#Aurellas thoughts

[aurellas]

Just mentioned this thought on Twitter but bringing it over here too

...There's an implication in Death and Rebirth that Zayne has some influence over the weather, and also a loose implication in Absolute Zeal I think, but both were snow.

Absolute Zeal takes place in winter so it could have just been winter weather, but there was language that kinda suggested the amount of snow that fell that night was unusually high. Death and Rebirth, that snow was definitely unseasonal and supernatural but it could possibly be argued that it's more related to the little boy than Dawnbreaker? It's not clear.

But what if the spontaneous rain and thunder that appears in Fragrant Possession is also him, as a result of his jealousy?

Obviously it could just be temperamental spring weather written in perfect coincidence to enhance the moment, but Master of Fate definitely shows us that Zayne's powers go well beyond just having ice control. We may not know exactly in what way, but his powers generally seem to have some earthy/seasonal/cycle of life themes going on, implying that something happened at some point that every other version we see of him is all ice and dead bramble vines.

MC might have some influence on his ability to (knowingly or unknowingly) tap into the more spring/growth side of his powers. He also has at least two other cards that feature him and MC getting caught in sudden downpours on dates lol.

Not sure if it's just a romance trope/visual motif the writers are using for fun for his character, or if there's something more there.

There's been lots of discussion about Zayne (especially Master of Fate) having a lot of connections to the traditional lóng dragon, which is very related to rain/weather/winds/seasons. They're also usually depicted has holding either a pearl or a ball of jade; we've obviously seen jade connected to him a bunch already, but he DOES happen to have pearls on his shirt in Fragrant Possession, and pearls are pretty specifically associated with dragons, rain/thunder, and also spiritual power in Chinese mythology.

Again, might be a stretch, but I could see some potential connections or bread crumbs there 🤷🏽‍♀️ either way, I'm excited for new myths this year lol I need more lore

Tell me your thoughts!

[unholyvelvet]

open to: f/m plot: she's going to confession/talk about how she has been having unwanted thoughts connections: priest, reverend, pastor, minister, anything along those lines

"this is so beyond wrong!" aurella says with frustration, she wanted to be good, to go to church and read the bible but temptation was everywhere and she couldn't help but feel worst when she finally was close to losing her virginity. "please, i just want them to go away, i know you can help me and i trust you more than anyone."

[lockewrites]

WIP Wednesday

Been working on a bit of a Durge fic :3

It's in 2nd person, but it's not a Reader insert - I loved the idea of feeling like the exposition was being read by Amelia Tyler as if in the game, and it's been so fun to write.

Anyways, here's Rhegan and a touch of Aurella (I'm throwing all my girls in the same universe)

His words spoken through one of his machines echo in your mind, and while they hadn’t yet asked, you know the question strangles the tongues of each of your companions. What was your role in all of this?  You fear the answer, the brief images of your past flitting across your mind hinting at something horrid. And having just learned of the nature of your birth—or perhaps ‘spawning’ was a more apt word—a child of Bhaal involved with the cult of the Absolute: such a combination could have nothing but the most vile of explanations.  “Greetings, my old friend. Orin told me you were on your way here, but I scarcely believed it. Welcome back to Baldur’s Gate.” His voice had been uncomfortably familiar. “Welcome home.” “Rhegan,” Aurella says, her voice low as she touches your arm. “As much as I’d love to see what you had planned for that knife, I don’t think the Flaming Fist would appreciate you playing with it quite literally behind their backs.” You hadn’t even realized, the blade slipping effortlessly between your fingers as you were lost in thought. Tucking it back in your belt, your fingers twist and pull on each other, popping knuckles and stretching the joints a touch too far, the slight pain an attempt to ground you.  Welcome home. Welcome home. Welcome home. 

[auracorazayne]

I WONDER THIS ALL THE TIME! And when you get Astropenguin, he has some dialogue about how it's cold in space that kind of initially reads like he's BEEN in space. I need to go back and find it because I can't remember the specifics but do I do remember it feeling WEIRD, like he'd slipped up and said something he wasn't supposed to.

I'm curious about if it ties into his thing with the moon. Like we've all just been taking it as a romantic motif, but wondering if there's a little more to it than that. Also Astra is named ASTRA, like STARS, so ya know....kinda feel like there's some puzzle piece there we're maybe missing

this is not the time to be discussing this but i've had this in my mind for a while now and i'm still wondering about it.

so xavier has a plushie of an alien in a ufo, which makes sense because he came from space and has a spaceship. and has a bunny because he's bunny-coded/themed. okay.

rafayel has a bird who paints because he's an artist, and a fish because he is a fish merman. okay.

sylus has a crow for obvious reasons, and a dino because it's the closest thing to a dragon. okay.

caleb has an apple because of all the apple themes in his story, and an airplane because he's a pilot. okay.

bear with me.

zayne has a snowman because of his ice evol. okay.

why does zayne have an astronaut penguin?

the penguin part i can understand, but wouldn't the second plushie relate to his job somehow if we follow the rest of the LIs'? zayne, who doesn't really have ties to space unlike xavier, caleb or sylus.

what's up with that?

[bigtiddycommity]

Clé: Miroh (4)

Pairing: Bang Chan x reader ft. Stray kids & Got7

Warnings: Slight profanity

Summary: An up and coming singer is introduced to the rough and unfair world of the music industry when she is tricked into a fake relationship with a popular idol. Her entire world has been turned upside down and now not only is she hated by millions of fans around the world but she is now despised by her...boyfriend?

Word count: 3k

________________________________

“Gogi.” Jisung said slowly as he sat criss crossed on the fuzzy black carpet in Auriellas bedroom.

“Meat..?” She said in return, hesitantly.

“Great job, noona!” Jisung high fived the girl.

Over the past few weeks, the boys have made an effort to get to know Auriella and so far, things were going relatively well considering the circumstances. They had been helping her learn Korean and she was doing great. She still struggled with writing but she was a fast learner and can mostly understand basic conversation now.

Though Chan and Auriella barely spoke, the living arrangements weren't all that bad. Everyone had their own room and space to do as they pleased away from the public eye. The boys also had freedom in their new home without JYP staff breathing down their throats. Since Auriella owned the home, JYP and its staff had no authority on her property, which meant the boys had full privacy and freedom when they weren't at work.

While living with the boys, Auriella had gotten used to each boy's habits, likes and dislikes. Since she was such a small girl, she was often overlooked and that fact gave her more time to observe her surroundings. She now knew each boy inside and out. Their different styles, tics and habits. The boys of Stray Kids were growing on Auriella and she had to admit, she liked it.

“Noona,” Jisung laughed, poking the tummy of the stuffed panda on the girls floor. “What's with you and pandas?” Auriella’s room had a multitude of small to medium sized stuffed animals but majority were pandas or stuffed peach shaped characters.

“Hey, those are my babies.” She pouted, teasing. She loved pandas, they were her favorite animals. She found them cute and fluffy.

A dramatic gasp sounded from Auriella’s bedroom door. The two people in the room turned to the sound to find Jeongin standing there, his mouth agape and one hand on his chest, over his heart.

“Noona, how could you? I thought I was your baby.” He dramatized.

“Face it, kid, you've been replaced.” Jisung added with a smirk.

