#3 goddamn chapters

[totalfreakingloser]

absolutely love that I have 3 chapters written all with them being over 3,000 words and once I get to the fucking I’m out of ideas. I had a whole plot. I don’t know how to do anything now. why is my ace brain so obsessed with making my blorbos fuck and then being done with the scene?

[shiftythrifting]

[pastafossa]

I love you guys. I hope you know that.

Like.

Ok so I posted the new TRT chapter the other day. Obviously. And I had to force myself to do it, to click that final, 'post' button because at that last moment, this big wave of imposter syndrome hit (that had already hit on and off as I'd started working on the chapter again). And it was just this cycle of, 'It's been like 6 months since you posted a chapter or anything other than a couple one-shots and you're out of practice, I bet it's bad, it's probably terrible, I bet everyone's left and no one cares about this thing you love so why do you? What if no one likes it, you're gonna drop this and everyone's gonna god 'wtf is this, pasta? what happened?'' And so I forced myself to post it, took my meds to ensure I slept, and then kinda just bunkered down and slept/hid because I was halfway convinced that all the trauma in the previous six months had just bopped any ability I had to write.

Instead I got this outpouring, of just like, 'WELCOME BACK' and people telling me they're happy that mom is ok (which made me cry but in a good way) and they're sorry Cato passed away (more tears, but comforted tears), but also delightful jokes about the funny lines I put in or screaming over that romantic line or about missing Jane and the dynamics and comments about being eager for the next chapter, and how now I can be one of those AO3 authors with those notes of 'yeah my life blew up so I was delayed, but hey I'm back!' which... yeah. And much like when I first started TRT, I didn't... really expect that at all, and it's made me really emotional.

So if you've dropped into my ask box or the comments or the replies, seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, because the excitement and love and just you all being the best little fam and continuing on this journey of TRT with me - a journey that has now included both Matt and Jane's journey, and a real life journey through a pandemic, a huge move, a passing of two of my pets, my mom's hospitalization and recovery, some heart issues, the cancellation and resurrection of the show, me meeting Charlie Cox and getting him to hold a red thread, my first wood carving event, etc - and I know I say this a lot, but you all really, really help me keep going when things get hard. I'd write TRT for nothing, I would, because I love this story and I intend to see it through, but ya'll just... I love you all tons. I'm hoping to get through the asks and fic comments and replies in the next few days, but I just wanted you guys to know that.

[loganloggins]

Saving an Ally: DogDay

AND HERE IT IS! my first part of my AU! i could start at chapter one, but its more fun to start here and reveal things later. (character sheets coming soon)

Bonus art:

[kinnsporsche]

my lover's body is a map

They're all scarred. All of them. There isn't a single person in the firehouse that's unscarred, it's just the nature of the job. But that doesn't make the process of getting them any easier to deal with.

Buck's drawn to Tommy's scars - and, okay, one time is an incident. Maybe twice is a coincidence. But three times?

Now that's beginning to look a lot like a pattern.

chapter: 1/4

read on ao3

[inkandpaintleopard]

AYO PIGGY FANDOM ARE Y’ALL SEEIN THIS????????

[sappho-rose]

ness... dw bb you'll get the spotlight soon...

[hiding-under-the-willow]

Anyways I swear this is the last thing I'll post today, but happy LaHoF Chapter 6 Day 🎉

[thatneoncrisis]

oh captain my captain i didn't know what league of legends game was when i watched arcane. so i thought the plot was alright since i didn't (still don't) know the game lore. if it wasn't basically a prequel story, trying to aim the characters at the way they are in canon, do u think the plot and character arcs would have held up alright? or does that actually make the arcane canon story worse since it wouldn't at least have the existing canon as something it needed to land at eventually as an excuse for any "out of character" decisions? thank u

i wouldnt even call it a prequel story? its like a very elaborate au in a sense, one that feels comfortable changing things to a certain extent- clothes, personality adjustments, motivations, but they still have to hit certain beats. vi has to be an enforcer, jinx has to be a wild card harley quinn type, ekkos time powers ect ect. idk WHAT it is maybe the show needed more time or tighter focus or less characters but i just felt that like, some of the story decisions directly relating to LoL lore werent outright bad but didnt have a lot of time to breathe. the standout example being ekkos time thing, where when i watched that scene i assumed it was both a stylistic representation of a fight and establishing his and jinx's prior relationship (which is kind of too little too late considering they did not fucking speak once as kids pre time skip), and then i had to get a friend to explain to me for SEVERAL MINUTES that he literally died during that fight and it was supposed to be showing his rewind thing. it just wasnt clear at all and his character would not change in the slightest if he didnt have it. but you cant NOT include it so. *

really i have no clue the full extent of the story the writers wanted to tell and how much LoL is binding their hands on story beats. and i REALLY dont want to be inflexible considering i still have a full season coming up that might make me more receptive to certain decisions. but considering how much of the cast i REALLY like just straight up are not in the game, i think they are fully capable of making a solid story completely divorced from league

*someone in the comments told me apparently that Wasnt his time thing and my original read of the scene was correct so im not gonna hold it against the show.

