#okay she did kill gale but at another time and it was just cause I was testing something

[fereldensheroesa]

Would you let her chop off your hand?

[ellecdc]

Hi!! I love love love your Finnick fics. I saw your requests are open and thought I would try one!

I was thinking reader and Finnick reuniting in either District 13 or after in the capitol when the rebels have taken it over. It could be a separation due to an Annie situation or something different. No worries if this doesn’t sound interesting to you! 🤍

thanks for your request! I absolutely love the district 13 reunion trope, but I had never read one based in the Capitol before so I decided to give that one a try. I hope I did it justice!

Finnick Odair x fem!reader who he will always find [1.5k words]

CW: potentially ooc Finnick BUT I did it on purpose because I think his unyielding loyalty and sense of duty is what ultimately killed him so SUE ME for making him selfish just ONCE 😭, angst with a happy ending

Everything Finnick had endured and smiled through since his own Games back at merely 14 years old had been for the benefit of others. The only thing he has ever done for himself was survive his games; and that was more out of desperation and instinct than it was out of any sense of pride. He dressed for the Capitol, he performed for the Capitol, he sold himself to the Capitol in order to keep his family and loved ones safe, he showed up every year in order to give other children a fighting fucking chance to survive their own games, he agreed to protect the Mockingjay for the rebellion, he sacrificed his oldest and dearest friend for their cause and almost lost another. 

He did his best to make another district feel like home even though his heart had quite literally been ripped away from him, all for the benefit of the cause, and even joined their army. 

Today, Finnick had one thing he needed to do for himself. And anyone who found fault with that could, quite frankly, suck his dick. 

“Finnick?” Katniss asks, looking up from the electronic map on the Holo in front of her. “Were you listening?” 

Finnick watches Gale’s jaw tighten at his lack of attention and fights against an eyeroll of his own. That was yet another thing Finnick had been doing as of late: playing mediator for this godawful love triangle. 

“Uhm, listen,” Finnick starts, looking around at the faces of squad 451, “If I get the chance, I’ll meet back up with the rest of you at the president's mansion, okay?” 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Gale starts, standing from his crouched position, prompting Finnick to do the same. “Like hell you’re taking off; the plan was to stick together.”

“The plan was to film propos; that plan has changed, and before I go any further, I have someone I need to find.” 

“Finnick…” Katniss starts, tone dripping with pity as she follows him when he takes a few steps backwards and away from the group. “Wait!”

“I’ve done my waiting, Katniss.”

“You can’t just leave!” She calls, prompting him to turn back towards her.

“You got Peeta back!” He nearly sobs, flinging an arm out towards said boy; slightly worse for wear yet still on his feet. “He’s a little broken but he’s in there, Katniss. And even if he wasn’t, at least you know he’s alive. I need to find my Peeta.”

Katniss lets out a sad sigh; eyes searching his face for any signs of hesitation. Finnick knew she’d find none. “She wasn’t with the others; what if she’s already gone?”

Gone. She meant dead. What if you were already dead?

“I would happily die next to her, Katniss. But I won’t die for a movement that means nothing if she’s not here with me.”

Finnick ignores the heat of tears lining his cheeks as he watches Katniss recall how she very nearly gave up on the entire cause herself when she found out Peeta had been taken by the Capitol from the arena. 

Well, Katniss referred to it as left behind, but Peeta was snatched; you were left behind. 

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

“Listen, we had little time to react; the moment came upon us faster than anyone anticipated and she was nowhere to be found, Odair. I looked; I searched for her, but Plutarch said we had to go.” Haymitch had explained to him.

“I protected YOUR MOCKINGJAY.” Finnick had screamed. “I protected her at the cost of Mags and Johanna. I protect Katniss, you protect my girl; that was the deal.”

“Finnick-”

“That was the deal, and you LEFT HER BEHIND!?” 

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Finnick had gotten violent, and not on purpose. He had to be sedated for three days after that, and they considered doing it again after Peeta was aired by the capitol, but you and Johanna weren’t. He was sedated again after Peeta and Johanna were rescued from the Capitol, but you were not. 

He was officially back in your last known whereabouts. He didn’t know if he’d find you, but he had to look. 

“We…” Finnick starts as he takes a deep breath, wiping the tears from his face before turning his attention back to someone he had come to consider a friend. “We had somewhere…that we would meet. No one else knew of it, it was safe; if she’s here, I just-”

But Katniss simply nods. “You have to try.”

“I have to try.” He parrots.

Katniss’ eyes flicker between Finnick’s before she suddenly embraces him; the act seemingly shocking both Finnick and herself as he tentatively returns the embrace. 

“Be careful.”

Finnick tries to laugh as he pats her on the back before pulling away. “You be careful; you’re the one they’re all after.”

“We’ll see you out there?” She asks as he backs away. 

Finnick nods. “Look out for one another, yeah?” 

With one final wave - Peeta offering a cautious one of his own while everyone else (save Gale) waved back - Finnick began his journey to the last spot he could possibly hope for you to be.

You itched to leave; to look for him. He was here; after all these weeks he was actually here.

You’d managed to take off early on in the chaos and confusion following the arena being blown up; heart breaking yet simultaneously leaping at the sight of Plutarch’s hovercraft taking off without you, knowing they were going to go rescue your boy.

You let that knowledge be enough as you fought to put enough space between you and the peacekeepers tasked with finding you. 

You managed to overtake two of them, slipped into one of their uniforms and stole their weapons before going to the last place you could think that might possibly be safe; the last place you could think that Finnick might possibly find you. 

The radios you’d pilfered from the peacekeepers alerted you to rebel presence a few days ago, and it was later confirmed that a team including three victors - the Mockingjay, Peeta, and Finnick - were here. 

Here. 

You paced a hole in the floor as you considered your options. The city was large, dangerous, and you’d have to stay hidden; if he saw what appeared to be a peacekeeper approaching him, he’d have to kill you. 

But you could be sitting here indefinitely if you simply waited for him. What if he was in danger? What if he needed you? What if you could help?

Your spiralling was interrupted by a quiet knock on the makeshift door. 

There was a reasonable - perhaps hopeful - part of you that knew if it was a peacekeeper or other rebel forces, they wouldn’t have bothered knocking or alerting you to their presence. 

But years of violence and conflict found you pulling the neckguard of your stolen uniform over your mouth and nose - leaving your eyes and hair exposed - as you moved in the direction of the door with your weapon raised. 

Before you have a moment to react, the door swings open quickly and you are face to face - or, rather, gun to gun - with the love of your life. 

“Finnick?” You whisper, keeping your gun raised as Finnick lowers his own and looks at you with an expression mixed with grief and unadulterated relief. 

“Hi, sweetheart.” He lets out with a soft sob, and your gun falls to the ground with a clatter as you throw yourself at him. 

He catches you; of course he catches you. 

“I can’t believe you’re here.” You nearly sob as he lowers the two of you to the ground; overwhelmed with emotions, his legs give out on him as he keeps you pressed tight against his torso. “I can’t believe it. Oh my god.”

You’re nearly keening as you alternate between pressing as many kisses to Finnick’s lips, cheeks, jaw, head - anything you can get your lips on, really - sobbing, and nearly strangling him with the desperation of your embrace. 

“I found you, I found you” Finnick chants like a prayer. “I can’t believe I found you. Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

You’re quickly shaking your head as you take hold of his face between your hands. “You don’t have to be sorry; you did exactly what you were supposed to.”

“They left you behind.” He cries. 

“They saved you.” 

He shakes his head but doesn’t argue, simply lowering his forehead to yours as his hands trail up and over your arms, sliding up your neck and then back down again as though he can’t help but touch every single part of you. 

“I can’t believe you’re here.” You repeat again. “I can’t believe you found me.”

“I will always find you.” He insists, pulling your face from where you try shoving it into his neck only to hold it in front of him as he stares at you imploringly. “Do you hear me? I will always find you. I will always find you.” 

“I know, Finn.” You agree. “I know you will.”

[alpydk]

Tender and Tired

So, me and @judasiskariot got chatting and with it came a prompt that I was given the OK to work on ^^ - So, of course, I did and somehow ended up writing the story of Devorah (she's so beautiful!) which was one of her Tav's. An amazing experience writing this and I'm just so glad you enjoyed it and am letting me share her with the world. <3

Prompt - "And of course combine angst and smut! 😆 also like...maybe... 🤔 fear of losing someone/fighting for their life and than survive, comforting after horror and rescue and relief sex because happy ending and reveal the feelings that they had not done before and almost never had the chance?"

Word Count - 3734 Words - CW - Angst / Pining / Smut - (Blowjob) - Happy ending ;)

“It’s okay, you’re going to be okay. Just stay with me…”

The dark blood was seeping through Gale’s wrap shirt, a crimson weed growing amongst the fields of cotton lying on his abdomen. The sweat beaded on his brow and all Devorah could do was hold her hands to the wound, a quiet prayer hung unspoken on her lips, so many desperate words unshared between them never to be uttered.

---

Devorah lay within the forest, Astarion’s cool arms draped over her bare chest as the stars glistened above them in the night sky. Her eyes followed each constellation, a path home should she ever find herself truly lost, but could those same stars lead her to what her heart truly desired? These passionate nights had been ‘fun’ just as he’d promised, bodies entwined, the piercing bite to her neck leaving her tiptoeing the path between life and death. All she had to do was let go, just as he did, and yet, just like him, her mind was always elsewhere.

“You sleep less than me,” he mumbled into the crook of her neck, planting an icy kiss upon her soft skin.

“Hm. Difficult to sleep when we don’t know what’s ahead of us.”

He dragged a fingertip across her naked breast, causing her to suck in a breath in expectation. “I find it more difficult to sleep knowing what lies behind me.”

Devorah moved her body weight so she could face him. His cherry tinged eyes held an insatiable hunger but behind them a depth that would creep out, a bound child locked in darkness, scared of the burning light. She had heard the nightmares through the tadpole, seen the face of Cazador, felt the words of pure loathing spat at Astarion through the pinhole opening of an entombed prison. Anything ahead would be better than what he’d left behind.

“I guess I just hope for a future. You know marriage, romance, love…” she sighed. “But with the tadpoles, what if they-”

Astarion interrupted her, knowing where she was going with her questioning. “Then I’d kill you, just as you would kill me. We would both die long before that happened.” He lifted his head to be above her, their current position a little too emotionally intimate for his liking. “A much more pleasant run around the second time, I’m hoping.”