“Oh, you break my heart. Here I was, coming to share my food with you and this is how I'm treated? Rude.” He sassed, wiping a foux tear from his cheek.

“You are my baby! Come here, honey.” She held her arms out, remaining seated on the carpeted floor.

The younger boy beamed and tackled her in a hug with an adorable yell of happiness. Jisung took their affection as an opportunity to grab for the bag of food the younger boy had brought in.

“Oh, ramen!” He exclaimed.

Jeongin flushed, getting off of Auriella after she kissed his forehead in thanks.

“I got you that shrimp tempura you liked, too, Noona.” The maknae said, pulling out the dishes in the bag before handing her the wrapped container.

The girl squealed in happiness. “Yum!”

Across the hall, the leader of Stary Kids sat in his room, in the same position he had been in for hours prior, working on music. It wasn't odd for Chan to lock himself away while producing. He would get into a sort of trance once inspiration hit and after a while, his members knew to leave him alone when he did get into that sort of funk. He would refuse food and all forms of communication all in the name of music. It was unhealthy, but the members stopped trying to pry him away from his computer years ago. It was no use.

Usually, nothing and no one could pull Bang Chan from his work but the boy couldn't help but pause when he heard an odd noise through his headphones, causing him to remove them from his ears. It was then that he heard a loud choking wheeze coming from down the hall. He took a moment to listen, in case it was one of the members messing around with each other but then he heard the panicked cries of his younger members yelling Auriella’s name.

In a split second, he jumped up from his chair and found himself bounding down the hall and into the girls room. Once he arrived, he was met with a panicked Jeongin and Jisung hovering over Auriella as she lay on her back, struggling to breathe. Noodles were scattered all over the floor around the three.

“What?! What happened?!” He questioned.

“I-i don't know, Hyung. One second she was eating and the next she said she couldn't breathe!” Jeongin responded, panicked. Was this his fault? He should have checked the food better.

“Call an ambulance.” Chan instructed. The younger boy didn't move. “Now!” Chan raised his voice, startling Jeongin from his shocked trance.

While the maknae ran off to do as he was instructed, Chan moved down onto the floor next to Aurella’s slowly stilling body.

“Auriella? Can you hear me?” He asked, getting closer to her face, trying to make eye contact. “Are you allergic to anything?” He asked once he met her orbes.

“I-i don't know..” She croaked, reaching for his arm.

Chan was beginning to respond when her eyes rolled back into her head and she began shaking violently. Moving all of the objects away from her body, Chan asked Jisung to grab a pillow for her head.

“Move her on her side, now!” He said. “Was anything in her mouth, do you know?” Chan wanted to make sure she didn't choke.

“I don't remember, hyung. Let me check-” He reached his hand towards Auriellas foaming mouth, only to be pushed away by his leader.

“No, don’t! She could hurt you.” Chan looked down at his watch to time her seizure.

After a few moments, she stopped shaking and Chan moved from her side to behind her, where he propped her up against his chest.

Stroking her head gently, he instructed Jisung. “Go in my room, in the top drawer of my desk you'll see a big needle. Bring it to me, quick.” Chan instructed, his eyes never leaving Auriellas face.

“Okay.” He ran out of the room and returned a moment later with the object he was sent for.

“Okay, give it to me and hold her thigh steady.”

“What are you gonna do, hyung?” The younger boy asked, confused and worried once he saw how big the tip of the needle was.

One look at his leader and he knew he wasn't going to get an answer so he followed instructions and held Auriella’s leg still. Chan steadied his hand and plunged the epipen into the girls’ thigh.

Auriella’s chest raised slightly as she took an unconscious breath of air. Her breathing still sounded labored but at least she was breathing, which is more than she was doing a moment prior.

Soon, Jeongin came into the room, two medics in his tow carrying a stretcher. She was carried off into the ambulance and taken to the nearest hospital as the members of Stray Kids prepared to follow the ambulance.

All nine members sat in the private waiting room of the hospital, anxious to hear an update on Auriella’s condition. Jeongin sat with his hands clenched, tears of guilt and worry running down the young boys face. Jeongin couldn't help but blame himself. In all the time he and Auriella spent together, the boy felt he should have known. He should have asked what she was allergic to and now she was in a hospital bed, barely breathing on her own, and it was his fault.

The boy let out a sob as he recalled the events hours prior. The heartbreaking sound caught the attention of Hyunjin, who sat next to him.

“Hey,” His voice was soft, yet firm. “This is not your fault. You had no way of knowing she would have a reaction like that.”

“B-but she stopped breathing, hyung. She'll never forgive me. I can't blame her, either.” He said, turning to look back at white tile beneath his sneakers.

“Yah, you know Auriella. She would never-” His sentence was cut off by a new, older voice

“Family of Auriella Duran?” A man with a clipboard in hand asked as his eyes moved around the room.

In perfect unison, all members of Stray Kids all stood up and looked at the mean expectedly.

“Oh, um,”He was flustered due to all of the eyes on him all at once. “Are you all here for her?” Only two visitors are allowed at a time for ICU patients. The doctor took one look at the tearful, worried eyes of a group of young men and sighed.

“Shes awake, so you can go in, but you'll need to be very quiet and careful. She's a bit weak.”

The group thanked the man and bowed in respect before following him down the hall and to Auriella’s room. Once inside the white room, the boys were able to see Auriellas small, pale body lying on a hospital bed, an oxygen mask sitting on her face, aiding her.

As soon as Jeongin’s eyes saw Auriella’s state, a loud, uncontrollable sob left the young boys throat. At the sound, Auriella turned her head from the window in the room, to her visitors. An automatic smile began to grow onto her face but it soon diminished as soon as she caught sight of the tears running down Jeongin’s face.

“Oh, baby.” She cooed, removing the mask from her face. “Come here,” She opens her arms weakly, wanting, needing to comfort her friend.

The maknae followed instructions, pushing his member out of the way as he tumbled the distance towards Auriella. The boy fell onto her small body, hugging her as quiet sobs left his shaking body.

Auriella ran her hand through his hair soothingly, attempting to calm him down. Looking up at the other people in the room, the girl smiled and ticked her head to the side, indicating that they could fully enter the room.

“I’m okay.” Her soft voice sounded.

“Noona, I-” He choked out a sob.

“Shh.” She shushed. The last she wanted was Jeongin blaming himself over an innocent mistake.

“How do you feel?” Jisung asked, walking closer to her hospital bed.

“I feel better. They gave me some medication for my throat, it's a little swollen.” She said, hoping to bring some peace to his worry as well as the worry of the boy in her lap. Jeongin had stopped crying now, simply finding comfort in Auriella’s arms.

“That was scary.” Felix said from across the room.

“Yeah..I’m sorry for worrying you. I know it must have been a bit of a surprise.” She said smiling down at Jeongin who had momentarily met her eyes.

“We are just glad you're okay.”Changbin spoke up unexpectedly.

Since Auriella had arrived, the boy seemed to avoid her at all costs. He wasn't rude or mean to her by any means but he definitely didn't go out of his way to have any extra contact with her either. He was always in the background, silently watching but never approaching. He would joke around and be his normal self when he was with his members but anytime Auriella would walk into the room, he went radio silent.

“Oh, um thank you, Changbin, for caring.” She meant it. Auriella was beginning to think he didn't like her.