[distraughtlesbian]

i (DESERVEDLY‼️) heckle pb for a lot of their narrative choices but even all these years later this plot twist………masters in cuntology double major in slaysian studies and slutistical analysis minor in motherlogical studies graduated with honours from the university of servington. sorry. they chewed. i love the way it feels to be a hater but they can have their flowers just this 1 time

[intrn37]

I swear to God, if Marcus died during The Hour of Joy I’m gonna throw my laptop out the fucking window

[glitterandmoondustofficial]

And Onto Further Stillness

Chapter 11

Notes:

Characters: Gale, Yrelia Rating: Mature Warnings: sexual themes, nakedness, past relationship pains, some lightly described injuries Notes: was originally going to rate this as teen because it’s mostly lighthearted but then I remembered that nope that’s not right lol Yrelia lore dropped and Gale loves her to bits

“Oh!” Gale heard Yrelia yelp. “Tara! Um, sorry! Do-Don’t-”

He heard the panic in Yrelia’s voice so he did his best to rush into his bedroom. He opened the door and saw Yrelia covering her naked chest and Tara staring at her with a confused expression. Yrelia looked terribly flustered. She clenched her jaw and ground her teeth together.

She looked at Gale with tears in her eyes and he knew she was begging him to save her.

“Ah, Tara,” Gale called and Tara looked to him. “Do you mind? I was hoping to have a private conversation with Yrelia.”

Tara stared at him and he knew she didn’t believe him, but he also knew that she respected him enough to let it be and leave the room. “Of course, Mister Dekarios,” she turned and flew out of the room. He hoped that she thought that Yrelia was as nervous about being naked around others as he was.

And she was, in a sense.

Gale closed the door and Yrelia wiped her face. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice strained with embarrassment.

“Don’t apologize,” he said softly. He walked to her and wiped a tear that fell down her cheek. He very gently pulled her arms away from her bare chest. He held her hands firmly in his and kissed her forehead. “I suppose I hadn’t realized that Tara had never seen them.” He sighed. “That was a foolish thought. I should have warned her that you don’t want others around to see you change.”

She swallowed. “I,” she sighed. “I really should be over this by now. It’s been nearly six years.”

Gale released her right hand and brushed his knuckles against her cheekbone. “Some things take a long while to heal. You can take as long as you need. I will stay by your side as you do so.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I know Tara wouldn’t…” she trailed off. “It’s so ridiculous. In this day and age, when there’s so many end of the world events and stories and adventures you would think some scars wouldn’t matter.” She sighed. “But they do to some people.” She released his hand and rubbed between her breasts.

“It is quite unbelievable,” Gale agreed. “What happened to you was terrible,” he said, anger causing his chest to burn. “You were simply trying to protect someone you love, there’s nothing more honorable than that.” He reached for her face and cupped her cheek. “You saved Cyr from certain death,” he said softly. “If that man couldn’t see how wonderful that was then perhaps it was best he moved along.” He paused when her eyebrows twitched. “Not that I believe you should have been hurt so deeply by someone you loved. That is completely unforgivable. I simply meant that-”

She cut him off with a soft kiss. “I know what you meant,” she said and gave him a small smile. “I’m glad I have you now, someone I can trust completely.”

Gale blinked when the closed flap of his tent was brushed open. He turned and saw Yrelia walking into his tent.

“Lia,” he breathed her name. It had only been a day since they had left the shadow cursed lands. Only two days since he had defied Mystra and found himself very alive and with a new enthusiasm for his life.

He quickly looked Yrelia over. Her black hair was in a bun. She wore black cotton pants and a white shirt that was laced up. This was her normal camp attire. Nothing at all out of the ordinary.

And yet he found himself thinking that something wasn’t normal.

“Gale,” she said his name with a quick quirk of her lips. A bit of a teasing smile. Something that said “you usually have far more to say than not even my full name”. Which was true, he usually did have far more to say. Especially to her, the one always so willing to listen.

Except not today.

Today his mind had been incredibly preoccupied with thoughts of her, of their night under the stars together. The way he could remember the inflection in her voice when she said that she loved him. The soft, gentle, but hungry way she had kissed him.

He would very much like to kiss her again. He would like to kiss her a thousand times more.

“What brings you to my tent?” He asked as casually as he could while also being as…quiet as he could. He didn’t want the whole damn camp to know that Yrelia had slipped into his tent and definitely didn’t need anyone to know that he was barely restraining himself from kissing her until he couldn’t breathe anymore.

Yrelia’s brows twitched and her smile turned to amusement. She hummed but didn’t answer him. She reached around to her hair and let it down from the bun, letting the waves fall down her back. It was long. Had it always been that long? He couldn’t remember if she or anyone else had cut it these past months.

He wanted to run his fingers through it.

He wondered what it would look like to see her hair fanned out on one of his many pillows on his bed in his tower, while he hovered over her, their lips centimeters from touching.

