#seriously how is no one suspicious about syl???

[greyias]

Okay, so having finally played Echoes of Oblivion for a second time in my attempt to rush little Benny Boy to meet Rass, I got back to musing about that one theory that someone posited right when Echoes launched. I apologize, I have forgotten by now who the eagle eyed player was, or the original thread, but when replaying today, I was like "Wait..."

I remember the first time playing through that it was a bit odd there were two named characters we'd never met that were specifically called out. But having played through a second time, and seeing some supplementary material now, I was like

"Wait. Syl??? Isn't that the red headed student? She was already dead before they went mind spelunking?"

<--- mind of steel trap, this one. To be fair, I could have just forgotten

And then of course, this very ominous shot of the final confrontation with Valky happening, and Vaylin noticing the dead body on the ground... in the spirit scape??? I--you know what--I'm not going to question the metaphysical ways of the Force. That way lies madness. Sure. Syl's dead body was just. There. In Satele's mind? While a bunch of other Force ghosts are walking around??? Let's go with it.

(Which does beg the question... was Syl's spirit... just not there for the events of the epic showdown? Did her spirit decide to take a nap after the fight? Wait no I'm getting into the weeds, focus)

And then, because I just wasn't sure, I went and dug up the short story with Satele and Aryn, because I remembered there was a little guest appearance near the end:

And yep! Confirmed. Syl is the red-headed student from the cutscene.

That is a Vaylin expression if I ever saw one

Which brings us to the Vaylin and Syl mentions in post-Echoes mail:

Yeahhhh. So someone is definitely using little Syl's body here as a meatpuppet, and all real evidence points to Vaylin. I had just completely forgotten that Syl had already expired pre-adventure.

So my original assumption that she was following in dear old daddy's footsteps was indeed off. Which had bothered me a little because I can see Vaylin possessing an already lifeless husk for a new chance at life/vengeance/whatever her end game here is, but suppressing someone else's spirit and manipulating their body definitely seemed completely against the grain of her character. Er, except for the time she completely reprogrammed the Gemini droids and wiped out their free will during KOTET. But you know, that was different... sort of...

REGARDLESS.

It's just gotten me wondering. especially considering everything that Malgus is up to, with his Children of the Emperor Mark II shenanigans. I wonder if Vaylin, posing as Syl, will have any part to play in the upcoming storyline. Or if she's lying in wait, perhaps as a future antagonist (or ally... or both). Because you know Vaylin would absolutely tear apart any machine with her bare hands that would dare try to take her free will away from her again.

But also, I just kind of want wacky adventures of Satele trying to mentor Vaylin masquerading as Syl? Like I'm just imagining every time Satele's like, discussing Jedi philosophy, sipping on tea, and everything peaceful and calm and not Force choking everything in sight Vaylin is just like. Seething inside. Waiting to burst. But she has to keep up the act because what if someone suspects? And so like there's all of these banal things happening, and Vaylin is just constantly internally screaming. Because she went and picked a Jedi to possess instead of a SIth or something. She escaped death. But at what cost.

AT WHAT COST.

Anyway, just food for thought.

[codegemini]

Rinse, Repeat - Part I

 (( Co-written with @sylaess / @sylaesschasewind . Tagging @argonas / @thefugitivemango​  for character mention))

 ~*~*~

The trees swayed gently in the breeze. She smelled moonflowers faintly, and looked around. This again. This grove. So familiar, it was going to drive her mad! She had to know.  But she didn’t. The void in her memory was a gaping wound she couldn’t get past. 

 Sylaess sighed softly, placing her face in her hands gently. There was no scar pitting the left side of her jaw, no exposed tissue. It was oddly gratifying. But it sealed the knowledge that she was not awake. Most likely. Torghast was a very difficult place to traverse when not plagued with traumas. Her grip on reality was fragile at best.

 “Va’shal dan duentha.”  “...I don’t understand you. Why don’t I understand you?” She fixed the other elf with a stare, trying to puzzle him out but only ending up with a headache. She knew that voice, it brought her comfort. Sadness. Longing.  ~*~*~ A sharp, ragged breath drawn in and the sword slammed into the ground beside her head, narrowly missing.  Oh, shit!  Teeth bared in a voiceless snarl of effort, Sylaess brought her feet up and kicked hard at the empty husk of armor. Saronite screeched across the floor as she slid away a little, clattering back to her feet. The intense throbbing in her skull cinched tighter, trying to force her eyes shut.  Breathe. Walk through it.  The brittle calm settled over her, a ragged safety blanket as she fell back into the warrior mindset. It was getting nearly impossible to draw upon. Half clenched fist, runes flared along her body. An enormous spike of ice crashed up from the floor beneath the guard, impaling the hollow armor and immobilizing it.  The rush of magic fled and she wilted, head falling back a bit.  Get your shit together, girl! Find her, get the hell out. You know the drill. 

 The elf scrabbled up her dropped swords, hunting around for one that had been kicked away. Brought herself into a slow jog up the corridor. She’d made it this far. Again.

 The cages hung over the expanse. Were they floating? Chains were taught from the bottom of each descended into unknown depths, but ups and downs were questionable at best. It was not helpful. But she saw her. The ghastly form of Sinafay.  Sheathed her swords and made one giant leap from the edge of the stairs, teetering the cage over the ominous expanse. “--Ugh--” The impact was as graceful as a rotten fruit being hurled. Syl looped an arm through the bars. “Let’s... Let’s try this again.” Her voice was ragged and worn out. A gravelly toneless thing. The elf started fiddling with the lock. “Unless you have a better idea.”

Sinafay gasped, eyes wide as she leaned back against the far side bars of the cage, both to keep herself from falling over as it swung and to be as far away from this image of Sylaess as she could.

 “WHY do you keep coming back?! Leave me alone!” She growled, “I -know- what this place is! I -know- you are not really her!”

 The lock finally came free. Sylaess let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding, sagging against the cage, her elbow hooked through the only real support she had. “Seriously, the amount of times I’ve had my ass kicked here? The Jailer picks better people to represent him, I assure you.” The elf grimaced, maneuvering herself to the side so she could kick the door open. Hastily healed slashes, unattended gouges and a myriad of other mostly superficial damage that she just didn’t have the energy to mend up again gave her a very... earthy look. Much like a worn out rag.

 “If you’re going to torture me, just get it over w—“

Sinafay cut herself off, however, as she felt something different about the Kal’dorei. It wasn’t her, per say, but more of what followed her. Spirits… lost spirits. They clung to her… Sinafay frowned, confused. Spirits wouldn’t cling to the jailor’s forces. If anything, they would be repelled… cowering.

 “Why do the lost follow you?” She asked, curiosity overcoming her panicked state.

  “...They think I’m a good option to get them out of here, but personally, I’ve now got fresh doubts up to my fucking ears. I come back for you because I promised Argonas I’d keep you safe.” Syl shut her eyes a moment. “I failed him.” And he’ll have every damn right to be disappointed, but let’s survive this first. 

Those black eyes seemed to stare off into the expanse of cloudy nothingness a moment, she shook her head. “I’ve got to try to get you out. I...”  Sylaess grimaced again, letting the words just fail. Steeled herself up for the next exertion. Leapt, caught the edge with her chest and her legs swung beneath the platform. Vivid swearing strained as she scrabbled her purchase of the edge, plated hands slipping. Saronite screeching on stone. It all made to ramp up her headache that much more. “Fuck sakes!” 

 A wisp flew wildly about her head. “Would you piss off!” Hanging on by sheer will and gumption, she snarled.  “This is the worst joke I’ve ever been the ass of. Almost.” Wheezed the words, resting her face on the cold stone of the platform, once she had enough grip not to be in perilous threat of falling. “Or at the very least, the worst drug trip I’ve ever been on.” She still dangled over the edge precariously. Hooked a foot finally.

Sinafay’s tail twitched and flickered erratically behind her as she didn’t move from her side of the cage. She kept her suspicious gaze on the struggling elf, internally debating on the validity of her words. She wanted to believe this was really her friend, but how could she be certain.

 “If you are the real Sylaess, then why do you not remember the very event that brought us together as friends? Do you remember Sigil? Draenor? Tanaan? Do you know anything about me other than the fact that I am Argonas’ mate? Why are your eyes like that? What is wrong with you?!”

Sylaess gave a good heave and hauled herself back on top of the platform gracelessly, laying there a moment. So tired. Empty. Debating on how to answer all of that. Breath in, hold, release. She brought herself up to sit on her feet, tucking back her ragged black hair. Drew a hand over her face wearily.  “A long story full of mostly bad decisions.”

 “I don’t remember anything because I sold my memories to an Old God. I remember snippets. Fragments. Worse, nothing makes real sense. No, I’m not sure you’re real either. In fact, I’ve not been sure about reality since falling in with N’zoth. Good news is, he’s dead.”  The abrupt and naked truth of it stung like a raw scrape in cold air. Somehow, hearing it in her own gravelly ruined voice made it all too much. 

 “My eyes are like this because the kaldorei--Tyrande--called upon the Night Warrior after the burning of Tel’drassil. I took the blessing with thousands of other kaldorei. This was before the Old God made an appearance.”  A bitter smirk twisted her face. “And as for what’s wrong with me,” Her gaze finally swept over to Sinafay as she rose. “I don’t think an eternity is enough to cover that one.” She spread her hands slightly, as if surrendering. The silent ‘what do you think now?’ so plainly evident.

Sinafay just… stared, head slowly tilting to the side as it often did when she was struggling to understand something. An awkward silence stretched on between them as she tried to make some sort of sense of everything Sylaess had said, before finally speaking up.

 “Teldrassil… burned? An Old God? Why would—“ 

 No, she didn’t have to ask about the Old God deal, she’d made similar mistakes in the past. At least that explained the missing memories.

 “I… remember a large influx of souls arriving… a lot of them ended up in this tower…”

 She shook her head. There was nothing to be done about that. This was her first time in Torghast, and she didn’t know how to get around at all.

 “My apologies, Sylaess. When we -do- manage to finally escape this place, and I manage to return to Azeroth, I will do all that I can to help get your memories back.”

 She looked at the distance between the cage  and platform.worried her bottom lip.

 “So I take it that, in true Sylaess fashion, you have no idea where we are or how to escape.

 “We’re in a place called Torghast. It’s the worst place in the Shadowlands you could possibly be. Of course.” The elf smiled a bit, superficially. A little refreshed that she wasn’t under extreme scrutiny. Something she shouldn’t have really feared with Sinafay. She knew that. Somehow.  “The halls keep on forever it seems. There’s a lot of levels down, the best we can do is keep trying.” She looked up at the swirling mass of clouds. At least she thought they were clouds. “This tower is the mirror of Icecrown citadel, so to speak. So. As we can’t get up and through to Icecrown, we’ve got to get back to whatever the hell is ground level. There has to be a door.”

