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supacutiepie · 19 days ago

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My full playthrough verse for Dragon Age is 'What the World Asks of Its Children' and the idea is that we focus on children and how they change dynamics and themes in all four games. (Also I love Dorian and he's the main star for a good portion of the au because he started it with Theia and Ataashi) Origins: Running of the 78% reasonable idea that Aegis is the child being asked to save the world. So her real part of the story will be an after story tale, about her Mother, Edona. DA2: This time, Hawke is the parent and the twins are the children he raises with help from his companions. Hawke is a disabled ex-sexworker doing his very fucking best. (Instead of either Bethany or Carver dying in Lothering, it's Leandra. And the twins are way younger, at like ten or eleven during the opening act) Sort of between DA2 and Inquisition: Dorian and the story about his girls. 'A girl named Dragon': how he gets captured and meets a dying tal-vashoth, and how this ends with him adopting a little girl named Ataashi. And then 'The Ghost of a Girl', how he takes a terrified and mute elf under his coat and they make a little family. Also in this era is Bull's 'Sea of Candles'. where he learns he has a daughter but the human mother wants nothing to do with the child because it kiiiinda ruined her. Tal-Rasani is a treasure. Then we get into Inquisition: Where The Herald is an elvhen hunter named Liora who lost her husband at the conclave and the same day of the explosion she conceives her first child, several months later giving birth to a little girl named Dawn. And how the Inquisition changes when there are four little girls running around and then two angst twin teenagers LMAO PLUS morrigan has kieran. we're all girl dads here. Then to Veilguard: Rook is a Crow turned Warden. She was sweet ona boy several houses above hers, sweet for a long time and he even reciprocated her affections. enough so that they were each others only love - until she found out she was pregnant. His grandmother did not approve of the match at all, so she 'sent away' the girl and the child under the guise of 'its not safe to carry a dellamorte child' and that Rook would be able to deliver the babe somewhere safer. Bull shit. She got like, a month of rest after giving birth before she was ambushed by darkspawn. Caterina didn't know how pregnant Rook was because rook had suspicions about the old crone. So timeline was, Caterina was trying to get rid of both her and the baby. Rook is blighted, found by wardens carrying her newborn through the woods, and saved by the joining. All of this happens pre wigmaker - lucanis thinks his sweetheart was killed on an assignment bc thats what caterina tells everyone. i dont like this woman. cont

SO Lucanis thinks Rook was KIA. Never even knew she was pregnant. And Rook becomes a Warden sorta not her choice but it's what she can do, because she sort of thinks Caterina tried to kill her. So, she works with the Wardens, raises her daughter, and tries to think of a future. She doesn't get a chance to get much information about Antiva in. But she gets a single contact, she gets the news that the 'Demon of Vyrantium' is dead. That her 'Luca' is dead. So, for a year, she thinks Lucanis is dead, and he's thought she was dead for four years. Imagine his shock when she rescues him. Actually imagine VIAGO'S shock when Teia wide eyed and shocked brings Rock and Harding into the Diamond, imagine CATERINA'S shock and disdain, trying to twist it around as though Rook hid the fact she was alive. Rook doesn't mention her daughter, doesn't trust that information to the first talon at all but damn, she tells viago and teia in secret when she can. they agree, its not a safe place. SO... Imagine being Lucanis, first being rescued by the very alive first love you ever had. THEN her telling him not to freak out - but his mini me is five years old and running amok in the lighthouse. And then, imagine seeing some FUCK ASS Warden pick up said lil girl and she squeals about her 'uncle dav!' and oh BOY you thought those two were catty before???? now its a DAD FIGHT (It's not, because literally everyone and the spirits can tell that little girl belongs to Lucanis, but Lucanis is so deep in his head about spite he's terrified she'll get hurt so he tries to remain distanced but this is literally the one thing he's wanted his whole life SOOOO) ((Also, those weeks where rook is gone? Dad Adventures, the estranged father and the step dad LMAOO) ANYWAYS!! I'm going to piece together this big massive au little by little. It's been my little pride and joy for seven, eight, TEN years man.

#what the world asks of its children #dragon age #dragon age 2 #dragon age inquisition #dragon age the veilguard #all of the CHILDREN #literally so many kids #everybody has children in this au #solas you bITCH

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bloodedhearts · 2 months ago

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Once my theme is ready I'll write these things properly on their pages BUT here have some info in alphabetical order:

BALDUR'S GATE 3 MUSES

My Astarion will always remain a spawn. I won't write him ascended.

For his personal quest, I will "default" to him freeing the other spawns after he killed Cazador and sending them to the Underdark.

He's a flirt, but he's hard to actually ship with. It takes a lot to reach him under his many layers.

I will mostly write him during BG3 timeline, but I'm open to do pre-game and post-game stuff, too.

Cassandra is a gold draconic sorcerer, which means she has high affinity with fire magic

She resisted her urge and ended up free from it after her dual with Orin, being alive and well at the end of the game. I won't write her otherwise.

In her playthrough, she was in a romantic relationship with Astarion, but she won't automatically be interested in him if you write him. Chemistry is needed, and I'm also open to ship her with other characters if chemistry is there.

In my headcanon, Cassandra couldn't resist her urge before getting the tadpole and could barely exist on her own.

My main verse is BG3, but I'm very interested in writing pre-game stuff and even post-game stuff.

My Shadowheart will always become a Selunite and betrayed Shar.

My "default" for her ending is that she accepted to let her parents rest in peace.

Chemistry is needed for shipping as usual.

I will mostly write her during BG3 timeline, but I'm open to do pre-game and post-game stuff, like I said for Astarion.

DRAGON AGE MUSES

My "default" for Fenris is that he stayed at Hawke's side and that they sided with the mages.

Like I said for Neve, he won't automatically have a crush on Hawke or sleep with Isabela if you write them because chemistry is always needed. I'm also willing to ship him with other characters if chemistry is there.

I'm willing to write pre-DA2 stuff, but I'll focus on DA2, DAI and DATV's timelines.

If we're writing in DAI or DATV's timelines and we're not shipping, you can assume Fenris is Hawke's lover. The one I have in mind is my main Hawke, Allys, who's a diplomatic/sarcastic mage who sided with the mages.

In DAI, romanced or not, he will come to Skyhold once he learns Hawke is there and help the Inquisition at his friend's/lover's side.

In DATV, he will be helping the Shadow Dragons.

He hates Solas deeply, and even more after he learned what happened to Varric.

I'm writing Neve hardened and not hardened. I personally saved Treviso in my first playthrough and Minrathous in my second one, and I know I'll save Treviso more often. I'll write both versions of Neve, but I'll mostly default to Treviso.

Neve will always become the protector of Dock Town at the end of her questline.