“Why indeed,” she spoke, breaking him from his thoughts of her naked body under his. It was all fantasy after all. He hadn’t truly seen her —what he assumed— incredibly attractive naked body. Based on the freckles on her face he was sure her whole body was covered in them. He was very curious to know how many she had. If he could kiss every one of them.

She took off her shoes and that was when Gale realized exactly what she was doing. She was going to sleep with him. She wanted to have sex. Completely normal in a relationship. Which is what they were in. A relationship. A loving, hopeful relationship.

He wasn’t nervous. He didn’t get nervous. Certainly not anxious or timid. And definitely not shy.

He nearly groaned at himself.

None of that mattered. What mattered was the woman in his tent who looked so pretty with her hair down and her shoes off.

He should kiss her. He was the one who said that he needed practice and now they had some time to do exactly that. To press his lips against hers and pray that she didn’t find his very pathetic attempts to please her laughable.

He grabbed her callused but delicate hand and brought it to his lips. Her amused gaze softened and she stepped close to him. So close that she leaned against his chest and he had to wrap his arms around her. His heart thumped his chest and he brushed his lips against hers softly. She responded with a smile and a gentle press into his lips.

He had almost pulled away when she immediately pulled him back in. She took his bottom lip in her teeth and pulled with a chuckle.

“Come now, my love, I know you can do better than that.”

He was out of practice but she didn’t seem to mind. Not when she responded so enthusiastically; her fingers in his hair, her body pressed against his, her tongue meeting his in a way he hadn’t realized he had missed. A breathless declaration of love to his lips had him weak in his already questionable knees.

It felt like it didn’t take long for them to be on the ground and with her in his lap. His hands found her hips, his thumbs slipping under the hem of her shirt. Touching her skin brought that emotion back. The not nervous, anxious, timid, or shy emotion.

He wasn’t sure if he would be…sufficient. Surely what he had to offer would disappoint her. He was dreadfully out of practice. He had already given her what he was good at, how could he possibly think she would be satisfied with him as he was now?

But he didn’t dare stop kissing her. He didn’t want to be without her weight in his lap. She whispered that she loved him again and he very eagerly repeated the words back to her. What he would give to live in a world where he could tell her that he loved her all day, press kisses onto every freckle on her body, make love to her until their bodies were completely spent.

His hands slid under her shirt, needing to feel more of her skin. Of course, that wasn’t nearly enough. He needed to see what he felt, he needed to taste what he felt. A longing need to kiss her bare skin nearly overcame him.

He kissed her with a blinding passion, so intensely aroused by the feel of her skin under his fingertips. He had been so confident when he was with her before, but this was different, this was physical, this was seeing the woman he was wholly in love with completely naked. He would see every freckle. He would press his lips to her skin and leave marks in a way he hadn’t done in years.

He knew she would be stunning and that no one could compare to her. His hands moved to lift her shirt off of her but the way she hesitated had him more than mildly concerned. He pulled his lips away from hers and breathed.

“My love,” he called her. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” she said. “Just, um, sorry,” she apologized. “It’s just…that’s not…necessary…right?”

That gave him pause. “No. No, of course not. We will do whatever you’re comfortable with,” he said before kissing her softly. She immediately relaxed, her fingers softly pressing into his shirt. “However, if I’m being honest I would like to see you bare for me.”

She let out a breath. She gave him a nervous smile. “I’m just a bit nervous,” she tried. “It’s been…five years since anyone has seen me naked.” She swallowed.

“I assure you that I will be nothing but grateful to see you as such.”

Her smile relaxed. She leaned in and kissed him chastely. “Just…tell me right away if you’re disappointed.”

His brows furrowed. “Lia, why would I ever be disappointed? It’s you.”

She clenched her jaw. “It’s better if you see for yourself.”

He saw the anxiety shining in her eyes. He saw her begging him not to leave her. This was beyond just being insecure about being naked. He let out a breath and slowly lifted up her shirt off of her. He blinked at the gnarled scars across her torso, skinned ripped by some manner of beast, tearing into her skin and breasts without discrimination. She had been mauled and mutilated. He could see where the clerics had to heal where the sutures could not.

He reached out and brushed his fingers across one of the scars, feeling her formerly torn skin under his fingertips. He whispered her name and she frowned.

“I-I understand if you’re no longer interested,” she said softly. She covered her chest with her arms and had a worried look in her eyes.

He looked up at her face. He took in a deep breath and let it out. He reached out and cupped her cheek, turning her gaze to him. “I love you,” he said. “And you’re absolutely stunning.” Her eyes widened. He kissed her. “I love you,” he said to her lips before kissing her again. “I love you.” He laid her down, her hair spreading across his mat. “I love you.” He kissed her deeply and she responded in kind.

“I love you, too.”

Gale blinked out of his memory. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you finish getting dressed?” He suggested. “We have a busy day ahead of us, my love.”

She let out a shaky breath and nodded. “Yeah. Yes. I will,” she sniffed and wiped her face. Before she pulled away from him he kissed her knuckles. She relaxed with a small smile. “Thank you.”

