#melarue x kassaran

[scurvgirl]

New Years

@justanartsysideblog  I miss Casserole, have a little something that I meant to get out earlier but you know, life. 

Overall fluffy modern AU for Kass and Melarue! Warnings for: mentions of past abuse, non-graphic descriptions of birth and birth trauma.

Melarue, Aelynthi, Faunalyn, Nithroel, and Victory belong to @justanartsysideblog 

Year One

Being almost seven feet tall should have meant Kass could handle her booze at least a bit better than say…someone closer to five feet tall. Key word - should. In truth, Kass rarely drank which put her tolerance at a level of nonexistent. Point being - this bubbly champagne was getting her very buzzed very quickly. Which is how she ended up on the dance floor at her friend’s New Year’s Eve party while Ash was at a sleepover with a friend. 

Champagne flute in hand, Kass swayed and grooved along to music with strong beats and throwbacks to her teen years. Her free hand was above her head and her hips were bopping to the beat. She never claimed to be a good dancer, but she was buzzed and having fun and feeling good. The champagne was doing an excellent job of making her forget about any sort of mom guilt she might have for not being with Ash for New Year’s. Really, Ash had requested this sleepover. It’s the only reason why Kass came here anyways. And now here she was, on the fast track to drunk in a silver dress that was just a bit too short dancing away her cares.

The song changed to one of her favorites and she might have made an embarrassing remark about how it was her song. She might have started trying different dance moves that were less than successful. But damn if she didn’t feel good. 

-

Aelynthi had asked to spend New Year’s Eve with Faunalyn and Nithroel. It was fine, it was his prerogative to request it and Melarue was nothing if supportive of their son’s choices. Even if it stung. Even if they had made preliminary plans that had to be redone and now they found themselves…here, at this party with these people they barely knew. Somehow surrounded by people they felt incredibly alone. The champagne was making them maudlin, remembering times when all four of them wore PJ’s and stayed up to midnight to welcome the new year. Nithroel threw a dance party to keep Aelynthi awake. Faunalyn carried him on her shoulders, and Melarue…was there. A perpetual interloper eventually asked to leave with overly polite paperwork. 

No, stop. They’re at this party, and despite the track of their thoughts lately, they did want to have a good time. They put their half empty glass on the tray of a passing wait staff and made their way closer to the dance floor. They maneuvered their way through the throng of people until they came to a larger than usual opening of bodies pressed together. There in the center was a tall qunari woman, dancing alone with a champagne flute in hand clearly feeling herself as she danced to the song. Everyone was giving her a wide berth and they could tell some were likely gossiping in less than complimentary ways. While she wasn’t exactly…coordinated, she was certainly having a good time which was more than they or perhaps many others here could say for themselves. The woman’s white curly hair bounced in a brilliant halo around her head, light glinting off the silver of her dress. Somehow captivated by her, Melarue approached.

-

“Mind if I cut in?” A dark and sultry voice broke through the thrum of the songs, making Kass open her eyes. Before her stood…probably the most beautiful person she’d ever seen. They were an elf, tall especially for an elf, with long dark hair that was middle parted and slicked down behind their gold cuffed pointed ears. They wore a pantsuit that was so dark of a green it appeared black. Their eyes were a molten silver shrouded in black kohl and just damn they were so hot. Why was a hot person talking to her? Oh, right she had to respond.

“Yes! Wait, no! I mean…dance with me!” She smiled ear to ear and began to move again, her eyes never leaving them. They started to move too, and soon they were dancing together to the beat. It’s easy to lose herself to the rhythm and thrill of dancing with someone so beautiful. She had no idea why they had decided to dance with her, but she was thankful for it. It really seemed like everyone at this party was nicely paired up, leaving Kass alone for the majority of the party. It was admittedly very nice to have a partner herself now. They dance and dance, never straying too far from each other. There was something in the way they moved - graceful movements blending together and the small smile gracing their face every time their eyes met. She was a bit too drunk to get it, but she liked it, liked them.

“What’s your name?” She asked after…what, the fourth song? Fifth? What was time anyways but waiting or enjoying.

“Melarue. What is yours?”

Wow, that was a very pretty name. Made sense because they were soooo - right, her name!

“Kassaran, but everyone calls me Kass!” She twirled around. “It’s very nice to meet you, Melarue!”

“Likewise, Kassaran.” Normally, Kass would insist on using her nickname but um, it was really hot to hear them say her full name. Their voice was all dark and sultry, like a perfectly aged red wine that went down so, so smooth. 

They danced more until a song neither of them cared for came on. It was funny, they shared a look and vacated the floor together and somehow ended up on one of the balconies. The night air was blessedly cool compared to inside. The city was alight with people waiting eagerly to usher in the new year. 

Kass tilted her head back and breathed the night air deeply. 

“I haven’t danced like that in…I can’t even really remember the last time.” She was still a bit winded but she couldn’t stop smiling as she looked over to Melarue. They were looking out over the city looking so hot. How did she end up on the balcony with someone like them?

“That is a shame, you’re an excellent dancer.” They grinned and stepped closer and oooh, she could feel some of their body heat. She inched towards them, her body language open and hopefully saying “yes, me, the good dancer, is so into this right now.”

RING. RING-RING!

The loud ringing and buzzing from her purse shattered the moment and she groaned as she leaned back.

“I’m so sorry, I have to check this - and I have to get this.” She clicked answer and immediately put the phone to her ear, turning away but not stepping away from Melarue. “Hi baby, is everything okay?”

“Okay, I’m not a baby, and two…did you pack blankie? I can’t find it.” Ash’s voice came through the phone along with a gaggle of giggles from the other 8 year old girls she was having a sleepover with.

“Yes. Check the front pocket on the backpack in the little holder section, I folded it to make sure there was room.”

“Okay, let me see…” Kass heard some rustling and then a successful “AHA!”

“You found it?”

“Yes! Thanks, Mama!”

“Good, have fun, sweetheart and you’ll always be my baby.”

“Ugh! Bye, love you.” Kass said “I love you too” in response then hung up. She turned back to Melarue with an apologetic smile to find them looking at her quizzically.

“Parenthood calls?”

There were generally two ways people that Kass was interested in reacted when they found out she was a mother. The first was revulsion. Seeing as Melarue hadn’t left during the conversation with Ash, Kass was placing them in camp two: unbothered to supportive. 

“The one job where you’re always on duty, even at a party. Sorry about that, my daughter’s at a sleepover and couldn’t find her blankie.”

They chuckled softly, “I understand. I was in the middle of a work cocktail party when my son called me from a sleepover asking where his retainer was. Turned out that he had forgotten to pack it, and since it was at my house, his mother and father couldn’t get it so I had to leave early.” Oh, they weren’t camp two, they were the second third that she rarely encountered outside of online groups - a fellow single parent. 

Before she could respond, they glanced down at her hand conspicuously, “Would it be bold of me to ask if you are involved?”