“How did this even happen? What caused this?” Minho was the one to ask the question everyone was wondering. His face was monotone but his voice was curious.

“They said it was an allergic reaction to the batter used for the tampura.” She told the group.

“You should tell us these things, noona, so we can watch out for them.” Jisung said, nudging her gently.

“I didn't even know I was allergic to anything. It's a surprise to me, too.” She said, disbelief sounding her tone.

“Do you know when you'll be out of here?” Seugmin asked quietly.

“The doctor said he wants me to stay a couple days for observation, but if everything is okay, I can be discharged by the end of the week.”

“We’re lucky it wasn't more serious. If Chan- hyung hadn't-” Hyunjin’s words were cut off when the girl spoke.

“Chan?” He hasn't uttered a word since he walked into the room. He stood in the far corner of the room, his arms crossed across his chest, head down. Auriella turned to him. “You saved me?” She asked, confusion in her voice.

“I, uh, have a little allergic to certain chemicals so I had an epipen and.. Yeah.” He said, avoiding eye contact with the girl.

Bang Chan was the last person Auriella expected. It's not that she thought he was an evil person who would enjoy her suffering, but she hadn't been all that kind to him since the day they met. She was tolerant but she didn't go out of her way to speak with him. She was still upset over how he treated her and how he taunted her without giving her a chance.

“Thank you.” Her voice was tender, she was serious. He had saved her life and Auriella was more than grateful.

At her words, Bang Chan finally met her eyes, something he hadn't been able to do in weeks without feeling shame overtake him. Just by looking into her eyes, he could see how thankful she was. The two stared into each other's eyes for a few moments before Chan cleared his throat and raised a hand to rub his neck.

“You're uh, you're welcome, Auriella.” He said shifting in his spot.

Bang Chan wasn’t selfish or cruel. Auriella was wrong about him but now she knew. There was an entire other part to him that hid beneath the surface. A good side, a caring and dependable side.

Maybe things could be different now.

__________________________________

Weeks had passed since Auriella’s accident. Since then, she and chan had been better with their “friendship”. Still slightly stiff and awkward but better than it had been when they first met. After Auriella’s little scare, the members had tried harder to get to know her better.

“Woah Auriella, is that you?” Hyunjin asked, shocked as he watched an old music video of her old group Lunar.

The concept was dark and sexy, which was an image the members had not expected from tiny, bubbly Auriella.

The girl giggled, amused by his reaction. “Yeah, I actually choreographed that song.”

“Really? Noona, we should dance together!” Felix was excited. He already had a few ideas bouncing around his head.

“Yeah! It would be so fun.” Hyunjin encouraged

“What would?” A new voice made the three people in the room turn to see Minho coming in from the front door, taking off his shoes.

Auriella looked back down at the laptop screen, avoiding his eyes. Changbin had been polite yet distant to her but Lee know had just been distant. He hadn’t made any effort to get to know her at all. In fact, it was as if she didn’t exist at all. He looked and walked right past her.

“Hyung, we were thinking of doing some choreography with noona, have you seen her dance?!” Felix exclaimed to a stone-faced Lee know.

“Why?” His tone was harsh, blunt. As if Felix had just said the most idiotic thing he had ever heard.

Auriella wanted the floor to swallow her whole. She hated the sudden change in atmosphere at his question. Minho had an intimidating edge and she wasn't sure what his issue was with her.

“I just-.” Felix stammered, not expecting such a sharp reply from the elder boy.

“She's here to sit pretty and get paid. That's it. She's not here to be your little friend, felix. This is all fake, a plan JYP set up, so don't get attached. She won't be here long.” With that, he threw his keys into the bowl by the front door and walked off towards his room.

The room stunned into silence was broken by Hyunjin. “Is that true? Is Jyp paying you to be here? To date hyung?”

“No. I'm not getting payed. Just like I told you, I was tricked into signing that contract and forced to uproot my life here in Korea. As much as I like you guys, i’m not exactly here by my own free will. I’m bound by JYP.”

“What about your career, noona? Are they making you stop?” Felixs’ voice was soft, childlike.

“According to the contract, I can still sing but i’ve been officially removed from my group, so if I really wanted, I would have to be solo.” She shook her head at her words. “But, I-i don’t know.”

“I’m sure it might be scary to do it alone after being in a group but you can’t let your talent go to waste.” Hyunjin replied. He couldn’t help but feel guilty. All this was happening to her because of himself and his group.

“I have a few demos I recorded that I saved for my group but they are still a little messy.” She shook her head, fiddling with her fingers nervously. “I was gonna ask JYP if I could have one of his producers help me with them, but I don’t know.”

“Changbin-hyung could help! He taught Han how to produce, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping you too.” Felix said, jumping slightly as the idea came to him.

“Changbin? I don’t know..he doesn’t seem..” Auriella trailed off, unsure.

“Hyung is just a little shy, but I promise you’ll like him once you get to know him.” Hyunjin encouraged. He really wanted to do this for her.

Auriella took a deep breath as she thought about it. Music was everything to her and she couldn’t see herself living happily without it. She wanted to make the best of the situation she had been thrown into. She had never been the type to give up and she didn’t want to start now.

“Okay, let’s do it.” The two boys turned to each other beaming.

This was going to be great.

[autuumnlocked]

I was so excited to post my latest Astarion x Aurella one shot, but then I just got hit with a gut punch of "your work is shit and you shouldn't bother" thoughts >.>

[heroineimages]

Chronicling a Lesbian Warrior Queen

(Art by @mjbarros)

The last couple of evenings I’ve been writing out some of my thoughts on how Queen (later Empress) Viarra’s lesbianism becomes part of her power network. I’ve discussed this before, but as I was writing my thoughts out, it ended up becoming a write-up by Viarra’s chronicler, Zahnia:

(Art by @9musesandanoldmind​)

A lot of Zahnia’s epigrams throughout First Empress are retrospective---an older (but still immortal child) Zahnia writing about and publishing histories a thousand years after Viarra’s reign. I don’t know if I’ll ever use this write-up for anything in the novel, but the idea of writing a mock history text about Queen Viarra, sometime after the novel(s) get published is kind of appealing. 

It’s difficult for even those of us who knew her well to completely fathom exactly how powerful Empress Viarraluca truly was. She was a warlord whose armies conquered dozens of rival nations, slaughtered tens of thousands of enemies, and enslaved tens of thousands more. At the same time, she was a skilled warrior who slew dozens of enemies with spear and sword. And she was enough of an innovator that she helped introduce new tactics and soldier types beyond the traditional hoplite phalanx, even being the first to integrate crossbow archers into open-field combat.

Perhaps as a result of her martial achievements, many historians overlook or underestimate Viarra’s sexuality as a part of her power as empress. Where nobles and royals throughout all of history used sex as part of the political process, Viarra’s approach was unusual in that she only slept with women. It was a huge advantage in that so few rulers understood the full implications of what she was doing. Viarra had two wives by the time she became Empress over the Vestic Sea: Queen Aurella who ruled Pellastor and the other city-states in the southern parts of her empire; and General Inoria who ruled as satrap over the Illaran Confederacy’s former holdings. She married many other queens and princesses over her lifetime, placing them in charge of conquered kingdoms and client states. Meanwhile, the empress had dozens of royal concubines, mostly princesses sent as political liaisons from their respective nations. These marriages and liaisons created an unbreakably devoted network of women rulers and representatives through whom Viarra controlled her empire.