Gale watched Yrelia slip on a lavender colored dress. A wonderful thing that came to her knees and had the dainty puffed sleeves she loved so much. She adjusted the top so it covered most of her chest and let out a sigh. Gale smiled at her.

“You look stunning,” he said.

She looked over to him with a soft smile. “You’re the one who bought me the dress,” she said with a chuckle.

“Yes. I am intelligent enough to know what would look stunning on you,” he said with a grin. He walked up to her and picked up her hand. He kissed her knuckles and she smiled.

“What were you thinking so hard about earlier?” She asked as she reached for his collar and adjusted it.

“Ah, I was thinking about the first time I had seen you naked.” An amused grin spread across her face but she didn’t say anything. “It took every ounce of the gentleman in me to not completely ravish you.”

She laughed. “Darling, you nearly did.”

He hummed. “Can you blame me?” He lifted her hand up and twirled her. She giggled. “I was alive when I didn’t imagine I would be, you were absolutely beautiful, and,” he kissed her brow, “and I was deeply in love with you. I still am, of course. Moreso, actually.”

She laughed again. She leaned in and kissed him. “I was happy that you didn’t reject me,” she said softly. “I knew that you loved me.” Her brows knit together for a brief moment. “But supposedly so did he.”

Gale sighed and then kissed her gently. “He was unworthy of you,” he murmured to her lips. “Anyone who would be so callous to reject you for something like your scars will never be deserving of your affection.” He pressed his lips to hers again.

“I know,” she sighed with a smile. “As much as it had hurt, and even though I still don’t show my scars to anyone…” she rested her forehead against his. “I have you now and I’ve never been happier.”

Gale smiled and kissed her again. He placed his hands on her hips and squeezed gently.

Gale watched as Yrelia unlaced her shirt in his tent. It was after she had decided she didn’t want to sleep without him, which he had heartily agreed to. The idea of sleeping next to her every night felt like an impossible fantasy that he was lucky enough to indulge in.

She lifted her shirt above her head and he stared at her bare chest. He let out a breath, thinking of the previous nights. Her nervousness, the way she automatically accepted that he didn’t want her after seeing her scars. It was ridiculous, of course. She was so utterly beautiful, he would never ever send her away for something as simple as horrible scarring.

But that caused an annoying and persistent question in his head. If he didn’t ask her then he was sure it would burst out of him at an inopportune time.

“Lia,” he called her name and she looked at him with a curious smile. “I wish to ask you something.”

She blinked. “Of course. I will answer anything you have for me.”

He stepped towards her and she immediately reached for him. Her fingers rested so gently on his arms. “It’s about your previous relationship.” Yrelia’s hands loosened on his arms, her brows began to knit together and he could see the anxious hesitation in her eyes. He could see the pain in them. “The man you had been in a relationship with five years ago, you said that he became unimpressed with you and no longer wished to be in a relationship with you.”

“Yes.”

“Yrelia, did he abandon you because of your scars?”

He watched as pain spread across her face. “Yes,” she said, and it was said with so much pain and so much weight that his own chest began to hurt. “He no longer found me attractive so he ended things between us.” A sorrowful frown played on her lips. “Please don’t misunderstand me, I haven’t had feelings for him in years but…it still hurts to think of how I was abandoned when I needed his comfort.”

She let out a sigh and went silent. Gale thought to respond but the look on her face told him she wasn’t finished. She was simply trying to find the words to say. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. She relaxed and let out another sigh.

“He had come by to check on me for the first time since I had been attacked. Cyr brought him to my bedroom and I was so happy to see him. I was lying in bed barely moving. I sat up and the blankets fell off me.” She frowned deeply. “He saw my chest and I swear it was like blowing out a candle. I was in so much pain, I had just wanted the person who loved me to comfort me and instead he decided that he couldn’t even look at me anymore. He interrupted me when I was trying to convince him to lie with me and told me he never wanted to see me again.” Gale felt her fingers put pressure on his arms. She took in a breath. “Even now I can still picture his face like it had just happened. I don’t think anyone has ever looked so disgusted at me.”

“Oh, Lia,” he said softly, his heart breaking for her. “I am so sorry, my love.” A sad smile spread across her lips as he pulled her into an embrace. “I will never treat you so poorly.”

She let out a breath that was close to a chuckle. “I know. I trust you.”

Yrelia had elected to never be in a relationship again after the previous one because it had hurt her so intensely. Gale remembered her surprise when he started to sweet talk her, when he would reach for her hands, when all he wanted to do was have conversations with her. She had been so cautious with him, especially after Mystra had tasked him to detonate the orb.

She had been, not cold to him, but her warm smiles she had for him had faded. She had kept him at arm's length after he had been given his mission and that horrifying loneliness crept into his heart. He had already fallen for her and she had started to act as if their feelings for each other didn’t matter anymore.

He hadn’t realized at the time that it was because she had been hurt so deeply by someone she had loved and didn’t want to be hurt again.

