#obligatory 'it's been 84 years' joke

[cassynite]

“kissing them as a bribe to keep them in bed” for sparrow and daeran if inspiration strikes!

Thank you so much for the prompt Taylor!! Life really got in the way of getting this one done so it took a minute for me to write it but I had SO much fun once I did start it.

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Sparrow blinks awake in near-perfect darkness, the soft vague shapes around her only recognizable as her bedroom in Drezen through months of familiarity. Outside the stone walls, she can hear the faintest sounds of a city beginning to wake, shuddering against the pre-dawn chill, but it doesn't quite yet permeate the Citadel. It will be a while yet before sunrise.

It's only her rigid internal clock, trained to be up and moving before the sun, that drags her to consciousness. They had only returned from Wintersun last night and her body aches from long travel and the struggles they'd found there. She hadn't looked at a single problem that had accumulated in her time away, doing almost nothing except collapse into bed.

It's why she's so confused at the warmth at her back, cocooned with her under the thick blankets against the frigid air. From where the covers have slipped off her shoulders, a single, golden-skinned arm rests in front of her, draped over her hip and glowing faintly. She can just hear the gentle sounds of Daeran's breathing behind her, his breath ghosting against her ear.

Sparrow had half-thought it a dream, Daeran appearing in her quarters last night and laughing at her exhausted notice that she was not up for anything but sleep. "I know I have a reputation, but even I'm not in the mood tonight," he said, but then he hadn't left, either.

It was the first night he'd done that--slept with her, just sleep, ever since they first started their frequent liaisons.

Sparrow tries not to read too much into it. Daeran might have decided not to bother going back to his rooms on the north side of Drezen and stayed for convenience's sake; there didn't have to be any kind of emotional significance to him wanting to be in her company beyond sex. Certainly, if his presence last night had helped ease some of the heartache she carried from Wintersun, kept the nightmares of the villagers' screams at bay, then that was just a benefit for her. He hardly could have known about it when he'd tucked himself at her side.

It hurts a little that she wants it to be more than that. Daeran set his boundaries, made it clear what he expected of the relationship when they started--that this isn't one, not really, just some fun and something to distract and relax each other.

And it's a little relieving, to have it at that level--nothing too serious, nothing to get too attached to. Daeran will stay until he gets bored, because that's what he does, that's what he's told her he does, and one day he'll run off to the next shiny person that captures his interest and Sparrow will be an adult about it when that happens.

But. Sparrow knows she's never been good about separating what she wants from what she knows is the truth--that little seed of hope always blooms, frail and pathetic but still insistent. It grows in the roses that still decorate the war room, perpetually fresh and fragrant; it hides between the lines of the note that stays folded on her desk, Daeran's hand telling her to remember him when all else fades. It's in the ghostly apparition of the boy she'd seen at Heaven's Edge, who had everything ripped away from him and had been left utterly alone. Sparrow recognized that emotion, feels that same isolation in herself.

And ever since they started their not-relationship, that feeling of kinship has only grown stronger--she understands him better now, reads his moods more easily, understands his jokes and his thought processes from the late-night conversations they've taken to having, from the way he moves with her. She wants permanence, even if she wouldn't know what permanent would look like with them. Even though she knows that this is ephemeral, and she needs to listen to what he tells her and not just what she wants to hear.

His companionship has made the stress of leading an entire Crusade more bearable, and the feeling of actually being vulnerable with someone has been...nice. She shouldn't get upset that it isn't more, might not ever be more. She can temper her expectations.

Of course, she'd said the same thing when she let herself become friends with Woljif, who told her every moment he would leave, and then she was still devastated when he disappeared, still felt so relieved when he returned. But she can do better this time. She can still try.

And the first way she can do that is by not wallowing. The room has slowly grown brighter since she first opened her eyes, the beginnings of dawn peeking through the heavy curtains, and Sparrow can't justify staying in bed any longer. Daeran's breathing hasn't changed, still deep in sleep, but then she expects he won't rise until mid morning at the very earliest and wouldn't be surprised if she didn't see him awake before noon. Slowly, she slides across the bed, pulling up the covers to climb out without disturbing it too much--

The arm draped over her tightens, pulls her back under. Sparrow twists to look at Daeran's smooth, sleep-still face. A reflex? But then he grimaces, slitting his eyes open blearily. "Cold," Daeran mutters.