 “Shall we?”

~*~*~

[wolfpawn]

I Hate You, I Love You, Chapter 45

Chapter Summary - Danielle is getting as much work as she can done, though she is having a bit of trouble doing so with not one, but three Hiddleston's as well as slowly allowing herself become a bigger part in Tom's life, as he is accepting her terms on how to do so.

Rating - Mature (some chapters contain smut)

Triggers - references to Tom Hiddleston’s work with the #MeToo Movement. That chapter will be tagged accordingly.

authors Note - I have been working on this for the last 3 years, it is currently 180+ chapters long.  This will be updated daily, so long as I can get time to do so, obviously.

tags: @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog  @jessibelle-nerdy-mum @nonsensicalobsessions @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1 @winterisakiller @fairlightswiftly @salempoe @lys-syl @youcantcatchafallingstar

If you wish to be tagged, please let me know.

“Done,” Danielle sighed as she placed a pile of documents back in their folder and put it in the finished pile.

“Darling?”

“Living room.” She replied, looking at the door, knowing Tom would walk in any moment.

“I was thinking,”

“Ah, that can’t be good.” She laughed as he finally came into view, his face showing his bemusement. “You asked for it,” she sniggered as he came over to her. “What were you thinking?”

He sat beside her, pulling her onto his lap. “I love you.”

Danielle eyed him suspiciously. “That’s not good.”

“It is darling, it is, I just…I want to show people the amazing woman I have.” he kissed a small trail along her neck.

“Tom…” Danielle pulled away. “I’m not sure I…”

“A small get together, here, at the house, just literally a few friends, Ben and Sophie included.” He suggested.

Danielle’s brow furrowed and she bit her lip for a moment. “That sounds nice.” She turned to face him, kissing him as she did.

“Really?” Tom eyed her worriedly. “I thought you would shoot it down.”

“I would have, if you suggested a public place, I am not ready to deal with huge numbers of people and photographers shouting at us, but we control this environment, no paps, only people you are good friends with, and I will have Sophie to hide behind.” She smiled.

“Just a few friends, five tops, I want them to actually get to know you properly and I don’t want you to be overwhelmed.” He grinned; delighted she had been so welcoming of the idea.

“Just one thing, though,” she added, tom froze and waited for what she would ask. “No overly fancy food.”

“I promise,” he grinned, “shrimp caviar and a nice flute of champagne should be enough.” Her response was a fit of giggles. “Did I hear you say you are done?”

“For today, yes.”

“It’s only six.”

“Yes, I got the files I wanted to get done sorted, and I have bleary eyes and a hankering for a nice run.” She explained, getting to her feet.

“I’ll have dinner ready for when you get back.” Tom kissed her again before getting them both to their feet. “How does lamb sound?”

“Usually they make a sort of ‘maa’ sound.” She answered, laughing again at the bemused look on his face. “I’m sorry, that was Baaaad.”

“Fucking hell, please stop.” Tom smiled, trying not to laugh, but the more she looked at him, the harder it became to hold it in before he ended up laughing too. “You are so terrible.”

“You love it.” She grinned before groaning.

“What?” Tom asked worriedly.

“I have nothing nice to wear, they are all going to think you are after going from bad to worse and are now slumming it with, what are they called here chavs?”

Tom rolled his eyes. “You do not, in any way, shape or form, have the appearance of a chav.” Danielle looked at the sweatpants and Nike air hoodie she was wearing before raising a brow. “You are wearing them because you planned to go for a jog, don’t get sassy with me.” He ordered.

“Now you are sounding a little kinky.” She smiled.

“I swear, there is a side of you I am dying to have fun with.” He grinned, taking a step forward. Immediately, Danielle took a step back. “Elle…”

“Yes, sir?” she grinned slyly.

“Go for your run before I take you on the couch.”

“That’s….I dunno, some form of fancy designer that overcharges and is easily ruined, you can’t do that.”

“Go for your run, missy.”

“Yes, sir.” She grinned before rushing out the door again.

“Minx,” Tom shouted before getting the cup she had left on the table and bringing it to the kitchen.

*

“So tomorrow evening then?” Tom double checked one last time before sending out the texts to his friends.

“Perfect, I will go shopping and get a few things for it in the afternoon.” She smiled, kissing his cheek as she grabbed a cup from the press to make herself a cup of tea to continue her paperwork.

“I cannot wait, thank you, Elle.”

“What for?” she scoffed.

“Doing this.” He gently placed his hands on her sides.

“It’s a few friends over.” She dismissed.

“But when Paul asked you to meet his friends…”

“I was not looking at Paul as long term, that was…I’m not sure, probably just a distraction, as cruel as it sounds, I wasn’t invested in that, and I knew deep down they would be asses, and well, I was right and then some.”

“I went to a public school and Cambridge and you’re not worried my friends will be the same?”

“I am, a little, but I will have Sophie to help me too.” She grinned, but then the grin fell off her face as she listened. “The door…”

Tom walked into the hallway only to come face to face with Mac Tíre. “What the…"

“There you are Tom, give me a hand.”

“Mum…” Mac rushed into the kitchen passed Tom. “What…?”

“Christmas shopping sweetheart, I always do this.”

Tom winced as he recalled her saying that. “I forgot, what do I need to help with?” She indicated to go outside to the car. “Mum!” He looked at what she had brought with her.

“The house is too bare, darling, you never put up a lot of decorations.” She commented.

“So you dragged Sarah into this?” Tom laughed as he watched his sister try to unload the car, rushing over to help.

“I regretting asking if she wanted me to collect her at the house.”

“Why is Mac here?”

“Got in and would not get out, you don’t understand Tom,” Sarah’s face told him her seriousness, “He literally refused to get out. The whole way here, he just sat there, looking out, waiting to get here, as soon as he saw the house, he went bonkers whining to get out, we thought it was to get to the bathroom but he just waited at the door for mum to open it. Has he ever been here?”

“No, but Elle’s inside,” Tom commented, Sarah just stared at him. “Do you think he knew?”

“He’s a dog, and we didn’t know. Wait, is she fully clothed?”

Tom chuckled, “She was when she was in the kitchen a minute ago making her tea.”

“Wait, where is her car?”

“Getting serviced, it sort of had a run-in with a pothole and is now a bit screwed up, something about the radiator and the exhaust, it’s in for the holidays.”

“Oh, lovely.” Sarah groaned, throwing a bag of decorations at him. “Hey, do you think she will want to go shopping with us?”

“I’m not sure, she has a fortune of paperwork she’s doing.”

“Yeah, ‘paperwork’,” Sarah scoffed.

“No actually, she is very strict, I was locked out of my own living room two days ago because of it.”

Sarah laughed. “I always liked her. I hope this works Tom, I really do, she is the dose of reality you need in your life.”

“I hope so too.” Tom beamed as he walked up the steps and into his home, looking at Mac, who was wagging his tail at him in the hall. “Did she see you?” he asked the dog excitedly.

“He only left me because he heard you on the steps.” Danielle smiled as she walked into the hallway. “Yikes, need a hand?” she rushed over to help him with the decorations.

“Thanks,” he smiled. “You mad?”

“About what?” she laughed, making her way to the kitchen.

“Your paperwork.”

“I will have to get over it, apparently I am to be forced to bully my way through the shopping streets after a cup of tea.”

“Are you okay with that?” Tom asked worriedly.

“I don’t think I get a choice.” She shrugged. “I suppose one extra day won’t kill me, will it?”

“Well, you got a half morning done.”

“Glass half full,” Danielle winked before walking back over to the counter, handing Tom a cup of tea she had made him before turning again to talk with Diana, who was smiling happily at them both.

*

Tom - Look who’s made himself at home.

Danielle laughed to herself as she looked at the accompanying photo of Mac, who was asleep, upside down, tongue hanging out of his mouth by Tom’s feet.

Danielle - He won’t want to go home later.

Tom – He doesn’t have to, we can bring him with us when we go for Christmas.

Danielle – Is that fair on him?

Tom – I’m not going to lie, darling, I am a tad insulted, why would it be. I have always wanted a dog and there is more than enough room for him here, he is happy, see picture for confirmation. We have lovely places to walk him too.

Danielle sighed, wondering what to do.

“You look like you’re in intense thought, has my idiot brother put his foot in it?” she looked up to see Sarah looking at her.

“No, just a simple issue with Mac.” Sarah cocked her head slightly. “He thinks he should stay until we head to Suffolk for Christmas.”

“What do you think?”

“That I would like that, but isn’t it a bit much.”

“How so?”

“It’s just so…..”

“Domestic?” Sarah offered. “What’s wrong with that? Tom wouldn’t offer if he didn’t want it, that’s the kind of guy he is. He wants a normal home life, same as most everyone else, and that includes the pet and partner.” She smiled. “You are so much better a match for him, I mean, she had some good points, everyone does, but he likes this life and his work life separate, there was no way to do that with her.” She gave Danielle an apologetic look. “I know you might not want to hear that.”

“Look, I don’t like her, but I acknowledge she is not the devil incarnate. Just don’t expect me to be sad if she never releases another album.”

“You and me, both,” Sarah agreed. “I am so relieved I don’t have a moody teenager at the moment, I am not sure if I could listen to ‘Shake It Off’ on loop. That’s one of the only songs of hers that I can stand.”

“Mine is Bad Blood,” Danielle admitted.

“She doesn’t even sing all of it herself.”

“Why do you think I like it?” Danielle joked.

Sarah did too as she held up a jacket, “Thoughts?”

“Retro style, I’m sure he’ll like it, not sure if it’s his colour, though.”

“Tom always wears navy.” Sarah frowned.

“Wait, Tom? Sorry thought you were looking at it for Yakov; that will suit him to the ground, he’ll love it.” Danielle smiled.

“What are you getting him?”

“Is a weekend away in an old English manor that happens to have a spa alright?” Sarah stared blankly at her. “Too naff?”

“I want it.” Sarah groaned. “Seriously, tell him if he doesn’t have it done before the Golden Globes, I will use it on him,” she swore.

“Will do.” Danielle looked at her phone, having received another text.

Tom – I know you are busy getting me wonderful presents, but could you pick up a few things from Harrods’s, I know mum will go there at some stage, just a few bits I need to get for people.

Danielle – Don’t you have some poor little goon on minimum wage stuck doing that for you? : P

Tom – I do, why do you think I am texting? Xx

“That bastard!” Danielle laughed as she looked at Tom’s reply.