“Tell me,” Yrelia said after they had left the tower hand in hand. She looked so pretty in the sunlight. Her black hair that was tied up with a silver bow shined beautifully. Her lavender dress looked so flattering on her body. The short heels that she wore made her look very elegant. Her glossy lips looked so kissable. “Where are you taking me that you’re so excited about?”

“My darling, as I said, it’s a surprise.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “But first, lunch. No tasks should be done on an empty stomach.”

“Ah, so it’s a task that you’ve set me on,” she teased him. “I wonder if I’m wearing an appropriate outfit? Perhaps armor should have been better?”

“As much as I enjoy seeing you in armor, I assure you that it is unnecessary.” She giggled in response. “It is a simple errand, my love, nothing that will cause a bead of sweat to drip down your tantalizing body.”

“Gale!” She laughed. He pulled her in, bent her back, and buried his face in her neck. “Oh gods, darling, we’re in public,” she giggled.

“You’re irresistible,” he said to her throat before pressing a kiss into it. “I have half a mind to take you back to the bedroom and-”

“Tie me up with my pretty silver bow?” She suggested.

“That is certainly an option. A bit primitive compared to what I could conjure for you but it does have its worth.”

She laughed and stood up. “Hmmm, or perhaps I’ll do that to you.” She kissed him before turning and walking off. “Come on, Gale! Before I ruin your plans and choose where we eat!”

Gale followed after her with stars in his eyes. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close. She laughed and wrapped her arm around him as they walked together into the city.

“Where did you get those earrings?” Gale asked curiously as he watched Yrelia eat her salad.

She hummed. “Your mother gave them to me. She supposedly bought them for herself but didn’t like the way they looked on her. Allegedly.”

““Supposedly?” “Allegedly?” Darling, are you calling my mother a liar?”

She gave him a flat look. “I’m calling your mother someone who would tell her daughter in-law that she happened to not like the earrings but thought that said daughter in-law would,” she said with an eye roll. She pointed her fork at him. “You will not ask how much these are worth and then tell me.”

“I will not ask how much they’re worth and tell you. Lia, I’m sure my mother just wanted to gift something to someone she loves.”

Yrelia sighed. “I know, but these are diamonds, Gale.”

“Well, of course! Did you think my mother would give you costume jewelry?”

“I didn’t think I’d get any jewelry,” she said with a small smile. “I’ve never worn much jewelry. There’s always the risk of it being lost or broken while working or hunting. I’m terrified I’ll lose my betrothal ring when ours are fused,” she sighed. “So, you know, no one ever gave me jewelry because it would be wasted on me.” She resumed eating her food like that statement didn’t bother her.

Gale didn’t like how casually she said that. “Wasted on”! The nerve of people making the love of his life believe that gifts would be wasted on her.

“No gift would be wasted on you, Lia,” he said. “The Dekarios clan is quite enthusiastic about gift giving. I’m afraid we’re all addicted to the thrill of it all. Jewelry, flowers, clothes, expensive spices, it’s all part of a grand plan to show others the love we have for them.”

She snorted. “Hm, yes, I’ve gathered that,” she said with amusement in her voice. “Darling, all I said is that jewelry isn’t the best gift for me.”

“Ah! No, you said “wasted”! Which is exceedingly untrue.”

“Gale-”

“Yrelia,” he said her name softly and slowly. She stopped talking and she even stopped tapping her heel anxiously. “You must accept that we love you and that part of love is receiving gifts.”

“I know. I will eventually become comfortable with your family being excellent gift givers,” she chuckled lightly. “But you know, Gale, I like it when you read your poetry to me more than anything.” She smiled at him. She reached for his hand and touched his fingers.

He immediately responded and entwined their fingers. He let out a sigh, accepting that she always knew exactly what to say to make her point clear. She was so ridiculously and sweetly endearing that way. His wonderful fiancée. The love of his life and the fire within his heart.

Gale led Yrelia down a busy Waterdeep street, holding onto her hand firmly, making sure that they wouldn’t be separated in the hustle and bustle. He stopped in front of a building and Yrelia grabbed his arm, squeezing and rubbing it with her thumb.

“Tydan’s shop?” Yrelia questioned curiously.

“Yes, that was our errand for the day,” he said with a warm smile.

Yrelia blinked. “Are our rings ready?”

His smile grew. “They are.”

Her eyes lit up. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him in a way that made his head spin. He held her up and spun her.

“I love you,” she kissed his cheeks. She kissed his forehead. She kissed his nose.

“Dearest,” he chuckled. She kissed his lips and he grinned into the kiss. “Shall we head in?” He asked as she nuzzled his nose.

“Oh, alright,” she laughed and he set her down.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the shop.

“Can I help you?” A dwarf asked from the counter. Gale didn’t recognize him so he must be the new hire Tydan spoke about.

“We’re looking for Tydan,” Yrelia said and swung Gale’s hand back and forth.

“I’m afraid he’s quite busy,” the dwarf said. “I can always have him reach out to you at a later date.”

“We’re his in-laws,” Gale said and the dwarf blinked. “He called us here.”

