#moondome

[whiskeyskin]

Praise You

Premise: Thaniel and Oliver are reunited and Halsin's feeling a bit aimless, a head massage is just what Silvanus ordered. Not that kind.. well, maybe that kind too 😏🍆💦

• Halsin x gn!tav • M rating • Religious themes •

Cleric Gn!tav, religious experience but it's sexy?, Silvanus take the wheel, m!masturbation, hair braiding, massages, taking care of Halsin, kissing, confessions, revelations, deliciously wet Halsin, horny, connection, divine threesome if you squint?

5.4k words

Gods bless @naariel for these beautiful shots of this delicious man 😚👌✨ Get The Full Picture

(Just imagine Tav is the bedroll 😏)

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It was a particularly jovial time in camp this evening, despite the grim surroundings, however they seemed a little less bleak now that Thaniel and Oliver were together again.

From inside the protection of the Moondome, they sat together with many bottles of wine, as so generously provided by the Last Light's cellar.

They still had Ketheric Thorm to deal with but that was tomorrow's problem. Tonight, they drank.

Halsin had been carrying the weight of the Shadowcurse for over a century, now he'd finally been able to lessen it's hold and rescue his childhood friend from a terrible fate. There was almost a glow about him as he sat nursing his only glass.

He looked a little lost at times, almost in mild shock. As though he couldn't quite believe what had happened.

Tav smiled warmly, they wondered what was in store for Halsin Silverbough.

They'd been brushing out Shadowheart's hair for 45 minutes to redo her hair ready for tomorrow's foray into Shar's Gauntlet, down to find the Nightsong.

Finally, the brush glided through her long raven locks with ease.

"There, that's half the battle won already. Ketheric will be a walk in the park after dealing with your tenday's long hair." Tav jested, brushing her hair up into a ponytail.

"Oh, shut up you," she threw with failed derision, "I would have done it myself, but you offered." She shrugged, taking a sip of wine.

"Oh, yes. Forlornly calling out that you wanted to gussy yourself for Shar, only.. alas! You can't remember how to do your hair. The pinnacle of passive aggressive whinging." Astarion threw across the fire, nursing his own goblet.

"Well, you're the expert." Shadowheart countered, illiciting a jeering reaction from the group.

"Ooh, she's got you there Fangs!" Karlach nudged his shoulder with her elbow, a little too forcefully. Astarion rubbed yelped and rubbed his shoulder.

"What do you mean? When I'm unhappy, I come right out and say it. I don't waste time beating around the bush."

"Correct, but your continued and incessant complaints regarding self-cleanliness in this wilderness are tiresome." Lae'zel sneered.

"Not to play devil's advocate, Lae'zel but I have to agree with Astarion on this one. Trying to maintain any kind of a bathing routine whilst braving these perilous lands is a task most impossible to undertake." Gale retorted, holding his hands up in gesture.

"Well, now that Thaniel and Oliver are restored, these lands will flourish once more when nature takes it's course. Oakfather willing." Halsin did his customary gesture.

"I don't really mind, and you've been a very good model sitting here without whining." Tav stated, tying off her hair and pulling it tight but comfortable, "it reminds me of my childhood, we'd spend hours brushing and braiding each other's hair. It was practice for when we'd be braiding those in ceremony."

"Ah yes, the braids of your people are intricate indeed." Wyll nodded, "I've met a few with the most complicated of braidwork, it's very impressive."

"Well, I was never good enough to braid those. It's more about the smaller victories that I specialise in. Smaller and more personal to the individual." They explained, twisting her hair to make it more manageable to thread through her hair adornment.

"Smaller victories?" Lae'zel narrowed her eyes with a curious tilt.

Shadowheart handed Tav her silver adornment, "Yes, they can be anything really. Anything that the person overcame; hardships, trials, successes, even failures."

"Your people celebrate failure? Bah. Mediocrity must be cleansed-"

"-Cleansed, yes we know what the Gith think about all of that. Despite this apparently fatal flaw, my people are great warriors, Lae'zel." Tav interceded, threading Shadowheart's hair through the chains to secure the hair piece.

"I know this. You have shown yourself distinguished in battle many times." Lae'zel insisted, frowning in the way she did.

"And yet, I'm not your 'typical' warrior. I'm valued because of the strengths I do have, not shunned for the ones I don't. My people embrace failure without shame, or repulsion because it takes more from a person to admit their mistakes, than to admit their success."

A hush fell over the group as Tav's words sank in. A few uncomfortable shuffles echoed around the group.

"I feel like there was more I could do to help the Tiefling refugees. I should have done more." Wyll said, breaking the silence.

"That's not a failure, that's a regret. Regrets are useless, Wyll. They keep us from seeing the good. You taught those children enough to survive that attack. You told Umi it's about giving him enough time to escape and they did. So, I'd count that as a success." Tav replied, smiling. Wyll took a stuttered inhale, surprised by their perspective.

"I failed to stop the Shadowcurse, it shouldn't have come to this." Halsin admitted, a pained expression on his face.

"You failed to kill Ketheric Thorm but so did many others that day. But you, my friend," Tav leaned to rest a firm hand on his muscular shoulder, "are the only reason it's ended now."

"If it had not been for you-"

"-Then you would have found a way. Your failure, is now your triumph, Halsin. This pain that has clouded you for a century, is finally done." Tav jolted him hard to emphasise their point, then scanned his hair, "I need to give you a new braid."

His head jerked to look up, hazel green eyes wide, "I did not think-"

"You need two; one for your failing, one for your victory. We are defined by both and must wear them proudly. If you'll permit me?" Tav paused, seeking consent.

They allowed the revelation to seep inward. The tenants of their people were often the cause of deep realisations regarding the self. Even when those people were as wise as Halsin.