“Death? Or were you thinking of something else?” Devorah gave him a playful smirk, her hand running up the side of his pale-skinned abdomen.

“And here I thought I was the insatiable one.”

Love would have to wait, she decided, as once again she lost herself in the illusions of a near-death fantasy.

---

“Not relaxing in the comfort of another’s arms this evening, my dear?” Gale asked, not lifting his eyes from the pages before him.

Devorah scowled at him as he sat upon a woollen blanket near his tent. Obviously, the petty argument between her and Astarion had been heard. Nothing serious, but another bickering over a ritual she knew was too dangerous to commit to. Of course, he wanted that kind of power; who wouldn’t? But seven thousand souls were far more than she would allow to rest on her conscience.

“No, if you must know,” she said curtly, her mood still a simmering anger beneath the surface.

Since arriving in the Shadowlands, her passionate relationship had been affected by the surrounding curse. At least that was her only explanation for what was going on between her and Astarion. Their nights together were more of just scratching an itch with one another than enjoying each other’s company. Their conversations had dwindled to a couple of words, and the sniping and cattiness was becoming almost nightly. It had to be the curse. It was certainly not the way her attention kept being pulled by the deep brown eyes of her warm-blooded companion, one who spoke with the lilt of a poet, one who made her heart beat with a warmth seen only in Karlach.

Gale lifted his head, noting the aggression in her tone. “Do you want to discuss it?”

Devorah noted the space next to him, the way he placed his book aside with all his attention dedicated to her. “Honestly, that’s the last thing I want to do.”

“They why not simply sit and enjoy a moment of silence with me?” He lifted his hand and with it, the world grew quiet. There were no longer the groans of the cursed creatures in the distance, the crackling of the campfire was now but a dance of light and shadow, and Devorah for the first time in what felt like an age could hear her own thoughts without interruption of the outside world.

She sat beside him before closing her eyes and breathing deeply, noticing the lack of sound that came out as she exhaled. It was strangely comforting, a glimpse of death before darkness truly fell. She felt as Gale pulled himself closer to her, sharing his warmth and life, something she had missed in the arms of her lover. Her shoulders relaxed, her heartbeat calmed as if she were about to fall asleep, and for a moment there was no tadpole, no looming death over their heads.

Opening her eyes, she saw his soft gaze upon her, noticed the chestnut strands of hair that wisped upon his brow. If it wasn’t for the subtle ache in her neck, a reminder of nights gone, she knew she would have kissed him in that moment, a future of conjured peaceful moments filling her with longing.

But just as there was no sound, there were also no kisses on warm lips that night.

---

Days and nights passed where both Devorahand Gale denied what was happening between them. The hidden glances across flames, the brush of hands together in passing, a night under illusionary stars where both had dared not think of a bleak future. Neither would speak up about what was occurring, of the times where both found calm just in each other’s company. He would simply watch as she vanished into her lover’s tent, leaving him alone to wonder if things could have been different if he were different. And she would not speak of the nights of lying in cold arms, dreaming of a future she would never have, if only she had made different choices, if only she too were different.  

---

With the setting of the sun, the docks shone as if aflame, a low hung dust filling the air from the destruction of the city. Alone stood Devorah, her mind quiet, her heart slowed, her wishes of love buried under remembrance of her recent dance with Death. Now, with the Netherbrain defeated, her companions had dispersed, leaving her with only the tangled threads of fate and no clear path ahead. She looked out over the water; the portal having just vanished before her with the lives of her friends. She could see the scorch marks of Karlach’s departure, blackened and ashen, upon the boards beneath leather boots, a reminder that the God of Death could be beaten if only you were willing to fight for it, if only you kept the people you loved at your side.

As they’d left the Shadowlands, Devorah had spoken at length with Astarion about his own ideas of their ‘love’. It was all so complicated, many a vulnerable moment shared and considered, and both knew in their hearts that nothing good would come of remaining together. Instead, they left with growth and loss. Friendship had been the overall outcome of the discussion, and it was that which he certainly needed if he were to heal. She welcomed this, but deep down mourned what she had missed out on: not what she could have had with him, but what she’d given up on being with him in the first place.

Now, as the sun slowly descended across the skies of the Sword Coast, she thought of the one she knew she loved, the one she had let leave to save them both the heartbreak. The waves licked the pillars beneath her and with the exhaustion of victory came the further stirrings of her mind. A realisation that despite everything they had been through together, she had ended up alone. Shadowheart, Karlach, Wyll, all to Avernus in one fell swoop, Astarion fleeing as the sunlight cracked his porcelain flesh. And Gale…

Devorah sighed, remembering the few words he had spoken to her after all had happened, how the familiar sight of pain had clung on to him despite the orb’s stabilisation so long ago. He’d bid his farewells and sluggishly walked towards the city, his steps heavy, much like her own. So much went unsaid, so many glances at one another’s lips ignored, so many masks and walls to avoid hurting each other, just as they’d been hurt in the past.

She left the docks, a sense of weariness motioning her forward. Wine upon her lips was all she could think of, a scarlet swirl as it would pour into the glass, much like the trail of blood that lay upon the cobbles, a trail from the spot Gale had said his farewells. It took a moment for her mind to catch up with the sight, a realisation that his pain was not simply Mystra’s unfair consequences but that of something severely wrong and a man who would never wish to be a burden to another.   

Her slow steps upon the stones of the streets soon became a hurried pace as spattered traces of blood grew to crimson pools down shadowed alleyways. Her body ached with each quickened turn around the corners, but it mattered little as panic filled her lungs with the images of what she would find. If she had allowed him to leave with nothing but a simple goodbye, for him to then die alone… If only she had taken a chance, refused to lose herself in the cool embrace of another, then maybe she too could have beaten the God of Death with her loved one at her side. She rushed through groups of survivors, knowing she had to find him, hoping that he had not drawn his last breath and been taken from her for good.

---

It was in a small dimly lit room at the Elfsong Tavern that she found him; his purple robes tossed aside with little regard for where they landed, now stained with the blood from his own hands. He sat exhausted at the foot of the small bed, his fingertips sticky with coagulated blood and fumbling with the ties of his shirt as he tried to get to the wound and see the damage.

She was quickly upon him, moving his hands aside with ease, feeling the way he tried to prevent her from helping.

“It’s nothing, my dear,” he weakly spoke. Colour had drained from his cheeks, his normal slight tan now growing close to that of Astarion’s pallor.

“Don’t bullshit me, I’ve got eyes.” She tugged at the strings that had become knotted throughout the day, wishing he could have just worn buckles like the rest of them. “What even happened? Why didn’t you say anything? How could you…?” She was growing emotional with each second that passed, fear taking over. She wouldn’t, couldn’t, lose him.

He gripped her arm, the shades of red transferring to her own shirt. “A cultist as we climbed the tower. I didn’t notice…” His words were growing slower, quieter as the light faded from his eyes.

“It’s okay, you’re going to be okay. Just stay with me…”

The dark blood was seeping through Gale’swrap shirt, a crimson weed growing amongst the fields of cotton lying on his abdomen. The sweat beaded on his brow and all Devorah could do was hold her hands to the wound, a quiet prayer hung unspoken on her lips, so many desperate words unshared between them never to be uttered. His eyes grew heavy in front of her, his breaths slowing to quiet gasps. She gave up on the shirt, instead pressing her hands to the wound, the whispered prayer finally emerging with the faint glow under her fingertips. It wasn’t much, but it would keep him with her and for that, at least, she was thankful.

---

It had taken all Devorah’s strength to get Gale into the bed after he had lost consciousness. She’d managed the healing spell to keep him stable but knew with no potions available and her own spells limited to speaking with animals, speaking with the dead, anything but something useful, she’d struggle to get him back on his feet. She finally untied his shirt, revealing his chest beneath it, the dried blood staining his skin to a deep pink. The bleeding had thankfully stopped with the spell, but the remnants of the incident remained. She peeled back the fabric, finding the wound to his side, the deep cut that would surely leave a scar upon his pristine flesh.

Taking a cloth and a bowl of warm water, she perched herself on the edge of the cotton bedsheets next to him. Her voice was quiet, not wanting to wake him, but hoping that on some level he might hear her and find comfort. “Gale…Whatever are we going to do with you?” The cloth took some of the staining from his skin and she gave a gentle smile, seeing his normal colour slowly returning to him.

She took in a deep breath as she worked, relieving the tension in her shoulders. As she placed the cloth in the bowl, she saw as the water turned a murky red. “I always thought that if me and you got together, the first time I’d see you with your shirt off would be after too many glasses of wine and some of that poetry you dabbled in.” The cloth was wrung out before being placed back on his skin, a rogue drop of water running down the side of his stomach onto the bed.

“Always quite liked your poetry… Made me feel alive…” She chuckled to herself quietly. “Sorry, poor use of words there.” Devorah looked over her work, the way his wound was still angry but now no longer running the risk of infection. She’d need to collect some potions, but at least he wouldn’t die whilst she was away. Or at least she hoped he wouldn’t. Placing the damp cloth and bowl to the side, she glanced over at him before standing to leave. “Gale,” she hesitated. Would he hear her words? Were they worth saying when death still skulked in the shadows? “Nevermind… Just, don’t go anywhere.”   

---

It was hours before Gale woke again, his colour back to normal and the wound mostly healed. He felt the sting on his side, the ache of his muscles as he tried to pull himself up on the bed to sit up and gather his surroundings. Trying to retrace his steps proved difficult as he thought back to the docks and the winding trek to the tavern.

“You shouldn’t be trying to move, you know.”

He looked around for the voice; the world spinning a little with the movement. “Devorah?”

She approached him, a glass of cold water in her hand. “Yeah. How’re you feeling?”

“Like one that has been caught in the cascade of a Bibberbang explosion.”

She smiled at his answer. “Well, you’re still as articulate as ever.” Devorah passed him the water, her fingertips lightly brushing his as she handed over the glass. “Here, drink this. It’ll get rid the aftertaste of the potions.”

Gale had been curious what the obscure taste was upon his tongue, one of balsam and berries, sickly sweet. He grasped the water, savouring it in his mouth before swallowing and letting out a satisfied exhale. “You saved me.”

“It was just water,” she replied, dodging his true meaning, averting her gaze from him. His gratitude was not something she wanted. She would have walked through flames if it meant him living. She would have taken the orb from his chest and imbedded it in her own if it meant he could go on with his life.

