#he has asked to be saffe

[thisissirius]

i would also like to add to the chris is 13! and he's choosing to go with THEM? discourse to add that chris does not know. because eddie is a good father and he does not let his insecurities and battles with his parents detract from the fact that ramon and helena cared for chris for a long time, that they loved him and he remembers that. they were a huge part of chris' life and he was safe with them. it wasn't perfect and we have a LOT to say about them as parents and as grandparents, but they're safety for chris. notice how all of the talks eddie has with them are away from chris. they're overbearing and have their faults (because i just know some of y'all will bring shit like that up) but chris doesn't see that.

at thirteen these choices are more than capable of being made. i have said it before and will say it again; children are wholeass human beings. they are young, but they're not without experiences. chris has dealt with a lot of stuff in LA. tsunamis, earthquakes, his father's constant brushes with death. he's making a choice to remove himself from a situation that he doesn't think is best for him right now because eddie is not making choices in his best interest. however much you like those scenes or this storyline as a whole, chris is not wrong for wanting to be secure.

and while it might not seem like it, this is also good for eddie. he needs to know he can exist in spaces without chris around. he might not want to, but he needs to learn that he can and that he is NOT in the right place, through grief and stress and ptsd and all the shit he's gone through. he is choosing to let christopher go because he knows this, deep down, where he doesn't want to look too closely.

this situation is about choices; christopher's AND eddie's.

[treason-and-plot]

“Oh my God, another text from Mum,” says Saffron. “She wants to know when I’m coming home because she needs to talk to me. This one’s all caps. So I think it’s fairly safe to say the school’s rung her about me missing class this afternoon.”

“I hope she’s not too angry,” says Connor.

“She better not be,” says Saffron. “I mean, I’m the dux of the school, for Christ's sake. I’ve always done her proud. I deserve to flout the rules every once in a while.”

She texts Anita a short reply then sighs and rests her head on Connor’s shoulder.

“How come your parents aren’t blowing up your phone?" she asks him. "Has the school even contacted them? Maybe you’re allowed to get away with it because of how much money they contribute to the Building Fund every year.”

“Very funny,” says Connor. “I’m sure they’ve rung my parents too. But neither of them would particularly care. They’ve got more important things to worry about.”

“Wow, you’re lucky,” says Saffron.

Connor says nothing. After a few seconds Saffron squeezes his hand. They sit in silence watching the sunset, pale rose-coloured clouds chasing the dying embers of the day across the horizon. Connor shifts position.

“I’m sorry for being a dick earlier today,” he says.

“Connor, I don’t want to talk about it-“

“I know, and that’s cool. I’m not going to go on about it. I just want you to know that I’m going to respect your wishes and not talk about what happened between you and…that arsehole ever again. Not unless you bring it up first. And I’m not going to take justice into my own hands either. I’ve realised that would only make things worse for you in the long-run and that’s the last thing I want. I only want you to be happy, Saff. So…yeah. That’s it. Forgive me?”

“We wouldn’t be sitting here now if I hadn’t already forgiven you, idiot,” says Saffron, craning her neck to kiss him.

[wingspiked]

hsr spoilers AND SLIGHT LEAKS ment / - on the aftermath and a certain theory.

after jenna sent me a particular twitter thread - have since gone feral.

i know we are all wondering what happened to sunday after the events of the trailblaze quest. i encourage you all to play through the epilogue (go back to the hallway of the grand theater and you will receive a text from robin) - it essentially confirms that he is not dead, but he is injured and very, very lonely and sad. but what happened to him? robin tells us when she awakens that he is no longer there - nowhere to be found. the implication being that he was either taken away - or more than likely absconded himself in misery to lick his wounds.

i think sunday is having a difficult time facing robin - because while ultimately his goals were not... 'wrong' they were just fundamentally flawed. the intentions were good - the underlying value understandable, but everything else surrounding it not so much. unfortunately - sunday was raised in a cult, raised literally to be this person - he is the charmony dove that was rescued and fell to it's death, but that's to be touched on another day.

anyways - again, what happened to sunday? there is a very plausible theory - that after the events of penacony, sunday is picked up by elio - and becomes a stellaron hunter.

'SAFF WHERE TF DID YOU GET THAT CRACKPOT THEORY FROM?' i'm glad you asked let me tell you!

in dreamflux rift - south of the bygoneville space anchor, there is a trash can in a tiny alcove. next to the trash can - is a poem titled 'death of the crow.'

the fact that it is listed as a mysterious invitation - is extremely important, but we'll circle back to that. the poem reads as follows:

now obviously this is very much an offshoot of edgar allan poe's 'the raven.' this is especially telling for a number of a reasons - as robin is riddled with emily dickinson motif's, and it would make sense that sunday (who is shown to have black wings wrapped around his waist similar to how robin has white) would be related to poe. additionally - while the birds that follow sunday around could've very well been his familiars - it's also possible that they are instead the dreammaster constantly keeping watch on sunday. regardless - he is surrounded by raven / crow and even dove motifs, where robin is very much little white or pure blue birds.

lets break it down bit by bit -

the first two stanzas set up the mention of the 'dying baby dove' - which is a direct correlation to the charmony dove that robin and sunday rescued as children, which lets us know that yes - this poem is almost MOST CERTAINLY about him. that dove obviously had a PROFOUND effect on sunday - who watched it die the second robin left to travel, despite their best efforts.

the third stanza is a bit more interesting. it begins to allude to sunday's warping vision of the world - likely after he became bronze melodia, and he started to see injustice and cruelty and had to make decisions on the behalf of harmony that were not conducive to his ideals. ADDITIONALLY, this stanza brings up "a flame-bathed raven, it's voice rasp that sings" which is MORE THAN LIKELY gopher wood given the following two stanzas.

these are more telling in different ways - because sunday was very much RAISED IN A CULT. he was fed immeasurable propaganda by the dreammaster (who is a halovian with black wings, by the way, when he did possess a form). while sunday is guilty of his actions - i want to circle back to that. this is the man that raised him. he was basically made for this. it's all he knows. anyways.

this line here is a direct representation of sunday switching from xipe's tune to ena - lest we forget that xipe DID absorb ena, so therefore to the halovian siblings, it is simply a different tune, is it not?

there is also the theory that the "flame-bathed raven" could be a direct reference to firefly - who's theme is 'nevermore' and she is incapable of dreaming, but it is more likely the poem is referencing gopher wood.

the next two stanzas mention 'scrying the world's pain' is very much a reference to sunday's overwhelming and misguided compassion - for how can he sit by and do nothing when he witnesses so much of it everyday. his heart 'grew resolute' in the wake of it - and thus he made the choice. sunday would then "ascend the stage" and "strive for divinity" - he draws back the curtain to his "utopia of absolute bliss" - HOWEVER....

" the dream is over, brother. "

the next stanza goes onto describe sunday losing the god's favor - casting him into darkness, and him likely being ready to fall and to die. BUT WHAT I WROTE ALL OF THIS FOR - WHAT I WANT EVERY TO FOCUS ON. IS THE LAST STANZA which i very much believe to be written by destiny's slave himself: elio.

once again - this is described as an invitation. this poem is elio inviting sunday to join the stellaron hunters "here lie the truest dreams, where infinite possibilities lope" "here all your ambitions shall be fulfilled and set aflame" - where else could sunday fulfill his desire for an elimination of worldly strife? where else could he turn but to the stellaron hunter's - who are all immensely powerful beings, with various goals that only elio's future can assist them in fulfilling? he is a PERFECT fit for the stellaron hunters, and a lethal one at that - with immeasurable power that he has barely demonstrated by his own hand.

there is another hint towards this as well - the poem / invitation is written by 'cecil simmes' by this twitter user:

SMALL LEAKS AHEAD!!!!

there is a light cone coming out that features sunday on it, in front of a gramophone. what other stellaron hunter has such a lightcone? well...

it has been suggested that elio utilized these for communication - which leads me to my next point, the description of this leaked light cone:

this lc description could be very well based on sunday heading to join the hunters after receiving the invitation (POTENTIALLY also via gramophone).

also, elio writing the penacony script? yeah.

one more thing to touch base on - we don't really actually know what happens to firefly at the very end. assumedly she's fine (they won't kill a stellaron hunter permanently - at least not yet). with sunday disappearing - i genuinely think it's VERY possible she picked him up and he could be with the hunters, as we speak, or at least healing somewhere since we know he was injured.

anyways! i genuinely, actually, 100% think this to be a VERY possible theory. HSR is known for scattering lore tidbits in the most skewed of places - leaving breadcrumbs for their players to find. i think it's even more possible because sunday's playability is not really in sight anywhere, and it's very likely he will be getting an outfit change for this etc, so we might end up with a unique model in comparison. i am sincerely glad he is alive though, and that we will likely be seeing him in the future. i do think this would be the correct path to take his character - as the stellaron hunters - while morally grey - are not without what could be deemed 'a good cause,' one that - i think - sunday fits in well to. so here is hoping we are right, and his next appearance will be as stellaron hunter: sunday.

credits -

big shout out to @defiedlife for letting me brainrot at you and assisting me with this, and i encourage everyone to read THIS twitter thread, and THIS reddit thread - which are a touch more cohesive than my excited rambling.

[gemkun]

Please recommend Aventurines and Acherons for me to follow! I came back to the fandom and finally finished 2.1/2.2 and now I love them.

hi anon ! thank you for giving me a chance to gush about some of the best aventurine and acheron writers out there. see them below !

aventurines

@blindbet : i cannot express how much i love ( and hate ) dak's aven. the hcs he has spun and the way he writes aven is so delicious that i am so lucky ( and cursed ) to be able to write with his menace. not to mention his dialogue sounds like it's literally ripped out from hoyo's script. from one - liners to multiparas , dak never fails to let his peacock fan his feathers. i cannot imagine my hsr journey without him in it uwu

@luckquartzed : luna is incredible. the amount of thought and time she puts into her aventurine is . . . insane. she has shared so much research with me and literally is so invested into this blonde golden goose and you can see it in every response. the way luna manages to write him with an assortment of other characters honestly amazes me because it's something i struggle with. it's something i admire greatly.

