#Something beginning

[commanderbragh]

Visiting Duskwood (DWC: Chill)

Banagan sat back in his chair, his feet stretched out towards the fire that roared in the hearth. His hands were folded together, resting on his chest as he watched the flames dancing around the logs. It was a few moments before he realized that someone was standing silently next to his seat.

“I’m sorry, Madame Eva. I didn’t realize you were there.”

“It is okay, Mr. Larethian. I brought you some warm tea to help chase off the chills of the evening.”

“Thank you,” Banny replied with a smile as he accepted the steaming mug. “Between this and the fire, I expect I’ll be nice and comfortable.”

“But not to comfortable,” Madame Eva responded, giving the young paladin a raised eyebrow.

“Ma’am?”

“You are not dressed as one who is seeking to relax, to find comfort.” Madame Eva gestured towards the paladin. Banagan looked down, taking a moment to figure out what she was referring to. Then he realized, nodding his head and looking back at his host.

“My armor,” Banny said quietly, earning a nod in return from Madame Eva.

“I imagine it is a challenge to relax in such a state.”

“It gets easier over time,” Banny said with a grin. “Half the time I don’t even notice I’m wearing it.”

“Then why do you?”

“Part of it is habit, I guess. My father always had his own when he went out. It seemed sensible enough.”

“But your father was always prepared to run off at a moments notice, should he be needed. Are you prepared for the same?” Madame Eva asked, staring intently at the young paladin.

“I’d like to think so,” Banagan answered, his voice sounding slightly hesitant.

“Any what else?”

“Pardon?”

“You said part of the reason was habit learned from your father. Why else do you wear your armaments into a quiet tavern?”

Banagan sat and watched as the matron of the tavern stood patiently, waiting for his answer.

“Because I’ve learned that there are things that like to hide in the shadows around the hearth. Things that you don’t expect to see.” Banny paused for a moment, setting his mug on the arm of his chair and looking back flames as they consumed the logs. “I didn’t realize that until I traveled myself. Dad never mentioned that to me when I was growing up.”

“Some things need to be learned on their own,” Madame Eva said sagely. “They cannot be as easily explained.”

“And I don’t think I would have understood them before, even if they had been explained to me.”

“Then it was a good lesson to learn. And a good practice to keep.”

“Wearing my armor or looking for the things in the shadows?” Banny asked with a grin as he looked back at his host.

“Both of them, my dear. Because it is when you least expect it that you will be your most vulnerable.” Madame Eva smiled and walked back to the great room of her tavern.

Banagan slowly turned back in his seat and face the fireplace. There was a pop from the wood and sparks flew up into the air. For a moment, the young paladin thought he could see a pair of eyes looking back at him. He watched as the sparks descended back into the flames and disappeared.

“Will be?” Banagan repeated to himself. A new chill flowed down his spine as he turned to look for his host, but she was lost in the crowds. 

@daily-writing-challenge

[chloesimaginationthings]

Happy 10th anniversary to FNAF!!

[eydilily]

sweet victory

[guiiay]

yeah... yeah

[karvviie]

some things in common

[eggsdrawings]

breakup was so bad it was broadcasted on national television

[starry-bi-sky]

I am loudly pushing the batdad agenda i am loudly pushing the— DPxDC Prompt

“Woah. You look like shit."

Granted, that’s probably not the first thing Danny should be saying to the guy that just bit the curb, but in his defense; he’s not running on 100% right now either.

The man -- tall, towering, and broader than Danny is tall -- whips around on his heel, black frayed cape flaring out impressively. Danny would've whistled in appreciation, but he takes the time instead to wipe the back of his hand across his mouth, smearing the blood running from his nose across his cheek.

"Sorry." He blinks widely, not even flinching as the man with the horns zeroes in on him. "That was rude of me. I have a really bad brain-to-mouth filter; Sam says its what always gets me into trouble."