Because I'm always selective when it comes to shipping, she won't automatically have a crush on Rook or on Lucanis if you write them. Chemistry will always be needed. I'm willing to ship her with other characters too if chemistry is there.

I'm focusing on Veilguard timeline, but I'm also open to write her post-Veilguard and post-Trespasser.

My inquisitor Thalia Lavellan is a tempest rogue and she's a very skilled archer.

Her romance in DAI was with Solas, but I'm open to other ships if chemistry is there (especially with Cullen ngl because he's the one I've romanced the most in DAI). If we're not shipping, I'll default to a relationship with Solas, especially in Trespasser and Veilguard's timelines.

Dorian was Thalia's closest friend in DAI and it'll default to this when it applies.

She has a twin brother named Zephyr.

I'm open to pre-Inquisition stuff, but I'm more interested in writing her during DAI, Trespasser, Veilguard and the gap between these games.

#temp info tag

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arianakristine · 1 month ago

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For the mini Fic! I—broken glass x Graham and Belle?

This prompt was from a million years ago, and the first paragraph sat for a million years. Hi, everyone! I have a muse again for a minute!

Title: Broken Glass

Note: Breaking Free verse. Because this is a verse now.

He wasrelaxed for a moment, pulling his hands through the long strands of her hair asshe breathed heavily across the skin of his chest. She was awake but justbarely, mellowed and drifting towards sleep. It was rare to see her so atpeace, especially with all the running around they’d had to do in the past fewweeks.

Hefinally turned his head to look down at her, fingers cupping along her jaw toprompt her to look up. Her green eyes were wide and inquisitive, but her lipscurled into a smile to see his own.

“Hmm?”she murmured her question, and her hand snaked down his ribs until her fingerscaught over his hipbone.

Heshook his head and leaned down, nudging her nose with his. “Nothing. Just …quiet.”

Herlashes flickered across her cheeks and she leaned up to press a slow kiss tohis lips. “Won’t be long. But yeah … it’s kinda nice,” she agreed.

Hehummed an agreement; it wouldn’t last long. With the little spells slowlycoming apart at the seams came more danger from Regina and the rest of the lotlurking behind the curtain of the Dark Curse.

This most recent, and potentially significant,win for their side only heightened the pressure they were in, and most ofyesterday was spent on edge as they anticipated the fallout from it. She hadfrozen him out for half of the day, then picked fights for the other half. The pent-uptension had made their coupling quick, hard, aggressive, and now they hadfinally tempered down to something more akin to themselves.

“Quiet can certainly have itsadvantages,” she said huskily. She dragged her lips across his shoulder, herthumb absently rubbing across the line of his hip, and something in the bareintimacy of it stirred his blood.

He pressedher back into the sheets, biting down on her neck as his hands roamed down herbody. He was just about to devour her entirely and take his time doing so, whenof course his cell went off.

“No,”she groaned out, and hooked her leg over him. “Stay.”

Hekissed her languidly, toying with the idea of ignoring it completely as itbuzzed again. But the feeling of before, of anticipating another shoe dropping…. “Let me just check it.”

Shepouted. “Fine, Mr. Officer,” she teased, and untangled from him. She rose fromthe sheets and stretched. She didn’t bother grabbing a robe as she pattedtowards the kitchen. “I’m going to get a snack, then.”

Hegrowled under his breath as he watched her leave, snagging the offending phoneoff the dresser. He was glad to see the humor back in her, even if it was justto drive him crazy.

The newer technology she hadprocured for him after her pre-election stopover in Boston was still a bitconfusing, and he struggled to unlock his screen. It took him a moment to findthe now-familiar contact that had popped up with its alert. He sighed and draggedhis hand through his hair, letting the curls stand on end. Now, this was whathe had been expecting. “It’s an actual call. Problem at the Rabbit Hole.”

Emmapeeked into the doorway, a jar of peanut butter in hand, knife already stickingout of it. “Rabbit Hole,” she said slowly, a hint of dread in her tone. “…who’s that?”

He grabbedhis boxers from the pool of clothes on the floor and pulled them on. “It’sJefferson. He just caught sight of broken glass on the street; looks like noone’s actually called it in yet. And we know it’s not like he’s going to investigate,” he said somewhat bitterly.

He hadactually thought they were going to gain an extra fighter when they’d stumbledon the hatter on the hill, but he barely counted as an ally.

They had been coming from the townline, leaving behind a newly reunited family, when the cruiser’s tire popped.Graham hadn’t been too concerned about being stuck in the middle of the woods,though he had seen something different in the way Emma was reacting to it. Itwasn’t long before they understood it as intuition, and the hatter appearedmere moments later.

He had been enigmatic, stirring up thealready tense mood with pressing questions and barely-there threats. When herealized that they both knew about the curse, he had been surprised, relief looseninghis tongue to the point he was tripping over his words.

It was almost painful to admit thatthey had no idea how to break it. For Jefferson, it was sobering. Relieftransformed into anger, and he had been adamant that Emma had magic in her.Graham could have told him that much, but without any clue how to use it, itwas worthless.

They had left the mansion with afresh set of bruises around Emma’s wrist and an ache in Graham’s fist acquiredbefore the understanding had been come to. Jefferson was left to something lessthreatening, and had managed to begrudgingly admit that at least they had ateam forming for their side before they left.

That didn’t mean they had any newideas.

Jeffersonhad decided to bury himself back into his mansion, sulking and subdued. He poppedback up with random texts at random hours, half thought out plots and memoriesthat he thought could be helpful. In fact, some of those ideas were infact helpful, popping threads of Regina’s hold.

But he was never satisfied. So far,Jefferson thought it had all been fruitless, even though they had managed tostitch together some happy endings here and there. In his eyes, if it didn’tmean that Paige was Grace again, it didn’t count.

Graham rubbed the back of his neckas he thought about the implications of this observation. “So we don’t knowwhat’s involved,” he continued.

Emmafrowned and chewed on her lip. “So that means it might not have even been abreak in. It might have been a fight, or worse,” she collapsed against thedoorframe and her eyes rolled upward. “If it’s her, we should both go. I toldyou I don’t like the thought of her on her own there.”

Hegrimaced. “Well, we got Jefferson’s eyes in that direction at least. We don’tknow anything yet, and Mikey should have been on shift, too,” he reasoned.

“Istill say we should have gotten her elsewhere. It’s only been a few days, andwe know Sidney frequents that place,” she grumbled.

“Wetried,” he reminded, and tossed a shirt over his head. One of the fights shepicked earlier had been of that, but they couldn’t force anything on her afterdecades prior of just that from Regina. He pulled on his jacket and glancedback at her. “You can stay here, you know. We don’t actually know if anythinghappened. It was a long day today, and you’ve gotta meet Henry on the way toschool tomorrow.”