“We both know that is not what I speak of. Devorah-”

“Gale,” she interrupted

“I love you.”

She lifted her head instantly, a hint of confusion on her face. “What did you say?”

He smiled softly, his fingertips raising up beneath her chin. “Something that I should have said to you many moons ago.” He should have said it under conjured starlight, or before they entered the High Hall. He should have said it with every breath that escaped him. “Devorah, I love you.”

For a moment she was speechless, her own words trapped in her throat as if saying them would dispel the illusion before her. They replayed in her head, the sweet melody of his voice once again calming her soul as he had done so many times before. The God of Death had once again been beaten. The tiptoed path upon a near-death precipice halted as a choice was made, as the love she had once dreamt of under glistening stars became finally within her grasp. “I love you too, Gale,” she whispered.

Warm lips found one another; the taste of healing potions shared between them, as a buried yearning was released. As Devorah moved herself on to Gale’s lap, he let out a soft groan.

“Careful, my love…”

Tender kisses were placed down his neck, down the weaving trails left by the orb. She traced her fingers gently down his body, each one working as if he were the rare tomes of a forbidden library. She could smell the traces of ink from his books still upon him, as if he still stood in his tower in Waterdeep. Each touch of his skin upon lips brought her a fresh wave of life that she had never felt before, a new longing for more of him. She would not lose herself; she would find him, and she would be with him in full.

Her kisses worked further down his body, through the soft bed of chest hair, her legs shifting down until she was sitting in front of him. “Let me love you, as you deserve to be loved.”

There was a moment of hesitation from Gale, his need to serve, his need to give, trying to burst through. He wanted to provide her with everything he’d been unable to, to make up for lost nights where he’d watched her depart too many times. He saw the love in eyes, felt as her hand trailed up his inner thigh, his touch starved body reacting with little regard for what his mind’s opinion was. All he could do was give a tentative nod.

Devorah’s hands came to the drawstrings of his trousers, a slow tug of each as she looked into his eyes. “Lie back, relax.”

Gale slid down slowly on the bed, his head still resting on the headboard to watch her. “Easy for you to say.”

She playfully smiled, pulling at his trousers and looking concerned as he winced with the rise of his hips. “Still in pain?”

“Nothing I’ve not felt before.”

“That’s not how it should be, though.” She ran her hand along his leg, a comforting palm to ease his nerves.

He sighed deeply with the sensation of her hand; his body exposed to her completely. There had been no wine, no poetry or charm for this moment. This was simply what she wanted to do, and he was struggling to accept that she could ever want this with him. As her flushed lips caught the skin of his stomach, he leant his head back, his eyes closing to fight past the overwhelming pound of his heart rate. It was as her hand came around the base of his cock that he let out an involuntary gasp and looked down at her. “You’re…”

“Do you trust me?”

His voice was almost a whisper. “Yes.”

As her heated mouth wrapped around him in full, there was little Gale could do than release a desperate sound. His thoughts ran wild, the sensation, the vulnerability, the love and devotion she was willing to give him after all that has happened. The pain in his side meant little to him as wave after wave of pleasure warmed his body. His hands found her shoulder, a grip on her skin to ground himself in reality. “Devorah…”

She continued to move, her tongue running up his length greedily. She heard her name, felt his grasp. “Hm?” she replied, not removing herself from what she had longed for in so long.

Words escaped him. The world around him abandoned him only to her touch, to the wordless declaration of love she gave to him, that she wanted to give to him. He could not speak, he could only release the long-held moans as her tongue ran along his shaft, as her moistened lips held him close. He glanced down, a quick glimpse of her watching his pleasure pushing him to the edge almost instantaneously. It had been so long since he had felt anything like that, long nights alone with his own touch, nothing in comparison to the way she touched him. Gale was overwhelmed, the sight of her, her eyes on his, her subtle smile curving with her lips as he clasped tighter to her shoulder. He wanted to fight it, wanted each second to span into infinite moments of enjoyment, but there was little he could do as all self-control shattered with her love.

Her pace quickened, her depth increasing, and his head fell back, a burning light of white in front of his eyes as his release hit, warm and unstoppable. He didn’t feel her move to his side as the room continued spinning around him, as the shadow of death was quickly replaced by nothing but the afterglow of life. It was as his heart rate slowed that he heard her speaking, a quiet admittance of feelings, the first that would come for many years to come.

“Thank you for not dying.” Devorah uttered, pausing for a second and placing her head on his head, listening to the way his heart beat as it slowly steadied. “And for making me feel alive.”

[vioartemis]

I’ll die with you (part 3)

(Tara Carpenter x fem! reader)

Summary: Your rest was short, another attack soon occurs, deadlier than the first one. Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 Warnings: blood, death of character, angst (English isn't my first language, I'm sorry if there are mistakes or if something doesn't make sense TvT)

“I swear I’m gonna need to bleach my eyes” you heard Sam say when you went downstairs with Tara, half an hour later

“Come on, we were fully clothed, you didn’t see anything” Tara rolled her eyes and sit at the table

“That’s not the point! Since when are you even doing that? You’re too young to-”

"I mean they're adults so..." Gale started

"Would you mind stop talking about our sex life?" you groaned, cheeks still red

"What do you want us to talk about?"

"I don't know, the weather, whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza..."

"Well that's an easy question" Sam declared, taking a slice of pizza and giving one to everyone

"I suppose we all agree they don't" you girlfriend said

"We do, indeed" Gale confirmed while you nodded

"Uh, no we don't"

A debate started, Sam against the three of you. It almost looked like a normal family dinner, a normal night. You nearly forgot you were the next target of a psycho killer. Until you all jumped when your phone rang.

Probably: Damian Walker.

You never realized you never gave him your phone number. Mindy or Chad probably did.

"It's okay, it's Damian"

"Y/n-" Tara tried to interrupt

But you already took your phone and walked away from the table, picking up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, how are you feeling tonight?"

"Tired and embarrassed, but other than that, pretty good"

"What...?"

"It's a long story" you sighed "Why do you call?"

"Oh, I wanted to know if you were having fun..." the slight sound of an electronic device could be heard "while I was gutting your friends like fishes."

All color vanished from your face.

"W-what...?"

Tara stood up hearing your shaking voice, worried. Whoever called you, they hang up without answering.

"Hello?! Please don't hurt them!" you cried

"Baby wha-"

"He's gonna kill Mindy and Chad we have to go!"

“No no no. We go, you stay here”

“And get attacked again? No thank you” you protested, dialing 911

When you arrived at Mindy and Chad’s not even five minutes later, the door was slightly opened. You could hear fight noises coming from inside. There was still a chance to save them.

You opened the door and rushed inside, baseball bat in hand. The first thing you saw was Ghostface, standing over the twins.

He slowly turned his head to look at you and did his signature blade-cleaning, before running away.

You were tempted to chase after him, but your friends mattered more. When you came closer to them, your heart dropped. There was blood everywhere.

Chad’s shirt was torn apart due to multiple stab. Mindy had her back against a wall, blood coming from her stomach.

Your own wounds burned at the sight, tears coming to your eyes. You couldn’t move, paralyzed.

“Shit…” you heard Sam say next to Chad

You had no idea how much time passed, but at one point Mindy coughed, causing your head to jolt in her direction. She was regaining consciousness!

Be fire you could realize it you were kneeling next to her, applying pressure on her wound.

“You’re gonna be okay, we called an ambulance, they should-”

Suddenly Damian brushed into the room.

“Oh my god-”

“Where the fuck were you?”

“I- I went to the bathroom a-and someone knocked me out… I- I just woke up”

You looked him up and down. Blood was running down his face from his forehead. But he could have done it himself.

“Stay the fuck back” Mindy said when he tried to come closer

"N-no I- I'm not... It's not me I swear... Y/n y-you believe me right...?"

You really wanted to. But last time he didn't have an alibi, and now...

"I'm sorry..."

You could see how broken he was hearing your words. Maybe he wasn't the killer after all. Or he was a good actor, which wasn't to exclude.

You were waiting in the waiting room, Tara sitting on your lap and caressing your hair gently in an attempt to reassure you. You were starting to believe her when the doctors came.

You all got up immediately, heart beating faster than ever.

"Mrs Meeks should be okay, but she needs rest"

"And Chad?" Sam asked

"I'm... sorry. We did our best but... we couldn't save him..."

You had to sit back down, in shock. You never thought that would happen again. You thought losing friends was over. You should've known it would end up this way, with Ghostface's return.

Maybe you were just in denial. Believing if you convinced yourself it wouldn't happen everything would be fine. But nothing was fine.

The 2022 massacre left a indelible mark on you. The current events only reopened the scar you thought had healed.

Maybe if you had stick all together he would still be alive. If you had been all together Ghostface wouldn't have tried anything. If you had left this stupid town when you could...

Maybe it was all your fault after all.

You were the first target, but you survived. No first targets survived before Tara. And you weren't even sure they wanted her dead at that moment.

Maybe the killer wanted to make you suffer before killing you. Maybe it was all part of their plan to let you live. Maybe they were about to destroy everything you had. Maybe-

You felt hands on your face and looked down to see Tara, concern written on her face. She brushed your cheeks with her thumbs softly. It was only then that you realized that you were crying.

That was the moment Lexi chose to arrive, breathing heavily and sweating. She must have run here.

"I- I'm sorry I had piano lesson- I just- I just saw your texts-" she took a deep breath "Mindy- is she going to be okay? And- and Chad?"

You didn't have the strength to tell her. Not now, it was still to fresh. Instead you broke down in your girlfriend's arms. You could swear she was crying too.

A loud noise made you tilt your head up. Lexi had pinned Damian to the wall, gripping him by the collar of his shirt.

"What did you do to them? You were here to why didn't you help?"

"I- I got knocked out...! I already told them...!" he made a circle toward you with his arm "L- Lexi I swear I didn't- I can't breath can you-"

"I don't fucking believe you. That's easy pretending you passed out."

Her grip only grew tighter. Damian's face started to become red. He was struggling against the blonde.

Sam had to force them appart, holding a furious Lexi away from the poor boy trying to catch his breath.

After everyone had calmed down, the police arrived and questioned the group. They didn't seem to believe Damian's alibi either.

"Maybe we should take him into custody for a little while? Just to make sure he's not, you know, the killer?" a deputy asked the sheriff

"We can't do that without evidences, that would be abusing of our power as representants of the law-"

"Do it" all head turned to the boy "T- take me into custody, you'll see it's not me. If it's the only way I can prove my innocence... I'll do it"

"You sure about that son?"