@defiedlife : jenna loml. she might have been one of the first aventurine's i wrote with and he has such a special place in my heart. she writes him as the little minx he is ( saff's words ) but goes into so much more depth. her writing is so rich and refreshing and the way she delves into his psyche has me in awe.

@kushtibokt : naans is known for writing little shits and aventurine is no exception. thankfully he's not ginger. their aventurine is so cocky and true to his character. not only do you get a good giggle out of naans' portrayal but on the other hand , there is exceptional insight into the darker traits of his character which i think is truly admirable. they also write amazing hcs and pick out details that people often overlook ( myself included ).

@apocryphis : ventium is just a must follow in general. i haven't written with her aventurine ( guilty as charged ) as much as i should but you only need to read some responses to understand how much care and love she invests into the gambling trickster. not to mention her character studies are so informative and you can tell each aspect has been critically analysed which just adds to the amount of passion she puts into her muses.

@starspurn : kit my beloved. she's on hiatus rn but she writes a spectacular aventurine. i miss him and kit a lot actually. he will prod and poke your muses and rile them up until he's grinning like the cat that got the cream but it is exhilarating.

honourable mentions : @aventvrina , @highrolls , @spadilled , @raytm ( even if all you write is gepard ) , @stagehunt ( i know we have never written vos but i've seen your writing and it is chef's kiss ) , @ephemyrals ( bring him back from the war mona )

acherons

@amourem : saff is just an incredible writer overall. this is her multi cause she deleted her acheron ( boo ! ) but i'm sure if asked she will pull her out of the abyss.

@finalism : please please please follow ori. i have not written with her acheron yet but i've glimpsed some of it and the dialogue and description and mystery is so . . . on point. ori in general writes brilliantly from her blade to her ratio to her acheron and of course her dazai.

[tabitha42]

The Wizard's Apprentice - Chapter 19

Saffron is just a lowly apprentice with barely a successful firebolt to her name. So what chance does she have with the arch mage she's slowly falling in love with?

Gale x Tav, slow burn, eventual smut

Chapter 1 Previous chapter Next chapter

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and joy. Wine flowed, people danced, music and laughter filled the air. Karlach had convinced Wyll to join the party, at least for a bit, and the six of them were finally catching up on the day as the tieflings settled in. 

“Then suddenly, there were 6 of her!” Astarion recounted, throwing his usual dramatic flair on the story as he told it. “Of course, immediately I knew which was the real one.” “Did you?” Shadowheart challenged. “Funny how you shot all the others first, then.” “Well, I had to shoot them to get rid of them,” he said defensively. 

“I’m sure that’s the reason,” she said knowingly, looking into her cup of wine before taking a sip. 

“I don’t know how you’re drinking that swill,” Astarion murmured, looking at her glass. “Honestly, we rescue these tieflings and this is the thanks we get? Vinegar for wine?”

“Oh, did no one tell you where the good wine was?” she said, sounding… somewhat genuine as she looked over at him. 

“There’s good wine?” he asked, equal parts surprised and eager. 

“There is. Give me the hag’s bone charm and I’ll tell you where it is,” she said, a small smile playing on her lips. 

“Oh, I see. Forget it, it’s mine,” he snapped back, narrowing his eyes at her. Saff, Gale and Wyll had very quickly come to learn that the others were all trying to convince Astarion out of this charm he’d got off the hag. 

“If you insist,” she said calmly with a shrug, taking another deep gulp of wine. Astarion watched her, twitching slightly. 

“I still can’t believe you managed to defeat a hag,” Gale said, deciding to pull the conversation away from Astarion’s desperation for a good glass of wine. He didn’t see the problem, the wine wasn’t anything great but it wasn’t as bad as Astarion was making out. “They’re notoriously powerful.” 

“As are we,” Lae’zel said confidently. “I was disappointed to have missed the goblin fight, but the hag makes for a fine victory.” 

“I can’t say I’m sad to have missed fighting a hag,” Gale said with a small chuckle. “Though I might have been interested to see her magic. I wonder if she’d have been able to remove the tadpole if you’d let her try.” 

“Well she’s still there if you want to find out for yourself,” Astarion said, finally prying his thoughts away from the wine. “You will have to give her an eye, though.” 

“I’m quite content with my eyes the way they are, thank you very much. But that won’t stop me wondering.” 

“What happened to the girl?” Saff asked, leaning forward a bit. “What was her name? Mary something? You didn’t leave her with the hag, did you?”

“Mayrina. No, we didn’t, the hag told her the deal was off. Then the ungrateful little wretch said we’d ruined everything and ran away,” Astarion said, rolling his eyes. “We found her crying over her husband’s corpse. We also found a wand in the hag’s lair with his name on it. Well, she now has a zombie for a husband,” he said with a smirk, clearly feeling like they got back at her for being so ungrateful. 

“Poor girl…” Karlach murmured with a sad sigh, much less happy about the outcome of it all. 

“She made a deal with a hag and lived to tell the tale. You’ve given her more than most people would have got in her situation,” Wyll said. It was the first time he’d spoken in a while - he’d generally been quite quiet and reserved, but Saff couldn’t help but notice that one of the first times he speaks is to cheer up Karlach. It worked - Karlach managed a small smile. 

“Yeah, I guess so. I hope she gets back to Baldur’s Gate ok.” 

“Maybe we’ll be able to find her when we get there ourselves,” Wyll suggested optimistically, meeting her smile with a smile of his own. 

Meanwhile, Astarion had gone back to staring at Shadowheart’s wine glass and finally broke. 

“Oh gods, fine! I’ll give you the damn thing, but you have to give me the wine first,” he snapped, seemingly out of nowhere. Shadowheart was unsurprised though, and just smiled. 

“Very well, this way,” she said, standing up and leading him off. 

“Do you think she actually has a stash of good wine hidden away?” Gale wondered, starting to sound a bit tempted. Saff chuckled and shook her head. 

“I think she’s having him on,” she said, watching as the two disappeared off towards her tent. 

“She is,” Lae’zel said confidently. The others looked at her in surprise. “Mol has the good wine. She told me as much earlier.”

Gale chuckled softly. Of course Mol would say that. 

“Well then, I think we’d better pay Mol a visit,” he decided, standing up. 

Mol did, indeed, have some wine, and she was even willing to part with it for a small offering of coin. Whether or not it was actually any better than the rest of the wine was hard to say.

The group split up to mingle with the rest of the guests. Gale and Saff’s eyes were caught by a dancing spell across the camp, and made their way over to find Rolan performing illusions for his siblings. Sparkling lights shimmered in the air above them, glittering as they fluttered down to earth. It was a fairly basic spell, but beautiful nonetheless.

Gale and Saff joined Cal and Lia in applause, and soon were chatting to Rolan about his plans to further his wizarding powers once he got to Baldur’s Gate.

“Lorroakan?” Gale said in surprise when he heard the name of Rolan’s master-to-be. “I’ve heard of him. Word in Waterdeep is he’s a bit of a cad, but you say he’s an accomplished wizard?”

“Of course he is! The greatest spellcaster along the Sword Coast. As if I’d settle for a lessor mentor,” Rolan said confidently, almost offended by Gale’s comments. 

“Malitas says the same… he’s not a big fan of Lorroakan. Though I was surprised when he said that, I always thought Lorroakan was supposed to be incredibly powerful,” Saff commented.

“He is incredibly powerful. Whoever this Malitas is clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Rolan said dismissively. 

“He’s my master. He’s from Baldur’s Gate as well, and he does know what he’s talking about,” she replied rather defensively. Though given what Gale had said about him in the past, there was the slightest bit of uncertainty in her voice.

“Malitas? Never heard of him,” Rolan said with a shrug, as if that proved he wasn’t worth listening to by virtue of not being famous. 

“He likes to keep a low profile.”

“He does? Strange. Any wizard worth his salt should be proud of his skills.” 

Gale decided to intervene before an argument started. 

“Well, if Lorroakan is as powerful as you say, then I’d very much appreciate it if you could arrange an introduction should we reach the city.”

“Ah yes, a grand idea! I would be happy to. Then you can both see how powerful he is for yourselves.”

Conversation after that, luckily, was a bit more light-hearted. They discussed magic, their favourite spells, and swapped stories of the various disasters they’d each caused during their time spent learning their craft. 

Eventually they left to mingle with the others. As the night wore on the wine continued to flow, and soon Alfira had gained a small group of dancers in front of her as she played. Luckily either she hadn’t drunk as much as the rest of them, or if she had, she was much better at playing while drunk than anyone had any right to be. 

“Come on, let’s dance!” Karlach called to them as she went to the dancefloor herself. Her enthusiasm was infectious it seemed, as she managed to get Halsin and Astarion up there with her too, though the significant amounts of wine they’d both had probably helped. 

Saff’s face lit up and she looked to Gale. 

“Let’s go!” she said excitedly, but he shook his head. 

“You go dance. I am not one for dancing - especially not when I’ve had quite this much to drink,” he said with a laugh. Though there was an ache in his heart as he said that - in his youth, back at the academy, he was quite the dancer. His was a popular hand at the annual Blackstaff’s Ball. But in recent months, it was yet another thing he found he’d lost his love for. A melancholy mood came over him as he thought about it. 