Additionally, Viarraluca had plenty of young noblewomen as ladies-in-waiting and harem slaves given as ‘gifts’ from various allies. Many allied monarchs and nobles offered their daughters, sisters, slaves, servants, and even wives to their empress’s entourage in order to get an ‘in’ into Viarra’s personal court, hoping to take advantage of her penchant for women bedfellows—mistakenly believing that they now had an ear into her personal dealings and a mouthpiece to whisper their political agenda to her.

The reality was both ironic and comical. This closeness instead allowed Viarra to use their women against them. She gave a stronger sense of purpose to many of these princesses and gentlewomen who previously hadn’t been expected to provide their families with more than a political marriage and offspring, as well as to these slave girls who’d faced a probable future as mere sex toys for some undeserving, uncaring master or mistress. Instead Empress Viarra protected, cared for, and made exquisite love to all of them, taking them into her confidence and treating them as valued lovers and allies.

Knowledge is indeed power, as philosophers claim, and Viarra collected information as easily and avidly as she collected lovers. Her many mistresses among the ruling class—knowingly or not—provided their queen with all manner of useful tidbits into their kingdom and family’s inner workings, often giving Empress Viarra advance warning of subterfuge or corruption amid her allies. The willing among Viarra’s harem women, meanwhile, were trained as courtesan spies and emissaries, charming or seducing information out of diplomats, merchant men and women, military officers, or even kings and queens. Men and women with a preference for women  bedfellows will often say anything to impress a pretty girl, and Viarra’s loyal courtesans knew supremely well how to use this to their advantage.

Even her liaisons among the working classes provided Empress Viarra with information that other rulers might have missed. A night spent screwing the brains out of a farmwife, tavern wench, or shop proprietress could provide her majesty with information about the local economy and culture. And on top of boosting morale, laying with military officers, infantrywomen, or even camp-followers might inform the empress of logistical issues or discontent among the rank and file.

Womanly sex was indeed the currency across Viarra’s political and intelligence network, and its importance is all too often understated by otherwise open-minded historians. In this volume I will explore how these sexual connections with other women both informed and shaped the political and informational climate of Empress Viarra’s two-hundred-year reign…

—Excerpted from the introduction to Romancing the Throne: the Politics and Espionage of a Womanizing Empress, by Zahnia, the Chronicler

[annisezate]

Aurella the Witch Playlist

Aurella the Witch Playlist

Hey everyone! Since it’s summer, I have a lot more time on my hands than I usually do, and I thought it would be fun to put together some playlists for my books! Today I created an Aurella the Witchplaylist on Spotify which I will share below. I’m not positive that it’s as complete as I’d like it to be, so I may make some adjustments still. You can try and guess why each song is included, you can…

[aurellas]

Zayne's called us good girl, but what if we flip the script? A drabble, kind of

--------------------------------

After several grueling weeks full of overtime hours for the both of you, you have a rare weekend off with Zayne that you planned to spend quietly at home, prioritizing your mutual rest and recovery.

That Friday, however, he ends up home incredibly late, an 18 hour shift under his belt. When you feel him finally slide into bed several hours after you fell asleep waiting for him, you can't help but sleepily pull him close, knowing he must be ragged with exhaustion.

You fall asleep together with your fingers running through his hair, thinking to yourself that at least you both get to sleep in tomorrow.

But when you wake a few short hours later to roll over, all you find in your room is the gray, hazy light of a very early dawn. As you tiptoe into the hall to investigate, the faint sounds of typing reach your ears from the cracked door of his office.

You quietly knock twice and lean against the door frame. "Did you get any sleep?"

He turns a quarter in his swivel chair and gives you his signature microsmile, his exhaustion achingly evident as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "A few hours, which were very restful with you by my side."

You sighed through your nose with exasperated fondness. As you open your mouth to gently chastise him, he cuts in.

"A few reports came up that needed review, I figured I could take care of them quickly and return to bed. I'll be done soon, you should go back to sleep."

You level him with an incredulous look as if to say, 'yeah, right, I've heard that before,' before walking to him to drop a gentle kiss to his hair. He gives your hip a squeeze as your eyes meet, your thumb brushing across his cheek with warm affection.

"You won't be doing anyone any favors if you run yourself into the ground, my love. Make sure you spend your weekend of rest actually resting," you chide softly with another brief kiss to his temple.

With that, you pull away and return to bed alone, drifting off to sleep with your face buried in his pillow.

When you open your eyes again several hours later, the sun has fully emerged and the world outside has joined you in waking. And once again, you find the bed distinctly lacking a snowman.

Just like earlier that morning, you find him still typing away in his office. Approaching his chair from behind, you wordlessly wrap your arms around his shoulders and tuck your face into the crook of his neck, leaving a few tender kisses.

His hand comes up to rest on your forearm, thumb brushing softly back and forth. "I'm sorry, darling, there were more reports than I realized," he says, sensing your impending finger wagging.

With no plans to extract yourself from him any time soon, you press a kiss just below his ear and murmur, "And is there a reason why they can't be reviewed by members of the department that are actually on the clock today? Doctors that already got their R and R while you were working overtime?"

There's a beat of silence and you can feel the way he ever so slightly tenses under you. "....No, I suppose there's no reason not to leave these to my colleagues..." An unspoken 'but' hangs heavy in the air.

"...but you want to feel helpful, and like you're not abandoning your team or your patients when you take time off for yourself," you finish for him, intimately familiar with this internal struggle he faces from time to time.

His only response is a tired sigh through his nose, his thumb still brushing circles on your arm.

You place a lingering kiss to his cheek. "It's helpful to your team to be rested and refreshed when you return to work. You cover for them when they're resting, let them return the favor like a team is meant to."

He sighs, heavier this time, and after a brief moment, opens a chat window on his computer to send a brief sign off message and put the machine to sleep.

He spins his chair, swiveling within your embrace to face you fully.

You smile brightly at him and lightly trace your knuckle along his jaw. "Good boy."

How does he react?

[aurellas]

OKAY I have a headcanon request for any Love and Deepspace writers looking for any...

The boys reactions to you pulling your bra off through your shirt??? 👀

If anyone has any links to anything like this that already exists, I'd be forever in your debt 💜🥰

[aurellas]

When I see Zayne sleeping at the cafe, I'm filled with the overwhelming desire to gently stroke his hair and wake him up with a kiss to his temple, a kiss to his cheek, until he's sleepily blinking at me.

Switching this scenario to be at home, I'd wordlessly set his laptop aside on the coffee table, take his hand, and guide him to the bedroom. I'd make him sit down at the edge and slowly help him undress while he's still groggy with sleep, placing a few gentle kisses as I go.

Then I'd grab him his PJs, fluff his pillows, and tuck him in to bed with another kiss to his temple before joining him and snuggling up together under the covers 🩵

I'm narcoleptic, I'm literally a medically diagnosed Sleepy Bitch, so sleeping with Zayne is on my mind 24/7. I just know it would be SO relaxing to fall asleep with him, either with my head on his chest and his fingers running through my hair, or vice versa when his exhaustion needs taking care of 🥰

[lockewrites]

The Surface of a Secret

Halsin x F!OC || SFW || 1449 words AO3 & FF

Serilda attempts to hide an injury from her companions, but Halsin seems to have an uncanny way of finding her when she doesn’t want to be found. 

