#ninehclls

[astcrion]

how on earth the charge in the air went from heady and desperate to soft and feather-full of mirth was beyond astarion. it was tav, he knew that much. the tiefling had a way about him of disarming people with his charm and sweetness, though never so naive as to be taken advantage of.

he was the prettiest blade you ever saw, all jewel encrusted handle and gleaming metal, but sharp enough to cut deep to the bone if one thought to try him.

so of course that bloomed here. tav's voice was warm and inviting, like a siren's call. and yet his tail snuck around astarion's thigh and grasped strong and sure. the grasp of his hair was strangely... welcomed.

it was not the first time someone had done as much in the throes of passion, but it was the first time astarion craved a little more, a true tug and maybe a deeper drag of nails. his mouth parted over the cherry-ripe nipple in a throaty moan.

astarion flattened his tongue against the bud and licked a long stripe upward, drool spilled in sticky strings from the tip of his tongue. at the same time a hand sank between tav's thighs and his middle finger dragged over the wetness there, exploring the way the pads of his digits glided effortlessly over the folds and between them.

astarion lifted his chin, huffed a soft laugh and said, "maybe so, my darling. but i'd rather get you a bit more dirty before we do any sort of clean up."

with that he sank in two fingers, middle and index, to the knuckle.

It felt as if their dance around the fire had been years ago, though it may have only been an hour. As if ages had passed since their bodies had first collided, only to clumsily twist as Tav's voice rose above the rest to give life to music while their feet moved together. It was messy, just like Tav's disrobing, and somehow felt...

He wanted it to mean something. It felt like it meant something. To be wanted so much that fear meant nothing and this meant everything - fuck. Tav was Astarion's. He wanted this man in every way a person could want someone. He wanted to know him. To hold him. To feel his skin and see him in every kind of lighting and look at that wicked grin and never see it fall away again. More than anything, he wanted to love him.

(Please.)

Tav's artless writhing stilled as a hand grasped his ankle and moved higher. Astarion prowled his way atop him and all but his thunderous heartbeat stopped - even his breathing. A couple tugs and his trousers were loose and air rushed into his lungs as he inhaled sharply at the thought that Astarion might kiss him, except -

Those pale lips didn't come closer. While his hands assisted in freeing his trapped legs, Astarion's lips instead descended to his chest. Tav had just enough time to kick the fabric aside before that cold mouth sealed over his nipple and a wet flick of the tongue sent a bolt of lightning straight from his chest to his throbbing clit and achingly empty cunt.

He moaned, head dropping down to the dirt and fingers burying in soft white hair in encouragement. Instantly undone and in naught but his small-clothes, he writhed against the ground and Astarion's body, arching into his mouth desperately. Unconsciously his tail coiled itself around the elf's thigh, and he only realized it when the spade brushed along the silken fabric barely containing his cock.

Scratching his fingers through Astarion's hair, voice breathy as he attempted to catch some air, he hummed. "I'm your mess. I'm sure you'll clean me up wonderfully."

[miidnighters]

@ninehclls | continued from ☾

More than anyone else in camp, Billie thought the two of them should stick together - both tieflings who had been thrown into this situation.

She hums when she settles next to Tav and he stiffly turns to look at her.

"You'll be better company than the rest of them, surely." She'd received her own lot of scrutiny, compared (unfavourably, in her opinion) to Volo by those who'd had a bad day and questioned her motives. As if they weren't the same as everyone elses.

A sigh. "This is terrible, huh? I thought things might have calmed down the more we learnt about each other."

[chaoticbard]

i saved you some space, by the way.

Space saved? Just for her? Alaara offered the tiefling a polite and genuine smile as she sat down next to him.

"That was thoughtful of you," she replied, settling in. "Not that I have room to complain if you'd decided to be rude. I am alive. Right now, that counts for a lot."

She nodded at Tav's hands. "What's your preferred instrument? It looks to me like you know how to play more than one. I'm partial to the lyre myself. And the kazoo."

[infernalapparatus]

"they won't come after you, and if they do? they'll have to go through me."

