or do they quite like being rare in possessing it?

Has your OC always had the same opinion of themselves or has this changed over time? Have they learned to love themselves - perhaps with the help of others - as their journey progressed? Or have the consequences of their actions only served to erode their sense of self-worth?

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

So if you manage to avoid Raphael entirely and head to the mountain pass, he does show up at camp, so this is feasible.

@johnlarian

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

Hot takes??

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

Prompt suggestion <3 Rolan/Tav NSFW. Tav really likes it when Rolan speaks to her in infernal. She doesn’t understand it, but it doesn’t change the fact that it turns her on. He starts to notice her subtle reactions to when he curses or something in infernal. Which leads to bedroom shenanigans lol. My username is the same on A03 ^^

this has taken me a minute, mostly because i had to spend some time literally making up the infernal language for the purpose of this fic LMAO. if you're interested in my process it's in the end notes on ao3.

i changed the prompt a little though; rolan doesnt notice because he's very silly and keeps failing the perception check. lia notices immediently.

NSFW read on ao3 here

~~~

The first time Tav hears Rolan speak infernal, she doesn't even register it as a word. It slips past his tongue and it's all consonants and noises that she's not sure she could emulate properly with her non-tiefling tongue.

"Zurgan." He mutters it under his breath as he drops a pile of books.

Her quill stops midair where she's busy writing up an inventory of magical items they've found. With everyone else busy or gone from the city, she offered to help Rolan with organising the tower. It's been a nightmare, frankly. The previous tower master (she wont do him the privilege of speaking his name, the bastard) had apparently spent the last who-knows-how-many years stuffing things into random shelves and boxes.

She frowns as she tries to repeat the word, "Zu- Zurgan? What's that mean?"

Rolan jumps, clearly having forgotten she's in the room, "not zurgan, zurgan. It means- well, I don't know if it translates literally to common. It's... an expletive, I suppose ."

She laughs, "so it means 'fuck'?"

He huffs, and rolls his eyes, "I suppose that's a close enough approximation, yes."

"I don't think I've ever heard you swear before."

"Well," his brow is furrowed as he thinks, "I suppose I try not to, really. It's not becoming."

Tav snorts at that, "Gods, how old are you, 150? Besides, how is swearing in tiefling any different?"

"The language is called infernal, you uncultured swine. I'm a tiefling, I speak infernal."

"You speak something alright. Usually a crock of shi-"

"What did I say about it not being becoming, hm?"

She rolls her eyes at him, "so sorry, Master Rolan, please accept my humblest of apologies for disgracing your presence in such a regard."

He rolls his eyes at her, but she hears him snort and sees the quirk of his lip. "I suppose as far as apologies go, that one will suffice."

~~~

Several weeks later, Cal shouts through the door to the study where they're cataloguing evocation books, "Rolan! Lia and I are heading to the market, do you want us to pick up more of the wine you like?"

He laughs, which is rare enough in itself, and leans out the door to reply.

"Fazit drakon'ziz orum?!"

She hears Cal's responding cackle from down the hallway. "alright, alright, little drakon'ziz. I'll get 2 bottles, 'cos I love you."

When Rolan comes back in, chuckling to himself, Tav doesn't say anything. She wants to ask what it means, but she's... distracted.

Something about the way the words sound when he says them is... enticing. She's not sure if she could repeat them without butchering them, but even if she could she's sure they wouldn't sound as delicious as when they come from him. It's something about the rich tone to his voice, which she's always liked, coupled with the harsher edge it takes on when he speaks the foreign language.

Gods, she's been spending far too much time with him,

She clears her throat, "drakon'ziz?"

Rolan turns to her, still smiling, " drakon'ziz , but close. It means dragon."

His lopsided smile, aimed at her, coupled with the gruffness of the unknown word, is a little bit intoxicating.

"What about the rest of what you said? Fa- Fazit something?"

"'Fazit drakon'ziz orum?' It means 'does a dragon want gold?' It's a tiefling saying, basically means 'yes, obviously.' It just sounds better in infernal."