"You would honour me." His warm, kind eyes brimmed with the threat of tears but he stoically swallowed them down.

~~~

The evening passed in reflective revelry, the gang admitted many deep seated secrets that had shamed them. It bonded them further, in a way that was Tadpole-free. By the end, Tav would need to braid all of their friends.

Lae'zel touched the fresh re-plaiting Tav had done for her, adding another to symbolise her small achievement of befriending Istiki. She seemed pleased.

Halsin had peeled away from the fire a short while ago but hadn't returned. Tav hoped that they hadn't caused him hurt by what they had said.

After such a long time of carrying this burden, taking a step back and looking at the situation in it's entirety after being so intrinsically entwined with it.. blinded within it.. would take time.

But they'd meant every word. He was an incredible man. And they hoped he saw that in himself.

Eventually, everyone resigned to their bedrolls. A goodnight hug from Karlach, Wyll, Gale and surprisingly Shadowheart, a pat on the shoulder from Astarion, and the usual nod from Lae'zel, imparted with more warmth than before.

"You can feed on me again tonight, let me just go check on where Halsin's got to." Tav gently patted Astarion's arm.

"I appreciate that. Unless I want to eat cow, there's nothing around here."

"Cow can be delicious but not in the way you experience taste, I'll bet."

"Ugh, no. Livestock taste - ugh - well, you can imagine." He curled his lip in disgust.

Tav laughed, "If they taste as bad as they smell, I think I can."

~~~

After very little searching, Tav found Halsin by the lakeside, just inside Isobel's protection. There seemed to be a large, silver basin in front of him.

He was naked from the waist up, revealing his impossibly muscled physique. Tav gasped. They'd obviously seen his barely contained body in his Druidic armour, but laid bare in front of them like this, their mouth had suddenly run dry, yet salivated hungrily simultaneously.

His hair looked longer, almost freer, as he took the basin over his head with ease and poured it over his hair.

Again, Tav gasped and a pooling of lust hit low in their belly watching this mountain of an Elf drench himself in water.

Halsin placed the basin back on the rock and pinched the water out of his eyes. He shook with an exhale, squeezing out the excess water from his hair and caught Tav's gaze.

Immediately feeling foolish, Tav jerked themselves out of their stupor and waved nonchalantly, making their way down to him. Halsin returned with a half wave as he wiped his face down with his hand.

"I didn't see you there, didn't realise anyone else was awake." He smiled brightly, towering half naked and beautiful.

Tav returned the smile, "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"You were concerned for me?" He sounded surprised.

"Of course, I understand that what I said might have been quite a lot to digest before one sleeps. I wanted to see that you were well, and rested."

Halsin's brows pulsed together but his expression remained warm, "It has been quite some time since someone checked to make sure I was rested but I promise you, I'm perfectly fine."

"I didn't mean to offend, or speak out of turn. The Shadowcurse has superceded everything else in your life and having that finally lifted from your burdens-"

Halsin held up a large paw to silence them, "Hush now, you did not speak out of turn. In fact, you spoke more truth than I've heard in a long time. A redeeming quality of yours.." he trailed off, with an intense stare.

"I'm glad to not offend, because I don't regret what I said. What you've achieved today will change the course of this land forever, for good this time."

"I must admit, it is a strange feeling to see hope sprout anew in these lands, after so much darkness." He mused, looking to the spot he'd brought Thaniel through from the Shadowfell.

Tav thought on the fierce battle for the portal, the desperate need to keep Halsin safe. The sheer relief that flooded them when they saw him return with Thaniel unconscious in his strong arms.

They stole a glance at him while he looked out towards the water. He truly was beautiful.

The strong line of his scarred jaw, the definition of his muscles, the uncharacteristic growth of chest hair dark against his sun-kissed skin. The lingering droplets of water chasing each other down the contours of his torso and into the damp waistband of his camp clothes.

Tav swallowed. Halsin was obviously a stunningly attractive man, but the energy and presence that exuded from his very soul was intoxicating; His strength, his compassion, his bravery and his boundless capacity for goodness and hope-

He'd taken out his braids.

Tav blinked twice, then glanced down to the empty silver basin and now what they saw to be soaps, glass bottles and tubs.

"What are you doing down here, Halsin?" They asked, plainly.

He blinked, returning his gaze to them, "Well, I had hoped to commemorate this occasion, as you suggested. That you would honour me with a new braid. However, my cleanliness has not been the top priority these last days and my hair is seldom touched by anyone but me. It required some attending to." He chose his words delicately. It made Tav laugh.

"Would you like some help?"

"I think I have imposed enough on your good will for one day. Although, I must admit, I do not know anything about hair care." He admitted with a chuckle.

"Well, I see you come fully stocked." They motioned to the jars, picking them up to read the labels.

"I spoke to Isobel about blessing some water so that I may bathe, one of the Harpers kindly gave me some of their own poltices and potions to use."

Tav opened a container to gauge the consistency, Halsin also reaching for a bottle. They took a sniff of the thick, white poltice and found it to be coconut.

"Ah, this is to soften and strengthen hair. Plus it smells divine." They offered Halsin to smell the balm, to which he let out a hum of agreement.

"This is an oil. To help with hair?" He said shrugging his shoulders and unstoppering it, the scent of lavender and rosemary strong on the air.

Tav nodded in agreement, "That's for the scalp as well as the hair. A scalp massage is unlike anything else for relaxation."

"Is that so?" Halsin asked with a playful lilt.

"It is so. Would you like a scalp massage? I am very proficient in them." Tav boasted, taking the oil bottle Halsin offered.

"Another of your many talents." He admired in a low register. Another intense gaze burned them in place.

"Well, in order for me to braid you, your hair must be in a good condition. If you'll allow me?" They gestured for him to sit.

"Now? Here?" He asked.

"Where else could be better than at the site of your achievement?" Tav posited, gesturing to the jutting rock.

Halsin turned down his lips and nodded in agreement, "I can't argue with that."

They both settled on the rocks, Halsin sat lower down in front of Tav's crossed legs. Tav rolled his camp shirt to place against the rock to afford Halsin more comfort, to which he rewarded them with another warm smile.

Once they were both in position, Tav pushed their sleeves up, "Tilt your head back for me." Halsin dutifully acquiesced, and they poured a good helping of the rosemary and lavender oil, assuring that it didn't drip.

"That smells wonderful." Halsin said through a smile.

"That it does," Tav agreed, flexing their fingers against Halsin's scalp in small circles, "It should feel even better." They returned with a smirk.

"Ooh, that it does." He mimicked, after a few moments of groans.

Tav proceeded with the scalp massage, fingers practised and strong, offering healing and relaxation.

They saw the tension in his shoulders ripple away and he sank lower into the feeling, "You can rest your head against my legs if you'd like." They offered. A normal suggestion in these circumstances but this time it felt far more loaded.

They'd given hundreds of these kinds of treatments but this time felt different, important.. charged.

