#corvus!cross

[saffron-gold-stardust]

Corvus gets his name.

[asktheangsttrioofficial]

"When I'm with them, it's like everything that happened, everything we've been through... It all just disappears." "thanatos, do you see this? i found... a family." "maybe this won't be so bad... maybe i can learn to love again."

guilt, basalt, raven

so first of all, i was experimenting, as you can probably tell by the style switch from the usual i also messed around a bit with different filters and blending modes and such, so there's that secondly, basalt[left]'s design is still a wip, as is corvus[right]'s so yeah, don't expect those designs to stick

cross sans by jael peñaloza/jakei killer sans by rahafwabas murder/dust sans by askdusttale nightmare sans by jokublog reaper sans by renrink basalt!murder, survivor's guilt!cross, and corvus!reaper by me

[rosenfey]

people have said my usual answers already so for trademarks I am going to say wizard kissing

you know what jaye. ur right and you should say it.

[moonfurthetemmie]

Sunfall Master post

There's individual posts but there's also this big doc with everything in it, and that may be easier if you want to read everything at once. but if you want individual bits here's the posts!

Glaze and Tempera (+ Ink)

Wren (+ Finch)

Orion

Corvus

Xena

Java (+ Cross & Error)

Aster (+ Blue)

✨Plot✨

Endings 1-3

The Maelstrom and the beasts

Random other stuff

[snorvus]

i downloaded a chrome extension that makes animalcrossing talking sounds when i type and its amazing, the numbers are the sound of them singing

[reddrakebird]

There's a very silent and very curious Corvus, Dio's vigilante persona, observing the Robin that is not his Robin ─ well, the version of him of his world. And considering his own Robin didn't tell him a thing about this, either for lack of time or distraction due to some hyperfocus, he's very much just measuring this new one.

Kon-el had wanted to come on this night’s adventure, but Timothy had a better plan for what the Kryptonian could do with their time away. Knowing that did sometimes distract Timothy, but by an hour in, he was focused and determined to patrol Bludhaven as he always did. The roofs were easy to scale and leap from, that form in the best shape of his life after two months of healing. The yellow bird symbol on his chest was a blur as Red Robin moved fast, with long legs that were elegant and graceful, movements that combined many life experiences for his own personal style. 

When he reached the edge over looking a central square that the traffic opened up into, his lean, muscular form crouched down, eyes to his utility belt for a moment before standing to his full height, backing up a few steps, then running for the edge to leap up into the air off the side. Arms went out wide, helping him guide before smacking his chest on the upper right, releasing the red wings to mimic his arms. Hands reached for two small handles underneath to help glide him toward two buildings where an updraft pushed him higher. No one seemed to notice as the ‘bird’ flew above late at night beyond the lights, and in the darkness, some could not reach to get to a higher vantage point. 

He landed with a skid of those boots, as a smack of that chest pulled the wings down and tight against his back. A deep inhale was taken, eyes closed under the mask as he settled his excited heartbeat down.

[snorvus]

I love how freaking cute a pink and aesthetic everything is and then there’s Tom Nook burning in the background

｡♪₊˚♫

[mosscrab]

if corvus made it through the game him fighting gabriel would be hilarious bc he canonically has very little exposure to christianity and actually becomes a god himself at a point in the timeline

[noxtivagus]

thinking of. my ocs a bit rn.. >.>

[eddiethebrave]

secret admirer part twelve

318 words

one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven

Steve’s feeling lighter after that. Sure, the things he wants to say to Eddie are stacking up in his brain like before Valentine's, but everything seems that little bit better now that he has plans to see Eddie. And sure, it’s for school, but still. He’s gonna see him. And talk to him. And draw him.

They’d agreed that they’ll work on the portrait of the other when they’re together and work on the self-portraits in their own time and in class. 

Not wanting to suffer another bout of incessant staring, during lunch Steve takes Tommy and Carol’s usual side of the table and they don’t comment on it. He feels like he can finally breathe. That is, until Tommy scoffs. 

“What the fuck is the freak staring at?” he spits.

Steve stills then rolls his eyes. “Not you, Tommy,” he mutters and Carol snorts in amusement. 

Tommy pulls his eyes away from - presumably - Eddie. “What’s your problem?”

Steve looks up from where he was pushing his lunch around with his fork. When he meets Tommy’s eyes, the boy’s face is screwed up in annoyance. 