【 PROMPTS FROM FEELING SAFE AND EXPRESSING COMFORT 】 - @ninehclls

KARLACH DIDN ' T REALIZE SHE NEEDED REASSURANCE . It was so silly, wasn't it? That she had so much fear for being dragged back down into the Hells. She had only just escaped, and with the help of her new companions, they slaughtered the devils posing as Paladins of Tyr. She felt their blood steam on her flesh - and she burned that fucking tollhouse to the ground. Her heavy boots led her out of the room as her engine sizzled and burst with gouts of intense flame, thick, black clouds of smoke leaving blackened vents.

Blackened with soot, and rage - AND SO MUCH FUCKING GRIEF .

It was later, days later, that Tavis had approached Karlach, as they traveled on their merry way through the countless rundown towns and decrepit sites that once bolstered thriving communities. Karlach was in her own head, she knows she was - because one moment, she's walking, thinking, dancing - and the next she's being looked at strangely by their companions. Did she say something, do something bizarre? She couldn't recall. Maybe she didn't. She probably did. Her worry must have been written all over her face, after that encounter with Raphael. Bring plucked into the Hells again like that - she damn near flew into a panic attack. Rapid breathing, swelling rage - AND A NEED TO ESCAPE . But they were back, just as quickly, and Tav was comforting Karlach with soft words.

She didn't realize she needed reassurance. But she was so thankful that he did. She offers a weak grin, a little more genuine than the last few had been, and she chuckles wryly. " You've got a big heart, Tav, y'know that? I dunno if you've ever fought devils - but the nasty little bastards are tough to fend off. MAYBE WE ' LL GRAB YOU A PITCHFORK OR SOME SHITE . "

[astcrion]

astarion was not a devout man, by any means. he had tried that and gotten no responses from the so called all-mighty beings above them all. so why was it that when tav began to hold his hand, slipped fingers between fingers and grasped ever so gently, astarion began to pray?

please, please, please.

what was the supplication even for? did he want tav to let go? to realize how dangerous this was? or was it that astarion was begging for this one time to be different.

for this to mean something, just this once.

the day had been tumultuous, as many of their days had been as of late, so it was no surprise that tav would be this exhausted. astarion understood that but he could not find it in him to understand how he had offered his body, the thing so many craved with one single glance, and ended up being not only denied but...

somehow drawn into giving something else to the tiefling altogether.

he didn't want to give that something a name. not yet.

please.

he stayed still for at least ten minutes, as if making sure tav had truly fallen into slumber as deeply as he could, and then made his move to gently roll tav over to astarion's bed roll.

reluctantly he broke the grasp on his hand to do this and after a quiet moment of watching the rise and fall of those slowly drawn in breaths, he turned his back to the tiefling and sat cross legged, like a dog on watch while his loving owner slept soundly.

a dog for cazador and now a dog for tav. was there a difference?

please.

he hoped so.

Warmth. With Astarion's scent surrounding him, Tav felt as if he were drifting on his back in a hot spring. Not that he had much familiarity with bathing in warm water, he had to assume this was what it felt like. Safe. Surrounded on all sides. Comforted. Whatever demons had chased him to wakefulness and dragged his lips to the neck of a wine bottle were long gone. Chased away by a vampire of all things.

Realistically he shouldn't be so relaxed in the presence of a creature such as this. There was no telling what could happen, and he didn't know him well enough to know if he truly meant it when he said he'd be good, he promised. Even still, this rosemary citrusy scented man had been gentler with him than anyone.

He'd be okay with going out this way. Feeling cared about just once in his life.

Astarion's words reached him as if he were speaking through cotton. Icy eyes cracked the slightest bit to see that face tilted down and looking at him with an unreadable expression, and even half-awake he thought he was beautiful.

"I've been going for seconds already... so thirds it is." Tav half-joked, turning his hand over under the cool one pressed to his own. The movement was slow, but lacking caution, as he tangled his fingers between Astarion's and lightly traced his thumb over the back of his hand.