“Yes, but I like it. I’m divorced, thank goodness, and currently not seeing anyone.”

“My fortune then.”

“Oh? Would it be equally as bold of me to ask the same of you?”

They grinned and stepped forward, “Divorced as well, and also not seeing anyone currently.”

“Then I’m the luckiest woman at this party.” Maybe the city. County. Country? 

From within the party and all around the city, a chant began

TEN!

Melarue stepped forward.

NINE!

“Shall we invite in the new year together?”

SIX!

“You must be reading my mind.”

FOUR!

“No mind reading necessary.”

THREE!

“Then kiss me, Melarue.”

TWO!

“My pleasure.”

ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Their lips met with eager curiosity as the new year came to fruition. Even in heels, Melarue was shorter than Kass by about two inches, but that didn’t stop either of them from plastering their bodies together in a kiss that sent Kass’s mind spinning. Their tongue slid across her lips and pressed into her mouth. Kass eagerly opened her mouth for them, twining their tongues together. They tasted like champagne and something just a bit darker, like them. She cupped their face and pressed her tongue into their mouth in return. Kass had no idea who divorced whom, but she truly didn’t know how anyone could divorce a kisser as good as Melarue. Kass had had sex that wasn’t this tantalizing. Read: sex with her husband.

When they broke apart for air, Melarue’s lipstick was slightly smudged and still they looked incredible. A freshly kissed Melarue was so far Kass’s favorite Melarue.

“There is a beautiful hotel two blocks from here,” they said, silver eyes bright with intent.

Fuck it. “Let’s go.”

Year Two

What started as a prolonged hookup at New Year’s last year turned into friends with benefits. Which then turned into dating. And then that turned into meeting the kids. There were separate dinners for Ash and Aelynthi to introduce them to their respective parent’s new partner. One would think that Aelynthi, now being eighteen, would have been the easier one to talk to given he understood that divorced people eventually dated. It was normal. That had not been the case. Melarue assured Kass that their son would accept it eventually, but Kass hated not being in his good graces. Meanwhile, Ash had been…well, Ash.

Upon meeting Melarue over a lovely dinner at Kass’s home, Ash had shrugged then looked Melarue directly in the eyes and said, “If you hurt my mama, I’ll burn your house down.” To their credit, Melarue wasn’t taken aback even if Kass had admonished her daughter for saying something so rude (and true, but that was neither here nor there). 

The dinner party with Melarue, Kass, Ash, Aelynthi, Nithroel, and Faunalyn had bordered on disaster. Aelynthi and Ash had sat opposite from each other, not saying anything but just glaring. If Kass didn’t already have white hair, she was sure she would have had it by the end of that dinner. Nithroel had been nice enough while Faunalyn had conducted a deceptively innocent interrogation. Ash threatened to burn down her house, then Aelynthi groused at Ash, who then got upset and actually accidentally set the curtains on fire. 

Bordered on disaster? She stood corrected, it was a disaster. 

Still, Melarue and Kass continued to see each other. Despite their familial challenges, their feelings for each other just seemed to deepen and they grew closer and closer. As did the new year once again. 

Ash, now nine, asked to spend it with her friends again. Aelynthi was off with his own friends for the event as well, leaving Kass and Mel free to go to the same party they had met last year.

Once more, they danced until their feet hurt. They escaped to a different balcony, kissing and laughing. Melarue had cut their hair shorter recently and it blew easily in the night wind. Kass loved it, loved running her hands into their hair to tip their head back and kiss them senseless. 

TEN!

NINE!

EIGHT!

SEVEN!

“Kassaran…” They breathed.

SIX!

“Yes, Kadan?”

FIVE!

“I love you.”

FOUR!

“As I love you.”

THREE!

“Will you move in with me?”

TWO!

Kass smiled, “Yes, yes, we will.”

ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

They kissed deeply and welcomed in a new year with promise of building their family. Despite the challenges they faced with the kids and exes, Kass couldn’t help but be hopeful for the future.

Year Three

“One hundred and one. Sorry, baby, but it looks like you’re too sick to go out.” Kass placed the thermometer down and turned to a very clearly sick Ash. The girl’s groan turned into a cough, shaking her whole body. They were on the couch in the living room of what was now Kass, Melarue, and Ash’s home. The TV for the New Year’s festivities was on, but muted as Kass and Melarue tended to a very sick Ash. 

Ash had originally wanted to go out with her friends for what seemed to be their traditional sleepover, but it seemed the flu had other ideas. While they knew rationally Ash would be okay, her illness only ramped up Melarue’s current anxiety. It was nothing bad, Aelynthi was traveling with his boyfriend. He was an adult now but he was just twenty, and he’d always be their baby. Still, thinking of their son up in the air in a plane and then their daughter sick on the couch -

There it was again. In their mind, Ash was their daughter. After a year of living together and two years of dating Kass, their heart had adopted the girl as their own. Ash called them Melarue, not nanae, which was fine. Two years really wasn’t much of anything and after knowing how horrible Ash’s biological father - no, sperm donor - was to both Kass and Ash, Melarue couldn’t ever begrudge the girl for being hesitant to accept a new person in her and Kass’s life. Or for threatening to burn down their house. And Faunalyn’s house. 

Melarue went back into the kitchen to fetch a bowl of chicken noodle soup. They came back out and helped Ash sit up to take the bowl. Kass turned the TV up a bit and they all settled in for a quiet night watching the specials and making sure Ash’s fever didn’t spike to dangerous levels. Melarue reached out with their magic to Ash’s, monitoring it to ensure it didn’t make the fever worse. It was known that more fire aligned mages tended to spike dangerously high fevers when sick, which put both Kass and Melarue on edge. Thankfully, her magic seemed calm and not reacting to the illness. 

Kass eventually rose from the couch to put the bowl away and to use the restroom. Ash shifted and leaned against Melarue, careful to make sure her growing horns didn’t dig into them. She blinked slowly as she watched the TV as some man interviewed dancing people on the street.

“Can we change the channel?” Ash asked.

“Of course, what do you want to watch?”

“I don’t know, something…”

Melarue thought for a moment, then clicked through the channels until they found a popular cartoon’s New Year special. It was aired on public cable every year. As soon as they turned it on, Ash smiled and snuggled into Melarue.

“Thanks, Nanae.”

The world stopped. The word rang in their head for long after the moment had passed. 

“Of course, da’len.” She didn’t move, just remained snuggled against them. It took everything in them to resist pulling her into a hug or firmer hold. Nanae. Of all the names they had been called, all the titles they had held in their long, long life, “Nanae” would forever be their favorite. 

Kass returned from the restroom and stopped when she spied Ash resting against Melarue. A brilliant smile spread across her face. 

None of them made it to the count-down that night. When Melarue and Kass awoke in their bed in the morning, they kissed, long and lazy.

“Happy New Year.”