“I see. Let me go…retrieve him.”

Yrelia bounced on her toes as they waited. She held his hand while she looked around the shop from her spot. Gale could tell she was overcome with elation and a bit of nervousness.

“If it isn’t my favorite in-laws!” Tydan, a stocky dwarf with long black hair and braided beard came in with his arms spread out.

“Tydan, it’s good to see you,” Gale said and released Yrelia’s hand to shake Tydan’s. Instead, Tydan hugged Gale and picked him up.

“Come now, Gale, we all know that hugs are the only greeting for family!” Yrelia giggled as Gale was set down. “Ah, dear Lia, you’re looking more radiant with every day that passes,” Tydan said and picked her up in a hug. “It must be the weight that you’re gaining! Oh, and of course, Lilypad’s advice on your hair! Your curls shine and bounce with elegance!”

Yrelia laughed. “Thank you, Tydan,” she said and he set her down.

“You’re quite welcome, my dear,” Tydan said with a grin. “You know, the boys couldn’t stop talking about you! You’ve been an excellent babysitter for Lilypad and I! It almost makes me think you’ve raised your own children!” He laughed heartily.

Yrelia smiled and then shifted in the slightest way. Gale watched Yrelia grab his hand and squeeze gently. He sighed with a smile.

“You want to know about Cyr?” Yrelia asked as she attempted to wash blood out of her shirt. She wore a camisole and Gale stood nearby as a somewhat, sort of guard for her, making sure no one who passed by would see her chest.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “You mentioned you have a large family but you’ve only spoken of Cyr and your grandparents.”

Yrelia sighed. “Um, yeah, Cyr and I are much closer than anyone else,” she said. She smiled up at him. “What did you want to know?”

“It’s…a somewhat uncomfortable question. One that I’ve been pondering on ever since you first mentioned your younger brother and I think of it every time you mention him.”

“That’s awfully cryptic, beloved,” she said with a curious smile. “You can always ask me about anything. I love you and I’m an open book for you to finger through.” She paused. “Wait…”

He huffed a laugh. “Darling, shall I begin?”

“To save me from my failed metaphor? Please.”

He let out a breath. “You have mentioned more than once how you took care of Cyr when he was a baby,” Gale started. “And you have plenty of stories when he was young.” Yrelia stopped washing her shirt and sighed. She closed her eyes, no doubt understanding what he was about to ask her. “Lia, did you…raise Cyr yourself?”

Yrelia sighed and then frowned. Gale watched her, not moving to press her.

But her silence also answered his question

“Yes,” she quietly answered him after the silent moment. “Cyr wasn’t planned. When he was born our parents were uninterested in raising him but wouldn’t give him up for adoption out of pride. My grandparents were too old to take care of him and I couldn’t let him be neglected so I…” she clicked her teeth. “I raised him as if he was my own child.”

He stared at her, expecting her to continue, wanting her to continue. “I suspect you were at a loss,” he prompted.

She snorted. “I had no idea what I was doing. I was so young and had barely any support, especially after my grandparents died.” She frowned. “When I was eighteen I started my first serious relationship. She had helped me out with Cyr and I thought she was happy to.” A bitter laugh came from her throat. “We used to talk about the three of us running away and being a family together but apparently she hadn’t been serious about it. What she had actually wanted was her own children and when she realized she wouldn’t get that from me because I had Cyr she left me for someone who could give that to her. Not without sleeping with that person before she had broken it off with me of course.” She sighed. “I was hurt and then it became harder to raise Cyr without her. That combined with the loss of my grandparents I really struggled. I had put my entire life on hold to raise him. I did what I could for him hoping that it would work out when he got older.”

“I’m sure he’s a fine young man,” Gale said confidently. “But if you raised him I suspect he’s as stubborn as you are, dearest,” he teased.

Yrelia snorted. “You’re not wrong,” she said with a grin. “He really is such a good kid. He was always so willing to learn, if I could have afforded tutors I would have thrown them at him. He could have done something great with a real education. But I couldn’t do that for him so I taught him everything I knew and he always seemed so happy to learn,” she had a strained smile on her face and a look in her eyes saying that she felt unnecessarily guilty over how she raised Cyr.

“I don’t know him, but I would assume that he’s grateful for you,” Gale said softly. “Anyone who would step up the way you did deserves such gratitude.”

She smiled. “He was a pretty happy kid. He didn’t let our parents distaste bother him the way it bothered me. He never let it be known if he was bothered by the fact I couldn’t afford much for him.”

“Then why does it haunt you still?”

“Because parents are supposed to want better for their children,” she said and Gale’s brows twitched. She sighed. “I know he sees me as his mother and, truth be told, I see him as my son.” She chuckled bitterly. “Imagine me, a teenager just trying to be a kid when a baby is dropped in my lap!”

Gale thought back to his teenage years where he spent most of the time getting in trouble, mastering spells, and adding more greys to both Morena and Tara’s hair. They had completely different lives. Gale wondered if that would be a problem for her. Their experiences were so different, maybe they were too different for her and they had only bonded through shared trauma.

