#( the beauty and the beast | halsin x nox )

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not me and @never-surrender and our big brain energy with how EASY it was to come up with a tag and title for our muses' ship name

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@never-surrender asked | ∗ o7﹕ sender  wraps  their  arms  around  a  hysterical  receiver  to  calm  them

He was there. And then he wasn't. She waded in the rivers of the underdark and looked for him through the rubble of the battlefield that he destroyed in order to give them time. Nox did this for hours. Every last ounce of her strength went into finding him.

And when she finally did, the pale little creature pulled him from the water, cursing and screaming and begging for this to be a dream. All while his party sat and watched in the distance, unable to say or do anything. It had been too long for them to use a spell. Too long for a scroll to be used. And the threads of fate had already been spun.

But Nox refused to believe this was the end of the line. She had just found him. Had just found what her happiness was going to be with him. And then her father took it all away. And she had to wrap him up. Had to take care of him so delicately. Made sure that he would not decompose on her, and she watched over his corpse like a sentinel. With some supplies abandoned in the underdark, Nox made a proper resting place for him in the cart so that he was carried with dignity back to the surface.

And once they had returned, did she rest. And when she had rested, did she call in almost every last one of her favors that was owed to her by the wizard that helped her build her home. Magic bled from the city with one spell. One phrase; "I wish."

The color returned to his features. His body was made whole again. Breath flooded his lungs, and those beautiful eyes opened once more. And she wept. Oh how the bard cried. How she sobbed and chided him for being stupid. For doing that to her. For leaving her alone. For giving her happiness and then immediately taking it away with such heroic stupidity.

But it all began to ebb away as he wrapped his arms around her. His natural cologne filled her senses, his heart beat lulled her racing thoughts, and though her tears still fell, Nox could only shake with relief. She nuzzled into his shoulder and gripped him as though he would disappear in the next moment. She would've given up everything if that was what it would have taken.

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@never-surrender asked | [SACRIFICE]: the sender cups the receiver's face tenderly to distract them, right before shoving them out of the way (to safety) and facing an attack alone in order to buy the receiver enough time to escape.

Her skin has split over her brow, blood has trickled into her eye and all down the left side of her face. A few bones have most certainly been broken. It was getting harder to breathe. This was her Father's doing. The man had shifted into a Nightwalker before their eyes, a huge and twisted creature. Was this what he was doing all those years while she was passed around like an heirloom? Making deals with whatever he could manage. He looked now like this hideous creature, and he was set on killing her and all of her companions now. The woman made for her violin, but saw that it was broken into thousands of tiny little pieces.

There was still magic left in her. She could feel it coursing through her body, was ready to take the man who did this to her, to finally be free of the nightmare that he was. He is that incarnate, now. His shadowy form looms over her, and for a moment, she is paralyzed with fear. She can feel the blade in her collar, can feel the blood seeping out and oozing down her arm that fateful night. Before he decided to sell her like some common livestock. The stench of blood fills her senses, and unbeknownst to her, tears cascade in rivers down her cheeks. Nox is stunned, the creature's hand pointed at her as if ready to attack in the next moment.

But it never came. She could see the purple radiance of Gale's magic lingering in the sky, dissipating the beam of magic that was intended for her. Pulled only briefly from her fear, can she see Halsin is now in front of her. His hand is warm upon her cheek. Pale lashes flutter in recognition of his healing seeping into her bones. His words fall upon deaf ears. All Nox knows is that the tears fall faster now. Has she doomed them all? He said he would protect her, but she didn't want that to be until death do they part. There is a choked sound as she grasps desperately onto his hand, head shaking as she realizes what he's doing, but it is a moment too late.

His other hand has taken her by the waist, and before she can stop him, he's tossed her to Karlach who holds her fiercely in her arms.

