#{ Crosaidi: The Hound and His Warden }

[littlehoundthings]

@crosaidi: I was sure it was the best way. The only way.

"Is that going to be your excuse every bloody time?" Asheriel hissed out as he balled his fists against his forehead. "Maker's breath I cannot count how many times I've patched you up- and THIS is just!" Paerin was bleeding out, and Ashe was the only one around who could patch him together, but he was inexperienced as a healer still, and could only patch up surface wounds.

"Fuck fuck fuck-" Ashe hissed out as he tugged at his hair in thought. Tears burned at his eyes, but he blinked them away to focus on the moment. There had to be something. "You stUPID motherfucker! You just had t'let me get hit! You just had t'let me take it! Now you're gunna bloody die and it's all my fuckin' fault!" Asheriel yelled as he tried to think again and again as he thumped his fist on the ground.

Paerin's eyes were closing.

His heart was slowing down.

Think. THINK. THINK.

He paused. Looking over at his hand. Paerin's blood still clung to it. Blood.

Blood.

Asheriel's heart felt like it was beating into his skull. He could do this. Just this one. Little. Indiscretion. No one had to know. The templars didn't have to know. The Grey Wardens didn't have to know... Even Paerin didn't have to know.

And so. He took in. A deep. Breath.

Held it.

And let it go.

Asheriel slowly drew his knife, before holding up his palm. His knife shook as he thought of the consequences of what he was about to do. Come now. Breath. This is all for others, after all. You're supposed to be the protector, the healer, their guardian. What's a little stain on the soul for the sake of the people around you?

What significance does your life hold, if you cannot protect others?

"Blood for the hunt," Asheriel murmured the command phrase, closing his eyes and giving into the sweet release of the auto-hypnosis. His body began to relax. Yes. This was the correct choice.

"Blood for the magic." His knife sliced across his palm. Sputters of crimson embers erupted from his palm before he pushed it against Paerin's wound.

"You aren't gettin' t'rest that easily, you bastard," Asheriel muttered as he felt the imaginary flames burning at his nerves. Mana and reality twisted with his will-- cast through his blood and through Paerin's veins. Repair the flesh. Replace the blood. Refill the vessel of life once again. Asheriel gasped as the magic finished, doubling over Paerin as the last sputters of crimson flame left his wound, and it quickly scabbed over. He quickly wrapped his hand with a bandage, tugged on a glove, before looking down at Paerin.

"C'mon c'mon c'mon--" He muttered, touching Paerin's neck.

.....ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum.

The sheer relief on his face was temporarily marred by the feeling of fire being poured into his veins from igniting his blood into mana. Asheriel gasped, clutching his arm for a long moment, before getting up again.

Congratulations, Asheriel. You saved a life. You were useful.

Asheriel let out his breath.

Before raising a hand.

And smacking Paerin across the cheek back and forth.

"C'mon you lazy bastard. No free naps around here. We need t'get back to camp."

[littlehoundthings]

"Hmm..." Ashe leaned over and pressed another kiss to Paerin's cheek. A low chuckle rumbled into Paerin's skin as he pressed another quick kiss to Paerin's neck, before backing off again.

"Me? Absolutely smitten with the most fuckin' adorable Warden in Thedas?" Ashe hummed in thought, like he was pondering some great mystery of life. All the while, equal parts affection and mischief danced in his eyes as he looked to Paerin.

"Naw. Couldn't imagine what would make someone say that," he joked with a chuckle. "Would absolutely have nothin' t'do with me practically flopped on you at any given time of the day."

" Y'don't, " he agrees with a chuckle, lifting the chainmail up to inspect it; he seems satisfied, and that means — it's time to start on the other side, where there's a place that got dented. He's liberated replacement rings out of spare pieces and pieces that they've picked up on the field, and it's a matter of using cutters ( which he also liberated from somewhere ) to cut the broken pieces out and carefully replace them with the new ones. It's a process, but he's got careful and patient hands with this, and he kind of enjoys it besides.

—— that last little bit earns Ashe a little look back, blue eyes dancing. " That's b'cause I'm adorable, " he declares, teasing, wagging fingers blackened with steel and the oil off the mail at him. " Careful, someone might start t'think y'liked me or somethin'. "

[littlehoundthings]

"AND HE HAS THE CUTEST FUCKIN' FACE!!! HAVE YOU SEEN THAT MAN SMILE!?"

