#oc: rin

[sadokyuban]

Izobel: Tell me, do you believe in love at first sight? Rin: I forgot about goblins when I saw him for the first time.

[skullinacowboyhat]

imperial lesbians on the brain

[dr-demi-bee]

Day 25 & 26------------------Read on AO3------------------------

Pairing: Rin/Gale Prompt: Public sex AND Trying not to get caught Outdoor sex, interrupted more than once, touch starved x touch starved, trying to keep the yapper quiet, NSFW!!

(Direct sequel to Day 21)

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Gale watches Rin go - now in lupine form and still gloriously nude - until the black fur disappears in the darkness of the wood. A wave of frustration rolls through him at the sight. He should have made a move - made Rin stay.

But it’s followed by a wave of relief that now he's alone he can do something about his aching predicament. He’d gone so long forcing himself to go without, now that he finally could he was in the habit of waiting entirely too long to tend to himself. Or perhaps he just underestimated how greatly he needed some attention.

Once he's certain that Rin is far enough away, Gale finally lets his hands travel downwards under the water. The contact brings an immediate swell of relief and he lets out a low, ragged moan.

It's hard to keep his breathing under control as his imagination eagerly supplies increasingly more intense imagery. Images of Rin in his lap, with the lythari riding him. Of Rin on his knees, staring up at him. Of those sharp teeth nipping at his skin...

As the wizard’s hand keeps working, he lets his mind wander - and it feeds him mental image after mental image of that damn lythari and what they could be doing together.

Gale bites his lip at the thought, the urge to find Rin and drag him back here into the water with him growing ever stronger.

Hand working a little quicker, Gale can't help the noises that slip free. And he stops trying to.

"You call my name so sweetly," Rin purrs from over his shoulder.

Gale snaps out of his fantasy with a start.

"Rin!" Gale blurts, jolting in the water and whipping around to see the lythari. Rin, still in his great black lupine form, lays on the river bank just behind where Gale had been. He watches Gale with those bright yellow eyes, almost glowing in the darkness of the evening.

"Wha- how- When did you come back here?"

His hands shift, desperately trying - and failing - to cover himself. The lythari crosses his front paws casually, leaning his great head in closer with a wolfish grin.

"Only a moment ago. I came back when I heard you calling me," he returns smoothly.

Gale stares at Rin, trying to look as dignified as possible while hunched over and covering himself awkwardly with both hands.

"Right...well..." he murmurs, trying very hard not to keep his voice steady. And to not let his eyes wander all over Rin's furry form. "You...you heard wrong. I wasn't calling out for you. I was simply... enjoying a quiet moment in the water by myself. Thank you very much."

"Oh?" The huge canine tilts his head to one side, somehow making the gesture look coy as he flashes teeth. His voice is a deep rumble like a growl, "Shall I leave you be, then?"

"No!" The protest leaves Gale's lips before he can stop it, and he silently curses at himself at the slip. Seeing Rin's wolfish grin grow wider, Gale tries to regain control.

“...No,” he says again, trying to make his voice much more calm and measured. ”...Please. Your company is... more than welcome here. In the water. With me.”

"Mm, is it?" Rin rises to his feet in a fluid motion. "Then I suppose I should join you."

"You suppose you should?" Gale swallows, a flush staining his cheeks.

The lythari lopes to the bank and languidly steps in one paw at a time. Gale can’t help the low moan that slips out at the sight of Rin - that glorious, huge lupine form - sliding into the water.

Moving towards him.

He's so tall in this form the water hardly reaches his mid chest as he wades in for the second time this evening. Those bright yellow eyes are fixed on him like a predator tracking his prey, making Gale’s heart pound.

“...You realize you're not being particularly subtle about this teasing, don’t you?" Gale murmurs the complaint before he can stop himself.

"I'm not one for subtlety," Rin replies smoothly.

"Clearly." Gale swallows again as Rin continues stalking towards him.

It’s hard to tell if fear or attraction drives the thrumming under his skin. The wizard tries not to watch the way Rin's muscular frame shifts when he moves - the way the water glistens on the lythari's fur and the light reflects off it like shimmering starlight.

"Why do you do this so often?" Gale asks quickly, trying to keep his focus and ignore his body's reaction to seeing Rin like this. "Shifting into your wolf form, that is."

"Why do you channel the weave?" Rin rumbles back rhetorically. "Why does Astarion hunt for food?"

Gale watches as the lythari dips briefly below the surface before raising his head above the water with a heavy huff of air. He shakes his head and those ears perk high.

"It is the nature of our being."

This time, the water and the way it runs over his fur makes something in the wizard’s gut tighten. It's hard to keep up the conversation when all he really wants to do is reach out and touch...

Gale has to clear his throat, trying to keep his mind out of the gutter before he says or does something foolish. He tries to ignore the way his heart speeds and heat settles in his gut.

"I suppose that's true," he replies, watching Rin move through the water. He’s so tall he can walk on the river bed and his head and back remain above water. He tail floats behind him. "Your wolf seems more... primal than your elven form, however."

"Interesting," the lythari rumbles as he looks to Gale.

“...Interesting?” Gale repeats, staring at Rin as the wolf starts getting closer to him in the water again. The wizard lets out a soft scoff, then dryly says, “The lythari that calls me ‘sweet’ and ‘delicious’ is now calling my observations interesting?”

"I often find your observations interesting," Rin counters.

Gale bites his lip, letting out a shaky exhale as he feels Rin slowly circle him in the water. He doesn’t dare look away, keeping his eyes locked on the lythari at all times - not that it really helps his predicament here, considering how good Rin looks with the water running down all of that... muscle…

How in all the hells does he make his lupine form so attractive?

The wizard lets out a shaky laugh, trying to retain some sort of composure over this situation.

“Most would find me annoying for my observations. They'd say I 'lecture',” he says shakily.

Rin rumbles a low growl that sounds almost amused.

"Lucky for you, I'm not like most," he murmurs from over Gale's shoulder, "I'm a rare sort of creature."

Gods.

When Rin gets that close - directly behind him, the water lapping at both of their skin - Gale’s body very quickly reminds him how long it’s been since he had company…

“That you are," Gale replies quietly, shivering as Rin’s hot breath brushes the back of his neck. “That you definitely are…”

In the reflection on the water, Gale catches a glimpse of the golden glow of Rin's magic as he shifts forms. The looming black shadow behind him is elven once more. When he speaks, that deeper ethereal quality is gone, leaving behind only the low rumble of Rin's voice.

"I find you most interesting, Gale," Rin murmurs softly.

There’s an involuntary shiver down Gale’s spine at the sound, followed by his heart rate picking up once more. Gale closes his eyes for a moment. His hands clench unconsciously and he takes a deep breath, trying to will away the thought - the image in his mind of how simple it would be to turn around, get Rin pinned to a nearby tree and—

"Is that so?" he says weakly, trying to maintain composure. But he can feel the heat of Rin’s body radiating against his skin from their proximity.

"It is," Rin replies in a low tone. His breath ghosts over Gale's ear. He can hear Rin inhale deeply, before a low growl rumbles in the lythari's chest.

Oh, no.

Gale feels his breathing becoming shallow as he realizes Rin is sniffing him. And he’s going to smell the scent of his arousal, and he’ll realize what kind of effect he’s having - and Gale would be mortified.

He tenses up, trying desperately to keep his voice even as he asks, “Are you… sniffing me?”

Rin snorts a soft laugh. "Scenting, yes."

“Scenting me? Like an animal…?” Gale’s breath hitches as the thought of it - the idea of Rin’s wolf sniffing over his body - starts sending far too many images to his mind. He closes his eyes again, breathing a little faster, trying to ignore the way his groin throbs with each shiver going down his spine…

“Can’t you just use your eyes?” Gale asks, keeping his voice as steady as possible despite the heat in his gut.

"I am an animal," Rin counters. "And I see you, as well. But that doesn't mean I don't also enjoy your scent."

The wizard tries to ignore the way his heart skips a beat at his words.

Rin raises one hand slowly, holding it palm up beside Gale. A silent offer. When his eyes dart down to Rin's hand, he shivers a little at how big it looks - strong and thick fingers, large palm. He imagines how the hand would look on his body, gripping his hip as he—

Gale bites his lip at the sight. Gods, he wants it. More than he dares to admit to himself. He aches with how much he wants to reach out and take Rin’s hand, but his pride stubbornly refuses to let him do it.

But Rin is patient, his hand not wavering, his offer holding. There’s no mockery in it. No taunting, no teasing. It’s an actual offer… with no judgment. Everything in him is screaming to take the offering - to take Rin’s hand and let the lythari do what he wants with him…

Gale takes a deep breath, the heat in his gut warring with his stubbornness as he keeps his eyes locked on Rin’s hand. Slowly, he reaches out and lays his hand flat on top of Rin’s. His own hand looks almost small in comparison.

Rin's touch is almost achingly gentle as the lythari's fingers wrap around Gale's. He brings their joined hands up to hold against Gale's chest just over his heart. Gale lets out a shaky breath as Rin touches him.

Rin takes a step forward, his feet bracketing Gale's as he presses flush against the smaller man's back. When he feels Rin’s firm chest, he shudders - his body reacting to the warmth and the heat and the feeling of the bigger, more muscled form pressing against his back. Rin's freehand gently takes hold of Gale's hip, his fingers warm and steady. He tenses a little instinctively as Rin’s hand touches his hip, but then quickly relaxes at the touch.

Every move is slow and gentle - giving Gale a chance to object or deflect or move away if he wants. Each touch is light and gentle - no grabbing or gripping. Just a warm, soft touch, resting firmly against his skin.

Slowly, the lythari leans his head in to nuzzle against Gale's temple. Rin seems content to just hold him like this. Feeling his pulse beneath their joined hands. The softness of Gale's skin beneath his palm. His hair against Rin's cheek. The lythari breathes in and out slowly.

It’s hard to describe the effect this kind of slow, steady intimacy has on Gale. After a few moments, Gale finds himself relaxing against the taller form. The feeling of Rin’s hand over his heart - firm but so gentle... it’s grounding. It helps his heartrate slow a little.

Gale lets out a slow shuddering exhale, his own fingers tightening slightly around Rin’s hand. The gentleness of it all almost makes Gale dizzy. There’s on hint of impatience or frustration in Rin’s touch. He’s just...holding Gale. Wanting to feel him.

It’s comforting in a way he didn’t know he needed.

“Rin...” he starts, his mouth suddenly dry.

"Yes, Gale?"

Gods above.

Just the way Rin says his name, in his low, throaty voice, makes the wizard’s knees weak. For a brief moment, he considers pressing back against Rin - grinding on him a little, giving him a very clear sign of what he wants…

With some effort, he manages to hold himself back. Instead, he simply whispers back quietly, “You’re a tease.”