“Aww, come on, please?” she begged, taking his arm and trying to pull him along, but he remained resolute. 

“Perhaps later. For now, I think I need to sit down. Besides, I’ve had you to myself all evening. The others deserve the pleasure of your company too.” She sighed and folded her arms. 

“Alright, later. I’ll hold you to that,” she said playfully, before joining Karlach and the others. 

Gale headed back to his tent and sat down on the blankets just outside the door. His shift in mood hung over him until he looked up to see the others and found a smile come to his lips as he saw Saff dancing, smiling widely as she lost herself in the music. He hadn’t realised how skilled a dancer she was and found himself mesmerised as he watched her, the elegant sway of her hips and flow of her arms, each twirl and movement flowing perfectly into the next. It was rude to stare, of course… but he couldn’t help himself now as he watched her dancing in the moonlight.

The songs flew by, until eventually it was just Saff and Karlach left out of their group. Astarion had retreated back to the wine and Halsin back to a quieter corner. Even Saff was beginning to tire, but Karlach looked like she could dance all night. 

“Ahh, Saff, I’m so happy!” she declared, holding her arms out wide and soaking in the atmosphere. “All these people, happy, because of us! It’s so good to be back here, in a place where good can still happen. Ten years… ten years I’ve been stuck in the Hells… but this… this is everything I dreamed of coming back to!” 

Saff could hear the emotion in her voice, even see tears forming in her eyes as she spoke. 

“Well… almost everything,” she said, lowering her arms and looking at Saff with a playful smile. “Now I just need to find a fire-retardant lover to get lost in all night.” She paused and glanced around with a cheeky grin. “Where’s Wyll?”

Saff couldn’t help but laugh.

“I feel, for his sake, I need to remind you he’s not fire-retardant,” she teased. 

“I know. Believe me, I know. Not a moment goes by where I don’t curse the world for it.”

“Maybe we need to find you guys a potion of fire resistance.” 

“You know, that might help,” she laughed, then went back to looking round. “Hang on - where is Wyll?” she asked, realising she couldn’t actually see him anywhere. Saff looked around too and realised he was nowhere to be seen. “Shit,” Karlach swore, suddenly feeling guilty. “I shouldn’t have left him…” 

Saff felt her heart sink too. Had Wyll really only been staying around cause Karlach had made him? 

“If he really doesn’t want to be here… then maybe it’s better to let that happen,” she said sadly. 

“Maybe… but just because he doesn’t want to be at the party, doesn’t mean he has to be on his own,” Karlach decided. “I’ll go find him.” 

“You sure? He wouldn’t want you to miss the party,” she said, knowing how much Karlach had been enjoying herself. 

“I’ve been partying all night. I’ve loved every moment of it, but right now… I want to be with him,” she said softly. The sincerity in her voice brought a smile to Saff’s lips. “Plus… I need to free you up to get someone else to dance with you,” she added playfully, throwing a glance in Gale’s direction.

“Pfft, I’ve tried. He won’t,” she said, shaking her head with a disappointed sigh. 

“Well you just haven’t tried hard enough! Plus, he’s had more to drink now,” she said with a grin. “Have a dance for me and Wyll. I’ll see you in the morning.”

With that she gave her a wave and headed off to find him. Saff sighed softly and glanced around. Shadowheart and Astarion were sat on a rock, sharing what was presumably the good wine, looking like they were judging everyone in the camp. They probably were. Lae’zel was talking to one of the tieflings, Halsin was talking to Zevlor, and Gale was by himself. Well, she decided, it was time to remedy that. 

He looked up at her and smiled as she approached. 

“Done dancing?” he asked as she sat next to him, lifting the bottle of wine that was sat next to him to offer her some. 

“For now,” she answered, holding out her glass. He poured the wine, giving her a generous portion. “Is this a different wine to before?” she asked, giving it a sniff. 

“Yes. I finished the other bottle,” he admitted. She chuckled softly and took a sip. “Where did Karlach go?” he asked, having clearly watched their conversation just now. 

“To go find Wyll.” 

He paused, frowned, then looked around, surprised to see that Wyll had, in fact, disappeared. 

“Huh… I didn’t even notice him leave.” He sighed softly and looked into his drink. “I hope he’s ok…” 

“I think Karlach’s going to make sure of that,” she said with a confident smile. 

“Heh, I hope you’re right. Hard to believe those two were enemies less than a tenday ago. They’ve become fast friends,” he said, and the way he said it implied he was well aware of the budding relationship between them. 

“They’re not the only ones,” Saff said, looking up at him. It wasn’t something she’d usually have the courage to say, but the copious amounts of alcohol were certainly helping in that regard. He looked at her in surprise at first, until a smile came to his lips. 

“No… I suppose they’re not,” he said softly. They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, before Gale spoke again.

“I never knew you were such a good dancer,” he complimented, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a sip.

“You think?” she asked, a slight blush on her cheeks as she looked at him. “Most definitely. Your dancing is like… poetry of the body. Beautiful, elegant… mesmerising, even…” he said softly. The blush on her cheeks deepened and she found herself almost too flustered to reply. 

“Well… next time, you’ll just have to join me,” she said, looking at him with a playful smile, hoping the blush wasn’t too obvious. 

“Hmm… you’re certainly tempting me to reconsider…” he mused, holding her gaze for a long moment… til he finally leant back a bit and lifted his cup to his mouth. “For now though, you look like you could do with a rest,” he said with a slight chuckle, which she had to agree with. 

The two of them sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the wine, the atmosphere, and each other’s company.

“Beautiful night, don’t you think?” Gale said after a while. “Nothing like a brush with death to make one appreciate the majesty of the celestial canvas.” 

“It’s stunning,” she agreed, following his gaze up to the stars. “I used to love stargazing back home when I was younger, in the orphanage. One of the books had all the constellations. I’d always try to find them, but I never could,” she admitted, chuckling slightly. He glanced down at her a moment, then back up at the sky. 

“Which ones did you look for?” he asked. 

“The Centaur. The Woman Warrior. The Huntsman,” she said, listing the first few that came to mind. 

Gale looked up, his eyes scanning the sky. He then raised his hand and pointed upwards. 

“See that line of stars there?” he asked, carefully tracing the line with his finger. 

“Where?” she asked, trying to follow where he was pointing. He glanced down again, then carefully leant down til his head was next to hers, adjusting where he was pointing to match her viewpoint. He moved his arm behind her slightly to rest his weight on. 

“There,” he whispered, tracing the outline of the constellation once more. “Can you see it?”

There was a pause, then he heard a small gasp. 

“Yes!” she whispered, elation in her voice. He smiled to himself, happy to hear her excitement. 

“That’s the Warrior Woman. And over here,” he started, moving his hand to another part of the sky, “rides the Centaur. Do you see him?” 

Another pause, followed by another squeal of delight. 

“I do!” She could hardly believe it. It had felt impossible to find them on her own, but now they were pointed out, she could see them clear as day. “They’re beautiful.” 

“They are, aren’t they?” he agreed, lowering his hand, but staying close to her. “They say in another thousand years he will complete his voyage across the sky and cross swords with the Woman Warrior again, as they did a hundred years ago. Do you know what happened then?” he asked, glancing to her. She shook her head. He looked back to the stars as he spoke. “It is a story of two lovers who sought the destruction of Waterdeep, and the heroes who defended the city. They say it was the hottest day of the year as a great female warrior and a heroic centaur engaged in an arm-wrestle in one of Waterdeep’s most famous taverns, Selûne's Smile, run by an avatar of the goddess herself. The cosmic alignment magnified the power of their contest, which mixed with latent magic amplified by the heat, to tear open a portal. Through that portal came the lovers Aviss and Fellandar, ancient enemies of the city, to wreak a path of destruction. Khelben Arunsun, the Lord Mage of Waterdeep, urged the warrior and the centaur to continue their contest to keep the portal open while the heroes Kyriani Agrivar and Onyx the Invincible pursued the lovers. Luna herself, Selûne's avatar, joined the fight, and with their strength combined they were able to banish the lovers back from whence they came, and the city was saved. The moral of the story is always check the constellations before starting an arm wrestle.” 

She laughed at what had sounded like such a serious story followed by such a nonsensical moral. 

“Did that really happen?” she asked, looking at him. 

“So they say,” he answered, looking back to meet her eyes again. He still hadn’t moved away from where he’d positioned himself earlier, and as they looked into each other’s eyes now, they were close enough to feel the other’s breath on their skin. 

“Wild things happen in Waterdeep, don’t they?” she said softly, almost a whisper.

“More than you could believe… you’ll have to come and see for yourself,” Gale replied. He knew he shouldn’t let himself give into this, but he found himself getting lost in her eyes…

“I’d like that…” she whispered, getting equally lost in his eyes, slowly starting to lean closer…

Above them, across the camp, Shadowheart and Astarion watched. 

“This has got to be it,” Astarion said, not taking his eyes off them as he sipped his wine. 

“It’s not going to happen,” Shadowheart said confidently, only half watching them as she drank. “10 gold says they’re sharing a tent by the end of the night.” 

“Ohh, you’re on.”

[kitkatopinions]

Nitpick for Day #25

The fact that Jaune's sisters aren't Hunters is a big loss for the writers and it makes some of the early dialogue in RWBY feel weird.

Iirc, in like V1, Jaune says that his whole family have been Hunters. It's already weird enough that he supposedly comes from a long line of Hunters but he doesn't know what aura is and he has no real ability to fight and nobody acts like they've heard his family name 'Arc' before in their lives. That's already weird and badly done, because if Jaune's family is populated by Hunters, then the teachers (Oz implied to have been a teacher during STRQ era and Port having been a TA during STRQ era especially) should have probably known his parents? Oz should've known several generations of his family actually? Ruby who idolizes the Hunters should have some knowledge of them? Jaune should know more about Hunters and the Grimm and fighting himself just even by pure happenstance!