And she's not wrong either, per say. His smart mouth is what landed him in this situation -- with blood blossom extract running through his veins and cannibalizing the ectoplasm in his bloodstream. Thanks Vlad.

The man grunts at him; a short, curt "hm" that shouldn't make Danny smile, but he does because he's somewhat delirious and probably concussed. The man keeps some kind of distance, sinking towards the shadows of Gotham's alleyway like he dares to melt right into it.

If it's supposed to scare Danny, it doesn't work. Danny's never been afraid of the dark; he's always been able to hide himself in it. He blinks slowly at the mass of shadows.

"You look hurt." The shadows says, blurring together around the edges. Danny squints, and licks his lips to get the blood dripping down his chin off. Ugh, he hates the taste of blood.

"I am." He says, "My godfather poisoned me. M'dying." The agony of the blood blossom eating him from the inside out looped back around to numbing a while ago, so all he feels is half-awake and dazed.

"Hey," Danny stumbles forward towards the man, a bloodied hand reaching out to him. "You-- you're a hero, right? You're not attacking me; which is more than I can say for most costumed people I've met." Maybe it's a poor bar to judge someone at, but he's already established that Danny's not in his right mind.

The man makes no change in expression, but Danny realizes blearily that it's hard to tell with the shadows on his face. He stays still long enough for Danny to latch onto the cape -- stretchy, but almost soft under his fingers.

He looks up blearily into the whites of the man's eyes. "Can you help me? I don't-- I don't wanna die." Again. He doesn't wanna die again. He blinks slow and lizard-like. "I mean- I'll probably get to see mom and dad again, but I told them I'd at least try and make it to adulthood."

There's a clatter down the street, and Danny's ghost sense chills up his spine and leaves a bitter, ashy taste in his mouth. He immediately knows who it belongs to even before the deceptively gentle; "Daniel?" echoes down the way.

"Daniel? Quit your games, badger, Gotham is dangerous for children."

Danny's mouth pulls back, and blood spills against his tongue. "Please." He rasps, and grabs onto the shadow's cape with both hands. "Please. He's going to kill me. Please--"

"Daniel? Is that you?"

His lips part, dragging in air to plead with the darkness again. He doesn't need to, the whites of his eyes narrow, and the cape whirls around him before Danny can blink. Soon swaddled in shadows, the Night lifts him up, and steals him away.

[hazelcallahan]

Hating you... I've hated myself. I just don't have the energy for it any longer.

[wojtekaneko]

tfw the god of madness tells you to chill out

[verflares]

(click for higher quality!) draconified link concept ive been chipping away at this past week ..... here's my funny little compendium concept for him:

"A heroic spirit has taken the form of this bestial dragon. Unlike it's kin, this creature exhibits an extremely aggressive disposition. It appears highly territorial, and will relentlessly chase down those who disturb its skywide patrols - of which it seems to be endlessly searching for either a long-time vassal or foe. Unfortunately, it seems the spirit within has long since forgotten exactly who it was looking for…"

[narliee]

Because I'm properly in love with you.

[myrkulitescourge]

the way that one line from the new epilogue in an astarion romance is going to HAUNT me

just. what a profoundly intense thing to confess to someone.

like, just these six months of newfound happiness with you exerts a force on his heart equal and in direct opposition to two centuries of endless torment, the gnawing hunger and exploitation. this flashbulb-bright fraction of his long life holds the same gravity to him as years upon years of darkness and suffering.

in all likelihood, he hasn’t even known his lover for as long as his worst memory lasted, that year sealed away to go mad from starvation and sensory deprivation, yet he still tells them this brief time has been so fundamentally and powerfully important that the weight of even that unimaginable hell is vanishingly small compared to this present he has now and the future ahead of them both.

how am i supposed to act normal about this.

[1caru]

avenging your predecessor

[heartorbit]

figure skating set right now please. thanks

[potatodotpng]

[lavendervalleyexpress]

One of Usha’s favorite movies being Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde makes a lot more sense now