Year Four

“Ash! Your ride is here!” Kassaran called down the hall as she hurried into the hall bath to fluff her hair and make sure she was ready to head out as soon as Ash was picked up. 

“Ugh, they’re early! I’m coming!” By early, she meant on-time. Kass rolled her eyes then strolled out of the bathroom. Ash was walking quickly to the door, braids and backpack bouncing as she picked up the pace. 

A knock came at the door and Ash was first to respond, “COMING!” 

But it was Melarue who was closest to the door. They opened it and…not Mr. Dannis stepped in. 

“Aelynthi,” Melarue breathed barely before the young man practically collapsed onto his nanae. Kass heard the crying before she saw Aelynthi properly. Worry seeped into her as she walked into the foyer. Melarue was holding Aelynthi fiercely with a look of pure murder on their face as they gently pet their son’s hair. 

“You’re safe, you’re safe, I’ve got you,” they whispered. Something was very wrong. When Kass stepped to the side to see Aelynthi, she saw what had Melarue in such a state. While the majority of Aelynthi’s face was obscured by Melarue’s shoulder, she saw the deep purple and and blue of a bruise circling his eye. Her stomach churned, a chill went down her spine. She heard Ash’s bag hit the floor behind her. 

“Let’s go into the living room, there’s more privacy there,” Kass said softly as she went to pull curtains. She glanced outside to see the ride service already driving away. She wasn’t sure why he didn’t take his own car, but if he needed a new one, they’d get him one. She was already recollecting all the names she had found indispensable when divorcing her husband then getting him formally charged for what he’d done. And that was just her, goodness knew what Melarue was going to do. 

With help from his nanae, Aelynthi made it into the living room. When Kass turned to join him and Melarue, she saw Ash still standing to the side in the foyer. Her eyes were wide and her body completely still. Shit. 

Kass walked to her daughter and took her hands. “You are safe, Aelynthi is safe. No one is going to hurt us, okay? Melarue and I got this.” 

Absently, Ash nodded her head before leaning into Kass. Like Melarue had done with Aelynthi, Kass wrapped her arms around her daughter and slowly guided her into the living room. To his credit, Aelynthi had managed to pull enough away from Melarue to be sitting up on his own, trying to breathe deeply. Melarue sat next to him, their face schooled into a calm facade but their entire being radiated fury. 

Kass sat Ash on a chair then went into the kitchen to make some hot coco. Aelynthi might not be a sweets person, but she always found having a hot drink in hand during things like this helped. In a couple minutes, she was back in the living room, gently holding out the mug to Aelynthi. He accepted it as if on auto-pilot. 

He took a sip. Then another. Another.

No one said anything, just huddled around Aelynthi in a protective wall. 

“He said he was busy tonight, which I thought was weird but it happens. I made plans to go out with Serahlin and Adannar to a club instead. We were having a good time when I saw him…dancing with someone else.” He glanced over at Ash and Kass supposed he was censoring himself for her sake. She could tell to Ash to go to her room but knew that would only trigger her more. Too many times Kass had told Ash to go to her room to keep her safe from Qal. It was a shit position to be in as a parent - trigger one kid, to give the other privacy, or take away some privacy to not trigger the other. 

Aelynthi kept talking, though, “Serahlin saw him and was furious. We’d been drinking so…we went over and confronted him. The guy he was with had also been drinking and was…belligerent. He shoved me. Serahlin punched him. It just went from there. One of the guy’s friends hit me even though he kept shouting for it to stop. Before I knew it, we were tossed out of the club. Adannar was crying and having an asthma attack, Serahlin’s nose looked broken so they hopped a cab to the ER. I caught an uber here because it was close and I’m so sorry, I didn’t think-

Melarue visibly relaxed and tension eased in Kassaran. It was just a bar fight. It wasn’t…it wasn’t Qal again. Thank goodness, that was the last thing she wanted for Aelynthi. 

“You are always welcome here, da’len. You never have to apologize for coming here.” They kissed the top of his head. Bit by bit Aelynthi calmed enough to retract himself from Melarue to his usual stance. His eyes were red and puffy and he looked so young. 

Ash rose from her seat with a quiet, “Excuse me.” A moment later, Kass heard rapid footsteps up the stairs. Oh dear.

She turned to Aelynthi, “We are always happy to have you, Aelynthi. This has always been and always will be a home for you here. I never wish to take that from you. Now if you’ll excuse me for just a second.” With that, Kass left the living room to Melarue and Aelynthi. While she wanted a better relationship with Melarue’s son, she wouldn’t force it. There was a lot at play and at the end of the day, it was Aelynthi’s choice to be closer to Melarue and then perhaps accept Kass more. 

Kass headed upstairs to Ash’s room. The door was closed, likely locked, but unusually there was no music radiating from within. She knocked on the door.

“Ash? Can I come in?”

A long pause before a sniffled, “Yes,” answered back. The door was surprisingly unlocked and inside was Ash, sitting on her bed, legs pulled up and hiding her face.

“Hey, sweetie. Mind if I sit here?” Ash shook her head without looking up. “Okay.” Kass sat down on the edge of the bed. Out of the corner of her eye she saw one of the many, many candles in the room light, grow, then go out. It lit again, flared, then went out once more. 

“When I saw Aelynthi I was really scared. Melarue was scared too.”

“They seemed angry.”

“They were - but not at you, not at me, not at Aelynthi. They were mad at the person who hurt Aelynthi because that’s what parents do - we see someone hurt our baby and we want to protect them and sometimes that means getting angry. I know it’s scary.” There was a long pause before Ash glanced up, violet eyes bright with unshed tears, brows drawn in her own fear and anger. 

“I felt angry too. I feel angry. And scared, it’s like he’s here again.” Kass’s heart broke for her daughter. The guilt of not leaving earlier, of not figuring out how to get her and Ash out of that horrendous situation faster haunted her. She knew it haunted Ash. They had some counseling following the finalization of the divorce but counseling costs money and life needs money and she was suddenly a very single mother. Maybe…maybe it was time to go back for both of them.

“I felt that too. It is completely understandable to feel that way. The good news is - he isn’t here. Aelynthi is okay, and this situation is completely different. You take as much time as you need, okay? Can I bring you anything to eat or drink?” 

Ash raised her head, “I could use a hug.”

“Oh, baby, of course.” Kass moved over and took Ash in her arms. She held her daughter for a long time until the candle in the corner went out for the last time and Ash let out a long breath and pulled away.

“I’m feeling a little better. I don’t want to go to the party, though. I want to be here with Aelynthi… Is that okay?”

“Of course that’s okay! Baby, that is so sweet.” She gave Ash one last squeeze, “I love you so much.”

“Love you, too.”

They made their way back down to the living room. Aelynthi’s bruises were gone thanks to some quick healing magic and at some point he had changed into pajamas Melarue kept on hand just in case. 

“Hey, Aelynthi.” Ash was the first to speak. He looked over at her, his usual bright eyes dark and exhausted.

