#theautumnpicker

[liltaventures]

Careful, we bite~

RP Thread with @theautumnpicker The nighttime air was cool and the dark sky was covered in a blanket of dark clouds. Stars decorated the sky and for once Quillen felt like he could relax. The rogue had been sitting on a small log reflecting on the events of the day and taking some time to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.

Things at camp had changed since he had befriended his small group of tadpole-infested misfits. Who would have thought he of all people would find himself in good company?

There was still a ways to go in terms of gaining the trust of a few people but overall the half-elf could count on them to have his back when the situation called for it. Hells, he’d even have their backs too. After all, they needed one another if they were to ever find a cure.

The dhampir smiled softly to himself and looked up at the night sky. A soft exhale escaped past his plump lips and his bright red eyes softened as he noticed a few constellations had been visible. The sound of chatter broke his concentration on the night sky and he turned his attention to the rest of camp, watching as a few of his companions retreated into their tents to settle down for the night.

Quillen retreated to his accommodations and made quick work setting a soft blanket out by his bed roll. Once he was satisfied with his work he turned back towards the entrance of his tent and slowly pulled the flap back before he slinked away silently into the woods. The dhampir needed to feed and now that activity around camp was dead it was the perfect time to find himself something to satiate his sanguine hunger.

All he needed to do was find something to sink his pretty little fangs into. He trailed his ruby orbs around his surroundings and hummed quietly to himself. “Now, what will nature bless me with tonight I wonder?”

[eritvita]

✘ : What one thing they would change about your muse.

@theautumnpicker

"Communication, presently," says Roland. "That una'feared, deliberate Phrase and stark sound to the down-turned palm; something of naked honesty and satisfaction for that opened Book. Something to speak with for those emotional colors," says he.

Send me a symbol, and my muse will answer .

[cosmosoracle]

NINE PEOPLE I’D LIKE TO KNOW BETTER

last song: A Father's Lesson, by Peter Gundry

favorite color(s): blue, purple, black, white, aqua green, gold, silver

currently watching: Solo Leveling

spicy/savory/sweet: Sweet above all

relationship status: Happily taken ♡

current obsession: my muses with their stories and all that could be throughout the campaigns and threads, getting better at my job and finding more, finding a way to stay and live in my bf's city (and soon under the same roof), also Bg3

Stolen from @notyetfixed yoink~

Tagging: @estarion @ramblingsofamoonwatcher @iron-hearts-ablaze @deepseawarlock @dalishborne @theautumnpicker @bells-of-black-sunday @vigilant-cleric @oblivisms and also whoever else wants to do this ♡

[intothewildsea]

"I'm sure we'll figure out something to get you feeling better." Niamh unwrapped her shawl from her shoulders and draped it over a chair, then went over to her worktable where she kept her herbs and medical supplies.

"What are your symptoms? Any nausea? Fever?" It would be easier to treat the symptoms first. That should help him feel better. Then she could focus on crafting something to get rid of whatever illness he had. "When did you start feeling ill? Did you eat something that might have made you feel sick?"

She pushed up her sleeves and glanced over at him. In the firelight she could see the sheen on sweat on his face.

Astarion's focus narrows to his own two feet and to the area immediately in front of them. Despite the sweat pouring from his brow, and the nausea welling up in his stomach, he manages to walk the remaining distance to the cottage.

That is just about all of his strength, however. The fire attracts him, and Astarion stumbles towards the hearth, feeling oddly cold despite the sweat. He's able only to prop himself up with his back leaning against the wall adjacent to the hearth.

"Kind of you to offer," he murmurs, closing his eyes to stop his vision from swimming. "I'll stay here for now, where it's warm. If you can cure me— I can pay— don't think this is a charity case." The blood he drank must have been infected with something foul indeed; even the putrid rats he used to eat didn't have this effect.

[forbiddenacademia]

Starter for @theautumnpicker

The snow swirls with pungent steam, the outpouring of filthy water from rusted boilers; factories and workshops line the lower industrial district. Midnight is gone, but one wouldn't know it. The graceful moon is blocked by thick plumes of steam, the sound of sleep muffled by hissing steel machinery and the howls of the restless night.

"You're fascination with me has led you to the bilge-filth of Waterdeep's lowest districts?" She hums, recognizing his pale face through the steam. Bloody bandaged knuckles wipe dripping blood from her nose. "Never thought I'd see you so far from the academic towers, fancy boy."