"HALSIN! HALSIN PLEASE! NO!" Her voice cries out for him, immediately her hands trying to pry the tiefling's arms from around her, she watches as the elf begins to glow, the radiance of his light and of nature around him swirling to life. She's half carried, half dragged away from the scene as the earth begins to crumble away at their feet, plates shifting and splitting the earth between them and what fate would have awaited them. She screams his name over and over again, doing anything she can to get out of the hold. No. She didn't want to lose anyone else! She couldn't!

"HALSIN!" Her voice cracks, she begs to be released, but Karlach is finally able to get a hold of her, hugging her tightly as they run, whispering apologies to her as she hugs her close. The changeling cannot contain her emotions as she clings to the barbarian. This was agony. This was torture.

This was worse than death itself.

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@never-surrender asked | [ nose rub ] - for receiver to brush their nose against sender’s nose

It had been some time since Halsin had saved her from herself. The moment between them that night and the moments that followed solidified their 'relationship'. A word Halsin didn't much care for, but something that made her brain feel less terrified of leaving things open ended. She appreciated that he was flexible with her. Well, he was more than that. How had she gone without him at her side for so long?

The sound of bells chiming over the doors have her attention, that smile ever present on her face, but as she sees it's Halsin and his party of heroes, the smile grows ever brighter. The woman hops the counter and moves to them, taking him and another by the hand to pull them in the direction of their new seats, officially reserved for the man and his friends who were slowly helping the city, one problem at a time. When they were all seated, she kept his hand in hers, pulling him from being able to sit down and excused them for a moment before leaning with all her weight to pull him with her to their own little corner of the bar.

As their feet shuffled across the floor, there is a giddiness in the changeling; had she been a tiefling, her tail might've been wagging in glee. He may have been expecting her to show him something grand, but this was something she had been building up the courage to do, battling with the internal struggle of her phobias. But, she reached up, pulled him down with her palms against his neck and shoulder, and imitated their first real touch other than him holding her hand. The feeling of his forehead against hers, the warmth of his breath upon her lips. It was all as she had remembered.

But, she put her own little spin to it. Nox angled her head just a little more, and when she felt their noses touch, did she pivot her head left and right, letting their noses brush in a bit of a nuzzle. There is a titter of laughter from her lungs before her hands run through his chocolatey trusses. It was a silly little notion, really, but to Nox, it was something much greater than that. She trusted him. She adored him. And she wanted Halsin to know that she was thankful for him, and that she was committed to being at his side.

"Welcome home."

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@never-surrender asked | [ wounded ] sender patches up receiver's wounds

The changeling flinches as the hands touch upon her skin, her jaw clenching as he physically cleans the wound. None of them had a lick of magic left after that fight, having to use everything and anything they had to stop the man who threatened her freedom. That and his merry band of fools. They barged in here and acted as if they owned the place yet again, and Nox had had enough.

"I-It's okay...I'm fine...you don't need to apologize...I'll be okay..." She coaxes him as she can feel him begin to pull his hand away as he realized he was causing her discomfort. "Th-This cannot wait until morning...I don't care if it scars or if we have to change bandages til our magic returns to us...keep working. I've dealt with worse..."

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@never-surrender asked | [SACRIFICE] REVERSE: the sender cups the receiver's face tenderly to distract them, right before shoving them out of the way (to safety) and facing an attack alone in order to buy the receiver enough time to escape.

Breathe. This was an easy decision. There was so much more for him to do in this place. Her job was done. The Bailey was still standing, her friends and found family were safe. They didn't need her anymore. She could feel the blood spilling from her waist and into her boot. She was dead weight, but there was still so much to be done. They still had the Elder Brain to defeat.

And these Guardians were the least of their worries. This...Emperor. She would keep him at bay long enough to give them the time they needed. A potion was tossed in her direction, but she quickly carried it over to Halsin who looked exhausted already.

