#Glass and Repulsive are for | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

iggydabirdkid · 2 years ago

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So I was tagged by @just-a-tiny-goldfish to do this WIP word tag thing with the words ‘ Cloudy Sparkle Glass Repulsive’ And I gotta be honest. I don’t actually have any WIP’s, I just write stuff as it comes to me 😅 But! I have a bunch of things I’ve been meaning to write so it was a good excuse to do so!

Some of the snippets below I may expand on at some point. Some are just for funsies. I will put it under a keep reading, as its kinda long 😅

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Cloudy

When you wake she’s not in the bed beside you. You sigh and throw the covers from your body, sitting up and swinging your legs round to hang off the side of the bed before you hop to the floor. You stumble as you head to the door, still not quite use to the rocking of a ship but you know you will with time. You’re greeted by the dark of night as you emerge from your quarters. A few crew are wandering about the deck below, drunk and shouting, laughing pushing each other about. She won’t be among them, not tonight. In fact when you squint you can just make her out on the other end of the ship, standing on the tip of the bowsprit her resting against the jib topsail, her form illuminated by the moonlight. You smile as you make your way down the stairs. She’s the reason you know the correct terms for every part of her ship, hungry for knowledge as you are. She’d taught you a lot about how to be free and in turn you had given her your heart, even thought she still kept parts of hers locked away.

She denied it whenever you brought it up but you knew. You just wish that she would tell you what was bothering her so you could help. You cherish the feeling of the ocean breeze and the salt spray upon your face as you climb the stairs to the bow and when you reach the top you approach her, watching her dark hair flow in the breeze.

“Val?” you call out and ahead of you she startles, hand momentarily gripping the sail tighter before she twists to meet your eye.

-----

“Annabelle.” She smiles as she says your name, dark eyes shining but you catch the wrinkle on her brow and the nervous flicker of her ears. You hold an arm out towards her and you watch as she deftly makes her way towards you, all confidence, no hint of fear of walking into the waters below. Not that she would of course.

She takes your hand as she steps down besides you and she loops an arm around your shoulders as she returns her gaze to the sky. You watch her face, watch as her façade of cheer turns as cloudy as the sky on the horizon and you reach for her hand, giving it a squeeze.

“What wrong?” you ask and you watch as her body goes rigid.

“What makes you think there’s anything wrong?” An edge to her words, defensive, but you know her better by now. She’s afraid.

“Valerie.” You pull away from her embrace and plant your feet in front of her. You’re not tall enough to block her view but she looks at you all the same, “Please don’t push me away.” She sighs, her shoulders slumping and her head dropping and when she speaks her voice is low.

“I’m sorry,” the apology tumbles from her lips and you reach for her hands, “I just… I don’t…”

“Take your time,” you whisper as you rub your thumbs over the backs of her hands, her skin cool against your own.

“I.. there’s… There’s something I have to tell you.” When she meets your eye her features are pulled taught, and you brace yourself for whatever has her fearing so.

Sparkle

-----

It’s on the longer journeys like this that you miss having companions at your side.

You wrap your well-worn furs tighter around yourself and you really should have purchased some new ones before making this journey but you were full of excitement and just couldn’t wait. Your breath leaves you in a fine fog as the chill of the mountains aims to penetrate you to the bone and you’re shivering beneath your armor but you push on. Not much further now, you’re sure of it.

You miss talking and the idle chatter of others surrounding you. You grew up living with the cacophony of sound that a bustling city provides and the quiet of the wilds never quite sat right with you. The possibility of too many things lurking in the shadows the trees provided, you’d seen first-hand how miscalculating the danger could lead to the downfall of those stupid enough to not be on their guard. But the trees were sparse here and up ahead you saw them break into a flat expanse of snow, the cold wet of which had been seeping into your old leather boots for a while.

You weren’t prepared to trek through this and you had been travelling by halla up until recently. Having been attacked further down the mountain however you had chosen to let her free rather than have her caught in crossfire. The memory of the battle brings a wicked grin to your lips. Fuckers never knew what hit them.

You emerge from the treeline at last and step onto a path of rough-hewn stone that had originally been hidden from your view. Huh. Closer than you thought. The loud clunking of armor has your head snapping up to fix the solder heading your way with a dangerous glare. Your hands go to the daggers at your sides and your fingers curl around their grips and the soldier has some smarts when they slow their quick jog to a walk.

“Hail traveler!” they shout and a modicum of suspicion eases from your mind at the too friendly greeting, your hands stay where they are.