[littlehoundthings]

D'ya rant about Paerin yet?

Oh no.

"Did you..."

Now you've done it.

"Just ask me t'rant about Paerin???"

Maker rest our souls.

"Okay, so jus' a bit of background?? I used t'despise him. For completely stupid reasons! Then I started t'actually talk with him?"

"Paerin. Is. So. Fuckin'. Great. This man has been a Maker sent miracle in my life. I've never met a man who's both an extremely fuckin' hot feral bastard in the field, and so sweet an' amazin' t'people he cares about."

"And have you seen those arms? Those legs? He could crush my fuckin' skull and I'd say thank you. AND HE'S GOT A G R E A T ASS."

"But anyways- that man helped me through the WORST moment of my life. He SAT there with me, an' just... Talked! That's all he had t'do! And he did it without question? That's somethin' amazin'. Even after the way I was a total fuckin' dill head throughout The Fifth Blight."

"He's always kinda... BEEN there for me? Every time we've met or seen each other. The Fifth Blight, The Inquistion, and now? Havin' him as a partner?"

"Maker's breath, it's like a damn dream. A bloody fuckin' miracle. I get days where I wake up, see him there, an' know that things are gunna be alright. I've confided in that man more than I ever have anyone in my LIFE."

"He's... Really great y'know?"

"...so that's why I'm gunna make the best of the time we got. We... Really don't have that much time, huh?" A soft, wry chuckle as he plays with The Warden's Oath hanging around his neck. "But... I think it'll be time that I'll never forget."

"I dare say he's one of the most important people in my life. I'm a damn fool for not seein' that earlier."

[littlehoundthings]

@crosaidi: ❛ i won't let you do this to me. i won't let you go. ❜ / finger steeples Blight Night! {Not Accepting}

He couldn't count how many times they'd had this argument by now. Argument? Disagreement? It'd come up so many times Ashe wasn't sure how to categorize it.

"I'm not takin-" He coughed. The agitation making the blight in his blood act up as his blood pressure rose. He hissed softly, pressing a hand to the infection point. His other hand reaching for the stabilizing elixer he'd prepared and kept in his pocket. No. No. He didn't need it yet. The pain was still manageable. "I'm not takin' the damn Joinin'," Ashe hissed out as he tried to get his symptoms under control. Deep breaths. "I know- we agreed t'enjoy the time we got but..." "I'm not puttin' on another damn collar," his agitation wasn't aimed at Paerin. It was pain, pure and simple. He was in pain. His words came out in harsher tones than he would normally use. "I've worn enough fuckin' collars in my life. Even if it-" and here comes the crux of the issue. "Even if it kills me... I just... gotta make sure t'see things through."

[littlehoundthings]

@crosaidi: “ and then there’s saying ‘fuck it,’ and doing what you may. ”

Shitty horoscopes { Accepting }

"Y'fuckin' know what? That sounds like a motto to follow-" Maybe not in the middle of a venatori ambush, but Ashe could certainly respect the subtle hint of 'go fucking nuts'. Maybe the Venatori should have taken the hint when Ashe started chuckling-- the sound of his joints popping as he tensed and danced his fingers.

"Ma vhenan?" Dark mist was already starting to manifest from his body, as dark fur began to spread from beneath his clothes.

"Try t'mind the splash zone," Ashe grunted out as something halfway between a chuckle and a growl-- dark mist covering his entire body before being torn apart by a swipe of sharp claws, and a loud howl that echoed through the area. The form of the werewolves in the Brecilian Forest would serve him well today.

The Hound was on the Hunt.

[littlehoundthings]

@crosaidi: “ you inspire me to be better! a better ‘what’ is up for interpretation. ”

Shitty horoscopes { Accepting }

"Well-" It was becoming a regular habit now-- enjoying the afterglow with his Warden-- lazing in bed. Ashe's fingers tip-toed up Paerin's arm, before swiping his thumb over a small scar. He wanted to memorize every ridge, every line, every shape of Paerin's body.

Ashe might be getting a bit spoiled.

"-I'm goin' t'interpret it as good," he teased with a chuckle. He snagged Paerin's hand, before pressing his lips to Paerin's knuckles.

