#iron-hearts-ablaze

[infernalmechanic]

When Karlach's fingers did find the lower ends of his lash scars, there was a slight but not-unpleasant tingling wherever her gentle touch lingered on raised, knotted lines. He felt a hint of melancholy from the gestures, but also understanding. His hold on her tightened just a little, before he had to pull away.

Dammon met her low-lidded gaze, then felt his face warm anew at her grin. The compliment was so simple, but so sincere it left him as flustered as any poetry. Even more reason to reach for her, to pull her close and show her some fragment of all the adoration she was worth.

Lips parting subtly when Karlach's hand buried in his hair, Dammon followed her coaxing without hesitation. His eyes stayed fixed on her face while their hands wandered. He heard that snag of her breath, and felt what might've been a ripple of surprised tension up her spine, when his touch found the base of her tail. Dammon let his fingers roam around and over it more, curious to find out whether her reaction was pleased or uncomfortable.

In the meantime, the faint tug of her hand curling in his hair had Dammon's lips parting further for a warm sigh, eyes closing in a slow blink. Another smile resurfaced on his open mouth, at the trail of tender yet urgent kisses down his neck. His tail wound a little further round her thigh in return, while Dammon's splayed palm slid around to her chest, cupping and gently squeezing one breast - as best he could anyway, with how little space now remained between him and Karlach. Even so, he breathed out an adoring hum, and turned his head enough to press a kiss below the base of her horn.

HIs kiss lost just a bit of its urgency, as his hand was guided to a few clasps in turn. Dammon familiarized himself with their shape by feel, as well as how to unfasten them. When those first ones didn't let the straps fall away, he sought out the rest of the clasps and buckles. Especially since it meant his touch could wander over more of her sides, shoulders, and front.

Dammon paused for a soft exhale against Karlach's mouth when the back of his shirt was untucked. Back arching slightly beneath warm fingertips trailing along the ridges of his spine, he reminded himself both that his lash scars were mostly toward his upper back and that she was unlikely to mind them anyway. Instead, he returned a good part of his focus to unfastening her top entirely.

His mouth only wandered away from hers to leave soft, slightly open kisses along her jaw and under her ear, then onto her neck. As he did so, Dammon finally undid the last buckle and pulled the haphazard leather away to drop it on the floor. Sorely tempting though it was to continue downward to Karlach's chest, for now he lifted his head to press one more lingering kiss to her cheek.

He then retreated just enough to help in pulling his own shirt off over his head. While he was thinking of it, Dammon also unraveled the tie holding his hair back, leaving both on the floor as well. His hands sought Karlach's skin immediately after, coaxing her close against him once again, one splayed palm sliding further down her back to the base of her tail. The mix of softness and muscle in her build was more intoxicating than the best mead. Another kiss, just below her ear, while Dammon's tail returned to wrap round her leg.

[apalestar]

@iron-hearts-ablaze cont'd

Karlach’s employer fielded him earlier. A cobbler’s son clawing and fighting his way for a place in high society. Scraping for anyone in the patriars to give him that all coveted sponsorship to elevate his social status. A hard sell for a man who smelt of sulphur and shoe tact. Even as little as the nobles thought of Astarion, they thought even less of Gortash.

But his guard? She was of Astarion’s interest. He knew for a fact the little noblemen that played at swords were gods awful when it came to actually fighting. The few that had some measure of skill were already accounted for. And he just happened to be in the market for a personal guard. He didn’t trust the Fists. And the few that remained as part of Cazador’s household were… tainted in his eyes. Loyal to the very same bastard he feared might return.

He graced the tiefling in his home with a smile. Mindful at the last moment to hide his fangs. “Oh heavens, no. Gods forbid this party actually be that lively.” The dancing pairs. The food he couldn’t partake of. The idle chatter and exchange of blackmail. “Your first soiree? I promise not all of them are usually so dull.”

“Blood. Vicious rumors. An affair caught in the open. We aren’t so fortunate this evening.” Astarion appeared rather bored. “And a far cry from the celebrations you find in the taverns in the Lower City.”

“Ah, but where are my manners? I owe you an introduction. Astarion. Szarr.” He extended his palm to her upturned to receive hers in a proper greeting as social decorum dictated.

[starcunin]

@iron-hearts-ablaze sent: “  stop pushing me away.  i’m not going anywhere,  asshole.  and as soon as you get that through that thick skull of yours,  the better.  ”  

Karlach’s words hit him like a punch in the gut. For a moment, his crimson eyes narrow, a sneer curling the edge of his lips as he turns his back to her, staring into the flickering campfire. He wants to bite back, wants to snarl something cutting and cruel, something that will make her regret ever trying to worm her way into his business. But the words catch in his throat, clinging to the edges of guilt he can’t swallow.

