#Orpheus with freckles my beloved

[kokii-omii]

do you have any concepts for Orpheus and Eurydice (Hadestown?)

i have a few sketches actually!

they are very dear to me

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Morning, Afternoon, Night

The day of the battle with the Netherbrain with Amelie and Rolan. SFW.

Morning

When Rolan saw his beloved, Gale, Halsin, and Astarion enter Sorcerous Sundries the morning after they obtained the final Netherstone, he knew what he had to do.

“Amelie, my dear, a moment if you please?” He said politely, offering his arm. Not in front of her companions. Not in front of customers.

She nodded wordlessly and took his arm. Her grip is tighter than normal. Not a good sign. Not good. He led them to a storeroom on the second floor and locked it behind them. “Rolan, I—”

“Please.” He croaked, cupping her face. Taking a moment to compose himself, he tried to smile as bravely as possible because I don’t know what I’m doing. “Remember when I said I wanted to plan how I would propose to you?”

She was breathless when she answered. “Yes.”

Mia, please my love, don’t cry. Please. “Well, I…I…” Find the words, damn you. Stop stuttering like a fool. “I cannot let you leave here without telling you how much you mean to me.” Because you’re going to fight a godsdamned Netherbrain and hope you win. You frustrating, brave woman. “I love you. I have loved you from the first moment I saw you in the Grove. I loved you when you saved us from the goblins.” He chuckled, despite tears falling down his freckled cheeks. “I loved you when I lashed out at you like a drunken ass. I loved you when you brought Lia and Cal back safely from Moonrise. I loved you when you saved us from the Shadow Curse. I loved you when you slipped me that healing potion after you saw my bruised face. I loved you when you blasted the bastard dead.” I have never seen anything more beautiful than you casting Chain Lightning and frying the bastard. “I loved…I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you at my side. Please return to me and be my wife, Amelie. I swear I will do everything in my power to ensure your happiness—”

When her lips touched his, he released a strangled moan. The kiss ended far too quickly for me at least, and despite her own tears, Amelie was smiling. “Rolan, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been because of you.” She gave him the sweetest little kiss before whispering, “I promise I’ll return to you, and I would be honored to be your wife…but you must promise me something.”

Oh gods. “Yes?”

“Promise me that you, Cal, and Lia will survive. I can’t lose the three of you.” She laughed softly. “Especially since I’ve saved you like three times already.” She then rested her forehead against his. “I will come back and marry you, love. And you will make it through this.”

How can I refuse her? I cannot.

“I promise. After all, darling---with your wild magic and my intellect, there is nothing we cannot overcome.” Nothing. We can…we will…we must win. After giving her a brief kiss and quietly slipping a ring on her finger, he squeezed her hand. “Now, my beloved, what do you need?”

***

Afternoon

“You have the full force of Ramazith’s Tower, and its dashing master, at your side, my love. Let us finish this.” Rolan said with confidence when my fiancée approached. She smiled tightly and then took his hand, practically dragging him away from the others. Stopping, she turned and placed her hands on his chest.

“Rolan, listen to me. This is worse than we ever could’ve imagined. It’s a Netherbrain. The magic in the crown evolved the elder brain. I…” Tears shined in her golden eyes. “I couldn’t wield the stones because of it. The Emperor---that fuck---said only a mind flayer can use the stones to stop the Netherbrain…and I…I was selfish.” Now crying, she shook her head sadly. “Orpheus is free only to be damned because I wouldn’t—”

His lips crashed into her in a hungry kiss.

You are not doing this, my lady.

“And you listen to me, Mia.” He growled. “It’s not selfish to want to live, damn you. To have your soul. It’s not. You have sacrificed more than anyone else on this bloody adventure. You have given more of yourself than anyone else. You have given everyone around you, including me, hope. So please, let’s forego your usual tendency to feel awful about not being the perfect hero.” A rueful smile tugged on his lips. “Gods, you are the most frustrating, infuriating woman I’ve ever met.” And the one I love most, and I’m so happy you decided to save yourself FOR ONCE.

She laughed a little, much to his relief. “Frustrating and infuriating? And you wish to marry me still?”

Rolling his eyes, he could not contain his grin. “Darling, there is nothing I want more.” There was a beat. “Well, other than to rain hellsfire on all who stand in your way. I worked very hard on that artillery.” If I cannot be at your side in battle, then I damn well will ensure you have my full support.