"It's a deal." A quiet breath left him, and his thumb stopped moving. But he was still holding that hand. Tender. Tired, too tired to move much more. "I'm sorry... I'm falling asleep here. Kick me out by the fire if you want. I just hope you're..."

Tav's hand squeezed the pale one in his own, just barely. Whatever fight he was having with sleep, he was losing and it could be heard in the softness of his voice. "Feeling better than you were. I'd be satisfied with that."

With that, sleep stole him away.

[nightfaith]

at the moment i don't have much muse for kurt unfortunately. i will be back here at some point but for now i can be found at @ninehclls!

[miidnighters]

@ninehclls | continued from ☾

The smell, in all honesty, was making Bella's gums ache. The way it permeated every second of their day, seeped into the crevices of their armour. Briefly, she spares a thought to how Astarion's faring. At least she's used to feeding on humanoid blood.

More importantly, she shouldn't be so glib - Bella appreciates anyone who actually puts a weapon to a creature. Though she has a mace strapped to her hip, she tends to support from the back with the other casters (and she hasn't quite gotten past her reservations in using her fangs).

"I found some soap you can have, and the river's not far. It's not much, but it might help?"

[astcrion]

"excuse me. i need to hit someone very hard with a sword."

his palm hits the steel curved over tav's shoulder, stills and pushes just enough to put a stop to their fearless leader's extremely furious march toward the poor man's excuse for a sparring dummy.

"ah, pardon, i just couldn't help but overhear your rage from a mile away. careful with that, might burn down the whole camp if you don't mind the fire, darling."

[astcrion]

“I like you. You’re not running after me with a knife. It’s a rare trait to be had, these days.”

it's all on script, really. how does this adorable tiefling know it so well already? granted, most of his marks find the right words eventually, if his presence doesn't silence them to awe, that is.

maybe it has something to do with the shared infection, a sort of unspoken knowing between them that has this ruse playing out smoother than astarion has been expecting.

his grin is half-cocked, unfurling crooked like his intentions.

"don't tempt me, sweetling. knife play can be ever so much fun."

@ninehclls

[chaoticbard]

"I have a habit of picking up new acquaintances at the worst of times," Alaara replied with a chuckle. "My last grand adventure landed me three friends. We were conscripted into what was only supposed to be a simple 'find this person' mission and ended up acquiring a haunted inn and befriending the ghost inside, getting accused of blowing up a portion of Trollskull Alley and going to jail for it, chasing one of Jarlaxle's nimblewrights, fighting Zhentarim, a mind flayer, and Xanathar himself, and getting mixed up in Waterdhavian politics..."

"All was well that ended well; we renovated the inn and renamed it The Jolly Goose. We also got to meet a gold dragon who handsomely rewarded us for everything we'd been through."

Alaara waved her hand dismissively.

"All of that is beside the point. I would be glad to teach you whenever you ask it of me. As for teaching me to lockpick in return, I will accept the offer with fervor. Astarion can't stop laughing at my current attempts. And the blade? I can always learn something new there as well." A pause. "Speaking of, I know a bard that used blades in her acts. She made them dance all around her and always ended her show by snaring some lucky patron by the shirt. Nearly every one of them swooned at the feat."

Any insecurity Tav had been feeling was quickly shunted down river and flowed with a relieving grace out to sea. To think that for a moment he'd feared being judged as lesser, and there was Alaara. Blessedly sweet and also making one of the most true and honest points he'd ever heard.

He may have been kicked from every tavern he'd ever asked for work, but that didn't mean he had no skill. No talent. That there weren't people who connected to his music. Hells, there had been times when he'd made coin honestly through it after many years practicing. No, he didn't read sheet music. But he played by ear. With perfect pitch he could match any series of notes - even better it.

And there he was not using that skill. Squandering it. Leaning only into his daggers and not into the magic of his instrument or voice.

A warm smile broke over Tav's face like the first light of morning over rolling hills. "You're really nice, you know? I'm glad we crossed paths, even if the circumstances are... less than optimal."