Hetried to facilitate her time with Henry as much as possible, for the both ofthem. Emma couldn’t quite see just how much the boy loved her, and was evenmore reluctant to admit to herself how much she loved him, but maybe someday.In the meantime, the time spent together kept them all sane. Especially Henry,who he worried after more than anyone else, stuck under Regina’s unyieldinghand.

Shesnorted. “Like I could sleep,” she griped and stalked over to the spare room.

Hepulled on his trousers and frowned deeply at his phone. There was still nothingfrom the Rabbit Hole. He quickly shot off an answering text to Jefferson,asking him to keep the telescope on the bar until he got there. If nothingelse, he trusted him to do that.

Whenshe came back, she was dressed and her hair was brushed through, but her facewas pulled into a scowl. “I don’t like this, Graham.”

Hecautiously grabbed her hand, thumb rolling over the tattoo on her wrist. Shevisibly relaxed, and he breathed through knowing he could at least get her todo that. “I know you don’t. But every day we get a little closer to the end, Iknow it.”

Shegrimaced and looked up at him. “I wish I had your optimism,” she said.

Heshrugged. “I only get mine from the kid, so,” he teased.

Shetried to hide a smile and then tugged on her red jacket. “C’mon, let’s get thisover with. I want to get back in bed.”

“I toldyou that you could sleep,” he said with a shrug.

“And Itold you I won’t be sleeping,” she said and tugged on his hand.

Whenthey pulled up, there was a light dusting of snow across the sidewalk,glimmering in the dim glow of the neon lights. He was barely able to discernthe ice from the shards of glass, though they were apparent. “Hey, walkcareful,” he warned back to Emma. He heard the car door slam and then thecareful crunch of snow under boots and knew she was heeding his words.

Heexamined the shatter of the door, spider-webbing outward from a hole towardsthe bottom. “Mikey?” he called.

“Sheriff?”Mikey answered, and he peeked through the fractures of the window. He waswiping his hands with a dirty rag, and he nodded. “Someone call it in, Iguess?”

“Yeah,”he said and sidestepped the glass to open the door. “Looks like you had someproblems tonight.” He scanned the bar area, but it looked like just the threeemployees were left, along with Leroy on the back stool finishing a drink andalmost asleep. Granny must’ve kicked him out.

Mikeyshrugged. “Ah, nothing much. I’ll get it boarded up so no one gets in and thenI’ll sweep up the walk. Be good as new by tomorrow. You know how these drunksget.”

“Anybodyhurt?” Emma asked as she ducked through the doorway.

Mikeyput a stool on the bar top. “Some egos, maybe, Sheriff two.”

Herelaxed, especially with the teasing tone Mikey had taken. It was a tossup howpeople accepted Emma now, whiplashing from blatantly ignoring her toconsidering her a saint. Mikey, for all he didn’t know of his former self, wasat least ready to let the new title slip off his tongue easily. “How’d it start?” Graham asked, flipping out anotebook. Even if this had nothing to do with the feeling from yesterday, he’dhave to do his job at least.

“Withme, probably.”

Graham turnedto find the girl in question. Her hair was thrown up on top of her head, makeupheavy, and she was in an electric blue tube top, sheer stockings, and shortsthat belied the blistering cold outside. Her normal accent was pushed back bythe coarser twang of her cursed one. She wore a smirk and a hand on her hip.

“Who are you?” the voice asked,dark stringy hair obscuring features. The figure was small, frail, huddled intothemselves. The voice was plainly female, if hoarse in disuse.

Graham hesitated, and glancedback to the two behind him before responding. “I’m the Sheriff,” he answeredsimply, and decided to use the excuse they meant to give the nurse beforeJefferson took the matter into his own hands. “We have reason to believe youare here under false pretenses.”

The girl untangled her limbs andher face caught the moonlight. Graham sucked in a sharp breath, suddenly struckby familiarity. Emma was close, fingers brushing up against his own. He turnedto her and swallowed, inclining his head slightly. Jefferson was right.

The prisoner in the tower. Hedidn’t know her name, but he knew enough that Regina thought her importantenough to capture rather than kill. Important enough, but yet not so importantas to shine any light on her imprisonment. There had been one aborted rescueattempt, he thought, but without any follow-through.

Jefferson had promised a blow toRegina. If she still wanted the girl hidden even with the curse, releasing hercertainly would be.

Jefferson was impatient, andpushed to the front of them. His eyes were dark, jaw set. “Come with us.” Heyanked her to her feet and she was lifted like a ragdoll.

The girl’s eyes were wide,scared, and she let out a sharp squeak of what he hoped was surprise and notpain.

“Jefferson…,” he growled, andtook his shoulder. The man’s answering look was blank, as if he didn’trecognize what he was doing as wrong.

“We have to get her out of herebefore Regina’s lackeys catch on,” he said, his tone patronizing. “I would haveguessed you’d realize that, being that you used to be one of them.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Emma cutin sharply, and pushed the hatter back. She pinned him with a glare. She turnedto the girl and frowned. “Look, me and Graham, we’re from the sheriff’s office.We can get you out of here.”

Her eyes flashed back and forthbetween all of them. “I don’t,” she hesitated and then licked her lips. “Idon’t know why I’m here.”

“You don’t belong here,” Emmasaid firmly, and then pulled off her leather jacket. She draped it over thegirl’s thin shoulders and guided her toward the door. “We’re going to get youhome.”

Heshook off the memory. “Not your father again, Lacey?” Graham finally asked. Itdidn’t look like the handiwork of the Queen, though he knew that Regina must beseething over her loss. Maurice had been set up in place as explanation for herimprisonment, though, so the curse still had him pushing against his daughterout in the world and out of confinement. It had been the initial push-back ingetting her reintegrated into a life.

Laceyshook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “Nah, he’s keepin’ hisdistance for now,” she said and moved to the pool table. “It’s the guy that’sbeen mooning all over me since I started work again. He took offense to metryin’ to snag a date off Keith.”

“Keith,”Graham murmured, and his jaw tightened. He barely remembered the man from theother realm, but enough that he was set on edge. He turned to Emma, wonderingif she got the same vibe from his cursed counterpart. She was staring rightback at him, and gave a bare shrug.

“Wait,so this was some big macho fight over you? Don’t guys know?” Emma said withforced humor.

Laceysmirked and pulled a couple pool sticks back into the rack. “Well, anyway. Hetried to pull some punches, got them both kicked out. Next thing you know, thedoor’s all shattered to hell. Angry pricks.”

“Who’sthe other guy, then?” Graham asked, and scratched the back of his head. Hehated the fact that her cursed persona had no problem exposing herself todanger. He could barely see the kind, open face of the girl he once knew behindthe personality of this woman.

Shesmacked her gum and moved the cue chalk under the table. “The landlord.”

Hestartled. “What?”

Emmaset her hands on her hips, jaw tight. Her eyes were flaming, and he could seeevery last bit of residual anger from the election on her face. “Gold.”