❛ You really are a fool, aren’t you? ❜ he spits, though the venom in his voice feels weaker than usual, like it's lost its edge. ❛ Following me around, offering your support and protection like some… knight in shining armor? Do you really think I need you? I’ve survived centuries without anyone’s help. I’m not some poor, wounded thing you need to fix, Karlach. ❜ He exhales sharply through his nose, his shoulders falling with the motion. Why does she care? Why does she keep pushing when he’s given her nothing, been nothing but cruel?

His voice falters, his bitterness giving way to something quieter, weaker. ❛ You… you don’t understand. You think this is what? Some grand act of kindness? Some noble gesture? I’ve spent lifetimes watching people like you. You give, and you give, and all it ever earns you is pain. ❜ His gaze drops, settling on the dirt between his boots, shame curling through him like a slow poison. ❛ I don’t need your kindness, ❜ he says, though now it sounds more like he’s trying to convince himself. ❛ I don’t even know what to do with it. ❜

His hands tighten into fists at his sides, nails biting into his palms. He feels raw, exposed——like she’s seeing through every mask he’s so carefully crafted over the years. The charming rogue, the wicked trickster, the seductive vampire. All of it feels brittle under her gaze. ❛ I don’t know how to be anything else, ❜ he admits, voice barely more than a whisper, the weight of centuries of shame and anger dragging the words out of him.

Damn her. Damn her for making him feel like he could be more than the monster Cazador made him. Damn her for offering him something he hasn’t dared let himself believe in for two hundred years.

And damn him for wanting it.

[fxrest-bcrn]

A starter for @iron-hearts-ablaze

Tavrayn hated sitting by the fire alone: he needed to talk to people... even if half of camp would rather not be talked to. The half-drow bounced his knee as he glanced around, ears flicking as he glanced around the tents; such a disparate group, brought together by... by some tadpole? (He'd heard of mind flayers, of course... even heard of people being infected by them. But his companions seemed, well... rather uninfected.) But who could he ask about such a sensitive subject? Tav looked around again.

... And settled on the member of their crew least likely to drown him in a lecture or bite his head off... or simply ignore him. So he stood and ambled over to her tent. As he stopped in front of her, he waved a bit, a lop-sided grin tugging at a corner of his mouth.

"Hey... Karlach. I was wondering if I could, y'know, maybe ask you some questions?"

[sharransepulchre]

a previously discussed roleplay - @iron-hearts-ablaze

This had been a long time coming. One by one, everyone was finally getting their vengeance. But, even as each companion vanquished their monsters, slayed their demons, something seemed to change for them. In their eyes, something intrinsic would take shape, something darker than before. A darkness that Shadowheart herself had recognized, something she saw too often in the eyes of those she surrounded herself with. The eyes of those hidden behind bone white visages when praying around a ritual offering bowl, with nothing but the windows to their very souls on display. People who had lost it all, and never wanted it back. To embrace that loss - that grief, of letting it all slip through their fingers, but never letting it rest.

How could they, when it was all they ever knew?

But her party, she told herself, they were different. She no longer followed Shar -- she would return to her place of creation, the Cloister of Sombre Embrace. Not as Shar's champion and Chosen, but as their liberator. There, held within the deep recesses of the inner sanctum nestled deep beneath the streets of the city akin to a sewer, surely that was where her parents were held. Aylin told her so , and the paladin did not seem like the type to fib. All she could think about was rescuing them, no matter the cost.

But, standing at the top of the towers, Shadowheart stared with what was almost fear. Before her, a blazing Karlach was slamming the desecrated body of Gortash into the chiseled stone bricks below. Again and again, although he was far from fighting, far from drawing any breath into his utterly splintered and shattered ribcage. Red painted the floor in blossoming bouquets, a macabre arboretum that stained the imported carpets and outlined the grout of the stone blocks. It was hard to tell where Gortash's life essence ended and Karlach's skin color began. It was all crimson. Splattering and eliciting visceral noises with ragged every impact, until it was surprising she could have any hold on him at all. Burning flesh, the tiefling burned hotter and hotter the more she consumed those soul coins - it was ruining her. This wasn't Karlach. This was what Zariel wanted her to be.