“Hi, Ash.”

“Where’s Nanae?” 

He waved behind himself, “In the kitchen.” 

“I will go see that everything’s okay. Ash, how about you join Aelynthi?” It was a bit heavy handed, sure, but something nagged in the back of Kass’s head about Melarue. 

Thanks to the age of the home, the kitchen was in a separate room. It provided privacy for moments like the one Kass walked into. Melarue was hunched over the sink, hands gripping the counter top with white knuckles going into black finger tips. A shadow in the glass of the window rose and roiled around their reflection. Kass blinked then stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Melarue’s back. 

They jerked and turned to her, eyes black and magic flaring. The eyes, the shadow, the finger tips - all gone in a second.

“Kassaran, I can explain -

Kass raised a finger, “I trust you will talk to me about it when you’re ready. Right now, all I want to know is if you’re okay.”

Melarue looked more rattled than she had ever seen them before. They were normally so calm and collected but right now they looked like any worried parent.

“Someone hit my son.”

“They did. He is here now, and you healed him. He is going to be okay, there is no one after him - it was…a horrible singular situation.” Kass took Melarue’s hands in hers, holding them tight. 

“How is Ash?”

“Rattled, but okay.” Kass lifted their hands to her mouth, kissing their knuckles. “We’re going to be okay.” 

And miraculously, they were. The evening gradually turned from that point onward. Melarue and Kass brought out snacks and drinks and ordered a few giant pizzas for them all to eat. Kass called Ash’s friends’ parents to inform them there was a family emergency and Ash wouldn’t be joining them for the evening. They put on old animated movies from Aelynthi’s childhood. Kass and Melarue watched with glee as Aelynthi and Ash bonded over watching the films together - him for the hundredth time and her for the first. They were only ten years apart, but apparently that was enough to have a gap in the movies they had watched. Kass took out a board game and soon they were all embroiled in buying property and hoarding money. They switched off the movies to watch the live coverage of the New Year’s celebration happening downtown. Together, they counted down

TEN!

NINE!

EIGHT!

Melarue turned to Kass while the kids were engrossed with the TV and whispered so softly only she could hear, “Marry me.”

SEVEN!

SIX!

Stunned, Kass blinked but then smiled and nodded.

FIVE!

FOUR!

“Yes.”

THREE!

TWO!

ONE!

They kissed and ushered in another new year together - as a family.

Year Five

Melarue adjusted a pin in their hair as they assessed their image in the mirror. Another New Year’s Eve was here and more importantly - it was their wedding day. Truthfully, asking Kass to marry them last year had been impulsive and it was a terrible time to ask but in that moment, they knew. They just knew she was part of their family and always would be - they wanted it official. They wanted documents and records that tied her to them…even if it was for a short time. They hadn’t announced the engagement right away. Aelynthi and Ash both had counseling to go through, and they didn’t want to put more pressure on the two. But turns out, they hadn’t needed to tell them - somehow the two figured out it on their own. Ash decided to let that out of the bag one spring morning over breakfast when she asked Melarue, “Will you adopt me before or after the wedding?” The answer, after some tears later, was after since the marriage would make the process simpler.

Now, Melarue stood in front of a mirror wearing a beautiful gown waiting to get married again. They never thought they would be here again, not after the divorce. Yet, here they were waiting to marry Kass. 

They had reserved the ballroom of the building where Kass and Melarue had met. The New Year’s party that somehow changed their lives was now the place where they would say their vows. Orchestrating everything on relatively short notice had been an expensive challenge, but they did it. It had to be this date - no other date would do. 

A knock sounded at the door. 

“Come in!” They called. The door opened to reveal Aelynthi dressed in traditional ceremonial attire. His hair was a little longer and he was…smiling. The change in him over the last year brought them immeasurable joy. He had agreed to counseling, partly because of Ash’s wise threatening words of “If I can go to counseling about my shit, abusive sperm-donor, you can do it too. Nanae can hold your hand if you want.” He didn’t ask them to hold their hand, but he had agreed to go. In recent months, he met a nice man named Victory, whom Kass loved. 

“Mamae said the best man should be helping you, so here I am.” 

Aelynthi helped Melarue finish their preparations, then escorted them out to the ceremony space. A door on the opposite end opened to reveal Kassaran and Ash. Beautiful white, silver, and red thread adorned their clothes and horns in intricate but varied patterns. A veil trailed after Kass, while beaded threads dangled from her dress, forming intricate patterns similar to the Vitaar on her face. It was not actual Vitaar given its poisonous properties to those who were not Qunari, but rather face paint and makeup to achieve the same presentation. She was a vision of beauty. 

Slowly, they both began their circular trek towards the elven woman in the center of the room. It was not like an Andrastian aisle, but a walk both Melarue and Kass had agreed upon to represent their winding paths to finding each other. Ash and Aelynthi walked with them, leaving only just before Kass and Melarue joined hands to continue the ceremony. From there, the Dalish woman began her rites. 

“Do you, Kassaran, accept Melarue as they are and will be to be your spouse?”

“I do. I accept all of you,” Kass said. There was no disguising what she meant by all of Melarue. The secret they had shared with her after she found them in the kitchen out of sorts. The knowledge that they were not alone, that they were possessed - but she had taken it in stride and love. More love than they ever thought themselves worthy of. 

“Do you, Melarue, accept Kassaran as she is and will be to be your spouse?”

“I do. Always, Vhenan.”

Voices from the street grew into a chant that could be heard within the ballroom.

TEN!

NINE!

EIGHT!

“By the power invested in me...”

SEVEN!

SIX!

FIVE!

“Declare you married!”

FOUR!

THREE!

TWO!

ONE!

Melarue and Kassaran leaned forward and kissed as they had done for the past five years, welcoming in the new year, and a new beginning.

Year Six

“Knock, knock!” A familiar voice called from beyond the hospital door. Kass groaned, not another person. Sure, it might be Victory and Aelynthi but she was not in a position to entertain.

Melarue was quick, though, and opened the door. 

“We didn’t miss it, did we?” 

Pain wracked Kass’s body as her muscles seized, “NO! You’re all insufferably early!” She practically growled through the pain. Dammit, where was that anaesthesiologist?

Melarue said something to Aelynthi and Victory, then sent them out to hang with Ash in the waiting room. The last thing Kass wanted was anyone to witness what was about to happen to her vagina except for a very select number of people. She even had Melarue under strict orders to stay up by her head - birthing qunari babies was…grizzly at best. Thank goodness for modern medicine and magic. 

The contraction was long but it eventually passed. They were getting much closer now - she really needed that epidural before it was too late. 

“I’m going to get that doctor,” Melarue said, their voice dark with purpose and promise. Fine, whatever, make a deal with a demon - just get her the damn epidural. 

Melarue did in fact return with the anaesthesiologist, who to his credit looked terrified of Melarue. He placed the epidural and the pain faded into odd pressure. Kass eased back into the bed, relieved. 