Rin rumbles a soft growl - and Gale can feel it where the lythari's chest is pressed against him, making another shiver run through him. The hand on Gale’s hip tightens just slightly - but it’s electric nonetheless.

"Tell me what you want," he breathes back, voice rough. Gods, that voice… it’s like sin. And it makes it so hard to keep any self-control.

Instead of saying what he wants, or even what he needs, Gale takes a shallow breath and admits quietly, “Something you will probably refuse…”

"Try me," the lythari murmurs back, tone light with amusement but rough with desire. Gale takes a deep breath, biting back a moan when Rin’s warm hand on his hip gently squeezes.

Rin growls low, the sound rumbling up from the depths of his chest into his throat and out of his parted lips. Still terrifically gently, as if afraid Gale might break or flee, Rin turns the wizard in his arms to face him.

He lifts their joined hands to place a soft kiss to Gale's knuckles as their eyes meet. When he looks at the lythari, the sight of him - the heat in his gaze paired with his gentle touches - the wizard’s lips part softly, the heat in his gut growing hotter…

"What would you have of me?" Rin breathes against his fingers.

“I… want to touch you,” he somehow manages to respond, his voice trembling with need.

"What a terrific burden," Rin teases with a soft smirk. Gale can’t help but huff a half-laugh.

“Very funny,” the wizard replies dryly. He doesn’t bother to hide the way his eyes drag down Rin’s front. Taking in the muscular shoulders, the toned chest… the hair, trailing down his stomach and disappearing below the water… Another shiver goes through him, and he lets out a shaky exhale as he finally meets Rin’s gaze again. There’s a pleading edge in his voice as he whispers, “Please, let me touch you…”

This time Rin shivers, and it's accompanied by a low, hungry growl. The slits of his pupils are rounded in their dilation.

"Touch me all you like," Rin returns softly with a sharp grin.

He reaches out slowly to rest his hand on Rin’s chest. Feeling the warmth and the heat of his skin, the soft down of his hair, the strong beat of his heart, and admiring the contrast of the lythari’s golden skin with his own. His eyes follow the trail of his hand over Rin’s body. Tracing firm, defined muscles.

Rin's hands hold Gale's hips, squeezing slightly as Gale's hands roam over his skin. Slowly, Gale’s hand slides down, tracing over Rin’s stomach until he reaches the edge of where his hair grows thicker.

Rin takes a deep breath that catches when his hand trails ever lower. His lips part with ragged breaths, the tips of those long canines visible. Sight and sound both make heat broil in Gale’s gut. When Gale pauses Rin makes a sound somewhere between a growl and a whine.

Gods above, the sounds that Rin makes are torturous. They make his head spin - each little moan, growl, or whine go straight to his gut and adding to the burning heat that threatens to drive him mad. His hand dips lower, slowly, until he reaches the base of Rin’s groin .Gale bites back a moan of his own, his lips parting as he looks up to meet Rin’s eyes.

Rin's breath leaves him in a shuddery exhale, his hips twitching involuntarily at the contact. The lythari leans forward to rest his forehead against Gale's. His large, warm hands smooth a path up Gale's sides and back down, his thumbs tracing along the path of Gale's muscles.

“Gods above, you’re not going to make this easy, are you?” Gale gasps, his hand slowly wrapping around Rin in a loose fist. Rin shudders and breathes out a low groan.

"Fenedhis-" Rin swears softly.

Gale’s breath catches. The word falling from the lythari’s lips- Elven, he’s fairly sure - is a mystery. His desperation is clear, though. Such a perfect sound - wicked and sinful- it’s almost enough to make his eyes roll back.

“That’s not fair,” Gale manages to say, his voice raspy as he gives a gentle squeeze, enjoying the way Rin throbs in his grip and his head tips back with a ragged moan.

Gods, but the way he can make Rin shudder just by touching him - squeezing him - it’s addictive. And the sounds Rin makes, the moans and gasps escaping his mouth, like he can barely focus on anything except what’s happening between them - it’s like a drug, and he’s falling under the influence of its power.

Gale looks up to meet Rin’s gaze, his hand slowly moving up and down along his length under the water, squeezing tighter. Rin trembles and groans at the feel of Gale's hand moving against him. His hands squeeze at Gale's hips, but he never breaks that intense eye-contact.

Rin’s reaction is perfect. The way he growls and shivers and his fingers tighten their hold as if he’s trying to hold back, trying not just grab and pounce - it’s absolutely beautiful.

But Gale wants more. Wants to see Rin be wild. Wants to feel it.

“Come on, please…” he moans.

"Fenedhis-" Rin's teeth clench shut as another ragged growl rumbles in his chest. Bared like this those long canines are devastatingly beautiful and intimidating both. "P-please what?"

“Please… touch me back,” Gale almost whispers.

He starts a slow, steady rhythm as he squeezes and strokes Rin. The ranger’s head falls against his shoulder, burying his face into the crook of his neck, holding Gale’s hips tight like he’s afraid he’s going to lose him…

"How-hah-" the lythari struggles to form words, breaking into animalistic, feral sounds as he tries. "What do- do you like-?"

Gale can feel his breath, hot and heavy on his skin as Rin pants. Gods, he’s going to forget his own name at this rate. He wants to let Rin ruin him. The way Rin’s trying to hold back, to keep his control, to do whatever he asks…

“Anything,” he moans, his breath shaking as he gives another tight squeeze. “Touch me anywhere…”

Rin's hands move at the request, sliding back to grasp and knead the flesh of Gale’s rear with a possessive growl. The wizard gasps at the feeling - desire hot and electric flashing through him.

Gods, yes… just like that, just be possessive …

“Yes,” he pleads. “Please, more…”

Experimentally, cautiously, the lythari starts pressing hot open mouthed kisses to Gale's skin. They burn a path down Gale‘s neck. Rin kneads and teases at his rear, sliding his hands down and gently urging his stance to widen by tugging at his thighs.

Rin applies the ghost of pressure against his collar with his teeth, almost as if waiting for a reaction. It draws a ragged gasp from Gale. The feeling of it’s almost too much for the wizard to bear.

“Don’t tempt me,” he warns, his own hand working in quicker, firmer strokes as he looks up to meet blazing green eyes. Rin looses a low sound and his hips stutter in time with Gale's hand. The feel of Rin’s reaction - groaning and whining under his hand - it’s maddening. He has to resist the urge to squeeze roughly just to make Rin gasp and moan again.

"Don't...?" Rin questions breathlessly.

“Don’t - don’t tease me,” Gale gasps. He tries to catch his breath, biting his lip as he meets Rin’s gaze through half-lidded eyes. “If you’re going to bite, then do it,” he goads.

Rin rumbles a low sound, pulling Gale against him roughly by his hips. He nips at Gale's throat - once, twice - then shifts to his shoulder and bites. Enough to leave a mark and draw a delicious moan from Gale.

Gods, yes… Rin’s tongue on his skin feels claiming, like the bite is marking him as his.

Meanwhile Rin slides one hand lower, teasing his fingers against sensitive skin. The other slides up, his large hand splaying against Gale's lower back, holding him flush against Rin. His breath hitches as Rin’s hold make’s his back arch to press against him. The pace of his hand around Rin falters as Gale feels thick fingers tease and brush against his entrance.

Rin growls again, low, his tongue laving over the marks he leaves behind attentively. His finger slowly teases, applying gentle pressure. Another moan escapes the wizard’s mouth as the pressure grows firmer. His head tips back and his eyes slip shut as his hand on Rin falters.

More, he thinks wildly, I want more…

Gale gets what he wants. Slowly, Rin increases pressure until he's slipping one thick finger inside. All the while Rin continues nipping and licking a trail up and down his neck, over his shoulders. Gasps fall from the wizard’s lips involuntarily, his head rolling back to give Rin better access as he covers his neck and shoulders in bites.

Rin’s finger slowly pressing inside, gently but firmly, is incredible. Nearly beyond words.

“You… you’re… gods, Rin, don’t stop,” he gasps.

Rin's growl turns decidedly possessive, pulling Gale somehow closer still with the hand on his back. His hand moves with a steady rhythm, pulling his finger in and out, crooking and pressing in just the right spot. His head drops back as his body shivers, his own hand gripping Rin even as it’s faltering.

“Please… more. Rin, more -”

Rin slides in another finger, gently coaxing more sounds from the wizard. He bites again on Gale's opposite shoulder. Gods, it’s too much and too little all at once - the way he’s stretching him, the way his teeth leave behind a mark… Gale moans again, louder this time, as another shiver wracks his body.

“Please,” the wizard gasps. “You… you’re… perfect…”

"Please what, fenor?" Rin growls against Gale's temple. His fingers never stop their steady ministrations.

He can’t think, not with the way Rin’s fingers are moving, the way they press and move and rub in all the right spots, the way Rin’s mouth is so close to his ear, calling him by that pretty word that he’s sure is an endearment…

The wizard gasps in a breath, trying to speak. “More. Please, Rin, please, I want… more…”

"Can you take more?" Rin returns in that rough tone that goes straight to his groin. "Can you take me, fenor?"

He wants to laugh, the way Rin- usually so rough - is taking such care with him, not wanting to hurt him. But he’s barely able to do anything besides moan in response to the question.

“Yes - gods, yes. Please, Rin, take me…”

The words rouse something in the lythari. He slides his fingers free, but in a surge he grasps Gale behind his knees and lifts him up. It’s overwhelming, the way Rin is handling him, lifting him up as if he’s weightless. Rin squeezes Gale tight against his chest, positioning him over his own aching need.

"You're sure?" Rin breathes huskily, even as he nearly vibrates with need.

The fact that Rin is still making sure he’s sure, when it’s clear how much he wants this, wants him… It makes his chest feel tight.

“Yes,” Gale gasps, his eyes fluttering shut, his hands gripping at Rin’s shoulders. “Please… please…”

Rin's about to move - but freezes. His eyes snap to the distance and with a huffed growl he grips Gale tighter, striding quickly with long, powerful steps to move them behind the cover of an outcropping of rocks.

It's not until they're behind cover that Gale can make out the sounds that Rin had already picked up. Voices and splashing as some of the others come down to the river. Based on the laughter, at least Halsin and Astarion, maybe another.

Gale lets out an annoyed huff. He’d been so lost in Rin’s attention and the way he was being held he hadn’t even heard the others coming until they sounded too close.

“Of course we would be interrupted now…” he mutters, pressing against Rin as they hold still.