Tav agrees. It sounds rather lovely in infernal, in fact.

When Tav doesn't reply, he raises an eyebrow, "I could try and teach you some? Infernal, that is. If you'd be interested. Tell me something you want to be able to say, I'll try and teach you how to say it."

She thinks for a moment.

"What if I want to call someone a shit-head?"

He barks out a laugh as he rolls his eyes, "of course you'd just want to know how to insult people. I think the closest translation would be uzterku'zereb.  That means 'shit-for-brains'."

Despite the small jolt her stomach gives as he utters the phrase, she starts cackling. "That's even better!"

~~~

It's been about a month and a half since they started cataloguing everything in the tower, and it's basically become a nightly occurrence that Tav stays for dinner with them. Rolan has finally sat down at the dining table, after bringing all the dishes and cutlery through, and right as he hits the chair there's a sheepish voice from beside him.

"... Rolan~" It's Lia, in a singsong voice, and he huffs.

"What do you want?" It's a question, but it sounds more like an admonishment.

"How could you?! Assuming I want something from you. My beloved big brother. I look up to you so much. Also I left my drink in the sitting room."

You and Callum both laugh, and he makes a very dramatic show of pushing his chair back out with a huge sigh.

"You're such a..." He flails for a moment, as if the word in common has escaped him, "an uztanatez. Next time, you're getting it yourself."

She laughs, "My dear brother, I would fall on my sword for you."

"Mhm." He grumbles, " gladiz zurzum kuluz ..."

Cal nearly falls out of his chair laughing as Rolan trudges from the room, and Lia has a grin on her face from successfully riling him up and getting what she wanted.

Tav is blushing.

"What did he say?" She feels hesitant to bring attention to herself when she knows she's bright red, but she's also too nosy for her own good.

Lia looks at her and opens her mouth to answer, but pauses as she takes in Tav's face. Cal, blissfully, doesn't notice.

"Well the first bit was him calling her a suck up," he laughs through his explanation, "and the second bit was him telling her exactly where she could shove her sword."

She laughs, and thanks him for telling her. Lia is still looking at her. Her face warms more.

"What?"

"Hm." Lia smiles in a way that looks slightly threatening; the way Tav imagines a shark would smile at a seal before taking a huge chunk out of it. "Nothing, really. Only, you weren't that flushed before Rolan spoke in infernal. Got a thing for the devil's tongue, have you Tav?"

Cal furrows his eyebrows in confusion, before his eyes widen and his mouth drops in an 'o' of understanding.

She's about to deny it but she can feel that she's even redder now, so instead she buries her face in her hands. "Don't you dare! Don't you dare say anything!"

"Say anything about what?" Of course Rolan would walk back in now. He places Lia's cup in front of her and turns to Tav expectantly, but Lia speaks before she can.

"Tav is just embarrassed because she didn't understand what you said, she felt left out."

His face breaks into a look of confusion, "You shouldn't be embarrassed by that, Tav, you don't speak the language. Uztanatez-" Tav sucks in a breath, and Lia snorts, "means 'bootlicker'. Gladiz zurzum kuluz means... well... 'shove your sword up your rear'."

Cal and Lia are both sporting shit eating grins. Tav thinks now is a good time to pick a God and pray.

~~~

" Pulch'zer."

He says it as she walks through the door to the study one morning.

"Sorry, repeat that?"

His eyes widen, and his face flushes a deep crimson colour. She's never seen him blush before, or at least she's never noticed because of his skin's natural shade.

"Sorry I was just..." He averts his gaze, looking back at the paperwork he's working on, "I was just thinking out loud..."

She chuckles lightly. "Ah, that text will be kicking your ass then. Pulch'zer. What does it mean?"

He looks up at her again. His eyes lock with hers.

"You're close, it's not pulch'zer, it's pulch'zer . You have to put more emphasis on the 'Z' sound."

Gods, she needs to stop asking. He always ends up correcting her, and she always ends up going bright pink. He pronounces the words more precisely when he's teaching her how to say them, it drives her insane.