“You’re doing wonderfully, Vhenan.”

“Mmm, thank you, Kadan. Oh, I need to apologize to Aelynthi and Victory.”

“Love, there is no need - they understand you are a woman in labor.” They kissed her forehead. 

“Aelynthi and I just got good, I don’t want to ruin it and then there’s the baby and I don’t want this family to be in a bad spot just when the baby’s coming into the world-

“Kass, Kass, Vhenan - no one is upset with you. We are all so happy to meet the baby, Aelynthi included. I think even Nithroel already bought baby dance shoes.”

Kass laughed nervously before the door opened and her doctor strolled in. “Hello, Kass!” Following the exam, the doctor smiled, “10 beautiful centimeters, Kass. Are you ready?”

Ready? She wanted this baby so badly. She wanted this family more than anything. But she had done this once before and it was hard to not recall Ash’s birth. It was a long labor, no anesthetic, no Qal…which was a good thing in retrospect even if she had been alone. This was different in every way. She had Melarue in the room, Ash and Aelynthi waiting outside, and doctors who gave a damn about her. 

She nodded to the doctor, “Okay, okay, let’s…have a baby.”

For the next several hours, Kass pushed and worked to get the babe out. Melarue held her hand through it all, speaking kind encouraging words to keep her going. The longer the labor drew on, the more antsy the nurses and even her doctor got. 

Midnight was rapidly approaching…and so was the baby. 

“Alright, Kass, one last push and we’ll have baby. I’ll count it down, now push!

Ten!

Nine!

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One!”

“AAAAH!” Kass pushed and pushed and suddenly the room was filled with more than just a counting doctor and a murmuring Melarue. Cries, distinctive in their high pitch. 

“Well done, Kass! She’s here, a beautiful baby girl! Born right at midnight to welcome in the new year.” The doctor announced. A girl. Another daughter. Emotions bright and strong filled Kass in a wave of amazed euphoria. The baby was placed on her chest and oh, she was perfect. Smaller than Ash, but that was the elf in her. Her hair was dark, just like her nanae’s,  and she was absolutely perfect.

“Kadan, look at her.” She caressed the baby’s cheek in awe.

“She’s perfect,” Melarue whispered pressing a kiss to Kass’s horn.

“I think she takes after you, look at that hair.” The room was bustling with activity and soon the baby was taken for her weight and vitals while Kass dealt with the afterbirth. Once declared fit as a fiddle, the baby returned and Kass went about getting her latched for her first feeding. She was exhausted but riding a unique high of energy that only came from birthing a baby. 

Eventually Melarue left to gather their children, plus Victory, from the waiting room. Ash was the first in the room, smiling broadly as she spied her little sister for the first time.

“Everyone, meet Asaaranda.”

One by one they held Anda. Ash insisted on holding her first, then Aelynthi, and then even Victory took a turn. As Melarue held their daughter with a look of complete love and wonder in their eyes, Kass found her heart full. Her family was complete, her heart full, beyond anything she had ever thought possible even six years ago. 

Melarue turned to Kass and smiled. Yes, this was her family and together they welcomed in a New Year. 

[feynites]

i read Looking Glass and really liked it, but when I decided to read a lot of your other stuff I found myself a little intimidated by the sheer number of amazing fully fleshed out characters. I know you talk about and write about a lot of then on here but could you give me a little bit of an overview on the characters important to LG and its AUs?

Oh, sure thing Anon! Though there are quite a few of them by now, so I’ll keep it to the basic outlines. But feel free to ask if there’s anything more you wanna know! Also, I’ll mention OC’s that belong to other folks, because they show up often in AU’s. But in-depth questions about them would be best directed at their respective creators!

My OCs:

Uthvir - Uthvir shows up in a LOT of supplementary stuff. They’re a nonbinary elf, usually a servant of Andruil and some kind of hunter. They’re often also an abomination possessed by a spirit of Fear (which corrupted from a spirit of Sympathy), and a consciousness that formed out of a body that was initially constructed to house a spirit of Glory. In some AU’s, they and Glory have different connections, though, such as siblings or kindred spirits. Uthvir is a talented shapeshifter who can comfortably change their form. They’re generally paired with Thenvunin or Squish or @lillotte17‘s Aili, or @captusmomentum‘s Inan. Also, Uthvir’s Fear spirit abom partner is, in at least one timeline, the Nightmare from DA:I.

Thenvunin - Thenvunin shows up in a lot of my AU’s and side stories, too. He’s usually a servant of Mythal, generally does some kind of miltiary service or at least likes working out a lot, is very fond of birds and has enough hang-ups to supply several closets. In the majority of AU’s he’s born with severe birth defects and medical conditions that are either totally fixed or not, depending on the care he is able to receive, and sometimes his treatments are very traumatizing in and of themselves. He usually has been in very bad previous relationships, and is most commonly paired with Uthvir, but also sometimes with Squish, @justanartsysideblog‘s Aelynthi, or @lillotte17‘s Daewyn.

Curiosity + Others - Curiosity you probably already know very well, since she gets the bulk of her character development in LG. Much like Ess and Haninan, who I’m just gonna lump here because of that. Ireth, who you’ll see mentioned or even appear, is the name of June’s mother and Haninan’s Keeper-Wife who died.

Squish - ‘Squish’ is a nickname for Desire, but there are a lot of Desire demons to go around, so she’s generally called Squish because the initial prompt that created her was for a ‘squishy character’. She’s a fat, strong elf who was once a Spirit of Desire that loved a spirit of Glory and took a body to try and save them. Sometimes she’s also just an elf who’s in love with an elf named Glory, though, and she also generally loves Uthvir and looks out for them, especially when she knows what their deal is. She usually serves Elgar’nan, but she’s not a great fan of Elvhenan because of the whole Glory thing.

Kel - Kel is my Lavellan! Though I usually go with a more ambiguous Lavellan in my fics, the two characters have pretty much the same personality, it’s just a matter of what I do or don’t specify (i.e. looks, name, etc). You’re free to conceptualize Lavellan as Kel, or to imagine them as different characters, it generally works either way. Kel is much more likely to be shipped with @justanartsysideblog‘s Olwyn, though.

Venavismi - Vena is, in most depictions, a servant of Sylaise who got his job as her attendant/body guard by taking a knife for her at one point. Putting himself bodily between other people and harm, and getting stabbed, are unfortunately consistent themes for him. He has an It’s Complicated relationship with Tasallir, but is generally shipped with @lycheemilkart‘s Ana. And sometimes they form a polyamorous OT3. Also Vena loves puns and bad jokes, despite being a bit vain and usually coming from a very high-pressure environment.

