#oh yeah the drama queen is on 👍🏽

[unhingedbutpretty]

@mysticrosed

"Dramatic?" Nyssala yelped, her voice rising in indignation as her head snapped up to face her, eyes wide. Her hands flew up in exasperation, gesturing wildly as if to emphasize the absurdity of the accusation. Sure, she had a flair for theatrics, but this? This was not one of those moments. "Excuse me," she huffed, placing a hand over her chest with a... well... dramatic flair. "I just don’t want to be eaten alive!"

"Would we find supplies there? And how sure are you they'll just let us in?"

"There's people there. Where there’s people, there’s supplies." Nyssala’s eyes flicked toward Karma, her mind racing as she paused, weighing her words. Should she tell the truth — that she was supposed to head there after a jailbreak from Moonrise Towers along with tieflings, deep gnomes, and a cousin she barely knew, but had been sidetracked by her? Or should she play it more mysterious, keep things vague and intriguing?

Her fingers tapped absently against her thigh as she debated internally, finally settling on a compromise. "Well," she continued with a casual shrug, "I was willing to try my luck there anyway, but I figure having non-drow company might make things... easier." A sly grin tugged at her lips.

Another haunting noise echoed, closer this time, much closer. Nyssala’s eyes widened, and in an instant, she practically launched herself at Karma, latching onto the paladin’s arm with a grip that could rival a boa constrictor. “Did you hear that?” she gasped, panic written all over her face as her body pressed against Karma’s side. Her hands squeezing her as if the paladin’s presence alone could ward off the creeping horrors. "We’re going to die, aren’t we? Aren’t we?"

They didn’t die, after all. At least, not yet. Nyssala led the paladin down the familiar path toward the inn, all while the paladin keept the hungry shadows at bay like...

A shield.

She is a shield, strong and bold, A heart of fire in the cold.

Like second nature, her mind began to weave a small verse, unbidden. It wasn’t the time for poetry — hell, it was never the time when death was stalking you in the shadows — but the poet in her just wouldn’t shut up. Nyssala clenched her jaw to silence the words forming on her tongue, frustration bubbling up as her mind betrayed her with every rhyme.

Her courage blazes, never fades, Through darkest paths, in light she wades.

Despite her reluctance, Nyssala gave in, the words slipping through her thoughts like a melody she couldn’t ignore. Fine, she’d finish the damn verse now and polish it later. It wasn’t like she’d die from a little distraction. Her lips twitched in a wry smile at the irony as she mentally smoothed out the lines, promising herself she’d make it perfect — if they survived.

As they pressed through the thick, oppressive darkness, the silvery glow of Last Light Inn emerged ahead — a welcome sight that felt like a blessing from the gods themselves.

Nyssala's heart raced with excitement, her legs moving faster than her thoughts. Someone in there had to know a way to help with the mess she was in, or at least offer some protection from... Well, from the paladin who just captured her. The thought of reaching the Inn sent her rushing ahead, completely ignoring Karma's voice behind her.

Nyssala’s footfalls quickened. The anticipation of freedom — or even just a moment to breathe — pushed her forward. She would be out of the cursed shadows soon enough, with real walls between her and the horrors.

She didn’t notice the subtle rustle beneath her feet until it was too late.

In one swift, treacherous motion, vines shot up from the ground and wrapped themselves around her legs and torso, pulling her to the ground with a grunt. She struggled, trying to free herself, but the more she fought, the tighter the vines became, constricting her movements.

"Straj!" she hissed, writhing as panic began to set in. She was trapped.

Karma's voice was distant now, echoing in her ears as she tried to call out, but before she could yell for help, a figure loomed over her. An elderly half-elf, her face twisted in the most unfriendly expression ever, approached her slowly.

Nyssala’s eyes widened, but her shoulders slumped in resigned frustration. With a mixture of reckless abandon and a hint of self-deprecating humor that only a person who knew they were royally fucked up could have, she threw whatever little she could of her hands up and blurted out, “Aw, for fuck’s sake, no one says ‘hi’ anymore?”

"Except you won't be 'back to normal' while you're exposed to the shadows..." Nyssala added, feeling battered not just from their earlier... confrontation... but also from the heavy weight of the curse.