❝ stop . ❞ She whispered, and there was no way the massive raging barbarian could hear a single utterance. Another impact, and this time - that foul red liquid splattered against her cheek. ❝ stop it , ❞ She drew her hand up, shell-shocked, and slowly wiped the gathering of it against her skin. Hot to the touch and sticky, and drawing her slender hand back revealed how the very color stained her pale skin. ❝ you -- stop it, Karlach ! Gods damn it all, he ' s dead ! ❞ It was enough to snap her out of that stupor, where a memory had been so close within reach. Like thrusting her hand into the fog and expecting to see a crystal clear image; but it was murky, shrouded. Just outside of reach. She didn't draw any closer to the barbarian yet, who almost looked like a devil -- no, no she wasn't, what was she thinking? But Karlach burned, engulfed in that fire, she could feel the uncomfortable warmth against her frigid skin from several feet away. Even so, she willed her feet to move, forcing her closer as anger burned in her own eyes. Not so cleverly disguised, as there was desperation behind her gaunt emerald gaze.

❝ snap out of it ! damn it, can ' t you see how those soul coins are consuming you ? this isn ' t you ! ❞ She tried, voice cracking slightly in her desperation. This was a side she had never seen - a side she didn't even think had existed. This anger, she knew it was warranted - but to mutilate his corpse in such a way? There was no need for that! It had to be the soul coins, she told herself, because Karlach wasn't a monster. She couldn't be.

[starbvund]

@iron-hearts-ablaze cont'd from here.

Young love. Halsin smiled thinking on it. Karlach doesn't lose her composure over speaking about their companions without a just reason. To see her curl inward even more telling. Right now she reminded him of newly born cubs uncertain of the world they found themselves in.

"No, Gale and I haven't spoken on subject recently. He does speak fondly of you when I'm in his company. Truly, you two care greatly for one another." The wizard was a veritable peacock showing off his colors to get the lady's attention. Any druid with even half a merit could see that.

When he first joined the encampment he had mistakenly thought the two of them were already lovers. In whatever capacity they could be given Karlach's restrictions. But Astarion had informed him otherwise. Prattled on about how the pair of them were driving him insane. Something about sexual tension and longing glances. He'd even started a running bet with Halsin over when the pair of them would finally come together.

"Do not be troubled." Halsin said gently. "I'm sure he'd have more kind words for you if you only asked."

[never-surrender]

@iron-hearts-ablaze \\ Aurelia

He was had found her, she was certain of it. Not only was he found her, but he was reaching for her, about to take her... that much her dream had convinced her of as she woke in a flurry of screams and flailing limbs. It was dangerous for Karlach to get close to her as she scrambles in blind terror away from the only person there with her, convinced that Karlach was Cazador somehow. Begging and screaming for them to leave her alone, Aurelia was blind in her utter terror, backed into a wall...

It takes some time before Aurelia notices and recognizes the sound of Karlach's voice. Curled into a tight ball against the wall to be as small as possible, Aurelia whimpered as she dared to look up, vision clearing to show her standing before her...

And the moment she realizes that she's safe? The moment she recognizes that it had been an awful dream? She practically devolves into a sobbing mess, unable to talk for several minutes as she hugs herself tightly, uncertain if Karlach would even want her going to them. Surely she wouldn't... so as she finally finds her voice, she takes a deep shuddering breath, reaching to scrub away the tears with the heal of her palm.

"S-sorry.." she manages to apologizes to them miserably, unable to look Karlach in the eyes.

[chaoticbard]

"Okay, call me fucking psychic but I think that maybe...perhaps...somewhat....... You have a thing for Halsin."

"You needn't be psychic to pick up on that. I can't even pretend to hide my immense feelings about him."

"If he had a pair of horns and scales I'd have already long ago lost my senses."

[bloodczar]

"So you have a thing for kissing those who like black and red? Good to know."

❛ 𝐀re you jealous my dear flame .ᐣ Here I was waiting for the appropriate moment to spoil you as well 。 ❜

[bloodedstars]

"If it means anything Fangs, your clown make up is great! JEST what I wanted to see."

If she was going to die, it would be deserved at this point.

OH, NOW SHE THINKS she's funny too. The dastardly vampire would've expected this from any of the others.. but Karlach?

" Well, then enjoy yourself while you can , my dear. Because next time that burning engine of yours start overloading itself with HEAT , don't come begging me to steal more infernal iron from the Zhentarim!!! "

@iron-hearts-ablaze

[infernalmechanic]

That he could make her grin like that just by agreeing was a thrill and a privilege. It was contagious too, though Dammon's own smile was somewhat smaller.

Brows rose in intrigue at Karlach's suggestion. He'd have trusted her suggestion regardless - and not just because he was still getting famliar with the city - but he loved even more that they'd be visiting a favorite from her past. It was easier not to dwell too heavily on the fact he couldn't return the favor when Karlach took his hand. Interlacing his fingers with hers, Dammon's attention was torn between Karlach and their surroundings as he followed her guidance.

The disgruntled acquiescence from the waiter had him itching to apologize for the fuss, even as he did appreciate the comparative quiet. He offered a thanks, at least, though it went unanswered.