Tasallir - Taz or Tas (he hates either) is another servant of Sylaise, generally a high-ranking attendant who used to be a Spirit of Order and is super uptight. He’s also aro/ace and sex-repulsed, generally touch-starved but also very sensitive to physical contact, and therefore prickly about lots of things. But he’s not actually a bad dude, just very Particular. He’s involved in the aforementioned relationships, but also usually develops a strong friendship or familial-type bond with @scurvgirl’s Serahlin.

Virevas - Virevas is the daughter of Uthvir and Thenvunin in some AU’s, generally a younger sister to a child they’ve already adopted or otherwise acquired (like Kel or @palindromekomori’s Eda). She loves dragons and is very High Maintenance and is absolutely stunning, and sometimes also comes with siblings like Mealla, or the newer triplets in Aili x Uthvir stories (@lillotte17 gets credit for most of their character work). 

Elalas - Elalas turns up in the Mana’Din AU, as a former denizen of Elvhenan’s slave camps who becomes a crucial advisor to Mana’Din. She’s also pretty well in love with Mana’Din but she despises the empire and the evanuris (for obvious reasons) and this makes things fairly complicated for her, because that’s not a non-issue by any means. She’s also on the spectrum and has some significant sensory issues, and is Very Gay.

Dirthamen - Technically Dirthamen is not an OC, but he shows up so often and has so much stuff done to him by me that he should be mentioned. He’s usually shipped with @selenelavellan’s Selene, and sometimes also her Des. He is the brother of Falon’Din and son of Elgar’nan and Mythal, and usually also has split ‘aspects’ of himself that manifest as the ravens Fear and Deceit (Fear is not to be confused with the Fear Spirit that Uthvir is possessed by). Sometimes Fear and Deceit show up as their own characters, though, in which case they’re usually genderfluid (alternating between male and nonbinary identities), with Fear having clinical anxiety, among other trappings. Dirthamen is almost always a high-level shapeshifter, sometimes incapable of consciously controlling it, depending on the level of magic in the setting.

I think that’s about it. Other OC’s who frequently show up in my work, but aren’t mine, include @justanartsysideblog‘s Melarue, Olwyn, Aelynthi, Victory, and Lialva, @selenelavellan’s Selene, Des, Felasel, and Darevas, @scurvgirl’s Serahlin, Adannar, Ileth, Tonlen, Kassaran, and Ashokara, @lycheemilkart’s Ana, Rissa, and Varawell, @palindromekomori‘s Eda, and others who’ve come up less lately. If I’ve forgotten anyone, I apologize - but feel free to ask for any info in specific that you need!

[scurvgirl]

Can't Let Go Yet Kiss for Caserole?

Have some Inquisitor!Kass and Companion!Melarue, featuring @feynites Uthvir.

Also, I am still accepting kiss prompts!

She’s told that Adamant is old. As old as the dunes in theHissing Wastes, old and brittle like the bones of an elderly ruler who is toostubborn to allow his younger relatives rule. That age stands with honor andcrumbles under the weight investigation…and trebuchets.

The night is clear and dry, the lingering heat of the dayquickly dissipating to be replaced with a biting cold. Inquisition troops marchforward with her and Cullen at the head, bracing to take the desert fortressdown and to stop the madness brewing within. The world cannot handle a demonarmy, and they cannot handle a Blight if the Wardens are suddenly extinguishedfrom this region of Thedas. While her advisers are doubtful of saving thewardens, Kassaran sees the need to at least try.

The Wardens…they’re like spiders. Scary, a bit freaky onprinciple, but necessary to keep certain population numbers under control –insects for the spiders, darkspawn for the wardens.

Her mind is filled with tactics Cullen has taken care totell her all about. It all really boils down to ‘stay alive, you areimportant.’

She looks down at her hand, the glowing green of the fadesputtering at her. Magic has never really frightened her like most Qunari, butthe Mark is singularly unnerving. She has a brand new orifice that leadsdirectly to the Fade.

It’s weird, simply put.

And it’s put her in this position to now be leading a fullblown military assault against the Grey Wardens of all people. It’s what makesher important, it’s why she has to survive. She has a separate reason tosurvive, a reason that is safely ensconced back at Skyhold with body guards allaround her.

Uthvir approaches her, surveying the soldiers around them.

“Scouts report the Wardens are preparing defenses.”

“Any demons?”

“None have been spotted but that doesn’t mean anything,mages can be discreet with their summoning when they wish to be.”

She nods, “Thank you. We won’t launch any offensives untilthe assault but perhaps…is it possible to create a diversion? Or for yourscouts to closer perhaps? Find a way inside?”

“I will have them investigate.”

“Thank you, but do have them be cautious, I don’t wish moredeath than necessary.”

“They are scouts, they are by nature cautious, but I willadvise them, Inquisitor.”

Kassaran nods and Uthvir leaves to go tend to their scouts.

They are only an hour from the fortress, behind a large rockoutcropping that miraculously shields them from any projectiles. The troops areset to pour out and march shortly, many of whom will die….

“Knock, knock,” a voice says from behind her. Kass turns tosee Melarue and the tent suddenly feels a bit better.

She smiles at them and steps away from the table, full oflittle figurines to mark out how the battle could proceed.

“Melarue, I’m glad to see you before the battle,” she says.They step fully inside and close the flap behind them.

“As am I,” they reply as she takes their hands in hers.

As harsh and generally unpleasant the desert has been it hasbeen the scene of her and Melarue coming together. The months since Halamshiralhave certainly been eventful.

Kass leans forward and rests her forehead against theirs.

“I woke up this morning with this sinking feeling in my gut.Like the feeling I got the morning of the Conclave,” she says softly.

“And just like the Conclave, you will survive this.”

Kassaran frowns, “I do not wish to be the lone survivoragain, Melarue. I…can’t.” A moment of weakness, one that she trusts withMelarue.

“I cannot promise what the battle will hold.”

“But you just said I will survive.”

“That is the only thing I am certain of.”

“That does not help, Kadan,” she whispers. They arerealistic in things but this…this is not when she needs realism.

Their eyes shut and they lean against her, “Kassaran…”

Words are not what she needs or wants. She titls her headand slants her lips over theirs, kissing them softly. Or, it began softly. Theypress back against her, tilting their head. They nibble at her bottom lip,making her sigh and kiss them more intently. She runs her tongue along theirlips and they shudder, opening up to kiss her deeply.

Her hands cup their face, their hands go to her waist andthey are pressed up against each other, a port for each other in the storm.They breathe each other in, clutching and needing.

She pulls away only to gasp for breath before returning tokiss them.

But then they break away with a soft murmur of her name andthat the troops will be leaving soon.

“Not yet,” she whispers. About the troops, about being donekissing them…both? But they nod and almost laugh as they lean back into her.

“I love you,” she murmurs against their lips, she says itagain in qunlat. She kisses their cheek and up to their temple, holding themclose.

“I love you too, vhenan,” they whisper back, pressing theirlips to her cheek. Her eyes shut close and for the briefest moment the sinkingfeeling in her gut is gone, replaced only by Melarue.

