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[taelyn-ds]

Taelyn took the plate like it was something sacred, grinning as she eyed the frosting mountain. “You really do love me,” she teased, then softened as she poked at the cake with her fork. “Thanks, Dad. For the cake… and for not making this weird.” She glanced up at him, her smile quieter now. “I know I haven’t been around much lately. But I’m trying. Just… bear with me, okay?”

"Well, it was a corner slice with a lot of frosting but you know I always eat the frosting first," Tadhg replied, smiling at how alike she was to him. He stood up and got out a plate and the cake from the fridge to get another corner piece, handing it to her along with a fork, "It's nice to have you here, sweetheart. You know you're always welcome when you miss it."

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Taelyn didn’t flinch, though the words hit like gravel in her chest. She nodded once, slow and measured, the way you do when your heart wants to break but you’re holding the pieces in place with sheer will. “Okay,” she murmured, voice barely above the hum of the hanging light. “You don’t owe me anything, Maggie. I just… wanted you to know someone showed up. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s late.” She started to turn, then paused, glancing back with a faint, crooked smile. “And for the record—I don’t need to fix anything, nor am I secretly in love with your sister. I just don’t believe in leaving people alone in the dark if I can help it.”

Maggie let out a sigh and took the bag. "Thanks." The vampire let the other woman speak, but she really wasn't sure what to make of it all. "Everything. That's a strong word," she said. "Look, I don't know where all of this is coming from, but I don't need you coming in here to tell me how much I matter. I'm fine, and I've been fine for centuries," she stated. Maybe it was cold. Maybe she was being a little harsh, but something about it all just rubbed her the wrong way. "I don't know if you're like, secretly in love with Ashlyn so you're reaching out, or you have a weird need to fix things but either way just.. leave me out of it. I'm good."

[taelyn-ds]

Taelyn shifted her weight, fingers tightening slightly around the bag before she offered it out again, even though Maggie hadn’t taken it yet. “I am friends with Ashlyn,” she said quietly, nodding. “She’s... she’s everything to me. But I’m here because you mattered to her. And because you matter, whether or not you believe it right now.” She paused, her voice softer now. “I don’t need you to explain anything. I just didn’t want you to feel like everyone was against you.” She smiled, shy and a little sad. “And also because cookies are kind of my love language.”

Maggie wasn't expecting a visitor. The only person who ever really came to see her was her boyfriend. She certainly didn't think she'd be getting a visit from this woman with snacks who was basically a stranger to her. "You're friends with my sister, right?" she asked. "I've seen you around town with her since she got here," she added, closing the hood and stepping closer. She wiped her hands on a rag she pulled from the pocket of her coveralls before using the same rag to wipe a spot of grease from her cheek. "Why?" Maggie asked. "Why are you here?"

[taelyn-ds]

Taelyn blinked at the cake, then at her dad, like she’d just now realized she did want some. “I mean… I wasn’t going to say anything, but now that you’ve brought it up…” she said with a sheepish grin, settling into the seat across from him. She rested her chin on her palm, watching him with a soft, amused look. “I’ll take my own slice, unless that one has the corner with the most frosting. Then this suddenly feels like a hostage negotiation.” Pause. Then gently, “It’s nice being here, Dad. I’ve missed this.”

"Oh, did you want some of this?" Tahdg asked, looking down at the slice of cake he was eating and then back up at his daughter, "I'm happy to share but I can also get you your own slice, there's plenty left."

@taelyn-ds

[taelyn-ds]

Taelyn sat on the edge of the fountain in the courthouse plaza, sketchbook balanced on her knees, the sound of water a soft counterpoint to the buzz of the city around her. The pages were full of half-finished drawings; faces she saw in passing, dream fragments, things that didn’t make sense until she stopped trying to make them. When she spotted Zafir approaching, a rare, genuine smile broke across her face. She tucked a curl behind her ear and closed the notebook, patting the spot beside her. “Hey,” she said gently. “I hope it’s okay I texted. I was just… thinking too much again. And you always have this way of making it feel a little less heavy.” She glanced down at the fountain, then back at him with a quiet sincerity in her eyes. “Also, I sketched you. Don’t worry... you look very wise and vaguely mysterious.” @fairywilds

[taelyn-ds]

Taelyn stood just outside the garage, the smell of motor oil and warm metal clinging to the air. It wasn’t usually her scene, too loud, too gritty, but tonight she held a small paper bag in both hands like it was a peace offering or a shield. Inside were a few homemade cookies, slightly uneven but made with intention. She spotted Maggie working beneath the hood of an old truck, the glow of a hanging bulb casting sharp shadows across her face. For a second, Taelyn just watched, the way someone might stare at a ghost they’d quietly mourned. Clearing her throat gently, she stepped closer. “Hey... um. I brought snacks,” she said, holding the bag out like it explained everything. She hesitated, then added softly, “I didn’t really know what to say. I guess I still don’t. Just… I’m really glad you’re here. And I hope it’s okay if I am too.” @howmcnythings