“Hail,” you reply pushing your hood down, eyes not leaving their face and when they stop near you straighten up.

“What brings you this far up the mountain?” they ask and you can see the way their eyes go from studying your features, the tips to your ears and the markings on your face, to freezing when they spy the griffon emblazoned on your chest plate. You’re not worried about people knowing who and what you are. As an elf scrutiny and distrust was something you had had to deal with your entire life, and as a Grey Warden you fought too hard to not be recognized. You grin, the edges maybe a little sharp looking for the soldier takes a step back when their eyes find your face once more.

“I’m journeying to Skyhold.” Your eyes slip from their face to regard the enormity of the castle at the other end of a long stone bridge, “I’m expected,” you add. They nod fervently and beckon you to follow and you fall in step as you begin across the bridge.

“We were told to look out for you. I just didn’t expect you to be…”

“An elf? A female?”

“So short.” The tone of shame has you barking a laugh which echoes back at you from the ravine below.

“I have to say that is a welcome change!” The solider laughs nervously and you clap them on the back, “Relax! I don’t bite. That’s a lie I do bite,” you chuckle, “But only the people who deserve it. And you, so far, have done nothing to deserve it.” You don’t think that’s put them at ease, but oh well.

There’s a commotion up ahead at the gatehouse. Voices shouting words you can’t quite hear and the portcullis begins to lift. There’s people crowding just inside the entrance and though you’re at a distance you know she’s not there. There’s a nervous flutter in your stomach that has you swallowing back butterflies and the soldier looks down at you.

“You’re all she’s been talking about since she received your letter,” they say and a hope blooms in your chest, “I’ve never seen the Spymaster smile before.” You’re not sure what to say in response so you opt for silence as murmuring of voices up ahead grows louder. Your palms are clammy and your hands are shaking and as your draw near the small crowd that has gathered parts.

And there she stands.

At the other end of the path created and she’s as still as you are.

You both stare at each other and even the crowd has fallen silent and then a grin breaks out on her face that mirrors your own and then you are running towards her with a desperation born of a too-long separation. Your heart is full of love and life and when your bodies collide the dam you had built to keep your emotions at bay simply crumbles apart. Her arms clasp you tightly and she pulls you in against her chest as you wrap your arms like a vice around as tears stream steadily down your face. The subtle aches that have been plaguing you for months vanish as you stand steady and safe in the arms of your love.

“Leli,” your voice is but a hoarse croak as her name leaves your lips and she squeezes you even tighter.

“Arianna. My love.” Her voice is wavering and when you pull apart, but not away, there’s tears in her eyes as well. Though they do nothing to dampen the sparkle of happiness shining so clear in the pale blue. You lift your hands from her hips to grab her face and pull her down into a kiss. You’ve gone far too long without knowing the taste of her lips and if you had it your way you would never be parted again.

Glass

-----

You’re paralyzed. Broken. Laying on the pavement with no chance of anyone coming to save you. You can’t even sense their minds, so far above they would be and you know something else inside you must be broken. It must be. You try to cry, try to scream but all that leaves your mouth is a spray of blood and a pathetic series of moans and groans. How could it have all gone so wrong? You thought you were stronger than this. You thought-

Hands secreting acid, the sickly smell of burning flesh laying thick and sweet on your tongue. Skin sloughing off her face and you can see the bone-

You rip yourself from the memory with enough force that your broken body jolts sending sparks of pain through limbs no longer able to function. Right now you wish you could feel the full agony that the pain gate is keeping at bay. It would be better than the dark tendrils threatening to overwhelm your mind. Your ears blur with the weight of your tears and they sting as they stream from your eyes, the salted liquid getting trapped in the cuts and gashes you know are there. You did go face first through the glass after all. You can see the shard just out the corner of your eye, large enough that you don’t need to strain to see it jutting up from your skin. Its an odd sensation, being able to sense the thin sliver of window embedded in your face yet feeling no pain.

You try to move again. Lifting your head up from the ground and you look down at your broken form and you can see bone jutting through skin and suit alike and there’s so much blood. The shards of glass surround you, framing you like some sort of macabre painting that would be beautiful if your predicament wasn’t so damn terrifying. Something got into your mind, snuck its grimy greasy fingers under your shields and took ahold of your thoughts like everything you had learnt was all for nothing. You had been lying to yourself. You weren’t prepared. None of you were prepared. And now your friend is dead and you could be next.

You hope you’ll be next.