Rin's eyes are back on Gale, no heat lost in his gaze. He encourages Gale to wrap his legs around his waist before moving his hands to grip possessively at his rear once more. Gale can barely holding back a ragged gasp as Rin maneuvers him, coaxing him tighter to his body. Gale wraps his arms around Rin’s shoulders and locks his ankles behind Rin’s back.

Rin responds with a sharp, wicked grin. There's no growl to be heard as Rin resumes his onslaught - somehow nipping and biting at Gale's neck without making so much as a sound. Gods damn it - he’s showing why the lythari are called silver shadows. Showing off. And it’s driving Gale insane.

“Not… fair,” he hisses, but he’s biting down on his lip to keep quiet.

Rin looks at him with that cheeky grin, then leans in right beside Gale's ear to whisper in a low rumble. "Shh, you'll have to keep that pretty mouth shut for me, fenor."

“And if I don’t?” Gale whisper shouts. “What’ll you do about it?”

"Nothing. I think you care much more about modesty than I do," Rin returns whisper soft, before nipping at Gale's ear. The wizard shudders against Rin’s body at the way he’s teasing him. Threatening him, even.

The lythari shifts Gale in his arms just enough to tease at his entrance. Feeling Rin pressing hot and hard against him, right where he desperately wants him - is almost unbearable. Gale has to press his face into Rin’s shoulder, to muffle the strangled gasp that escapes him.

They can hear a few of the others chatting together as they go about their evening routines on the other side of the rocks they hide behind. Talking and joking and getting things ready for the night. Gale knows that if he makes a sound, they’ll all hear him - he has to keep quiet, he has to keep contained-

But Rin's much too far gone to care if any of them know - he hides only for Gale's sake. He slides teasingly against Gale, and the wizard has to bite down on Rin’s shoulder to keep himself from making any noise. Struggling to hold back the gasps and moans that Rin’s slow slide is coaxing out of him.

Rin's mouth opens with a ragged breath as he slowly eases himself inside almost torturously slow. It's Rin struggling now as Gale bites and he’s surrounded by the warm, wet heat of him. His nostrils flare as he tries to take quiet breaths and stifle the growl - the howl- that wants to claw it's way free.

The wizard can feel Rin struggling- how his breath quickens as he feels Gale’s teeth, the way he’s trying to keep quiet - all because of him. It’s exquisite. His teeth sink down, leaving marks on Rin’s shoulder to keep himself from gasping. And Gale takes a wicked satisfaction in leaving those marks on the lythari.

Rin huffs a short, soft growl and leans his head back just far enough to make eye contact. A silent question as he searches Gale's eyes, watches his expression.

Even now, even as lost as they both are, he's still asking, still making sure. Gods, the way Rin is huffing and growling, holding back for him, searching his eyes to make sure he’s okay - even as his expression screams his need.

Gale looks back, his own gaze hazy with lust, his body shaking with desire and need for more. He nods, biting his lip as he tries to keep himself still, hoping Rin can read the answer to his question in his expression. Please…

Rin grins - that sharp roguish expression that makes Gale's stomach flip. That cheeky look can only possibly mean 'hold on'.

He adjusts them slightly, guiding Gale to hold tight with one arm around Rin's neck. Holding eye contact, Rin urges Gale to grasp himself with his free hand. Gale follows every order, moaning behind bitten lip at the feeling and the anticipation. Then Rin positions his own hands so one arm bands across Gale's back to grasp his shoulder, while the other wraps tight around Gale's waist.

And then slowly at first, but quickly growing in pace, Rin starts to move his hips against Gale's.

It takes everything Gale has to hold back the need to cry out. To whine and babble and praise. It feels so incredibly good. The way Rin holds him up, close to his chest, his teeth digging into his lip to stifle those feral sounds. Gale can't keep his hips from bucking into his own hand, matching the pace Rin is setting.

Rin can't hold back the soft needy growl that rumbles at the sight - nor can Gale stop the muffled moan into Rin’s shoulder in response. He manages to keep it quiet, muffled enough the others don't notice - if only barely.

The lythari only barely suppresses the noises that want to tear free. Would that he could hear that sweet ecstasy he can see on Gale's face. He'll have to make due with the way Gale's breath hitches and speeds up, the pounding of his heart, the scent of him... With a sharp inhale, Rin increases his pace.

An echo of laughter reminds Gale why they’re being so quiet. They’re just on the other side of the rock, talking without knowing anything of what they’re doing, of how close they are-

The thought makes something go hot and tight in his gut, his hips bucking faster into his hand, his gasps and moans muffled against Rin’s shoulder.

Rin moves quicker to match Gale's pace - his eyes drinking in Gale's every movement, his every expression. He can feel the way Rin is watching him. Every little move he makes, his every expression being studied, taken in. Every desperate move of his hips and his hand being seen. It's too much, he’s losing the fight against his desires, his moans against Rin's skin growing slightly louder.

Rin surges in to capture Gale's lips, swallowing his desperate sounds. The feel of Rin's warm lips against his makes him tremble. His hips rock up into his hand and back onto Rin, his teeth catching on Rin's lip, his mind fuzzy and blank with overwhelming pleasure.

Rin nips back, greedy in his exploration of Gale's mouth. He hardly cares about the world around them anymore. All that matters is the man trembling in his arms, coming undone around him, unraveled by his touch.

The way Rin’s lips move desperately against his, as if trying to consume him - brings another whimper out of him. He tries to focus on the kiss, on returning it, his tongue sliding against his - but he's distracted by how close he is, how good he feels, how he wants and needs more-

Rin gives him everything. Quiet as he can, urging him to stay quiet with his kiss but taking him apart with every thrust.

Rin moves against him, filling him, faster, deeper- it's too much, it's too much, he's getting close, so close- just a little more, he's teetering on the edge-

“Give it to me, Gale...” Rin growls the command in a rough, quiet whisper.

It's enough to send rocketing to his finish. Gale trembles and shakes at the lightning hot pleasure bolting down his spine as his vision goes white. Gale grips Rin tightly, his legs squeezing Rin’s waist as his heart hammers in his chest.

Rin only just manages to muffle a groan at the feel of Gale squeezing tight around him. The sight of Gale, flushed and breathless, coming undone...

Gale can feel Rin tensing beneath him, gripping him a little tighter, moving more erratically against him, and all he can do is try to keep kissing Rin through it, to keep kissing him through it all. It doesn't take long before Rin's following after.

Rin growls roughly as he finds his own release, teeth catch on his shoulder to keep the sound quiet, his body shaking against Gale as he spills inside him.

Panting heavily, Rin slowly lowers them both until he's sitting on a rock beneath the surface. He nuzzles his face into the crook of Gale's neck as he holds the smaller man in his lap and tries to catch his breath.

Gale’s head spins as he holds tight to Rin, his mind still fuzzy with the afterglow. As he slowly comes back to himself, he tilts his head to rest it against the lythari, taking slow, deep breaths as he clings to him.

Gale shivers, the afterglow still making him feel fuzzy and languid. Rin's gentle and soothing - large hands roaming up and down Gale's back, helping him catch his breath. Terrifically gentle as he pulls out and presses soft kisses to Gale's skin.

The soft, almost lazy kisses find all the spots marked - everywhere the lythari claimed him. Will they be covered by the collar of his robes? Gale shivers as he thinks about how they will bruise and linger - potentially showing everyone that Gale is his…

For a few moments, the two of them just sit, slowly getting their breath back. The quiet noises and chatter of their friends on the other side of their cover continues, their companions non-the-wiser.

"Are you alright?" Rin breathes softly. He nuzzles Gale tenderly, his hands still smoothing up and down.

Gale lets out a soft sigh as his hands slide around Rin to wrap more securely around him, letting himself bask in the lythari’s attention. It almost feels like floating as he comes down.

"Alright?" Gale huffs a soft laugh, shaking his head slightly against where it rests on Rin. "Better than alright."

"Good," Rin murmurs against Gale's skin. His touch is surprisingly gentle and soothing for a man his size. But being in the lythari’s embrace, huddled close, feels immensely safe.

Safe. Even with his size, his touch so gentle. His embrace so comforting and warm. The way Rin cares for him - Gale belongs here, wrapped up safe in Rin's arms. He wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Rin kisses his skin, murmuring soft reassurances. Gale wants to bask in Rin's attention for a little while longer… But the sound of their friends' voices and boisterous laughter drift over, reminding the wizard that they're not alone.

Rin lets out an impatient huff, a low growl settling low in his chest. His hold on Gale tightens slightly. Rin’s irritation at the reminded they're not alone makes something warm go through Gale. He nuzzles closer against Rin, pressing a soft kiss to the side of his neck.

"I'm not going anywhere," he murmurs reassuringly.

The lythari huffs a long breath, nuzzling into Gale's hair. Gale hums against Rin's neck at the warm, possessive feeling coiling in his chest. If he could, he would bask forever in the attention and the way Rin's arms seem to surround him.

"As much as I would love to stay here all night…" Gale murmurs, "I think we should probably head back soon. Before Astarion starts asking where we are."

Rin growls at the suggestion, but acquiesces to let Gale slide from his lap. It takes a moment for the wizard to actually bring himself to leave the lythari's embrace. And the second he does he mourns the warmth.

The wizard stands shakily, his legs wobbly. Rin's hand is on his back, steadying him without a word. The warmth of Rin steadying him squeezes at his heart.

He glances surreptitiously around the rocks. When he notices Gale's hesitant look towards the others, Rin shifts into his wolven form. The lythari uses his large body to walk ahead, putting his body between Gale and the others and obscuring the wizard from view long enough he can get to his towel and clothing. It has the added benefit that Gale can lean against Rin for a little extra support.

As he's dressing after quickly using a bit of Prestidigitation to clean himself up, Gale can't help but think about how Rin is protecting him, making sure he's able to get dressed without any of them seeing him. As possessive as he looks it's... adorable. Unexpectedly sweet.

Rin even looks away as Gale dresses. Watching their companions. Astarion calls out something cheeky and Rin barks back noisily at him. Gale watches him with a soft smile on his face as the way the vampire calls something back in jest and Rin responds with a deep growling.

Rin chuffs a disgruntled snort that makes his jowls puff out. When he turns back to Gale and sees him dressed, the lythari stands and escorts the wizard back to camp.

When they reach the campfire, Gale sinks onto one of the logs, taking a moment to breathe and try and regain some composure - though he can't keep the soft smile off his face. Rin steps aside to shake the remaining water from his fur, then flops down beside the fire near Gale’s feet and settles with a heavy sigh.

Gale can’t help but reach down to stroke Rin’s fur as he unwinds. They get a few minutes of peace to themselves before the others start to gather around the fire too.

Karlach is the first one to join them, exiting her tent to sit on Rin’s other side.