"Pulch- Pulch? Pulch'zer."

He chuckles, stands and walks over to her. "You're close, but now you're putting too much emphasis on it." He's only an arms length away from her now. " Pulch'zer ."

She gulps. He needs to stop repeating it.

"P- Pulch'zer." She can't tear her eyes away from him, she stares right into his gaze as she repeats it. He sucks a small breath in, so small it's barely noticeable.

"Yes. Very good."

There's a pause.

"So. What does it mean?"

He's flushing again. "It... Well. It..."

She raises an eyebrow, "that bad huh?"

"... it means 'beautiful'."

Tav's face twists in confusion. "What about your book is beaut-"

Rolan surges forward and plants his lips on hers. She gasps into it, the rest of her words swallowed by her inhale and his tongue. She sinks into it. His hands fall onto her waist, and he uses them to drag her closer, pulling the whole length of his body against hers. When he pulls away it feels far too soon, but in his defence he's breathless. He only leans his chest away, his hips still against hers.

"I wasn't talking about the book."

The look in his eyes is vulnerable in a way she's never seen him before. As though he desperately wants her to understand, and yet is terrified that she will. Like he's scared to fracture whatever comfortable thing they've fallen into together.

"Well..." She takes a deep breath, rests a hand on his chest. "Then I'd like you to know that I think you're very pulch'zer."

He sucks in through his teeth and lets out a single disbelieving laugh. "That sounds ridiculously good when you say it, you know."

She snorts, dismissive, "please, it's far better when you say it. I love when you speak infernal."

He stares at her.

She feels her eyes bug out of her head as what she said hits her. "I mean! Not that- I don't mean that like-"

"You love it? What does that mean?"

She can feel the heat in her face. Suddenly everywhere he's touching her is too much, she needs to fall through the floor to a new realm and start her life over with a fake name.

"I don't- I didn't mean-"

As she fumbles over her words, Rolan's face starts to lift into an understanding smirk. "Oh. I see. You love it."

He leans forward towards her, and his lips brush her ear.

"Tibiz plazet link'zon mezoq ?"

She shudders, "Rolan, I have no idea what you're saying."

He chuckles lowly against the shell of her ear. " Zedzit'n, nul'umne? Zede illizquit diko ."

Gods, it's torturous. He's dropped his voice an octave, giving the already heavy words an even more gravelled tone. Her breath is coming out in pants and she whines. The way it's affecting her is ridiculous.

He doesn't stop, " morentez me'zam? Notzo'illi ."

"Rolan, please."

He grins against her, and she feels his length pressing against her body through his robes. " Quid plaket, dilekt'miz ?"

" Rolan , common tongue, please . I want to know what you're saying."

"I said 'please what?'"

Tav huffs in irritation, "I don't know."

He brings his lips up to brush hers, smiling against her as she tries to pull him closer.

"Do you want me to kiss you again?"

She swallows hard around the lump in her throat and nods.

"Mhm. Ask me nicely."

The noise she lets out is embarrassing, a high pitched whine that she couldn't stop if she tried, but she feels his breath against her lips as he exhales in excitement.

"Kiss me, Rolan. Please."

His smile is wide against her, "as you wish, pulch'zer."

When he kisses her, his lips are gentle against hers. Soft and pliant, eager but restrained. When he parts them slowly, she responds in kind and finds his tongue with hers, and he rewards her with a deep, sensual moan from low in his throat. His lips are warm and soft, his mouth tastes of spearmint, his breath flows through her. She feels her small-clothes growing damp.

As he deepens the kiss his movements grow more insistent, more intense, and he squeezes her hips as he grinds her into him. She moans in response and the noise flips a switch in him. All of a sudden his lips are frantic, the kiss turning messy and needy, and his hands are running up and down her body as thought they don't know where to settle.

He pulls back enough to speak, his breath dancing along her lips, his voice barely above a whisper. " Nezkiz quid'mih fakiaz. Volui'illi tamd'umne ."