“Don’t got a problem, man.” Steve shrugs. “I’m just saying, why would Munson be staring at you?”

Tommy’s face tints pink. “Wait.” Steve leans in conspiratorially and drops his voice to a whisper. “You weren’t- Were you, like, staring at him?”

Tommy pulls back in offense. “Fuck off, Harrington.”

Steve brings his hands up in surrender. “Woah, I was just asking. I mean,” He licks his lips, “How’d you know he was staring if you weren’t, too?”

Steve would know. 

Tommy crosses his arms and looks to Carol for support. The girl only looks at him expectantly and pops her gum. 

Steve cracks a grin and reaches over the table to jostle him. “I’m just messing with you, Tommy.”

The tension breaks and Tommy kicks him in the shin under the table. “Asshole.”

thirteen

tag list (closed)

@sofadofax @noodle-shenaniganery @queenie-ofthe-void @friendlyneighborhoodgaycousin @devondespresso

@dreamingtheimpossibe @plutoshelm @jaywhohasthegay @scarlet-malfoy @hotluncheddie

@dreamy-jeans137 @justdrugsformethanks @estrellami-1 @travelingtwentysomething @sleepy-steve

@wheneverfeasible @bisexual-and-broke @lil-gremlin-things @n0-1-important @xxbottlecapx

@tinyplanet95 @dannys-guilt-ridden-cockroach @theohohmoment @corvus-perplexus @hippieg1rl420

@blurryjoji @bookbinderbitch @arthurianace @dragonmama76 @thesuninyaface

@tillystealeaves @p0lybl4nkk @sageclipse @mugloversonly @chameleonhair

@thedragonsaunt @yesdangerpls @sanctumdemunson @slv-333 @loguine-linguine

@resident-gay-bitch @anaibis @moomkin77 @thrashbatx @salchica

@flustratedcas @ajeff855 @nerdyglassescheeseychick @pearynice @imaginary-maggie-waggie

sorry if i missed anyone!!

[nosyrobin]

“Fair Amusement”

Damian Wayne x Roth! Male reader

Summary: The small Roth spending time with the small Wayne, the two boys start to have fun until Damian gets annoyed at seeing a boy acting a little too “friendly” with the raven he finds beautiful.

Note || Y/N is the little brother of Raven, hero name is Corvus. The Latin name for Raven.

“Roth..” Damian says looking at the boy in-front of him walking ahead with excitement. “Huh? Sorry Damian what were you saying?” Y/N says looking at Damian who kept his signature frown on his face. “Why must you be so excited for such…amusement..” he says, Y/N pouted.

“Damian..I’m excited because I’m spending this amusement with you! Plus I never really had fun in a fair.. or is this an amusement park? I never knew the difference.” Y/n admitted with with an awkward chuckle. Damian looked away from the boy, he felt his face getting heated as he gritted his teeth together. “Aye! Niños, don’t go too far okay?” Jaime yells as he sees the two boys being slight further from the rest. Garfield was already loose from the team. Probably doing something reckless or gaining mad tickets.

“On it! Cmon Damian, I heard there’s a game where you can shoot these fake ducks and win a big stuff animal!” Y/N says excitedly, Damian only kept his facial expression. Trying not to show too much emotion but his eyes showed curiosity. Y/N started to get distracted by things like cotton candy and music. Damian knew the boy wants to try the shooting game, so he made you focus on your so called “journey.”

Finally making to the stand, the bright light and colors made your eyes shine with joy. Damian looked at you, time felt slow when you turned to look at him. Was this what those main characters felt when those cheesy romance movies did the slo mo? Yeah this is how he feels. You point to a big penguin. “Look! Look! They got a big stuffed animal like I said!” Damian crosses his arms loosely, “I see Roth.” You immediately nod with excitement grabbing the shotgun that was plastered. You handed the man the money and got to business.

Or at least tried to get into businesses. You seemed to have trouble holding the shotgun, the man behind the counter showed annoyance. Damian gave the man hard glare to “fix” the man’s attitude which worked. The poor small Raven must have attracted attention as a boy that seemed to be your and Damian’s age walked in and started to guide you.

Damian narrows his eyes at the boy beside you who was showing you how to shoot. He didn’t like how the boy was looking at you, Damian crossed his arms. He couldn’t help but glare, but when the boy whispered something in your ear and you chuckled. He had enough, he pushed the boy aside and got behind you. His arms and hands already making sure you were positioned to shoot the ducks. Your eyes widen seeing his eyes trained in front while being behind you. Too close behind you.