“You see him as your son,” Gale said with a clear of his throat. “Does that mean you want children in the future?” If Yrelia said she wanted children Gale was certain he would come to want them too. He didn’t believe he was father material but he would be for her.

Her lips turned into a frown. “Gale, you can never repeat what I’m about to tell you,” she said. “Swear to me you won’t.”

“Lia, of course I won’t. You can tell me absolutely anything and even under pain of death I won’t utter the words.”

She smiled at him tiredly. “I don’t want children.” She let out a breath. “I don’t want children because I don’t want to go through pregnancy and I never want to give birth nor do I want to spend the money on adoption,” she sighed. “I love Cyr, I really do, but I don’t want to raise another child. I lost so much of my young life to raising him and I don’t want to lose more of my life to raising another. I don’t think I have it in me to love another child the way you have to love one. I don’t want to do that.” She frowned deeply. “Isn’t that horrible?”

“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “No, Yrelia, it’s not horrible. You’ve had to mourn your young adult life,” he took in a breath, his confidence and boldness shining through. He would hint at the future he was wishing for for the two of them. “I would never want you to mourn any part of our life together.” He smiled at her, hoping that it was comforting. “Your guilt is unnecessary, my love.” He bent down to pick up her hand and kiss her knuckles. “And as promised, we will never have to speak of this topic again and you can count on me to never repeat your words.”

A smile spread across her lips. “Thank you. You’re so good to me.”

“You deserve this and so much more.” He kissed her knuckles again. Her warm smile grew. “My love, your strength is magnificent and incomparable, and I am truly humbled that you have chosen me to bring you comfort.”

“Well, yeah,” she said, the sorrow in her voice had nearly vanished and was replaced with affection. “I love you. There’s no one else I’d choose over you.”

“Here they are,” Tydan presented two ornate wooden ring boxes. “And I cannot thank you two enough for choosing me to fuse your rings together. I’m honored.”

“You are the best smith I know, Tydan,” Gale said. “And you are family. I’m the one who is honored.”

Tydan chortled. “Hard to believe that you’re finally getting married!” He smacked Gale’s back. “I remember when you were just out of university and-”

“Tydan,” Gale chuckled nervously. “I’m not so sure that Yrelia would like to hear about my young adult…exploits.” He knew that she didn’t care and he knew that she loved hearing stories about him when he was younger, but he didn’t necessarily want to share how he…

Well, he just wasn’t sure if Yrelia wanted to know of his previous “relationships”.

“Oh! No! Do tell me more,” Yrelia teased. “I am quite curious about my fiancé when he was young and reckless.”

“Well,” Tydan said with a grin. “There was this one time-”

“Please, you two,” Gale groaned with a blush.

Yrelia and Tydan laughed.

“Oh, love, we’re just teasing you,” she giggled and kissed his cheek. “You don’t have to tell me how you couldn’t be tamed when you were young.” Tydan guffawed and Gale groaned again. “Alright, I’m done. I suppose it’s a bit silly to talk about such things while we receive our betrothal rings.” She kissed his cheek twice.

He sighed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. He and Yrelia took the ring boxes from Tydan and he smiled at them, his wide eyed joy turned into warmth. “I will let you two have some privacy,” he said. “It was good to see you two. We’ll see you in a couple days for dinner with Morena.”

Gale smiled and thanked Tydan. He stared at the ring box and then to Yrelia, who was tracing the engravings on her box. Gale opened the ring box and let out a breath that he hadn’t realized he had held in. He looked at his beautiful betrothal ring. His betrothal ring. His! He was getting married.

He picked up the ring and it took everything he had within him to not cry. He never thought this was in the cards for him. He never, ever thought he would find himself in a smith holding a ring that he would wear on his middle finger for the rest of his life. The two rings welded together to represent his bond with the love of his life.

He had told Yrelia of the Waterdeep tradition of fusing two rings together for betrothal rings while on their trip home from Baldur’s Gate. They had been laying in bed together, her loose hair on the pillow as he wrapped it around his fingers. She had hummed thoughtfully.

“I don’t have any rings, though,” she had said lightly.

“Then I will buy you one,” he declared. “You can pick out any ring and I will purchase it for you.”

She laughed. “How about you pick out one and surprise me?” She turned into him. “And I will pick out one for you. A fresh start for the both of us.”

Gale couldn’t be happier with the result. Such a beautiful piece of jewelry that he would wear for the rest of his life. One that filled him with so much joy he barely knew what to do with it. He became misty eyed and quickly rubbed his eyes with a smile.

He looked at Yrelia and let out a soft sigh. Her eyes were dancing as she delicately opened the ring box. She gingerly took the ring out of the box. She breathed for a moment, tracing the engraved flowers on her half of the ring. She rotated the ring to his half and fingered the small stars.

She brought the ring to her eye level and read the inscription on the inside of the band. He prided himself on the inscription. It was quite simple, nothing too descriptive, but it said everything that he wanted her to know.