Tav moans, long and slow as the words rush over her skin, "Gods, Rolan. I wish I knew what you were saying. Fuck ."

He chuckles quietly, "perhaps I'll teach you Comprehend Languages. Then again... Forzit adv'illi."

She groans. "Rolan, please ."

He grins, grinding his length against her, "please, what?"

The huff she lets out is impatient, "you know what."

His mouth traces the shell of her ear again and she shivers. "Perhaps. But tell me anyway."

She groans, "please fuck me, Rolan."

He needs no further invitation. Rolan undresses them both rapidly, swift and efficient just as he treats his work, and they're both bare before each-other in a few moments.

When he looks over her, sweeping his eyes across her form, he lets out a low noise of appreciation. "Hells, Tav, you're beautiful."

She feels nervous, all of a sudden, bare before him, but she smiles despite it. "So are you."

He's back on her, trailing his lips along her throat and collarbone, leaving teasing bites and grazes with his canines. She's a whimpering, writhing mess beneath him but she doesn't care. She can feel his length pressed against her stomach, can feel the grooves of the door on her back, and she's absolutely aching with need.

"Is this okay? Are you comfortable?" His questions make her chest ache with a different kind of need to the one pulsing through her core.

"Yes, Rolan. Please, for the love of- fuck me against this door."

His moan in response to her words is loud and wanton. " Hells , Tav. Lift your leg for me."

She does, and he grabs under her knee, lifting it up so it wraps around his hip, the heel of her foot against the base of his tail while her other foot stays planted against the floor. His other hand comes between them, grips the base of his cock and rubs it against her folds. She throws her head back as she keens, and at the same time he lets out a groan closer to a growl.

"Fuck, you're so wet. Is- This is still okay? You want this?" His voice wavers with lust.

Hearing him curse is almost as incredible as hearing him speak infernal. "Yes , Gods if you don't-"

He's sliding himself into her before she can finish her threat, and the rest of her words fizzle out into a high pitched moan as she throws her head back. His length is ridged and she can feel every notch as it slides into her. He works his way into her slowly, thrusting only an inch at a time until his pelvis comes to rest against hers, and he folds over to rest his forehead against her shoulder.

His first half of his sentence is muttered, the second half directed at her, "Tam strikta , fuck. Ita infek'tum strikta. Tell me when you're ready, dilekt'miz."

"I'm ready, please, fuck me."

He silences his own moan by clamping his mouth over the meat between her neck and shoulder, and begins thrusting shallowly. The slide of him inside her, the ridges on his shaft dragging against her walls, has her tightening her leg around his waist and dragging him closer. He grunts through his mouthful of her skin and starts to pick up his pace, until he's thrusting hard and fast into her.

She's a mess, and she knows it, but it doesn't matter. She's digging her heel into his ass and arching her hips away from the door to get closer to him, head thrown back and eyes wrenched shut. It's too much, but it's not enough. She grabs his hand that isn't holding her knee up and places it round the back of her other thigh. He's a quick study as always, taking a firm hold on the back of her leg and hoisting her other leg up around him, so she's held up against the door by just his weight against her and his bruising grip. It changes the angle, he drives deeper into her, and they both moan in tandem.

He's speaking again, infernal dialect spilling from him freely into her skin, " Nezkiz. Nezkiz quam di'tez vellem. Quamdiu korpuz tuum'kontraz petivi. Vid'tez habzeq. Miz'tib animez'umne ." He speaks the words with a reverence that that has her keening, clenching around him.

"Rolan, I'm so close, fuck don't stop."

He shakes his head, thrusts into her harder, "Hells, I won't, Tav. I won't, I won't, adv'illi, adv'illi -"

The utterance of more quiet infernal words against her tips her over the edge, and she finds her release around him. His movements become stuttered, desperate, " Tez amorez. Tez amorez taz'multo. Perfik'miz. Amaz, amaz, num'quam latuz dezeraz. Morent'illi anim defendam."