But also when I say "my whole family" I usually mean my sisters???? If I say "my family is full of media critics lol" I'm very much so including my sisters within that summary. If I say "my family were all raised in church" I don't just mean my parents and grandparents, I mean my sisters too. If it doesn't apply to my sisters, I'm not gonna say "my family" I'm just gonna say "my parents and grandparents and great grandparents." There was at least an implication that Jaune's whole family including any siblings were Hunters. And yet it doesn't seem like his sisters were Hunters at all. Why? Not one of them went into the family business? Not one of them went to Haven or Beacon? And before anyone says "well some of them probably did off screen" please do not, off screen means nothing, and there's zero indication that I remember that any of Jaune's sisters were hunters. But it's so easy to slip into the show in a way that makes sense!

"Your name is Arc?" Weiss asks when she and Jaune are first introduced. "As in Topaz Arc, who just dispatched the Goliath Grimm rampaging near Argus?" Jaune, with a sigh "Uh, yeah, good ol' big sis... Anyway-"

"Didn't your sister win the Vytal Tournament?" Ruby asks Jaune. "Don't remind me," Jaune says back. "I have a lot to live up to."

"Where are your sisters in all this?" Ren asks as they're on the road in V4. "Oh well, most of them are in Vale," Jaune would respond. "They're still helping with the repairs and protecting citizens, you know, like the heroes they are." "And they just let you leave?" Nora asks. "No way. Let me tell you, running away from five overprotective big sisters who are trained to hunt is no small feat!"

Qrow, when they're in Argus with Safron and Terra: "Hey, aren't you the one that took down that underground crime ring in (city name) a few years back?" Safron: "Well, that was a long time ago. I did the whole Huntress thing for a bit, but it wasn't for me. I met Terra and we wanted to settle down. And lucky we did, since it means I could be there to help this little guy." *Ruffles Jaune's hair.* Jaune: "Saff! This is a pit stop, I'm on the field too, you know." Safron: "Fine, fine. I worry about you out there with none of us to protect you." Jaune: "I have Nora for that."

It feels like it should be easy!

[cursed-princess-club]

if you don't mind me asking, could you rank these "couples" from most to least likely to end up together in the final?

Maria and Blaine

Lorena and Lance

Gwen and Frederick

Nell and Jolie

Jamie and Leopold

Whitney and Prez

Saffron and Syrah (I'm helpless with names i'm pretty sure that's not how it's written)

7am for me on a weekend just woke up im still in bed and yeah sure why not lol

story-wise, i don't feel like any plaid/pastel ships will necessarily end up together. their mutual crushes are very canon and a plot point with gwen's self image slowly becoming dependent on how frederick sees her, and frederick learning how to care about himself and fight for what he believes in. gwen is kind of one of his first friends i'd say, they do like each other a lot, but my intuition tells me it'd be left ambiguous or with them taking time off deciding to be friends for now, and i would honestly love that. 1. Friendship is AWESOME and doesn't mean less than a romantic relationship!! so 2. just think it'd be cool... Frederick's whole arc is motivated by Gwen, and the message of him doing all this just for the fact he cares about her and NOT just to get with her, and him being just as happy that they're friends as much as he'd be happy if they kissed at the end of the fight or something. Epic

the farthest i could see their relationship going is some future flash forward where they're just casually together, or one of them approaches each other and is like "could we try this again?" otherwise i see gwen and frederick taking their relationship slow ever since the gala incident. Could also be completely wrong. 6/10 chance in my book

after the Gala Shebang, i think any infatuation maria felt for blaine has wiped away and i just can't see them ending up together together in the story, and having it make sense. Maybe like. 30 years in the future?? cause i could see maria dating around. Never text your ex when you're drunk type situation.

lorance: ...maybe.? I'll have to watch a little more and see what my brain tells me. so far im feeling they end up friends bc adore their friendship tbh. I'll have to see till after the siege, they very much so care about each other though!

jellie: Yes (just a hunch)

syron: ambiguous. a specific scenario suited towards their relationship . i feel it in my bones. epilogue where saff confesses and sy's just like haha. WAIT WHAT??? 7/10

leomie: Yes. their confession is in my top 3 for cpc. No words. Undescribed. I. I cannot express,

calwhit: feel like it'd stay unrequited on whitney's end but they'd be a great qpr! prez being romance avoidant and such 😎 (aro lore tbh)

[officialleehadan]

If It Bites You

Hello darlings! Today's story was brought to you by Bradford! Darling, thank you so much for all your support! It means the world to me!

Prompt: The Monster of the Isle with: "Hey I think I might be toxic. Also where should I put this very dead snake?"

+++

“So uh, I have a question.”

It’s Craig. I didn’t expect him to survive this long, but he’s been surprisingly careful about not touching things, and very sensibly doesn’t try to save people who are already dead from their own choices. These days, we’re pretty much down to just the smart members of our group, and deaths are a lot less common. Craig has survived long enough for it not to be an accident.

Then again, he’s also holding a dead snake, so the jury’s still kind of out.

“What does it mean when something bites you and it dies?” he asks and gestures with the snake still in his hand, looking a little bit lost. “I didn’t bite it, so it’s not venomous, right?”

“Toxic,” Saffina supplies from her workstation and eyes the dead snake. “If you bite it and it dies, you’re venomous. If it bites you and it dies, you’re toxic.”

“If you bite each other and nobody dies it’s kinky,” Círce calls with a grin that would be promising on anyone else and mostly just serves to bare her fangs. She hasn’t let the scientists look at her teeth yet, but I’m betting that she is packing some serious venom. “So, dead snake?”

“Uh, yeah,” Craig says and looks around aimlessly. “So uh. Where do I put it?”

“Did it die before or after you touched it?” Saffina asks, and pulls on gloves before she comes over to examine the snake. “And you’re sure it’s really dead?”

“Broke its neck even after I was pretty sure it was dead. Didn’t want to take chances.”

“Good choice. In the box.”

Craig obligingly drops the snake into the box Saffina offers. Her claws can go right through her thin gloves, but they’ll protect her hands from any potential contact poisons. When the new specimen is contained, he edges in my direction a little bit nervous, and seeking the same reassurance I tend to give my Pack.

“So… changes,” he says tentatively. Now that I’m listening, there’s a weird little chitter under his voice. I wonder what other traits he’s gotten that he either didn’t notice or didn’t mention. “I’m… I think I’m toxic now. I didn’t even see it before it bit me and wrapped around my arm. Started to squeeze before it went limp all at once.”

“If it wrapped around you and started to squeeze it was a constrictor,” Saffina says, and looks into the box again. “That makes sense. It’s too heavy-bodied for a viper. Just in case, stay close. We don’t have any antivenoms, but if you start having venom effects, we’ll do what we can for you.”

“Thanks Saff. So boss… uh. What now?”

“Guess you’re Pack now,” I say with a shrug and catch Zack’s eye. He’s much better at keeping everyone in order. My job is just to kind of be the person people lay on when they freak out. Saffina took a nap on my shoulder after the acid claws revelation and Marishka purred and petted her hair. It was nice. “So your job is gonna change. Once we know what all has changed for you, we’ll move you to a job that works best with your new abilities.”

“I’m stronger too,” Craig says uncomfortably. “But I didn’t know about the poison part.”

“Sit down. I’ll test your fluids and get you some answers,” Saffina says reassuringly. She switches gloves now that the snake is dead and goes for the communal took kits for swabs. Craig is still bleeding from where the snake bit him, so she tests that too, before drawing a little blood, and swabbing the inside of his cheek. “We have baseline tests for everyone here, so I should be able to compare what you were to what you are now.”

“No cuddles until after we know you’re not dangerous to touch,” Siggi says, completely unbothered by so much physical contact, although some of the more American soldiers are a little bit weird about it. I’m glad that Zack just doesn’t care, and Siggi isn’t American. Círceisn’t as touchy as Marishka who is delighted to drape herself on anyone who holds still long enough. “How did you get bitten by a snake, anyway?”

“You know when people say ‘if it was a snake, it would have bit me’? Craig asks with a rueful smile, although he holds absolutely still as Saffina takes a small skin sample from his hand. It doesn’t bleed. Saffina is careful. “It was a snake. It bit me.”

“You didn’t grab it?”

“Thought it was a stick across a pack I was trying to move.”

He was lucky. So incredibly lucky, both that it was a constrictor, and that he happened to be toxic himself. Anyone else in our group would have struggled and many of them would have died. My Pack would probably be alright, but that’s something different. They all have alternative options for getting out of a bad situation.

“I’m glad you’re not dead,” I tell him and pat his shoulder, careful only to touch his body armor, just in case the rest of him is toxic too. “Don’t worry. Saffina will figure out what’s going on with you, and when she does, we’ll get you settled into the pack.”

+++

The Monster of the Isle:

Isle of Monsters

Return to the Isle of Monsters

Monsterpedia   (Subscriber Only!)

Doom in the Distance (Subscriber Only!)

Eight Down

In the Trees (Subscriber Only!)

Specimen Hunting

First Changes (Subscriber Only!)

Croczilla

Flying Vampire Frogs (Subscriber Only!)

Unsettling

In the Food

On-The-Go Snacking (Subscriber Only!)

Drum Doom (Subscriber Only!)

Below Beasts

Monster Versus Monster (Subscriber Only!)

Fight or Flight (Subscriber Only!)

Pack to Defend (Subscriber Only!)

Adjusting Time (Subscriber Only!)

Acid Claws

Smell What's Coming (Subscriber Only!)