But they eventually part and the feeling returns in the spacebetween their bodies. She watches them leave the tent to prepare for thebattle.

She wants to promise herself that they’ll survive or make them promise. The pit sinks deeper and she swallows and for the first time in years, prays.

[scurvgirl]

Head and back scritches for Caserole it is!

@palindromekomori and @lillotte17

Melarue belongs to @justanartsysideblog

Inquisitor Kass/Companion Melarue AU!

Par Vollen and Seheron are not just hot, they are humid. While some dragons and other horned beasts could withstand the dryness of the Western Approach, Qunari could not. Kass feels the skin around her horns begin to dry, risking to crack if she doesn’t get some moisture into them soon. The horns themselves also feel dry and itchy, in dire need of balms and oils that really only were made in Par Vollen and Seheron.

But while the cracking is painful and needs to be taken care of, she is exhausted by the dry heat, fighting, and marching through the sand. Par Vollen had near constant cloud cover because of the rain, which mitigated some of the sun’s heat, but out here in this desert wasteland, there was no such thing. The sun bore down on them, burning them, heating them to a crisp. She didn’t miss her old life in Par Vollen but the weather…she missed that.

She puts up her tent and splashes some water on her horns and skin, paying no mind to her hair which would invariably retaliate in the morning.

“Would you like some assistance, Inquisitor?” Melarue offers in a soft tone over supper, a drab affair of jerky and dried fruit.

Kass sighs, about to politely decline, but winces as she feels the skin crack and bleed. Well, that’s a little obvious to deny.

“Yes, thank you,” she concedes. Melarue nods and pulls out their own supply of elfroot balm while Kass procures her tub of horn balm. She doesn’t have the oils, but the balms will do for now. She’ll have to talk to Leliana or Josephine or someone back at Skyhold to start importing for Qunari luxury goods.

She leads Melarue back into her tent, her back twitching with giddy. Their dance at Halamshiral had been…well. Exciting to say the least. There’s this tension between them, not a bad tension, but a tension that could very well lead to things. Things that she isn’t entirely against. But now…now she is just tired and in need of help, which they seem more than happy to give.

They sit behind her and dip their fingers in the elfroot balm, careful to smooth it over the bleeding cracks. They smooth it over all of her horns and while it isn’t the moisturization she needs, it brings relief, stitching closed the wounds. They wait a moment before opening the horn balm. They start from the tips of her horns, slowly working it up to the base.

She gasps and bites back a relief filled moan as they gently ease the balm into her skin. The relief is instantaneous and their hands are wonders, gentle and smooth that bring just the right amount of pressure.

“Your horns are gorgeous, Kassaran, almost as lovely as the rest of you,” they compliment. She smiles, her eyes drifting closed.

“Hmm, and you would know a thing or two about being gorgeous,” she replies.

“I do and your horns…I once lived in a land that tried to replicate such beautiful adornments, but they never came close to yours,” they whisper.

“The more I hear about Tevinter, the more disturbed it sounds.”

They pause for a moment, “It is a land of oppressors. The oppressed are typically less disturbed, or just different ways. The oppressors wished to look like dragons, to inspire fear and awe in their followers.”

“There are theories that the Qunari are related to dragons in some way.” She can’t bite back the moan when they massage a particularly tender spot of flesh.

“I can see that. Your people have an intensity about them, from Qunari to Tal-Vashoth to Vashoth. You are passionate people. And you in particular have all the beauty and wonder of a dragon, all the fierceness, you do not need to affect anything.”

She chuckles self-consciously, careful to not shake her head at their words.

“You are…exceptionally complimentary.”

“Should I stop?”

“No, you simply caught me unawares. You are wondrous yourself, quiet and beautiful. And kind, thank you for this.”

They chuckle, “It is no trouble, I assure you.” Their hands then sink into her hair and begin to gently massage her scalp. She gasps and groans, leaning into them.

“Melarue,” she says in a breathless voice.

“Shh, let me do this, you just relax. You have the weight of Thedas on you.” Their hands drift down to her neck, working out the tension. After a moment, they guide her to lay down on her cot and slowly begin to press into her back.

“I feel like I should reciprocate…” she whispers, eyes beginning to drift closed as their hands work in sweeping arcs up her back.

“There is no need, I offered.”

“But still, you’re so good, you deserve good too,” she’s not sure if that makes sense but they seem to understand. They hush her again and continue to rub out the tension in her shoulders, the center of her back, and drifting down to ease the muscles at the small of her back. This is much more than she initially agreed to, but their hands are bordering on magical as they ease all the tension from her. She barely feels the pain of the Mark either, and with that realization, she can no longer resist sleep’s siren call. Kassaran drifts into a deep sleep, murmuring a barely intelligible plea for Melarue to stay. Not for sex, just…sleep.

When she wakes, they’re there, soundly asleep next her, beautiful and relaxed. She smiles softly and closes her eyes again. They can sleep in a little more, they’ve earned it.

[scurvgirl]

Sleep Tight

A little Caserole fluff to help combat all the angst happening.

Melarue belongs to @justanartsysideblog

Companion!Mel and Inquisitor!Kass

NSFW for naked Melarue. 

Being the Inquisitor is exhausting. Absolutely mentally and physically and emotionally exhausting. Her limbs feel heavy and her head sags as she slowly climbs up the tower to her bedroom. 

Why oh why does her bedroom have to be at the top of a tower?? No matter how much Ash ooh’s and ah’s over how ‘Mama’s like a princess! BUT BETTER!’ it doesn’t change the fact that every night, every night, she has to climb these insufferable stairs up to her bed. 

Kass leans against the railing and begins the journey up to her room. She thinks about her bed and sighs, oh wonderful bed. Soft, good, bed where sleep happens. Beautiful bed with its down comforter and pillows. 

She reaches the top of the stairs and sighs which then turns into a yawn, her face scrunching up. When she is able to see properly again, she blinks once, twice. 

“Hello, Inquisitor,” Melarue purrs from their roost on her (their really) bed. Kass’s eyes widen. 

“You’re...naked,” she says softly, eyes trailing over their body. 

“And in your bed.”

“Our bed, really,” she murmurs, shuffling towards the bed. Oh, sex. Sex is nice but it’s also exhausting and she really doesn’t think she has enough in her for sex. 

They cock their head to the side a bit, watching fatigue laden movements.

“I like to feel you properly when we spoon, that’s why,” they explain making her smile. She knows that they were planning and hoping for sex, but they know she’s exhausted, they can see it, and it’s not even a question to them that it’s not happening tonight. She sniffles and undresses quickly before grabbing her hair bonnet and horn wraps. 

Kassaran leans over to Melarue and gives them a long kiss, anyways.

“I love you,” she whispers, only for their ears, only for them. They make a small low noise of appreciation before taking her hand and turning it over to press a small kiss to her pulse.