Sarah just moved around and was able to read the lower half of Danielle’s message and Tom’s response. “That cheeky prick,” She laughed as she shook her head.

“I walked myself into that one.” Danielle conceded.

“You may have.” Sarah went back to seeing if she could get anything for her husband, but glanced over to Danielle for a moment, seeing the genuine smile on the other woman’s face, thinking that indeed, as far as any women Tom had shown interest in were concerned, she was by far the best match for her idiot brother.

[preservationandruin]

Oathbringer Spoilers, Part Three: Chapters 58-62

The name of this section is “Defying Truth, Love Truth” and the spread is Dalinar, Shallan, Kaladin, and Adolin. 

Dalinar travels and engages in Diplomacy, we see another Surge in use, Kaladin gets a makeover, Adolin finds a safehouse, and Shallan half-tells a secret. 

We get a beautiful spread of Thaylen fashions, and a new source of epigraphs--the messages contained in the drawers Renarin found. 

As a Stoneward, I spent my entire life looking to sacrifice myself. I secretly worry that is the cowardly way. The easy way out. 

Apparently Stormy’s ego has made a full recovery from Odium’s visit, which is fortunate. Dalinar’s decided not to use the visions so carelessly, not wanting other people to get dragged into conversations with Odium. Not that not using the visions would probably stop Odium, but it’s a good precaution. 

Rial saluted him. Again.  “You don’t need to salute me each time I look at you, Sergeant,” Dalinar said dryly.  “Just trying ta be extra careful, sir,” The leathery, dark-skinned man saluted one more time. “Wouldn’t want ta be reported for being disrespectful.”  “I didn’t mention you by name, Rial.”  “Everyone knew anyway, Brightlord.” 

I’m so glad Dalinar has people around him who can ground him by giving him a little shit now and then. Kaladin and Shallan have been in Thaylenah, and the queen is now ready to meet with Dalinar; Dalinar takes a moment to tell Kaladin that he trusts him and Adolin to stop Elhokar from being a fucking idiot. 

I mean, he doesn’t use those words, but they’re what he means. Also, Dalinar awarded Kaladin some land! I mean, it’s taken over by Parshmen, but hey, it’s there. 

Oh my god please let Kaladin put his dad in charge of one of the villages LIRIN WOULD BE SO GOOD AT LEADING A TOWN and if anyone complained about him being darkeyed Kal could just look at them and go “i literally saved the world” until they shut up. 

Thaylen City has been ravaged by the highstorms. Whole sections of the city have fallen in, and their famous docks are gone. 

One of the other radiants decided to leave a record of the names of her husband and children, instead of anything about herself. That’s...really sweet. 

Fen shows them the areas of the city that are still standing, and I’m thinking about the Heralds, again, since they go to Shalash’s temple. 

You know what I really want? For the Heralds. I want them all to have some house in a nice area of Roshar where they can live and not have to fight ever again. I want them to get therapy. I want them to be safe and happy and live out their lives in calm. Because while some of them have pulled some seriously awful shit, the context of them having been tortured in hell for thousands of years really puts it into some perspective. 

Notedly, some of the statues in Shalash’s temple have the face broken off. She’s been here too, gang. Navani gets on Dalinar’s case for scowling, he denies it. 

“What?” He asked softly. “Stop scowling.”  “I’m not scowling.”  “You’re bored.”  “I’m not...scowling.”  She raised an eyebrow. 

I LOVE MY FANTASY PARENTS. 

Dalinar claims he is a diplomat and Navani’s reaction is basically “doubt.png.” For some reason, they’re not going to visit Ishi’s temple--it hasn’t been damaged, but Fen doesn’t seem to want for them to go there. Given Edgedancer’s mention of Ishar, I’m...suspicious. 

But then, if you’re reading this, you know I’m paranoid in these books and trust nothing. Taravangian, weeping, offers to bring through his surgeons; Fen agrees. 

But here’s the question--is that genuine compassion, or him wanting access to the slowly dying so that he can get their death rattles? 

This is why I’m paranoid. 

Fen notes that Taravangian acts as though the city is a burial ground. Well, in his mind, it is--it’s another necessary sacrifice in his Diagram. Fen isn’t going to take it that easily. They’ll rebuild from stone this time, making it more secure. 

Dalinar has noticed that Queen Fen can’t accede to his requests on her own--she’s dependant on the support in her throne. As long as parts of the city think Dalinar is out for military conquest, they’re not going to let her agree. 

So Dalinar has an idea. 

“Does it involve punching someone?”  He nodded, to which she sighed. 

Why is it now you’re thinking of punching someone and not when Odium was right in front of you. Anyway I’m looking forward to wherever the hell this goes. 

He says that he just has to give them a display, a lesson, and that brings up a strange memory--something about the rift and Sadeas, something his subconscious doesn’t want him to remember. That’s...not good. 

Something happened where Dalinar went back to the Rift and something very bad happened. Bad enough for Kadash to quit altogether, become an ardent. Bad enough that Dalinar has repressed it. Something having to do with Sadeas, maybe having to do with Evi. 

Notably, the temple of Taln has been hit hardest, lightning striking the building. 

None of the other temples had fared this poorly. It was as if Odium had a grudge against this one in particular. 

God, specifically trashing Taln’s temple just because he didn’t submit to your torture is so outrageously petty, Rayse. 

Anyway Dalinar is going to try to pick a fight with her son. Because...i don’t know? He’s Dalinar? I really hope this doesn’t backfire on him. She’s gone to do something else. Dalinar, why are you like this? 

Okay, correction. He’s trying to get Fen’s son to pick a fight with him. While trying to assume that he doesn’t know it’s her son. 

Kholin Diplomacy, Everyone. 

Well, it works, Dalinar throws down a line in the sand and the kid fucking crosses it, so I guess this is happening. Good thing the son says no Shards, because Dalinar can’t fucking hold them without Stormy throwing a godawful fit, and this city has been through enough at the moment. Navani’s like “don’t hurt the kid but...don’t lose” which is a careful line to walk. 

Let’s hope that Dalinar not feeling the Thrill remains true. The Radiants can’t feel it, we think, but...I don’t want this to be the moment we learn we were wrong. 

Dalinar just...lets the dude (armed) go at him (unarmed) for the first bout?? What the hell, Dalinar. I mean, if it works, it works, but dude, you better have a lot of Stormlight. 

And at the very end, Dalinar lets the dude hit him with the sword, and literally pushes it further into him. Again--you better have a fuckton of Stormlight, Dal. So he just fucking pulls a sword impaling him out of his chest, compliments the kid’s form, and heals it up, sharing a sly smile with his wife. 

Fucking power couple right here. The kid points out that, technically, it’s Dalinar’s turn with the sword. Dalinar just asks for a clean shirt. But then he realizes--his actions were a display of force, and he didn’t want to win that way. He didn’t want to win them over by saying that he could crush them. 

He leans against Taln’s broken temple--and hears something else. Unite us. Please. The stones themselves. The spren of the temple want to be fixed. 

Storms. Does everything I do have to be about destruction? About dying, broken bodies, smoke in the air and blood on the stones? 

The warmth inside of him said that it did not.  He stood and turned, full of Stormlight, and seized the fallen stone that blocked the doorway. Straining, he shifted the block until he could slip in--squatting--and press his shoulders against it.

He pushes it in place, and power flows through him, coursing through the building; the lintel raises and is fixed in place, the stones are knit together, the place is restored. 

Of course. When the Bondsmiths use that surge, they use it to fix. 

And he realizes the other thing he can do--provide aid, with the Radiants. He sends for Renarin, who can heal the dying. They’re gonna save this goddamn city. 

“I did not expect to find the Blackthorn shirtless,” Queen Fen said, “And...playing sculptor?”  “I can only fix inanimate things,” Dalinar said, wiping his hands on a rag tied at his waist, exhausted. Using this much Stormlight was a new experience for him, and quite draining. “My son does the more important work.” 

Dalinar also realizes that for a second it feels like he can almost understand the people speaking Thaylen, as though a bond is trying to form. That’s interesting. Bondsmiths might be polyglots, then, through their powers. 

Renarin, apparently, is telling everyone to thank Dalinar for the healings. Dalinar just told Fen that what he did was unimportant compared to what Renarin does. These two...

“Strength and Passion, the Vorin way.” Well, that’s an alarming line given what Odium has said. 

Another gem: I worry about my fellow Truthwatchers. 

We’re over to Kaladin. The storm doesn’t belong to him like the skies do; they’re flying before it, to Kholinar. Shit’s going to get real here, I think. From what we know, there’s a Voidbringer army converging there. Skar and Drehy are there, and then there’s Elhokar, Adolin, two of Shallan’s men, and  a maidservant, and then Shallan herself. Kaladin’s wondering how she keeps smiling, again. 

Five thousand unhealthy coping mechanisms, Kal. 

Adolin is not taking the flight wonderfully. I mean, it’s gotta be pretty terrifying if you are just a normal person. 

Further Syl attempting to set up Shallan and Kaladin. Syl, no. 

Shallan is talking about how beautiful the storm is and meanwhile Adolin has like a deathgrip on Kaladin’s arm. 

Kholinar is still held by the Alethi, although all the surrounding towns are Parshendi. Additionally, Kal gives himself a moment just to stare at how huge and amazing the city is--he’s never really seen it, before. 

Unfortunately, Kaladin feels a cloudlike wrongness around the palace,  and it’s strongest around where the Oathgate platform would be. Take your bets, gang--mine are going on “Unmade is there.” 

So bringing Shallan for illusions turns out to be a good idea. 

Anyway, this next chapter--still Kal--is called “Nightmare made manifest,” so clearly everything is just going to go great in Kholinar. 

Refugees are being let into Kholinar--it seems stupid for the Voidbringers to do this, but it isn’t. They’re overburdening the city. Shallan tries to draw the palace, but it ends up twisted--one of the unmade is there. I was right!

Shallan assumes most of them won’t need disguises, and I really hope so, because if Moash gets into the city he will instantly recognize anyone from Bridge Four. And Kal hasn’t told the others why Moash left. 

That could get nasty, very quickly. Shallan does give Kal one, making both him and Adolin look like old men. 

Someone is having too much fun with her ability to give appearances. Kal ends up looking wretched, Adolin ends up a handsome old man. Shallan. 

Also please note how much fuckin detail Kaladin goes into about this disguise: 

Shallan wrapped Adolin in Light. He resolved into a sturdy, handsome man in his sixties, with dark brown skin, white hair, and a lean figure. His clothing was no longer ornate, but in good repair. He looked like the kind of old rogue you’d find in a pub, with hardy tales about the brilliant things he’d done in his youth. The kind of man that made women think they preferred older men, when in reality, they just preferred him. 