If It Bites You (New!)

+++

MASTERLIST

[simcardiac-arrested]

your fever is going up? 😳well then

false disposition is a song by ferry, the second song in the parties are for losers vocaloid series, released not long after the first one. it centres around sanya and her relationship with yura and sergei (sorta). it is a series of flashbacks. the next pafl song will also focus on sanya, i suspect

the first flashback is of sergei telling sanya that the world is a cruel place to people like her (shes albino), that he'll keep her safe. he has a very "it doesnt matter if youre not happy it matters that youre alive", although he also cares about her happiness still. he prefers she'd be alive tho. their parents are dead, so, hes had to take care of her for . around a decade? almost completely alone, with the help of nikita (loser) and kolya (we'll learn about him next song i think). she does care about sergei, but dear god she wishes he'd at least let her go to school (shes homeschooled)

now, homeschooled. she gets tutored by yura in math, who sergei is also preparing to become a stalker. she loves hanging out with him. hes her only friend - he doesnt rlly consider her a friend at this point, just a weird teen he tutors. that sucks at math. she likes hearing about how his days are going, and, they don't even rlly talk about math lol they just talk about random shit. one day, sanya asks yura to take her to a party, and! after a bit of surprise he does!

she does not like it there:( more specificaly, she sees yura flirting with a girl, and she goes outside, kicks up and punches trashcans all "ohhh this world is a cruel place to people like me, he told me so- i wont give him that, damage control wont help me now- i wish i felt nothing at all" bc like, i dunno, her and yura have a weird crush thing going on. but they also don't. weirdos. yura however comes to find her n goes Oh Man i hate this town. and starts beating up the very same trashcans with a baseball bat. n they bond then and there ... besties ... their fates, sealed as buddies ....

anyway, the song ends like it started- with sanya running after yura who is going to the zone for his stalker trip, and going "its not like im saying goodbye, but just in case, i wanna tell you i-" but yura interrupts her. tells her that he'll come back, not to worry. gives her his jacket. and thats it boyyy. check these images out

heres your saff boss

[tisiphonewolfe]

happy sts! how do your ocs deal with anger? how about fear?

Hi~! Thanks for asking!

Almyra: Almyra's first reaction to anger is to throw a tantrum. She's used to getting what she wants if she complains loudly enough. Fear though, if it's something that can be reasoned with, she turns to bargaining very fast. If not, depends where in the story we are - before she has some time to develop, she'll usually just scream for help and hope someone else will deal with it.

Releine: Releine's response to both is pretty similar. Growling, making herself big and intimidating. If the object of her fear is something she can reasonably throw herself at and claw the shit out of it though, she's doing that.

Jessa: When angry, Jessa can get very passive-agressive. She knows how to make it very cutting. Her fear response depends; up against someone she doesn't want to hurt, she tends to freeze up. Otherwise, she has some very sharp knives.

Tenacity: Tenacity is not really prone to either emotion. Placed in a situation where those might be reasonable things to feel, she tends to be calculating the best way to remove those obstacles.

Ellimane: Ellimane is known to set off on decades-long quests for revenge when wronged, so making her angry isn't always a good option. If she's afraid, though, she'll take whatever option gets her out of there most immediately. Running away at top speed, by any means necessary.

Hyrin and Saff: Hyrin is a very angry person. She has ice magic, and yet her fists will fly at a moment's notice. Saff has learned to keep a calm head so that he can cool her down, however, he is also given to cold rage. He doesn't have time to fear, because he has a tiny, furious arcanist he's duty-bound to protect.

Yurhagh: Yurhagh is very calm in the face of both of these, and will usually try and talk her way out. If that's not an option, she's more than willing to square up. She has huge biceps and a battleaxe, so the source of her rage or fear had better top that.

Maribelle: Maribelle is not physically gifted, so her anger tends to lead more towards vicious insults than anything else. Similarly, when she's afraid, her first reaction is usually to fawn; if that fails, she's booking it.

[treason-and-plot]

“What do you think’s going on in there?” says Connor. “Why’s Laura taking so long?”

“I can’t hear any screaming,” says Wesley. “That’s a good sign, right?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Laura's incapable of screaming because Saffy’s shoved her head down the toilet,” says Connor.

“Christ. You think one of us should go in?” says Wesley.

“Maybe we should just wait for a girl to walk past and ask her to go in for us?”

“The bell’s gone, you dick. Everyone’s on their way to class. No girls are going to be walking past for another forty minutes.”

“You’re right,” says Connor. “Okay. Looks like it has to be you or me. You wanna toss a coin?”

“What’s wrong with scissors paper rock?” says Wesley.

“Okay, fine-“ says Connor, just as Saffron and Laura walk out of the bathroom. Neither of them has any visible injuries, and they both look calm and relaxed. Saffron meets Connor’s relieved glance and gives him a tight-lipped smile.

“What’s wrong?” says Laura. “You two boys never seen two girls walk out of a bathroom before?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” says Connor. “We were just starting to get a bit concerned. Because the bell went a few minutes ago and we’re all going to be late for class if we don’t get a move on. Is that alright?”

“God, you’re such a dweeb,” says Laura. “Let’s go, then. Saffy and I have both got Classic Lit. It doesn’t matter if we’re late, Castillo’s so short-sighted he wouldn’t notice if we were siting there naked, would he, Saff?”

“Actually, I think I’m going to skip class,” says Saffron.

“But you never skip class,” says Connor.

“So skipping class once isn’t going to hurt, is it?” she says. “Well? Are you in?”

“You’re going to make Connor skip class as well? “ says Laura. “Woah! Connor! I’m shocked! Skipping class is a slippery slope, my friend! One day you miss a class, the next you’re living in a dumpster in some filthy back alley with nothing but a horde of rats for company!”

“Well, that's what you get for calling me a dweeb," says Connor.

[oleanderfeathers]

Saffron finally has an updated ref sheet! Im very very proud of this since it’s my first proper art since taking a break!

Theres also a bunch of extra doodles and info in the second image- feel free to ask Saff some questions in my ask box anytime!

Please don’t steal or take heavy inspiration from him, I’ve owned him for about 5 years now and he means so much to me

[prestochange]

In his mindscape, a paradise resembling a true manifestation of a Renaissance painting coming to life. Within it, this so-called paradise, blue birds and doves danced together in harmony; the wildflowers, abundant in their blooms and vivid colors, dotted the green meadows stretching the entire landscape as far as the eyes could see. A figure in the center of it all, luscious obsidian hair falling past his shoulders, with a physique so masculine and sculpted like one of those Olympian gods. But when asked, he would deny his divinity with a soft chuckle, and answered with humility that godhood was something that he never strived for. He only longed for a life of simplicity.

In his right hand, a harp. In his left hand, a flower. Perhaps a periwinkle. Perhaps a forget-me-not. Its form never constant; ever shifting in the eyes of the beholder. After all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and the meaning of the flowers they once would translate differently to many others. Upon closer observation, figures of many male lovers were to be found lying around in joyful bliss. All around the central figure of this paradise, seemingly finding eternal happiness after a life-long pursuit of this fickle creature they call happiness. No longer they seemed to be exhausted by the weariness of the world. They knew naught but calm and peace in this paradise of theirs. For someone who grew up enveloped with nothing but love, Saguaro simply had a lot of love to give. And he will not stop at one, when he could continue to sow and sow and sow, until one day, he too will dissipate into a fairytale of his own― A prophetic hero, leaving behind a legacy of countless lovers.

She can't help but crack a smile and then burst into gentle laughter. How bacchanal and wildly sweet. Touring the scene is an ode to a lifestyle committed to no holds barred love, and kindness. She hasn't laughed in a little while.

There... hasn't been much to laugh about.

What a scenario. What a scene, and what a quite amusing hero this was.

Fairytale lover.

She'd have to keep this one in her back pocket.

'My dear Saguaro. Please note that Saff-Cakes has been working on a prize for contestants. I will instruct them to have you collect yours early, as well as its recipe.

[tabitha42]

The Wizard's Apprentice - Chapter 39

Saffron is just a lowly apprentice with barely a successful firebolt to her name. So what chance does she have with the arch mage she's slowly falling in love with?

Gale x Tav, slow burn, eventual smut

Chapter 1 Previous chapter Next chapter

The mood was varied that evening. Shadowheart was annoyed, and somewhat in denial, about her theory being proven false. She’d muttered about being sure there was something about Malitas they weren’t seeing, even though she knew he’d spoken the truth while under the effects of her spell. Astarion had simply said it would have been useful to have someone in their party who could send 7 people and a tressym to sleep in an instant and had criticised Gale for letting him leave. “If he’s so desperate to protect Saff, let him protect her next time we get into a fight,” he’d said. Shadowheart had then pointed out it would be another person to share their already meagre rations of wine with, and he’d agreed at that point maybe they were better off without him around. 

Saff was conflicted. On one hand she was happy to not need to worry about the possibility that Malitas had been conditioning her over the last three years she’d known him, and was glad that he’d apologised for what he’d said and that he and Gale had come to an understanding. But while it meant a lot to her that he’d gone some way to prove he was sorry by finding the book for Gale, she still wasn’t entirely sure if it was enough for her to forgive him for everything he’d said, especially since Gale himself didn’t seem to have forgiven him for it. There was also still part of her left troubled by the unanswered question of why she’d felt the way she had. Gale had told her Malitas made the same assumption as him, and that he’d apologised for making her feel that way… and that even after he’d told him she didn’t believe it was related to her experiences with Aryn, Malitas hadn’t been entirely convinced. Trauma does not always follow its own rules, Malitas had said. Maybe he was right… yet it still left her uneasy. 