Grahamnarrowed his gaze on her. “Gold?” he asked, and turned to Mikey forconfirmation. Mikey bobbed his head, still wiping down glasses, but not reallypaying attention. He turned to Emma next, feeling that pit of dread suddenly takingmore shape.

Instantly,it made sense. A secret prisoner in a tower was one saved for leverage. He was not expecting aconnection to Rumpelstiltskin, but Regina would want to wield stakes againsthim in this world just as much as she would in the other.

Hewondered if it was better or worse that she was out of the hospital basement,for any of them.

Laceyspun on her heel and reached for the whiskey on the top shelf. She pouredherself a glass and pushed a messy lock of hair behind her ear. “I don’t knowwhy he’s been so damn persistent. Talkin’ about keepin’ me safe and all that. Ican take care of myself,” she ground out.

Emma slid next to him, and he couldpractically feel her wariness. “Sure, Lacey, but it doesn’t hurt to take someextra precautions. You’ve been back on your feet for, what, two days?”

Laceyshook her head and grinned wryly. “So it makes sense that I wanna get back tomy routine, right?” She took back a shot.

“Lacey,take it easy. It’s comin’ out of your tips,” Mikey warned, and then disappearedinto the back room.

“Yeah,yeah,” she muttered and tipped her head at them. “Want any?”

Hecould see Emma’s head shake in the negative in time with his before they shareda look. Graham tucked away the notebook. “Look, Lacey … I understand that youwant your freedom—“

“No,”she said firmly, and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I deserve my freedom. If Dad hadn’t had melocked up in the first place, this wouldn’t be an issue,” she ground out.

Grahamgave a conceding nod. “You do. But it doesn’t hurt to take precautions. Maybetake a week off, get settled.”

“And dowhat? At least people know to look if I don’t show up at work,” she argued.

Graham’shead dropped, and he silently agreed. Emma came to flank him. “Maybe itwouldn’t hurt to take up a self-defense class or two, though,” she said dryly.

Laceysmirked. “That I might consider.”

Oncethey had obligatorily written down their notes, taken their pictures, andlogged the statements, they walked out together back into the snow. Grahamshared a look with her as the patched up door closed behind them. “We tried,”he said, seeing the furrow that creased her forehead.

Shetook in a deep breath and her shoulders slumped. “Yeah. I know we did,” shesaid dejectedly.

“Is sheokay?”

Theyboth turned toward the dark alley, barely making out the outline of the figurein the shadows. The accent, however, was unmistakable.

Graham’sshoulders squared. “That’s not your business.”

Hestepped forward, barely glancing toward the broken window. “I just need toknow.”

Emmalocked her hand in his and glared at the man. “Why? Haven’t you caused enoughtrouble?”

Hisanswering look was impatient, and he leaned heavily on his cane. “She must bekept safe, and I am only looking to that. With Regina you can never be tooprepared.”

Emmawas tense, and only glowered. They may agree about Regina, but blindly trustingGold was a mistake only to make once.

Gold took the silence in stride,and sneered. “So, perhaps a deal’s in order.”

Grahamraised his chin. He hadn’t outright told the man that he had his memories,hadn’t told him that he knew who he was. He suspected he knew anyway. “I don’tmake deals with people I don’t trust,” he said darkly.

Goldsneered. “Then maybe it’s a good thing that your girl here owes me a favor.”

Emmavisibly bristled, and her spine straightened. Her grip on his tightened. “’Hisgirl’ gets final say in which favor she says yes to,” she replied haughtily.

His eyetwitched, and Graham gently tugged on her hand to bring hershoulder-to-shoulder with him. He was sure they didn’t make too intimidating apair to an immortal like he was, but he needed to punctuate her stand with oneof his own.

Goldnearly rolled his eyes. “Fine, then, Huntsman, what will get you two toconcede?”

Grahamtried not to falter. He had never been so blatant with the secret they bothwished to hide. His jaw set and he growled under his breath. “Why does itmatter?”

His jawset, eyes taking on a murderous glint. “I don’t much enjoy repeating myself.”

Emmasqueezed his hand gently and then released it to take a step forward. “Thehearts, then. Help us get them back.”

Grahamturned to her, feeling that empty place within him tighten in a strange sort ofway. He couldn’t believe how much he loved her, even without it.

Gold,for his part, scoffed. “Much good they will do you.”

“Betterthan being a pawn for Regina’s use,” she countered.

“Clevergirl,” he replied, grin stretching across his face darkly. The imp he once wasfelt much more apparent in his current state of amusement. “It’s a deal, then?I help you both get the queen’s rotten hands from those souls, and you keep myBelle safe.”

“How can we trust that you’ll be able to doit?” Emma asked cautiously.

Hisgrin deepened. “You still doubt me after the election?”

Emma gloweredat him. “Not a good time to remind me, Gold.”

“Do youhave magic?” Graham cut in, having finally centered his thoughts.

“Ah,this is the world without it, Huntsman,” he replied.

Hecocked an eyebrow. It wasn’t exactly an answer, but he chose not to press. Yet.“Then she doesn’t have any?”

Gold’seyes glimmered. “The only one that has any semblance of magic is beside you.”

Emmafaltered at that, and glanced between them two blankly a moment before rollingher shoulders back. She still grappled with that idea, and it was painted clearas day on her face in this moment. Still, she pressed forward. “Is that why you’rehanging on to that favor?”

“Like Isaid, clever girl,” he replied. “But it also means we have an advantage againstthe queen. So, we should have a plan to get those stray internal organs in theright spot, especially since this one still has his own missing,” he said,jutting his chin in his direction.

Graham’scheek twitched, but he didn’t rise to the unspoken bait. “Sure, of course a plan’sin order. But the onus is on you for it.”

“A deal’sa deal,” he said darkly, and held out his hand.

“Why doesthis deal feel very Faustian?” Emma muttered for only him to hear beforestepping forward to shake his hand. “What exactly are you expecting from us?”

“Fornow? Make sure that the queen and that simple-minded twit Maurice don’t get nearher. I’ll have more for you later.”

Emmastepped back, a crunch of leftover glass beneath her heel. “I’m sure you will.”

Grahamneeded to remind himself: the enemy of my enemy and all that. “But you will notapproach Emma alone,” he bit out his own terms, his voice wrought with thegrowl he would have preferred to expel.

Emmacaught his hand again. “And you don’t approach him alone. We will reachout to you.”

Goldchuckled darkly. “Sheriff and Sheriff. Understood.” He dripped back into theshadows, but then lingered. “But know this – you may think you’re in charge. Ijust trust that you think about that before moving forward with any threats.”