That’s...okay, Kal. That’s pretty gay. 

Elhokar is surprisingly willing to be turned into a woman for this--he needs to help his people and his city, and he’s willing to do what it takes to do that. 

Even Syl is a bit revolted by how Kaladin looks. What did Shallan do? 

None of the other Bridgemen have gotten to the Second Ideal, unfortunately. 

“[Re-Shephir] was...wrong.” Adolin finally said. “Haunting. A nightmare made manifest.”  “Kind of like my face?” Kaladin asked. Adolin glanced at him, then grinned. “Fortunately, Shallan covered it up for you with that illusion.”  Kaladin found himself smiling. The way Adolin said things like that made it clear he was joking--and not only at your expense. Adolin made you want to laugh with him. 

This is quality good content. I know given my comment earlier you might think I mean in a shippy way, and sure, you can take it like that and it’s great, but this is also just good friendship content.

Anyway, the gates have stopped letting people in, and they go over to check it out. Apparently, they’re only letting people in if they can provide the defense, and the wall is being held by a “Highmarshal Azure,” who Elhokar hasn’t--or, at least, says he hasn’t--heard of. 

The ongoing saga of what the hell did Shallan make Kal look like continues, as they guard say they don’t want him because he looks sick. But a Parshendi raid lets them get in. Apparently Highmarshal Azure doesn’t have a superior--no word of what happened to Queen Aesudan or Elhokar’s son. 

There are strange performers on the street, dressed all in white with perhaps augmented clothes with red, blue, or green fabric, calling out nonsense phrases. Shallan notes that they’re imitating spren. The exhaustionspren people produce are of Odium. 

God,  something is fucked in the city. 

Anyway, they get to Adolin’s safehouse. Which is...

“What is this place?” Kaladin asked.  “Well, I figured we’d want somewhere safe,” Adolin said. “We’d need to stay with someone I trust with my life, or more.” He looked at Kaladin, then gestured towards the woman. “So I brought us to my tailor.” 

OH MY GOD, ADOLIN. 

Anyway, we flit over to Shallan punching herself in the face. She’s trying to actively attract painspren, to see if they are normal, I think. 

So Aesudan executed Pai the radiant, and then the riots started. During them, Aesudan vanished, and her proclamations, when they came, didn’t make much sense. 

Elhokar says that, of course, it was the unmade who ordered Pai’s death, not Aesudan. I think someone might not have great judgement regarding his own wife here. Shallan stabs herself in the leg with scissors, which Pattern notes as self-destructive even for her, but it does get painspren. 

They, too,  are strange. 

Anyway, the everstorm brought the darkness to the Palace. The Palace Guard retreated into the palace, and the city watch barricaded into the barracks, then vanished into the palace. Hungerspren didn’t look different, though, back with Shallan’s investigations. 

A group of prominent lighteyes went to meet with Aesudan, and never came back from the palace. This just gets better and better. Again, when the unmade are in a place it starts looking like a horror story. 

Shallan manages to nearly expose her safehand in front of Adolin, Kaladin, and the literal king, which is enough to summon shamespren. They, too, are strange. It’s all the emotions--hunger is a condition, not an emotion. 

Anyway, nobody knows where this Highmarshal, Highmarshal Azure, is from, and most haven’t seen him. The real power in the city is the “Cult of Moments”--people are saying that between the new forms of spren showing up and the queen and the everstorm, a new world ruled by Spren is coming. Fabrials draw screaming yellow spren who signal the voidbringers, who come and either take the fabrial or kill you or both. 

Shallan is starting to notice that Elhokar does have the makings of a king in him. They’re awkward, but they’re there--she takes a Memory to draw later. Kal and Shallan are going to go to the palace, Shallan as Veil--that’s interesting, the first time another main character interacts with her Veil persona--and they’ll be trying to investigate. Kal refuses to let her wipe off the brands on his forehead with an illusion. 

Shallan tells the guys--her guys, her squad of trainee spies--about Veil by just saying “privacy, men, Veil needs to get dressed.” Some are surprised, some aren’t. Ishnah said she thought Brightness Shallan was the fake and Veil was real; Shallan answers that both are fakes. Then she heads out to scout. 

I’ll cut it here--my phone is dying, and that’s how I read. Moreover, I have to change observing targets at work. 

[puddlejumper38]

Notes rereading Way of Kings and Words of Radiance in preparation for Oathbringer.

Many, many spoilers for The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance.

- I really love Dalinar. I have a feeling that I can do all the rereading I like and still not be prepared for Oathbringer. - If Elhokar turns out to be a Radiant I will tear my hair out. I don’t know why, but that would be so damn frustrating. - Shallan’s Ghostblood stuff is only going to end badly. Seriously. - Szeth is very concerning. He had a very specific type of evil (and I don’t mean Nightblood) - I hope to see more of Zahel. - What if Lift’s ‘unchanging’ boon will actually mean she doesn’t betray her spren? Because Syl says to Kaladin that the Knight’s Radiant always change. That really struck me this time. - What the shit is the Stormfather going to be like as a bonded spren??? - Kaladin bothers me because of how totally unsuited he is to being either a surgeon or a soldier. Poor guy should be a teacher. I don’t care what he teaches, so long as he doesn’t have to watch any of his students die. - I’m still completely banned from getting attached to Eshonai. Completely. Banned. - There was a passage in the Listener’s poem thinks at the start of each chapter that mentions Voidbringers, almost as though they’re something separate to the listeners. Interesting. - I understand so much more of the Shard (as in Odium, Honor, Cultivation - not blade/plate) stuff now that I’ve read 17th Shard and fandom stuff. - Also have a better idea of the Heralds and Radiant orders. God that all confused me the first time through. - Dear god did the Knights Radiant intentionally trap their spren in the swords? How could they do that? Did all the orders do it? - I can really spot the clues for Renarin now that I know what to look for. He really doesn’t like that Shardblade for one thing. - Syl keeps saying she’s the only Honorspren there, which I somehow completely missed before. Does that mean Kaladin will be the only Windrunner? - Also!! Shardpool in the Horneater peaks!!! And Rock saw Hoid come to Roshar, and this apparently weirded out Sigzil (particularly the white hair, what the hell Sigzil?) (oh right, Hoid was his mentor dude) - Possibly more than one Shardpool?? After all, there’s more than one Shard. - Syl doesn’t like Cryptics?? - I.... like Wit/Hoid. I didn’t the first read through, but I do now. Huh. He’s only a bitch to the people who deserve it, otherwise he’s just mildly annoying to them. Missed the point about him not being able to hurt anyone the first read through, although I’ve heard it in interviews since. - Amaran wants to bring the Voidbringers? Oh the things I’d forgotten. (later note: Right, okay, this is probably to bring back the Radiants.) (even later note: Sons of Honor. Oh good, forgot about them too, whoever they are) - The Ghostbloods also now sound like they could be useful allies, because they are definitely worldhoppers. I mean, I’m still suspicious of them, but they could help everyone else understand Shards. On the other hand they're in possession of Hemalurgic spikes and are therefore dead to me (I’m holding a lifelong grudge against Ruin. Fight me.). - Teft’s backstory is important, I can feel it. Also some of the... the way he thinks reminds me of Kaladin. I think he’ll eventually become a Radiant. - So Rayse is corrupted by being a Shard, like Ati, except that Ati wasn’t a dick to start with whereas Rayse was. Fabulous. - I really hate love triangles. Please don’t do this, Brandon Sanderson. - Hang on. So when Kaladin ‘killed’ Syl.... why did that happen? He hadn’t yet betrayed either oath? Was it because he’d failed to protect Dalinar, because that was hardly his fault, and Dalinar was fine. - I forgot how shady Venli is. - Also Tarangiananannan (whatever, I tried) claims that Kaladin could heal his stormlight severed limb because the ‘honorblade’ gave him powers of regrowth. Regrowth, which Lift used to heal another person. So. Do windrunners have the capability to use lashings and regrowth?? -Right, so Jasnah can teleport and don’t ask me how I managed to forget that. -I also forgot that some of the bridgemen can now access stormlight. I’m really glad I reread this. -As yet another thing I forgot; there are riots in the capital. -And, Dalinar once thought about killing Gavilar. Oh boy. Oathbringer’s going to be... interesting.

I do have a big question though. Will the Everstorm change all the Parshmen to Stormform, or will it just wake them up into Listeners again? i don’t know, maybe I’m just being optimistic, but it would be nice to think a complete genocide of the Listeners won’t be necessary to defeat Odium because I’m not sure I can get on board for that.

Okay. All caught up and I think more of the details have actually stuck this time. I... you know what? I think I still missed half a ton of details, but since the worldbuilding in The Stormlight Archive is, frankly, staggering that’s not a surprise.

[fearofaherobrine]

Roleplay server Log #198

“Vinehorse, Notch’s Journal”

[CP] Grumbles as he walks into the shrine. He had been looking forwards to fucking his wife, but she had informed him that Doc had something for him. He walked the small passageway into the kitchen, avoiding the coffee mug on the ground-

[HG] -sees cp enter- hello

[CP] Flips HG off-

[Deer] - I think I'll go ride mudsdale, I haven't done that for a few days.  I'll be back later love

[HG] what did you do with you hand?

[CP] - Seriously?

[HG] yes

[CP] Groans-

[HG] what does it mean?

[CP] - It means fuck you, you asshole.

[HG] -starts to tear up-

[CP] Turns towards Doc- Oi, Lie said you had something for me

[Doc] Oh! Yeah I do! I hadn't seen you since I got it and it slipped my mind. But honestly, be nice to Hg, he's done nothing to you.

[CP] - Yeah no

[HG] -is crying-

[Doc] Don't take it personally, he's just maladjusted Hg, he's like that with everyone.

[HG] -hugs his pail to calm down-

[Doc] Gives him a gentle pat. - it's okay. Dammit Cp, you could at least make a vague attempt to not make horrible first impressions on everyone?

[CP] - Stiiiiil waiting here!

[Doc] Maybe I should make you wait some more if you're going to be an asshole

[CP] - Then I'll go home and just fuck my wife while the house is still empty and quiet

[Doc] Maybe I'll just read it myself then! I haven't actually looked at it!

[CP] -So?

[Doc] So it might be interesting to see what other kinds of secrets your NOTCH was keeping!

[CP] Perks a little- My, father?

[Doc] Yeah, I have your fathers journal mr. I-don't-give-two-shits-about-anyone!

[CP] Scowls a little-

[Doc] Maybe it even has cute baby pictures. I guess I'll just go find out- turns to make a theatrical exit

[CP] - Oh just fucking give it here!

[Doc] Hmm? I thought you didn't care?

[CP] - Just hand it over!