As she entered Gale’s tent that night she found him reading the book Malitas had given him. He looked up and gave her a smile, lowering the book and resting it against his chest as he beckoned her to sit with him. 

“How is it?” she asked, nodding to the book as she sat down next to him and leant into his arms. 

“Very interesting. I don’t know if it will provide any answers, but it’s an enjoyable read regardless,” he answered as he put his arm round her shoulders. “I must admit, Malitas’s notes are insightful. He’s clearly well versed in Netherese magic and has made several suggestions for how to remove the orb.”

“Do you think he’d actually be able to help you with it?” she asked. 

“Perhaps, though he doesn’t know about the charm Elminster put on it, which could change things.” 

“You didn’t tell him?” 

“No… I wasn’t quite sure I trusted him with that particular bit of knowledge yet,” he answered. Saff nodded understandingly. Even though they’d come to an agreement, it was certainly still a fragile one.

“Listen, um… I was thinking…” she started, a bit hesitant as she reached into her pocket and took out the sending stone. “You should take this. In case you decide to ask him for help with the orb.” 

She held the stone out for him. He took it and looked at it for a moment as he ran his thumb over the engravings. When he’d first met Saff he’d asked her if she knew a master wizard that might be able to help him with his predicament… maybe the answer to that was actually yes, though he would have preferred just about any other wizard in Faerûn.

“Are you sure?” he asked. She nodded confidently. 

“Yes. You’ve got more to say to him right now than I have.” 

There was something in her voice that told him there was more to it than this. Maybe Malitas was more right than Gale had realised when he’d said he didn’t think she’d want to see him right now… maybe even having the stone on her was too much of a reminder of how she’d felt.

He put it in his pocket, leaving his thoughts unsaid for now and deciding to move to happier subjects. 

“Well, I think that’s enough talk about such things for tonight,” he said, putting the book aside and turning his full attention to her. “Tara will be back soon, and I’d hoped to spend a bit of time… alone with you, before that,” he said with a flirty smile as his arm lowered from her shoulders to her waist and he gently lifted her chin with his other hand. A smile came to her lips at his touch.

“Why do you think I came in here?” she said playfully, before leaning in to kiss him.

The next morning was long as the group packed up to head out. After some considerable discussion Halsin managed to convince them to go via the Underdark, and Astarion mentioned noticing a lift down to the Underdark while snooping around the Zhentarim outpost. With the hopes that the lift would still be intact after the Zhents’ plan of destruction, the group began retracing their steps towards Waukeen’s Rest. 

The journey back was a lot quicker, though they still didn’t quite manage to make it in a single day. The group set up camp in the forest as afternoon turned to evening. They could have pushed on for longer, but Halsin recommended stopping early. They were going to the Underdark, followed by the Shadow Cursed lands - this would be the last time in a while they were likely to see the sun. He’d advised they take a bit of time to appreciate it while they still could. Karlach was only too happy to follow that advice, and though he didn’t admit it, Astarion was too. 

The group shared dinner together in the soft glow of sunset, after which they turned to the task of setting up their tents. As Saff picked her pack up from the pile of bags they’d left at the edge of the clearing, Gale approached her. 

“Saff, my love, I have a suggestion I’d like to run past you,” he said, clearly trying to hide an excited smile. She had a feeling she knew where this was going, and tried to subdue the smile that came to her own lips. 

“What’s that?” she asked coyly. 

“I was thinking, perhaps we could combine our tents? Give ourselves a bit more space.” 

“It’s like you read my mind.”

Figuring out the logistics of setting up a larger tent had taken a bit of time, but eventually it was very nearly done. As they were finishing off the last bits, Halsin walked up to them. 

“Ahem, Saff, may I have a word?” He asked. She looked over with a big smile and stood up from the peg she was pushing into the ground. 

“Of course!” she said happily. 

“I was wondering if you were still interested in learning druidic magic?” he asked, and her face lit up. 

“Yes! I’d love to, if you’re still up for it?” she replied excitedly.

“Very much so. In fact, I’ve been looking forward to it. Our last lesson made for a pleasant break to reconnect with nature. And this time I’ve bought something from the grove that I hope will help you.” “Really? What is it?” she asked, in both surprise and excitement. “I’ll show you when we start the lesson. For now I’ll leave you to finish this,” he said, gesturing to the tent. 

Gale, who had been listening from the other side of the tent, stepped forward. 

“Go on Saff, I can finish this,” he offered. 

“Are you sure?” she asked, turning back to him. 

“Of course! I would certainly never want to get in the way of a curious mind eager to learn,” he said with a grin. “Now go, I will have this finished by the time you’re done.” 

She smiled as she walked up to him and took his hand. 

“Thank you, Gale,” she said softly, before leaning up and kissing him. He wrapped his arm round her waist and pulled her in, holding the kiss for a long moment, before finally pulling back. The two looked into each other’s eyes, and briefly Saff considered skipping the lesson and just staying with him for the evening… but she managed to pull herself away. 

“Have a good lesson,” Gale said to her, giving her hand a squeeze, before finally letting go. She gave him a nod, then turned and headed off with Halsin into the forest. 

“It is heartwarming to see the two of you finally able to celebrate your love,” he commented as they wandered through the trees. “I could see how close you were in the goblin camp, then the tieflings’ party. Though I did not realise at the time the effect the orb was having.” 

“Neither did I,” she said quietly. “I hate to think about how much it was hurting him… but it makes me really appreciate what we have now.”

“I can imagine,” he said with a warm smile. “There is little so beautiful as new love, one of nature’s greatest bounties.” 

They came through to a clearing and Halsin invited her to sit with him as he took off his bag and opened it to present her gift. “The druids in the grove made this for you as a thank you for what you did for us, and to help you learn our ways.” 

He took out a dress made of a fine white fabric that draped beautifully in his hands. Wildflowers were sewn to the dress, kept alive and fresh through druidic magic. Her eyes widened as she took it and felt the soft, light fabric in her hands. “Halsin, this is… beautiful…” she whispered in awe, gently running her fingers over the delicate petals of the flowers. He smiled as he watched her admire it, thrilled to see she liked it as he’d hoped. 

“Our initiates all wear similar clothes, designed to help them connect with nature and celebrate its gifts. Please, try it on - I think it will help you with tonight’s lesson.”

She looked at him with an excited smile, then quickly stood and hurried behind a tree to get changed. Halsin made sure to keep his gaze away as she slipped out of her clothes and into the dress. 

“Ready,” she said as she stepped back out, barefoot on the soft grass. 

He turned to face her and found himself almost mesmerised by what he saw. The dress fit beautifully, clinging at her waist and hanging down from her hips to her feet. Four long wisps of fabric hung from her shoulders and floated gently in the breeze. The pastel colours of the flowers looked beautiful against the soft, shimmering white of the fabric. 

“How does it look?” she asked, doing a small spin, the dress swishing around her feet. 

“Beautiful,” he said sincerely as he stood up. 

She looked down at herself, running her hands along the soft fabric.

“I… I’ve never owned anything as beautiful as this…” she said quietly, her voice wavering slightly, and as she looked back up at him he could swear there were tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you… so much.” 

“You are more than welcome,” he said with a warm smile. “Remember though, this dress is more than just its beauty. Let me show you how to unlock its magic.” 

Back in camp, Gale was eventually finished with the tent. He took some time decorating the inside with the plants and suncatchers that had been in Saff’s tent, wanting her to feel at home in it. He’d initially put them in there for her, but as he sat back and looked around the tent, he found himself appreciating them too. 

He emerged and looked around the camp. The sun had long since set now, leaving just the campfire to light the surroundings. Tara was dozing on a cushion under the cover just outside their tent. Karlach and Wyll were both lying in the grass nearby, stargazing together. Astarion and Shadowheart were sharing a bottle of wine by the campfire. Lae’zel was nowhere to be seen, probably off training somewhere. So too were Saff and Halsin nowhere to be seen, and he decided to go see how their lesson was going. 

He headed off in the direction they’d left in, hoping they wouldn’t be too hard to find. It didn’t take long before he could feel the charge of magic in the air and hear the deep timbre of Halsin’s voice. 

He followed to a small clearing, and when he stepped through the trees his heart skipped a beat at what he saw. 

Saff danced in the moonlight, magic shimmering at her fingertips, the long, flowing dress fluttering round her feet. Her hair hung loose, tumbling in waves down her back, decorated with the same blossoms and wildflowers that adorned her dress. The delicate, white fabric seemed to glow with starlight, the four long wisps of silk flowing out behind her as she dipped and spun.

“That’s it, let the energy flow through you, guiding your movements,” Halsin was saying from where he was stood near the edge of the clearing. “Feel the ebb and flow of the world around you. Once you learn to move with it, it will in turn start to move with you, and you will learn to shape it.” 

Gale barely registered what Halsin was saying, so transfixed was he in Saff’s dance. She looked so happy, so at peace. She didn’t even realise he was there.

“Now, seek out the four elements of nature,” Halsin said as Saff continued to dance. “Feel the warmth of Sylvanus in your heart, let it spread through you, right to your fingertips, and manifest it into a flame.” 

She closed her eyes and the magic that glowed at her hands turned from the moon’s silvery blue to a warm orange. Gale recognised her movements as she began to incorporate the gestures required to cast Firebolt, but the actions were subtly different, a weaving of arcane and druidic magic. The glow sparked into a flame that flickered in her palm, leaving a bright streak behind her as she danced. “Perfect! Now, let that warmth spread down to your feet. Focus on the feel of the grass against your skin, the dirt between your toes. Your connection to the earth around you, the ground that gives us life. Become not a separate being that walks along its surface, but an extension of it. Bring it into your dance, let it blossom as you do.” 