"Hey, big guy," she starts. "You and Gale were taking your time out there. Everything alright?"

The lythari just chuffs dismissively. Astarion joins them next, looking over to the lythari with a sly smirk on his face as he sits.

"Did you two have a good time out there,” the elf teases as he leans against his hand, “All by your lonesome?"

Rin raises his head to glare at the other elf, rumbling a low sound. Shadowheart is the next to join, sitting by Karlach’s side and looking between Rin and Gale.

"He has a point," she notes, her eyes on the two of them. "A little strange that you two disappeared off by yourselves for such a long time."

"I do not comment on any of your habits," Rin returns smoothly. His eyes look from Shadowheart and then to Astarion. His tone is light, but the threat is clear, "Should I start?"

"Oh, don't be like that," the vampire returns, raising his hands and shaking his head. "Just an observation. No commentary on what anyone does in their free time necessary. I just happened to wonder what you two were up to, that you were gone for so long."

"Do you need a demonstration on longevity, Star?" The lythari teases back.

Karlach lets out a bark of laughter, slapping her knee at that. Astarion scoffs, his smirk widening. Gale feels his cheeks heating at the rather blatant way that implies what they were up to.

"I think you're the one who could use a demonstration, furball," the vampire mocks, his smile growing.

"Careful," Rin shoots back, showing some teeth, "Or I'll drag you into the woods and teach you about lythari stamina, spawn."

"Is that a threat, or an invitation?" Astarion fires back, the grin on his face widening even further.

Karlach lets out another barked laughter, throwing her head back. Shadowheart shakes her head, a slight smile on her face, trying to hide her amusement. The way the pair almost playfully tease each other, nearly makes Gale laugh too. And he probably would were he not so embarrassed.

"Want to find out?" Rin's lip pulls back to show teeth.

Karlach slaps her knee again, unable to contain her boisterous laughter. Astarion leans back on his hands, his smile becoming sly as he meets Rin's gaze.

"Perhaps I do," he drawls, his tone almost mocking. "But would you have the stones for it, pelt?"

"Bold, kitten," the lythari replies. He pushes off from the ground to sit up, though he still doesn't move from Gale's side. "Want to choke on them and find out?"

Karlach lets out an outright cackle of laughter, her free hand smacking against the log she sits on as she laughs at the exchange. Astarion leans back even further, his smirk still on his face as he raises an eyebrow.

"Kitten?" He repeats back. "Well - I've been called many things, furball, but 'kitten' is a new one."

"Only fitting for those ickle teeth of yours," Rin huffs with obvious disdain.

"Oh, you are asking for it," Astarion returns, some irritation finally showing. "Do you want me to show you just how sharp my ickle teeth are, lythari?"

"Try me," the wolf growls back, lips pulled back to show his own large teeth.

"What's going on?" Wyll asks as he joins the group around the fire, glancing between a laughing Karlach, an amused Shadowheart, and an unusually quiet Gale, before settling on Rin and Astarion. Arguing. Again.

"Are we doing anything about dinner, or…?" Wyll asks Gale. Then notices his rosy cheeks and flushed expression and the warlock’s brow furrows. "You alright, Gale?"

Gale is staring up at the sky, his mind miles away and not at all paying attention to anything besides the warm feeling in his chest and the fact that Rin is still sitting next to him - the way he's still protecting him. Wyll's voice breaks through the dazed fog, the wizard shaking himself slightly from his thoughts.

"What? Oh, I… yes, I'm fine," he answers, his tone slightly unsteady. “Dinner, right.”

Rin turns slightly, looking to Wyll.

"There is fish," he rumbles, pointing with his snout towards the large pike Rin caught earlier hanging by the cookpot. Cleaned and ready to cook. Wyll looks to the large pike, his eyebrows raising as he looks between the large fish and Rin.

"Where the hells did you catch that?" Wyll asks, impressed by the size

"In the Chionthar," he answers easily. The great wolf rises to his feet with a languid stretch.

"How’d you manage to catch it?" Wyll asks, a bit perplexed. "Did you just... jump in and grab it?"

"That’s the usual way," Rin returns with that wolfish grin. "Gale was there."

Wyll blinks in surprise, then glances to Gale. "How did Gale help?" he asks, his tone still bewildered.

"Moral support," the lythari drawls. That has Gale choking out a soft laugh, the wizard shaking his head at Rin's answer.

"Moral support," he repeats with amusement. "Yes, I'm sure me cheering you on was the greatest help in catching that pike."

"Indeed," Rin murmurs with a toothy approximation of a grin. He starts loping his way across camp and towards the woods - clearly off to get his own dinner. Gale watches him walk off into the woods, his head leaned against his hand with an indulgent smile on his face. Certainly much happier than when he last saw Rin walk away.

The mood lightened by the banter, conversation continues around him. Gale is still looking at Rin's retreating form, his mind drifting back to the river - to Rin's arms wrapped around him, holding him close, his lips against his .Wyll busies himself starting to cook the fish and they chatter idly for a bit. It's a few moments before someone finally approaches the elephant in the room.

"So, Gale," Shadowheart starts, wearing a lilting smile. "Just what were you and Rin up to, that you vanished for so long and came back looking like-" she gestures with a hand at the flush of his cheeks, "- That. Did something happen?"

"I... ah..." he stumbles, his mind still clouded by the afterglow, almost unable to focus on her question. He clears his throat before answering evasively. "We spent some time in the water. That's all."

"’Spent some time in the water’," Shadowheart repeats, glancing to Astarion. "So, you... went bathing?" She asks, her tone clearly not buying his evasion. "Together?"

Gale can feel his cheeks warm up even more as he grows flustered.

"Yes, together," he retorts, trying to maintain some composure. "What of it?"

"Oh, it's nothing, darling,” Astarion responds, his smirk growing smug. “You and the big bad wolf, spending some time alone together in the water... How romantic."

"Aw, that's sweet," Karlach says, grinning at Gale. The tiefling stifles another laugh behind a fist and Gale can’t tell if she’s genuine or teasing. Until she continues, "Sooo, the big, gruff lythari. Was he gentle?"

Gale is practically turning as red as Karlach now. When in gods’ name did this turn into an interrogation? He's tries to ignore the warm feeling that's rising in his chest at her question.

"That’s no one's business but ours," he manages to say after a moment. "But, if you must know... yes, he was gentle."

Astarion snorts, leaning back against the log he's sitting on, the grin on his face only growing. at the way Karlach's laughing again, Shadowheart's lips curling up, and Wyll's eyebrows raised in shock.

"Not even a little rough?" Astarion wonders, clearly teasing.

Gale is still bright red, looking between Astarion's sly smirk, Karlach's amused grin, and Shadowheart's raised eyebrow. Only Wyll has the decorum to at least look subtle about it.

"Some of us like it when partners aren't rough," he retorts trying to find some way to respond without embarrassing himself further. "And I prefer to keep private matters private, thank you."

"Oh come on, Gale," Karlach whines. "Don’t leave us hanging! Was he, y'know, a wolf in every sense of the word?"

The question has Shadowheart choking out a laugh, her hand over her mouth, as Astarion's smirk widens even further. Wyll very pointedly focuses on the cookpot, and Gale is pretty sure his face is on fire, a startled, flustered noise escaping his lips.

"No!" His voice comes out sharp and strangled with indignance. "I told you it is no one's business but ours!"

"Sounds like someone's being defensive," Karlach teases, holding back laughter. "What d’you think, Wyll?"

Wyll clears his throat, trying to avoid a laugh, .

"Uh... that’s none of my business," he says, his voice awkward, like he's trying not to sound too interested.

"Oh come on, Wyll-" Karlach teases, nudging him with her shoulder. "We need someone to ask the important questions! Ask him about the teeth!"

Wyll splutters, his face flushed. "That's not an important question!" he protests, almost as flustered as Gale is. "And I'm not going to ask!"

Karlach cackles at the outburst, nudging him harder. "Oh come on, Soldier!"

"I-" Wyll goes to protest again, but this time Astarion beats him to it, cutting in with an amused tone.

"You have to admit," he begins, "it's quite... interesting, that he can transform back and forth. Are there other things he can shapeshift?" Astarion adds with a waggle of his brows.

Gale's shoots the other elf a glare, his mind racing as he desperately tries to come up with a comeback. Before he can retort, though... Karlach leans forward, her eyes lighting up.

"Oh, do you mean like... his other parts? I bet-"

"No!" Gale blurts, flushing bright red. "Lycanthropy doesn’t work like that! His other parts remain the same from-" his mind scrambles to try to find the words, "-from form to form."

Gale winces slightly at his stumbling words. But his frustration keeps him going, "He doesn't alter his... his anatomy," he finishes tersely, his face burning with embarrassment. "And that is more than you or anyone else here needs to know."

Karlach whistles low at Gale’s answer, and Astarion's smirk grows. Gale’s eyes snag on a flare of yellow emerging from the gloom over Astarion’s shoulder.

"I almost don't know if that's reassuring, or disappointing," the vampire teases, none the wiser.

"You wouldn't find out either way, kitten," Rin growls from over the vampires shoulder.

Rin's sudden appearance causes Astarion to jump and yelp in surprise. Gale lets out a relieved sigh - his embarrassment eases slightly as Rin diverts the attention away from him. He’s also more than a little relieved to see Rin back so soon.

"Gods! Stop doing that! You scare the hells out of me," Astarion mumbles, a hand over his chest. Karlach cackles again as Astarion protests.

"Good." The lythari walks past him, licking blood from his muzzle. "Maybe it'll teach you not to gossip."

"I wasn't gossiping," Astarion retorts, "I was simply asking a question."

"And what of you?" The lythari returns with a slight sneer. "Are you cold there all the time, or do you warm up with a little blood? Do you have to ask before you come inside?"

Karlach lets out another bark of laughter, and this time the others join in as Astarion sputters in indignation. Rin comes right back to Gale’s side to lay back down.

"I- I am not cold all the time, and I do not need blood to warm up! You... you don't know what you're talking about-!"

"Well," Rin snarks back, "Maybe whenever you find a partner I'll be sure to ask."

Karlach laughs harder, Astarion's indignant protest increasing, his face flushing as he sputters. It takes all Gale's self-control not to cackle at the way Rin managed to turn this back in Astarion’s face.

The lythari leans closer to Gale, looking up at him with those bright citrine eyes. Then without a word, the huge black wolf lays his head in Gale's lap. Warmth floods through Gale at the simple affectionate gesture. A warm, fond, smile spreads across his face, and his hands begin to run through the fur of Rin's head, between Rin's ears.

The activity of camp continues on around them, finally moving on to something else, but Gale only has for the wolf on his lap and the feel of his hand running through Rin's fur. Things have clearly changed between them - but he can’t help but feel it’s certainly for the better.