[Doc]  I dunno.... I'm kinda curious now... -takes a little step away

[CP] Lunges at Doc-

[HG] AAAAAAAAAAAAA! -runs up the other stairs towards bens old room faster then the flutters can follow-

[Doc] Pretends to trip and lets Cp catch hir. Xe gives him a questioning look- Well? You're the one always telling me not to touch you.

[CP] Grabs the journal and then drops Doc with a scowl-

[Doc] Ow. -sarcastically- you're welcome

[CP] Starts walking off- Oh, and there's a coffee mug in the other room

[Doc] let me guess, it's broken.

[CP] - Didn't look like it

[Doc] I'm suspicious of that.

[CP] - Whatever, I only glanced it so I don't know if there's anything wrong with it

[Doc] Okay. Happy reading.

[CP] Scowls and storms off-

[HG] -is at the top of the stairs in a ball-

[Doc] Goes and sits next to him- you're safe.

[HG] i'll just sit here for a bit

[Doc] I understand, the irony is that that's a huge improvement. When he first came her he would have taken the book and then strangled me for good measure.

[HG] -looks around- wait where did the flitters go?

[Doc] Listens intently - in the horse pen I think, I hear wings. Just walk back down the steps and they'll see you

[HG] -stands up and goes down to the horse pen to look for them-

[Sylveon] Is snoozing on the fence-

[HG] -approaches the sylveon carefully-

[Sylveon] Little snort in it's sleep-

[HG] -pets it's head-

[Sylveon] Wakes up- Syl?

-the little flitters have found Hg again and settle on his shoulder

[Doc] looks down the staircase. - ah, that's cute-

[HG] -looks at the flitters- oh there you are -looks at sylveon- nice to meet you

[Sylveon] - Syl!- It closes it's eyes happily

[HG] -notices the plants in the horse pen and goes in and starts watering them-

[Doc] Gets a sly look- Since Cp could probably use some privacy I think I can kill two birds with one stone, and you may be interested in the result HG... - Calls over chat- Hey Lie? Are you busy? I could use a hand from you in particular.

[Lie] - Oh, uh, sure.  I'll be right over

[HG] what are we doing? -has finished watering the plants in the horse pen-

[Doc] Well I need to talk to her first, so let's just go outside for the moment - types- Lie can you meet me on the mushroom porch by BEN's old room?

[Lie] - Sure

[Doc] Shows Hg the way outside.

[HG] -follow doc-

[Lie] Rides up on Beau- Hey, what did you give CP?  He barely acknowledged me when I passed him on the way back...

[Doc] It was a journal, that belonged to his father. I figured he could use some quiet time.

[HG] hello lie

[Lie] - I see, so what do you need from me?

[Doc] Just a little magick, but you'll have to come inside. So please put Beau in the stables, okay?

[Lie] - Sure, and hello again HG

[Doc] Goes back in and meets Lie coming out of the pen- I've done a bit of studying on your offensive plant that you left in the cage. It has a weird kind of sentience, don't you think?

[Lie] - What do you mean?

[Doc] Well even when you leave it alone it still kind of shuffles around a little. It's aware of it's surroundings and smart in a rudimentry way.

[HG] -is following doc and listening-

[Lie] - Well, the one I left by Kore was aware when I came back and came back to me...

[Doc] Do you realize how special that is?

[Lie] - Er... Well...

[Doc] You made life Lie, not just a plant, but a sentient creature. It's on TLOT's level.

[Lie] - I...  I wouldn't say that...

[HG] this is the only server where I have seen plants think an move around

[Doc] I beg to differ Lie. And I want to try another collaborative feat with you. I've been preparing something really special...

[Lie] - What is it?

[Doc] You'll see...  Walk with me please?

[Lie] - Okay

[Doc] Leads the two back down into the house and through the kitchen to a little door in a tight tunnel - we can walk or take a minecart, up to you.

[Lie] - I think I'd prefer the minecart

[HG] -is making sure the flitter are ok- i'm going to walk I don't want these little guys to be left behind

[Doc] Ah, Okay. I'll take it slow- Xe hops in and waits for Lie before pulling the switch that sends it trundling along.

[Lie] Is thinking- You know, it took me days to make the offensive pods, and I'm not entirely sure how I did it.  I was in such a bad state of mind

[HG] -is following the tracks it a light jog-

[Doc] Ah, well, we'll see. You won't be doing it alone this time anyway.

-Eventually theres a bit of light and Doc leads them up a short staircase, it's the wide padded room that sometimes houses hir trysts with hir mate in their dragon forms. The sandstone walls are a bit dented from play.

[Lie] - What happened in here?

[HG] -catches up to them at the stairs-

[Doc] Sighs happily, - the blissful dance of love, but that's not what I wanted to show you. - Xe gestures to something with a familiar shape in a far corner. The afternoon light is just catching it from the open wall and dappling it with the shadows of vines-

-It looks a bit like a horse-

[Lie] Her attention is completely on it as she steps closer- Doc...

[HG] should I water that?

[Doc] Not just yet...

-The horse is made of tightly braided vines that bleed into calves and hooves of solid oak, it's mane and tail is made of long leaves and there's a bit of a sparkle in between the vines the make up it's barrel chest. It's frozen in a posture that suggests movement, and seems to be almost humming with life. The eyes are blank balls of quartz, just tangled like fat marbles in the mass of plants-

[Doc] Do you remember the fulgarites that were made when Deerheart threw lighting for me? There's one inside it.

[Lie] - I see...  Are you wanting me to give it sentience?  Wouldn't TLOT be better suited for this?

[Doc] No. Because I know he could do it. I want you to try. I put everything I could muster into making it, but it needs just a bit of something more. And maybe a bit of watering afterwards.

[Lie] - I can try, but it might take me awhile...

[Doc] Shush. It wants to run, can't you feel it?

[Lie] Closes her eyes and places a hand on the creature, concentrating her powers around it-

-There's a bit of stirring and rustling of leaves-

[HG] -is watching intently-

[Lie] Focus' her thoughts on her own horses, their gentle natures, the way they move, the annoying habit Beau has of spooking at just about everything...-

-There's a bit of creaking around the hooves, and the crystal inside sparks just a tad. -

[Doc] Try putting your hands on it's chest-

[Lie] Slowly slides her hand to the chest, bringing her other one to meet with it-

[HG] what do plant horses eat if normal horses eat grass?

-The head of the horse bends down slowly to brush against her-

[Doc] I'm going to guess fertilizer....

[Lie] Smiles a little and raises one hand to rub the side of it's face- Easy now

[HG] -brings over his pail to see if they will drink out of it-

[Doc] Though there's always the chance it will need a jump start now and then.

[Vinehorse] Lips at the pail-

[Lie] Gives one last push of power, feeling the tug at her power since it's taking so much-

[Doc] Touches her lightly from behind and gives her a gentle jot of hir electricity.

[HG] -pets the horse-

[Vinehorse] Makes a very satisfying wooden clop noise as it paws curiously at the step in front of it.

[Lie] - Almost...

[Doc] Gives her a bit more. - Our powers blend nicely, don't they? Just like the lightning vine...

[Lie] - Yeah...- She's getting a little winded as she pulls her hand away, hoping she gave the horse enough power

[HG] -waters the horse-

[Vinehorse] Shakes itself gently and shifts around a little. It's tail makes a whisking noise as the long leaves brush the wall. It trembles a bit as it's watered, and there's a very organic creaking noise as the mane and tail have a sudden burst of growth and end up nearly dragging the floor.

[Doc] Well I guess we know what that does now...

[HG] -stop watering it-

[Lie] - And everything is spinny

[Vinehorse] Has a sudden eruption of blue flowers in it's mane and tail.

[Doc] Whoah! And Lie, be careful- Steadies her from behind-

[HG] are you ok lie?

[Doc] Puts down a block of sand and guides her down to sit on it.

[Vinehorse] Sniffs around her hands, there's a bit of a glint as it has crystal teeth as well.

[HG] -is concerned about lie it's clearly all over his face-

[Doc] It's okay HG, she always gets tired after big projects.

[HG] if you say so. -is still a little bit worried-

[Lie] - I'm...  I'm just gonna nap for a bit...- Slumps over almost falling off the block

[Doc] Lays down a second sand block and lets her gently down so she's flat- Good job Lie..

[Lie] Curls up a bit-

[Vinehorse] Gives Hg a nuzzle and tries to get it's nose in his pail again-

[HG] do you want some more?

[Doc] I don't even know how it will work... it doesn't have organs, I just gave it some teeth in case it needed to defend itself. Just hold up the bucket and see what happens.

[HG] -hold up the bucket for the horse-

[Vinehorse] Sticks it's whole snout in and there's a distinct drop in the pails water level. After a minute it pulls away and goes back to nuzzling Lie's hands.

[Doc] Okay, okay, I think that's enough. She gave you a ton of power.

[Lie] Murmurs something in her sleep-

[Doc] Goes silent and listens intently-

[HG] -refills his pail-

[Lie] - No but the math makes sense... Really...

[Doc] Pats Lie's head.

[Vinehorse] Sniffs around and then decides to roll around on the wool floor a bit-

[HG] they are so cute

[Doc] Well then... That is pretty funny.

[HG] what do we do with them now?

[Doc] I'll just put up a bit of fence so they don't wander out. And I think Lie needs a break.

[HG] should we take her home?

[Doc] No, I'll stay with her. You can go back to your exploring if you want. and if you see Deerheart, tell her where I am okay? I think I'll only have a little bit of peace before someone else wants my attention.

[HG] I'll let her know -heads off-

[mistralrunner]

Running Reads Oathbringer: Part III.III

This part was a lot. I’m kind of drained. In a good way?

Spoilers for pages 686-751 below.

Free food is a good thing.

So stuff in the tower was failing before the Radiants left hmm

"The storm was a primal dance, an ancient song"

I really love these hints at music being deeply rooted in the magic of the world

Oh dear lashing is detectable not good

Same Kaladin same re: appreciating the long spear

Seriously the floating Voidbringer aesthetic

Oh no

Not a party

Sanderson needed an excuse for his fancy party scenes

I guess this is where Adolin will wear something other than a Kholin uniform

Adolin is freeee

Adolin calls him Kal?

Oh right Skar and Drehy saved Adolin after the battle with Eshonai glad to see they're friends now

Heh Kaladin's uncomfortable with false faces

Kaladin's feelings are relatable. I'm glad he is having more good days though. But it is hard to think that on the bad days.

Punchy guys pfft

I support Adolin and Kaladin being friends

Ah Kaladin being uncomfortable with being lighteyed

Oh no Kaladin you're ditching the plan already?