[taelyn-ds]

Taelyn tucked herself into the back corner of a quiet little café that stayed open late for the night owls and poets. The windows were fogged from the cold, and a string of soft rainbow lights framed the booth, casting a dreamy glow over her sketchbook. Harry snoozed beneath the table, wrapped in his little sweater. She kept glancing at the door, fingers fidgeting with the rim of her tea cup. It wasn’t their usual spot, but with everything happening in the city lately, she couldn’t stomach the idea of meeting somewhere secluded. When Alina finally stepped through the door, a little breath Taelyn didn’t know she was holding slipped out. She offered a tired, relieved smile and waved her over. “Hey,” she said, voice soft as always but steady. “I figured… maybe secret friendship doesn’t have to mean reckless friendship.” She pushed a second cup toward her. “Chamomile with honey. And I saved the window seat in case we felt brave enough to pretend we’re just two elves out for a normal night.” @mcnstercus

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Taelyn’s breath hitched; just for a second. The way Ashlyn said “favorite part” hit somewhere deep, like a paintbrush dragging across canvas too tender to be touched. She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden wave of emotion, and then let herself soften into it. “I’m really glad,” she said, barely more than a whisper. She didn’t need to say me too. It pulsed in the air around them, humming through the gallery like an invisible thread tying them back to every night spent dreaming aloud under fairy lights and between the pages of journals stained with ink and longing. Taelyn leaned her cheek lightly against her best friend's head, a rare moment of quiet closeness she didn’t often initiate, but something about the moment asked her to be brave. “I used to come here and imagine what it’d be like if you were beside me,” she admitted, voice tinged with vulnerability but steady. “Now you are. And it’s even better than I imagined.” She glanced at the paintings again, her gaze drifting toward one that reminded her of a night they snuck out to watch the stars and ended up lying in a field, whispering secrets like they were sacred spells. She smiled softly. “You still make everything feel like magic.” And though her hand was free now, she let it brush gently against Ashlyn’s once more; just a flicker of connection to say I'm here, and I'm so damn glad you are too.

THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH WORDS TO DESCRIBE ASHLYN'S HAPPINESS. being in a new place, finding out maggie was alive... and- well everything that came with that. with all the concerns about this new town.... it was nice to be able to find joy in something that had always been an e s c a p e for her. squeezing taelyn's hand as they entered, ash let her eyes take in the room. sweeping over [everything] she could see before starting again at what was closest to her and really taking it in. she listened as tae spoke to her, but really allowed herself to get lost in the moment. at the question directed toward her, ash looked at taelyn again her entire being seemed to light up. "it's absolutely amazing." she confirmed. she squeezed her best friend's hand once more before letting it go to take it all in again. reach out, she grabbed tae's arm and moved to stand closer and rest her head on her shoulder... "this has been my favourite part of being here so far." she admited. it reminded her of their bond. their shared passion for this whole [art] world.

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Taelyn froze, drink halfway to her lips, the words cracking something open in her chest she wasn’t ready to name. She looked at him, really looked at him, and for a heartbeat, the world narrowed to the space between them. “I’ve always been here, Kieran,” she said softly, voice barely rising above the hum of music and laughter. “Even when I wasn’t supposed to be.” And there it was; raw and real and a little terrifying. She let out a shaky breath, eyes flicking to the fireworks bursting above them. “I don’t need you to be okay,” she added, quieter now. “I just want you to let me stay.”

Kieran shrugged lightly, he really was unsure when it came to this new year. He felt a little lost, much like he was in the middle of 2024 after his father died. "I'm not sure, I guess spending more time with you? You always brighten things up, bring light into my life when I need it. You have been so good to me this year, and I don't know, when I'll be okay again, but I hope that you'll be there all the same."

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Taelyn scrunched her nose, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she slid the lid off the container to reveal a slightly uneven batch of lavender shortbread cookies; some a little too golden, others clinging to hope. “I paint, Autumn. I don’t usually measure things,” she said with a dramatic sigh, like the cookies had personally betrayed her. “And for the record, I’ve spent most of those hundred-plus years being afraid of ovens. They hiss.” She nudged the container closer. “Just… be gentle. They’re emotionally fragile. Like me.”

"Sounds serious," Autumn joked, looking at the container placed in front of her. "To be fair, I think my sister is better with some of the baking stuff, but depending on what's in there I can try to be of help," she said. "I did study in France, after all. What did you attempt to make?" she asked. "And how have you not tried baking before this? Aren't you like, over a hundred years old?"