"Y-yeah"

"Okay then... come with me" the deputy said after the sheriff nodded

"The hospital is secure, we have police officers at each floor, you should be safe here. Don't go out, don't stay alone until morning. Understood?"

You weren't totally sure you could believe him. You remembered well how it ended last time. Ghostface always managed to pass past the security, why would that change now?

When the police left, you were allowed to see Mindy. She was devastated. Fortunately, her girlfriend was here for her.

Yours was holding your hand tight, fingers intertwined with yours. She knew it could've been you as much as you knew it could've been her. At the moment, you were so glad she was safe.

But it was just temporary. It always was.

Ghostface knew when to hit you. Not too soon after the previous attack, not too long after. Just as you started to think it would get better -or at least not worse. Just when hope started coming back.

The moment it hurt the most.

"Can you guys stay here for the rest of the night...?"

"Of course, we're not leaving you alone after that..."

Everyone started to move things around to get confortable for the night. You and Tara sat on the floor, on a blanket, in a corner.

You could hear soft snores, your little group falling asleep one after another. You didn't know how they could sleep in that situation. You couldn't.

Every time you closed your eyes, Ghostface appeared before you, ready to kill all your friends one by one.

You watched as Tara was sleeping on your shoulder. She seemed peaceful. You played with her hair, trying you imagine you were in your room, and it was a normal night.

you didn't realize she was awake, caught into your daydream, until she spoke.

"Are you okay...?" she whispered

You jumped a little.

"I... don't know... you?"

"Same... I just- I just hoped it wouldn't happen again... It's stupid but- I thought it would be different..."

"It's not stupid... I would rather say unrealistic... but- that's horrible but... I'm glad it wasn't you... I don't know what I would do if- if you-"

The words got stuck in your throat, tears blurring your vision again. The simple thought of losing her was unbearable.

"Hey..." she whipped your tears off of your face gently "It's not going to happen okay? I'm not dying, not now. I swear"

She kissed you tenderly, trying to whip your worries away, hand still holding yours. You kissed her back, like it was the last time.

Because it might be. We never know.

"Try to rest a little okay...?"

You nodded, resting your head on hers once she got back in her previous position against you.

You tried not to think about what just happened, or how it could get worse. You tried to empty your mind, only leaving one thought there: Tara.

But it was always when you thought the situation wouldn't get worse that it does.

You should have known the worst was yet to come.

And it would come fast.

[Previous part] || [Next part]

[wellthebardsdead]

Lucy: *watches as ‘Elminster’ stabilises the orb* Done?

Elminster: it is done.

Lucy: good. *snaps her fingers suddenly making the orb disappear from Gales chest*

Gale: *recoils in shock, then relief, the pain the orb had caused him now gone entirely* I…

Elminster: *standing there in shock* what did you do?!

Lucy: Tell Mystra she can lick my ass. *smashes ‘Elminster’ over the head with her axe making him disappear* Some friend, he couldn’t even turn up himself to tell you to kill yourself. No he sends a simulacrum instead, and has it eat our food!

Gale: *feels his chest, still in a state of shock* I… it’s gone… but Mystra- she-

Lucy: to hell with that bitch. Of all the mortals Ao could have chosen he picked her. And what has she done in her time as the weave mother? Attempted an uprising against him, and groomed you from the moment you sparked to life in your mothers womb before casting you aside like you were worth less than dirt only to demand you kill yourself to win back her favour. *scoffs* as if the power imbalance alone between you two wasn’t disgusting enough… the only thing worth less than dirt is her favour.

Gale: she- she didn’t groom me she just… she?… she… *gently takes her hands* …thank you… for this…

Lucy: don’t you dare find another way kill yourself or I will bring you back just to slap you to death myself.

Gale: I-I won’t. I promise… thank you… I have… I have to think… *walks back to his tent*

*post final battle*

Gale: are you- sure you want this? I’ve come to terms with the fact I’ll never have Mystras forgiveness, and I don’t want it either. After everything she’s done, she’s worthless to me.

Lucy: but this would help you move on with your life back at blackstaff, your colleagues will have no choice but to hold their tongues with any snide remarks they may have been holding onto.

Gale: *chuckles* true… true… thank you… *glances at the doorway to the tabernacle seeing Raphael Lurking, the cambion visibly wounded from the battle protecting Lucy and the group* …for everything… *walks to the shrine and makes his offering before disappearing with the crown of Karsus, unaware of the ticking time bomb orb Lucy had placed with it*

*several minutes later*

Gale: *returns with no crown, but looking at peace*

Lucy: how’d it go?

Gale: as well as it could have I suppose… but, she’s forgiven me, and apologised in turn.

Lucy: an apology from her isn’t enough. She deserves a taste of her own medicine.

Gale: heh, well, I’m not willing to risk blowing up the mother of magic.

Lucy: lucky for you, I am.

Gale: what- *hits the deck as a shockwave blasts across all of Faerûn and the realms as for one brief moment, all magic ceased to exist before the anchors took hold* WHAT IN THE HELLS WAS THAT?!

Lucy: the consequences of her actions. The weave anchors will hold it in place until Ao can find a much more suitable host worthy of taking Mystryls place. *holds up her hand as the broken fragments of the crown appear in her palm, no magic, only shards* right, let’s return it to your father.

Raphael: In that condition?? Have you completely lost your mind?!

Lucy: he had no intention of ever using it and in fact wished for nobody to use it. And now nobody can. He never specified wanting it back in one piece now did he?

Raphael: …I- am both frightened, and a little aroused by you right now.

Gale: she has that effect on many people it seems. *smiles* thank you Lucy, I’m glad to call you my friend.

Lucy: *smiles and pulls him into a hug* I’m glad to call you my friend too. Thank you… for not giving up.

Gale: *hugs her back* thank you for not giving up on me… is he okay?

Raphael: *visibly disassociating as he imagines how his father is going to obliterate him over the crown*

Lucy: he’s fine he’s got anxiety.

[redwolfstabs]

My thoughts on the Billy and Sam storyline ‼️

- bare with me, I got a lot to say about this.

• First of all- I will say I absolutely love and hate this storyline- I love it because I love Sam and Billy, I hate it because some parts felt iffy BUT ANYWAYS.

• Starting in the first movie here- hallway scene. We see two girls walk past Billy as Sid runs into him- after one of the girls pass, another passes and says “Hey christy, wait up!” Christina carpenter!! Anyways- he seems a bit distracted, doesn’t he?

You can see him look away for a moment midconvo- NOW I WILL SAY. This could just be his mannerisms, however, for this let’s say it’s not.

• this would mean that He might’ve had a fling with Christina sometime during his relationship with Sid. Not a shocker, really, considering he didn’t really seem to actually love her.

•Skip forward, Billys dead, Sam learns he’s her father, she’s an adult and has a little sister Tara.

• Sam sees hallucinations of Billy often in reflective surfaces, reason being: he’s her father. Once she knows this, and knows what he did, it causes her to distance from her family and woodsboro as she’s not keen on the idea of being like him.

• Billy kinda acts like herrrr.. “Dark Passenger”, so to speak. [if any of you get this reference I’m forever happy.]

• First time we see Ghostly Billy, it’s in the hospital. And Billy mentions that Sam needs to tell Tara why she’s being targeted. So, Sam does this.

• Later, we see Billy in the car with Sam and he’s being a silly stupid menace. He’s basically just like “let’s fucking stab whoever is doing this to you and your sister! Cmon! Stabby stab!”

• Now, you could interpret this as Billy caring about Sam and Tara. OR you could interpret this as Sam thinking that maybe Billy would actually care if he was around. Either way, this scene makes him a Grey character. As he still wants to commit murder through Sam, he’s suggesting this because it’s his kid in danger. It’s a grey character thing.

• Later, at the end of the movie, Sam sees him again. This time, it’s because her boyfriend Richie is about to murder her. Billy nods over to the knife, and when Sam looks at it then back at him, he kinda gives a nod. Which, could be a nod of approval. Which again, shows that maybe Billy could care about his kid.

• Scream 6. Sam reveals that killing Richie was pretty damn easy, because it meant her and Tara would be safe. However, because of this, she becomes the town pariah. They took Billy’s whole plan, and made it sound like her. Meaning they think she committed all the murders and pinned it on Richie. [which by the way, I didn’t like so much. Redundancy.]

• one thing I wanna mention, I believe it was Gale who mentioned Billy AND stu as killers. Most forget stu, think he was just a lapdog when he was in fact VERY IMPORTANT.

• Anyways. Sam comes across all the robes and knives with the robes and she’s immediately drawn to Billy’s.

• Sam gets her hallucinations back and the first thing Billy says is something like “How cool is this place-” and you can tell by her demeanor she’s unsettled.

• Team Loomis ‼️

• Sam ends up Taking said Robe and knife at the end of the movie to kill the ghostfaces who’re after her because of Richies death

• She doesn’t want to, because then she’s be proving to Billy that she’s a killer just like him. But she needs to survive. She really does.

• She gets a little knife happy, but that’s okay because she’s a Loomis

• TARA is actually the one who gets her to commit the final murder which I think is a slay EBDJSND

• At the very end of the movie, Sam looks at the mask in her hand [Which is billys] and then she drops it. It’s symbolic in a way, showing she’s lowkey kinda over this Loomis shit.

• I LOVE LOVE LOVE this storyline because it shows how Sam grows, and it also gives us a little bit of grey character Billy moment

[Reblogs appreciated, but not forced!] [ @smashlovesscream ]

[asidian]

Been re-reading Another Path (SO SO GOOD), and I had a hypothetical question for you! How do you think it would have gone if any of the others had found Astarion entombed? Gale doing some research, Shadowheart doing Sharran stuff, Karlach still under Zariel's control, Dark Urge doing... their thing... Lae'zel wouldn't have been in Faerun pre-canon I don't think. I'm just curious what your thoughts are on how whichever of these interest you would have played out!

Oh, man. Okay, let's see.