“Y/N, focus on the ducks. Shoot.” And you did. You listen to his words perfectly which made him smirk. He backed away when you won the penguin. But what he also did next was pettiness as he also went and did a try at the game. Shooting perfectly without a struggle, getting you another big penguin. Your eyes were wide in admiration, meanwhile Damian glanced at the boy who seemed to scoff and walk off. Damian walked off smugly, wrapping an arm around the boy who seemed so happy hugging the two big penguins!

“Best night ever!” You yelled as you came back into the car with the team. Garfield was already sleep with Jaime almost being the same. Kory was in the driver seat with your sister in the passenger. Raven smiled seeing her little brother happy with two penguins. “Little crow, where do you get them?” She asked softly.

“I got one for myself with the help of Damian. But Damian got me another one.” You say with a soft smile. You then lean against Damian who stiffened at the sudden action. But he soon relaxed with a smile that was covered with his hand. He looked out the window, staring at the boy’s reflection.

“That was nice of you Damian. Thank you.” Raven says. Damian only hummed, still looking at the reflection of the Roth male who seemed happy. And that made Damian happy as well.

[saffron-gold-stardust]

It’s possible there’s still someone in there…

…but he’s buried very deep.

Those chains will be hard to break, if he even wants them broken in the first place.

Swapdream original concept by Song_A, og Cross by Jakei95

[asktheangsttrioofficial]

anyway, imma go on a tangent about corvus since i've done that with the other two

so corvus is a reaper from a doomed reapermare timeline

explanation below the cut, tw for assisted suicide

essentially, reaper and nightmare were childhood friends [both misunderstood immortals] and reaper was there when nightmare got corrupted. they grew more distant, though reaper would still do favours for nightmare. eventually, nightmare couldn't handle his own negativity/reputation, so he asked reaper to help kill him by eating his soul

[side note: that is my personal headcanon for nightmare- the only way he can die by someone who isnt dream is if they eat his soul]

however, this transferred the negativity curse to reaper, making him the god of negativity as well as death, hence how corvus came to be. he regrets what he did and struggles with love because he's scared of hurting people. he struggles with accepting when he grows attached to people and prefers being alone just to minimise the risk- so he leaves the other two a lot, sometimes for days on end.

the longest he's ever been gone was a week, and they've mostly gotten used to it, they just assume he needs his space

basalt really likes him because he's a reaper, obviously he likes him- and rou can relate to him because they both killed their loved ones

[zuppizup]

“Come on!” Soren sighed dramatically, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’ve both been sitting on your butts since we got here. It’s time for some activity.”

“We came here to relax, Soren,” Callum sighed, not so much as looking up from his book.

“Rayla, come on. Aren’t you bored?” Soren turned his attention away from Callum, clearly seeing him as a lost cause.

“I'm on vacation.” She muttered into her hot chocolate as she snuggled closer to Callum.

“Guys, the pride of Katolis is at stake here.” Soren changed tactics, his voice no longer commanding and decidedly more pleading. “You know how good Amaya is at snowball fights and now she’s got Janai to back her up. And Gren is surprisingly ruthless.”

“It’s three against three,” Rayla rolled her eyes. “Ez has really good aim.”

“It’s not him I’m worried about.” Soren sighed dramatically. “Corvus barely counts-”

“Hey!” Corvus finally spoke up, stepping forward to get Soren’s attention.

“Oh come on, you know it’s true. You hate snow.”

“Yeah, but I can deal with it for the snowball fight.”

“You didn’t last year.”

“I didn’t realise everyone took this thing so seriously last year-”

“Not everyone takes it seriously, do they?” Soren turned away from Corvus to stare pointedly at Callum and Rayla.

“They do not.” Callum once again refused to look up from his book.

Sighing, Soren seemed to concede defeat, turning and stomping away. “Come on. We need to discuss tactics if it’s going to be me against Amaya, Janai and Gren.”

“Congratulate Team Sunfire for us!” Rayla teased, putting her hot chocolate down before leaning into Callum’s side.

Callum snorted, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. “We can go, if you want to.”

“What’s the point? Who’s going to win against a sky mage?” She pulled a book from under the blanket and began to leaf through the pages.

“Uh huh, that’s why you’re not interested... the lack of competition.” He laughed as she snuggled in closer to him. “And not the fact Captain Grainne’s ship had begun to take on water at the end of your last chapter?”