@lanafofana @waterdeep-weavemoss @12thhouse-sun

@crimson-and-lavender @feedthepheasants @spooky-lil-bee

@femmefuck @heartfluttered

[verbenaa]

to eden | chapter seven

𝓈𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎: If there was ever a moment that Rin regretted drinking all of that wine it would be now as Astarion peers at her with thinly veiled interest, baiting her. All it takes is those few words for the mood of their conversation to change, Astarion twisting it to something darker and more seductive.

She absolutely hates the way her body reacts at the sound of his voice nearer to her, a familiar fire kindling deep in her belly and her heart skipping a beat.

𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔: Astarion/F!Tav

𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: E

𝓌𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉: 5,814

𝒶/𝓃: hey let's just pretend it hasn't taken me 5 weeks to write this, ok? but for real, I'm so happy to be back on my regular grind and posting again! I hope you all like this chapter, and I'm excited to keep writing for these two idiots 🫡 let me know your thoughts in the comments and thank you to every single one of you who take the time to read, like, comment, reblog etc. you all mean the world to me!!!!! love you all byeeeeee

ao3 here

masterlist

Something in the air is wrong.

Whatever that something is, though, Rin can’t quite place her finger on. 

But there’s something off in smell of the air, the cloying scent of rotting leaves and decay sickening her, souring her stomach as they creep along the narrow pathway. 

Or perhaps it is the dead breeze that rattles bare branches as it carries the memory of death on its ghostly wind, the feeling of it making her shudder and turn in on herself with every brush of it against her skin.

All of it just wrong, wrong, wrong.

Rin bites her lip as she moves down the narrow path carefully on their trek further and further into this cursed world, fingers aching to grab at the blade she keeps strapped to her back if only to make herself feel a little bit better lest anything decide to surprise her by launching itself into stabbing range. 

Her chest is uncomfortably tight here, a subtle fear she will never admit out loud curling around her ribs, squeezing itself around her lungs with every breath she takes. 

Even Astarion has been left on edge, his hand gripping tight around a knife as he walks on Rin’s left, ever silent as he steps with care and his eyes rove back and forth along the darkness.

Perhaps the most wrong thing, though, is the one that they follow. The one who she had summoned with that lyre she had pilfered off of the corpse of that drow weeks and weeks ago in the depths of the goblin’s lair; plucking at its strings to play a haunting melody befitting of the horror that skitters on eight legs ahead of them along the trodden path towards Moonrise Towers.

Kar’niss, with his too many eyes and lips pulled into an eerie grin that the light from the moon lantern he carries does nothing to soften the lines of, sharp claws curled around the long post.

The Absolute really did pull a certain type, didn’t it? 

Rin sighs softly as her steps quicken, abhorring the idea of being any closer to Kar’niss than necessary but her fear of whatever it is lurking out in the darkness far surpasses her distrust of the drider.

But as they round a corner, she sees a movement in the shadows of a ruined building just beyond the path—subtle, barely recognizable in the darkness. Another a sweep of her eyes and she notices that there are people—real, living people—hiding all around them with weapons drawn and at the ready.

She’s not the only one who notices either, Astarion already adjusting his grip on the dagger as he readies it to throw and Shadowheart brandishing her glaive as she calls upon her dark Lady. 

And as Kar’niss calls for battle against the so-called heretics hiding in shadows, one thing becomes crystal clear: the Harpers’ mean to kill.  

It’s a split second decision, one she communicates through the rarely used tadpole that sits idle in her brain.

Kill the drider, he’s not the only ticket into Moonrise. 

They’ll manage without him.

Rin shares a brief, sweeping glance among her companions, all of them meeting her gaze in resolute agreement, and whether that agreement is for the sake of morality or for violence she doesn’t care, as long as they’ll fight along her side against whatever horrors await on the path ahead.

✧· · ─── ·✧· ─── · ·✧

The tightness in her chest doesn’t go away inside the warmth of the Last Light Inn but it loosens the smallest bit, no longer strangling around her insides as a candlelit glow washes over them and the Harpers mill about on all sides.

The goblet of wine she holds in her hand certainly doesn’t hurt, either. 

Jaheira—the one and only fabled hero of many a tale—looks at her from across the wide table, the strange upwards tick of her lips and carefully blank look in her eyes decidedly suspicious.

Rin takes a delicate sniff of the goblet in her hand, scenting a slight medicinal bitterness that doesn’t quite belong swirling amongst the red liquid. “Jaheira, I have to ask. Did you poison my wine?”

“This vintage is over a century old, you know. I’m sure a few drops of truth serum won’t affect the taste. Much.” The druid’s smile widens as she regards Rin with an appraising look, tawny eyes narrowing with interest as she waits for her next move.

“Well, in that case, even more reason to drink. Have you poisoned many people or am I one of the first?” Rin takes a dainty sip of the burgundy liquid, eyebrows raised pointedly towards the other woman as she swallows down the wine, the taste of it just a touch too bitter as she refrains from pulling a face at the acidity. “It’s an honor, either way.”

She doesn’t see but hears Astarion sputter behind her, face contorted into what she can only imagine as an expression of pure disbelief, positively aghast at her impulsivity as he scoffs.

Astarion’s apparent annoyance at her drinking the wine only serves to strengthen her resolve—a lovely, if unexpected, bonus that makes her smile.

With a shrug, she downs the rest of the goblet, another aggravated noise escaping the vampire from where he stands alongside Shadowheart, who releases a deep, weary sigh. “Still better than what the tieflings gave us back at the Grove.”

The wine goes down easily despite the taste of the truth serum, the flame of the taper wavering slightly as she sets her now empty goblet down onto the table between them. “So, what sort of burning questions do you need to ask me so badly that you decided to spike my drink in order to get the answers?”

“I had to know if you could be trusted. One can never be too careful when dealing with the Absolute. So I decided to add a few drops of a truth serum to your wine to speed up the process.” Jaheira finally takes a drink of her own wine, her eyes darting down to the now empty goblet resting innocuously between them. “Though I didn’t quite expect you to drink all of it.”

“One must live beyond expectation, don’t you agree?” An ungentlemanly snort sounds from behind her that Rin ignores, her most winning smile plastered on her face as she eyes the druid in front of her. 

The truth serum feels…strange as it begins to work its way through her body and up into her head; a certain weightlessness taking hold of her mind, as though she had drank one glass too many of wine, though with all of her thoughts and inhibitions still perfectly in place—not a one muddled or confusing or unnecessarily scandalous.

There is a certain inclination that rises up over all the others, a peculiar feeling that begs to break free of her lips with every question Jaheira asks, no lies able to be told under the potion’s spell.

And thus, the truth spills free from Rin’s lips.

✧· · ─── ·✧· ─── · ·✧

Rin slouches inelegantly against the back wall of the great room, eyes bouncing from person to person as she surveys the space. Such lodgings were more than they could have asked for, really. 

At least, in terms of what she expected to find on their little jaunt to these lands.

It certainly beats camping out at Moonrise, or she assumes as much. Rin doubts that whoever’s in charge over there would have the hospitality to serve her wine upon arrival much like Jaheira had, even if it was technically poisoned.

And so, under the famed druid’s blessing they had successfully made their camp and put away their armor—exchanging hard leather and heavy metal for worn-in linen and thin spun cotton, blissfuly free from the pressing darkness of the shadow curse and the menace of the Absolute, if only for the night.

Really, Rin’s only problem was the fact that her ankle still smarts somewhat from where Jaheira’s vines had held her a bit too tight for her liking earlier, leaving behind a small twinge of pain that she should probably have Shadowheart heal, if only she could be bothered to go find the cleric wherever she was busy sulking.

That, and, maybe the truth serum she had drank a little while ago that was still swirling around happily in her brain, though she can feel the power it holds over her weakening as the minutes go by. 

It was perhaps not her brightest idea to drink the wine. Her companions were quite vocal of their disapproval of such a decision afterwards. But it had earned them Jaheira’s tentative trust, and what good was it to make allies if they weren’t going to be heroes of legend? 

An evening spent with a little bit of klauthgrass in her system was a small price to pay for such a boon.

Or so she hoped.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rin sees a familiar figure making their way towards where she lurks at the back of the room, clearly intent on ruining her peace if the look of discontent Astarion levels at her as he stalks over is anything to go by.

Oh Gods, must it be him? She would gladly take anyone else’s conversation on a night like tonight, where truths threaten to break free when faced with nothing more than a mere question. She had already put in hard work of avoiding him earlier as they built their camp, finding reason after reason to skirt away elsewhere anytime he seemed to near her.

With a bracing breath, she takes a long drink from her cup to mentally prepare herself for whatever scolding it is that will fall from those beautiful lips with razor-sharp accuracy. 

He’s had the time to prepare it, thanks to all of her efforts to stave him away so far that evening.

Astarion sidles over to her, somehow managing to look more elegant than usual when he leans back against the wall next to her—perfectly casual and the picture of charm as he props a leg up, knee bent and arms crossed in front of his broad chest. He looks almost mesmerizing in the warmth of the inn, dancing candlelight reflecting off his snowy hair and illuminating his pale skin to near perfection. 

It’s a pity that the illusion of it all will be ruined by that poor attitude of his.

“Do tell, darling, was the wine worth it?” Irritation sparks on the edge of the words as they slice through the air, the level of judgment so easily revealed by such a simple sentence almost impressive.

She readies herself for the now familiar pull of the klauthgrass in her mind as it loosens her lips, any number of truths ready to slip free at his urging of her, and she has no doubt that Astarion is intending to waste such an opportunity.

Rin sends him a cursory glance as she takes another sip from her goblet, painting an easy smile on her lips. “I would say so, yes. It’s not everyday a girl like me from the Lower City gets to drink from such an expensive bottle.”

“Next time you want a nice bottle of wine, let me steal it for you instead of doing something utterly stupid that could have ruined our entire plan,” Astarion speaks through gritted teeth, voice kept low as he growls at her. 

“I thought you liked a little chaos in your day.” Rin can’t help the snicker that sneaks into the words, hiding it behind the cup that she raises to her lips.

“There’s sowing a bit of chaos and outright idiocy. You, my dear, are straddling the line a bit too close.”

“Why, Astarion, I didn’t know you cared.” The words are simpering in the way she knows Astarion will just hate, daring a glance up at the vampire beside her just in time to see his eyes roll.

“I don’t,” Astarion says cooly. “but I’ve been forced to go along with all of your awful little ideas so far and I would hate to see all my efforts wasted when I could have been enjoying myself in a tavern somewhere else instead.”