In vita et morte

Gale watched Yrelia as she held her ring in her fingers. He could tell she was thinking intensely about something, she had such a thoughtful look on her face. She stopped rotating it and wrapped the chain that it was on around her neck, pressing the ring into her chest. She let out a breath, something close to relief and disbelief.

He reached for her hand and she looked at him. He brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. Her gaze softened and she smiled. “My lady,” he said, his voice soft and calm. “Are you ready to return home?”

Her smile brightened. She took his ring in her fingers and wrapped the chain it was on around his neck. She leaned towards him on her toes and kissed him so incredibly softly that he felt himself become misty eyed again. “I’m ready, my beloved.”

They left with her arm wrapped around his. Gale hadn’t felt this elated since…ever. He couldn’t think of a time he had ever been as thrilled as he was in that very moment. He’d like to think that when he came into his own magic, when he was so deep in research he had been this ecstatic. Or maybe when he was a Chosen of Mystra, when she called him special, when she entertained him.

But, no, this was the happiest he had ever been. Yrelia was holding onto his arm as he wore his union ring around his neck. She looked so happy to be with him. She looked so pretty in the autumn sunlight, her silver bow shining. He was going to be married to someone who he loved so unconditionally. He was going to be married to someone who loved him.

She rested her head on him and hummed. Her heels clicked on the stone pavement. He became misty eyed again and rubbed his eyes. Yrelia pulled away from him and took his face in his hands with a soft expression. She pulled him in and nuzzled his face. He gently took her wrists in his hands, holding onto the woman he could no longer imagine life without.

And he cried.

How long had he buried the desire to be wed in favor of his goddess? To no longer search for something that he had so deeply longed for?

The dreams of coming home with flowers and wine, soft kisses in thanks turning into barely held back desire. Dancing to no music, tasting each other’s food, sitting on the balcony watching the sunset together. Not getting out of bed until late morning, holding hands while walking in the city, reading poetry to one another.

He had that now.

He wasn’t alone anymore.

His love kissed his forehead and then his lips. She rested her forehead on his.

“Pardon me, my lady, I’m afraid there’s dust in my eye,” he whispered.

A light giggle came from her throat and she kissed his closed eyes. “Ah, of course, my beloved,” she said, her voice soft. “I’m sure the autumn dust is terrible here.”

He chuckled. “It is,” he confirmed and kissed her lips. He looked past her and his heart felt light. “Follow me,” he said and took her hand. “We’ve arrived at the stop I wanted to go to before we went home.”

“Oh? I wasn’t aware that there would be a stop!” She giggled and allowed him to lead the way.

“Usually I would pick this up on my way home from the Academy but I assumed you’d be interested in picking out your own this time.”

“Picking out…?” She looked ahead before blinking. “My love, you just bought me a very expensive piece of jewelry, there’s no need for flowers,” she said but continued to follow him.

“Darling, if I do not buy you flowers when appropriate then assume that I have been abducted and are in need of rescue!”

She let out a loud, joyous laugh. “Gods, Gale, I love you so much.” She stood next to him and wrapped her arm around his. “I think I want daisies this time.”

“Then that’s what you’ll have.” He kissed her temple. They stopped in front of his florist and he smiled at the wonderful floral sculpture in the window. He turned to her and his brows rose in shock. “My lady,” he whispered. He reached for her dress and pulled it over her chest, where a scar was starting to show.

She blinked and placed her hand on her chest where he had lifted the dress. She let out a breath before smiling gracefully. They leaned in and kissed. “I love you,” she said before kissing him again. “And I am so happy that you’re the one I’m going to marry.” She kissed him one last time. “Now, show me these daisies you’re buying for me.”

He took her hand from her chest, kissed it, and started to lead her into the shop. “Whatever you desire, my love, consider it most eagerly done.”

[theflyingfeeling]

so idk if anyone remembers anymore but some time ago I described a fic idea in the tags of a post (and then elaborated the idea in a later ask) regarding Olli/Aleksi falling for each other while still being in relationships respectively... yeah, I kinda ended up writing something based off that thought and I just uploaded the first chapter on AO3, I hope y'all will be cool about it 👉👈

[what-is-it-to-be-pk-esque]

Omg nooooooooo I just got to act 3 and my curiosity got the best of me, so I saved & then went to see if breaking up with Astarion would have new dialogue, and it absolutely did, and now I'm super sad 😭😭😭

Literally all of those options are so harsh lmao why would you be such a dick like "I don't want to deal with your trauma" what the actual fuck hahaha

And his reactions are so sincere but not surprised even though he's clearly bummed and saying you gave him "precious moments of comfort" ugh alaodhfkdlsjdlfhkalhdhfls brb crying forever & reloading my save to wash that outta my brain for good

[technicallyaminecraftsimp]

The only thing worse than having to write about a book you don’t understand is not being able to rightfully describe what you understand about the book

[scarlettfevor]

I love the items in acnh and I sometimes fantasize about playing the game again, but then I remember that the first month after you make your island is the most taxing AND the most fun you'll have and then everything after that is mind-numbingly boring