Shifting in his spot, tail swaying with ease and comfort back and forth, Tav reached down to where his lute sat by his feet. Pulling it into his lap and positioning his hands, he strummed a quick few notes and hummed. "Filling the camp with music instead of all of the bickering that's been going on these past few days sounds good to me. I'd appreciate learning more from you."

This was the first time someone had offered him something like this. Gratitude swelled in his chest like the tide. "Thank you. Really. If you ever need help with lockpicking or blades, I'm happy to return the favor."

[astcrion]

forgive and forget?

wrong!

ELDRITCH BLAST!

affiliated w/ @ninehclls

[chaoticbard]

Which flower represents you?

Daisy, Innocence.

you are so pure, so trusting. you see the world for what it could be, not what it is, and you hold such hope for it becoming better. be careful these thoughts do not prevent you from seeing the dangers. there are plenty who would seek to twist your innocence...

Stole it from: @weaveofwaterdeep

Tagging: @iron-hearts-ablaze @bloodedstars @ninehclls @astcrion @dicethrow and you~!

[infernalapparatus]

♨ . DOSSIER

LEGAL NAME | Karlach Cliffgate

MOST KNOWN AS | The Fury of Avernus

NICKNAMES | Demonsbane, One-Horned Fiend, Advocatus Diaboli

DATE OF BIRTH | 1462 DR

SEX | Intersex

GENDER | Female, She/Her

RACE | Zariel Tiefling

CURRENTLY LIVING | Baldur's Gate, Sword Coast

OCCUPATION | Mercenary/Bodyguard

SPOKEN LANGUAGES | Common, Infernal

EDUCATION | None

PROFICIENCY | Light armor, Medium Armor, shields, Martial weapons, Simple weapons, Gambling Set, Land Vehicles

HAIR COLOR | Black with red highlights

EYE COLOR | Golden, sometimes blue

SCARS | too many so ref this

HEIGHT | 7'2" , 220 cm

WEIGHT | 240 lbs , 109 kg

RELATIONSHIPS | Caerlach Cliffgate ( Mother, deceased ) ; Pluck Cliffgate ( Father, deceased ) ; Gortash Enver ( Ex-Boss ) ; Zariel ( Owner )

SEXUAL ORIENTATION | Pansexual

RELATIONSHIP STATUS | Single

Tagged by : @harpershigh

Tagging : @theundeadgospel , @dvilsdesire , @ninehclls , @wolfvirago , and YOU , SOLDIER !

[infernalapparatus]

WHAT DOES YOUR SOUL LOOK LIKE ?

THE BROKEN MIRROR .

You are the rebel. You are the one who refused to fit into the box. They broke you because you refused to conform, but they never expected you to turn your shattered pieces into sharp edges aimed for their throats. They will face your pointed fragments and see their own reflection in your ruin. You are a reckoning. You are the threat of a future unsuited for weak minds. How unfortunate it is that your existence is solitary. That you cut everyone who comes close. Maybe one day someone will show you how to be something besides a weapon. Maybe one day they will help you put your pieces back together to see yourself as a person instead of a cause for once.

Tagged by: @harpershigh

Tagging: @theundeadgospel , @dvilsdesire , @ninehclls , @chasingtitans , and YOU , SOLDIER !

[infernalapparatus]

WHAT TRAGIC DEATH DO YOU SUFFER ?

THE BETRAYAL

you die at the hands of the person you love most. maybe there are tears in their eyes as they drive the sword into your chest, maybe there is none. there are certainly tears in yours. your mouth will open to ask 'why' only to spit blood instead. you will die never knowing if they loved you at all, wondering if you could've done something to prevent this, or if it was always going to end this way.

stolen : @theundeadgospel

tagging : @harpershigh , @bloodedstars , @ninehclls , @menzoberranzanprincess , and YOU , SOLDIER !

[ninehclls]

If I paid for 20 idiots and all I got was you, I’d still have gotten my money’s worth.

#ninehclls -> indie. selective. mutuals only. tavis TAV vodan, oc protagonist of larian's baldur's gate 3.

rules | tba. | aff. with @astcrion