With the amount of blood flowing from your wounds you know you will be. Sure, it’s a slower death than the gun would have afforded you but she stole that chance away. You should resent her for that and part of you does but you know she was acting on instinct. She always did. You can’t fault her for being her. She did her best.

You were all just doing your best.

But it wasn’t enough. And now you lay broken and beat on a cracked pavement as your blood slowly seeps out of you. Your vision begins to dim and you smile as you stare up at the hazy sky. Finally.

But there’s a sound at the edge of your perception now. Coming closer, towards you with intent and it sounds like a vehicle but nothing was supposed to be past the perimeter-

And you were wrong before. Your mind isn’t completely broken because you can sense the thoughts coming your way, fluttering and fleeting at the edge of your consciousness and before the static descends on them you pick out one mind. One mind, one thought that has wave after wave of terror coursing through your body. Like she knew you’d be searching for her.

Like she knew.

Welcome home.

Repulsive

You weren’t sure how you had caught this cold but if you ever found out you would kick their ass. You thought you’d be fine to handle it on your own. You thought it would simply pass over and through you in a couple of days. Oh boy were you wrong. You had never had a cold as bad as this before. With shivers and shakes, complete with hot and cold flushes and bouts of nausea. Still, at first, you had been determined to struggle through it yourself.

The path to your downfall had begun when Julia had invited you and Themmy to her apartment for a movie night. You know the smart thing would’ve been to say no, but you hang around them too much and you know they would have pestered you until you showed up. At least this way you had an out if you wanted to leave.

It was a rare chilly day in Los Diablos so this time you had a reason to be covered up. From head to toe the only part of you showing were the tips of your fingers, even your head and eyes were covered. You headed straight into the apartment complex, the fact that you were late meant Themmy would be there already, and gave a nod to the security standing just inside the door. Climbing the stairs had you flushing hot so by the time you had found yourself outside Julia’s door your gloves were stuff into the pockets of your pants and your jacket was draped over your arm.

And that’s where you stood now, hand poised to knock as your vision swam in front of you. Oh geez. That was new. You knock loudly three times and the door swings open to a familiar freckled face before you.

“Annie!!” Themmy grabs your free arm and pulls you into a hug as she throws the door shut behind you. You hug her back with one arm and let out a chuckle that threatens to turn into a cough before you pull away and step further into the apartment. You throw your jacket onto the couch and head into the kitchen where you know Julia will be.

“Hey Annie,” she throws the greeting over her shoulder with her usual grin from where she stands at the stove. You can hear the sizzle of whatever she’s cooking and can see the steam rise but your nose is so stuffed you can’t smell a thing. You take a seat the counter, scooting over to make space for Themmy as she hops up next to you.

“You going to take your layers off?” Themmy leans one arm on the benchtop as she turns side on to face you.

“I have a cold,” you mumble.

“What was that?” You know she’s doing this on purpose. But you’re a sucker aren’t you? You sigh beneath your thick scarf before simultaneously pulling it, your goggles and your beanie off.

“I said I have a cold alright?” you croak, wiping the back of your hand across your nose as you sniffle.

“¡Dios mío Annie.” You turn in your seat to see Julia fixing you with a look of panic, “You look horrible.” You roll your eyes before squeezing them tight when the motion causes your head to spin.

“Yeah yeah, rub it in why don’t you,” you reply.

“You look like death,” Themmy jokes.

“I look repulsive, I know,” you chuckle and this time it does turn into a cough. A wheezing hack which has you doubling over with one hand on the bench for support. When you’re finally able to take a breath it sounds worryingly wet as it rattles in your chest.

“Alright. Change of plans,” Julia’s tone switches from the easy-going Charge to the Marshall of the Rangers as she addresses the both of you, “Themmy, grab a blanket and pillow from the cupboard in the hall. Annie. Go sit on the couch.”

“But-“ you start and the protest is stopped short.

“Couch. Now,” Julia points and you grumble, getting to your feet as Themmy scrambles off down the hall.

“I don’t take orders from you, y’know?” you throw the words at Julia as you head into the living room and all you get in reply is a light-hearted laugh and part of you is relieved. That she’s doing this with the intention to take care of you. You sink down into the plush of the well-worn couch and sigh as you tilt your head back and close your eyes. Maybe it’d be okay to let yourself be taken care of. If only this once.

#Cloudy is something for my OC's from a book I'm planning on writing #Sparkle is something for my Hero of Fereldan (Dragon Age)#Glass and Repulsive are for #of course #Annie #This was fun!!

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