She glamoured herself to look better and offered him the potion now, encouraging him to take it. She had watched him enter and fall from his wildshape more times than she knew he was able to, so the exhaustion probably ran deep. When he finished the potion, Nox motioned for them to head to the portal while the guardians were distracted with Yurgir and a few of the others. Looking back to the fight as they ran, she could feel Halsin touch her shoulder, and she turned back to him with a softer look.

"Are you ready for this? It's now or never, honeycomb." The changeling reached up and brushed some of his hair out of his face. He reached down and wrapped his arms around her, taking one last kiss as he pulled her close. But when he pulled away, there was blood along his arm, and torso from her wound, to which he furrowed his brow in confusion.

Very gently, the changeling reached up, her hand cupping his cheek, her forehead pressing to his just as the sounds of battle behind her grew louder, the dragon finally chewing through the demon that had been smashing into it.

"I love you, Halsin." Her voice is soft as she kisses him once more, but with a bit of magic, does she teleport herself backwards and into the fray, and with the snap of her fingers, does a wall of prismatic light appear with her as the centerpoint. The seven-layer sphere shimmers around the fight, trapping everyone and everything within.

The Druid is paralyzed, knowing there is nothing he can do to disrupt the field. He can't even touch it, cannot run near it else he'd be disoriented. His companions are calling for him, and he knows they need him. Hells, all of Faerûn needs him to stand beside his companions. But a decision had to be made. He watches as her glamour fades, her body more battered than she appeared. The dragon disrupts the red layer, and instantly fire fills the inner layer, but before he can run to do something, anything, his leader grabs him and pulls him through.

The changeling sees this through all the destruction around her, thankful that he has escaped. Nox knows that they will save the people below them...she just has to give them that time. She is glad that he was not there to witness what she was sure would be her demise...

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Nox leans gently into his touch, her eyes closing as she revels in the warmth of his palms. "But it is, Halsin...you were having a nightmare..." Her voice is soft as she wraps her arms around his chest, her nose nuzzling into his shoulder as she smooths her hands along his back.

"I am weary of the beast, Halsin...but I know how to defend myself against your hide." She kisses his shoulder and leans her head against his chest, listening to the heart hidden below in that ivory ribcage. "I stayed low, acted non-threatening...just as you advised. I did not try and approach or anything. I followed every rule just as you taught me."

As soon as his fur rippled to life, Nox was able to dodge out of the way, to whisper her spell quietly, and to stem the bleeding almost immediately by the time his consciousness came around. "Like I said in the forest that day when we...well...you know...I'm not scared of you, Halsin...you or your fuzzy self. Even after this, it's alright...I'll be more careful next time and I won't linger to calm your dreams in the future."

He sees that there's no anger there, no fear in her expression, and while he wouldn't hope that she felt such an emotion he wouldn't have held it against her if she had felt as such. It was terrifying to go up against a bear his size, quite frankly he was more worried that she wasn't upset in any way over this. When the beast took control, it was a serious matter not to be taken lightly.

And while she gets rid of the blood on their forms, does Halsin reach forward, cupping her face with his large hand with a scowl. She might not blame him ... but he certainly did.

"It is not okay, Nox-" he begins, stepping forward to envelope her into a tight embrace. Head bowed so his lips rested at the crown of her head, he took in a deep breath, inhaling her scent and committing it to memory as if he had nearly lost her that day... because to him, he nearly had. "I'm not leaving ... but you'd be wise to be more weary of my bear form, My Heart."

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When she sees that he’s noticed her, there is a softer look to her eyes. He is horrified. He shouldn’t be. Nox doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even move as he closes the distance between them. There is naught but a smile on her face as she reaches out for him with her unharmed appendage.

She’s not scared of him. She’s not worried about how much it hurts, because at the moment it doesn’t. Her partner is all that she is worried about. What caused him to have such a nightmare? To have stirred the beast within him so quickly? His hands gripping her cause her to whimper for but a second in discomfort, but as he pulls away and begins to invoke his own magic does she sit ever still, compliant to his orders.