Wordlessly, Halsin sank back into them. The back of his neck resting on their crossed calves, as they continued their practice. His handsome face was contented.. at peace, as he gently lay on them.

Tav watched the small changes in his expression as their fingers worked their magic. His brows would flex, his closed eyelids would stretch as though his eyes were rolling back in his head.

Tav employed the subtle use of their nails to awaken the scalp for regeneration, raking them across his head. Halsin's jaw tensed and he let out a low rumble that sounded not quite human but it made their stomach tumble over uncomfortably.

"Apologies," Halsin's voice came out slightly breathlessly, "This is feeling quite good, and my grip over the animal within can be tenuous at times. I hope it doesn't frighten you." He opened his eyes to look up at them, his incomparable green hazel eyes shadowed with lashes and uncertainty.

"You could never frighten me, Halsin. You make me feel safe, protected. Never afraid." Tav spoke in a hushed tone and moved their thumbs to massage the worry lines that appeared there, "You are immense and powerful and you deserve to feel good."

"Mm, you make me feel good. Very good." Halsin licked his bottom lip and took a shaky breath.

Tav paused to add more oil to their hands, rubbing them together and gliding their full width to smooth his hair down. Then tossing his hair from side to side to work their way to the underside to massage the back of his neck.

Halsin groaned at the force of their fingers, "Tav, that feels quite extraordinary. You have a real talent for this." He let out a breathy chuckle.

"I'm not even started yet, Bear man." They teased, "You'll be practically unconscious by the time I'm finished with you." The tinge of unintentional sexual energy peppered their words, as they pushed the muscles of his neck under their hands.

"Bear man?" He shot out a laugh, "We shall both be exhausted after this, I'll wager."

"I've been doing this for many years, I could do this for hours." They braced into their strength and worked the heel of their palms hard, down into the extremely tight musculature of his shoulders.

Halsin let out a shuddering yelp, then a rumble paired with a gasp, "That.. was unfair."

"You're wound tighter than a Patrirar's arse, Halsin. You need to relax."

He sat up a little, pushing against the force.

"Oh, and how would you suggest I do that, when you're burying your fingers into my shoulders? Gods." He strained through gritted teeth.

"Besides a massage? A bath, masturbation, meditation, booze? There are lots of fun ways to unwind." Tav smirked, thumbs working over his wound muscles.

"All sound suggestions, apart from masturbation. That would be a tad inappropriate, don't you agree?" His tone was light and dark at the same time, it curled a devious smile to Tav's lips.

Their eyes flitted down to Halsin's crotch subconsciousally, only to almost choke at the sight of the thick snake straining against the fabric.

The aroma of arousal suffused around them, now turned to a thick smog, covering them unabashedly.

It gripped Tav low in their belly and held them by the throat, their own desire throbbing between their legs.

They folded themselves over him and leaned to whisper in his ear, their firm hands gliding down the strong plains of his chest.

They had never been good at being coy.

"Halsin. I would love you to touch yourself while I massage you. I would love to hear the sweet sounds of your pleasure and satisfaction, as we celebrate this together. To see you, to hear you. To bless this with an act of self love." Their lips caught on the hard edges of his Elvish ears, and he shuddered beneath them, his muscles bunching under their palms.

"You would?" He muttered, swallowing thickly.

"To see your beauty laid bare to me in such an intimate and scared act, yes I would.." They hummed into the shell of his ear.

He stretched his head back, pulling his lips back and baring fangs for a split second.

"Show that you're free of this regret, that it holds you no longer. Own this. Take this moment as yours. Praise the Gods with your surrender and pleasure."

Halsin huffed out an unsteady breath and began unfastening his trousers until his large, thick erection jutted free, sprouting from dark hair.

Tav eyed his cock hungrily with trepidation and intrigue, the image of Halsin buried deep inside them flashing before their eyes. The ghost of the stretch around him clenched their sex, filling their mouth saliva.

"Is this truly what you want?" Halsin asked, his large hand waiting in a fist on his toned thigh.

"If you mean to ask; is this an appropriate scenario for two friends to participate in, then no, it's probably not."

His fist squeezed tightly in frustration, as he sighed.

"I thought not." He said bitterly through tight lips.

"However, I was never one to follow rules." They moaned through a grin, as they flicked the tip of their tongue across his earlobe, nipping lightly with their teeth.

The air from Halsin's lungs whooshed out, as he slammed his to grip the back of their head, the other placed on their's across his heart. He fisted their hair, as he writhed against their suckling of his sensitive ears.

He pulled on their thickest braid, desire tugged them deeper with every follicle. Tav's eyes rolled back as they moaned, open-mouthed. Halsin trembled out a repressed groan, biting down on his lip and closing his eyes.

"Silvanus forgive me." He whined, sliding his hand from their hair, finally allowing himself the freedom to touch his twitching, weeping cock.

"No, 'Silvanus bless me'," Tav corrected, as they slid their oiled hand from under his grasp and held his forearm across his chest. They looked up, passed the moon barrier, to the sky, "Silvanus, bare witness to your faithful servant. Bless this act of devotion."

"Yes.. yes." He uttered, head sliding to their shoulder, cradled into their embrace. His huffed, hot breath jagged against their jaw.

Tav looked down to watch him pump his cock mercilessly, the beading precum that had leaked coating the blows. They swallowed his gasps and moans as he pushed against them.

Suddenly, the cold night of the shadows were ushered away, replaced by the sensation of sunlight and the smell of the trees and fresh earth. Tav could taste the juice of the fruits bore and the brilliance of light shining.

Tav smiled joyfully, bathed in the light of Halsin's God.

The All-Father was here with them.

"Do you feel-" He barely managed through gasps. They nodded against the sweat of his skin.

"Silvanus sees you, Halsin," they breathed, an irreverent smile across their face.

They heard words that had no source booming through their mind, they knew the meaning and listened.

"He has felt your faith and love. Your devotion and dedication to him and to the task of freeing these lands. He has found you deserving of his blessings. He granted you passage to retrieve Thaniel because he knew that you are worthy."

The divine words came out without thought, as tears slid down their cheeks.

"Thank you, Oakfather.. but.. none of this.. would have been possible.. without Tav." He keened, grip on his throbbing cock intensifying, "Bless them, Silvanus. Bless them."