Is the Identity tied to Kaladin's brands so strong that the illusion failed or did he take in the Stormlight? Or something else took it? Or do you simply have to want the illusion for it to work.

Well, Kaladin actually may accomplish his mission but no one knows where he is oops. Oh wait Syl's around.

The Sibling? Division among the Radiants that was more significant than before? Perceived worthiness? Give me all the Radiant backstory.

Now will the Highmarshal actually be cool or is Kaladin going to be horribly disappointed

Well that's uncomfortable. “I'm going to avoid the lighteyes tent cause “ don't feel comfy there but hey this place is nice...and is also full of lighteyes”

It was said that the cities had a lot of low nahn lighteyes

It does make me more suspicious of this group though

Ooh the Cult of Moments tried to seize the gates

Hmm Radiant or something else odd about Azure

If he's not even from around here

Ugh I want to believe he's good but suspicion is healthy

Highmarshal Azure is female?

I LOVE HER ALREADY

Silver basket sword?

A Herald? Or a Radiant? Or a Worldhopper?

Well I'm glad Lyn and co got armed

So Azure knows her stuff about the Alethi wars prior to the Everstorm

Aaaa Kaladin thinking of Sah and co

He's going to be hurt so much if/when he finds out what happened

I'm guessing she's a Stoneward? I mean it’s not like the orders beyond Windrunners and Stonewards didn’t fight but those two are the best candidates

Woah did we actually skip a party scene? Or will there be more

“A Sign of Humanity” is a promising chapter title but I don't trust it

Nuuu Evi crying

Well at least Dalinar feels bad but still

Evi. Deserves. Better.

I keep forgetting that rockbuds can grow that large

Dalinar it's not about Evi admiring you. It's about her crying and being miserable because of your choices and deserving better

Go Evi for being the one with a conscience and praying for the rebels

Ugh rule by the sword cause clearly the Almighty favors battles ugh

"If they don't want to fight, they should give in to our rule"

Ughhhhhhh

How much does she notice of the Thrill

How much does the Thrill really have a grip on Dalinar

"Do not feed it."

She understands his duty but knows there's something deep soul wise at stake

The Thrill is not natural

Well at least he's talking first. It's been implied an atrocity happens here so probably not going to work.

"He builds. I destroy."

Oh dear

This is peak Blackthorn threatening

But he's trying!

A duel?

Wait

Oh that's why Sadeas was part of this memory

What game is he playing 

What game is Tanalan playing I'm confused

Well good for Edgedancers focusing on the displaced workers

Kholinar has a heartbeat? I mean it is ancient

Oh. Veil. Bleh.

Ooh Rockfall is pretty

Lightning should not do that yikes

"Veil took a deep breath, then let Shallan bleed back into existence"

That phrasing isn't worrying

Even with impersonating people she just met Shallan is going too deep this isn't good

Oh no even NPC is replacing her name pov this is aaaaaa not good

Ah food acquisition for the Cult infiltrating

Oh god she got tempted to entirely impersonate 

Shallan this is not good not good

Chulls aren't the best getaway vehicle

Well this is creepy and messed up if creative. 

I do find the voice impediment and the imperfect healing interesting cause I’m fond of fantasy healing that requires some degree of thought to work properly in certain cases

Aww Shallan is caring about people and not just greater good. I mean Veil. Ugh. Shallan.

Yay Wit is still in contact!

Aww the urchin she's in contact with also draws

Evernight is what they're calling Everstorms in the evening?

So the tower used to be protected from the Unmade? That does seem to be an important feature.

Yeah it is concerning that the protagonists are working so hard just to repel Unmade but they’ll probably just go somewhere else important

I like Beard

Kaladin joins yet another party but not as leader this time

So he has to periodically keep summoning Syl to keep the eye color?

Pfft disguised Adolin

Chouta!

Ah nuances of social stratification

Pfft Kaladin “It sure is nice being lighteyed as I, of course, have light eyes-like you, my eyes are lighter than the dark eyes of darkeyes”

Ah yes he does do the multiple summoning thing

And yet despite Kaladin not being great at lying he’s somehow pulling it off?

They're just all "you sweet summer child" to Kal

I feel like this is the book of Kaladin learning more perspectives and perhaps the next Windrunner ideal has to do with reconciliation cause protection isn't just fighting

Yeah the guard is disconnected from the people they supposedly protect

Yikes the cultists are self flagellating

They talked to the spren of the night?

Spren of changes and a new storm trying to supplant?

Yeah, really feel like Odium’s trying to replace all spren with his own

Would fit with his whole stance that he can’t leave the remnants of Honor around even though he already killed Honor

Ah Azure’s blade could still be an Honorblade

So is the Highmarshal just hiding identity or does Azure identify as a he?

Is there something deeper going on with Beard?

Oh god when you get close to the palace you hear voices beckoning you to join them and they can't take you unless you listen this is creepy

Pfft Kaladin's commander instincts

"Keep your head, and I suspect you'll end up as a squad leader before too long." He said it like a proud parent.

If only you knew Noro

Swiftspren? I like that name

Ooh are the gem colors related to the orders speaking cause sapphire is Windrunner that’s the only corresponding gem I know

Need to go back and look

Oh dear Shallan got a reputation

And of course it's attributed to a spren with the spren cult

I did not expect Shallan to become Robin Hood

Hey Pattern helping a few people is still good even if it's wrapped in a lie would be better if it wasn’t a lie of course

Although that does raise some concerns again about how the spren aren’t really about morality but about following oaths and how those limits can pose dangers even if they’re generally good guidelines

Shallan no what are you doing becoming Swiftspren in a city where things are already going weird with spren aaaaaaa

Like okay the costume is pretty cool

“A broken girl who lies” Who achieves so much and is so much more but only thinks it’s due to her not being herself.

Revel but of giving up and lethargy? That’s weird.

It's possibly anti Identity definitely anti fight against it

Oh no she's letting the voices in isn't she

Oh good she snapped out of it

I do think she's going to be vulnerable to this guy

But it knows her name not good

Oh nice one Shallan

Shallannnn "sometimes she felt like a thing wearing a human skin"

Aww Wit's leading cheerful songs

Why is he here though

Bad Veil no. No love triangle

There are different kinds of chouta?

Heh Elhokar finds Pattern familiar so it was Cryptics lurking around him in WoK

Aww giving Elhokar an inspiration drawing

“Only Red” does not bode well as a chapter title

Long distance runner elite archers are pretty cool

I want to know more about the Shin invasion

I'm concerned but I'm too happy and distracted about the description of these distance runners

30 miles a day is crazy. I mean I don’t know how different a Rosharan mile is from an Earth mile but still. That’s 210 miles/week. 100 mile weeks are crazy mileage. I’ve never crossed 50 miles/week without getting injured. But there are ultra runners around who I suspect do similar high mileage so it’s probably not unrealistic.

Anyways back to plot

Yeah about the trap I suspected

Well, that’s about the only way to make Dalinar's resolve to give into the Thrill worse

Nuuu not the distance runner elites

You were so cool even if your appearance was only for a few pages

But this took planning how did Tanalan know Dalinar would talk instead of fight

Is Evi involved? It doesn’t feel like she would do something like that.

Oh no Tanalan's men's eyes seemed to glow?

Thrill everywhere

Oh if the gemstone is cracked the Blade can't be dismissed?

Oh god he's going to go battlefrenzy with stab wounds and only a neck brace

Oh god the visions of armies of red mist

Like this is kind of cool cause any dramatic scene that has to do with traveling, walking, or running I have a weakness for but it’s so wrong and twisted

Oh scouts traitors

Oh shoot men, women, and children at the site of his great mercy yikes

l....

This is so horrible

I guess this is why we haven't heard of anyone from this place

Massacre

Just….

I should have known it was the logical

Conclusion of extreme after all

Boo Sadeas for encouraging it

Gavilar may not be the type of cruel to massacre a city of Alethi but he wanted to bring back a Desolation interesting how there are different kinds of evil

*hisses at Amaram being present here*

They're doing the bridgem-I mean ladder men here too really Dalinar

It really comes full circle from the Teleb scene and it's fitting Teleb is the one questioning this plan

The flamespren are altered? Not good.

Glad to know Dalinar had some shred of a conscience

The Thrill will never be satisfied

....

He actually did I suspected that was why he but I wasn't sure and aaaaa

You are nothing to the monster you unleash

Dalinar please take responsibility

He can hear screams

Like Szeth?

It's so poetic though

The warning signs when Dalinar slew some of his own men by accident

The fact that it shows how each person he slaughtered had meaning and weren't just faceless

I had suspected Dalinar killed Evi and that’s what messed him up so much about he death but I couldn't see Dalinar killing her by intent but couldn't think of how it would come accidentally on the battlefield

Dalinar killed his wife in the very place where he spared Tanalan and seized Oathbringer wtf

We haven't had a present day Dalinar pov since those memories came back and all of this came back didn't it ouch just as he was about to talk to his new wife

Yep I'm done for the night

Kind of just feel this deserves a pause in reading.

Wait one more thing

EVI. DESERVED. BETTER.

Okay now I’m done.

[atlaswriting]

“What are we doing, Elise?” I watch as Abram’s chest deflates, air knocked completely from his lungs. He gives into the weight crippling his shoulders and lies back on the blanket.  Unmoving eyes stare at the starry night and I wish I could tell him something, anything was better than silence. But the words scrape the inside of my throat raw and even if I try to open my mouth and speak nothing would come out.

Abram tugs me against him tight, snaking his arms around my ribs like ivy, fingers digging in and twisted my shirt.

I can feel his heart beating against his ribs, strong and steady, working albeit struggling. He’s so close that I worry the sound of my own unsteady heart will give me away.

( I wonder if he can hear the way it only beats his name. )

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs into my neck when the shaking starts to subside. Still, he holds on tight and I refuse to be the first to let go.

When I feel his arms begin to loosen I pull away, relaxing onto my calves. Tenderly my thumb wipes away stray tears from his good eye and the dark purples of the other reflect the sort of night sky I never want to see again.

If there’s anything I’ve learned it’s that: Abram knows forgiveness like air. Absolution sculpts his bones the way brutality has designed mine. Violence sits heavy in my ribs, sticky and black, infecting all the parts of me that touch it. From the moment I was born my heart’s been a war-drum, tirelessly beating to the sound of the battle I wage not only on myself but on everyone around me.

I stare back at him, not my first casualty—but the only one that matters. Soft boy, whose hands fit tenderness like a glove—I can see all my dark seeping out of me, clinging to his skin like a new home.

“Abram,” his name leaves my mouth like a secret, “you—you deserve—I’m not,” I try to find the words but they fall from my lips carelessly.