“She can’t swim, Callum!” Rayla didn’t even look up from the page.

“What sort of pirate can’t swim?”

“I told you, it a plot twist!”

“Well, hurry up and finish so I can find out!”

“I’m trying, mister mage.” She smiled primly at him, bopping his nose. “Why do you think I said no to a snowball fight?”

- Fluffy Rayllum prompts to cheer me up

Banther Lodge snuggles/cosy blanket/book dates suggested by @leftboob, @thedizzydinosaur and @temerity14

[kozumesphone]

astronomy

𝓽sukishima kei x f!reader

masterlist . . . ✰

𓆩♡𓆪 𝒶n : cassie!!!!! ilysm for requesting this <3 + i'm sorry I didn't write this sooner 😭 I had the best time nerding out about stars in this fic fr! alsoalso it's pretty short, so i'm sorry about that too 😩

𓆩♡𓆪 𝓌arnings + tags : stargazing , friend!tsukki x friend!reader , both of them like each other but are oblivious , no actual moves are made (maybe part 2) , very very short drabble , reader rambling about constellations (<3) , shooting stars ;

𓆩♡𓆪 𝓌c : 0.7k

“the sky is so pretty tonight,” I sighed. tsukishima and I sat cross-legged on our school’s roof.

since we were both a part of the student council, as co-sports captains, we had to stay back after hours to work on setting up everything for next week’s inter-school volleyball tournament that karasuno’s hosting.

we had just finished setting up all the stalls outside the court, and decided to call it a day since it was nearly nine in the night.

exhausted, I flopped onto my back. I pulled tsukishima down with me, and pulled out his arm to rest my head on.

“my favourite cushion,” I mumbled, smiling.

“my time as a cushion is very valuable, I must say.” he said, joking. “I bill by the hour.”

“yes, sir! you’ll get paid for being the best cushion ever.”

“I better.” he grumbled, and the both of us laughed.

after a while of just looking at the stars, tsukishima broke the silence.

“which constellation is that?” he asked me, pointing at the sky.

“oh! that’s hydra! it’s the longest constellation that’s ever been officially named.” I said, starting to ramble about it. “it’s made of, like, 17 different stars. oh my god, i’ve never been happier about how less pollution there is, in our prefecture. anyway, the brightest one there, if you see it,” I pointed at one star. “that’s alphard, or alpha hydrae. it’s like the defining star because it’s brighter than the rest, in the hydra constellation.”

“what about the one above that?” he asked, pointing to a quadrilateral-looking arrangement of stars.

“I think that’s… corvus? it’s symbolised by a crow or a raven. the four ends of the quadrilateral you can see, are gamma, delta, epsilon, and beta corvi. it’s associated with the greek god, apollo.”

I turned to check if he fell asleep, but he was staring at me quietly. he quickly whipped his head ahead, masking his smile.

I traced my fingers over the freckles on his cheek, under his eyes.

“this constellation’s my favourite one of all, though,” I whispered, observing his freckles. no matter how faint at night, everytime I saw them, I had this urge to trace every single one of them. join them like stars join to make constellations, and name them all.

his eyes fluttered close slowly.

I turned back to the sky, my cold fingers still resting against his warm cheek.

before I could continue telling him about the other constellations I could spot, a shooting star appeared at the edge of my vision. I sat up suddenly, and slapped tsukki’s arm.

“it’s a shooting star!” I exclaimed, in awe. “make a wish, tsukki! quick!”

I closed my eyes, and clasped my hands.

I wish I get amazing grades forever. and… I wish this moment with tsukki… lasted forever. I also wish for cute stuffed toys for my birthday this year!

I opened my eyes and turned to tsukishima, who was already looking at me.

“did you make a wish?” I asked, smiling.

tsukishima’s pov:

“make a wish, tsukki! quick!” y/n said.

my heart fluttered at the nickname, even though she called me that a lot. get a grip, kei! I chide myself.

her eyes closed, and her eyebrows pinched together in concentration.

I took in all of her features. the shape of her eyes. the slope of her nose. the curve of her lips. her beauty.

“did you make a wish?” she asked, opening her eyes and turning to me.

heat crept up my neck after getting caught staring at her. twice.