“I love you, too,” they reply. She climbs onto the bed and quickly fixers her horns and hair into their wraps and bonnet, tying laces and adjusting the fit until she’s happy with it. And then she simply falls back against the pillows, her body barely bouncing. 

She wants to just...burrow for the next twenty-four hours into the cushions, does that work inquisition? She can do that yes? She’s the main person, the head honcho, she should be able to make the decision to be able to spend an entire in bed, right? But no, she has responsibilities come morning, and issues that must be tended to.

Melarue slowly sidles up to her, pressing themselves against her as they wrap an arm around her. Holding her. 

“Rest, my beautiful love,” they whisper and really, it is not difficult at all to follow their wish.

[scurvgirl]

Masks

Melarue belongs to @justanartsysideblog

Melarue wears their clothes and makeup like armor. They adorn themselves in pretty things, shift their features with magic and the quirk of a muscle here and there to hide themselves, to keep parts of themselves secret. 

They are harsh and cunning and quick. There is a hardness to their beauty like this, when they’re in the public eye. Kass watches them from the comfort of their shared hotel room, ensconced in wondrously soft blankets, nibbling on scones. They’re on a morning show giving an interview about their latest movie - a biopic about the first elven surgeon. They’re stunning of course, in a beautiful emerald green tailored suit with tall silver heels. The host cracks a joke and Melarue chuckles in their polite laugh - their shoulders barely move. 

And then the host does something a bit unexpected. She points to the necklace hanging from Melarue’s neck.

“Now, what is this? I have some Vashoth friends who were very interested to know why you’re wearing a necklace of what is called a kadan, which for the people who don’t know, is a word in qunlat that means ‘place where the heart rests’ - it’s something of a equivalent of the elven term vhenan. It’s a pretty significant thing to be given this, it’s almost like marriage - which then begs the question, are you with someone? Is this that necklace of the kadan?"

Kass freezes and Melarue appears to tense a moment before smiling and resting a hand against the split dragon tooth.

“It is a Necklace of the Kadan, yes. Several years ago, I met a Vashoth woman who...we have become quite close and involved and our relationship has progressed to this point.” They say carefully to the audible gasp of the audience. Kass chuckles, shaking her head. They’ll make sure that Kass and Ash are safe from any prying paparazzi, she’s not concerned. Quite frankly, she’s more surprised that no one has brought it up sooner! They’ve been wearing the necklace for months now, and people are now just realizing this? 

The host plays up how wide her eyes are and this spawns a whole discussion that Melarue deftly maneuvers through on their secret relationship. 

Forty minutes later and the interview is done, Melarue managing only to reveal that they’re dating a Vashoth woman with a daughter and is most definitely not sleeping with those three actors each magazine seems convinced they are. 

It’s another hour before they’re walking into the hotel room, the click-clack of their heels cuing her in to their arrival. She scrambles out of the bed and rights the outfit she’s in - placing her left boob back into its designated push-up cup. She whacks the bed down for crumbs then shoves her feet into the heels she bought specifically for this outfit. This...should go over well, she thinks, they love her body, they make that known as frequently as possible in their kisses and touches and goodness, they way they make love to her - she is certain they’ll like the push-up sheer baby-doll she’s wearing. Maybe not so much the feathery heels, though.

She strides, or tries to stride elegantly, through the suite to the front and poses against the corner right in front of them. 

“Welcome back,” she says in a sultry whisper. 

They stop in their tracks as their eyes track slowly over her body. 

“Hello, gorgeous,” their voice is low and dark and oooh this was a brilliant idea on her part.

Hours later and they lie naked and sweaty in the middle of the bed. There are lipstick smudges and hickeys in discreet areas and she feels absolutely soft and happy. Even better yet is that Melarue is soft and happy, unmasked, unadorned - just them. She trails her fingers gently over their soft skin and presses another kiss to their shoulder. They hum appreciatively as they turn their head to look at her.

“I am going to buy you ten of those little outfits. Maybe more.” They say and she chuckles, nuzzling her way into the crook of their neck.

“Whatever makes you happy, Kadan. Though I think that one was a smidge too small in the band size, I think I have marks on my back.” They trail a hand down her back and nod.

“I’ll get you custom,” they say absently, leaning against her. 

She sighs and draws her fingers down their body in affection. She doesn’t really know what she did to receive their love, to receive this gift of them, divested of all their masks and disguises, but she is immensely grateful for it, and will cherish it. Cherish them, because they’re worth cherishing and loving. She tries to convey this through touch, finding her words to for once catch in her throat in the lazy mid-morning sun. 

Her darling Melarue, her Kadan.

[justanartsysideblog]

Uncontrollably Fond

Sometimes Melarue wakes up at night, and feels strong arms holding them close, and wonders if it is a dream. Surely it is impossible for someone to love this much. But when they close their eyes and open them again, Kassaran remains, lips parted as she breathes, white curls threaded through Melarue’s fingers.

And Melarue knows that come morning, Kass will be there still.

It is ridiculous, they think, how uncontrollably fond I am of you.

---

Melarue and @scurvgirl‘s Kassaran  because healthy adult relationships are life. And these two are wonderful. 

[scurvgirl]

The Person You Want to Tell

Melarue belongs to @justanartsysideblog

Kass walks out of the office, stunned. Did...did that really just happen? After years of preparation and planning and writing and rewriting and even waffling whether or not to do this and then being rejected by the first three publishers and....

She got the contract? The entire contract? 

Five books, just as she wanted to write them. Not just a novel - but a series. 

A young adult urban fantasy series featuring a Vashoth girl as the protagonist. And it’s going to actually be published and not just lurking around in her head. 

She walks to her car in a daze. They didn’t turn her away? She slides into her car and switches it on before slumping against the seat. Wow. 

The shock then gives way to unabashed joy and excitement. 

She got the contract!

Her phone is in her hand immediately, dialing. It rings three times before a smooth voice answers.

“Hello darling.”

“I got it!” She blurts into the receiver. 

“The contract for the books, I mean! They’re going to publish it!” She practically squeals.

“That’s wonderful, darling!” They exclaim in their excited but still at work voice. 

“We’re celebrating. Your choice of restaurant, my treat.” 

“No new jewelry!” She says quickly. She already has so much, she doesn’t even know what to do with it at this point. 

“I make no such promises.” They scoff but she just shakes her head. 

“Fine...sapphires, then.” She teases and they chuckle. 

“Anything for you.” Their voice is softer, quieter, almost taking a more private tone, but they’re working today and the likelihood of someone overhearing is high. It’s the one time that Kass almost wishes they were public so they didn’t have to worry about this.

But privacy grants protection for her - their - daughter, and for that, Kass would pay any price.

“What about that little place with all the twinkle lights on Riverside?” She suggests, thinking she wants something Tevene in style and taste.

“I’ll have the reservation made.” There is a pause, before they return, whispering,

“I love you,” in Qunlat. Kass smiles softly as warmth spread throughout her. 

“I love you too, Kadan.”