He’s close now. Too close and discomfort settles into my stomach. I try and will my hands to push some space between us, to salvage what of our friendship hasn’t been demolished.

That’s the thing, though—Abram and I were never just friends. We were inevitable, two comets always meant to collide.

I scoop my dignity into my hands, try to swallow it down and I move back. Abram follows his body drawn to mine, wordless and panting.

“Tell me we shouldn’t.” He challenges. This isn’t a question and I realize I have no answer.

I part my lips to form my mouth around the lie, to save us both, but I can’t. His finger touches my chin and gently leads me back to him—a north star, always pulling me back home. His lips part like a hungry thing and kisses me soft, at first, but then hard—desperate, broken, wanting.

Before I realize, Abram’s on top of me, with one hand poised at my waist and the other holding himself ( barely ) above. If he’s in pain it doesn’t show, even as my fingers coil into his shirt and pull him down. My legs wrap around his hips and I’ve never wanted anything more than this—more than him.

“Sylvia,” he sighs into my neck, followed by his teeth. I almost don’t catch it—and when I do, I half consider ignoring it. He hasn’t stopped kissing my neck and only when I push him away does he look up at me.

“We need to stop—we shouldn’t—,” the words stutter out of my unsure mouth, “I am not her, Abram,” I find my voice, lost somewhere between the cracks in my heart, “I’m never going to be.”

His brows crease together and then raise when he realizes what he has done, “I didn’t mean it that way, Elise, I know you’re not. It was an accident.”

Reaching for my blanket, I rouse myself to my feet, despite shaky legs I find my ground, “I know. It always is with me, isn’t it?” A smile spreads my lips apart, though lacks the humor to be genuine. “I’m going to bed, Bram,” I tell him, “I suggest you do the same.”

“Elise, wait—,” but I don’t. I gather the pieces of my heart and try to leave with what little pride I have left intact.

♡ ♡ ♡

( text messages: Sylvia & Kai )

Are you still mad at me?

( message read, 9:53 am. )

Look – I said I was sorry, I lost my phone. Honest.

( message read, 10:02 am )

Kai… Please. God, I’m sorry. A thousand times, I’m sorry.

Kai: Oh, lol. So I’m Kai again?

Kai: Quit yanking me around, Syl. Wtf is going on?

Kai: Are you here? Spying on me. Is this some perverted game?

This isn’t a game! This was never a game. I’m not there, I just know people there.

You told me your name. Christmas, two years ago.

Kai: I would remember that.

Do you remember what else we talked that Christmas?

No? We talked about moving to California together. Do you remember the kids’ names we picked out?

Sebastian and Tamsin.

But you seem to think you remember if you told me your name? That’s a little suspicious. What is it YOUR hiding, Kai?

Kai: Just because I don’t remember all that, this very second, that’s your only point?

Kai: It’s my name. I’d remember.

Why would I lie about this?

Kai: Why would you lie about anything? I don’t know.

Kai: I’m starting to think that maybe I don’t know you like I thought I did.

Kai: I’m starting to think I don’t know you at ALL.

Kai: I need a break. I’ll text you, don’t text me.

K.

♡ ♡ ♡

As a child, I used to pull dirt over ant hills—blocking their only exit, deciding that if I couldn’t leave, neither could they. From the time I was born, all my hands knew how to do was destroy. First my parent’s marriage, then innocent ants. Now Abram.

I stare at him from across the library, shoulders hunched over the book he was reading. His free hand kept tapping the screen of his phone on then tapping it off.

My stomach twists and I try and force myself to go over there but my arrogance keeps me cemented in my seat.

“What’s wrong with Walmart?” Sophie slides into the seat next to me and loudly drops her bag on the table, “Can you believe he and Jason fought?” she laughs as she searches her bag for her books and then opens one, carelessly she begins to highlight over random lines in the text, “I mean again. What do you think it could have been about?”

When I choose not to answer, I notice Sophie’s jaw falls slack from the corner of my eye, “It wasn’t you, was it?” My neck snaps toward her so fast I can feel the crack, “oh my god, Lissa!” She shrieks loud, receiving shushes not only from me, but several other students and Mrs. Martinez, the librarian. I take a careful glance toward Abram who peaked up for only a moment before burying his head back down.

“Did you have sex with him?” She asks, “Was it good? Was he big?”

My cheeks burn red hot and I wish I could fold in on myself. My careless reactions give me away and I bury my face in my hands. “It was an accident, Soph, I didn’t mean to—we were drunk,” I whisper harshly, “Jason doesn’t know. Please don’t tell me. Please.” I beg, reaching for her hand and curling my fingers tightly around them.

Her lips press into a tight line, before the seriousness fades into a smile, “Was it good?”

My lips twitch into a smile, “I think so? I don’t remember—but, god he is a good kisser.”

“Tell me everything.”

And I do.

♡ ♡ ♡

Abram slams a tray down on the table making Sophie, Jason and I jump.

“I know it’s you, Sophie.” He spits out, malice coating his tone.

Her brows crease as she takes a bite of her yogurt and considers him, “I mean, I’m sure it was… But what are you talking about, Abram?”

“You just did it!” He shouts, “You just called me Abram.” He sits heavily down beside Jason and points at her.

“Doesn’t everyone…” she looks around the table, brows creased, “Are you high right now? Could you, like, maybe get me some? I have this super long quiz in—,”

An exasperated sigh releases from his mouth, “Sophie—unless I should call you something else—”

She shrugs, “I’ll let you call me anything.” She interrupts him by blowing a kiss.

I watch as Abram’s face passes through three level of confusion and as he stands I do too. I glance at Jason, “I’m going to go check on him—he doesn’t look right.”

Reaching the hallway in just enough time to see his fingers twist into a fist but before they could collide with the lockers, I grab his elbow, “Follow me,” I order, too afraid of the anger that curls around his arm to let go.

I lead us back to my room and lock the door after we both enter.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask.

“She’s lying to me.”

“Sophie?”

“No, Elise, not Sophie,” he snaps. I sit on the floor with my back to my bed, forcing Abram down beside me. “Sylvia. Sylvia’s lying to me—I think she has been for a long time and I’ve just been too stupid to see it. I thought, maybe, Sophie was Sylvia.”

I can’t help but snort and he throws an annoyed look in my direction, “I’m sorry, but seriously? I mean Sophie can be a bitch, but she’s not like that at all…” I tell him, a sharp pain in my chest reminds me that I am.

Anger melts to sadness and Abram leans his head on my shoulder. Too many emotions held together by too thin skin, I wrap one arm around him, hoping that if he couldn’t contain the storm himself, maybe I could help.

“Maybe Sylvia’s just… scared,” I say, “You’ve seen parts of her I’m sure no one ever has. Maybe she’s afraid that when you see it all you’ll leave. She’s probably terrified you won’t think she’s good enough.” I force myself to swallow hard to keep myself from crying, “not everyone is as open with their heart as you, Abram.”

“Elise,” he leans his head up to look at me, “she’s lying to me—I know she is. And… I’m starting to think it might not be worth it anymore.” His fingers wind between mine, “If she wasn’t holding my heart hostage I could be with someone else—someone tangible…”

“Who?” I ask, without meaning.

He’s quiet for a while, straightens himself out so he’s sitting taller than me. I turn away from him, stare at my closet because maybe, I think, if I ground myself I could stop the world from shaking me off. Abram whispers his next words, pressing his lips just below my ear, “don’t pretend you don’t notice the way I look at you.”

“Abram…”

He turns my attention back to him and kisses me. I throw my body on top of his, the warmth of my heart outweighing my pride as I settle myself in his lap, fingers running through his hair. I kiss him hard—hard enough to lull the guilt that begins to seep out of me back into its hiding place, my teeth tug at his bottom lip and he grips my hips with such strength I crumble into his touch.

His fingers start exploring underneath my shirt, sliding up my back, daring to touch every inch of me. Reckless abandon forces me to push him away, panting heavily.

“I can’t keep doing this,” I blurt out. I find my footing and back away from him, hands out to keep him at a distance. He scrambles to his feet, crossing what little space there was.

He presses my back against the wall; hands once again drawn to my waist. Fingertips dig in—promising to leave bruises I wouldn’t mind having, kissing me hard enough to take my breath away. I whine against his mouth, every bit of my body wants to give in—my arms itch to wrap around him, to pull him so close that our bodies won’t end but my hands are planted firmly against his chest and push him away once more, “It’s not fair,” I say, breathlessly, “I told you last night: I’m never going to be Sylvia, you can’t kiss me to forget her—that isn’t how love works.”

He opens his mouth to speak but I don’t let him, “I’m not going to be your safety net. I’m not going to throw my heart at you just for you to toss it aside the second Sylvia shows you the least bit of affection. I’m not your back up plan. You’re kissing me, Abram, but you’re thinking about her.”

I slide by him toward the door and open it, urging him out, “I love you, Abram,” I say softly, the admission knocks the wind out of me, “but you only love me when she’s not there.”

He doesn’t move, mouth parted like he wants to argue—but we both know it’ll be a lie.

“Do us both the favor and go.”

[wolfpawn]

I Hate You, I Love You, Chapter 40

Chapter Summary -   The morning after the night before, Tom talks to Danielle with regards some of the concerns he discussed with Ben.

Previous Chapter

Rating - Mature (some chapters contain smut)

Triggers - references to Tom Hiddleston’s work with the #MeToo Movement. That chapter will be tagged accordingly.

authors Note - I have been working on this for the last 3 years, it is currently 180+ chapters long.  This will be updated daily, so long as I can get time to do so, obviously.

tags: @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog  @jessibelle-nerdy-mum @nonsensicalobsessions @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1 @winterisakiller @fairlightswiftly @salempoe @lys-syl @youcantcatchafallingstar

If you wish to be tagged, please let me know.

“Go back to sleep.” Tom groaned; his voice heavy with sleep.

“Can’t, the sun’s up.”

“So?”

“I’m going for a run.”

“Seriously?”

“I don’t get to run most of the time now with work, I’m gaining weight.”

Tom rolled over and pulled Danielle to him. “No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.” She scoffed. “So get off so you are not going out with a beached whale.”

“Elle.” There was a small hint of warning in his tone.

“What?”

“I need to talk to you later.” She turned to look at him properly, her fear blatant in her face. “Nothing bad, just, with me going away for a few weeks, I want to talk to you about stuff before I go.”

“Like what?”

“Just…” Tom forced himself to wake more, wishing he had not said anything until later, knowing she would not leave it rest until he said everything. “Are you happy with me?” Danielle stared at him silently, her face telling him her thoughts. “No, this is not me trying to break up with you, I want to be with you, I want us to last, but I need to talk to you about certain things, so I will ask again, are you happy with me?”