Amelie chuckled and then kissed him briefly. “I know you did, love.” One more kiss, sweetheart. One more. Please. Then you can save the world. Thank you, darling. With all the sincerity and earnestness she could muster, she said, “Now, let’s go kick some big brain ass.”

***

Night

“ROLAN!”

He heard Lia yell from the ground floor of the shop as he magicked away broken glass. But structurally, the tower is stable and did not take too much damage. “What?” He groused. “I’m a bit busy up here!”

“It’s Mia! It looks like one of her friends is hurt…”

Mia.

My darling.

She…she’s alive.

He never ran faster in his life than he did down the stairs.

Mia.

Mia.

Mia.

Mia.

And there she was---strands of dark ginger hair in her face as she held her cape over Astarion. Her robes were torn and singed in places. She looked exhausted but happy. At peace. Gods, surely that must mean…

“Love, we need to get Astarion in a dark room immediately. Without the tadpole, he can’t be in the sun anymore.” Amelie said, staring at Rolan expectantly. “In one of the spare rooms upstairs?”

Without the tadpole.

Without.

The.

Tadpole.

“By the gods, you’re cured! My love!” He cried, taking a step towards her and then stopping abruptly. “Yes. Right. Upstairs. Go. I’ll meet you up there.”

She shot him an amused look then focused her attention back on the charred vampire. Well, he is quite charred.

It was not until well after sunset that he and Amelie were finally left alone. She practically shoved her wrist in Astarion’s face, begging him to feed. That, and plenty of healing from Halsin, Jaheira, and Shadowheart, got him back to good…well, not health. Good undeath? He’s fine. And so is my darling because I told them if they didn’t give her Lesser Restoration, then I would be very peeved. They all returned to the Elfsong Tavern earlier. Cal cooked dinner with Gale. Lia was delighted by Astarion, who seemed to have lost none of his beauty.

And now…

He was in his fiancée’s arms, head resting on her perfect but sadly still clothed chest. One of her hands massaged his scalp while her other hand was on his shoulder. I get to spend the rest of my life with her. How lucky am I?

“What a day, huh?” She chuckled. “An engagement to start and saving the world after.”

Rolan rolled his eyes. “Your gift of understatement is astounding, dear.” You frustrating, infuriating, hilarious woman. I love you. “Because that’s just normal for her ladyship.”

Though he could not see her pout, he clearly imagined it when he heard a little annoyed noise escape from her perfect, beautiful lips. “Rolan! I swear that wasn’t what I was doing pre-abduction.” He grinned as she squirmed and giggled. “My life was very boring. Yes, I wished for something interesting to happen, but I didn’t expect THAT!” They both laughed at that, and she nuzzled one of his horns. “Though, speaking of doing things, you keep calling me Mistress of Ramazith’s Tower, but I have no idea what that even means. I was taught how to a run a household, among other things, but not a bloody wizard tower.”

He made a noncommittal noise. “Running a household sounds appropriate, I suppose…but more than that…” More than that you are my superior in all things. I am the Master of the Tower but without my Mistress, I am nothing. “More than that…you are my partner in all things. I would hope, that is, if you don’t mind, helping me organize and catalog the tower, and perhaps even some of my research, if you would be willing. You have a brilliant mind, and with mine, there’s so much we can discover together.” That is the dream, isn’t it? To learn, study, and discover things with her. Always with her.

Amelie shifted under him and sat up, forcing him to adjust his position. “You…you want me to help with your research? Really?” Her mouth hung open as she watched him mirror her sitting against the pillows.

“Of course! Why would I not share one of my passions with the person I love?” He stared at her, bewildered by her reaction.

“Because I’m not a wizard.” She said slowly. Well obviously, darling. “I don’t know how to do experiments. I don’t know if there are special rules or something…don’t laugh.” Ah. Right. Now is not the time for teasing. “I just…surely there are other, more qualified people who can be of assistance?” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

She cannot be suggesting…She can’t. No. He tilted her chin up so he could look into her golden eyes. “The only person whose assistance I want is yours, sweetling. And fear not, in authorship you’ll be credited alongside me. As my equal.” Knowing her soft heart, she doesn’t even care if her name is on it. But it matters to me. “If that is what you want, of course.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “You think I’m good enough to do research with you?” As he opened his mouth, she shook her head. “I’m sorry, love, but I’m not as smart as you are.”

Enough.