“yeah,” I lied.

every smile she sent my way, and every laugh i’d heard from her. every low moment in our volleyball careers we went through together. every win we celebrated with each others’ teams.

she was my dream come true.

what else could I wish for, if all i’d ever wanted was right in front of my eyes?

kozumesphone © 2024 | don’t repost my works onto other platforms, or edit and post them even on tumblr, without asking me first • don’t steal my works, steal my heart instead • reblogs and comments are more than appreciated !

[pursuitseternal]

“𝕺𝖚𝖗 𝕭𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉: 𝕷𝖎𝖆𝖗𝖘’ 𝕹𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙” ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 2, 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩 ℑ𝔫 𝔇𝔦𝔰𝔤𝔲𝔦𝔰𝔢

Post-canon Lord Astarion x Cordehlia | E | 3K

🎨 by @marimosalad Crowdehlia Cordehlia’s co-creator

Summary: In the comfort of his arcane tower, Gale reveals the details of the mission for the Ascendant and his Raven, and grants them magical items to aid their quest. Left to their own devices, Astarion and Cordehlia do what they do best, finally alone…

CW: Banter, annoyed Tara, homebrew items (except the necklace really does exist, Act 3!), Quickie smut, bed creaking smut, desperate Astarion and Consort just as down bad for him. And poor Gale.

Previous Ch | ao3 link | Masterlist

Chapter 1 for “Our Blood is Thicker,” OG series

A loud, open-mouth scoff was Astarion’s reply to Gale’s dramatics. “I swear to the gods this had better be worth my time, or I’ll walk my way back to the necropolis. At least it’s pleasant there… and quiet,” he gave that annoyed smirk.

That impudent grin earned him a shove in his ribs from his love. “You’re not going anywhere without me, and I’m helping Gale,” Cordehlia’s tone was meant to provoke, her eyes meaning to goad him into obedience.

Irritated, Astarion narrowed his eyes, a silent dare, provoking her to hold to her threat. “Fine,” he huffed, relenting. “But only because I won’t let you out of my sight. Gods know what sort of trouble you’d end up in without me.”

Astarion extended a single finger to trace her jaw, one that Cordehlia snapped at with a sharp turn of her head.

“Ahh, ancient love,” Gale bit, sarcasm darkening the good natured tone he usually used. He leaned back in his chair, when suddenly, something fluffy and brown swooped into the open space of his lap before he could even cross his ankle over his knee.

Astarion fairly shrieked, fangs bared and glinting in the firelight of the study. “Mangy beast,” he huffed as he tried to catch his breath.

The cat turned her head, yellow slitted eyes roaming over their guests. “I hear you can view yourself in the mirror now, vampire, if your looking for the real mangy beast in this room…”

Two snorts came in reply, Cordehlia and Gale equally blushing and giggling and trying to hide their reactions behind their palms. “Tara, play nice with the other creatures,” Gale chided her, even as he rewarded her sass with a hearty scratch under her chin. “That one can change into a rather large bat and still drain you dry.” Gale nodded towards the Ascendant.

But Tara only laughed. “Only if he could catch me,” she fired back, fanning her own set of wings.

“Why, you…” Astarion bristled in his place beside Cordehlia’s seat, fangs bared, hissing and spitting like a tomcat himself.

Cordhelia smiled slightly. “Sadly, you’d have to content yourself with my one and only form, Tara, but if you recall, you enjoyed my fingers rubbing your belly.”

“I do remember, my lady,” the tressym purred delightedly, curling on her master’s lap to face her. “But Master Dekarios has just the solution to that little issue you mentioned about your form.”

“Tara, that was my big surprise,” Gale half scolded, half laughed as he tapped his finger on that tiny pink nose. A twinkle in his hazel eyes, and Gale’s hand glowed, summoning a pretty little black box, opening to reveal a stunning necklace, a little circlet of gold with a bright blue stone in the center. “This is the Corvid Token, a little bauble that will grant you the polymorph of a Dire Raven.” He grinned widely, watching as Cordehia’s pale face lit up in joy. “And I can think of no better home than around the neck of the Lady Corvus, the Ascendant’s Raven.”

Astarion cleared his throat, a little high-pitched and whiny. “I’m sure my Bride will put it to good use in my service,” he crowed, hand splayed on his chest.

Cordehlia threw him a self-righteous smirk, “Oh Gale, it’s perfect.” She turned her bright scarlet eyes on their friend, relishing the bristle of annoyance that flowed from her mate. “It’s been so long since I received anything so powerful and elegant all at once…”

“Now you’re just being mean and petty,” Astarion huffed under his breath, folding his arms and sulking.