“Yes.” She answered immediately.

“As you are?”

“I don’t under…”

“You weren’t eating properly yesterday, and you seem very much hung up on the being called ‘wholesome’.”

“I…”

“Elle, be honest with me, please, tell me what you are thinking, I want this to work, please.”

“I have been overly busy with work, but yeah, the things they wrote, they hurt.” She stared at her hands. “I mean, I was never as thin as Swift, I am not anywhere near that body type, so I just…”

Tom took her hand in his and intertwined his fingers in hers. “You are far sexier than her. Have you not seen how I react to you? Twice yesterday, twice, and I can guarantee, there will be at least two or three more before my flight tomorrow.” He kissed her hand, causing her to smile.

“I thought men’s sex drive declined in their thirties?” She frowned.

“Not when we have sexy twenty-nine-year-old girlfriends with pert asses and glorious breasts.” He grinned again as he stared at her naked breasts, taking his lower lip in between his teeth as he did.

“Didn’t take you for a boob man.”

Tom’s eyebrow rose slightly. “Did you not? Well, that just proves I have not been giving these delectable things the attention they deserve.” He cupped her breasts in his hands and leant up to attack one with his lips, the other, he toyed with using his nimble fingers.

“Tom,” Elle gasped. “My training.”

“Fuck it, actually no, fuck me.”

“Insatiable.” She shook her head before moving herself around to straddle him, his lips making their way to her other nipple.

“You fucking love it.”

*

“So, have you used that bike a lot?” Danielle turned to see Ben making his way to her kettle.

“Not as much as I want, but as much as I can.” She smiled removing her helmet. “Did you sleep okay?”

“As well as one can when you are able to hear your friend and his girlfriend are at it like two Catholic rabbits from sundown to sun up.” Danielle blushed, causing him to chuckle. “I am simply teasing you.”

“I’ll tell Sophie you are being mean.”

“Hey, I said I was teasing, don’t set my wife on me.” She just laughed back. “She told me that you seemed better after talking to her, didn’t say what you spoke about, but said you seemed better about it all.”

“I am, she was a great help, thank you both for all of this.”

“Least I could do, you saved Tom from disaster after all.”

“You had a considerable part to play in that, in fact, I would think the credit for which goes to you.”

“I only continued what you started.” He grinned. “Where is the coffee kept?”

“Oh, here.” She turned and got it out of the cupboard over the kettle. “I keep all this stuff together.”

“That makes sense.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “You don’t do that, do you?”

“No.”

She shook her head and laughed, “Bad form.”

He reached over her and grabbed two mugs, “Yeah, so where did Tom go?” Danielle stared at him. “About ten minutes after you two finished your fun this morning, you left, then a few minutes later, I heard him leaving.”

“I don’t know, he didn’t say anything to me about it.”

“Weird.”

“I would say he went to his mum’s, but he’s sort of hiding from her.”

Ben chuckled heartily. “I heard.”

Danielle groaned, her face turning red. “Seriously?”

“Yes, those two are worse than two American high school girls for telling each other their secrets,” Sophie commented coming into the room. “I am stealing that mattress.” She declared unashamedly as she grabbed a mug off her husband.

“Again with the stealing,” Benedict joked, rushing away before she could elbow him.

“How do you put up with him?” Danielle laughed.

“He makes good coffee.”

“A saving grace.”

The back door opened and Mac Tíre rushed in followed by Tom. “Everyone up?” he grinned, though his face was slightly red.

“Yeah, Ben fled the room after mocking Sophie again.” Danielle smiled as Tom came over and kissed her. “Over at your mum’s?”

“No, I went to the shop to get some more food, saw her there a moment ago, though.”

“I gathered as much.”

“What gave it away?”

“The flushed look around your ears saying she has mortified you in some way and the fact you are coming in the back.”

“You are very astute, but I forgot the spare key, that’s why I came round here.”

“I take pride in it. How is…what did she say?”

“She’s decided she is delighted about it, and told me not to be an ass to you.”

“Poor Diana, setting herself up for disappointment.” Elle joked as she made him a cup of tea.

“Hey! We are to go over when our guests are gone. Did you sleep well Sophie?” he asked, turning to give the other woman a peck on the cheek.

“I was just saying, that mattress is incredible, seriously, I am not leaving this house until you tell me where you got it, I am getting one. My back has been killing me with Kit wanting to be held most of the time and the baby weighing down the front, I feel better than I have in weeks.”

“I can honestly say it was comfy, now if you two weren’t waking me every five minutes swinging from the lights, I would have slept better,” Ben commented, after coming back into the room.

Danielle leant closer to Sophie as though “Prone to exaggerations, isn’t he?”

“A tad.” She agreed.

Danielle shook her head, “fucking actors.” Both men looked at her indignantly.

*

“Thank you both so much.” Danielle smiled as Ben gave her a kiss on the cheek before you turned to Sophie, who had just received similar from Tom. Before she could say anything, the older woman pulled her in and gave her and large hug. “Thank you.”

“You have my number, do not hesitate to call or text if you are feeling stressed about it all, am I clear?” Sophie smiled.

“Crystal.”

“Good,” She then turned back to Tom. “Mind her, she’s one of the good ones, don’t let them scare her off.”

“I don’t plan on it,” He grinned goofily, looking at Danielle.

“We’ll see you two soon, this was actually really nice.”

“We’ll have to do the second leg in Tom’s.” Danielle smiled, causing Ben to cock his head slightly, not knowing what she was saying. “Never mind, soccer reference.” She dismissed. “Private School boys.”

“Technically it is a public school, not private.” Ben pointed out.

“In Ireland, it’s the other way around.” Danielle waved as they got into the car and left. “Well, that went well,” She beamed before looking around to see Tom looking at her with an unreadable expression. “What?”

“Nothing, I am just admiring you.”

“Weirdo.” She laughed before heading for the door and walking back into the kitchen to clean up the breakfast ware.

“You ate properly at breakfast.” Tom wrapped his arms around her as she put ware in the sink.

“Well, I am being forced to burn more calories than I care to of late.”

“Really?”

“Yes, someone is at me like a, what was it Ben said, a Catholic bunny.”

“I cannot and will not apologise for finding my significant other sexually enticing,” Tom growled against her neck.

“What?”

“Hmm?”

“You are thinking about something, what is it?” she turned to look at him.

“You are too astute.”

“So you said already, what is it, Tom?” she seemed nervous. “Is it to do with before?”

Tom cupped her face in his hands and thought about what he wanted to say, he didn’t want to scare her off, but he knew he had to make some of his thoughts clear. “I really want this to work.”

“Good; that tends to be a required step in getting it to.” She smiled. “I do too, by the way.”

“I know my work takes me away for bouts of time, but promise you’ll tell me if I am not there enough for you, or if I am suffocating you when I am.”

“Tom,” she played with the collar of his shirt. “Our jobs are hard work, you have to go away, I have to go away, but it is not impossible, there is email, texts, calls, video calling and even writing letters if all technology fails, alright? As long as we talk and let it all hang out there, we know where we stand and we can work on it.”

“You are too young to be this clued in.”

“I’m thirty soon, God I’m getting old.”

“Thirty is not old.”

“No compared to you, maybe.” She dashed off before her words registered, but had only made it to the staircase before Tom came running out into the hallway. Even taking the steps two at a time, her previous exercise and her shorter stature allowed him to catch her as soon as they made it upstairs.

“Apologise.” He growled, pulling her to the carpeted floor of the upstairs hallway.

“Never!” She laughed, erupting in hysterical fits as he tickled her. “No.”

“Yes, I am going to have you beg for mercy.”

“How, did she leave a CD in your mum’s you are going to force me to listen to?” she grinned.

Tom paused for a moment before laughing himself. “That is terribly mean.”

“But true.” She argued, leaning on one arm next to him. “She is a terrible singer.”

“And you have a terrible habit of dragging her up today.”

“You’re right.” She conceded, sighing loudly as she did, “I let her get into my head and that’s a stupid thing to do, I should just forget about her.”

“Please do.” Tom smiled slightly. “I know it’s entirely my fault, but I don’t want you dragging yourself to her level.”

“You’d need a fracking permit to go that far sub terrain.”

“Elle!” he was trying to get her to stop focusing on Taylor but was forced to laugh at her comment. “You are fucking vicious when you want to be.”

“I need to rein it in, though, I think Luke is less than impressed by it.”

“Just rein it in when in public, never change yourself in private, I want this you, forever.”

“Forever is a long time, Tom.”

“Good, I want you like this for a long time.” He kissed her chastely.

“Is that what you have done?” Tom pulled back slightly and frowned at her. “Hardened yourself to the world. I always wondered why the Tom I know is not the Tom that I see on TV anymore.”

“I had to, everyone in the industry has to harden up, it will swallow you whole if you don’t. You will too, out there. Sophie had to with Ben.”

“Do you think I can?”

“Yes, that night of our meal, they pushed and antagonised you, but you did not give them anything, that is what you need to do. They will push more, harass you more, but if you stay like that, they can’t get you. They will get bored and move on to someone else, if they smell blood, they’ll hang around, if not, they’ll go elsewhere to forage scraps.” She nodded solemnly. “I wish I did not drag you into this. I wish we were just normal, nine to five workers, no paps, no crazy fan girls.”

“No, you don’t. That’s not you Tom, you are an actor, not as just a career, but as a person, the way you bring life to a character that is nothing more than words on paper, the amount of yourself you put into a role; that is why they adore you. There are so many good looking actors out there, but all they get is a ‘damn, he’s sexy’ but you, they feel like you are more than that, that you are something special, and that is why.” She kissed him quickly before continuing. “You are not a nine to five person; that life would crush you, it’s not you, so many do it well and like it, but it’s not you. I hate knowing sooner or later I will be the focus of some less than lovely articles, but I would not change you for the world, that’s why I am so willing to try this, I want to be with you, and if it means lowlife’s trying to photograph me, or silly girls on the internet declaring I’m not good enough for you, then it’s the price I have to pay, everything in life costs us something, this is my fee.”

Tom swallowed hard. “Talking to Sophie really helped?” he realised.

“It did.”

“What do you think of what they have?”

“Ben and Sophie?” Tom nodded. “They seem genuinely happy, genuinely comfortable together. They should be envied, rather than ridiculed, though, in truth, that is probably why they are, people are jealous of what they don’t have and they make dirty comments about them because of it.”

“Would you like to be like them someday?”

There was a nervousness in his voice that Danielle copped immediately. “With you?” his eyes finally met hers, and in the steel blue of his irises, she could see his hope blatantly as he nodded his response. “Yes,” she nodded, “I think I would.”