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Taelyn grinned, folding her hands behind her back as she tilted her head at him. “Well, ‘brooding little lair’ does have a nice ring to it,” she mused. “But I was thinking more… tea, blanket fort, and exactly one socially acceptable board game before we both pretend to be extroverts again.” She gave him a mock-serious look. “I won’t make you face the outside world just yet. But I will make you eat a cookie I baked, and you have to lie convincingly about how good it is. Deal?”

Ezra leaned against the edge of his desk, arms crossed as he regarded Taelyn with a faint smirk. “I’ll have you know, I’ve been perfectly content here in my brooding little lair,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement. “But I appreciate the concern, really. It’s nice to know you’re looking out for my social skills— or lack thereof.” His gaze flicked to the candle, its flame casting long shadows across the room. “You might be onto something, though. A change of scenery could be good… if only to remind myself what ‘normal’ people do during their free time.” He pushed off the desk, brushing an invisible speck off his shirt as he straightened. “So, what do you suggest, Taelyn? Living room charades? A deep and meaningful conversation about the meaning of life? Or are you dragging me into the outside world for a dose of fresh air and humanity?” He arched a brow, his tone still light, though his faint smile hinted at genuine gratitude for her presence.

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Taelyn’s eyes softened, a quiet gratitude blooming behind them. “Yeah,” she said, almost to herself. “I think you’re right.” She took a slow breath, her fingers still absently fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “It’s messy sometimes; complicated in ways I don’t always know how to explain. But it’s still love, y’know? Still something worth holding onto.” Her gaze met his, a shy smile curling on her lips. “I’d like that. Sharing stories, I mean. Maybe… maybe next time, over tea?”

“It is intense,” he admitted, his voice gentle. “And beautiful, too, don't let me give you a bad impression. But I think the weight of it— carrying all those traditions and expectations— can sometimes make you forget that you’re more than just a piece of the whole. Stepping away from my clan has helped me see everything more clearly,” he nodded. “And, for what it’s worth, scattered or not, it sounds like you’ve built something meaningful in your own way with your own important people. And honestly? That’s just as important, if not more so.” He expressed. “Besides, I think we all wonder about the lives we don't have. It’s what makes hearing each other’s stories so… nice, right?" He said, then gestured toward her. "...I'd love to hear more about your family, if you'd like to share."

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Taelyn nodded instantly, already rising to her feet. “Of course,” she whispered, already tiptoeing toward the bathroom. “One packet of migraine magic coming right up.” She didn’t need to say she’d done this before, been here before... just like he didn’t need to ask twice. It was muscle memory by now. Love, for her, had always been in the small things; quiet care, unspoken understanding. A minute later, she returned with the packet in hand and knelt beside him again. “Here you go,” she said softly, offering it to him with a tender look. “I’m staying until it passes. You don’t have to say anything... just rest.”

"Can you actually grab me some more of my medicine?" Kieran asked, closing his eyes again, the pain throbbing behind his eyes. "There should be some in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. There's a bunch of stray packets, but you just have to grab one, they're single packets."

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Taelyn nodded slowly, Alina’s words settling in like soft rain over old wounds. “Yeah,” she murmured, the corners of her mouth tugging into a quiet smile. “I guess that makes sense. Thank you… for not dismissing mine.” She glanced back down at her sketchbook, then up at Alina again, her expression a little braver this time. “It’s nice talking to someone who gets it; even if it’s complicated.” She paused, then added with a playful tilt of her head, “Wanna make it even more complicated and be friends anyway?”

"Totally okay, sometimes you have to compare to be able to empathize with others," Alina replied. "It's just a matter of recognizing both and not dismissing the other."

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She caught herself staring at him, lost in that dreamy way she couldn’t quite hide. “Look at all the fireworks!” Taelyn exclaimed, her voice a little too bright as she pointed toward the sky. She took a quick, anxious gulp of her drink, hoping Kieran hadn’t noticed how intently she was watching him. “They always make me feel so hopeful, like anything’s possible. What about you; what are you looking forward to most next year?” @mcnstercus

[taelyn-ds]

NYE 2025 Ball at Town Hall: Taelyn Damaris-Sarwynn

[taelyn-ds]

The chilly December air bit at Taelyn’s cheeks as she stepped into the café where she’d agreed to meet her sister. She spotted Thalia instantly; poised and polished as always, with a book in hand and a coffee that had probably gone lukewarm while she was too engrossed in her read to sip it. Taelyn slid into the seat across from her, dropping a knit hat onto the table with a teasing grin. “So, are you solving the mysteries of the universe again or is it just another casual light read on quantum physics?” she asked, nudging her sister’s coffee closer to her. “Because I need your genius for something slightly less cosmic and more... me-level complicated.” @mcnstercus