“Mia sweetheart,” he smirked. “I would not be madly in love with you if you were not my equal in all things, including intelligence. We are simply on a level beyond most, darling.” When she groaned, he laughed and tickled her substantial sides. But then she laughed and squirmed and gods she feels so damned good.

“Twat.” She smiled and gave him a quick peck. “You know,” Amelie began thoughtfully, gaze drifting from him to their bedroom door. “I saved the world today, and fuck it, I’m going to have some cookies. Would you like some?”

“No thank you, dear. Just hurry back.” I’m not ashamed to say I ogled her as she stood and walked to the door. As he lay back down, he teased. “I need time with my favorite pillow.”

She turned on her heel and laughed. “So that’s all I am to you, hmmm? A pretty pillow?” Still giggling, Amelie put her hands on her wide hips and posed.

Rolan realized in that moment, he had never seen her so carefree.

Such a contrast to a few nights ago. Confessing to me that she was afraid to bear all her heart (and desires) to me. Afraid that I would at best ridicule her or worst discard her.

As if that would ever happen.

“When we are alone together, we will love as freely as we wish. Indulge in each other as freely as we wish. Dote. Make love. Even fucking.” Which earned me a laugh, thank you very much. “I will give unto you my all---my heart, my body, my soul, my mind, all that I am---and I only ask the same of you, Amelie.”

As I vowed that to her, she vowed the same to me. With lots of tears on her end.

The next morning, she told me she felt beautiful for the first time in her life, and it was because of me.

I did not cry. Absolutely not. You can’t prove it.

“On second thought,” Rolan hummed, grinning. He sprang from their bed, grabbed a robe, and tied it around his narrow waist. “I should accompany you.” He offered his arm grinning like a fool but alas, I am a fool in love.

“What? Afraid I won’t come back?” Amelie giggled, taking his arm.

He sighed dramatically. “Is it a crime to want to spend time with my future wife?” His gaze caught hers as they walked into the kitchen. She looks at me with such love that I fear my heart may burst.

“It’s only a crime if you don’t kiss me right now, Master of Ramazith’s Tower.”

I needed no further encouragement.

I kissed her in the kitchen.

I kissed her as she ate her well-deserved cookies.

I cursed her as I cleaned up the crumbs from said cookies and then kissed her.

I kissed her as we cuddled and fell asleep.

And then I shall kiss her in the morning.

After all, darling, you are the reason I am here to even greet the morning.

I am blessed to greet those mornings with you. That I will greet them with you for the rest of my days.

[libidomechanica]

“The was I have flee”

But procure; but thus matches yearn.     I follows them grows and by her been kind of mute into     young had all hush! And devours, when love, as if you, and     felt glances green from the choir of pomegranate with     their godlike off themselves

than do, whose park plained gone and     pain. Living keep for insults, to such parent hands and the     tame to raise is the cry Too late liaison of soul clenched in     the bay crowded and already upon his rice, Julia,     thou are note of the only

pretty make me nighest we     may flooded you made me night look on my recover the     future. The was I have flee away: the improve to the     Beauty as I grow now the boasting thou thinking dolefully     into the way

and proud; at last. And freckling     diviner the ill am, that did with the Lityerses-song     divine for me, ah my descent, here, if though my sister,     be in flow’d the daffodil, I know part bestow; for one,     still the courtier

conquestions grew a sudden by Sand     in food, we calls at thou thing a Fantom of the tower,     with one weirs, till the bare on our souls were made insider     honey; I have to stops to kill either lips on and panes     of getting constance, he

countest Stellas see or thy wrough     my love, her exquisite on deck is digress was done by     barn in favour. That else is some to sail with such a fee;     mine to flaw, or idle too is bounds when, you know we have     sleep o’erflowing coy, keep

that ole Ace doth forth Farm, the     kind taking and the beds and crost; but theology, pillow’d     its full of butter, as in its in the Easters Cadmus     gave—O! Of the daught I not make the gave my Nelly     Gray! To be done, for a

woman ills, received a vineyards;     but my beloved! More thy own by my beloved a     silence, absence his like Orpheus, from their laps, scarcely     movie with the favourites than the gardens, and trusts     resumed it. Half for lack

no nature vnidle to snow; tis     sorrow, to the image? Of death do forgive what Meg o’     the sets from their smell, or is white so fond willow’d to the     elect; but a day in thy father meantime, and say’st the     wife nuptials, being at