The swell of the divine enhanced tenfold. Tav wept at the radiance coursing through them. The heat, the force.. it was indescribable. Incomparable.

"We would have been lost without you. All would have been lost without you." A low whimper rang from the back of his throat, as they kissed his markings.

The voice thundered inside their head once more, words of affirmation and benevolent boon. Tav gasped, their vision blinded by light, their lips rounded into a serene smile.

"You are the catalyst, Halsin. You are the might that wrenches away the rot, you are the sunlight and water to feed the earth.. Yours is the seed that brings new life."

Their other hand came down to grasp at his forearm, feeling the furious movement of Halsin's joy. Halsin yelped, gulping moans as he pumped his massive cock in abandon, thumping his strong hips to meet every stroke.

"I'm-I'm.." He choked, his jaw clenching, rhythm erratic.

"Yes, Halsin. Spread your fertile seed upon this land.." The feeling of the divine power crescendoing in their head.

"Silvanus.. Silvanus.." He struggled, "Bless me.."

Halsin convulsed and spasmed, roaring as he climaxed in hard, thick shoots of cum, spilling over the cold, grey earth beneath him. He jerked and strained, as he spurted thick and full, spattering the grass.

Tav held him close, guiding him through his orgasm, soothing him with sweet words, until his white seed wept down the sides of his softening member.

Still panting heavily, he licked his dry lips and removed his grip from his trembling cock; the remnants of his elation coating his fingers.

Tav's hand slid up his forearm in delicious abandon, bringing his hand to their mouth and greedily licking his cum off his fingers. Halsin hummed in appreciation of their enthusiasm.

Suddenly, the night was cold again, the warmth of divine embrace ended. However, heat rolled of Halsin in waves, chasing away the chill.

Several moments stretched between them, their breath still calming; both needing a moment to recompose. Tav moved their fingers to his temples and wound them in strong circles, Halsin exhaled long and slow.

Tav was reeling. Their body wrung out, their ears ringing. It had not been the first time a God had spoken to them but it was certainly the first time they acted as messenger for a God, especially for one that wasn't their own. They weren't even sure it had ever happened before, and especially not during such a sexual explicit act.

It was incredible.

"That was.." Halsin eventually began.

"..I know." Tav finished, as they carded their hands through his hair.

"What do we do now?" He asked, cock large and limp against his taut belly. An uncomfortable air of something akin to shame tinged his voice.

"We continue the celebration." Tav smiled, picking up the poultice beside them, smoothing it into Halsin's semi-dry, oiled mane of hair.

Wordlessly time spanned before them, as Tav slowly worked through his tangled hair. The coconut poultice soaked into the mess and loosened the knots, the scents of lavender, rosemary and coconut dancing together on the silent air.

Nothing stirred, apart from Halsin's soothed groans and the sounds of the brush through untangling hair.

"Did you feel it too?" He asked, uncertainly.

"Silvanus?" Tav clarified.

"Yes. I've heard his words before but that was.. different." He said, gravely. He sat taller removing himself from their touch, "I took advantage of the situation. I have been without the touch of another for some time now and I sullied this act of friendship with my own desires-"

"-Hush now," Tav murmured, gently pulling back into their chest, "You did not sully anything, nor take advantage of anyone." They kneaded their cheek into his to offer comfort.

"Silvanus was able to speak through me because I opened myself to you and by extension, to him. Put aside these fears. I wanted this too." Tav reassured him, grazing his cheek with the back of their hand. Halsin turned his head, nuzzling slightly and rested his hand on theirs, with another warm smile.

"That is good to hear. Thank you, my friend."

Tav laid their chin upon his head and pressed a small kiss there. A happy moment surrounded them both.

Conversation flowed easily between the two, now that the air had been cleared.

Tav brushed his hair through, with a modicum of difficulty, then sectioned his hair and retied the braids that had previously existed with Halsin's guidance. While he regaled the story of how the Shadowlands had come to be, Ketheric Thorm, Shar, the Harpers and Druids coming together. Fierce battles, death, terror, success, hubris and finally how he'd dedicated his life to the eradication of this curse.

Tav was just finishing the last braid, the one commorating his achievement.

"I've spent this last hundred years of my life in persuit of this goal, forsaking most everything else. Now that it's nearly done, I do not know. I-I feel.. hollowed.. aimless. Like I am without purpose. Apart from helping you with your tadpole, of course." He added with a incline of his head.

"Is that why you're helping us? To feel like you still have a mission?" Tav asked, curious.

The only reason he'd come to Moonrise with them in the first place was to get closer to the Curse. It would make sense that he would return to the Grove, now that that part was complete.

"Gods no, never think that. I'm here with you till the end, regardless of what comes next. You have aided me in ways I could never repay, there's not a chance I'll abandon you now." He said firmly.

"But you mustn't need to feel like you owe us anything, there's no-"

Halsin reached across himself to grab their arm, and with a fluidity becoming of an Elf, he slowly turned to face them.

His earthen eyes looked up at them with a fierceness and urgency that stopped their thoughts.

"My friend, I have lived a very long time. Many lifetimes of others. But I have never met anyone quite like you before. Your bravery, your warmth, your valour. You are unique," his big, warm hands covered theirs with ease as he edged closer, "and I am yours, for as long as you need me. Against Ketheric, against the Absolute.. everything."

Tav swallowed. The radiant energy flowing from his heart was almost unbearable to withstand. They felt themselves drawn to him, leaning in. Halsin followed.

The distance between them seemed miles and nothing at all, as they were pulled together. His eyes focused on their lips, head tilting to accommodate their impending meeting.

The air was hot and doused with lavender and clean soap; the energy palpable. Tav closed their eyes to let it overtake them.

"Ahem." Came a voice far too close, "Not to break up this lovely little moment, but that strange ox is looking more appetising by the second." Astarion drawled with a sass that was entirely his alone, "Any chance of wrapping this up?"

Tav opened their eyes to see Halsin looking irritated but resigned to the intrusion.

They laughed between themselves; the bubble of their celebration had clearly clouded their awareness for intruders.

"I'll be back up shortly." Tav said, tight lipped, their focus still on Halsin.

"I told you to leave it." Came angry, hushed chiding from Shadowheart. Tav heard a small scuffle of clothes being wrenched and Astarion being dragged away, bickering following their leave.

"Reality beckons it seems." Halsin said with a small smile.