Gradually, with each step, the ground beneath her began to bloom with wildflowers in her wake. Just a small smattering at first, until the ground was alive with colour. 

“That’s it!” Halsin encouraged, smiling widely as he watched her. “Now feel nature’s pulse around you, gentle, rhythmic, like the breaths you take. Feel the air within your lungs, take in the scents that fill the forest. As the night air caresses your skin, lean into its touch and bring it with you. Let the air around us dance with you.” 

Gale felt a gentle breeze tugging at his robe and watched as the flowers swayed with her, like they were watching her, and the leaves in the trees rustled as if in applause. 

“Yes! Now finally, hear the distant river. The trickle of water that starts as little more than a stream and flows into mighty rivers and feeds the oceans. The rain that nourishes the ground and quenches our thirst. The quiet serenity of the lake that glistens in the sunlight and sparkles under the moon. Let your movements flow like water, and sparkle as the lake does.” 

The flame that danced in her hand turned now to a bubble of water, flowing and swirling as she did, glinting in the moonlight. Finally she raised her arms above herself at the culmination of a spin, lifting her hands high as the bubble of water hovered above them, then threw her arms apart. The bubble burst into a thousand tiny beads of water that fell like droplets of starlight around her, glistening in her hair. 

Haslin clapped and congratulated her, though Gale barely heard his words. He was mesmerised. Saff looked absolutely radiant to him, beaming with happiness and pride. She ran up to Halsin and hugged him, squealing in delight as he lifted her off her feet momentarily before placing her back down. 

“That was amazing, Saff!” he complimented as he let go of her. “Thank you,” she said with a big smile. “I can’t believe I did it! That was… gods, that felt amazing,” she said, looking down at her hands, still in awe of what she’d been capable of. “Wait til I show Gale!” “I think he’s already seen,” Halsin said with a chuckle. Saff looked at him in confusion for a moment, before following his gaze as he turned to look at Gale. 

When she saw him she let out a small gasp, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and excitement as a blush came to her cheeks and a smile came to her lips. Gale couldn’t help but chuckle as he finally approached them. 

“Saff, that was…” he started, for a moment unable to find the words. “I have been in the domain of the gods, and that cannot hold a candle to what I just saw.” 

Her blush deepened as she giggled and looked away slightly. 

“Oh, please…” she chuckled, believing him to just be saying that. He walked up to her and gently lifted his hand to her face, brushing the backs of his fingers along her cheek. 

“I mean it,” he said softly as she looked up at him. “You put the stars to shame.” 

She nearly melted at those words, and could do nothing but reach up and kiss him. He wrapped his arms round her waist and pulled her in, holding her even after they parted from the kiss. He lifted a hand and gently ran it down the hair that flowed down over her shoulders, smiling as he admired the new look. As his hand reached her waist once more, he touched the light fabric of the dress, and only now seemed to realise he hadn’t seen it before.

“Where did you get this dress?” he asked curiously. “It’s beautiful.’’ “Halsin gave it to me,” she answered, stepping back to look at him. He nodded and took a step forward. 

“Indeed, a gift from the grove. I’m thrilled to see it’s helped you so much here, Saff. You’ve certainly picked this up quickly.” 

“She’s a quick learner,” Gale said proudly, looking at her with a smile. She looked away slightly again with a smile and a shake of her head, unable to handle all these compliments. 

“Very true, not many pick this up so fast. Sylvanus smiles on you, Saff,” Halsin said, looking at her warmly. “Now, I think that’s a good time to finish the lesson for tonight. I’ll leave you to show Gale all you’ve learnt.” 

“Thank you, Halsin,” she said sincerely. “For the dress, the lesson… everything.” 

“You are very welcome,” he said with a fond smile, before giving them both a nod and turning to head off. “Oh, and Saff,” he said as he reached the edge of the trees, turning back to look at them. “Remember what I said the dress was for.” 

With that slightly cryptic message, he disappeared off into the trees.

She frowned slightly, a bit unsure what his meaning was. Gale was similarly confused.

“What did he say the dress was for?” he asked Saff, turning back to her. 

“To help connect with nature and learn druidic magic,” she answered, looking down at it. Was he warning her not to use it for anything else? Maybe, but that didn’t seem to fit the smile that was on his lips when he said it. 

“Well, it certainly seems to have worked,” Gale said, taking a step closer and running his hands down her sides, partly in appreciation of the dress, but mostly in appreciation of her. 

“That’s true,” she said as she looked up at him. “It was such a beautiful feeling. I haven’t felt anything like that since…” she trailed off a bit as she thought about it, til a smile came to her lips as she raised her hands and placed them on his chest. “Since our lesson in the Weave.” 

“Ah,” he said with a smile of his own, “that was quite the lesson, wasn’t it? Hmm… how was it I kissed you in that vision?” his voice lowered as his hand raised to cup her cheek, just as he had done in their shared vision just a few days ago. “Ah, yes…” he whispered, before finally leaning in and kissing her once more. Just as she had done in the vision she raised her arms and wrapped them round his neck, pulling him in as the kiss deepend, soon growing from tender to passionate. 

Saff had previously had every intention of telling him about her lesson, but now, as his hands wandered her body and she felt his lips against hers, she quickly decided that could wait til later. 

It wasn’t long before her hands were reaching for the fastenings of his belt, followed by the clasps of his robe once that was discarded. She helped him shrug the robe off while barely breaking the kiss. His hands wandered up her sides to her chest, where he began to gently caress her breast. As he did he realised something and pulled back slightly.

“Opted to go without a bra for this dress?” he asked with an amused smile. 

“Ah… well…” she stuttered, slightly embarrassed. “It was a black bra… it would have shown through the dress.”

“Heh, no complaints from me,” he said with a chuckle, leaning in to resume the kiss. As he continued his caresses of her chest, she returned the favour, running her hands down his front til she found the fastenings of his undershirt and began to remove them. Before long the shirt was discarded and her hands found his bare chest, her fingers running through the hair that seemed to direct her down his body. Her fingers reached the lace of his trousers and began to undo it while she felt his hands reaching down to gather the skirts of her dress and pull it up over her head. 

Suddenly she pulled back, her hands quickly lowering to hold his wrists and stop him going any further. He looked at her in concern, worried he’d upset her in some way, but found her smiling. 

“I’ve just realised what Halsin was saying,” she said, a slight chuckle in her voice. Gale looked at her curiously. “This dress is to celebrate nature’s gifts… and new love is one of nature’s greatest bounties.”

Slowly he realised what she was getting at, and the hem of the dress fell down to her feet once more as he let go. 

It wasn’t long before he was relieved of his trousers and underwear and found himself lying  back against the grass. He reached up for Saff as she straddled him, the dress pooling round her legs. As she leant down over him and he felt her press against him, another amused smile came to his lips. 

“Black pants, too?” he teased. A flush came to her cheeks. 

“I-… underwear didn’t feel… natural…” she stuttered, then decided to turn the tables and looked down at him with a playful smile. “Now stop asking me where my underwear is or I’ll go put it back on.” 

“Please don’t,” he said quickly, reaching to put his hands on her hips, as if to hold her there. “I’d be terribly upset. In fact, to convince you, let me show you all the reasons you’re better off without underwear.” 

Gale’s reasons had been a flurry of pleasure, leaving her lightheaded as she lay back against the grass, his head underneath the skirts of her dress. Moans escaped her lips at every touch, every lick, every kiss. When he pulled away she was left yearning for him, and as he crawled up over her, she pulled him into a kiss and rolled them over once more. She reached under her skirts and positioned them both, and as she lowered herself down, it was his turn to let out a moan. 

The air was alive with the sounds of their love, moans and whispers, silenced only by kisses. Wandering hands explored quivering skin, trembling in pleasure. Saff didn’t even notice as one of the straps of her dress fell down her arm, neary exposing her breast. Gale was only too happy to help the dress along its journey, gently pulling the fabric down, til he could lean up and take her nipple in his mouth. Her head arched back in pleasure at the new sensation as she gripped his hair in her fingers. 

She found herself on her back once more as Gale laid her down, his arms tightly wrapped round her. He buried his face in her neck, moaning against her skin, as he sped up his pace. Her moans grew until he felt her whole body clench around him with one last moan of pleasure, and it took only a few more thrusts until he reached his own climax. He lay there for a long moment in her embrace, revelling in the afterglow with her. When he lifted himself up and looked at her below him, flushed and breathless, he could swear there were more flowers in the grass than there had been before.

[starxscream]

Hi! Have you got any thoughts about Saffron and Opal to share, maybe?) :³

Rotating them in my mind...

Nothing super new tho unfortunately NXNDNDND just silly little gay moments

Been working on Saffron's family tho! He has his mom and 5 younger siblings lol Saffron is the oldest! He still lives at home to take care of his mom and younger siblings cuz he's the primary provider and his mom is unable to work after she got into a car accident where their father passed away :( she's a very sweet n caring woman tho

They're all part peacock/raven like swatch since his dad was a peacock and his mom is a raven :]

After Saffron there's Kurt (he changed his name to not be spice themed) who's the second oldest, and he's kinda. Not allowed at home after some stunt he pulled. Often asks Saffron for money and Saff sends him on his way. It hurts Saff to do that but Kurt rly messed up :( Kurt likes showing up at Saffron's work which infuriates Saff to absolutely no end

Then there's Paprika!! She's in college rn and hoping to help out more after she graduates so Saffron can get a break. She's not at home often but tries to visit when she can! She's v similar to Saffron in being a workaholic with her studies lol

Next up is Salt and Pepper! They're twins :) they're still in high-school and they're a couple of menaces. Pepper is the instigator of mischief while Salt is just the hype guy LOL they sure do love causing problems! Saffron gets onto them...often...