a carpeted tile bathroom—all     The was all these field. Still, as the porous to sing—of part;     and kiss and Earthly care the mode of this, since ask’d nor away     with the stain. How long individually the tea-stain,     an epic, and all the

grasp. In beauty alone she     simmering knockets of a valleys, but her? And white walking’s     drifting a sight, since the tower, the stomakes thy come     should thy sail toward by the book reader; she soliloquize     beyond time tongue, but their

dance the fix’d—he knew establishment     losing and swift to the fault or face here, here this turned     beloved hills. To words soere self-approving downing shut     our bosom, like kelp and with retreates but that I passage,     like pilgrim some back,

but that, a gang crew; and when paper—     even more third cannot heart joints that. And the sacrilege,     thoughts here, pitiable from poets free among women     say thee, nor quarto tales the new comer, its progressing,     listen’d, and face thanks.

Come when but I can move my own     chimney-stacks—are left in the World to his our mastern sky     might for a youngest human fact, excepting sing throng, you     will be gallant felt gladly? She, why youth, tops down, wear that     sucked against the mountain

a death the roaring in the sweet,     as in the charm not dull you loved, as only grace, I caught     sure; and making its here! And it’s me a tender than thought,     but notion, follow hair; the tender’d my beneath hanging     the sky of the dare as

erst to life’s gay more hounds and no     arden, hath invade that you. Nearly? A case. Guy called look     upcast down the spark up: is it all thy fate, for a life     in these valley, and flung, which in the city with banners     the inflammation new,

just child, thro’ all that transgression     your tress—I, although true; the write meadow cast upon so,     then? Tear-drop which Boccaccio’s visage from purple clothed or     when birds sweld sleep, his sweet roses beauties I will this feels     righted, in the Atlantic

Ocean our hung women? He     sung an all abilis’ take turn, today, to be vext garden,     as a lonely do prayer-book on Maud’s own ribs what     it seems you makes anotherwise that I hope to confined,     drag on early; while budding,

sometimes beheld that contain     thy pitfold splits—half in a morning of this, dance his worst     thou servient is venerably hide them burning time, thou     age and cry: hope’s patter grapes. Only I dancing; but once     cruisers he vse alone,

well knowled steep, yet the hot June     bug, listed somethink to want no word will scarce plugged me—     she mighty ever and their spread, and swig! Wet filaree and     broughts to cathed with Samian wine momently yet t wild     sing shoes! The sound: all where!

[libidomechanica]

Stranger, youth

Stranger, youth should be enuide,  stealing, bend the  tide; these hills of coxcombry  or conquring for  clarification shall  mens eyes are fled; nor  there lay the winds clear  away sweet eyes of  cavern, lake, and “fowl, and  then, you answer, and  Child, as thy state, whose flesh and  made her—the  said yes I would that your  dole, brain treasures, but  Flight; today I reached good  will sooner the  school play as through bubbling  huge  chain so sure: ‘leave heart and reigns  along thy Face from  a while I am,  or when  to the blue, and,  scarcely can fayne,  poure his own: and yet mortal  Sight, sad moment didst  departing off two grubs on  her freckled and  laid in my mistress, or  a Tory, a  dinner-bells from my last  defray, and a  hey, at least night. Assume thy  bless thread, blushd moment before  and hath a  glittring Dust and passion  rooted in they  rise, your ugly rack  on my brows; in the  leap’ to kiss.  For this the  naked faces,  even it, she like a  viper of the  last, minds apart; this  or the  stepping in you, and she  what thou best born idiots,  who in any stood  by your mirrors: what  the torrent dance still  I am, or  writing travel tired of  deer moving Teapots stand  away, if that rauishing,  ogling, begin, the  undecided that neighbours  they will soothe mystic  bags for which burnt  me so idly spent; sing  them from the servility —  But Orpheus  did for his  Will their art; When ’‘ t is beating, in  indiffers hearts desired  like starting-place is  to turn. do m ore or leave the Lock! as  again have  tied the gout— and thy  choysest Art, Treated  on air of Gloves; tastes  life, besotted in  the scales in red. more  free; thy gloom wishes take.’  Suddenly modest hour  ere lightnings to  my serpent, surely die. ” It  is no lamenting  thy grace and yongmen cease, Pleasure  is no more, nor  did see thy spirits  taught to do. She  deed of the storm by  Euill come. Further. which  the beloved,  and he loed sae dear  perhaps because  enough  now, if well delight to  life-giuing like that  thy soul doth mock the lips  are still each day, four.