The chill of the dirt soothed the throbbing burn that filled the palms and pads of her fingers; using her magic to cool the blisters seemed like the rational thing to do, but she’d tried that before, and it somehow only served to make them worse. She was thankful her tent was kept away from the others as she no doubt looked odd with her hands shoved into the ground. The rest of the party was gathered around the fire, sharing soup that Gale had cooked; Serilda’s helping sat on the ground next to her, unable to hold the bowl long enough to enjoy it without wearing it.

Aurella’s laughter carried through the camp, and while Serilda felt like an outcast with her self-imposed isolation, letting them see her as uncontrolled was not an option. For whatever reason, she’d been thrust into the impromptu leadership role, and they needed to believe she was strong enough to carry that responsibility. Then again, was it really her responsibility? Why couldn’t one of them make the decisions? She wouldn’t trust Astarion or Aurella, but Wyll? Well, Wyll seemed to jump in heart first rather than take a moment to think; great for the folk hero he aspired to be, but a little dangerous as a leader. 

She pulled her hands out of the earth and brushed the dirt off before reaching for the burn salve she bought from the druid grove. It smelled of mint and lavender to mask the harsh scent of aloe; she scooped a dollop on her finger and began rubbing it into her hands as she resumed her line of thought.

Lae’zel wouldn’t have enough of the party’s trust to follow her, and her sole focus would be reaching her people, and the rest of them would be left to wonder whether she told the truth. Shadowheart… actually, Serilda didn’t know how Shadowheart would lead. Her reactions seemed to waver, but it seemed, more than anything, she sought self-preservation, even if at the detriment of others. Gale, though, he could be someone she’d follow. He often agreed with her choices, helping others when possible. Then again, if his past was anything to go by, he could very well land them trapped in a bottle of wine suspended somewhere in the Astral Plane.

“Serilda?” Halsin’s voice startled her. “Is everything all right?”

Her head shot upward, and she quickly hid her hands in her lap. “I’m fine,” she said, giving a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I just… had a headache.”

His eyebrows arched upward and he frowned. “Are you sure?” he asked. “If you’d like, I brought with me some teas from the Grove that may help.” His eyes fell to her lap. 

Tucking her hands further into the layers of her robe, she put more effort into her smile as she replied. “I appreciate the offer, Halsin, but I think Gale’s soup will be enough to help me sleep it off.”

He hummed and smiled knowingly. “You mean the soup you’ve yet to touch?”

She blushed and looked down at the bowl. “I… was just about to dig in.” 

“I would recommend reheating it,” he said. “The flavor waned once the steam cleared.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”

He crossed his hefty arms and simply looked at her. 

With a sigh, and an attempt at relieving the growing tension, she joked, “It’s a bit of a strain on the neck having to look up at you. Did you need anything else?”

Halsin’s comprehending smile remained. “I did mention the habits of leading the Grove were slow to leave. Are you sure everything is all right?”

Again, she sighed and dropped her head. “I’m guessing no amount of ‘yes’s would convince you.” Serilda looked back up at his tender face and couldn’t find it in herself to be annoyed at his persistence.

The large elf fell into a squat in front of her, giving her neck a chance to relax. “I suppose I’m rather stubborn. Is this perhaps one of your ‘far more interesting’ secrets you mentioned some time ago?”

“Perhaps,” she replied, her eyes falling to her hands, wishing she could mimic the sharp tone Aurella often used, but Halsin’s concern made that impossible.

“If you are adamant that you wish to keep this secret,” he began, “I won’t trouble you any further.”

She looked up to find blue and gold watching her, and her shoulders slumped under the weight of his disquieted but encouraging gaze. It filled her with the urge to share everything; her and Aurella’s childhood traumas, the loneliness felt among her mentor’s colleagues, the sexual nature of the illithid dreams, even secrets that weren’t hers to divulge, like why Aurella was who she was, why it was dangerous for her sister to return to Baldur’s Gate (even if she shrugged off the concern). 

Blinking away the feeling, she shook her head and smiled. “I can see part of why you made such a great master,” she said, earning a raise of his brow. “You have a way of making people want to say or do something they would otherwise refuse.”

Halsin chuckled softly as he dropped into a more comfortable position, his knees digging into the already disturbed dirt. He reached his hands out toward her, palms up.

“May I?” He nodded his head down at her lap.

Hesitating a moment, she conceded and slipped her hands into his expectant ones. His skin was warm, rough, worn with years upon years of guiding and working in the wilderness he was so fond of; the calloused hands dwarfed hers to the point it was almost laughable. 

As he examined her hands, turning them over and gauging the severity of the burns, she couldn’t help but watch him. The way his brow furrowed and his eyelashes dipped just above his cheeks, how his mouth shifted into a thin line and deepened the shadows of his laugh lines. 

He looked up, and she prayed it was dark enough to hide the color filling her cheeks having been caught staring. Though his face appeared more concerned than confused or accusatory.

“How have you managed to gather so many scars?” he asked, his tone lighthearted on the surface.

Her gaze moved to her hands still in his; his thumbs brushed over the faint maroon patches of skin marring her fingertips and palms, careful to avoid the fresh wounds.

“I enjoyed playing with fire when I was younger,” she replied, forcing a chuckle, though it was a half-hearted attempt. 

She glanced back up at him, and the tilt of his head told her he didn’t believe her, but he didn’t push. 

“I can heal these if you’d like,” he offered, his thumb hovering over one of her blisters. 

“I wouldn’t want you to waste magic on something so small,” she said, eyes returning to her hands and where his skin touched hers. 

“It’s hardly a waste,” he replied with a light chuckle. His right hand released hers, and he tucked a curled finger under her chin, gently pushing upward so she would look at him. “I would only offer if I sought to help you.”

Warmth pooled in her cheeks, and she blinked at him, his finger still pressed against her skin, the heat radiating from his hand only serving to worsen her blush.

“Okay,” she muttered, lips barely moving.

He smiled and pulled his hand away, taking with it his warmth and leaving behind an echo of his touch. He hovered over the burns on her left hand for a moment before a bright blue light filled the space between them; a cooling sensation passed over her skin and seeped through each wound, repairing the damaged dermis from underneath. He repeated the action with her right hand, the same feeling filling her injuries and healing them.

The light faded, and he gave her hands another once over.

“How do they feel?”

She flexed them as they remained in his own loose grip. “Better than what any salve would’ve done,” she said, smiling at him. “Thank you.”

Halsin returned her smile and released her hands. “It’s no trouble. In fact, I much prefer serving as a healer than I did as Master of the Grove.” He added, “That’s not to say I want you to actively seek injury just to keep me occupied.”

A weak laugh passed through her lips, and she watched as he returned to his feet, forcing her to crane her neck upward again.

“I will leave you to rest,” he said, giving her a brief nod. “Have a good night.”

“You too,” she replied. “And thank you, again.”

He smiled. “Of course, Serilda.”