Theydidn’t get a chance to answer, but Graham doubted there was much they couldhave said to counter him. Instead, he took a deep breath and turned to Emma. Shewas frowning deeply, but managed to shrug a shoulder up at his inspection. “Gottalive up to my name somehow. Not the best way to start, maybe, but there areworse ways.”

Hesighed. “You don’t have to be anything you don’t want to be,” he reminded.

Sheblinked. “Well, it’s apparently already been written,” she said bitterly.

“Hey,”he prompted, and finally took a glance around. “Let’s get to the car.”

Hewaited until the door slammed and they were at least slightly insulated fromprying eyes. She was still tense, and he started the car to get the heater blowingat the very least.

Therewas a long pause as her lips darkened in the heat, her arms crossed over herchest.

“Youdon’t have to do this, Emma. You don’t have to trust Gol—”

“I don’ttrust him. But Graham, this is the right thing to do.”

“We’regetting in deep, now,” he said softly. He leaned in and rested his fingertipsalong her jaw gently. “I just need to make sure you’re keeping yourself safe aswe chip away this curse.”

Sheleaned into his touch, looking thoughtful. “That’s why I keep you along for theride,” she said, teasing. She twisted to catch her lips against his skin. “Letme do this. It—Graham, if I can’t get yours back in your chest quite yet, letme make sure she can’t leverage anyone else in the same way.”

He shuthis eyes tightly and then nodded. “Okay. Okay, so long as we’re smart aboutthis. It’s got to be together.”

Shenodded once, firmly. “Together.”

Everythingin his past would have pointed to it not being enough. Despite this, he feltalmost optimistic.

Together,a savior and a wolf. This could work.

#lola2255 blog #gremma #gremmafic #fancytyper #this is literal years after you prompted this and idk if you're still on here but #whoops there's still a muse in there #my fic #kristy answers stuff

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ectogeo-rebubbles · 3 months ago

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fanfic end of year asks!

a fic you didn’t expect to write

something you learned this year

fic(s) you completed this year

fics you’ll continue next year

Thanks for the ask! ^_^ (For this ask game.)

14. a fic you didn’t expect to write

speech is silver, silence is golden, lmao. I really truly did not expect to write Garak/Morn smut. But when my friend requested it, I knew exactly how to write it lol. <3

15. something you learned this year

I may have already learned this, but exchanges with delayed fic reveals and then author reveals a week or so after that are BRUTAL on me, and I may (or may not) just avoid them from now on hahaha. The usual fic-posting waiting-for-comments anxiety but drawn out over a muuuuuch longer time period (finish the fic before the deadline to submit, wait a million years for it to even get revealed anonymously, then wait another whole week before I can even link to it on my blog...).

16. fic(s) you completed this year

27 fics finished this year!! Wooooo! (...And I may update this post later if I post any more hehe.)

completed fics posted:

the looking-glass war (Past Prologue Sisko POV, background Garashir)

and if you don't love me now, you will never love me again (Garashir, Broken Link getting together fic)

lockstitch (Sloanshir, embroidery as torture, sometime post-IAESL)

partners in crime (Siskarak, post-ITPM smut)

kiss me hard before you go (Garashir, Extreme Measures getting together fic)

Unlikely Weapon (Garashir, Julian killing Sloan = Garashir getting together scenario lol)

a contract is a contract is a contract (Quark/Brunt smut set during Body Parts)

me and the devil walking side by side (Siskarak smut about devotion and corruption and recognition of the self in the other and all that good stuff)

you're a criminal as long as you're mine (Siskarak smut set during Second Skin, about crossing and setting boundaries, and the homoerotic relationship between a weapon and its wielder)

speech is silver, silence is golden (Garak/Morn smut with pre-Garashir feels. Garak obvs gags Morn during the sex lol.)

every breath you take (Sloan records Garashir having sex)

going up, going down (cracky Siskarak smut, blowjob in the turbolift during ITPM)

A Professional Interest (augmentphobic Sloan interrogates Julian)

Deserted (Garashir stranded on a desert planet)

touch (Garashir IPS/BIL missing scene multichapter fic)

fics for events/exchanges that had restricted word counts (250 words or 300 words):

gaslight gatekeep girlboss (Kira/Winn and Kira/Ziyal, exactly what the title says lol)

the pros and cons of being possessed (Kira/Keiko, argument about what happened to Kira in The Reckoning and what happened to Keiko in The Assignment)

feels so right (Jadzia/Kira, Kira's fun way of coping with her internalized homophobia)

both lips on the mirror (Intendant/Kira, mirror Kira is obsessed with her counterpart)

not unfaithful but I'll stray (Kirawinn, Strange Bedfellows)

chirality (Intendant/Kira smut, Crossover)

drabbles (100 words):

lying down with dogs (Siskarak smut)

i think we're alone now (Garashir, IPS/BIL cuddles)

The Descent (quodo, The Ascent smut)

never loved nobody fully (Disko, two alternate versions provided depending on which Cardassian you want Sisko to actually be into lol. also some amazing people made a podfic of this, which is just so cool!!!)

The Mole (Sloan vs Kukalaka >:3)

sunshine bouquet (Garashir fluff, DBIP)

aaaaand, not fics, but while I'm rounding everything up, here's links to the two amvs I finished this year too:

Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls - Garashir (tumblr, youtube)

meet me in the pale moonlight by Lola Violet (tumblr, youtube)

17. fics you’ll continue next year

Sleep Awake is my only partially posted wip, but I have many unposted wip documents that I intend to post next year (or whenever I finish them)! These include wips with document titles such as: siskarak strip poker, Sub Rosa sloanshir, soulmate sloanshir, aphrodisiac sloanshir, Inquisition in the Abscess 'verse, julian jealous of imagined siskarak, and garak jealous of imagined sloanshir. :) (P.S. - Anyone can always feel free to ask me about any of those and I will immediately go write/edit at least a sentence on it. Trick me into making incremental progress on my shit, please!)

#ask game #fanfic end of year asks #send me asks #garashir #sloanshir #siskarak

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fanboyzuko · 7 months ago

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alright mai and azula are winning :3 enjoy a snippet of today's work

On a rare day they got to hang out with Azula in the palace, Mai pulled out a package with a deep sigh. Well versed in Mai’s sighs as Ty Lee was, she immediately turned her attention away from painting Azula’s nails. While it sounded like the typical annoyed sigh, it had a slight forced element to it which meant Mai was trying to cover up a positive emotion. Azula started to protest to Ty Lee’s inattention, then realized where her focus lay and also turned to Mai with an inquisitive raised eyebrow.

“I recently received a letter,” Mai said in perfect monotone. “And an accompanying package I chose to wait to open with you all, since there are supposedly presents for all of us.”

Ty Lee quickly cleaned up her nail polish set up, promising to finish Azula’s nails as soon as they opened their presents. Thankfully, Azula didn’t seem too miffed about the interruption and hardly acknowledged Ty Lee as she gracefully rolled off her bed and approached Mai with a huff.