He follows her over the precipice and empties himself inside her. She tightens her hold on him with her legs and kisses his neck as his hips twitch through his release, and as he stills they both try to find breath against each-other's skin.

"Gods, Tav." His voice is hoarse, "you- that was- I-"

She chuckles, which makes her walls clench and his hips stutter as he gasps at the feeling. "That was amazing, Rolan. What... Um. What were you saying?"

She pulls away to look at him, and his face is incredibly red. His freckles are barely visible through the violent blush. "Oh, um. Nothing- Nothing, really. Nothing important. Just... babbling. You know."

She laughs, slowly lowering her legs to the ground, both shuddering as he pulls himself from her. He mutters a quick incantation and they're both clean.

"You're going to have to teach me Comprehend Languages, now. I'm far too nosy to leave it at that."

"Hm. We'll see."

~~~

Translations:

"Tibiz plazet link'zon mezoq?" ("You like when I speak to you in my native tongue?")

"Zedzit'n, nul'umne? Zede illizquit diko." ("But you don't care, do you? It's not about what I say.")

"Morentez me'zam? Notzo'illi." ("Moaning for me already? Aren't I lucky.")

Quid plaket, dilekt'miz?" ("Please what, my beloved?")(he lies and tells her it means "please what?")

"Nezkiz quid'mih fakiaz. Volui'illi tamd'umne." ("You have no idea what you do to me. I have wanted you for so long.")

"Then again... Forzit adv'illi." ("Then again... Perhaps I won't.")

"Tam strikta, fuck. Ita infek'tum strikta. Tell me when you're ready, dilekt'miz." ("So wet, fuck. So tight and wet. Tell me when you're ready, my beloved.")

"Nezkiz. Nezkiz quam di'tez vellem. Quamdiu korpuz tuum'kontraz petivi. Vid'tez habzeq. Miz'tib animez'umne." ("You have no idea. You have no idea how long I've wanted you. How long I've craved your body against mine. I have dreamt of having you like this. My soul burns for you.")

"adv'illi" ("I won't.")

"Tez amorez. Tez amorez taz'multo. Perfik'miz. Amaz, amaz, num'quam latuz dezeraz. Morent'illi anim defendam." ("I love you. I love you so much. You complete me. Please, please never leave my side. I would protect you to my dying breath.")

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

waters of oblivion

This piece was inspired by J.E.Millais’ Ophelia and well… Shadowfell portal. I mirrored it tho cause like this angle more

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

oops I never reposted pirate Karlach to the new blog, here she is again

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

Karlach - Sun🧡 tarot card for @bg3tarotdeck I also have BlueSky now!

[garlicbreadbatstarion]

I think I've seen a lot of people get discouraged on here bc lots of users now are used to other social media spaces that work predominantly off of likes and views, but tumblr posts benefit more from reblogs and replies, but (as my therapist has told me) there are no rules!

Be the reblogs and comments you want to see in the tumblr world! Who cares if that fic is 10 months old?! If it's new to you and you really enjoy it, comment! If you're shy or anxious to comment publicly, send them a nice ask! My fave thing about this platform has always been the ability to find internet friends and neighbors with similar interests really easily.

Be kind and supportive to creators you enjoy; you never know what someone is going through and one nice comment might be the thing that makes their hard day easier.💓

BTW i see these posts all the time like "ohhh i dont know what to comment on fics.." and every response is "keysmashes! or hearts!! anything works :3" and thats GREAT!! thats helpful!!

but: consider. if u genuinely like analyzing writing.. do u know ur just allowed to go through and quote your favorite parts and ramble abt what they mean to u and the author will LOSE IT WITH HYPE?

genuinely. i felt SO WEIRD the first time i did it.. but like. holy shit authors love it. its crack for authors. the first time i did it, it was on a fic that hadnt updated in half a year, give or take, and the author made 3 updates that month BECAUSE OF MY COMMENT.

LIKE. as an author every comment is INCREDIBLE!!! but also, dont feel like your comment has to be short or otherwise ur invasive or smth!! authors ADORE long comments more than ANYTHING.