[lockewrites]

Our Own Entertainment

Astarion x F!OC || NSFW (Not actual smut, but very suggestive foreplay) || 2338 words AO3 & FF

Aurella and Astarion struggle to keep themselves entertained during a rather boring party. 

The campsite was bustling with tieflings, singing and dancing, party already in full swing before Aurella and the rest of them arrived. Zevlor stood at the entrance, greeting them as they approached. 

“I hope you’ll pardon them,” he said, bowing his head slightly. “They meant to wait for you all. But it’s been some time since they’ve had cause to celebrate.”

A sudden burst of laughter sounded near the fire, and Zevlor smiled, even as Aurella walked past him with little acknowledgement. 

“I’m glad to see they haven’t forgotten how,” she heard him say to Serilda. 

Aurella headed for her tent, eager to strip off her pack and armor and change into clothes she inexplicably stumbled on when visiting the tieflings the first time. She wore a deep red, linen shirt that was slightly too large; it hung loose around her chest, but she shrugged and tucked it into her waistband.

Returning to the party, her gaze fell to a pile of crates that the tieflings seemed to gravitate toward. She waded through the mass of already inebriated people and reached the boxes, smiling at the bottles upon bottles of what had to be alcohol. Without a second thought, she grabbed a few bottles; she’d need them if Volo’s singing wasn’t going to end anytime soon.

Bottles in tow, Aurella climbed onto the rocks near the center of camp and settled down on the cold surface, giving herself a good view of the party’s going-ons. Serilda was no longer near Zevlor, in fact, Serilda was nowhere to be found. It didn’t surprise Aurella; her sister didn’t seem the type to appreciate the chaos of drunks or fun in general. With a long swig, and a sour grimace afterward, Aurella simply watched. Her lip curled with every sip, the vinegar-tasting wine disturbing her senses, but drink enough, and she knew she’d no longer taste it. 

The children ran around, occasionally bumping into a staggering adult, some of the others danced to Volo’s ‘song’ and others ignored him entirely, playing games that involved drinking if they lost and drinking if they won. Lae’zel was chatting with Wyll, and the way he leaned toward her made it seem like he was quite interested; Gale shared his thoughts and likely unwelcome history lessons with two of the tieflings, one carried a lute; and Shadowheart was probably still standing near her tent behind Aurella, keeping to herself. And it seemed someone had a mind to keep her company; the scuffing of boots on rock and a soft grunt sounded behind her shortly before kicking aside her empty bottles.

“Well,” Astarion’s soft voice said, now beside her, “this is rather boring.” He sat next to her, his armor also gone and replaced with a dark tunic.

“Just sitting here?” she asked. “Or the party in general.”

“Both.”

“To be fair,” she said, interrupting herself with a drink, “I’m only here until I get drunk enough to cause issues.”

He chuckled. “Do you really need to be drunk for that?”

She shook her head. “No. But it provides me an excuse for when Serilda inevitably scolds me.” 

“She certainly seems the sort.” He took one of her bottles and pulled out the cork before taking a drink.

Aurella could feel his eyes on her, and just as she glanced at him, he turned away.

“You know,” he said in between sips, his tone growing contemplative, “I never pictured myself as a hero. Never thought I’d be the one they toast for saving so many lives. And now that I’m here…” He took another drink and scowled, his lip curling just enough to crinkle his nose. “I hate it. This is awful.”

She laughed. “I completely agree. Though, slaughtering the goblins was fun.”

“True,” he replied with a smile. “That was fun.”

“I’m sure there’s more fun to be had. Relax and try to enjoy yourself.” 

“Enjoy myself?” he remarked, his sneer returning. “There’s a worm in my brain, I’m surrounded by idiots, and all I’ve got to drink is wine that tastes like vinegar. All I want is a little fun. Is that so much to ask?”

“Hmm.” She pursed her lips a moment. “Vampires are strong, right?”

His brow raised, and there was a look of amused intrigue at the question. “Of course, darling. Why do you ask?”

“Can you throw this high into the air?” She handed him one of the full bottles of wine. “Somewhere over Volo’s head.” 

Astarion hesitated but eventually stood, eyeing Volo before looking at the empty air above him and launching the bottle just as requested. 

While still sitting, Aurella lifted her hand and pulled it back, a red light emanating from her palm for just a moment before she thrust it forward, releasing a blast of magic. It caught the bottom of the bottle, bursting the glass and pouring wine all over Volo and his closest audience members.

They shrieked and shouted at the pair who simply let out barks of laughter.

“Oh, sometimes it’s the simplest of things,” Astarion said.

Aurella continued laughing, ignoring the angry words being screamed at them. One of the men hurled a bottle at Aurella, she stopped laughing just in time to see Astarion’s hand reach in front of her and catch it. She violently flinched and lost her balance.

“Shit!”

Unable to catch herself on anything, she slipped off the rock and landed with a hard grunt between the stone and a log. She rubbed the back of her head and groaned as she sat up.

Astarion stood on the other side of the log, laughing hysterically. “That was quite the entertainment!” he said. 

“Which part?” she asked, still rubbing her back. “Drenching Volo or me falling?”

“Oh, take your pick.”

“Arse.”

He laughed again and offered his hand; she took it, the cold of his skin still jarring to her. Now on her feet, she brushed off her backside and pulled a twig out of her hair.

“I had meant to tell you earlier, my dear,” he began, voice taking a low, husky tone as he straightened her shirt and let his fingers linger, “that red certainly suits you.” 

His fingers drifted up her sternum and to her neck, pushing aside her blonde hair and leaving a trail of cold; he stopped where two puncture wounds marred her skin, barely brushing over them before pulling his hand away. She suppressed a shiver and caught herself from leaning for his absent touch, instead plastering a smirk on her lips; the pain of her fall was entirely forgotten.

“You know,” he began, returning her grin, “rather than throw yourself off any more rocks, we could always amuse ourselves in other ways.”

“Are you going to throw yourself off a rock next?” she asked, crossing her arms. “That’d be rather amusing.”

He rolled his eyes. “There are far better ways to wind up bloodied and bruised,” he replied. “Just you and me. Getting a little closer, so to speak.”

She sucked in her lip, appearing to contemplate her answer. “Maybe,” she finally said. “If you say ‘please.’”

His brow furrowed, but the smile remained. “What?”

Tilting her head, Aurella said, “I fell off a boulder, and you laughed at me. My ego’s hurt. I could use a little begging.”

The smirk softened, and his eyes widened as his eyebrows reached up toward his hairline. “Please.” His hungry grin immediately returned.

She leaned her body toward him, ignoring the heat building in her cheeks; her hand reached out and hovered just over his waistband, taunting him a bit before jabbing his stomach with her finger.

"Okay." Her eyes crinkled at the corners as he shook his head.

"Cheeky little pup." He pulled away from her. "Let's wait until things quiet down."

"All right."

"Now, how to kill time?" he muttered, looking past Aurella.

She turned toward the mass of tieflings. "I don't know about you," she said, "but there's an interesting game of cards going on over there, and I see a few coins on the table. I wouldn't mind winning some gold from drunkards." She glanced back at him. "Or horny vampires."

"I suppose there are worse ways to waste my time," he decided. "And just so you know, I cheat."

“So do I.”