“Don’t you fret, dear Ascendant,” the wizard chuckled, petting his purring pet as she nestled in his lap and glared daggers at the vampire. “I have a gift for you too. I wouldn’t send my dearest sanguine-sated companions into the proverbial lion’s den without some magical items of arcane significance.”

Astarion’s eyes narrowed.

“He’s giving us weapons to help us in our…”

“Yes, I get it. Thank you, dearest treasure,” he interrupted, clipped and biting as he glared at them both.

A wry smile on his face, and Gale’s hands glowed blue. The light settled on Astarions crown, two matching prongs of cambion horns materializing from the light. “What in the hells,” the vampire snarled, spine going ramrod straight before it bent under the new weight. The magic gone, and Astarion gingerly felt along their bumped and curled edges. “Well, fuck, these are heavy. I’m used to you giving me a headache, Gale, but I didn’t realize you would manifest it quite so literally….”

Cordehlia gave a decidedly unladylike snort.

“Care to explain why I have devil horns, wizard?” He gave a disgruntled frown, his hands and arms gesticulating to the sudden monstrosity on his perfect hair.

“I kind of like them,” Cordehlia purred, grabbing his hand to pull him lower.

“You, shut it,” he smirked, his annoyance doubling by the moment.

Gale sat there patting his own chin, making faces and running his hand through his hair. As if he looked at his reflection.

“Hells, it’s not some invisible astral projection, is it?” Astarion somehow sounded even more peeved.

And Gale finally stood, Tara’s padded feet landing silently on the red carpet as she trundled away. “Where you are going tomorrow, you will need good disguises, and I will need to see your every move.” He waved to the horns. “Remember Wyll’s eye? The Sending Stone in the cuticle of your horns will allow me to see and communicate with you directly, oh mighty Ascendant.”

Those crimson eyes glared in ire. “So you’re keeping tabs on me? Checking your own face in the way you look from this… rack… on my head. I do so enjoy a good rack...”

Gale smirked, folding his arms. “I’m going to take the high road on this one and ignore your innuendo.”

Astarion sucked his teeth, “Really? I mean I knew you were a little fun, Gale, but no fun whatsoever? Gotten even more boring as a teacher or whatever in your quaint little wizard school, it seems.” He settled on the arm of Cordehlia’s chair, one arm wrapped around her back, the other teasing a finger down her front to trail in the valley of her chest. “I suppose, if the lewd humor is off the table, you won’t mind if I engage in some lewd behavior…”

Gale covered his eyes, “Hells, I can see everything you see, Astarion, including Cordehlia’s… ahem… décolletage. This was a mistake trusting you with a Seeing Stone imbued disguise…”

Tara purred a laugh from her cushion. “It’s not too late to just swap the roles… Make the preening male the small, winged creature and give the female the arcane treasure.” Her fluffy tail twitched. “She smells trustworthy.”

Cordhelia beamed.

Astarion rolled those red eyes so far back, they could have stuck. “Just because I can take wild form, a most ferocious bat, mind you,” he commented pointedly at the tressym, “it doesn’t mean that I am amenable to such a plan. I am… Ascendant… after all.”

A warm laugh, and Gale leaned forward. “Tara, play nice with our guests. We don’t get many. Even if your observations are, as always, astute.” The wizard lost that smile as he regarded his friends. “I realize you look and feel ridiculous and perhaps woefully unprepared. Allow me to illuminate you.” He leaned back in his seat once more, steepling his fingers as his elbows rested on the arms. “Are you familiar with the coven of vampires here, Astarion?”

His jaw clenched, his hand stiffened on Cordehlia’s shoulder. “Lord Malicus and I have... brushed elbows in the past, though never in any way that would leave me… unwilling to face him, shall we say,” his voice was tight, words dancing around the scars of his past even amongst closest of friends.

Gale gave a sigh of relief. “That is good, I thought I had been thorough in what research I could to see how often you might have crossed paths before, and while I consider myself to be exhaustive, vampires unsurprisingly do not maintain accurate records.“

“Yes, being creatures of the night will do that to you,“ Astarion said. “An innate tendency for secrecy is a must when one is a fearsome monster….” He leered down at Cordehlia, rakish and smirking to produce the desired effect. She was always up for a good fang-bearing leer.

But all she did was lean forward in her seat opposite Gale. “So these vampires took something from you? Something dangerous and powerful?”