His magic soothes her being and helps in tandem with her own healing abilities as the wound completely shuts and is no longer a threat to her health. Once all is said and done, Nox reaches up and begins to prestidigitate all the blood away from both their forms, cleaning up the mess as if it had never happened. And when she’s done, does she place her hand against his cheek.

“Look at me, Halsin…this isn’t your fault…I know what you’re thinking but it’s okay.” Her voice is ever gentle, soothing, ready to calm any emotions that would lead him astray or to make quick judgement calls. “Please, don’t go.” Her opalescent eyes flicker to try and catch his gaze, to try and convince him to stay despite how he may be feeling in this moment. “I’m okay…”

He hadn't felt his claws melt through her flesh, hadn't known that he had caught her in the midst of his change and mild rage fit... and with his head hung, he hadn't noticed the blood on her form. But the blood on the sheets, the blood on the bed? That he certainly noticed. A growing horror seats itself firmly in his chest as he follows the spray of blood, noticing that some of it had gotten onto himself as well ...

and when he found the source, the horror only grew until he felt he could weep. Eyes as wide as saucers, Halsin stared at Nox for some time before he surges to his feet, covering the distance between them in two long strides. With his hands falling to her shoulders, the urgency in his gaze is undeniable, brows furrowed upwards in his extreme worry.

"Nothing too bad! Look at yourself, Nox!" His voice was raised in his worry for her, grip tightening for a moment before he pulls his hands away, closing his eyes to focus his magic ... and soon a pleasant yellow glow emerges from his hands. "Here, let me-" there's no room for argument as he places his hands on the already-knitted flesh, attempting to heal it further than she already had.

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Nox had felt the low rumble of his chest, first. It tickled along her spine and caused her to stir, and as she went to reposition herself in his arms, did she notice his muscles twitching, his face contorting, and his lips curling back in a menacing look for only split seconds. She had been able to calm his emotions before, to sing him a soothing song and help him fall back to sleep, but today it was different.

Her hand touched his cheek, smoothed along his chest, but when she went to place her hand against the crook of his jaw, was that the moment she felt the surge of magic around them in his plant covered quarters. Nature trembled around them as the man turned to bear. And Nox was right in the anger zone. As skin turned to fur, the woman went to back up and against the headboard of the bed so she could dive away, but his claws were quicker.

A yelp sounded loudly as the razor sharp nails made contact with her shoulder and arm as she held her arm up defensively, ripping through pale flesh and sending a spray of crimson across the bed his attention now turns to. Her hand immediately clamped down on the jagged marks, her own magic willed to life as she stayed low on the ground, keeping still as possible as to not anger the beast any further. She was still until she knew that Halsin was himself again.

When she looked up to see her love in his mortal form, she smiles weakly, her magic slowly stitching her skin back together as she shakes her head. “I’m alright. It’s nothing too bad, love.” The gouge out of her flesh was almost knitted completely shut, but the jagged grey flesh was the true show of damage. He did a number, but she was much faster to heal.

@notyetfixed asked: [ nightmare ] sender wakes receiver up from a nightmare // nox <3

With each passing moment, the sounds he made in his sleep turned more and more feral, bear-like growls rising as he makes small cries against whatever was happening in his dreams. It would not be safe for Nox here shortly, and yet ... she doesn't depart from him, doesn't leave him to his devices...

And it might just doom her.

Waking with a roar, Halsin's eyes are aglow as magic is pulled from the ground, engulfing him and exploding with a small amount of force... and in his place is a full grown bear, shredding the bed beneath him as it bellows. For a terrifying moment, he doesn't seem to recognize Nox, staring at her with his lips drawn over his teeth ...

But the moment he does, its obvious. Shrinking back from her, Halsin bows his head before he allows the change to sweep over his body once more ... leaving him standing before her with his head hung, hand sweeping through his hair. "Are you harmed?"