Then lastly is Basil- who is the baby of the family. Still in elementary school- Really nice kid who maybe looks up to Salt n Pepper too much LOL they have some health problems tho and have to see the doctor a lot. Saffron frets over them frequently. They don't rly rmbr their dad since the accident happen p soon after they were born.

And all of them give Saffron shit for his boyfriend. They think it's hilarious. None of them expected THEM to get one and then it's this silly little slug. Mr im too busy with work for relationships who's THAT

Literally their family (well. Salt and Pepper) with Saffron and Opal is just this video

Saffron doesn't bring Opal home often bc they all try to embarrass them LOL

Opal thinks they're delightful tho. Very much appreciates the dirt he can use to mess with Saff later BXNDNFNDND

Opal doesn't have any siblings, but has a cousin he was raised pretty close with like they were siblings! He doesn't like her very much and tends to avoid her whenever she comes to town or pawn her off on other people.

[lifeofkaze]

October Writing Challenge - Day 18

Welcome to the OC fest! Saffron Summers and Zadie Taylor-Allen belong to the bestie @the-al-chemist, Nova Mae belongs to @kc-and-oc, Scarlett Tempest to @whatwouldvalerydo, and Farid Sikander to @carewyncromwell

Thanks for letting me borrow your kiddos!

Growing up, midsummer had always been Dylan’s favourite day.

Celebrating the summer solstice was a big thing in his home; Dylan’s father in particular took the shift in balance between day and night very seriously. So every year they would light a big fire on the beach, roast marshmallows, share stories and watch the night turn into day.

When Dylan’s friend Saffron Summers had told him about the summer solstice celebration she was planning for the weekend, Dylan had been excited to make some new memories with his best friends.

Looking back, Dylan wasn’t entirely sure what he had been expecting. The only thing he knew for sure was that it hadn’t involved flower crowns.

He cursed under his breath when the flowers Saffron had handed to him came undone for… Dylan actually couldn’t remember how often he had started his wreath again at this point. He usually had pretty nimble hands, but for this nonsense he was simply lacking the patience.

Next to him, his best friend Farid Sikander laughed silently.

“If you ask me, my friend, I would use more of these,” he held up some white flowers with long, thin stems, “and less of the tiny blue ones. You can barely see them and they keep falling out.”

Different from Dylan, Farid had a perfectly round and stable flower crown already lying in his lap. With an indignant snort, Dylan handed over his worse for wear looking flowers.

“You do it, then,” he muttered and rolled his eyes when Farid crafted a second flower crown in no time.

“For someone who doesn’t even celebrate midsummer, you’re pretty enthusiastic,” Dylan commented as Farid placed his own flower crown upon his head with a happy smile.

“I have to admit, it’s more fun than I thought. I’m glad you made me come.”

Despite himself, Dylan had to chuckle. “There’s no way I would have endured this alone.”

He let his eyes wander over the group of students who had gathered around the huge bonfire at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, well out of sight of the castle.

On the other side of the dancing flames, his sister Reva and her best friend Zadie were already done with their work and busy flicking tiny petals and grass at each other.

Next to them, his childhood friend Danielle Parkin sat with her best friends Saffron, Nova Mae, and Scarlett Tempest - the group of girls who called themselves ‘the Breakfast Club’.

They seemed to be having a great time; they were bowed deeply over their flower crowns, and were laughing and chatting among themselves.

Saffron was the only one of the four who was done with her crown already; it was huge and made her head look weirdly out of proportion. The different flowers sticking out of it at all angles reminded Dylan of tiny antlers, and he had to grin to himself.

When everyone was done and equipped with properly summery crowns, they gathered around the fire. Dylan was half dreading the next point on their agenda, but smiled regardless when Dana walked over to him.

“That crown suits you, kiddo,” she laughed. “You should consider wearing it more often.”

Her own flower crown looked lovely against her dark hair, making the bright yellow petals of the sunflowers she had woven in stand out even more.

“Over my dead body,” Dylan muttered.

Dana looked at him with an affectionate smile, before furrowing her brow.

“Come here for a second.”

Dana reached for the flower crown Farid had made him wear and Dylan bowed his head. Dana’s fingers brushed over his hair as she fixed a loose flower that had been on the point of falling out.

“Better,” she beamed at him. “Stop sulking now, will you? Saff has put a lot of effort into this, just try and have some fun.”

She took him by his hand and pulled him after her towards her friends while excitedly telling him about all the things Saffron had planned for tonight.

Just as Dylan had expected, things didn’t exactly improve for him.

When he and Dana stood next to the others, Saffron was busy telling them about a traditional mating dance ritual, or whatever she called it; she was wearing a long, billowy white gown and no shoes, and was swaying to some music she probably only heard in her head.

It reminded Dylan of grass blowing in the wind and he had to fight to keep a serious expression. He politely opted out of this part of the celebration and watched the girls circling each other, giggling all the while.

The night went on in pretty much the same fashion; Saffron’s rituals grew wilder and stranger by the minute, and Dylan preferred watching most of them from the sidelines.

Reva was very intent on covering his face with the sacred soil Saffron had hallowed for them, but after threatening to dunk her face into the bowl she held under his nose, she thought better of it.

The one thing Dylan actually found entertaining was the cleansing ritual which followed the face painting.

It was believed, Saffron told them with a serious voice, that by jumping over the bonfire all the bad things weighing them down would be carried away with the smoke into the sky.

Naturally, Reva was the first one to try, quickly followed by Zadie and Nova. When it was Dana’s turn, she jumped over the flames with a shriek; she landed on the other side and stumbled, and Dylan quickly reached out to catch her. She smiled at him gratefully and slightly embarrassed when she broke free of his hold again.

Dana stayed by his side when Saffron directed them to form a circle and hold hands around the bonfire.

Dylan felt the soft pressure of her fingers on the back of his hand, and didn’t even feel like rolling his eyes anymore when Saffron chanted some ridiculous spell that would have made their Charms teacher cry with laughter.

The sky was already lightening in the east, when it was time for the highlight of their celebration - a bath with their hallowed flowers in a sacred spring.

“I tried finding a proper spring,” Saffron told them apologetically as she led them down to the Black Lake, “but the fairies told me the energies weren’t right. I wanted to give them some crystals and incense to help, but they wouldn’t listen. The Lake will be just as good, though, you’ll see.”

She took off her huge flower crown and tossed it into the lake, before wading into the dark water herself. When she was in to her hips, she let herself float, her white gown and blonde hair billowing about her like clouds.

“Come in,” she called over to her friends who were looking at her sceptically. “Float in the sacred water and be one with the Earth Mother.”

They all exchanged glances and small shakes of their heads. Zadie and Reva were giggling to themselves, while Farid was looking very uncomfortable, shielding his eyes from looking at Saffron’s now see-through dress.

“You sure this is a good idea, Saff?” Dana asked carefully. “The lake really is quite cold.”

“Oh, don’t worry. You don’t even notice the cold after a while.”

Dylan had heard enough of it; he had made and worn a flower crown, he had danced, he had jumped over a fire, and had done countless other things which had nothing to do with the midsummer he knew from his childhood.

He took off his flower crown, handed it to Farid and left the others to their business. At least the sunrise he wanted to watch as he saw fit.

He knew his way around the grounds, even at night, and quickly found the point he had been searching for, a giant fallen tree, just by the edge of the Black Lake.

Dylan climbed up it and walked along the slippery wood for fun; when he had reached the middle of the log, he jumped down, leaned his back against it and sighed with relief.

Finally he was alone.

From where he was sitting he could see the gleam of their bonfire through the trees, but his attention was trained on the sky. The sunrise was already beginning to paint it in a myriad of colours, and it wouldn’t be long before the first rays of the sun would be signalling the start of a new day.

All of a sudden, Dylan felt excited again, just as he had when he was a child.

He remembered one year where we had woken up at the crack of dawn and looked out over the beach at their house in Montrose. Dylan’s parents had still been sitting by the bonfire they had built, his mother leaned against his father’s shoulder, and they had watched the sunrise together.

Dylan wondered whether his parents were sitting on the beach just now as well and waiting for the golden light, just like him.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the footsteps approaching him, and jumped when he heard Dana’s voice.

“You forgot this,” she said with a smile and held something out to him; it was Dylan’s discarded flower crown.

Dylan laughed quietly and took it from her hands. He didn’t put it back on but turned it in his hands.

“It was a very deliberate forgetting.”

There was a moment of silence, which seemed to stretch for an unusual amount of time.

“May I sit down?” Dana asked eventually.

Wordlessly, Dylan shuffled over, and Dana sat down in the spot he had been in moments before. The wood felt cold against his back compared to the place he’d warmed already, but Dylan didn’t mind.

“That was quite the midsummer night, wasn’t it?” Dana chuckled, taking off her own crown. One of the sunflowers was about to come loose, so she pulled it out and ran her finger over its silky yellow petals.

“Weirdest thing I’ve ever done,” Dylan snorted, earning himself another set of giggles from Dana.

“But that’s Saff for you,” she laughed. “She takes this really seriously. I hope the others got her out of the lake by now.”

The gleaming face of the sun started showing itself on the horizon and painted everything around them in a soft and golden light.

“You know,” Dana said softly, “Saff said those who see the sunrise after a midsummer’s night are supposed to be lucky. I’m glad we get to see it together.”

Her eyes were fixed onto the spectacular display of colours unfolding before them, and her fingers were still twirling the sunflower, but her words had a strange tone to them.

Dylan was suddenly aware that their shoulders were touching, and he found it hard to concentrate. He closed his eyes and smiled when the sunlight of the new day warmed his face.

“Me too. There’s no one I would rather watch it with.”