“Oh, please,” Rin huffs as she rolls her eyes, taking another drink. “You know perfectly well that you’re welcome to walk away whenever you feel like it.”

She shifts her weight as she attempts to ignore the imperious look Astarion sends her, wincing slightly as her ankle protests the movement.

Astarion gives a questioning look to the leg in question, his gaze assessing her for any weakness that he can exploit, much to her eternal chagrin. “Problem with your ankle, darling?”

She should have known that he would have noticed, eventually. He had been watching her all night, after all; a scowl etched onto his pretty features as he followed her every move with narrowed eyes as she talked to everyone else but him, no doubt preparing his every complaint for her. 

“Mm, yes,” Rin hums in confirmation, the word sneaking out without her consent thanks to the truth serum. She glares down at her dusty boots and the well-treaded rug covering the floor, its pattern long faded. “Jaheira’s vines were a bit tight for my liking. Not my preferred way to be restrained, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers.”

“Oh?” Astarion’s voice drops an octave as he leans in further towards her, almost conspiratorial as his eyes gleam at the opportunity he hears in her words. “Do tell, what is your preferred way to be restrained, then?”

If there was ever a moment that Rin regretted drinking all of that wine it would be now as Astarion peers at her with thinly veiled interest, baiting her. All it takes is those few words for the mood of their conversation to change, Astarion twisting it to something darker and more seductive.

She absolutely hates the way her body reacts at the sound of his voice nearer to her, a familiar fire kindling deep in her belly as her heart skips a beat.

“With ribbons, obviously. Or maybe silk.” Her cheeks flush. Damn the klauthgrass.

She’s never been tied up, at least not like that; though the image is one that’s hard to brush away. She can see it far too easily in her imagination: Astarion between her legs, a lovely length of ribbon tied around her wrists, an actual bed— 

Rin brushes the thought away with a cough, taking a long drink from her wine in hopes of distraction.

“Oh, so is that the way you like it? Who knew that our little leader wants the nicest bottles of wine to drink from and the prettiest of ribbons to be wrapped all around her.” He’s teasing her and Rin wishes she could be angry with him but the image he paints is one that’s far too tempting for her to simply ignore.

“I do.” The truth pulls free from her once more, and she bites her lip in an effort to avoid saying anything else incriminating as a smirk slides across plush lips that she would like nothing more than to press her own against.

“And tell me, sweet thing, what else do you like?” Astarion leans in further, his lips practically brushing against the shell of her ear. She still can’t help the blush that has stolen its way across her face though she’s more than willing to blame it on the alcohol or the truth serum rather than his effect on her.

Rin stands perfectly still, resisting the urge to turn towards him as she sips from her wine, eyes looking at anything but him. She knows he expects her to reply with some sort of temptation that he can file away to tease her with later, at a moment when it’s most inopportune. 

But instead, another sort of answer comes to her mind first. One that she can barely stand to admit to herself, let alone speak aloud to him or anyone else.

She won’t allow the words to come out, working as hard as she can against the truth serum as it works its way deep into her mind, speaking to her with whispered words to let it out, let the truth set you free, tell him, tell him. 

“I like lots of things, Astarion. I love a good book, some well-aged cheese, winning a game of cards…I’m afraid you’re going to have to be a bit more specific.”

It’s a blessing, at first, that Astarion doesn’t answer her, the silence between them dragging as she mentally releases a sigh of relief that he abandoned that particular line of questioning and accepted the string of truths she managed to utter instead of the one that is bursting to be let free.

But when another beat of silence goes by unfilled with his honeyed words and she finally turns to look his way, her head snapping to the side, she finds his gaze on someone else.

Rin’s brow furrows as she follows Astarion’s line of sight only for her frown to deepen when she sees exactly who it is that has captured his attention. 

There, on the far side of the room sitting at one of the lanceboard tables that line the wall lurks an unfortunately familiar face. One that she had rather hoped to not have to see again after their last meeting outside of the Blighted Village.

Rin breaths out a noise of disbelief as all of the ease and relief she had been feeling earlier disappear into the ether. “Does he have no one else to bother?” 

Astarion deigns to leave her question unanswered, simply shooting her a look with a brow perfectly raised that stirs suspicion deep in her stomach, whatever idea it is brewing in that brain of his one Rin has distinct feeling she will not approve of.

Grim determination settles along his features as he pushes off the wall and strides forward, stepping confidently across the worn floorboard and threadbare rugs without waiting to see if she will follow.

Rin hastily sets her goblet down on the bar several steps away, the wine sloshing over the side of the silver cup in ruby red drops and onto the stained wood below. One of the tieflings from the Grove, Rolan if she remembered correctly, briefly looks up from where he is buried in his own drink to send her a glare as he broods pitifully in his seat.

She barely manages to catch up, arriving just in time to hear Raphael’s low drawl, swallowing down the grimace that threatens to break free and instead settling for a placid smile that gives nothing away to the cambion now in front of her.

“Well, well, well. And what is it we have here?”

✧· · ─── ·✧· ─── · ·✧

The smell of brimstone is still thick in the air after Raphael’s little disappearing act, cinders drifting down to dust the worn herringbone floors where he had been standing. 

Fucking Raphael and his fucking deals.

“He really has some nerve, doesn’t he?” Rin’s arms are crossed in front of her chest as she hmphs, turning to Astarion to hear what she assumes will be his agreement.

But instead, her vampiric friend is mysteriously absent from his place next to her; and with a turn of her head she sees Astarion stalking out of the large doors of the inn, pace clipped as he weaves through a sea of Harpers.

“Astarion!” Rin spins around, calling after his retreating figure once before following after him.

An unwelcome frustration bubbles in her chest alongside the beginnings of distress and she quickens her pace, his lithe form no doubt clinging to whatever shadows he can find outside. She’ll be lucky if she’s able to spot him at all with all the darkness that exists here, even with the incandescent glow of Selûne’s blessing reflecting off of everything it touches.

“Astarion, wait!” Rin’s voice caries across the yard as her feet patter across the patchy grass, dodging the armored bodies of the Harpers as she goes. Wherever Astarion is, he either doesn’t hear her or refuses to hear her as she moves closer and closer towards the outer edge of the protective circle of magic. 

Her steps slow as she enters their campsite and the liveliness of the inn seems worlds away here in the silence. There are no animals here—no birds chirping or bees buzzing, only an otherworldly quiet that has her ears buzzing.

With a turn of her head, she finally sees Astarion exactly where she thought he’d be, standing tense at the edge of the riverbank as he faces the bleak landscape across the black water.

“Was it necessary to walk so fast?” They’re all alone as she nears him, her footsteps painfully loud in the otherwise quiet of the night.

He whirls around to her, agitation rippling off of him in waves as he glares at her. “Do you not know how to take a hint, or are you really that dim?”

Rin rolls her eyes, breathing out a sigh of agitation. “I’m the dim one? What are you even thinking to consider making a deal with Raphael?” 

“What am I thinking? I am thinking that there is more to whatever the thing is that Cazador carved into back. I am thinking that I have to figure out what it is. I am thinking that Raphael is my best chance to get the information that I need.”

His voice echoes off the bare branches of the trees as he yells, bitterness coloring his tone as he glares at her, the precise shade of his eyes—an angry incarnadine, she thinks—cementing itself into her memory.

“I understand, Astarion. I do. But I don’t think you should make a deal with him. Not with Raphael.” Rin wrinkles her nose in distaste at the mere thought of the cambion being able to hold anything over any of their heads, but especially over Astarion’s.

“You do not understand a thing.” He seethes at her. “I have one chance, and one chance only, to get this information. You will not stop me.”

“I’m not stopping you,” She stands strong in the face of his anger, fingers curling as she balls them into fists, nails biting crescents in the flesh of her palms. “But do you really think Raphael can be trusted? What if he makes you sign your life away for it?"

“And do tell, dearest Rin, why do you care so much about what I do with my life?” He spits out the words as though they burn, eyes glinting with the knowledge that he can ask her whatever he wants and she’s powerless to do anything but answer.

With a start, she realizes it’s the first time he’s ever said her name aloud, at least to her own ears. The revelation settles over her with a hazy sort of wonder that has no place in their fight as she replays the sound of her name formed by lips in her mind, turning it over again and again.

And it’s suddenly so perfect—so Astarion—that the first time he ever utters her name out loud isn’t when he tries to charm her with cheap pick up lines or in the midst of pleasure as he takes her to bed, but instead practically shouted at her in anger during an argument. 

Frustration eddies out of her like the tide rolling back out to sea and an aching, unfamiliar tenderness for the man standing in front of her fills in the space that it leaves as her expression softens.

“Because I don’t want to see something bad happen to you, you idiot. Is that really so difficult to understand? Do you need me to spell it out for you word by word?” Rin’s hands reach out to grab at his shoulders, as though she could shake some sense into him.

It’s a truth she doesn’t mind speaking, not when Astarion just stands there staring at her in vague disbelief as the cogs in his brain work to solve the puzzle of her words and the ire that had burned so readily in his gaze extinguishes, somehow giving way to everything and nothing all at once—confusion, distrust, vulnerability. 

“I’ll make you a deal, instead. I may not be a devil but—”

“You’re devil enough, I assure you,” Astarion cuts in with a lukewarm murmur.

“As I was saying,” Rin glares up at him halfheartedly as her grip loosens on his shoulders. “let me make you a deal. I swear, upon my grave, that we can and will find another way. Without using Raphael’s help.”

Astarion looks at her curiously, arms held straight by his sides as he stands perfectly still underneath the warmth from her palms. “At the rate we’re going, your grave is likely to be on an unmarked hillside somewhere between here and Rivington, darling. Pick something better to promise me with,”

Her fingers move to absently run over the line of his shoulders as she shifts her attention to his collar and the ostentatious ruffles that decorate the front of his shirt, slightly rumpled and not at all put together the way Astarion likes to pretend himself to be.

“Is swearing on my grave not devilish enough?” Her fingers run lightly over the ruffles of his shirt, the linen softened by time as she fluffs them back to rights. “How about my soul then?”

“It’s a step in the right direction, at least.” He’s infinitely haughty as he huffs, glancing away to look instead at one of the nearby trees that surround their campsite.

“You’re impossible.” Rin lets out an exasperated sigh. “Fine, then. I swear to you, on my soul,” she waves a hand through the air to add embellishment to her words. “that we will find a way without Raphael’s help. We can figure it out, I have faith.”

Rin knows her words have no actual binding, no infernal magic present to swirl around them and make her words true. She knows that it’s not even a real promise she can make, and certainly not a good enough one to ever tempt him. 

But it’s all she has to offer him, and she can only hope it will be enough.

Astarion’s eyes snap back to hers, narrowing as he raises an elegant brow. “Faith in what? I hardly think the Gods are listening. Or care, for that matter.”