The serious professor somehow looked suddenly more solemn than usual. “Yes, by Elminster’s beard. An item I had my sights set on for the studies at the academy. A most singular text of arcane knowledge and power. They nabbed it before I could retrieve it, holding it in their crypt beneath Malicus’ tower.”

Astarion had busied himself by feeling the ridged curves of his left horn, then he snapped to attention. “Another powerful… text? You are having us risk everything for… a book?”

“Was the Codex just a book? The Annals of Karsus? How about your precious Necromancy of Thay, hmm?” Gale tensed, those wrinkles forming between his hazel eyes.

Astarion glared, “Point taken. So your grand plan to purloin this book for you requires me to have horns and my love to be a bird?” He arched his brow, feigning a greater interest in his nail beds as he delicately fanned his fingers.

“Indeed, mighty Ascendant. You’ll use your status to gain entry to his gathering for Liars’ Night, a grand soirée of hedonism and blood. By all appearances, you’ll be alone, just a harmless corvid familiar resting on your shoulder…” his bright eyes danced with mischief as he skimmed them over Cordehlia’s playful grin.

“Well, all my years being Lady Corvus, the Raven, the Bone Picker and now,” she giggled low in her chest, “I finally get to test my wings at it for real.”

Gale guffaws, slapping his knee. “I know, I know, you’ll be the delightful Lady Crowdehlia!”

Astarion audibly wretched. “Oh Gale, even for your brand of humor that was… horrible,” he chided, tones of utter disgust in his purring voice.

Gale laughed heartily, “Why doesn’t my lady try her new form. I’m sure Tara would love to teach you flying if it’s a struggle. If you don’t take to it like a fish to water.” The way he made himself laugh only earned him a matching giggle from Cordehlia and a scathing eye roll and sneer from the Ascendant. A touch of her pendant, a burst of blue magic, and in place of a vampiric beauty in his chair there was a stunning black Dire Raven, glossy black feathers and shining beak and everything.

Astarion’s eyes were saucers, staring down at the massive black bird. Her heartbeat was the same, their tethered souls and minds still intact. “Oh, fuck yeah!” he heard her exclaim as the bird hopped around on the velveteen seat. Sleek black wings extended and she was off, flapping and cawing around Gale’s tower.

Heart racing in dread, Astarion jumped to his feet and tried to grab for her. What if she fell… what if she couldn’t land… what if that mangy beast forgot herself and decided it was supper time?

“Godsdammit Gale, she could get hurt,” he snarled, rounding on the wizard with red eyes blazing in misdirected rage.

But the bird… or Cordehlia… or whatever… just swooped deftly to land on the tip of his dark horn. “Relax, my love. It’s easy and… I haven’t had this much fun since we killed our way out of the Goblin Camp back in the day,” she laughed, ruffling her feathers and folding her wings.

The Ascendant looked down his nose at Gale, that wizard’s arrogant grin pissing the shit out of him for one reason or another, he wasn’t sure yet why. “Alright, Gale,” he spat the name with playful vitriol, “so as the devil in disguise and his crow familiar… we get into this Liars’ Night ball, we find the vault, break in, get your… ugh… book, and return it to you without them suspecting a thing?”

“Yup, pretty much!” Gale clapped his hands together and leaned back in his chair. “I’ll spare you the details, Astarion. They were never your thing anyway. I’ll give you lots of backs to stab and necks to bite and treasure to loot.” Gale’s smirk widened at his friends. “Just do not abuse the power of that Sending Stone in your horns. You can conjure or dismiss it at will like Cordehlia’s form, so please,” he grimaced, pinching the bridge of his nose, “dismiss the horns before you get… horny.”

“Tch,” Astarion pouted, “you’re no fun, but fine.”

A swirl of magic and both vampires dismissed their gifted forms.

Gale stood. “Tara will show you to your room for tonight. Behave yourselves, please. I don’t have the same resources as you to clean up after your… activities, oh mighty Ascendant,” he laughs, a bit hollow and honest as he watches them walk down the hall after his tressym.

“I missed this…” Astarion whispered into Cordehlia’s mind as they followed Tara up some curved staircase to a spacious landing. “The thrill of adventure with you, the risk of being… caught.” His hand wandered slowly from her lower back to grip her ass deliciously.