Gaze drawn by Karlach's endeared comment, Dammon also noticed the tables first. Most of them had only two or three chairs, tables spaced out for a bit of privacy and set close enough to the balcony's wall to get a great view of the city beyond. "It's wonderful," he agreed. Approaching one of the tables further away from the stairs, for a bit of added quiet, he glanced to Karlach again. Speaking of wonderful. "Will this one work?"

Her earnest enthusiasm was one of many things Dammon adored about Karlach, doubly so when it came from somewhere besides deflection or grim acceptance. He had an idea where her suggestion might be going when she glanced toward a window - and smiled broad upon hearing his guess proven right. Well, more a hope than a guess, but still.

Dammon gently repositioned their hands so one of his could intertwine with hers again. He lifted her opposite hand to kiss Karlach's knuckles. "I'd love to. It sounds like the perfect start. And no talk of fights or engines, I promise." Honestly, he was feeling a little talked out in that subject regardless, after hours of intensive consultation and brainstorming.

Letting go of the hand he'd kissed, he beckoned the way to the door. "Do you have a place in mind, or will we find one together?" He'd agree to either, as both meant more time spent with Karlach and learning about each other beyond work, intimacy, or small stolen moments.

[apalestar]

"If I get rabies from your biting, I'll crush you! I don't care how cute you are in your bat form!"

(NOW it's me!)

@iron-hearts-ablaze are you sure about that?

He flashed his sharp teeth at her. He would bite as much as he damn well pleased. No rabies here, only vampirism. "Fear me."

[congregatim]

@iron-hearts-ablaze - dialogue starter

"Nothing like a brisk stroll through the forest to invigorate the spirit!" Or at least, that's what Gale was trying convince himself of, at any rate.

He'd always appreciated the beauty of nature, especially in the spring and summer seasons, when the trees were green and flowers were blooming. But having grown up in a city, especially a city such as Waterdeep, and the luxuries of his tower where he could keep himself most comfortable indeed... life out in the wilderness was starting to lose its charm.

[warwaited]

@iron-hearts-ablaze

Having to pass among these apostates might be the most ignoble thing she's had to do so far. There hadn't been much choice in the matter - the rather impressive wooden gate to the southeast had put up an equally impressive fusillade of arrows and she'd been forced to beat a hasty retreat.

Seeing what she's working with here, though, she would almost have preferred the attempt on her life. These goblins are... awful. Seemingly completely unsupervised, for one, aside from the command team further within that doesn't want to come out and discipline their horde. Her mind goes to the particularly brash specimen who'd thought to try his odds asking if she wanted to go somewhere private.

Her nose wrinkles.

Thankfully, Rakatak's stewing is interrupted - she sees red skin and her heart leaps, only to quickly drop back down to somewhere more becoming of her station when she realizes it's not, in fact, another hobgoblin. Still, she starts wending her way over, wanting to hopefully get a chance to speak with her before the bloodbath she can practically smell breaks out.

[sharransepulchre]

. ☽◯☾ . cont. from here - @iron-hearts-ablaze

❝ mmh , ❞ Was the first soft, contented noise to escape the cleric's plush lips. All too easily did her emerald eyes slip shut when those strong arms found their way around her slender waist. Instinctively, her weathered hands slide down to Karlach's sturdy shoulders, thoroughly appreciating every ounce of pure strength present beneath her burly form. Her touch is nearly reverent, dexterous fingers dancing across the warm vents of her shoulders, in a soothing and careful manner. A rhythm, her palm smoothing against the burn scars of her right arm in a lazy, thoughtless path.

❝ you , out of anyone , deserves one of these . and , if i may be so bold . . . i rather enjoy these quiet little moments . it ' s truly difficult to find any real respite in such trying times , and your arms are much like the welcoming hearth of a cabin ; fully ablaze and lingering with the scent of campfire . ❞ Then, her lips turn coy, and she muses, a tease that rolls far too easily off of her silvered tongue. ❝ with only a hint of that avernus stink . ❞

[never-surrender]

for what it's worth, i like who you are now. (Astarion)

Astarion is stunned, to say the least. Staring at Karlach for a moment in silence, he finds that he can't quite keep eye contact for terribly long before he's looking down and away, unfamiliar with the sensation in the pit of his stomach. Was that guilt he felt? Why would he feel guilty for ensuring his safety with a woman that he knew would keep him safe? He had manipulated his way quite skillfully into her affections (or so he thought), wasn't that a part of the plan?

Actually liking her and falling for her was not a part of the plan, however.

"Well... I'm glad to hear it, darling," he speaks softly, looking back up to her with his smile and mask back in place. No sense in feeling sorry for himself now...