[forbiddenacademia]

WHAT KIND OF LOVE ARE YOU

Tagged by @lordliing

Love as Religion

Devotion, that is the name of your love. Your love is an act of worship. Your love is like witnessing the birth of Venus, like seeing the sun come alive, or the stars fall. When you love, it is because you have found God in a lover. You have found the meaning of life itself in the heart of the one you adore. They are everything to you; they are your Maker, and you are their lamb, their flock, their first and holiest worshipper. When you fall in love, it is as a baptism. You are born anew, made a believer in the divinity of the one you love most. Being loved by you is an ascension; it is holy and golden. It is all-consuming, and all-faithful, loyal as the dog. You will never, ever bite back.

Tagging: @theautumnpicker & anyone else who wants to yoink this

[ryathenaughtykitsune]

@ichor-and-magic

@theautumnpicker

[eritvita]

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 ?

Love as a Force of Nature

Your love is like whiplash –– it comes in with the rain, it blows the doors wide open. When you fall in love, it is sudden and hard and immense. It is powerful. It is earth-shaking and world-ending. Nature is a force, and that force can be destructive if you're not careful. See how the world is doused in gasoline and set on fire –– your love consumes, your love takes, your love burns. You're hot and cold all at once, a hurricane and a wildfire bound together in skin, and when you're in love, it can feel like it's eating you alive from the inside out. When you love, it is with everything you have because it is everything you have. Be careful, darling, because not everyone survives the storm.

tagged by : @celestialheal, @notyetfixed, & @theautumnpicker ! tagging : @intothewildsea, @miss-polly, @ladyxamalthea, @archerwhiterp, @amothersvow, & whomever wants to !

[intothewildsea]

@theautumnpicker continued from X.

When she had woken up to find him gone, Niamh had assumed that perhaps he'd simply left after he'd started feeling better. She decided to check the beach, though, just in case. She was a little worried about his illness returning and causing him to pass out.

After she dresses and wrangles her wild curls back from her face, she makes the trek out of the cottage to the beach. She sees him in the distance, wading in the water, though by the time she reaches him he's out and dressed.

The kisses surprise her and so does the bow. She can't help but giggle at little. "You definitely seem as if you're feeling much better!I'm glad. My name's Niamh. It's nice to be properly introduced, Astarion."

He still looked rather pale, but perhaps some color would come back to his cheeks after a little while. She would try not to fret. The medicines she'd given him had seemed to help.

"Oh, you don't have to do anything," she said quickly, "I was happy to help. I'm just glad you're feeling better. I hated seeing you feel so poorly."

[theredconqueror]

@theautumnpicker

The question causes Astarion's eyes to narrow with irritation, his gaze to focus sharply on Varis as he crosses his arms. It sounds like a taunt. He's tempted to answer the question by tossing a firebolt directly at Varis, but he's not stupid enough to give into his first impulse, at least not when it might have such negative repercussions.

"No, I don't think it would be. But I also don't think I need to learn any more cantrips. I already have quite an array of them at my disposal." He frowns. "I'm not a child apprentice, you know. You underestimate my existing ability." Even if elemental magic is not his forte.

He rarely bothers to teach anyone anything. To waste his time. Those who would better themselves are meant to do it on their own. But in this case, he can show off a little, as well as make Astarion a little more capable. This way, he won't have to be looking over his shoulder every moment of battle to ensure that the other is alright. For a moment, he foregoes thinking about what is within the realm of the other's capacity in terms of magic. He just tilts his head, observing the other, with another question on his tongue: "What spell or magic do you most wish you could do? Beyond whatever your wildest dreams might be. If you were, say, some great prodigy."

[raphaeni]

"So you're the devil they were talking about. Got yourself summoned by the wrong person, sweetheart?"

Imprisoned/Trapped Monster Starters

"Not at all." Raphael replied with a smirk on his lips. "I must have been summoned by the right person, if it lead me to you." He relaxes back in his chair, although aptly he is stuck inside a cage, larger than he needed though -- most likely they expected him to be bigger than he is. It is amusing, to say the least.

"Why the concern? Do you intend to free me? Or just mock me?"

[theautumnpicker]

@autumnpicker -> @theautumnpicker

[eritvita]

That eternal flex of his multiplying eyes recedes backward, unifying his pupils onto a singular Note for the individual pupil, and Roland removes his covering palm, blinking rapidly. His neck hath healed, and the residual blood upon his palm is all that is lefto’er. His is embarrassed, up onto the blushing points of his inhuman ears.