"Cause I know you help me be a better man every day, vhenan. More than y'ou 'might know."

[littlehoundthings]

@crosaidi: ❛  sneaky .   to  sneak  away  from  a  gathering  to  have  sex  with  my  muse .

The Enmority of My Desire { Accepting }

He's trying desperately to not chuckle as he pressed his fingers to Paerin's lips with a soft shhhh. He was a bit giggly from the ale, but who could blame him? They won. They survived. The Calling was gone, The Blight was over, The Evanuris defeated, everyone survived. They survived, and after everyone had a chance to rest and recover from the final battle, it was finally time to celebrate their victory.

Of course, Ashe and Paerin had dragged each other away during the festivities. While everyone danced and sang, Ashe pressed his lips to Paerin's in passion and desperate need. Because this celebration meant more to Ashe than just the world being safe, than just the Veil being put back in place, more than even the fact that he was alive.

They were alive.

"Ma vhenan, my Warden, my love--" Ashe murmured as he pressed his lips to Paerin's over, and over, and over. His breath hot against Paerin's cheek, smell of the ale they cracked open for the party. They were hidden away in the infirmary, just like their first time together. This time, with Ashe pushing Paerin against the desk and his fingers running down the Warden's chest.

"-Fuck-" He murmured before leaning in again and kissing down Paerin's neck. His thigh pressed between Paerin's, and his fingers slowly tracing the outline of Paerin's growing shaft. "-can't believe I get t'do this for you for the rest of our lives-" Ashe growled out softly as he slowly lowered himself, pressing his lips to Paerin's throat, and slowly kissed down-- tugging up Paerin's shirt so he could kiss the his warden's exposed stomach. His fingers fumbling at the strings of Paerin's pants.

He pressed another kiss to Paerin's stomach, and just breathed for a moment, appreciating his Warden's scent. He was alive and home, and might very well stay that way now. Ashe tugged Paerin's pants down, just enough to expose the base of his cock for Ashe to press a kiss to.

"I love you so much, vhenan," Ashe murmured as he tugged Paerin's pants down enough for his cock to flop out. His kisses ran along the warden's length from base to tip, before back down to his balls. The healer's tongue ran over the sensitive flesh, glancing up with a loving, warm (albeit slightly inebriated) expression.

[littlehoundthings]

SO CLOSE

BUT HE STILL LOVES YOUUUU!

[littlehoundthings]

And they were Roommates {@crosaidi}

It'd been a couple days since he temporarily moved into the Riverwind house (What an amusingly odd last name) to help Paerin investigate the supposed "haunting" of the home. He'd notice a few things since he took up space in the guest room. One, things definitely move around without prompting. Usually out of the corner of his eyes. Two, the town hall was amazingly annoying about giving up history of places, as usual, but he got a little information. He'd made his way there after checking on the shop-- ensuring that the werewolves hadn't wrecked anything while he was on a job. And lastly--- "Hey, I got a hit o-"

"Jesus fuckin' Christ-" Irish roots came out as he lift the folder to cover his eyes, averting them slightly for the sake of the other man's... privacy? Chastity? Shame? Lack there of for all three?

The third thing Ashe figured out, was Paerin was very used to living on his own. Enough so that Ashe was pretty sure Paerin might've been doing this on purpose.

"I'll come back when y'got pants-- in the livin' room? Really?" Maybe this was Ashe's fault for getting back an hour earlier than expected.

[littlehoundthings]

@crosaidi: ❛ can we stay? just for a little while? ❜ Blight Night! {Not Accepting}

It was such a small request, yet every word made Ashe falter. He couldn't stop. He couldn't hold back. There was no guarantee that when he stopped he'd get back up again. He had potions, elixirs, and poultices in spades to keep him functioning.

But the moment he took that hand. That sweet, sweet offer of rest. Would he be able to get up. His knuckles went white as he clenched his fist, grappling with his own thoughts. ~His thoughts were always the things he fought most, weren't they?~

"...." Paerin's touch finally made him stop. That rough, calloused hand gently taking his and making his fist relaxed.

"Yeah.... Yeah I just..." He leaned into Paerin. The Blight felt like it practically sang in his blood, like some horrific victory was won that day. "...Yeah. Just for a- just for a bit. That wouldn't be too bad, would it?" He tried to justify it to himself. Just a little rest. He'd go back to working after just a little rest.