“Well, what is the point of leaving us in suspense? Who is it from? Your uncle? I can’t imagine why he would-” She paused as Mai shook her head with a hint of a smile.

A smile?!

Ty Lee leaped off the bed and cartwheeled to join them at Azula’s couch where Mai had been lounging by herself. The package wasn’t well-wrapped. Or, it was extremely well-wrapped which made it look lumpy and stupid. Mai’s uncle wouldn’t send something like that, let alone for Mai’s friends too and make Mai smile. There was only one explanation.

“Is it from Zuko?!” Ty Lee exclaimed, flipping over the table between her and the couch to sit next to Mai. “Oh it has to be! That’s crazy! Why is he suddenly writing now? How long has it been? A year?”

“Hardly,” Azula scoffed, crossing her arms as she glared at the package as if she could set it alight with her glare alone. “It’ll be a year next month.”

Mai shared a look with Ty Lee which helped stifle Ty Lee’s giggle. It wouldn’t end well if they brought attention to how much Azula obviously missed her brother if she knew how long he’d been gone to the day. Before Azula could catch them having a silent conversation, Mai held a scroll out to Azula.

“He also wrote to you. I think he actually used his brain and knew it’d have a better chance of reaching you if it came through me.”

As Azula took the scroll with wide eyes, Ty Lee planted her hands on the couch to lean into Mai’s space. “I have one too, right?!”

“No, just the pres-”

The fwoosh of flames and sudden heat across from them cut Mai off. They turned to Azula, Mai’s expression unchanging while Ty Lee’s jaw dropped. Ashes fell from Azula’s fingertips as she laughed and blew the debris away.

“I don’t care what a banished loser has to say to me.”

“B-but I wanted to know!” Ty Lee whined, staring at the floating ashes in dismay. She was so curious as to what Zuko had been up to and why he decided to suddenly send them all presents! Even if he hadn’t written her a letter, he’d still sent her a present!

Mai sighed as she pulled another scroll from her sleeves and held it out to Ty Lee. “I had a feeling this would happen and brought mine as well. You may read it.”

There was a flicker of interest and regret in Azula’s eyes, which anyone else would have missed. But Ty Lee was always on the lookout for the minute displays of emotions in her two reserved friends. So Ty Lee whooped and flipped off the back of the couch, putting it and the table between her and Azula as she opened it and started reading aloud.

“Dear Mai, I would have written-”

“Read it to yourself,” Azula spat and yet her arms were still crossed and she showed no signs of pursuing Ty Lee. “I just said I don’t care what he has to say.”

“What he has to say to you!” Ty Lee fluttered her eyelashes, putting on the air of perfect, fake innocence. “But aren’t you curious about what he has to say to Mai?”

Mai huffed in minimal protest, thankfully catching on to Ty Lee’s game and not taking offense. It was likely Azula knew exactly what Ty Lee was doing too, but latched on to the excuse with a smug snort. “Ah yes, I suppose I am intrigued if their puppy love has survived banishment.” She sat on the table and waved at Ty Lee. “Carry on then.”

The letter was shorter than it should have been. Almost a year since his banishment, and that was really all Zuko had to say? Despite its pitiful length, Ty Lee still felt oddly energized by Zuko’s words. He hadn’t written anything about how he was doing or feeling, but even his straightforward report of his recent activity suggested he was doing well. Zuko had to be doing well if he was so busy! He hadn’t been moping about and doing nothing, like Azula sometimes theorized. Obviously, he’d been working hard and even if he wasn’t close to finding the Avatar, he was accomplishing things! Posing as an Earth Kingdom scholar, living with sandbenders, finding a spirit library? It all sounded so fanciful and exciting!

“Well, what are these presents that supposedly made him think of us?” Azula demanded as soon as Ty Lee finished reading.

Mai pulled the package into her lap and started the arduous task of unwrapping it. Zuko really took no chances of his glassware presents breaking while in transit. Finally, the box was open and three items were unearthed from the layers and layers of padding. There were no labels or cards, but it was quite obvious who each present was supposed to go to.

“So pink,” Mai said in disgust, holding the necklace up to Ty Lee.

It was indeed so pink. The pink glass was spiraled in such a way it was opaque, but there was a hint of translucence only glass could achieve. It was beautiful. It was… Pinker than the aura holding it. Ty Lee stared at her hands and felt tears prick her eyes.

A few months ago, Master Intira passed away in her old age. She’d known her time was coming to an end. She’d prepared everyone for her departure to the spirit world, and encouraged her school to carry her memory and legacy with joy. Ty Lee of course did as her master and idol instructed, but without Master Intira’s unwavering pink, there was no one else to compare her aura with.

Ty Lee thought she’d been doing a good job of keeping herself pink and free.

But compared to the cheerful spiraling glass pendant in her hands, Ty Lee’s pink was dull and lifeless.

“Well, I’ll give Zuzu this, he is shockingly competent at selecting suitable presents,” Azula drawled, pulling Ty Lee out of her panicked thoughts.

In her hands was a beautiful hairpin in the shape of red and orange flames. But the tip of the hairpin came into too much of a point to be anything other than a glass blade. Mai also had a glass weapon, some sort of short dagger that she held in her fist. The blade was a swirl of clear glass, black, and dark red. It was amusing how Zuko got them both a pretty weapon while he got Ty Lee a simple necklace, but Azula wasn’t wrong. Their presents did suit them.

“However, it would be quite unsightly for the nation’s princess to be seen wearing some trinketry from sandbenders,” Azula scoffed and loosened her hold on the hairpin. It balanced on her fingertip, about to fall.

It never crashed to the ground. Maybe the impact wouldn’t have shattered it. If it was supposed to be a weapon, surely it could survive more than hitting the ground from a few feet. But Ty Lee hadn’t been thinking that far ahead as she dived across the room to catch Azula’s present. There had been no time to think other than a sudden fear for her friend’s happiness. Azula would regret it if she broke Zuko’s present, Ty Lee knew it.

Azula, of course, mocked Ty Lee for her mad dash to catch the hairpin, but didn’t protest when Ty Lee put it away in Azula’s vanity. They changed topics quickly after that, no matter how much Ty Lee wanted to speculate about Zuko’s travels. And it wasn’t long until Ty Lee and Mai were escorted out of the palace. Hopefully they would be allowed to visit again in a few weeks.

“So,” Ty Lee exclaimed as they started the short walk to Mai’s home. “Are you going to write Zuko back? You should ask him more about the sandbenders! They sound so interesting. Oh and please pass on my thanks for my present!”

A lump in her throat made Ty Lee pause as she looked down at the swirling pink now hanging from her neck.

“It’s something I didn’t even know I needed.”