Gale showing up to do some research would probably end up with him being desperately outmatched. If he's in Cazador's palace solo, as a wizard, no matter how high his level is, he's probably not going to come out of that alive. Gale is spawn number 6,500 or so, hanging out down in the basement. Sorry, Gale. I imagine he would absolutely try and get Astarion out before then, though. Struggle for half an hour to get the sarcophagus lid open (that Str 15 DC, RIP) in search of some obscure engraving he thinks might be inside, then catch sight of Astarion in the lantern light and go, "Someone's in here?!" Then probably an attempt to abscond with him, but, whoops, Cazador doesn't much like anyone running off with his property. Both of them have a very bad time after, but at least Gale dies relatively quickly; Astarion gets to have a bad time for even longer, as Cazador takes it out on him for "going along with" the rescue attempt, despite the fact that he can't even walk. Whether Gale self-detonates and takes out the entire city depends on how long he stays in the basement. :' )

Shadowheart... mmm, it depends, I think. If she's solo, she's going to run into the same trouble Gale did, but she has the advantage of a) she has heal spells handy and b) she can lift more than a feather pillow without toppling over, so in theory she could grab Astarion and get him out if she wanted to. And I think she would want to, provided she was on her own. Even amnesiac and prickly, she has enough of her about herself that I think she's a decent person at heart, and she could find some way to justify it because that's a hell of a state to leave someone in. Without anything to scare Cazador off using the compulsion to bring Astarion back, though, he'd probably get up and try to walk off, so she might have to subdue him if she wanted to keep him from heading right back. Considering he was weak as a newborn kitten at first, though, it seems reasonable that she could. Now, if she WASN'T solo and rolled up with a bunch of Sharrans... bad end, I think. I can see them going "Hey, this is our palace now," and killing the spawn like the hunters did. Cazador takes off. Maybe they keep Astarion around cause, hey, they always need someone to practice torture techniques on, and if this one's been entombed forever, guess he can't die?? Shadowheart would hate it and maybe sneak him small kindnesses when she could/when she had enough of herself present to manage it.

Karlach under Zariel's control I feel would depend on what she's there for and how much control she has over the situation. If she's been sent to Baldur's Gate on her own, for a reason? Let's say she shows up looking for some information on some devil Zariel is feuding with (maybe in the same engraving Gale would have researched?), and she's by herself. In that case, no way she'd leave him. She'd pretend not to have found what she came for yet (or deliberately not have looked the first time, to buy herself more time) and then figure out how to get this poor bastard out of a sarcophagus without touching him. It's fine; she has endless belts, and probably she can find enough in the surrounding area to cobble together the world's shittiest one-sided stretcher to pull him to safety, though bad luck to Astarion, who's going to have to get dragged over the ground with his everything still broken. She'd run into the same issue as Shadowheart, where as soon as Cazador realized he was gone, he'd use the compulsion to call him back. And Karlach, presumably, is on a timer; she can only be gone for so long before Zariel yanks the leash. So I imagine she'd get a hotel room, do her best to get him in at least not miserable shape, and then show up at Fytz's doorstep like, "Hi I know I haven't seen you in years, but can you take this guy, he's had a rough time." Alternately, when Karlach gets called back, she's right by Astarion and proximity is how the spell works, and whoops, now they're both in Avernus until gamestart. You know, I like that second one better, actually. That's very appealing. >>

I unfortunately haven't done a Durge playthrough yet so I can't answer this one, and I think Lae'zel wouldn't be around, yeah. :|a

This was really fun, though. Thanks for the ask, anon! :>

[rielzero]

POV: The adventuring party meets up yearly after the epilogue to talk about their lives.

Loki Wren: So, I realized I really liked rats, and decided to raise them by hand because I thought they were cute- Even if they live short lives, I had to think: What else could befriending those critters bring? Loki Wren: Eventually, after selectively breeding the critters, I've gotten all sorts of quirky results, healthy of course. Its important to improve the lives of the offspring. They are my friends!

Loki Wren: To improve my communication skills and to tame them better, I asked Halsin to teach me a few things- I basicially don't go a day without casting speak with animals.

Loki Wren: Then, one of my nests developed a few prodigy rats, very obedient little pets. They're kind of my children. Started teaching them how to gather information. They're cute tiny spies. Very smart, very adorable.

Loki Wren: Had to neuter a lot of my babies though- You know- Things can get out of hand, one of my favorite sons tried to breed with sewer rats, and I didn't want to upset Astarion again with my obsession over these critters.. Early on he was not very happy with my research.

Loki Wren: My precious boy was angry with me first- but then understood it as if I had given him a new great holy mission: To befriend the sewer Colonies and establish an alliance with them through education.

Loki Wren: [starts laughing, there's a giggle at the end] And now I... [wheezes] Have an army of rats at my full disposal, with emissaries of rats training and teaching each other.. Convinced I am god. They developed an entire culture surrounding me.

Astarion: From ratboy, to ratfather, to Locke- then Loki Wren. And then Ratgod. Who would've thought. [chuckles] And now all in Baldur's Gate adore the critters.

Loki Wren: Anyway, the city is now psyched about pet rats and less eager to kill the sewer rats. My ''divine'' protection. [manical laughter] Of course, they do have territorial disputes. Helps keeping the population at bay.

Loki Wren: I love my rats..

Astarion: Sometimes I wonder if you are a genius or just really enthusiastic about your little hobbies.. Then I realize you are both. Always both.

Loki Wren: So what's everyone else been up to?

Shadowheart: Uh, I learned how to swim. Properly this time.

Karlach: The usual, fighting off fiends. [yawns] I would love to pet some rats though!! Wyll: I hunted a few bounties in Avernus... Nothing out of the ordinary. Seldazr: Published another book, I think Volo's jealous of my success. He's been trying to claim my glass eye is the cause. Not much else?

Gale: I've been trying and failing at modifying a scrying spell... Elminster has been dodging my letters. Lae'zel: Could you overthrow another city with the rats? They're pretty much soldiers already. I'm disappointed you haven't tried yet. Minthara: ..I would like to know as well. I think they'd do well in the underdark. Enough space. They could potentially and easily adapt to the ecosystem in a few generations, reigning terror on the denizens and cultivating with their religion into a functioning society. We've seen it happen many times before..

Loki Wren: ..How do you think the Bhaalists were driven out? They work better as spies.

Halsin: Okay- Thank Silvanus. I was worried you were conscripting them.. From what I've seen in the city itself, life thrives better with less conflict and more equity.

Loki Wren: I AM NOT SENDING MY BABIES TO WAR!!!

Astarion: [sips his drink] Of course not, Darling. Of course not.

Loki Wren: This is why we did not invite Jaheira for our repeated reunions, next thing you know she's ruining everything with her paranoia....

Meanwhile back in Baldur's gate

Jaheira: [holds up a pet rat that has no fur] Who's my little Minsc baby- who's my little baby boy??? Yes you are. You are. [scritches the rat]

Rion: Ugh.. Jord: :(

[the-dalseum-duet]

…so no head?

oh my god. Ohhh my god. I AM THINKING ABOUT THEM

is this canon? no. not right now. I think I might be able to pull something like this off with Sonnet if I played my cards right but idk. Because at this time, Gale would have “quit to work in the Lovesong district” (read: only working for Sonnet in secret) and Sara would be getting her doctorate. so sonnet is our only option. but. rn. let’s just traumatize Kai a little. shake him around

!!cw for themes of suicide and potentially unnerving sexual language!!

obligatory “I’ll regret tagging you in this once I turn 18 but I only have so much longer to write stupid shit” tag: @svwhssftr

Kai’s dress shoes rhythmically rapped against the slick floor as the sun lowered above him. The Palace halls were so, so empty. The once bustling festivities of The Moonlight Festival had braked to a screeching halt. Whether it was the murder of a Council official in broad daylight or the imminent crowning of The Empress, Kai wasn’t sure. 

His forearm shook as he shifted his weight into the armory’s door. He knew exactly where to find Noeul. 

“What the hell are you doing?” Kai snapped. “Sonnet sent my ass up here to find you. I was planning on watching the coronation safely from my own home, but no! Your selfish-“

Kai’s voice trailed off as his eyes widened. Noeul finished polishing the gun in his hands before aiming it at his own throat. 

“I’m not coming back from this, Shirogane,” he whispered, precisely painted fingers trembling. 

Kai wasn’t one for comforting. In reality, he agreed that Dalseum probably would be better if Noeul offed himself. But Marie wouldn’t make it if he did. The scared little girl who boldly told him to ‘fuck off’ couldn’t survive yet another blow to her psyche. 

“Your daughter is waiting for you,” Kai said. “She looks beautiful. If you see one last thing, it really should be her.” 

“Marie doesn’t know what’s happening,” Noeul hummed, his voice tinged with tears. “Marie just knows she’s our puppet, and she’ll play that role no matter what happens. Maybe Crow was justified, just up and fucking over our entire family like that. We’re all a train wreck, Kai, and I caused it.” 

“Took you long enough to realize,” Kai said under his breath. 

“Where’s Porter? Isn’t he supposed to be helping her?” he asked, slowly lowering the gun. 

“Porter’s dead,” Kai said, clearing his throat. 

“He’s what?”

“Blaire sliced off his head in the middle of the Lovesong square. She’s heading towards The Palace, and I don’t think she’s coming for the coronation.” 

“Oh. Well, that’s okay,” Noeul said, his face static. “Sonnet knows what they’re doing.” 

“Adam and Crow are with her. If one goes down, then they all go down.” 

“Three birds with one stone,” Noeul half-joked, tucking his pistol into his ostentatious coat. 

“There we go,” Kai awkwardly clapped. “The cameras are all set. I’ll make sure all of The Palace doors and windows are locked. God, could you imagine that? Those low-lives crashing the coronation?” 

“If they do, I’ll take care of them.” 

“Are you sober enough to aim?”

“No,” Noeul scoffed. “I’ll kill ‘em, anyway.”

“You’re a classy man, Sang.”

“Takes one to know one.”

“Oh, shit!” Kai exclaimed, peering out the window. “What do you bet that’s them?” 

Kai pointed at three fuzzy figures on the outskirts of The Cocktail Quarters. With everyone else preparing for the coronation, they were the only thing that possibly could have been moving. 

“Good luck, Blaire.” Noeul sarcastically pressed his lips against his fingers and blew a kiss through the window. 

“Chea’s probably stressed out of their mind.”

“They don’t have enough of a mind to possibly stress,” Noeul said, rolling his eyes. 

“Trouble in paradise?”

“Sonnet was always my second choice. It was never paradise.” 

“And which choice was I?”

“I was never going to marry you. Really, I can’t stand you.”

“Glad to know the feeling is mutual.” Kai nodded as he readjusted his scarf. 