[littlehoundthings]

Ashe actually looked surprise as Paerin finally revealed his master plan. This was- if Ashe was honestly- downright romantic. He clears his throat to hide a little chuckle at Paerin's excitement, but returns to focusing on the other's actions.

"Maybe we save that for a day we're feelin' lazy in bed," Ashe offered with a slight grin as he tugged his towel aside and moved toward the water. Well, Paerin was putting in an effort, so Ashe needed to as well.

Cold mana flowed through his nerves as he raised his hand, before flicking it with a snap of blue flame. He tugged at the fade, and twist it until the light lowered and glowing balls of gentle, warm light float lazily over the water-- casting a gentle warm glow over the springs as if candles were hanging in the air. A feat impossible in the physical world, but here in the fade felt as easy as breathing.

"Well?" Ashe teased with a pleased grin as he looked back to Paerin. His eyes glimmered slightly in the warm light as mana still burned in his system. "Are y'gunna stare-" Ashe started to question as he slipped into the water. The warmth already relaxing his poor leg. "-or you gunna join me in the water?

True to his word, he doesn’t take long. He comes down to the hot springs with a lift in his step, carrying —– a nice bottle o’ liquor he spirited either from the kitchen or from his own quarters. " Sorry, couldn’t get glasses, " he says, a little breathless like he rushed. 

Either way: he’s heading over to clink the bottle down on the stone — it tips dangerously, but he catches it and steadies it with a huff of a breath after — and then steps aside to strip out of his own clothing, almost forgetting to take his boots off until he realizes he can’t get his pants off without it. —— he may be in a bit of a rush.

" An’ I was goin’ t’get snacks, but then I thought maybe that wasn’t—— " Muffled as he pulls his shirt over his head, " —— th’best idea 'cause water —— " And he grins, disarming, an eager eye on his lover. " Didn’t mean t’keep y’waitin'. "

[littlehoundthings]

Ashe tapped the flat of his knife against his fingers over and over again anxiously. "Yeah. It's almost time-" he rest his chin on Paerin's head, glancing toward the red light that's filled the lighthouse from Elgar'nan's eclipse. The last of the crimson embers died from Ashe's fingertips as the blood magic wound quickly scabbed over-- the last flickers of magic from trying to stabilize the blight. His fingers steadily moved to fiddling with the locket around his neck.

They were out of time.

"....Just stick near me-" those weren't the words he really wanted to say. What he really wanted to do was tell Paerin to stay behind. To beg Paerin on his hands and knees to remain here at the light house and far away from any danger. Hell, even Ashe wasn't indestructible anymore now that Obsession had been exorcised.

His head might be clear of worries, but it would never be free of the myriad storm of emotions he held for his warden.

"Just stay by my side," Ashe started again, pressing his lips to the top of Paerin's head. "Don't leave my side. That's all I ask, vhenan. I'll do EVERYTHING in my power t'keep you safe. T'make sure that fuckin' cunt doesn't get into your head."

Ashe reached out, and gently tapped his finger to Paerin's heart.

"My blood's in there too-" it was an ingredient in the elixir, after all. A potent magical catalyst to mix blood and magic together, and Ashe would willingly shed his blood over and over if it meant Paerin would be alright. "-and I can guarantee you that there's no bloody chance I'm gunna let some ancient elven bastard mess with the man I love."

He’s in pain tonight, and it’s getting —— bad. Early on, he could ignore it better, he could grit his teeth and pretend like once the night was over and the worst of it ebbed that it was gone for the time being, that it wasn’t coming back. 

But now, there’s a chill deep in his bones. It’s almost like a fever, except it’s to the very deepest marrow and numbs the tips of his fingers. There’s a constant humming in his ears, a constant maddening call to go down, down. He’s not hungry anymore — eats out of forced habit and to keep moving, but he doesn’t actually feel it much. Thirst, either. 

He hasn’t admitted a lot of this. The magic helps, but the Blight is in full force; one archdemon’s dead and they’re on the eve of killing the other, but every Warden knows that the Blight accelerates the Calling. Especially since he’s been practically bathing in the shit from these boils and hordes and new darkspawn ———the one hope he has is that it hasn’t physically manifested yet. His eyes are clear, he doesn’t have patches of Blight on his hide. 