"It seems so." Tav breathed out, disappointed.

They pressed their foreheads together, chuckling lightly. A moment shared between them, connecting them.

They both took cleansing breaths and Halsin kneeled up to stand. He took a little time to familiarise himself with his new braids, while they gathered the various glass containers, soap and brush, placing them gently within the silver basin for ease.

Tav had chosen one above either ear, pulling them up into his half-do, to help secure it.

He gave a murmur of agreement, "I will wear them with pride. Thank you for honouring me."

"Thank you for trusting me to do so." They leaned up and pulled out his usual loose curls around his ears to frame his handsome face.

Their eyes met and air around them stilled, cloaked in coconut and lavender.

Halsin quickly grasped them into a desperate kiss, wrapping his strong arms under them and pulling them into him.

Tav's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling in closer, willingly losing themself in him.

Halsin's heat flooded into them; his desire, his adoration, his need.. and into him they poured their reverence, their respect and loyalty, their awe and their unyielding desire.

They felt is arousal pressed flush against their own, and Halsin huffed out air.

He broke the kiss, breathing heavily, "My heart. If I could, I would take you as many times as you would allow. I would caress your skin and fill my mouth with your taste until you could bare it no longer," he licked his lips with the ghosting thought of your essence on his tongue.

"I would bury myself slowly inside you, feel you gloriously stretch around me. Gently make love to you underneath the light of the moon again and again until we are both spent.."

There was a pregnant pause.

"But?" Tav asked, eventually. Halsin gave a long, frustrated sigh.

"But.. tonight is not that night. Not here." Halsin looked disappointed but sure in his judgement. Tav brought a hand to cup his face, pulling their lips into a side smile.

"I know, I agree," Barely nodding, Tav looked into Halsin's gorgeous face, "But know that every fantasy that keeps me awake at night, has your name falling from my lips."

Halsin's eyes darkened, then softened with a sheepish grin.

"Those are unfair words spoken to a man so close to giving in." He teased, still grinning, "I would like to at least repay you for your efforts. It seems a travesty that I should reach orgasm and you should not."

"Dear one, I had Silvanus' light coarsing through me. Trust me when I say that is more than enough excitement," They paused for a moment, "I do believe you're the only man to have actually made me 'see the Gods'." They laughed, quoting previous, over-confident lovers. Halsin joined them, his chuckle warming through the night.

They kissed again, softly this time. Several slow, peppered kisses. Each one reaching new depths in their desire for him.

"We'll have to continue the celebration another time." Tav licked their bottom lip and gently sucked it between their teeth, trying to contain more words, that could potentially leave them delightfully bruised and aching the next day.

"I will sorrowfully count the hours until that moment comes." His loving gaze pouring over their face.

"I will gladly kill anyone who tries to stop it."

Halsin gave a short, breathy chuckle, "I'll take care of this, you have another waiting for you." He swallowed, beginning to pull away but stopped. His eyes narrowed in confusion and he looked to the ground.

Tav turned to see what he was concentrating on, to see a tree sapling unfurling out of lush greenery, on the spot where he had spilled himself.

Their mouth gawped open, eyes wide.

"That's an oak sapling." He breathed in shock.

Tav blinked hard twice, "Well. Silvanus did say that you were the seed to fertilise the land. Apparently that wasn't an aphorism." They returned their gaze to him, expression almost identical.

Halsin shot out a laugh, "Praise Silvanus. Praise you, my heart." He chorused, pulling them close, cupping their jaw.

"Praise you, my love."

•°•°•

Mmhm, that's some good eatin'.. want some more? 👀😏

[real-life-senshi]

World Building - Culture and Language

Just had a random thought thinking about the Silver Millennium, ie Moon Kingdom.

When writing scenes in the past life, I wonder if I should refer it to the "Moon KINGdom" like normal present-day speech (proper English words...), or... "MOONdom" / "Moon QUEENdom"?

Was world-building even more for the past life lore and I was pulling in muses/inspiration from video games. In the Horizon series, thinking about how the Carja's kingdom is called the "Sundom"...

I kinda want to explore changing up some terminologies to help create a sense of difference in time and era. lol

Also, you know how both Moon and Earth have a proper name? Silver Millennium (Moon Kingdom) and the Golden Kingdom & Elysion as the capital? I kinda want to make fancy names for the other planet kingdoms too.

Like Silver Millennium sounds sooooo fancy and nice especially when it's two English words together to make a proper noun for Japanese people, but you're just slapping a colour and a word that means time together because these folks have a long life span?

What if Mercury's is something silly like Agua Machina for water element and machinery/technology prowess? LMAO

(Shit I'm getting more and more serious considering writing a past life story for EoT.)

[lumsel]

You make some interesting points, to be sure, but I'm going to have to put my foot down, you can't say the Moon isn't a moon. It's the Moon. Moons are named after it. It is the quintessential object from which the definition of moon is derived. If the definition we are currently using for moons does not include the Moon, that is a problem with the definition! We should not be calling that category of objects "moons" if it did not include the one thing that moondom is defined by! That'd be like defining "man" as a featherless biped, then not only including plucked chickens into that definition, but then excluding men because you think the keratin in their nails is suitably featherlike to qualify!!! It is madness!

If we're going to take a life lesson from this, its this: definitions come from usage, usage does not come from definitions. In technical contexts, it helps to have specificity when creating categories, but in everyday usage we create words from our intuitions and then determine the dictionary definitions after the fact. And often these definitions are hazy and inconsistent, and you know what? That is fine. We live in a world of fuzzy edges and inconsistencies.

It can help to have a strict biological definition of "male" and "female" in certain scientific contexts. But if someone tells me she's a girl, guess what! She's a girl! No amount of quibbling over chromosomes and reproductive tracts is going to change that. And if there's an object in the sky called the Moon, with a capital M, a name from which a category was derived called Moons based on their similarity to it, then its a fucking moon!!!!!!!!!!!

You know how there's like some mathematician or something, who like did some useful stuff but is primarily known for overshadowing that work by going to great lengths trying to convince people to blow up the moon or something?