#writing progress

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scvcnofswords · 22 days ago

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NAME: Litriu Mahariel

NICKNAME(S)/ALIASES: Li, da'ghi/da'ghilan ( @purposecorrupted )

GENDER: genderqueer (she/they) woman

DATE OF BIRTH: 10 Umbralis 9:11 Dragon

PLACE OF BIRTH: Somewhere just north of the Frostback Basin

CURRENTLY LIVING: Brecilian Forest (pre-Origins), Wandering (Origins), Amaranthine (sporadic but she always comes back here eventually, between Origins and Veilguard), Skyhold (Briefly during Inquisition, until she returned to Amaranthine, wilds of Antiva (pre-Veilguard), the Fade (verse-dependent)

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Trade, Dalish Elvhen

EDUCATION: Educated by Keeper Marethari, educated by the wilds, by life, and by any books or tomes she can get her hands on honestly.

HAIR COLOR: Deep, deep red-auburn

EYE COLOR: Heather-grey, can look blue-lavender in certain light

HEIGHT: 5'1"

Family Information

BIRTH SIBLINGS: None

PARENTS: Lenydhan Mahariel and Alerie Ghilain

CHILDREN: N/A

PETS: See her bio page for the PACK (full post on the Pack wip)

Relationship Information

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: grey-asexual

STATUS: [verse dependent] Wary and extremely slow to-trust, and slow to fall, but falls hard and irrevocably, once she does. Yearner.

#[ litriu mahariel ] i took a little journey to the unknown and i've come back changed #[ litriu headcanon ] no i never sold my soul if i ever do throw my bones to the wolves

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fadewalking · 21 days ago

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Michel De Chevin

Verse: Pre-Inquisition

#v: TME

Ser Michel de Chevin is a chevalier and champion of Empress Celene. A warrior skilled in all forms of combat, he also deeply values the Chevalier code of honor. He owns a warhorse named Cheritenne. He was sponsored into the Academie des Chevaliers by Comte Brevin de Chalons, with whom Ser Michel was fostered as a youth.

Verse: Inquisition & Post-trespasser

#v: Inquisition

With Imshael dead, and Michel a disgraced Chevalier, he becomes an agent of the Inquisition. Regardless of whether the Inquisition becomes an arm of the Chantry or is disbanded, Michel stays close to the new Divine and offers her his blade. Post-trespasser, Michel gets sent off to wherever the Divine needs him. Whether that is around Orlais, at her side, or wherever else she sees fit.

Verses: Veilguard

#v: Imshael's Bane

Almost a decade after the events of Inquisition, Michel gets wind that Imshael has returned. Having sworn an oath to defeat him, he resolves to do so no matter how many times he returns. He follows the trail to Arlathan Forest, where he tries to make nice with the Dalish and Veil Jumpers as he continues his hunt. He is recruitable to the Veilguard under the condition that they promise to help him track down and kill Imshael (again).

#v: Orlais' Champion

After Solas' botched ritual, Darkspawn cut through the center of Orlais. With Halamshiral barely holding out, and Val Royeaux conquered by the rebel Orlesians aligned with The Venatori, Michel is sent by the Divine to lead armies against them and the Darkspawn to save Orlais, whether they want him or not.

#Michel De Chevin #AboutMichel #v: TME #v: Imshael's Bane #v: Orlais' Champion

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littlehoundthings · 3 months ago

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Verse: Footsteps of the Black Hound

Dragon Age Verse

The primary verse that will be used for Asheriel on this account. Ashe acts as a possible arcane swordsman companion for the WoF / Inquisitor / Rook throughout the series. Splitting this between games under the cut.

Pre-Dragon Age: Origins

Ashe originated from Redcliffe, where his father, sister, and brother were living. After his magic was manifested, he was sent to Kinloch Hold where he meets the Nanna (@avrorean), Iander (@theshirallen), and Jowan.

Ashe showed a remarkable lack of skill with primal and entropic magic, instead leaning into spirit and creation magic.

Oddly enough, Ashe found a vague father figure in Greagoir, who took him under his wing. This began Ashe learning how to wield a sword and dispel magic.

Thanks to Ian, he learns how to shapeshift.

Dragon Age: Origins (~18 years old)

During The Fifth Blight, Ashe manages to escape Kinloch Hold with Ian due to the Hero of Ferelden's intervention, and quickly asserts himself as an ally.

Ashe shows great interest in the werewolves, and ends up using his shapeshifting to take their form.

After the Blight, Ashe travels with Ian to return help return him to his clan, before splitting off at Kirkwall.

Legend of the Black Hound (Between Origins and Inquisition)

During the years between Origins and Inquisition, Ashe secretly travels over Thedas in his hound form. He began to use his abilities to help apostates and hunt blood mages, eventually earning the monikor The Black Hound due to his shapeshifting.

During this time, Ashe developed a relationship with a monster hunter named Morgan. The two split for unknown reasons a few years later.

At some point, Morgan had Lily and left her at the sanctuary Ashe had built for apostate families. Ashe adopted her, and began to raise his daughter with all the care and love he was able too, while still hunting as The Black Hound.

Dragon Age: Inquisition (~28)

Ashe returns to Fereldan when the southern circles rebelled, hoping to assist and protect as many mages from blood mages and templars alike as he could. He found Ian again in Redcliffe, and can be recruited as a Party Member in part due to his reputation as The Black Hound.

Ashe could be found a majority of the time healing people or taking care of his daughter, Lily, who was only 6 years old by the time of Inquisition.

During the Inquisition, Ashe receives his personal quest "Old Flames" after receiving a letter supposedly from Morgan and finds out she's in danger, only to fall into a blood mage's trap.

Through Ian's influence, Ashe starts to recognize his and Solas' concerns with the Veil during Trespasser, and decides after to leave the Inquisition in order to study and learn more about the Veil-- hoping to figure out a safer method for removing of it.

Dragon Age: Veilguard (~38)

During the intermittent years, Ashe joined the Veil Jumpers in order to study ancient elven technology and increase his understanding of the Veil.

With his skills in shapeshifting, combat, and magic honed from decades of fighting, Ashe quickly becomes an expert explorer for the jumpers.

Lily, meanwhile, took up learning how to be a healer like her uncle and father, hoping to be of some support to people one day.

Ashe offers his services after finding out about the aftereffects of Solas' ritual. Though he agrees with Solas' plan to an extent, he still feels there must be a safer way.

...Also, there are two gods on the loose, and honestly one issue takes precedence over the other at the moment.

#( Verse: Footsteps of the Black Hound )#Somehow summarizing all of Ashe's history into one post lmao #There's been some changes since last time I played him #But honestly not as many as I thought there'd be #Anyways Veil Jumper Ashe is now canon

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your-talos-is-problematic · 1 year ago

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WIP Wednesday!