“I can’t wait for this to be over,” Noeul sighed. 

“The whole Blackbird mess?”

“It’s going to end one way or another. No matter what, I’m killing myself after this.”

“Even if you take back the Blackbirds?”

“I might fuck Blaire one last time before I go. Just to watch her realize that, in the end, none of us are going to win.”

“Ugh, really? She’s got all these stretch marks and saggy tits now. She’s not the Blaire you knocked up.” 

“Doesn’t matter. Her pussy’s the same.”

“Whatever you say. Shit, can I join you?”

“Since when were you interested in women?”

“I’m not interested in fucking her, but watching her reaction would be funny.” 

“God, don’t even mention it. I can’t be visibly hard for my daughter’s coronation.” 

“You’re going to kill yourself right after, so why does it matter?”

“I want to go with some dignity left.” 

Noeul took a deep breath as they approached the ballroom’s entrance. 

“This is it,” he whispered, his hands still shaking. 

“Shoot a fag point-blank and fuck a bitch up for me before you blow your own brains out, alright?”

“That’s the plan.” 

“I’ll almost miss being your side piece.” Kai leaned to kiss Noeul’s neck, sinking his teeth into his flesh to mark him. 

“Damn it,” Noeul seethed, swatting Kai away. “I’d say I’ll miss you, but I don’t want my last words to be lies.”

“It would only be appropriate.” Kai shrugged as he patted Noeul’s back. 

“I’ll see you on the other side, Shirogane.”

“Godspeed, Sang.” 

Kai somberly nodded as the ballroom doors creaked shut. Kai bit his bottom lip as Marie eagerly hugged him and excitedly showed him her coronation hanbok and all the bells and whistles attached. Noeul’s death would break the poor girl. Hell, she’d probably feel like it was her fault. 

As Kai turned to leave the palace, the caught a glimpse of puffy black hair and the blade of an axe out of the corner of his eye. 

The Blackbirds had arrived. 

He made direct eye contact with Crow, and the poor boy’s eyes swelled as big as his hair. He mouthed something to an unknown figure below him, but Kai grinned at him as he unlatched the window. 

“Welcome to the coronation!” Kai winked as he waved Crow inside. 

“What the fuck?” Crow laughed. “Do you think we’re that stupid?”

“I’m not armed. I’m serious.” Kai raised his arms and turned around. “I have no reason not to let you inside.” 

“Don’t trust him, Crow,” Adam snapped, pulling him under beneath the ledge of the window.

“Is that you, Belle?” Kai cackled. “Man, it’s been a minute! How’s that navel piercing healing?” 

“Go to hell, Kai,” Adam replied. 

“Well, I surely won’t be the only one.” Kai calmly slinked out of the window and left it open. He saluted the Blackbirds before he started on the short trail back to his townhouse in The Cocktail Quarters. 

“The cameras are rolling. Give them a hell of a show, Sang.”

[krikeymate]

Another canon divergence.

Tara’s speech to Sam, while understandable, was very harsh in some regards. The whole “you followed me, you’re working two shitty jobs, what are you doing with your life?” I’ve seen your HC about Tara actually not being angry at Sam herself but the situation.

So what if after Tara blew up at Sam, Sam said “okay” and then walked off to deal with the hurt of what Tara said. What if, instead of killing Jason and Greg that nigh, Bailey as Ghostface and maybe with Quinn sneaking out saw an opportunity to kidnap her. Holds her hostage for days. Maybe weeks!

How does Tara initially deal with Sam seemingly taking her words to heart and leaving completely? And then how does she feel when the Ghostface killings start and Sam is missing and the police call telling Tara they find her drivers license at a crime scene along with maybe something personal of Sam’s that she had on her the night she disappeared. But as the cops start testing the blood, they verify that along with Greg and Jason’s, Sam’s blood is mixed in?

(Overall Sam probably ends up figuring out a way to trick the Baileys, distracts them. Is able to kill one or two of them as she fights her way out but weeks of isolation without access to her meds messes her up even more, not to mention that the last convo she has with Tara makes her think that Tara was probably better off while she was gone)

Ouch, why would you hurt us like this?!

Tara doesn't leave her room that night, she doesn't notice that Sam doesn't come home. She eyes Sam's door in the morning, thinks about knocking, turns away instead. She doesn't hear from Sam all day, and it makes Tara guilty. She thinks Sam's avoiding her. She tries to call her. Once, twice, three times. She leaves a message: "you're supposed to pick up when I call. I'm sorry ok. Can you just… please just call me or text me or whatever. Just… I'm sorry."

Another night passes without hearing from Sam. The next morning she's visited by Quinn's father. He starts asking about Sam: is she around, when did you last see her, how has she been, any strange behaviour lately? Then he drops the news: Sam's license and blood was found at the scene of a double homicide. Sam's the current key suspect.

Tara doesn't believe it for a second, she doesn't even entertain the idea. Chad & Mindy aren't so sure, it causes a rift. There is no 'Core 4' in this timeline. Kirby appears, offers to help Tara find Sam. Tara doesn't trust her, but she has no one else to turn to. Gale still corners Tara at some point, asks her an insensitive question about her sister, gets punched, offers her help as well.

Sam is tied up in the shrine, Richie's videos on repeat, constantly being drugged to keep her docile. She sees her father. She sees Richie. Ghostface tells her all about what she's done, how she's going to pay. Ghostface tells her all about what they're going to do to Tara.

That's not something they can ignore. They want Sam to suffer. They bring her Tara's jacket, bloody and with 'stab marks' in the back. They tell her about how she cried as the knife went in, how she's not dead yet but she'll see Sam soon. They chased her down, caught her by her jacket, she managed to wiggle out of it and escape.

There's bodies they stack in the room, a new one each day, each propped up in front of a Ghostface case. People Sam's killed, they say. Billy points out how they all look like her sister - small and slight and tanned, dark hair and big brown eyes, empty in death. They dress her up in her father's robe and drop the mask in her lap. They tell her how the police are going to find her here, surrounded by the dead, and over the mutilated corpse of her sister. She was just so angry, they say, about her ungrateful little sister.

Except Gale is too good at what she does, she finds the shrine too early. Gale and Kirby and Tara, they don't waste any time checking it out. Ethan & Quinn are there, tormenting Sam. They split up and call for their father to get there asap. Kirby & Gale are distracted fighting the Ghostfaces, while Tara heads straight for Sam. Sam's delerious, from the exhaustion and the drugs and the constant mental attacks. She doesn't even think that Tara's real. She tries to listen to her anyway, she can't ignore Tara's crying even if she's just a figment of her imagination.

Bailey storms into the shrine, gun pointed straight at Sam. This wasn't going how it was planned. Kirby appears, injured, pointing her gun right back at Bailey. He tries to convince her that Sam is the killer, that she was caught on camera, how he followed her trail back here. Kirby looks at Tara, who looks back. She's got Sam's arm around her shoulder, she's holding her sister up, barely. Kirby looks back to Bailey and begins to walk backwards towards the girls.

They prevail somehow. The three of them took down Ethan together. Gale killed Quinn elsewhere. Tara gets shot and Sam still gets to multistab Bailey. Tara stops her from killing him and gives her an emotional apology and says that she doesn't know what she would do if she lost her. Sam says she forgives her and she's sorry too, and then Tara turns around and stabs Bailey in the eye and then slits his throat, for fucking with her family, and then hugs a shocked Sam.

Kirby and Gale watch this happen from the sidelines and share a glance that says fuck these girls need therapy.

[avvidstarion]

1, 6, 8, 12, and 17 my hater in arms 💕

The character everyone gets wrong

OKAY this is niche and OUTTA LEFT FIELD but my favorite book of ALL TIME is we have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson and the HATE i see for its protagonist is ALL WRONG. It's in the same vein as like Chara undertale hate (another of my fave characters of all time) where peoples see a CHILD that clearly has a lot going on and are like. this person is irredeemably evil. no they're traumatized

6. Which ship fans are the most annoying?

bloodweave sorry bloodweave like. for why. why is it so popular why is it everywhere. like yeah every origin ship is valid and can be canon but like they both have much more interesting dynamics with other charactes. where is the gale/lae'zel art. hwere is the aslach (ass lack) or the aswylllach (ass will lack) art. why is bloodweave the most popular origin ship

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

okay this doesn't exactly fit bc i dont think it's super popular per se but it's on my mind today. i hate seeing fanart of kakashi and gojo together. people always twinkify them and alwasy draw them like they're about to fuck. 1) kakashi is not hot (dont get me wrong i want to fuck him but not cause he's like. physically attractive.) 2) they are not the same person 3) gojo will never be kakashi gojo wishes he was kakashi 4) kakashi would kill that man

OH OH ALSO THAT REMINDS ME I'LL THROW THIS IN HERE TOO. i don't like kakashi/iruka i think it's unfounded. they hardly ever talk. yeah they both love naruto but like can just be his mentor figures separately they don't have to be married. kakashi is married to guy like they are MARRIED. i feel like kakashi/guy would be way more popular if guy was a prettyboy twink (like iruka)

12. the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

i wanna say wyll but like that shit actually makes me fucking angry and not in a silly haha way so i am going to instead say sera dragonage. now. i know there are a lot of sera dragonage haters out there and there are some things about her that i do not like. however i overall love her and i think she is a tragic case of bad writing and wasted potential. why did they have a straight white guy write a lesbian whose character arc revolves around internalized racism. why does the game literally talk shit about her during her romance arc. literally one of her romance quests is "you love sera and wanna get her something to show her how much you care. go ask your friends for gift advice" and EVERY SINGLE COMPANION OR ADVISOR IS JUST LIKE. I HATE SERA SHES SO ANNOYING WHY ARE YOU DATING HER. UGH. ALSO. the game makes you be so mean to her!! so many times the only dialogue options with her are like "stop talking weird i dont understand you'". also the fact that YOU CAN LITERALLY KICK HER OUT AT ANY TIME??? LIKE NO MATTER WHAT THERE IS ALWAYS A DIALOGUE BUTTON TO KICK HER OUT?? here are reasons why you should like sera:

she is fun trickster! solas fucking wishes he was her.

her subclass is just super fun!! throw jars of bees and fire and shit at your enemies!

she is so genuine and cares so much about what she believes in. i wish that was explored more but as i have said the game literally hates her so.

she loves you so much!!!! she marries you!!!!!!!!!

i actualy really like her voice and the way she talks. shes just fun!

she's autistic <3

17. there should be more types of this fic/art

more people should be drawing gale and halsin and karlach fat, for one. also everyone else in the party but like especially those three. larian the fact that you have zero fat people in your game sucks supremely and you should feel bad about it.

actually draw more characters as fat anyway.

