#the implication that you've gone through All That over the course of weeks. idk. it's a little nightmare fuel

[thegreatyin]

y'know, it probably feels weird for the scoundrel to admit, but they feel surprisingly comforted to be back on their ship for a change. they finally have control of the situation, they're finally around people they (vaguely) trust, they- wait a minute hold on what was that line

oh

oh no

oh no the horrors just keep getting worse and worse for them

[mareenavee]

WIP Whenever~

Happy middle-of-the-week, everyone! I hope the writing's been good. I finished two whole fics this week. (Small, but still good.) Started on another, while getting about idk 1/3 of the way through chapter 27. That's what I'm going to share today! But first, tagging the most esteemed: @paraparadigm, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @thequeenofthewinter, @oblivions-dawn (I have to know what's next lol), @gilgamish, @tallmatcha, @rhiannon1199, @snippetsrus, @saltymaplesyrup and @archangelsunited -- If you aren't tagged, consider yourself tagged, and tag me back so I can see what you've got! Without further ado, here's a section of chaos from chapter 27 of The World on Our Shoulders.

Teldryn sat on the edge of Neloth’s bed, cradling a mug of canis root tea. His skin still stung from the constant prodding and scraping to check for any remnants of the blasted Stalhrim. He was still anxious, if he was being honest. It made it hard to stay asleep. Tel Mithryn was almost unnaturally quiet, except for the low hum of the Levitation Runes and the rapid flipping of pages. At the moment, Neloth was poring over a collection of tomes while everyone else was sleeping. It couldn’t be long before dawn now. The perfect hour, really, for negative thoughts to swirl around unmitigated. He sighed and sipped his tea.

To make things worse, Nyenna still hadn’t been able to maintain consciousness for long, despite all Neloth was doing to help her. He’d theorized something about swelling in her brain combined with a disruption of the flow of Magicka through her body. It was as if the rebounded Shout had somehow broken her mind in more ways than one. The implications of that alone had him thanking Azura he’d even survived the Shout he’d gotten caught up in during that first fight by her side. He’d already decided he’d never underestimate her again, but now… Was it a death wish to stand so close to such power? Did that matter, in the end? He looked down at Nyenna now, sleeping peacefully, hair a tangled mess against the pillow, stress gone from her brow. It didn’t matter, come to think of it. It wouldn’t be right to leave and let her figure this all out on her own. She was a risk, but one he’d probably stick by until time itself came unraveled, Gods willing. He stopped mid-sip at the realization. Best if he didn’t exactly say that aloud, all things considered.

Neloth sighed heavily at his desk and swore in Dunmeris, his tone more exasperated despite keeping relatively quiet. Teldryn wasn’t sure how much of a healer he really was; even though he’d done incredible work after the Red Year, his personality sort of conflicted with the basic tenants of Restoration magic. To his credit, he did at least seem rather concerned and had even set aside the Stalhrim to study Nyenna’s condition. He’d even forced Talvas, his assistant, to drop all his projects and papers to help. The boy was passed out on his own desk in the other part of the room, exhaustion of the last few days finally catching up to him. Varlais, too, had tried to help but ended up in more of a glorified servant’s role. He wasn’t really the thinking type, as Neloth had frustratingly come to find out. Teldryn had, of course, already known.

Teldryn did the best he could with his own Healing and Calm spells. He’d offered to go get Aphia from Raven Rock, but Neloth insisted he knew more than any other Mer in a thousand-mile radius. While that was likely true, there really was no downside to having an extra pair of hands. It was just as well…the debt he’d racked up with the grand soul gems wasted on Teleportation spells outshone his earnings from the last half-year at this point. He likely wouldn’t have to pay it back, except in insults and reminders of how heroic Neloth had acted. This would go on for the rest of existence, an inside joke turned into exhaustion in no time at all. But that was just how the old wizard had always been. And to be fair, he’d pay that cost again and again if it meant helping anyone after what they’d all been through, Nyenna especially so.

To Neloth’s other point, Nyenna’s Magicka was not loud now, not like it usually was. It hadn’t been for a few days, though whatever the affliction, it was at least healing. There was a huge difference from when he’d dragged her out of the Atronach’s lair. Then, it had been almost non-existent, barely registering at all.  She was so pale. She seemed so fragile. She’d been speaking in frantic Dovahzul, almost as if possessed. And her eyes… Gods, but… It was too difficult to recall that particular memory. He swallowed hard against the fresh wave of horror. He’d been terrified. He’d lived long enough now that few things were capable of even surprising him — but this whole situation had been almost too much. Not quite as bad as Red Mountain, despite the similar wrongness in the warp and weft of the place he’d felt, and the way their feet all had been moving of their own accord toward the danger. But it had been close. Living in the aftermath of that fight left him feeling somewhat hollow where fear had burned everything else away.

Unnerved, Teldryn sipped his tea and looked at her as she slept. It’d been a whole day since the last nightmare, so this peace was progress. As he’d done a hundred times in the last span of days, he reached out and brushed some of her curls out of her eyes. That power of hers was still there, like a shock under her skin, though dulled. He had hope, though, despite everything. Even in the void left behind by all the recent chaos, she gave him hope. He didn’t quite know how to tell her that without breaking unspoken rules.