“Well,” Rin’s fingers stop, biting her lip in consideration at his question as she waits for an answer, the true answer, to come to her unbidden with the help of the truth serum that still lingers. “faith in us, I suppose.”

It’s maybe the worst thing she’s ever said, the words coming out far too soft and—ugh, gods—sweet. But the most terrible thing about it is that she doesn’t hate the way that the truth feels slipping free from her lips nearly as much as she knows she should.

She needs to stop talking before she digs herself into an even deeper hole. Perhaps she should start taking off her clothes in hopes to distract him.

Her hands return to action in the wake of her honesty, smoothing them over his collar once, twice, before averting her eyes from his to glance at where her fingers begin to twine around the ties at his throat.

“That’s a terrible plan, you know.” 

Rin pulls at one of the strings perhaps a tad harder than necessary as she looks up once more with a glare at the ready. Any retort she has dies on her lips as she meets his eyes; wholly unprepared for the sheer intensity simmering there in the depths of his gaze.

Her hold softens on the laces, fingers going slack as she swallows. She’s unsure exactly of what name to put to look she sees—not lust, or anger; but something else—as those familiar dark crimson eyes flit down to her lips and she suddenly finds it much harder to breathe.

“Well, it’s better than anything you could ever come up with, that’s for sure.” She speaks in barely a whisper, Astarion watching every single word fall from her lips before his eyes trail their way up and over her features as if memorizing every detail before finding her own gaze.

A new kind of anticipation, one that she’s never felt before, curls in her stomach as Astarion releases a vexing sigh. “I haven’t the faintest idea of what you could mean. My plans are always excellent.” 

The words are pompous, irritating; and a part of her wishes desperately that she could hate him for all his arrogance and put-on charm, but instead something in her chest swells as she huffs out a short laugh.

With an impossible slowness, Astarion dips his head towards her, lashes half lowered over darkened eyes that still stare at her own, no doubt a fever-bright green as her freckled cheeks flush under the fullness of his attention. 

A breath catches in Rin’s throat as she angles her face up to meet him, the tips of their noses brushing as his lips close in on her own. She’s eager for the feeling of his kiss, has been wishing for it all evening—a fact she’s only willing to admit with the help of the truth serum.

And as her lashes flutter shut against her cheeks and her palms press flat against the planes of his chest, heart jumping against her breast as his lips are nothing but a hairsbreadth away; a familiar voice booms out from some distance behind them.

“Oi, Rin, Fangs!” The moment shatters as Karlach’s voice fills the camp, carrying far as it breaks through the silence surrounding them.

Rin’s eyes blink open wide just as Astarion takes two hasty steps backwards, surprise flashing over his features before he covers it masterfully, an impenetrable wall back in place within mere seconds.

Her hand raises to her still untouched lips, mourning the loss of his closeness as she stands bewildered by their almost kiss.

Astarion straightens his shirt, brushing out an imaginary wrinkle as he looses a breath, refusing to meet her eyes. “I will keep your…offer in mind, darling, but no promises.”

“It’s your choice in the end Astarion, but…I don’t like it.” Rin fights to keep the minute disappointment she feels from crossing over her features. She knew it was nothing more than a fools’ errand to try and sway him, but she doesn’t regret it. 

Not yet, at least.

“Well, it’s a good thing it’s not your decision to make, isn’t it?”

A frown settles between her brows as Astarion finishes his assessment of himself and finally looks at her again, any figment of emotion that had been there mere moments ago effectively washed away as he dons the mask of a charlatan once more.

“Right. Well, goodnight. Don’t you worry your pretty little head over it.” Astarion sends her one of his trademark smirks as he rolls his shoulders back, standing up straight as he looks down his nose at her. “Unless, of course, you want to be thinking of me. In that case, feel free to worry over me to your heart’s content.” 

With one last, maddening little wave he retreats to his tent without sparing her a single glance, leaving Rin to stand there alone in the middle of camp, a hand still poised over her lips and discontent coiling in her chest.

Karlach finally emerges from between two tents, a frothy pint in hand that she uses to gesture towards Rin, ale threatening to spill over the edge as she inclines her horned head in greeting. “Hey, Solider! Want to come join for a game of cards or some shit like that?”

With nothing else to do, Rin turns towards Karlach with a smile and a nod before she heads back towards the wavering light of the inn in the distance with the intent to drink herself into absolute oblivion.

It’s easy to follow Karlach and fall back into the familiar routine of indulgence—to drink more wine and lie to herself that the blush that stains her cheeks the rest of the evening is from the klauthgrass, or the alcohol, or the laughter she shares with her friends and not at all because of the fact that Astarion had almost kissed her. 

It didn’t matter that they had shared far more than kisses already, bypassing the standard order of things and jumping straight into sleeping with one other. 

That was what they had both wanted, wasn’t it? 

And it was what Astarion’s silly little game has always been about, had it not? She still hadn’t been able to figure out the rules, but she was sure it had to do with her as his conquest—his prize—though for what reason she’s yet to glean. 

It was one thing to be friends who slept together. 

But it was another thing entirely to be friends who simply kiss, and the thought consumes her for the rest of night no matter how many more glasses she downs in hopes to chase it away.

It’s late when Rin finally lays down in her bedroll that night, the klauthgrass blissfully absent from her body yet her mind still swirling with the revelation that she is perhaps far more fucked than she would like to admit. 

She’s signed, sealed, and delivered her fate just as surely as she’s sealed another letter to him with a cheap wax seal, written when the last of that terrible, evil truth serum still poisoned her mind along with a few cups of wine too many. 

That stupid letter, one that is never to be delivered; the contents of which contain the answer to that damned question he asked her earlier.

And tell me, sweet thing, what else do you like?

And so she did the next best thing she could think of to rid herself of words that still begged to be spoken aloud; grabbing a piece of parchment and her quill and ink before sitting down to write the answer, hoping that she could seal the feelings into the ink on the page and leave them there to dry, freeing herself of them forever.

If she had any mind at all, she would march out of her tent and throw the letter into the roaring fire at the center of camp so that the words it contains could burn to cinders, never to be read.

Because Astarion could never, ever know that what she really liked—more than his body, his clever words, his awful sense of humor, or how lovely he looks when he focuses on his sewing next to her by the fire at night—was him.

[rentfreeinmyskull]

bbys

[nitrozem]

🌴⛱

[ready-set-shenanigans]

Managed to find an old sketch of one of my kny ocs dgjdhd I'm still pretty happy how the pose turned out ówò

[rins-cafe]

[shebbart]

I used to be really embarrassed of my middle school OCs and now I will MAKE you see them

Neska & Rin

[heart-buzz]

finished Rin's profile image!

[sadokyuban]

my durge Rin

[skullinacowboyhat]

they're rotating slowly in my brain [rin & varn'ya, she/her & they/she]

[dr-demi-bee]

Day 21--------------------Read on AO3--------------------------

Pairing: Rin/Gale Prompt: Temptation Gale needs some alone time, Rin is cute, yearning, SFWish?

(Rin is amab!Miri) ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Gale is heading down to the river for a late evening 'bath' (if this wilderness equivalent can even be called that) towel and soap in hand. He likes to go later, both because it was soothing at the end of the day, and because it was quieter - more likely everyone else would've already seen to their routines.

Unfortunately when he arrives, he spots the tell tale wine-red of Rin's hair breaking through the surface with a splash.

Rin flicks his head backwards to send his hair arching backwards and flinging water. He reaches up with clawed fingers to push the long unruly hair back from his face.

Gale's lips pinch. He really should've come later. The wizard stops and considers waiting for Rin to leave. But it had been a very long day and he really, really wanted to relax now. So, with a put upon sigh, he continues over to the riverside and starts setting out his towel and soap.

The lythari's gaze slides to Gale at the sounds and his lips split in that characteristic roguish smirk. Rin's as unbothered as usual about his own nudity, though he's not quite as bad about it as Halsin. He at least keeps himself in the water up to his hips.

"Evening, Gale," he greets in that rich, accented growl of a voice.

"Good evening," Gale responds in a clipped tone. He keeps his attention on setting everything down until it is all placed just right and only then moves to start undressing.

To Gale's surprise, Rin only arches a brow at his tone rather than commenting. And, the taller man turns away to give the wizard some privacy. Taking the surprising and unexpected small measure of privacy, Gale undresses quickly.

When he turns to enter the water, he's not quite able to stop the involuntary sigh when the cold but refreshing water hits his skin. A little bit to the wizard's own surprise, he finds himself relaxing somewhat, the chill water soothing his tense muscles and the quiet lap of the river against the shore bringing a measure of peace. It’s almost as good as a late night swim back home.

Rin is surprisingly quiet and unobtrusive - a heavy contrast to his often boisterous behavior in other contexts. The lythari keeps to himself as he scrubs his skin with some kind of green paste and rinses it off. One of his alchemical concoctions, no doubt.

"I'll be honest, I really wasn't expecting to have company here," Gale says eventually, breaking the companionable silence.

"Star traded watch shifts with me," Rin returns. "Something 'bout wanting to see sunrise."

The lythari coils his long hair in his fist with a rapid turning of his wrist and piles the wet strands on top of his head. Then with the sharp edge of a claw he starts re-shaving the undercut of his hair.

"He's been on watch a lot lately," Gale comments as he watches Rin.

The action is mesmerizing in a way, the long line of Rin's throat exposed as he tilts his head this way and that to change the planes and angles of muscles at the back of his head, the flex of muscle in the arm holding his hair from his face...

Gale blinks rapidly and looks away a little too quickly, heat gathering under his skin. Stop it, you are not some hormonal adolescent!

"Mm. Easier for those of us who don't sleep as much," Rin answers smoothly. He periodically dunks his hand under the water to clear away the shavings before returning to the next section. The movements look like a practiced ritual of sorts.

Don'tlookdon'tlookdon’tlook-

Gale forces himself to look out at the moonlight on the water, willing his gaze to stay on it and not wander back to Rin. He can't help himself, however, to occasionally sneak an inconspicuous glance. A subtle peek over out of the corner of his eyes. The way Rin's muscles move as he shaves his hair, how the muscles roll under the skin - and oh gods above that scar, that runs down his neck-

When he finishes trimming his hair Rin submerges himself with an abrupt splash. The wizard jumps in surprise as the splash of water brings his attention fully back to the ranger.

He really would've been better off not looking.

Rin rises just as quickly as he went under, water running in rivulets down his toned body, his hair clinging to his broad shoulders...

Gale suddenly becomes painfully aware that it has been far, far too long since he's taken care of a certain biological need. Were Rin not right here he could.

And gods damnit having him right here looking like...that is not helping.