[fetabathwater]

so is amma a changeling/dopplerganger? or is she actually a tiefling? and like how old is she did she study away was she always in the cult like sorry im really interested in her... bewitched me body and soul etc

okay i rambled and took like 4 days to answer this so UNDER THE CUT

she is a tieflingggggg and that's what she's sticking with! if/when she does 'change shape' or w/e its a uhhh . spell. i forgot the name of it. disguise shape spell LMAO. but its only got a handful of variations compared to like. the mask of the shapeshifter yknow. okay so my like concept of amma and the winding water is that when "amity the first" is sent to investigate some like bhaalist pop up, bc its been a while since theyve been active but hey you cant trust a bhaalist. the first however convinces these like weeping devoted weirdo bhaalists that shes one of them, dives into the water and retrieves a babe from the like long dead watery remains of bhaal, but it's not really a child. like just some sort of . ok im losing words i was gonna say jellybean LOL but like equivalent of holding a very warm piece of light in hand. like divinity. and it's the weirdest thing for the first because bhaal literally wrecked personal havoc for a good few hundred years, pre and post death, and he's technically still dead by this point too when like they shouldn't be finding anymore spawn really popping up (or at least ones with enough divinity to warrant watching over in case of death and then resurrection of father dearest). but the divinity is warm and small and sweet, nothing like what the first had experienced with the crisis. and when the first like breaks through the surface of the river with a child pulled from bhaal's remains, it more than anything puts a good amount of fear back into them.

because the gods are Very Real, still, apparently, despite the spellplague and troubles causing all kinds of havoc around them. the first gets to the shore with this child who is not a child but is all at once, just a formation of river remains, bone, blood, weeds.

but this not-child opens its eyes and looks at her and as it grows, the first starts to notice it resembles her. not completely, there are some things that even the weirdness but also lack of magic can't replace when someone is created from their father's bones. yet horns grow, and a tail, and the child is a tiefling, by all accounts. the child is kind of hers.

as for like. how amma gets Educated™ and shizz, raised by the first and primistresses. introduced to maiming biting killing etc. definitely comes into her magic girl moment early as well, divine soul and all that (but evul!). amma is a weird quiet kid, takes well to like. everything outside the bhaalist attempts to foster their perfect little bhaalspawn considering it failed the last few times. attends like idk random ass colleges or like academies for one yr or smth. just randomly appears in the back of a class, learns, leaves. i would think it would be hilarious if she was at blackstaff academy in neverwinter and gale was there too at some point LMAO like lets start that rivalry off early. as far as like 'adopted' by another family goes, that did happen kind of, but she was also introduced to other bhaalist peers like torlin silvershield (who assisted with bringing back bhaal rip to gorions ward ig), thalamra vanthampur (funded the dead three when elturel was pulled into the hells), nysene eomane, rillyn family and other mostly devil worshipping families because its baldurs gate. you can throw a stone and like not 3ft from you hit someone who rly shouldnt worship a dang devil or god like.

granted she's not living this upper city lifestyle - these people are coming to the lower city, her domain. not an assassin for hire, but like, easy to bait and intrigue. is Known™ to some people but like do they want to know about her? probably not. especially when they see her collection of preserved. idk. eyeballs? spleens? choose a body part?

but amma is mostly just idling her and studying and picking up skills around the place, doing some sightseeing, maybe some unfortunate stabbing. the first kind of does try to get her into like. a family or two while amma is a wee child but there are uncontrollable urges and then combined with the blend of a child's emotional reaction and sharp objects and loud noises, it just becomes best for this kid to not be fostered. THERE WERE GOOD TIMES but there were also more bad than good. which is unfortunate and the first adds it to a long list of regrets. but amma pretty much starts going to these places and doing these things in her teens, well until what she remembers as like her late 20s early 30s, before returning to the temple of bhaal in baldurs gate. taking over. you come to me on the day of my daughter's wedding (has no daughter). freshly slaughtered class blood all over her and then like takes control of the bhaalist temple.

fucks around. finds out. in her downtime honestly still finds herself picking up books and whatever - debates attending lectures and the like at public forums. goes to a museum. looks at the sculptures. uses one for a weapon. moves on. culture !

[ryttu3k]

I have *checks* 206 screencaps for the next parts and Tumblr has a limit of, uh, 30, so this will have to be a rather abridged version. Act 2, well into the Shadow-Cursed Lands (having just encountered Kar'niss).

Going waaay back to Grymforge about a million years ago (two days ago) and taking the elevator up. We meet Elminster, who has some rather disturbing things to say.

...no, the other kind of disturbing.

Yeah. I do love how genuinely supportive of Gale everyone is, though, and how appalled Mystra even has the audacity. I think I like Karlach's line best - she's no god worth worshipping, in that case!

The save file I made after all that.

We venture into the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Interestingly, Shadowheart has some slight immunity to it! The others... do not. Thankfully, both she and Tae have daylight spells, which Tae casts to hold it off until we can get to the Last Light in, where Karlach... promptly flips the fuck out over Jaheira.

Into the inn! Karlach meets a fan of her own:

The tiefling kids are so cute. Menaces! But so cute. It's not all good news - a lot have been taken to Moonrise Towers, and we get confirmation that Wyll's father has been taken as well. There's also a dude in a weird sort of catatonic state, which Halsin takes especial interest in - that'll be something to deal with, too, if we're to actually help restore these lands.

Concerningly: Baldur's Gate is currently in the hands of one Enver Gortash. Wyll has heard of him, and is a bit surprised - last he heard, Gortash was a minor player.

Karlach has heard of him too.

(Tae immediately starts trying to work out if killing this guy will cause a political crisis.)

Met a celebrity. I love him.

Less welcomingly, met another familiar face (engaged in a chess game with Mol). With a bit of assistance, she wins the game and scarpers, leaving the group with... Raphael, who proceeds to make some very disturbing comments.

Absolutely please do.

Astarion has a request of his own (one which results in him being stripped half-naked in the middle of the inn). A deal with the devil - this will in no means come back to bite us!

Larian please let me give him a hug as a friend. Please.

We meet Dammon again! He has good news and bad news. The good news is, with a bit of Infernal Iron, he can help cool Karlach down!

She's pretty pleased.

She's less pleased by the news that her Infernal Engine is just... too hot to exist in the material plane. Either she returns to Avernus, or she dies. It's... not a great choice, with Karlach determined not to ever return, even if it does cost her her life. Tae promises to find a solution.

The companions are generally sympathetic, in... their own ways.

(STR 8 vs STR 18. I'm just sayin' XD;; )

No time to rest and relax, though. Speak of the devil and she will come.

Tae telepathically reassures Wyll that they'll deal with it, and makes a deal of their own - they carry out Mizora's task, and she frees Wyll from his pact. Worth a try!

Meanwhile on the other side of camp, Tae finds Astarion trying to work out what his scars say via touch. They offer to have a look at them.

Tae recognises it as Infernal, but doesn't know the language, and draws it out instead. They suggest asking the others, which Astarion swiftly decides against. Okay, we can do that.

That night, Tae meets the Dream Visitor again.

They very much appreciate a hug. Tae feels sad but relieved they were able to help their guardian; I feel weird about it because I know exactly who they are XD;;

Back to the inn to meet Isobel. Shadowheart is less than impressed with Selûnite magic; Tae, who follows the fellow moon-associated chaotic good goddess Eilistraee, is pretty pleased with it.

The battle afterwards - less so. (Full disclosure - I tried this earlier on, before even talking to Dammon or Halsin, and failed. Reloaded, did other stuff, then tried again. Sorry but no, I am not losing my tiefling friends!) It's mostly a success, although the cultists do manage to get away with a hostage:

With the inn and Isobel safe for now, it's back into the dark. We ambush a party of cultists, and find their moon lantern, used to find their way through the shadow curse. Tae briefly debates on what to do, but...

You know a decision is ethically correct when [Astarion disapproves] appears <3

Lae'zel talks about enjoying battles, and adds, "And the sort made more thrilling with a hot-hearted tiefling at my side." Sorry, Lae'zel, the hot-hearted tiefling is dating the soft and squishy pastel druid. I'll set you guys up in another playthrough ^_^;;

Have a Concerning Conversation with Astarion. Amazing how he's actually able to say "you have a big heart" with "(derogatory)" at the end XD;; No bestie we're not taking over the cult, okay <3

Story of their lives.

Meanwhile, with Karlach...

And they have a very nice night indeed!

tfw you break a ten-year dry spell and promptly get the zoomies.

Only awkwardness to spoil the morning - Gale, with some... misinterpretations.

He's really sweet! Tae adores him as a friend! But they've also turned down all his advances so the whole thing is just... weird.

You know what no one is romancing Astarion in this run, go show him some love and patience and acceptance. It'll be good for both of you, I think!

Next stop - the House of Healing, to see what we can do about Art's condition and the curse, then onwards to Moonrise Towers. Current approvals: Karlach, Gale, and Wyll are all maxed out on 100, Shadowheart is on 69 nice, Lae'zel on 57, Astarion languishing on 42. Determined to get to 50 by the end of act 2, dangit!

[weve-got-dnd-at-home]

"Nezes is Not Having a Good Time"

Nezes is the character I love most of all of my characters. She helped to defeated Strahd, then was thrown into an entirely new world by a mindflayer to go after her friend, Izek. She's tired.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nezes was exhausted.

Not the tired of walking all day on a dusty path or the tired of needing sleep after a long day. Not even the tired of a parent awake with a weepy baby. Bone-deep exhausted. She was so tired that her soul ached from it. She had been having the two weeks from hell. 

Had it really be less than a month? There was no way. She had experienced entire lifetimes in those two weeks. She had gained a soul, gained, lost, and regained a patron to give her powers, been saved by a halfling and a bird-shifter, defeated two horrible monsters, met werewolves and an elf who ran purely on rage, befriended apex predators, has her home burned to the ground, found that her best friend had been turned into a… new being, fused with others, started a war with the vampire lord, and, finally, broke into his castle and killed him. She had hoped that would be the end. That they could rebuild Vlakki, she could live in peace with Garrett and Corvy, and just rest. 