"I know, I'm sorry," Sparrow says. Guilt over waking him wars with something softer that sparks at seeing his mussed, open expression, free of artifice and polish. "It'll warm up quickly when I'm gone, just stay under the covers. I didn't mean to wake you."

Daeran blinks, unfortunately seeming to grow more awake with her words. "Is the fortress on fire? Or has someone died? I can't think of any other justifiable reason to be awake at this unholy hour."

That does draw a short huff of laughter from Sparrow. "I'm usually up at this time," she whispers. Really, he ought to know this by now. He's slept through plenty of mornings where Sparrow rose and left her rooms before he even flirted with consciousness. "Really, it's fine. Go back to sleep. I'll be quiet."

Daeran makes a noise of deep grievance. "It was past midnight when you finally went to sleep," he says. He pulls her closer and presses his lips against her shoulder, her neck, then the arc of her jaw. The touches leave spots of sparking heat in their wake, points of warmth that spread over her body like submerging into hot water. "After the nonsense we dealt with getting that key, you deserve more than four hours of sleep. The day can wait until it's actually day, for once."

That sounds so nice Sparrow struggles to remember the weight of all the tasks waiting for her, over a week's worth of administrative duties the excursion to Wintersun made her ignore. "I really--"

The words are cut off by a full kiss, soft and slow and then deepening. It's lazy and tired; Daeran is just as exhausted as she is. "It can wait. No one will care if you achieve some proper rest for once, and if they do you can welcome them to go hiking through these blighted lands in your stead. Stay. The bed is too warm to leave right now."

Maybe he's right. Sparrow certainly feels warm, warmer than even the heavy blankets and Daeran's body can explain. Slowly, she settles back down, facing him this time, hesitantly slotting her body against his. Daeran's arm wraps back around her body, and she closes her eyes.

Sparrow never stays in bed past sunrise. And yet, it is the easiest thing in the world to fall back asleep.

[victorywaffles]

I decided to just make my own post and answer some of these questions bc I’m a) bored b) a lil bit self obsessed and c) no one on this hell site actually talks to me lmao

1. Who was the last person you held hands with?

my bf

2. Are you outgoing or shy?

shy until you get to know me

3. Who are you looking forward to seeing?

@bedoinkle and @yoinks VERY SOON

5. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you?

Yes and has many times lol

6. What kind of people are you attracted to?

Nice, tall ones with pretty eyes and good hair and a good sense of humor

7. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now?

I really hope so since I’ve been in one for the past decade

8. Who from the opposite gender is on your mind?

David Tennant

10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?

either my bf or Sam

12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?

Juice - Lizzo

D.R.E.A.M. - Miley Cyrus

Scott Street - Phoebe Bridgers

Truth Hurts - Lizzo

Motion Sickness - Phoebe Bridgers

17. Do you think there is life on other planets?

Almost definitely

18. Do you still talk to your first crush?

Hahaha no

21. What are you bad habits?

I get irritable very easily, I procrastinate everything, I’m lazy, I’m self indulgent and a little self centered, ummm... there’s plenty more lol

22. Where would you like to travel?

Everywhere but especially England/Europe

24. Favorite part of your daily routine?

Sipping coffee and settling in for the day to get stuff done

26. What do you do when you wake up?

Check all my notifications, scroll through Instagram and Twitter, finally get out of bed and get coffee

28. Who are you most comfortable around?

My boyfriend, my friends

29. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up?

Yes and we’ve been together again for 5 years now HA

35. Would you rather live without TV or music?

Ohhhh my god that’s an awful question I don’t know. I really don’t. TV is like 65% of my personality so I feel like I have to say music

36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?