He isn't too keen on how his own body is reacting to the sight, which he prayed the water sufficiently covered. Thankfully the gorgeous lythari in question is not looking in his direction and Gale has the opportunity to ensure his...condition is less obvious. Those bright green eyes track something beneath the surface with a quick flitting gaze and Rin's hand twitches at his side.

"See something?" Gale says in an attempt to get his mind off of the way Rin's arm muscles look just now.

"Pike," he murmurs back softly.

Rin's stance changes very slowly. Gale frowns, brows furrowing and eyes watching the lythari. His feet shift apart as his eyes stay locked on his prey. Only because his attention is so firmly on Rin does Gale notices the subtle shifts- the way he prepares himself like he might in battle. It takes him a second to realize Rin is about to try and catch the fish with only his hands.

"You can't be serious." Gale scoffs.

The lythari doesn't answer - zeroed in on the Pike slowly moving in this direction beneath the surface. It's almost mesmerizing the way Rin moves - muscles coiling tight in preparation to spring. Yet every inch he shifts is terrifically slow, to the point of near stillness. Perhaps unconsciously, his lips part in concentration and his hands splay to ready claws.

Oh, that should be illegal. Why does it look so good?

Gale's own brain is screaming at him for just how wrong this is. Rin's hunting, about to pounce on some fish under the water. And yet the wizard's mind is fixating on how right Rin looks like this. How ridiculously attractive he looks.

Gale tries to focus his attention elsewhere. On anything but Rin. But it's so gods damn hard. And it’s even more difficult when his own biology is having other, painfully obvious thoughts on the subject.

Still caught in his thoughts, the next moment happens so fast it's hard for Gale to process.

Rin springs with a short growl and a loud splash. Even though Gale knew Rin was about to pounce, he still starts at the suddenness. And the next moment he's rising fully from the water with a large pike in his claws.

This time Gale does not try to avoid looking at him.

And he is immediately rewarded - or punished - with the sight of Rin’s muscular body, barely concealed and dripping wet from the river, a large pike writhing in his hands. In that moment, Gale's brain nearly short circuits.

A quick squeeze of those clawed fingers and the pike - large enough to feed their whole camp - droops limp in his hands. Wearing nothing but a smug smile, Rin walks the catch to shore. It takes a rather embarrassingly large amount of effort for Gale to force his eyes away from the sight of the dripping wet lythari walking to shore. Taking a deep, shaky breath, he makes a great effort to appear as if nothing is amiss.

"That's...a very big fish," he says, hoping he sounds casual and unbothered. "I can only assume you’re planning to share with the rest of us."

Rin carefully lays the fish out on a flat rock at the edge of shore. When he straightens he turns his gaze back to Gale. Bare as the day he was born and wearing that roguish grin of his. Gale can feel his stomach flip and his cheeks heating.

"Of course," Rin returns happily as he saunters casually back into the water. "I wouldn't grab such a big fish if it were just for me."

Oh great. He's coming back over.

Gale does his best to school his expression as Rin comes closer, though he can't stop his gaze from tracking over the ranger’s muscular form as he walks through the water.

"I would hope you‘d share," he manages once Rin is much closer. "Otherwise the rest of the group might complain rather loudly about the lack of dinner."

"Don't fuss," he drawls, grinning that roguish grin, "I'll keep catching, you keep cooking."

Now why the hells does that sound so attractive?

Gale's eyes narrow at Rin, his fingers curling just a fraction. It's very, very, difficult to keep from just reaching out and touching with Rin this close. He wants to run his hands over that muscled body...

"I suppose I could," he quips with a hint of playfulness and no small amount of forced casualness.

"And we are all grateful for it," Rin returns genially, in that low, rough tone of his. The lythari strides easily back to where he was before. Rin then sinks back under the water, submerging up to his shoulders with a soft sigh.

It's not helping when Rin sighs like that. All the wizard can think about is how Rin would sound moaning and sighing like that under different circumstances.

Gale swallows down the sound that nearly breaks free in response to the thought. He shifts slightly as the water starts to feel a bit hotter than usual. When he responds, his usually smooth voice is a little bit more shaky than he would like.

"I don't know if all of them would agree with you."

Rin huffs a soft laugh, eyeing him sidelong with a sharp grin. "Ignore Star."

"Oh I try," he says. Gale rolls his eyes. "Believe me, I try. But it's hard not to when Astarion is deliberately annoying."

Gale shakes his head, trying to bring his attention elsewhere. Anything other than the remarkably handsome, naked, wet lythari not 10 feet away.

"I mean it, ignore Star, he's just trying to get a rise out of you. He can’t even taste what you make."

"I gathered as much," Gale grumbles. His eyes narrow at Rin with a frown. "That does not make his comments any less annoying."

Once again his mind very unhelpfully tries to distract him by presenting scenarios of Rin moaning or panting and it's getting far too hard to resist this. He does try to keep his gaze from wandering south but he catches a glimpse and that makes it all the harder.

"Give the word and I'll shut him up," the lythari returns playfully. Rin stretches slightly to lean his head back into the water and runs his fingers through his hair again, coaxing the tresses to untangle. Then he sits up a bit further and starts plaiting the long strands, starting at his crown.

"I might just take you up on that," Gale responds while watching those clawed fingers as they run through dark hair.

The wizard shifts awkwardly again, trying to ignore the heat rising under his skin and fizzling in his gut. It's getting more and more difficult to suppress the rather vivid suggestions of his imagination. How the lythari might use those claws and long fingers elsewhere. Gods how he aches to pull Rin against himself...

Rin pulls a small leather tie off his wrist with his teeth, and uses it to tie off the end of his braid.

The motion has Gale's mind wandering even more than it already was. Those teeth shouldn’t be so gods damn alluring. But he can’t help but imagine what those sharp teeth would look like and feel like on other his body and -

Oh gods, why is he imagining that now?

The wizard swallows down a groan, hoping his expression betrays nothing as he forces his gaze away. Mostly.

Rin squeezes the water out of his long braid before scrubbing his hands over his face. And Gale is forced to watch as water trails down Rin's face, over his throat and... further.

It's torturous. Always seeing but not being able to touch. His eyes rake over Rin's chest, sculpted and scarred, covered with a thin layer of hair that thickens as it trails ever lower. Watching that river water follow that path has him wishing it was his hands or his tongue instead.

Gale’s eyes can’t help but follow that path - not just the the river’s surface but to what he can make out lower. He is unusually hairy for an elf... Would it be soft, like his lupine coat, or -

"I'll get out of your hair," Rin murmurs, huffing a soft breath of amusement at his own word-play. Gale’s eyes go wide and snap up to Rin’s face, his cheeks heating.

The lythari stands to his full height and begins wading his way towards the shore.

Gods but he’s big...

In a way, Gale is a little relieved at the thought of Rin leaving. He'd at least stop having to resist the urge to just pull him close and cover him in kisses. On the other hand, watching Rin moving like that, bare as the day he was born, is doing nothing to diminish his... condition.

He wants to tell Rin not to go. Has half a mind to beg him to stay so he can get him alone and-

The wizard takes a shuddering breath, trying to calm himself.

"Good. I've had quite enough of you for one evening," he says smoothly, as if his mind isn't on anything but drying off and going to bed.

Rin barks a laugh, clearly finding Gale's comment a playful jibe.

"Yeah, yeah," he gruffs back with a lazy wave of his hand.

The lythari emerges on the far side of the river bank and retrieves his fish. Notably, he has neither towel nor clothing with him.

Oh for the love of-

He tries to distract himself. Tries and fails. Because not only does he get to watch the water run down Rin's body, but the way the lythari bends over to pick up the catch gives the wizard a lovely view of his backside.

Fish in hand, he gives a little shake like a dog - flinging water free.

Because of course he decides to shake like a dog. The gods are determined to make this night as tortuous as possible. Gale forces his eyes closed and his jaw clenches. He’s only human. Human with a rather lengthy dry spell. And these urges are getting very hard to resist.

"Couldn't you at least put a towel on?" he forces out.

The lythari groans a dismissive sound, waving his free hand. Rin rolls his shoulders and his neck before turning to look at Gale over his shoulder. Gods above his shoulders are so broad and muscled - and Gale feels a fresh wave of want washing through him.

Rin turns fully to face Gale and holy hells stop looking-

Holding up the fish, he says, "I'll clean this and hang it by the fire."

Gale forces a nod.

"Fine. Just put some gods damned clothes on first," he manages, though his voice is a little shakier than he would like.

"They're in my tent," he returns with a shrug.

Oh for-

Gale tries to make his tone casual and nonchalant, even as his body screams at him to say damn the clothes just come over here I need you-

"Then go get them," he says, trying very hard to look only at Rin’s face and not to let his gaze drift south again. “For gods sake you can’t just waltz around camp naked.”

Rin huffs a growly sound back at him, rolling his eyes. That expression he has that just screams 'ugh, human.'

"Bossy," he murmurs.

Gale is having a very hard time trying not to react to the sound that Rin made. And the low, growly voice does nothing to help. He bites back a groan of his own, managing instead to scoff and fold his arms over his chest.

"It's called common decency," Gale responds with irritation, "And it's something you're sorely lacking in, apparently."

"Fine.” Rin tsks against his teeth with a slight shake of his head. “Goodnight, Gale."

The lythari lifts the fish to grasp the tail between his teeth, then in a quick blaze of gold shifts to his massive lupine form. The great black wolf chuffs a sound in Gale's direction before loping away towards camp and leaving Gale alone in the river at last.

As Gale watches the black wolf disappearing into the foliage, he’s both grateful for the reprieve of no longer being forced to look at that body, but also frustrated because he's no longer looking at that body.

He lets his head fall into his hands, and groans into them.

"Gods above I am in for a very long night."

@lanafofana @12thhouse-sun @waterdeep-weavemoss

@crimson-and-lavender @feedthepheasants @spooky-lil-bee

@femmefuck @heartfluttered

[verbenaa]

💌 Post 4 pictures from Pinterest that describe your OC. Send this to 3 other blogs to keep the chain going! ~ a friend 💕💕

Love these so much, they’re so fun 😘

And here’s a bonus text post one that graced my feed the other day and made me legitimately LOL because the literal relevancy for Rin

[rentfreeinmyskull]

eyy it’s text post time again

[nitrozem]

Did someone say pride month!? Anyway, some of my fav lgbtq+ sims!!

These cute poses and accessories by @someone-elsa 🏳‍🌈

Sidorian is Gay Ajay is Bi-Sexual Rin is Non-Binary Tobias is Asexual Bi-romantic Tony is Pansexual Homo-Romantic

and yours truly is aro asexual, non-binary/agender heh