“I am so very sorry,” he repeats, dual in mortification. “Naught hast thou wronged me, or moved too incorrectly. The animal of my Body was not prepared for that placement of my throat within thine glorious teeth,” explains he.

“I am–” and he swallows tightly, and that singular Eye, dipped ‘to the middle of Roland's brow, remains. “--I am well, if not a slight of tilting Posture. Dost thou wish me to leave?” asks he quietly; willing to negotiate comforts, if tonally possible.

It's no less disconcerting to have that extra, wary eye fixed on him. Astarion stands rigidly in place, fingers twitching at his side for his knife— just in case— though he has no real desire to hurt Roland. Whatever he is, it's obvious that Astarion underestimated him. He feels dizzy, still, flushed with euphoria, as if he might begin floating at any moment.

His hand relaxes after a moment. If he is to die like this, well, at least he'll die happy. But Roland seems, slowly, to begin to calm, if the burst of light around him fading is any indication. "You could have told me to stop," he says, defensively, although Roland already assured him he did not do wrong.

"Are you alright?" he repeats. "Physically, I mean. Is there something I should... do? Do you drink water?" What use a star could have for water any more than Astarion himself has, he can't quite fathom, but Roland has been enjoying food and drink of all sorts thus far.

[intothewildsea]

[ secrets ] ― do they have any dirty secrets? if so, what are they?

The only thing that comes to mind is that Niamh loves being called a "good girl" and it flusters her so bad, lmao, if someone finds out she loves it she just wants to curl up and hide. It's not even that kinky! It just for some reason makes her so embarrassed.

[reining-disaster]

Interestingly enough. Rein's rage seemed just controlled enough that he was able to recognize Astarion. Not in a very coherent way, but as the objective of his protective state. His hands held firm on his halberd, some sort of grounding mechanism. Keeping him tethered to this plane of existence so as not to lose complete control. Weapons in his hand helped. His breath was ragged, his body was stiff. Veins could be seen all over his exposed skin with particular straining around his neck.

At the sound of Astarion's voice, it was as if the man were a mindless zombie under the complete control of his team. His brain wasn't there, but he paused, head and hands twitching on the grip of his large wrapon. Rein watched the hand as if he were already under a spell, following the movement with his head like he was tracking something. Such intense focus and not a single thought behind his two toned eyes, brows stuck in a furrowed position and mouth open as he breathed. Each intake of air sounded painful.

As the spell began to work and envelope him, his weapon fell to the ground. He placed a hand on his temple, one of his eyes closing. The ragged breaths became groans of discomfort, recognition glinting in and out of the eye that remained open, but it fluttered a bit, "S-Stari?" He spoke, his voice almost didn't sound real. Like a beast was speaking instead of Rein. The tone sounded alarmed... Confused.

He finally opened both eyes before they rolled to the back of his skull. Rein reached a hand out to his friend before he stumbled, collapsing to his knees and then falling to the side. It was not a gentle fall, either. But he was, for the most part, unharmed. He was a big guy. A fall like that was a walk in the park, really.

@theautumnpicker

Rein wasn't quite sure how he'd ended up in this situation, but after trying to revive an artifact with Astarion, they ended up in a battle with guards at the entrance and we're not able to talk their way out of it. The moment Astarion had been injured it was like a switch flipped inside him and his vision turned red.

By the time the battle was over Rein was long gone, lost in a rage that was no longer necessary and barely clinging to himself. Rein was barely in there, unable to communicate verbally, using any will he had left to keep from hurting his friend that was with him. Sure they had won quickly, but the battle wasn't like enough for Rein to properly cycle through the feeling of uncontrollable anger that he hid just below the surface every single moment.

Rein was typically very gentle so to see him reacting this way now that the battle was over... A weak man may be terrified.

(sorry this took so long)

Though he'd taken a nasty blow to the head in the combat, Astarion does not seem to be the one most affected by it. He didn't even see Rein more than scratched, so what it is that has him so completely lost in himself is difficult for Astarion to fathom. But the feeling itself is one he can relate to— of being entirely absent, while something else directs his being.

"Darling, it's finished now," he tries, reaching towards him and then wisely thinking better of it and stepping back when the words seem to have no effect. Gods, that look in his eyes: vacant, merciless rage. Where is it that that comes from? Either way, there's no getting close to him while he's like this.

Astarion raises his hand and draws gentle circles in the air with it, intoning as he does so the words of an Elvish lullaby. They carry with them the magic of a Calm Emotions spell, which he casts as he steps towards Rein a second time.