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as i fight tooth and nail for writing inspo, pls enjoy my forg for an upcoming daggerheart game ;u;

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✨️ renn faire ✨️

TOP: wifey, me, and our dnd bud oliver (our whole party!)

BOTTOM: wife and me 💖

i told them elf ears with hijab couldn't be done and they proceeded to prove me wrong so hard, can't stand them (it came out working so well??). we also didn't take any full pictures of our outfits, like fools, but we all looked cute, had a blast, and found cool trinkets and such so it was a complete success

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@flute-and-fables, cont. from [ ♤ ]

Atlas bobbed her head as she floundered for an answer to what Ayre had asked so confidently.

Talking to her god? In a way. Sort of. Not really. She was fairly certain she'd heard it's voice back in the forest all those years ago, when she wasn't quite sure if she was conscious or even alive - not exactly making for the clearest memory. It'd sounded like someone standing right beside her, and whatever it was saying wasn't in any language she'd ever heard before. Even written on something like a scroll, she didn't recognize a word of it. She just understood on some instinctive level what was expected. Even now the pull towards her duties were all directed from that same deep-seated, unspoken knowledge that had guided her hand to a blood signature. And even more, it came from her gut, not her mind.

Her paladinhood was an unusual one, something she'd long had to come to terms with. She hated to not live up to the woman's bright expectation, but struggle as she did, she was no liar.

"Heh, I wouldn't know," she admitted, dragging it out melodically to cover up the insecurity. "It directs me, but I wouldn't say it quite talks. Gods, ey? Finicky things."

Passive curiosity won the roulette on how to change the subject. "You answer to any?"

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style exercise, referenced from lve_ryk on twitter

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@anxiety-n-arcana, cont. from [ ♤ ]

Caius's head snapped toward Leaf as soon as they shifted their weight, briefly pausing his attempts to free himself to get a read on what exactly they planned to do. Finally run, perhaps? He was hardly in a position to chase the half-elf if they did, and the excuse would be at least believable as to why he didn't fulfill his duty tonight - still sloppy, embarrassing, but how would he have known about... whatever was going on? But maybe they'd try to off him first, as a guarantee he wouldn't come back. After all, how could you ever feel safe again, knowing that someone was after your life and having no idea when they'd strike again? Maybe exacerbate the injury to cripple him more permanently, reduce the risk. Options swirled through his mind as Leaf opened their mouth.

The other's words took a moment to process.

'Are you alright?'

His thoughts came to a screeching, incredulous halt, and he wasn't at all able to stop his face from looking as dumbfounded as he felt. He watched Leaf stumble through a correction, then offer assistance, as though the other was speaking a language from another realm entirely.

Eyes squinted, jaw a bit slack, Caius let a long silence settle over the room.

It made no sense. They made no sense. It had to be a lie, some plan to get close without being stopped, but if it was, Leaf would've had to be the best actor he'd ever seen, and the half-elf didn't seem to have those sort of wits about them. Genuine. As readable in their voice as their face, despite how terrified they were. Maybe because of it. But how, why, what lack of self-preservation...

Confusion took up residence in his chest as his mind forced itself to return to the matter at hand. Questions could come later. He was trapped now, and if they were willing to help for whatever baffling reason, he did need it. The pain in his leg had only gotten worse with his attempts to move the bookcase, and he was truly in the worst angle to get leverage.

His eyes were for once as genuine as the other was being, not hiding the bewilderment nor the look of an injured animal - sharp and hurting.

"I promise," he finally said, for whatever that was worth. "But if you try anything..."

He let the threat die on his tongue with a sigh, thinking better of finishing it. He turned his gaze back to his leg, resuming his work at getting a better grip on the furniture.

"I don't know why in all the nine realms you'd help me," he muttered more to himself than the other, before looking back at Leaf. "You stay at the edge, no sudden movements, and I won't hurt you. Just lift, hold, and step back."

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ooc ::

i am crawling back from this short [EDIT: A WHOLE MONTH, JFJDJ, IT DID NOT FEEL THAT LONG] hiatus (woo!) and require accountability, will be deleted when im caught up ;u;

reply catch-up counter : 2 / 7

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@melihel-shadowhorn , the Spring Wheel spins for Melihël. . . and lands on

Storm!

Drop a heart over here if you'd like a spring-themed sketch of your character, open to mutuals < 3

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ooc ::

still about a week out from being able to return to activity as usual. thanks for yall's patience, it's been chaos but i will be catching up on drafts and getting back in the swing of things 🎀

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know it's for the better

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@flute-and-fables, the Spring Wheel spins for Ayre. . . and lands on

Cherry Blossom!

Drop a heart over here if you'd like a spring-themed sketch of your character, open to mutuals < 3

[beetilbub]

[ Art Call ]

Drop a like to get a spin on the spring wheel, for a sketch of your character + a random spring theme smash 🌿✨️

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💬 unsent texts

caius ::

- absolutely lovely meeting you at the gala tonight!

- id love to reconnect sometime

- anyway that food was atrocious, i hope we can catch up in much better circumstances

- and not literally in hell

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@flute-and-fables, cont. from [ ♤ ]

"You hardly gave me much of a choice," Caius laughed lightly. "Being alone isn't all that bad, but I certainly don't mind your company. Thank you for the invitation. I wouldn't have wanted to impose."