I wanna be like that but the hill I'm dying on is that the moon should be considered a planet

[dometent]

Sleep under the stars-Outdoor safety dome house/dome tent/glamping

[moondome-uk]

Black and red 🖤❤️ My Instagram seems to be slow and quiet since begging of November. I hope it is just because you all busy with Christmas preparations, looking up for presents ideas and little cozy gateways. Check my website to put in a wishlist the unique pieces for yourself or for your special ones. Like this gorgeous Persephone crown It's waiting for you in the shop. £155 including free shipping. . . . . . #crown #lace #crystalsofinstagram #crystal #quartz #blackcrown #lace #gothic #pomegranate #darkdreams #darksisters #crowns #wearableart #artfashion #handmadejewelry #madeinuk #scottishartist #ukrainianartist #artcrown #embroidery #beads #metalwork #art #crystalglobe #blackandred #MOONDOME_new #MOONDOME_crown #MOONDOME_uk https://ift.tt/32M3iv4

[inflatableartworld]

Customized bubble dome hotel tent for MX or other countries/areas. 4m diameter Mainroom + 2.5m bathroom + 1m L airtight tunnel entrance. #inflatablebubbledome #bubbledome #cleardome #bubblehotel #pvcdome #campingroom #bubblehouse #skydome #moondome https://www.dhgate.com/product/hot-sale-inflatable-bubble-dome-tent-with/653820881.html https://www.instagram.com/p/CR5DvQbLxG7/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mediajorge]

(Paper Dollhouse)

[wolfstarlibrarian]

🎊 Happy New Year! 🎊

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, year of the tiger, the Librarian has made a list of fics to go along with each of the Chinese zodiac. Some interpretations are literal, some less so, but hopefully all of them bring a smile or help you pass the day in cheer.

🧧 Wolfstar Chinese Zodiac Fics 🐯

🐅Forever Is a State of Mind -orphaned account 

Deaf Dance Choreographer, Remus Lupin, has a simple life. Working, taking care of his son, and running his YouTube sign channel. When he unwittingly becomes involved with Deaf Pride Activist, Fleamont Potter, he doesn’t realise how much his life will change. Especially after he meets YouTube star and makeup artist, Sirius Black.

🐇Sailor Moony AU Part 1 & Part 2 by @mlim8 & @whipbogard

So Moondom’s official mascot is a bunny 🐰! The kingdom is almost overrun with them (with how fast they breed lmaooo) and Remus is too shy to practice asking out the prince of his dreams with a real person so - The rabbit is a good substitute that won’t judge!!! 

🐉A Brief History of Dragons by @eyra

It's lovely up here; all meadows dotted with wildflowers, wind-beaten tracks criss-crossing this way and that through the fields, weaving inland to the pinewoods. The sun's hot on his back as he passes ramshackle stone walls, long since crumbled to piles of ancient rubble and scree, and then the path winds downwards, still following the line of the coast until Sirius finds himself outside an old white cottage, tucked away behind the hill with a rose garden that faces out to the sea. Sirius moves to Cornwall for the summer and meets a rude, beautiful boy who is writing a book that may or may not be about dragons.

🐍Beekeeping in the Daylight by @halictus-writer

Sirius is helping James and Lily conquer as many of their irrational fears as possible before they have their baby, in order to not pass on their fears. One day, Sirius takes a panic-stricken James to a friendly (and handsome) beekeeper. Slow burn, strangers to friends to lovers.

🐎AMOR VINCIT OMNIA (love conquers all) by @prettyremus

Remus, a servant boy to the cruel Emperor Voldemort, meets Sirius, a charming nobleman. Together they fight for freedom and love in Ancient Rome.

🐑Beneath a Big Blue Sky by @eyra

The four-by-four heaves its way down long, twisting lanes, little more than dirt tracks scuffed into the surrounding fields and hemmed in by serpentine walls of flat, grey stone. They truly are in the middle of nowhere: the countryside rushes past, all rolling green hills and vast, endless skies, and it's odious. Sirius wants to murder James with his bare hands. Sirius and James accidentally find themselves on a Yorkshire farm during lambing season. The farmer’s son thinks that’s a bit annoying, actually.

🐒How Remus Got His Groove Back by @theprongsletthatlived

After two years of noncommittal sex: Remus tells Sirius that he loves him. Sirius firmly rejects him. Remus tries to move on. Sirius is not happy. OR Remus Lupin becomes king of the cockroaches, Fabian Prewett writes a book, Gilderoy Lockhart is a catfish, and Sirius Black realizes he's a fucking idiot.

🐓Where Your Fingerprints Linger by @remuslives23

Sirius Black is a party planner and Remus Lupin is the stripper who has the audacity to turn up to one of Sirius' parties. Despite an immediate attraction, a misunderstanding means that they part on bad terms, but a meeting at a wedding leads to an agreement to share one night of passion. Just one night. Nothing more.

🐕Dog Filled Days Aren't Over by jlpierre

When post-breakup Sirius sends a photo of a dog from his new phone, he doesn't expect to send it to someone he doesn't know. Never mind someone named Moony.

🐖I love you like a pig loves not being bacon by @apieformydean Moony never reads the pick-up lines when Sirius can see him. He only ever read the first one he wrote him (‘Are you a hipster? Coz you make my hips stir.’) and he flushed to the tip of his ears. It was two months ago and Sirius writes him a crappy-sappy pick-up line every time he visits The Marauders. And Moony comes almost every day. aka ‘I write a bad pick-up line on your cup every time I’m your barista’ AU from somewhere around tumblr.

🐀 Animagi by @evandarandahalf He likes everything to do with his antlers at the minute. Sirius is pretty sure that if he could show that much enthusiasm for the rest of his form, he’d have the transformation down no problem. - The creation of Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.

🐂 Valentine, Texas by @shipsnsails In August of 1969, Sirius takes a job in west Texas.

[wenmistry]

OC-TOBER DAY 15: REALITY

Erm... skipped a few days. I was busy lol. I’m working on catching up eventually so I’ll probably post all my missed days in a batch at the end of the month (if I get around to them all lol).

This piece carries on from Day 10′s piece: Dream. It depicts the same character later on in the story, after a lot of very important and scary things happen lmao. Feel free to ask any questions about the story, I kept things pretty vague because there’s a lot of context to explain.

The great Kingdom of Alida was always destined to fall. The nation hung high in the sky, suspended by a power long forgotten by those who inhabit it. On a secluded archipelago far far away, behind a storm that cannot be crossed, rests the secret of Alida’s rise into the sky.