He swallows, tightly. " Just don’t take it as no failure if y’can’t find one, " he breathes, letting that magic work through him. It does work, just —— not for long, and he’s worried that it takes, takes, takes too much. " There’s been people fer generations lookin’ t’cure it. "

He lets himself lean into Ashe, and — as is common these days, he’s starving when it kicks in and silences the singing, the noise, the myriad of awful sensations. He wipes a hand over his face, and dips his chin. " Tomorrow we go take care o’ the archdemon, don’t we. " Silence, because no matter what happens —— he’s pretty sure his death is sooner than later. Maybe tomorrow would be a mercy. " —— for th’first time in my life, I’m fuckin’ terrified. If that bastard gets in my head — " Which is, historically speaking, entirely possible; it’s what the Calling does. " I need y’to—— make sure I don’t hurt no one. Wotever that means. "

[littlehoundthings]

"Ooooooh nooooo. I'm bein' dragged away by a sexy, gorgeous man. Whatever will I dooOoOOoOoOoo."

" As a protector o' th'people, I've got an obligation t'stop y'right there. Besides, wot, y'want t'share? Figure y'like th'knowin' that some things are only yers. "

[littlehoundthings]

"And what happens t'folks who don't stick with the wardens, Paerin?" Ashe countered with a huff. The wardens were almost as bad as the Circle sometimes-- hunting down deserters to protect their secrets and ideology.

"Besides, we can't even begin t'guarantee that it'll work. In case y'forget, the Joinin' isn't known for its high survival rate," Every argument came with a swift response.

He straightens himself, trying to keep strong, but it's so hard when his system is being ravaged and healed over and over again every second. Even Obsession's magic-- which could bring him back from even the brink of death-- wasn't enough to stop the inevitable end the blight was hurtling him toward.

"Hells, what's the point of bein' saved at this point-" he gave a wry chuckle. "What's the point of me survivin' this if what- we got a month? Two months before the Callin' takes you? Versus potentially the rest of my life as a warden? Or losin' my life t'the Joinin' all together?"

"No. It's not worth it. Not the risk before, and not for the damned existence that comes after," he needed Paerin to understand here and now. This wasn't a debate-- it was Ashe's choice.

And maybe it was the Blight finally taking his toll on him. Maybe it was the constant pain, the nightmares, and the way everything tasted like ash in his mouth that was slowly breaking him down one day at a time.

But his voice cracked with barely contained pain as he gave a sardonic smile.

"Don't make me chose between a collared life without you, or death."

"I fear my answer might make y'think less of me."

He’s seen the grip of the Blight more times than he can count. Thousands and thousands of times, if one counts the dead and the cities razed to cinders from it during Blights —— and it’s always a punch in the gut, even when it takes someone he doesn’t know. He’s been lucky enough in his days for him to never have to watch it take someone he cares about: not like this, not without the Calling whispering words of damnation in their ears. 

He’s lived with the Blight for decades, it’s true. But the Blight without the protection of the Wardens burns hot and fast, it takes and takes and when it can’t take any more it rips you apart and if you’re lucky it kills you instead of turning one into a ghoul. 

" Do I look like I wear a bloody collar? " He’s practically begging. The words clot like blood behind his teeth, emotion clutching in his chest like a vise. " It en’t a collar, it’s time. It’s you not havin’ to die like this. "

—— even he knows the Joining isn’t an answer. It is, but it’s not; how many survive when they’re young and fierce and bright-eyed? How many survive who do it later in life, when their resolve and faith has already been rattled? But it’s better than a death under the clutch of the Blight, ripping one apart piece by piece, spitting bloody and feeling things changing in the end, and hearing that bloody song growing louder and louder ——

He huffs a sharp breath between his teeth, and they grit so hard his jaw creaks, aches. His heart hammers, he grips Ashe’s hands hard. Those blue eyes are points of a fire, and oh, they burn. " I want t’save you. "

[littlehoundthings]

"Oh I can rant 'bout ya bits as well. Y'want the review? I can tell folks how nice of a view it is when y'legs are-"

"AND HE HAS THE CUTEST FUCKIN' FACE!!! HAVE YOU SEEN THAT MAN SMILE!?"