There were many things he'd been talking himself out of before the half-elf had strolled up and all but dragged him in. He was busy. He had things to do. There was no time for tea, and certainly not from this establishment, as elegant and comfortable as it was. This was the kind of place you stayed for a while just to enjoy the atmosphere, the gentle music, the well-crafted drinks. It was indulgent, and he was on a job. If his family caught him slacking off in a teahouse, he'd never hear the end of it, and if it got back to his tutor, he'd have more to deal with than just chiding.

But this woman - Ayre, if he remembered her quick introduction correctly - had approached like an old friend and caught him completely off guard. In the time it took for him to process how long he must've been standing there indecisively, much less what had happened, she'd already walked him through the door and had them halfway to a table. Slacking was unbefitting of a Marivelli, but so too was being rude, not to mention the fact that she'd piqued his curiosity beyond what his failing self-discipline would let him walk away from.

So, he'd stayed, and ordered himself some honey spiced black tea.

The assassin watched Ayre closely with a practiced charming demeanor, not letting the thousand questions he had show in his eyes. As long as she was acting casual, he didn't plan to shake things up. He wondered what sort of attempt this was: did she recognize money; know his status; know why he was here; something worse? Or something entirely innocent, like her attitude showed on surface level? She wasn't dressed for a place like this, so his theories leaned toward a spontaneous decision over a planned one, but maybe that was part of the game. He was intrigued.

He took a sip from his cup as Ayre spoke, placing it back down perfectly with a nod.

"It's absolutely delightful. They know their drinks here. Is that why you decided to come by?"

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@raconteuresse, cont. from [ ♤ ]

The tiefling woman was easy enough to pull up and out, adrenaline making up for his usual struggle of being on the frailer side. She'd landed more gracefully than he'd expected of someone shaken up with a wounded leg. Still standing, didn't crumple like he was prepared to catch.

"Of course," he said, following her gaze to the injury.

Now that there was less immediate danger and no uncertainties, Caius felt a pressure settle over his chest. He hadn't had a moment to process how close the disaster had been to smashing into him instead of the neighboring stand, and even now he realized he didn't have time to let those feelings creep in. The bleeding gash on the woman's leg was deep enough for concern, and first aid was hit or miss depending on the strangers around, certainly no doctor or cleric's lodging near this side of the city. He felt her eyes return to him, grey hues flicking back up to meet them as she spoke.

Caius nodded slowly as though he was thinking, then gave a quick decisive one, breaking their eye contact to make a scan of the scene around them. The crowd had certainly grown, onlookers staring with a small handful gathered around the stand owner and one or two that had gone to assist the driver. Most just wanted to gawk. The staring would be rude targeting anyone, but given the carriage and how the tiefling was dressed, it felt safe to assume she was fellow nobility, and the disrespect felt more abrasive.

He turned to the jewelry stand that he'd been shopping at before the crash. The owner wasn't there, likely helping the others, and the stool behind the desk had at least a bit of privacy. The aasimar looked back to the woman, gesturing at the seat and offering his hand to help her over to it.

"I can help. Let's get you off the leg; it certainly looks painful."

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💬 suprise me, from any muse to any muse

atlas ::

to: ayre

- [ picture of a wild strawberry she found traveling ] look! it's you

- [ extreme motion blur photo ]

- [ picture of a furious seagull struggling in her grip ] whew mate, almost lost ya 😤

caius ::

to: leaf

- hey, quick question, what the fuck

- genuinely what do you have going on, im horrified

- nice house though

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@flute-and-fables, cont. from [ ♤ ]

"Another solid plan. Two for two, mate."

As a comfortable lull shifted into Ayre's rhythmic humming, Atlas found herself getting lost in the pleasant afternoon and good company. She rarely ran into trouble on these streets nowadays, but it was equally rare to run into anything enjoyable. Visiting her mother and seeing old friends, the banter and that lovely feeling of being truly home, made the long trip worth it, but she couldn't remember the last time there was anything noteable outside of their houses, her tavern. Atlas could walk these roads in her sleep and sometimes it honestly felt like she did, on paths so familiar that she didn't remember how she'd ended up at her destination. This was the first time in a long while that she'd paid attention to the easily-ignored middle bits.

It was nice.

The sudden bright eyes in her periphery broke Atlas from her thoughts, coral hues flicking over to meet them.

She threw an arm up to scratch behind her head at the question, a common enough one that she still didn't quite know how to phrase an answer to. Her gaze drifted noncommittally.

"Some... kind of bounty hunter; we can go with that, just not for gold. I'm a paladin, you know," she said, speaking casually but the pride rising in her features was undeniable. "My god has a knack for finding a real awful sort, and sending me to go fix them up. They've all got this, er... a kind of relic... gem thing- you know, name's not important, but whatever it is, it drives them mad, and when I take care of them, get them off the streets right, I take the relic for safe-keeping. It binds to my sword here," she gave a tap to the hilt of the giant greatsword strapped to her back, "and really amps things up for me. Makes me better at my job, keeps people safer. It's such a rush, and everyone wins - 'cept the ones causing problems of course."

She sniffed. "How close they are is part of it, but it can go pretty wide. They're all over the map. I do a lot of adventuring just to get out to the right place, so lot of odd jobs here and there. Gotta have some place to have a meal and lay your head. Can't lie it's been a bit wild, but I'm still going strong."

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send me 💬 or "unsent texts" i'll share three texts my muse typed but never sent yours.