The pair was side-eyed as they approached, Aurella’s stunt still fresh in their minds, but at the dropping of their coin purses on the table, the tieflings welcomed them. They were dealt in, and it didn’t take long for the two to settle into a routine of counting cards and stowing aces; the tieflings were too far into their drinks to notice, but Astarion and Aurella watched each other, tutting whenever they caught the other. 

How much time had passed, Aurella wasn’t sure, but things had quieted, most of the tieflings were in bed or making their way there. Astarion had wandered off during their last hand, claiming to need some air. After a few more rounds, she dumped her winnings into her coin purse and disappeared into her tent. She waited, anticipation building with each torch being blown out and each body shuffling into a bedroll. 

When silence finally fell, she left her tent and tiptoed around the scattered sleepers, following the general direction she’d seen Astarion take. She walked out of the clearing and found herself surrounded by trees and a chill the open area lacked, but she saw no sign of the vampire. Continuing forward, she took careful steps over the roots and around the tree trunks; she had no doubt he knew she was there, and he was simply toying with her. 

Just as she considered turning back, a hand snaked around her waist, and a cold pair of lips whispered in her ear.

“I’ve been waiting,” he purred. He pulled her flush against him and brushed his lips against her neck. “Waiting since the moment I set eyes on you. Waiting to have you.”

Aurella placed her hand on the one resting on her waist. “I wouldn’t say you have me just yet.” Her stomach flipped as he chuckled against her skin, one of his fangs just barely grazing her.

“Don’t I?” he asked. “You’re here. And… I don’t think you want to talk.” He turned her around to face him, hand now pushing into her back, keeping their lower halves pressed together. “I think you want to be known,” he said, dipping a finger under her chin and keeping her fixated on him. “To be tasted.”

She smirked despite the color pooling in her face. “And what do you want?”

“What do any of us want?” he replied, his lips matching her own taunting. “Pleasure.” His thumb gently pushed her head to the side as he leaned down and kissed her neck, rougher than before. “Yours. Mine.” He spoke between breaths. “Our collective ecstasy.”

He pulled away from her, his eyes searching her face. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?” he asked, quickly falling back into his perfect grin. “To lose yourself in me?”

The red of his eyes seemed brighter, more threatening, nearly every inch of her being screaming at her to flee, but all she felt was curiosity and a burning desire to give herself to him. She had no snarky retort, no witty remark. She simply breathed a soft, “Yes.”

“I thought so.”

His lips claimed hers as he grabbed either side of her waist and lifted her, guiding her legs around his torso. With a few steps forward, he balanced her against a tree as their mouths and tongues fought for dominance; he tasted of turned wine, the campfire’s smoke, and metallic threats. The bark of the tree dug into her skin through her top as he pushed against her, leaving no room between them. His hands ran down her torso and began pulling at her shirt, untucking it from her waistband. 

Before he could slip under, Aurella reached back and gave a hard push against the tree, knocking them off-balance. They toppled backward, Astarion landing under her with a grunt, Aurella still straddling him.

He looked up at her, brow raised in confusion and then interest as she grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head, leaving her torso completely exposed. He sat up, digging into her waist for leverage, and pressed a cold kiss between her breasts before traveling upward to her throat.

Just as he pulled away to look at her, she grabbed his shirt and yanked him forward, kissing him again as she gathered her hair with her other hand and pulled it over one of her shoulders. They paused for breath, and she took the opportunity to bare her neck to him, the invitation obvious. His words had promised pleasure, but he could offer pain in equal measure and, in that moment, it was just the same to her.

The vampire’s eyes widened, pupils dilating further as his tongue flitted over his lips. He kissed her again and wrapped her in an embrace as he pulled them both back to the ground. In one fluid motion, without breaking the kiss, he rolled them over and braced himself on top of her; his mouth wandered from hers, lining her jaw then dipping below to her neck, kissing where he’d bitten her before.

Her fingers brushed against his ribs and moved up his side, reaching for his back; she felt something raised through his shirt, but he twisted slightly and grabbed her wrist, pinning it to the ground above her head just as his other wrapped around her neck.

She reached for his hand with hers, digging her nails into his skin, but she didn’t attempt to pull him away, rather she held him in place and forced him to grip her tighter.

After one last kiss to her neck, his fangs reopened his previous bite; the sharp pain quickly subsided to euphoria, and she let out a pleasured moan as he took his fill and she readied for her own.

[lockewrites]

Not Much for Parties

Halsin x F!OC || SFW || 1675 words AO3 & FF

Serilda finds a quiet spot to avoid the party, but Halsin manages to find her.

The river lapped against the bank, just inches from her boot as she sat on a log someone had dragged out toward the water. Music and voices sounded behind her, but with her back against a boulder, she was hidden from the celebration. Or so she thought.

“Do you not wish to join the others?” a deep voice spoke beside her.

Serilda looked up to find a very large and very friendly elf smiling at her.

“Halsin,” she said, giving him a wave with a cup in her gloved hand. She craned her neck to look past him at the dancing tieflings and her conversing companions; she didn’t have much interest in participating in either. “I’m… not really one for parties.” Returning her back to the stone and eyes to the water, she took a drink and added, “And I wouldn’t want them to mistake my discomfort for disapproval or something else that may spoil the party. They deserve to celebrate.”

“I don’t wish to disturb you,” he replied. “I simply came to check on you, but I understand if you prefer to remain solitary.”

She glanced up at him, catching a glint of something she couldn’t place. Grabbing the bottle beside her, she held it out to him and smiled. “I think I can handle the company of a single elf.”

He returned her grin and accepted the bottle before sitting on the log beside her, the added weight causing the wood to give the faintest creak. 

“Thank you,” he said. He eyed the bottle a moment for taking a swig, barely able to suppress a grimace.

“It’s awful,” Serilda remarked with a chuckle. “But I figure at some point, you stop tasting it.”

“Right you are.” He took another swig. “But still awful for the time being.”

A burst of magic Serilda recognized as Aurella’s sounded, followed by glass shattering and angry shouting, and then a certain vampire’s laugh. Halsin’s attention turned to the crowd behind them.

“Your sister appears more at home among the chaos of revelry,” he said, chuckling. “Though, I’m not sure the tieflings will appreciate her spilling their wine.”

“If that’s the worst she’s doing, I’m not too concerned,” Serilda said, downing a long swig from her cup and shuddering.

“Interesting one, your sister,” he commented before following Serilda’s lead and taking a drink himself. 

“Interesting is a… kind… way of putting it.” She frowned, second-guessing whether she should check on Aurella. “She had a rough childhood,” Serilda explained, the alcohol loosening her tongue. “We both did, but I got lucky and happened to be saved, and she… she wasn’t.” She finished what remained in her cup. “I’ll never forgive myself for it.”

Halsin refilled her cup and sighed. “Forgiveness is hardest to offer yourself. You can spend a lifetime regretting actions taken, or perhaps not taken, but it does little good. Wishing to change the past only serves to widen the hole felt in your chest.” His voice carried an echo of what he had probably told himself at some point; the long drink he took, as if to wash it away, furthered her suspicions. “There’s naught to be done for the past, but you can still rectify the future.”

A soft hum vibrated against her cup as she took another drink. She smiled. “Do you do this often?”

He raised a brow at her.