Millenia ago, the great God of the Moons would give life to one of the last remaining Major Dragons in Efica: Wriryn, Guardian of the Moondom. She was borne of the world’s third moon, and her lifeforce would bring the kingdom closer to the lunar god they worshipped so dearly.

Nothing lasts forever, though. As the years went on, memory of Wriryn began to fade... as did her lifeforce. The kingdom would sink lower by the decade as the ancient dragon grew old and weary on her secluded island, kept company by only her creator and the Divine Protector. Not even Major Dragons live forever; it was only natural that one day, Alida would plummet to the ocean floor.

This would spell certain death for any population, but what the Alidans didn’t know was that their long-forgotten heritage would save them from their accursed fate.

[beautifulterriblequeen]

King Runaan of the Moonshadow Elves

This post will have several sections. They’ll be as follows.

Runaan is a king, and Rayla is his heir (this post)

Runaan had to confess his love first, because he is the king

Ethari’s entire skill set is now dedicated to keeping the king of the Moonshadow elves alive

Rayla's self-worth issues

Viren did invite the assassins just like he said Amaya accused him of. One assassin in particular

Aaravos and Viren may both want to spend Runaan in the future

1. Runaan is the king of the Moonshadow elves

Angst Rating: 1/10

This theory came to me with one specific image in mind, while talking theories with @kotikala​ yesterday. But it got anchored by two other things. Rayla’s grumpy face behind Runaan’s back in S1E2 when he called her the fastest and strongest of all of us, and the fact that Runaan has a 3D model with a post-battle torn vest, and another with no shirt. These three things. Plus a year and a half’s worth of theories--many of which I had lying around with no bigger picture in mind until last night--and rewatches. I feel simultaneously giddy and stupid as hell.

That one image was Runaan’s shoulder markings.

They are in fact like Aaravos’s crown shape, with a round moon instead of a second diamond,

but not because Runaan’s markings reference Aaravos. Because Runaan is royalty just like Aaravos.

This double diamond shape appears in Katolis, too, on the armor of the king’s army and even Callum’s scarf.

It’s also right there on top of Khessa’s crown, looking very similar to Runaan’s markings, with a round disc replacing one of the diamonds. In this case, it represents the sun instead of the moon.

Runaan doesn’t wear a crown anytime we see him. He might not have a crown at all, since he’s a warrior king who has “seen his share of hardship and war.” But he paints that symbol on his arms and wears his rank as king for everyone to see. He might never have had an older symbol on his arms at all, since he was born to this.

His face markings are the shadow of an assassin hood. He never needs to wear his because he’s internalized his duty so well. And he has probably had these markings since he was tiny, because there was never any question about his future.

Kings generally come with castles. This is Runaan’s castle. 

A thousand-year-old tree near the edge of the village. It was probably either planted or reshaped when the Moonshadows had to move eastward out of Katolis following the Merciful Compromise, and it’s been the royal dwelling ever since. Ah, tradition. This wasn’t Ethari’s home because it had space for a forge in it. It’s Runaan’s home, and his home is literally his castle. (How many levels does it have in there, and does anyone else live with them? I have such questions)

Moonshadow elves are forest elves at heart. Runaan lives in a tree, while his people live in ordinary houses. 

The tree house is the best and brightest home any of them could imagine. So Runaan’s tunic bears the symbol of a tree trunk on it. He is the stable trunk of his people, and they branch from him and the anchoring stability he provides. His tree tunic is his royal robes of office, marked with the symbol of his (literal and metaphoric) house.

The Moon Druid link has been pretty well theorized in general, if not in specific, before now, but here’s a summary: the Moon Druids of old used to live in Katolis’s forest, around the Moon Nexus. When the border was drawn 1000 years ago after the Merciful Compromise was suggested by the daughter of the Moonshadow ruler, the elves had to leave. They destroyed the Nexus, left a guardian, and settled/resettled in the Moonshadow Forest, reestablishing their rule in the east and taking up the dark and sacred duty of protecting Xadia from dangerous humans by assassinating them, so their merciful agreement to spare all the humans never brought disaster. 

When Runaan took his team back west, he performed the binding ceremony in an ancient grove with six trees and a moon-rune-shaped water border. It was his own people’s ancient grove.

The Moon Druids stood like this.

And so does Runaan.

His accent and Lujanne’s are the only two British voices among all the Scottish Moonshadows. One of them guards the Moon Nexus, where the Moon Druids used to live. The other is currently ruling from the Silvergrove.

The Silvergrove is the only place labeled in the Moonshadow forest. On a map, if you’re only going to have one city, you label the capital. I didn’t understand the relationship between the Silvergrove, the assassins, and the human kingdoms before. I thought it was a border village. But it’s deep in the forest, at its heart.

Runaan didn’t come to the Silvergrove to train to be an assassin. He was born there. The Silvergrove and the assassins were always the intimately connected. The Moon Druids became assassins to uphold their sacred duty. Wherever they live, that’s where the assassins train.

Runaan was once drawn younger in this outfit. It’s blurry but the white text reads “younger Runaan?”

It got morphed into someone else. But look at this dynamic. This is clearly a Moonshadow leader and his close ally—his son. His son the assassin.

The Moonshadow staff used to look like this a thousand years ago.

Then it got stabby.

Now it looks like this.

My heart for Xadia, indeed. That line might very well be reserved only for the ruler and his heir to swear.

Runaan’s bio says he “cares deeply for his people.” That means all of the Moonshadow elves. And he’s called, in full, Runaan of the Moonshadow Elves. That’s a title.

Rayla gave her name to Sol Regem in that format, too. Rayla of the Moonshadow Elves. Because Rayla is Runaan’s legal heir. He’s a gay elf and won’t be having his own kids. So he chose his best friends’ child to follow him in succession. He’s been training his own replacement since she could walk.

Rayla is the Moonshadow Princess and she has her own title.

I think part of the reason I didn’t see Runaan for the king he was, or even the prince I used to think he was, had to do with my assumptions that any Moonshadow ruler would preside over a community similar in setup to Khessa and Harrow. Big, obvious, powerful. Meant to be seen. But that’s not the Moonshadow way. Even though Runaan’s tree castle is literally all of those things. I just wasn’t speaking Moonshadow fluently enough yet.