It’s probably Thursday for some of you already, but oh well. Tagging the usuals @throughtrialbyfire @skyrim-forever and @trickstarbrave sorry if y’all’ve already posted!

Here’s some more crossover fun with Afonya and Tilia! Beware some weirdness probably because a lot of this was written right before bed.

————————————————————————

“Luckily, my parents raised me to just… believe in myself. In my own value. No matter what.” The tiefling’s smile was genuine, but there was a question behind her eyes. She was trying to understand mine. After a pause, she continued, “I can’t imagine the effect it would have on me to be kicked out of my home of almost thirty years. Without that support, I mean.” Wow. Pointed.

I sighed. “Yeah. It’s not fun.” She nodded but kept silent, clearly fishing for more. “What do you want to know?” I was probably speaking to her like a child, but it was hard not to see Lucia in Tilia’s inquisitive stare and prying words.

She turned her head to think for a second, her facial scales catching the light. “What was your homeland like?”

I smiled. “Morrowind was beautiful. Maybe not if you were older and used to it pre-eruption, or lived somewhere green like this.” I paused to tear a flower out of the ground. “But it was beautiful. The ash covered everything, in this way that was always changing when the wind picked up. At night it was this beautiful dark gray color, but during the day you could see all the shades of brown and black and red coming from the mountain.” This was the point where Brelyna would usually cutely laugh at the wonder in my voice- it was smart of Tilia to start with this. “It wasn’t lifeless like some people try to pretend- unless you were in the deep ashlands, there was always some kind of mushroom or flower peeking its head out of the ground. And usually some form of bug bothering you, because it wouldn’t be Morrowind without one.” I swallowed a sound escaping my throat because I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a laugh or a sob.

Tilia gifted me with a sad smile. “It sounds nice.” I was well-versed enough in deception to know she was lying, but the thought was sweet. “When did you leave?”

“Not that long ago.” I paused to count the months, then had a sinking realization. “Nevermind. Three years ago. By Azura- Elia was only fifteen.”

Tilia drew in a sharp breath. “I’ve only been in the Gate for less than a year.” Her eyebrows furrowed, like she was trying to mentally make a timeline of our journeys. Eventually, she asked, “How do you get through everything, then? If you’re so unconfident in yourself? No offense.”

I paused to consider my answer. I thought about giving the usual I fake it, but decided to tell her the truth. I needed to be trusting with her, I could tell. “My family- my real family, that’s Elia, Brey, my kids. I still have trouble believing they love me unconditionally, but they help.” I was able to anticipate her next question, so I answered it too. “That first year though, and most of the second one, were pretty hard. I really think my faith in the gods was all that kept me together. Dunmer are very focused on change- creating it, adapting to it, taking advantage of it. And Azura feels your pain when you start to reflect your hatred inwards.” Tilia wouldn’t be able to notice, but I was quoting a common sermon from my father there. Those speeches were one of two things I learned from him- the other one being how to be a hypocrite. “You’re not religious, Tilia?”

She shook her head. “No. Never found one that worked for me. After seeing Aylin and Isobel, I wondered if I was being called to Selǔne, but…” She trailed off.

“Were you?”

“No. I think I was being called to muscular women, which… preach to the choir.” I lost my cool, at that, the urge to laugh fighting the urge to sigh and winning. The tiefling talked in a manner that almost gave the impression that she wasn’t fully aware of what was going on around her, similarly to Brelyna. She waited patiently for me to recover myself before asking, “What were we talking about?”

“Morrowind. When I left.”

“Right.” She paused to readjust her tail and run a hand through her hair. “How many times have you come back?”

I smiled. “Thank Azura, I’ve been able to return more times than I could count up to in Tamrielic.” She gave me a puzzled look. “My parents were stubborn and only spoke Dunmeri, so I’m missing some knowledge,” I explained. “But I’ve gone to Solstheim, the island that’s a lot less devastated, pretty often. Almost once a month for the past year. And then I went to Vvardenfell, the main island- not the mainland, which ks where I’m from- once. To get married to Brelyna, officially.”

She looked confused again. Or it was just her resting face. Hard to tell. “So when your sister came to Skyrim, you…”

I laughed. “We’re still pretty busy in civil war cleanup, so I hired someone from Raven Rock to escort her there.”

She looked somewhat upset at that, and opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but closed it and resorted to a nod.

“Something you take issue with?” I ventured.

“No. I guess not.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “No. Explain.”

“I shouldn’t be judging you for how you parent your sister. I’m an only child, I don’t- you know.” She had switched pretty quickly into an apology, which probably indicated that it was genuine.

I was tempted to point out the absurdity of the idea of me parenting Elia, but something behind Tilia drew my gaze. I stood up and drew my concentration to creating an Ebonyflesh spell in my left hand. Tilia followed my gaze, her white wings drawing out of her back as she turned her body. I extended my arm for her to pull herself up with. “We have company, Tilia.”

Tilia of Tragedy

[date in DnD system]

Afonya fought like Shadowheart. For the most part, she stayed back, whispering incantations that grew into bolts of what appeared to be both lightning and fire and ended their life cycle as explosions. She did occasionally become more reckless, though, like a few seconds ago, when she had taken a few steps closer to the bulette to breathe fire onto it. Which was something I was quite jealous of.

As for myself, I was currently hovering just out of the creature’s reach, attempting to reposition a Cloudkill to not place the elf directly in its poison. I guessed that I probably had about a minute before my wings gave out and the cloud disappeared, quite possibly at the same time.

And as for the bulette, it was probably having the worst day of its life. I’d only seen Afonya fight once before, and briefly, but these thirty seconds were confirmation enough of Astarion’s account of her formidability. It alternated swipes at the two of us, occasionally breaking out into confused screeches.

Unfortunately, I was probably too focused on analyzing Afonya’s style and not focused enough on evading attacks. She took a break (probably to recover magical energy, given what she’d told me about Tamriel’s magic), which the bulette took as an opportunity to leap into the air, throwing me off balance and landing closer to Afonya than I was comfortable with. Right then my wings decided to disappear on me, so I took an ungraceful tumble to the ground. From the dirt I eyed Afonya, who was less than a foot from the monster’s massive snout. Far too close for a mage as, for lack of a better word, squishy as she was.

I drew in an anxious breath as she seemed to freeze with fear, fully prepared to walk back to camp alone to get Shadowheart. However, as I watched, she started to glow green around the edges. Haven’t seen that before. Raising a hand up to the sky, or whatever functioned as sky in the Underdark, she started to cast what looked like a version of Call Lightning, but more… frantic. And centered on herself. Which seemed dangerous. I pulled myself up from the ground, mouthing a small ignis and shooting a bolt of fire from my fingertips into the bulette’s back. It roared and turned to face me, but took less than a step before Afonya yelled some more draconic words and it was dead on the ground.

#tes #baldurs gate #wip wednesday

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