Hahaha yeah that was basically my main hobby in middle school

37. What do you say during awkward silences?

“So.... yeah... (long sigh or nervous laugh)”

38. Describe your dream girl/guy?

Nice, tallish, darker hair, funny, likes the same media I do, has nice eyes

39. What are your favorite stores to shop in?

Urban Outfitters, H&M, Anthropologie, TJ Maxx, Target

40. What do you want to do after high school?

hahahhahahahaha im way too old to be on this site

41. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

I mean unless you’re like a murderer or a rapist or something

42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?

a) I’m plotting your murder b) I’m having an existential crisis c) I’m reading d) I’m staring out the window pretending I’m in an indie movie e) all of the above

44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?

Space for sure, the ocean floor terrifies me

45. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?

Coffee

46. What are you paranoid about?

Omg everything but mostly being murdered

47. Have you ever been high?

Yes

48. Have you ever been drunk?

Oh yes

51. Ever wished you were someone else?

did you mean, my entire life 1994-present (in varying degrees of seriousness) ((joking))

52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?

ugh I don’t know, I try not to think this way anymore

53. Favourite makeup brand?

Fenty

56. Favourite colour?

Pink

57. Favourite food?

Pasta

58. Last thing you ate?

Panang Curry

59. First thing you ate this morning?

Bagel

60. Ever won a competition? For what?

Spelling bee babeyyyyyy

64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?

Back of his older brothers car after a day at the mall (lol, Teenage Dream by Katy Perry was playing but that wasn’t cool enough so I told everyone that it was The Only Exception by Paramore which was playing a few minutes before and was my favorite song then

66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?

My real friends are my tumblr friends

69. Are you watching tv right now?

Yes, the office lol

70. Names of your bestfriends?

Sam, Daina, Becca, Lexi, Nicole

71. Craving something? What?

Vengeance

76. What colour is your underwear?

Black

78. Favourite ice cream flavour?

Phish Food by Ben & Jerry’s

81. Favourite tv show?

It varies but I think either the X Files or Gilmore Girls

82. Favourite movie?

I don’t even know. I used to say Moulin Rouge and that still feels pretty right

83. Mean Girls or Mean Girls 2?

Mean Girls, are you insane????

84. Mean Girls or 21 Jump Street?

Mean Girls

85. Favourite character from Mean Girls?

Karen

99. Have any pets?

Ginger cat named Scully

103. Can you spell well?

My spelling is award winning :)

104. Do you miss anyone from your past?

Oh sure tons

105. Ever been to a bonfire party?

Yes, I’m from the Midwest

110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?

Ha yes, puberty is a bitch

112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?

My bf

115. Do you play the Wii?

........ when is this questionnaire from lmao

117. Do you like chicken noodle soup?

Yes I live for soup

118. Do you like Chinese food?

Fuck yeah

119. Favourite book?

Other than the obligatory Harry Potter, it’s probably Perks of Beinf a Wallflower

120. Are you afraid of the dark?

Mostly I’m afraid of what lives in the dark :)

125. Do you believe in true love?

Yeah but not just one single true love

128. Would you change your name?

Nah. When I was little I used to want to be named Delilah or something. I thought my name was too boring. I was literally Anne if Green Gables lmao

129. What your zodiac sign?

Piscessss

131. Your bestfriend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?

I try not to talk to men unless absolutely unavoidable

133. Favourite lyrics right now?

Just like the entirety of Scott Street by Phoebe Bridgers

137. How tall are you?

Five feet even

138. Curly or Straight hair?

Somewhere in between

140. Summer or Winter?

Fall

142. Favourite month?

October

144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?

Dark

145. Tea or Coffee?

Coffee all day every day

146. Was today a good day?

Yeah it was fine

147. Mars or Snickers?

Snickers bc I’m not British and I don’t actually know what a Mars bar is equal to

148. What’s your favourite quote?

There are literally so so many I couldn’t even begin to list them. The first one that popped into my mind is:

“I know these will all be stories someday, and our pictures will become old photographs. We’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad. But right now, these moments are not stories. This is happening. I can see it. The moment when you know you’re not a sad story. You are alive.” - Perks of Being a Wallflower

149. Do you believe in ghosts?

Oh fuck yeah love me some ghosts