Tara sat at the entrance to a small curved door in the hall. “Your accommodations, courtesy of the Master. Don’t make a mess,” she sighed, flicking her tail as she watched them disappear inside.

Cordehlia entered the small bedchamber, setting her bag of holding down and removing her new precious necklace. “Astarion, do you think—”

His kiss of fangs silenced her, hands gripping and turning her by the shoulders as he covered her mouth. Lips worked furiously, tongue demanding entrance to taste her, to tangle with her own. And Cordhelia melted into his arms, her thoughts scattered to the wind as they did the moment she tasted him.

“I need you,” he whispered into her mind. “Keep it quick and quiet and the wizard will be none the wiser.” His skilled fingers made quick work of her jerkin and top, palming and massaging her breasts the second they were freed. A low growl in the back of his throat, and he backed her blindly to the edge of the small bed, laughing as she tumbled unceremoniously into it.

Arms around his neck, she pulled him clumsily down on top, the bed making a loud thump as their undead bodies landed. Their crimson eyes locked together, waiting and panting and listening if they had been caught. After several long seconds of their pointed ears twitching only to hear the settling of Gale’s tower, they gave sighs of relief.

“Good,” Astarion whispered as he crushed her into the bed, lips already working furiously in another kiss. “I’m too worked up to stop, even if we were found out.” His chuckle was deep-bellied and rumbling, a constant low growl as Cordehlia pulled him into her with equal need. Her hips rolled under him, hands pulling on the curve of his ass to press his fine leather-clad erection against her mound.

His name tumbled from her lips, felt more than heard against his all-consuming lips. She bucked her hips, lifting them to frantically drag them to her ankles. “My love, please,” she moaned in her deep and musical voice. Once she kicked off her shoes and freed herself, a sigh and a smile slipped from her. The relief of his clothed cock on her bare folds brought tears to her eyes.

She rocked her hips, desperate for more… more friction, more him. “I’ve been aching since the necropolis,” Cordehlia rasped, her fangs clicking against his as her kiss grew sloppy and desperate.

“I know,” he taunted, a cheeky, arrogant chuckle as he slipped his fingers inside her to touch those perfect spots. “I could smell you. I always… smell you,” he growled, his body making the small wooden bed start to creak as he thrust against her harder. “Hells,” he grumbled, “quick and quiet and…” he quickly freed his cock from his trousers, sheathing it in that familiar tight warmth of his love, “don’t break the bed.”

Cordehlia clapped a hand over her mouth, muffling the whimper that tore through her from cunt to crown. His hips rolled, dragging deliciously in her walls, making her unbearably and instantly wet for him. Her eyes went wide, staring up at his conceited smirk, scarlet eyes glaring her warning.

He rocked faster, the small wooden frame of the bed creaking, its joints protesting as Astarion lowered himself, his full weight crushing her into the poor feather mattress. His lips replaced her hand to gag and swallow her noises, his tongue tangling with her to keep her quiet. One hand gripped into the back of her head, weaving and snagging in her red-orange hair. Smirking, he knew just how to unravel her, his free hand reaching to pull her by her ass against his hips, letting his cock grind on her clit. And then, his knee— his cursed, blessed knee—pressed her open, splaying her wider to make sure he dragged his cock against her inner nerves with every rapid thrust.

An elven curse slipped past her lips, the bed complaining louder as he drew near his climax. His body moved with feral need, lost was all the care and caution. Cordehlia’s hand slapped behind her pushing the headboard back to tighten the creaking piece of shit under them. “Hells… quick and quiet, huh?” she mocked, her words scratched in her throat as she dangled on the edge of her own pleasure-wave.

“He should just be thankful I don’t leave you a wet… and bloody mess… all over his guestroom,” he snickered, his voice fading into pants and groans until he felt her squeeze him. Her walls clamped around him, her back arching off the poor bed, legs wrapped snug around his waist. “Cordehlia,” he hissed. He panted her name once more, those four sweet syllables breaking in his throat as he came. His fingers clawed into her neck and ass, his breathing ragged and hot in her ear as he emptied inside her. That wetness that seeped from her cunt poured from her as she came around him again, sweet walls fluttering in rapid uneven pulses.

Their foreheads pressed together, their sweaty damp skin sticking as they breathed and laughed and shushed each other.

A soft knock at the door made them jump out of their undead skin. “Breakfast first thing in the morning,” Gale’s voice called through the door. Then, there was a slight pause. “And there are fresh bed linens in the dresser against the wall…”