Runaan’s rule, and the Moonshadows in general, really give me a Viking-era England feel. England was comprised of several small kingdoms before the time of Alfred the Great. They never covered too much territory, and they weren’t very centrally organized. You might get a handful of heavily walled towns, and if there was trouble, all the citizens outside the walls would scamper in for safety. (Imagine the Silvergrove’s moondome functioning like the dome over Wakanda’s capital city when Thanos’s minions attacked in Infinity War. Nice, huh?)

Runaan has that local-king feel. His position is a martial one. He leads from the front. He’s very focused on upholding his duty, not looking cool in furs and crowns or whatever. He either gave his own oath to the Dragon King and Queen, or he was already bound to a pre-existing oath, Oath of Féanor-style, and that promise rules his life. His life, but not his heart. So he lives in his quiet little village with his cute craftsman husband and all his people and his blood promise, and he trains with focused dedication to uphold his people’s honor with maximum efficiency and safety for his own assassins.

Things that hit differently now

Amaya hates Moonshadows the most because their king kills

Kings probably aren’t good cooks

Why no one spoke against Runaan when he said a teenager was coming on his mission

Of course they used the pool outside the tree house for the lotus ritual. That’s the royal pool outside the royal palace.

Of course Runaan had to ghost his friends. They were assassins, and he was their leader and king. He had to lead the ghosting.

Duty before love makes so much more tragic sense now

Literally yesterday I posted about Runaan’s biological legacy not being called into question regarding Rayla’s parents’ failure. But she is his heir, so his wisdom was being questioned.

“When Someone Great is Gone” from Devon’s Runaan/Ethari playlist

Runaan and Harrow are both kings bound by literal and metaphorical chains. Neither is free

“Justice will not be denied/Your justice will come later/Humans are liars”

“My heart for Xadia”

“You let him live, but you’ve killed us all”

Basically every word Runaan has ever said

part 2

[mlim8]

[PART 1 that leads up to this moment]

[READS RIGHT TO LEFT]

"Maybe he didn't see my face very well?"

I made this all because I fell in love with “The Angel Dress” by Linda Friesen 😇 --- and wanted Remus to wear the wings (the tulle-ish material for the gown is represented in the little cape behind him uwu)

So Moondom’s official mascot is a bunny 🐰! The kingdom is almost overrun with them (with how fast they breed lmaooo) and Remus is too shy to practice asking out the prince of his dreams with a real person so - The rabbit is a good substitute that won’t judge!!! 🐇 That bunny also has thick eyebrows like Sirius so - 😂😂😂

[girleulogy]

I was like I wonder if there’s a psych term for taking things too far and feeling like you don’t take them far enough and there is! Sag moondom

[paperbag-deino]

12 MORE DAYS TILL LAUNCHDATE

here's the moondom university with adjoining royal palace.

[hellopanique]

On air: Ink! for Radio Bollwerk

—> LISTEN HERE: https://soundcloud.com/radiobollwerk/ink-radio-bollwerk-04052020?in=ink_ous/sets/beats

Ink! for Radio Bollwerk

A quarantine DJ set from home, aired on Radio Bollwerk, going from slow rolling beats to eternal harmonies. I Promise! Tracklist: 01: Paper Dollhouse - We Walked Through the Woods Holding Hands - MoonDome 02: Lucy - A Selfless Act - Stroboscopic Artefacts 03: Laurie Spiegel - Drums - Unseen Worlds 04: Mingle - Coma - Kvitnu 05: Rrose - Open Cell - EAUX 06: Marcel Dettmann - Torch - Ostgut Ton 07: Scorn - Talk Whiff (featuring Jason Williamson) - Ohm Resistance 08: Ourea - From Chaos Came Erebus - Horo 09: Vaghe Stelle - 6520 (Original Version) - Shabu Recordings 10: Tapiwa Svosve and Tina Reden - Polyrisings - Kashev Tapes 11: Jabu - Wounds (SKRS 2nd Cut Remix) - Young Echo 12: Paper Dollhouse - This is not the End - MoonDome 13: Pyrit - Inside - ClubCultureCH 14: Eartheater - Claustra - PAN 15: Zoë Mc Pherson - Learn ur language faster feat. Elvin Brandhi - SFX 16: HSXCHCXCXHS - BUN - Rösten 17: Peder Mannerfelt - Come - Peder Mannerfelt 18: Andrea - Drumzzy - Ilian Tapes 18: Pessimist & Karim Maas - A7 - Pessimist Productions 19: Lemna - The Bottom Of The Deep Layer - Horo 20: Lemna - Crawling With Body Fluids Running Down - Horo 21: Lakker - 100 Bars - R&S 22: Varuna - Masdar - A Walking Contradiction 23: Steve Reich - Come Out (Ken Iishi Remix) - Nonesuch 24: Heith - Yoga Of Stealth - Saucers 25: Charlotte Isabelle - Moso - Lemme 26: Puce Mary - The Size Of Our Desires - PAN 27: Mingle - Wreck - Kvitnu 28: Steve Reich -  The Four Sections (Andrea Parker Remix) - Nonesuch 29: Grebenstein - Strong Proud Stupid and Superior - Downwards 30: Productid - Shadows - Kashev Tapees 31: Andy Stott - Versi - Modern Love 32: Varuna - Jewel Changi - A Walking Contradiction 33: Andrea - Lana - Ilian Tapes 34: Nicola Ratti - Cuarto feat. Dale Cornish - Students of Decay 35: Aphex Twin - Nanou 2 - Warp

++ Additional bits by: Mark Fell, Puce Mary, Madteo, Andreas Oskar Hirsch and Jen Reimer & Max Stein

[dometent]

Moon dome 2.5m ,3m, 4m, 5m dome tent, campground

[moondome-uk]

Weekend vibes ✨✨✨ @jenn_model_glasgow is looking stunning in Serafina crown! Crown is available from my shop and ready to be shipped in 1-2 days. I value your time same as I value mine ✨ Have a lovely weekend everyone!! 💙 📸 @jr_photography2019 Location @studiothreezero Make up by @stephw.mua . . . #quartz #crystalart #crystalcrown #goldentiara #tiara #crown #portrait #handmadejewellery #portraitphotography #scottishmodel #goldenhair #beauty #bride #blue #bridalinspiration #bridesofinstagram #weddingcrown #weddingstyle #bridalshower #jewelry #jewelryforher #queen #MOONDOME_crown #MOONDOME_uk https://ift.tt/32v91FI