Then Izek had been grabbed by the sword. Nezes knew he would do other things, he had made a pact with the sword after all. But she had hoped it wouldn't claim it's boon for a little while. A fool she had been, she supposed. Doubly so to convince the mindflayer to take her through realities to go after him. 

Izek would have been fine. He was Izek. He could have killed the vampire lord by himself. But he was her friend. She loved him. She couldn't just let him go off and not know what happened to him, if she could help. He was her family now. Though, he'd probably hate it a lot if she said that to him. 

As Nezes laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the caricature of her girlfriend storm out of the inn, she realized she should have waited a day. Just one. To find Exe and make sure she was okay. To eat a good meal with Garrett, uninhibited by camping or monsters or revelations that your girlfriend is actually a God. To just have one night to do what she had dreamed of for so long–snuggling Corvy and being safe. One day before the mindflayer sent her after Izek in this chaotic place.

Family. Vallaki. Corvy. Nezes was so mad she could spit. She was alone in this new world and she had only one thing that she could use to contact the ones she loved, the dream walking Agatha had given her. And despite how she ached for her friends, her family, she had used the power for the night to contact Gale's dad. Because it had been important to her. Because Nezes was trying to be good and kind.

They’d found Xen’thril alright, and Gale had done nothing but start a fight with another God. Did Gale even have a right to be pissed off, when she used Nezes’ powers and caused the trouble herself? 

If Izek was there, he would have said that Gale was an idiot. If Garrett was there, he would have been more kind. He would have asked Gale what was wrong, and what the situation was. But Nezes didn’t want to be kind. She didn’t want to be like Garrett. She wanted, for just one moment, to be selfish. Gale was plenty selfish, it seemed. She had family and friends whom she could visit and she just didn’t. Because she was busy. And unlike Corvy, she hadn’t even fought Strahd. No, her dad had.

Nezes ached so fiercely she thought she might cough up blood. 

She was jealous. It coated her mouth and throat like venom. The Cursebreakers had had an entire group and they had become heroes. They all had happy lives and were thriving. Vallaki had never burned. The Bluewater Inn had never crumbled to ash. 

You are not even worth remembering. The words, like a curse from the vampire lord, echoed in her head every waking moment. Being in Vallaki felt wrong. Every time she closed her eyes she saw flames and smoke and felt Corvy’s blood on her hands. 

Nezes pushed herself out of bed and limped over to the wardrobe to comb her hair. Her body ached, still sore from… well, from everything. The mirror sitting atop the wardrobe winked in the sunlight coming through the window, and in its reflection Nezes saw herself.

It wasn’t even herself, she realized. Her face was leaner, and she had several small scars now. Her eyes were hard and her lips pulled down in a way that looked like she’d forgotten how to smile. She looked tired. She was tired. Nezes wondered if she could still play instruments. Had she lost that ability when Kasxif changed her? Had she lost it on the journey here?

Nezes combed out her curls as best she could, vowing to just cut it all off if she had to keep going on these adventures. She used to take such good care of her hair. She loved its blue color and the curls, but now it was just work. She’d be able to fight better if it was a bob. Maybe she’d ask Dent to do it.

Nezes got dressed, strapped the sword of light to her back, and took a deep breath before stepping out of the inn room. Things would get better. She just had to get some breakfast. “It’ll be okay,” she whispered to herself, shutting the door.

The words rang hollow. 

Story copyright Dawn E. Dagger, 2024. Character copyright Dawn E. Dagger, Hector Fox, Dominic DK, and SchroGrey, 2024. Characters, quotes, and story cannot be used without written permission. ‘Strahd,’ ‘mindflayer,’ and ‘Vallaki’ are copyrighted by Dungeons and Dragons and Wizards of the Coast, and are used in reference as allowed by fair use copyright law.

[gamersaph]

BG3 Campaign 1: Journal: Day 1

Okay, so I've been playing BG3 since it came out and I really should have been doing this since i started because ?? I love doing things like this....SO

My character:

Name: Nyxanna

Race: Drow

Class: Sorcerer - Wild Magic

Current level (as of this post): 6

Current Party: Shadowheart - Astarion - Gale

A quick summary of some highlights:

DID NOT kill Kagbitch (As I disrespectfully like referring to Kagha as) but oh man...W

I managed to help the Tieflings and we partied! (Shadowheart and I shared our first kiss <3 ) I didn't even think I was going to like her...i was very set on Wyll; but she warmed my heart and wiggled her way in I LOVE the way she slowly opens up and the banter and it just...chef kiss - I adore her and the dynamic she can have with Tav

SCOUT HAS BEEN RECRUITED and I'm still trying to get the little owl-bear friend to come to camp? Gale scared him away....

met Raphael ONCE ? I...Am scared of when he'll decide to turn up next.

Astarion did in fact, kill me, it was worth it. I'm so glad I had revivify scrolls....

The deep gnome we save on that windmill? Yeah...hit the wrong lever and sent him FLYING i RUSHED to my previous save because I felt so bad

We defeated/fought a goblin camp - RIP Minthara, I will have to romance you another playstyle where I feel more evil

Helped some people out at a fire at a manor and its revealed Wyll is the son of a DUKE

Headed to the under dark! Found a mages tower, fought some mimics, saved some poor man from....exploding mushrooms?

And for romance?

Shadowheart

Gale is also interested? In a conversation with him and Astarion - Astarion asked him when he's going to stop pining to which Gale said 'Its been a year since Mystra left me, I'm over it' - Astarion then mentioned he wasn't referring to Mystra which made me GASSPP

SIR - Shadowheart has my...well...heart XD don't try and get under my skin like this!

SO where am I currently:

I am currently still exploring the under dark! I have yet to make my way to moon rise.

I defeated to Druegar camp//Nere

After two attempts (roughly 3-4 hours each...)

I did it

In the middle of the fight it randomly? stopped? The druegar just stopped fighting me? I don't know WHAT caused this, I'm thinking one of those 'Mindmasters' spells must have back fired. But i had no complaints because it let me

hot dark elf man - I mean...EVIL dark elf man was beheaded

If evil why hot

He had no right looking like this.

Also? He obviously pisses me off and that camp made me SO upset! Yes these two thoughts coexist; I am pulling my hair out about it...and also twirling it.

BUT ANYWAY

I managed to help free some animals and slowly brought down the camp...oh it was marvelous revealing all the slaughtered Druegar to him.

He's such a coward! And incredibly easy to off when you get rid of the camp.

I think my time in the under dark is about wrapped up with this!

I have to go back and fight 'auntie ethel....' I think if I can get to level 6 I might be able to do so finally.

All of my quests are starting to lead to Moonrise so I may head there ? But I'm just worried level 6 is still too low....

I'll need to look over my quests again to see and make sure they actually are set for Moonrise before I leave....

[msookyspooky]

Stu one attacked her at the house defo no way billy have time to leave, get out the outfit and appear at the window that quick also think way he running the knife round her neck and down her body hints to the having thing for her confession plus way clasps the knife fits stu mo

Absolutely, 100%. I actually think Stu had the higher kill count AND he was the one that liked to gut ppl; not Billy. Billy killed out of revenge / pettiness while Stu killed for both sadistic glee AND pettiness.

- Billy obviously killed Maureen while Stu helped/watched.

- Steve was definitely gutted by Stu you cannot change my mind.

- The Casey death is controversial bc Wes says Billy killed her because of the way he stabbed overhead and strangled her while Kevin says Stu killed both Steve and Casey. It could be either one but I gotta agree with Kevin on this bc...Yeah, Billy strangles Sid at the end but so did Stu? Casey recognized her killer when she removed the mask. Not saying she wouldn't recognize Billy as Stu's friend but I think it was heavily implied she recognized it as Stu; her ex boyfriend who had a huge motive for killing her. And the way she was killed was being gutted and hung which is such a Stu thing to do. He even knew so much about how to gut someone at the fountain...Why? Cause he does it to his victims and I truly think him and Billy both chased Casey throughout the house (Stu at the patio, Billy on the phone at the front door) but Stu was who killed her.

- Stu was getting Neil while Billy distracted Sid in their makeout session.

- Stu was the one that attacked her in her home (Like you said) while Billy called Sidney to get her outside so Stu could slip in in costume bc come on. That was Billy Loomis on that phone. The tantrum he had while describing her mother? Billy. PLUS, we hear Stu on the stairs say "Easy easy" in his voice AND he was so much more of a perverted sadist than Billy was imo. Not that Billy wouldn't taunt her with the knife but Stu would actually get off on it and him making the knife almost sexual is such a Stu Macher move IM JS!

- I think the Ghostface in the school bathroom was an awful prank I actually don't think it was Billy or Stu bc that is way too risky even for those idiots AND there was no knife.

- Billy killed Tatum (The door killed her tbf but still) bc Stu was busy entertaining at his party with Gale Weathers there. It would be highly sus if he went missing at his own party while his girlfriend was found murdered. He knew Billy was waiting for her inside (probably from entering through a back door) to go to the garage fridge so he told her to get him a few beers knowing Billy would get her while he distracted everyone with talking about Gale and probably a loud horror movie they were just putting in bc they were deciding what to watch right before Tatum leaves. When Stu says "Hey want another beer? I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!"....She was already dead, hanging in the garage door and Stu was admiring Billy's handy work. Honestly, that should have been clue number one he was the killer or one of them bc as far as we knew most of the beer was in the fridge in the garage where her body was 😶 Which OF COURSE he acted shocked by when pointing the finger at Randy which....How would he know Billy was dead? Like okay 🚩🚩🚩

- Stu pretended to Stab Billy and chased her through the house out the attic window.

- Now I gotta wonder if they both wore the costume and Billy hurried up and went upstairs. Like Stu was definitely the one to kill Kenny and was outside but could Billy have been the one to almost kill Randy or Stu? Did Stu stab Dewey or Billy did it? Idk!! I feel like most of the costume was Stu but I lowkey can't imagine Billy just waiting upstairs. So idk who killed who at the party after Tatum. HOWEVER!!! I'd say majority was Stu bc Billy says "I thought you said she was dead?" about Gale meaning Stu had to have checked the van down the road to see. So I think they both had on the costume. Kind of makes me change my mind of Stu damgling the keys to the jeep bc that's a lot for him to quickly take off the costume to stop Randy from warning Sid versus Billy running back inside from a back door to take off the costume while Stu stalled Sidney. IDK IT'S A TOSS UP AT THE PARTY FOR ME 🥴