"Even if I heal you, it would be like nothing has changed. No matter how many fires you start, they’ll just fade away quickly."

Nyssala rolled her eyes. She was too exhausted to keep on, her arguments falling flat against the paladin's steeling resolve.

She let out a small gasp as the other woman picked her up, the sudden closeness making her stiffen. There was something in the effortless way she carried her that made Nyssala's cheeks burn while also stirring a strange, frightening sense of fight-or-flight. But Nyssala couldn’t move, even if she wanted to.

She stretched her limbs as the ropes were cut, trying to get the itchy rope off from her wrists.

"Let's try silk rope next time, it's not abrasive for the skin." She jokes, trying very hard to hide her nervousness.

Since the paladin was so eager to sleep out in the open, they'd need each other to survive the darkness. The idea that she needed the protection of her captor filled her with despair and a growing sense of dread that she struggled to swallow down.

Every rustle in the underbrush, every distant howl, made her flinch. The air itself felt heavy, pressing in on her, as if the darkness was alive and reaching for her. The ominous sounds of the night—branches snapping, eerie whispers carried by the wind—gnawed at her nerves, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that unseen eyes were watching, waiting for her to falter.

Nyssala edged closer to the fire, her gaze flickering nervously between the flames and the encroaching darkness. Her fear of the shadows outweighed her wariness of the paladin, and she found herself inching closer until she was seated right beside her, their skin almost touching. Despite her unease, the palpable dread of the hungry shadows was clear in the way her eyes darted around, her body instinctively curling in on itself as if to shield against a wind that wasn’t there.

Nyssala began to sing softly, her voice barely rising above the crackle of the fire. It was a gentle melody, soothing and calming, infused with bardic magic that weaved through the night like a protective charm. The notes carried just enough warmth to push back the creeping chill, offering a fragile sense of peace in the midst of the darkness. As she sang, her own tension eased a little, the song bringing the comfort they both needed to rest, if only for a little while.

"In the shadows, we will stand,

By the fire, hand in hand,

Though the night is cold and long,

We'll find solace in this song..."

Nyssala’s soft melody was suddenly cut short by a loud, bone-chilling sound—a scream, followed heavy scraping, like something being dragged across the ground. Her breath caught in her throat as a jolt of terror courses through her. Instinctively, she clutched the paladin’s arm, her body trembling as she presses herself against the other woman, almost curling on her lap, desperately seeking the protection of the only barrier between her and the encroaching night.

[xamaxenta]

I'm catching up on pokemon and I need Sabo giving chompy some massages like Cynthia does for hers, some pre battle bonding and chompy tried to give Sabo some in return but ends up scratching him and feeling bad but Sabos laughing, just thinking it would be super cute.

Or Ace teaching Sabo how to, to keep his dragons limber and in top form. Sabo shows up all scratched to a match and ppl are like he's so badass, but it was just Chompy trying to love on his partner.

Oh yeah!!!

This is an absolute definite, any good competitive trainer will give their Pokémon massages or help them stretch/stretch with them - within reason because how do you massage a Gastly or lets say something like Gigalith or Cryogonal

I guess for harder fleshed Pokémon there’s probably pressure points and acupuncture tbh

Anyway yes!! Sabo does help his dragons loosen up before fights and yes Ace probably helped him figure out each individuals best spots, like Chompy for sure relies hard on his right leg more so need more attention on the strain that it causes to do so

And god… im crying forreal over the idea that he tries to return the favour to Sabo and he just … shreds Sabo’s jacket and shirt and they’re literally supposed to go out there and fight the challenger NOW and Sabo does not have time to change so they just gotta go, and Sabo demolishes that poor challenger’s dreams whilst wearing a ripped shirt and jacket which

Wow fanservicey much Sabo? Koala is just weeping at the prospect of aLL THE STUPID PR SHES GONNA HAVE TO DO BECAUSE SABO COULDNT AT LEAST WEAR A NEW JACKET

But nah Sabo’s a drama queen and likes the attention so he comes out all messed up and its so unlike his usual pristine gentleman aesthetic that naturally the crowds go wild 👍🏽