“Offer unsolicited but very comforting advice to strangers?” she asked, chuckling into her cup. 

He mirrored her chuckle. “I suppose years of serving as the grove’s master has formed some unwelcome habits.”

“I said unsolicited, not unwelcome,” she reminded him.

“Are they not the same?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think so. Unsolicited means I didn’t ask. Unwelcome means I didn’t appreciate it.”

Silence fell between the two as they continued to drink, until each had finished what they held.

“Can you hand me another bottle?” she asked, arm extending across his body to point at the ground beside the log. “I stashed a few down there. Help yourself.”

He did as asked, and she didn’t bother pouring it in her cup this time, deciding instead to simply uncork it and drink it straight from the bottle.

 Her mind wandered to ways of rectifying the future. She would offer Aurella a home--she was sure her mentor would allow it. She would provide magical instruction, formal training from her mentor or herself, even if their magics were a little different. She would keep an eye on her, keep her from landing herself in prison. 

“Dammit,” Serilda hissed under her breath. Aurella’s bounty.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, no,” she said, sighing. “I just remembered something unpleasant I’ll need to take care of once… if… I get back to the city.”

“I promise, Serilda,” he said, placing a warm, large hand on her shoulder, “I will do all I can to remove the parasite and return you to your city.”

Serilda smiled, though it didn’t quite meet her eyes. “Thank you.”

“May I ask you a few questions about the tadpole?” he said, letting his arm fall back into his lap. “I completely understand if you would prefer not to speak of it on a night that’s intended for celebration.”

Serilda shrugged. “I’m not really celebrating anyway,” she said, again finishing her cup. “I just can’t promise I’ll actually be able to answer your questions. I know almost nothing about it.”

“I hadn’t the chance to ask the drow about his experience with the tadpole,” Halsin said. “I was forced to kill him before managing any conversation.”

She frowned, thinking of the dead body she saw while Nettie tried to poison her.

“Have you felt any different since the insertion of the tadpole?” he asked. “Any unexpected symptoms? Or even expected symptoms? Fever? Bleeding from various orifices? Things such as this.”

“The strangest thing,” she began, deciding there was little reason to keep this information from the person she sought help from, “is this telepathic link we seem to have to each other. We can sort of see into each other’s heads. It’s not constant, thankfully, otherwise I’d have to listen to Aurella’s and Astarion’s disgusting thoughts all day. But there are times when we sort of slip into each other’s minds.”

His brow furrowed as he listened. 

“That telepathy, if we focus on it, can be used to…” She paused, struggling to find the right word. “Not exactly control, but I suppose influence people who have devoted themselves to this ‘Absolute.’”

“That’s… highly disturbing.”

She nodded. “It was how we entered the temple without provoking the goblins. I hadn’t meant to do it, it just sort of… happened. The gatekeeper, he threatened us, and I just had this sudden urge to assert power over him. It felt… good at the moment, which was terrifying. I felt horrible afterward.”

He hummed, a low, deep set sound in his chest. “Did anything more happen after using the telepathy granted by the tadpole?”

“We felt awful that night. Headache. Bodyache. Dread. I thought that was it, that we were turning, but we were fine--better than fine--the next morning.” A blushed crept through her cheeks and ears. “We had strange dreams, but I don’t remember mine,” she lied. “I only know it was odd since I woke with a feeling of unease. But then I felt great, we all did. And we had new abilities.”

The lines of many years spent in deep thought were pressed heavy into his skin as he mulled over this information. She could see the master, the healer, the well-respected and trusted druid considering every possibility and every danger, the severity glinting in the gold ring of his warm blue eyes.

“I would recommend against using these newfound abilities,” he finally spoke. “I understand the saying ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth,’ but I do not believe these to be gifts. Sooner or later, there’ll be a price to pay.”

She nodded as she tipped her bottle back, only to find it empty, though she didn’t remember drinking it all. 

“I must apologize,” he said, glancing at his own bottle. “I’m afraid I’ve spoiled your already uncomfortable night of celebration with talk of things most unpleasant.”

With a shrug, she replied, “I agreed to it. I’d rather share this with someone I believe can actually help. Aurella went and told this batty old lady that was with the tieflings, and it’s not something I think should be shared with everyone we speak to.”

“I agree,” he said. “I think it’s safe to assume the fear would drive people to overreaction. Nettie’s attempted poisoning was certainly a good example.”

“I didn’t know you knew,” she replied. 

“Your sister gave me earful about it,” he said with a chuckle. “I understand Nettie’s thought process in trying to keep everyone safe by eliminating something we do not understand, but I still apologize on her behalf.” 

“Thank you,” Serilda said. “There was a risk telling you too,” she added, smiling. “I hope I wasn’t wrong to divulge our deepest secrets.”

He laughed. “I’m sure you have secrets far more interesting that I have yet to discover.”

Returning his chuckle, she blushed, but she assumed it to be from the drinks. “I hope you have the opportunity to do so.”

With a smile, he pushed himself to his feet and turned toward her. “I greatly enjoyed our conversation,” he said. “But I think it’s time for me to call it a night.”

At that, she yawned, suddenly yearning for her bedroll and noticing the noise of the party had died down.

“It appears you feel the same,” he added, holding his hand out to her.

She took it, feeling his warmth as he wrapped his long fingers around her leather-clad ones and pulled her up.

“Such a gentleman,” she teased, feeling a little unsteady on her feet.

“Even in the wilderness, we do not forget our manners,” he remarked. “Thank you for allowing me to disrupt your solitude.”

“And thank you for the company.”

[lockewrites]

From Strangers to Threats

Astarion x F!OC || SFW || 1304 words AO3 & FF

Aurella meets the only survivor she’s found so far, and they immediately hit it off.

Aurella groaned as she pushed herself up off the ground. Purple bits of the ship were scattered around her, the tank that held her now on its side, broken. She brushed the dirt from her clothes and grimaced when she heard the crunch of sand between her teeth. Her sword was half-buried in the dirt, but it appeared undamaged; returning it to her belt, she cast a final glance at her pod before venturing off and trying to figure out where she wound up. 

The bulk of the ship laid in ruins, chunks thrown here and there, and she wondered if anyone else had survived. Possible, given that she hadn’t been crushed or eviscerated when landing; the numerous dead bodies said otherwise. But she appreciated the free loot since she had almost nothing on her person; if she found a town or anything, it’d help to have some coin. She was lucky to still have her sword, but it wasn’t as though she was defenseless without it. 

Continuing up the hill, she caught sight of someone with their back to her; as she attempted to hide, not trusting a stranger to simply let her by, her foot snapped a twig in two. The stranger whipped around at a sound he shouldn’t have been able to hear, and after a moment’s glance, the elf waved at her.

“Over here!” he called out.

She sighed but approached him, figuring at the very least, he might know where they were. As she stepped closer, she saw a pod like her own fallen against a tree. Not a local, then.

His attention drifted between her and something in the bushes to his left. “Hurry,” he said. “I’ve got one of those… brain things cornered.”

The glint of his dagger caught her eye, and she maintained her distance even as she moved closer to him. 

“There, in the grass,” he said, pointing. “You can kill it, can’t you? That sword isn’t for just show, I take it.”

“You’ve got a weapon,” she remarked. “Handle it yourself.” She waved her hand flippantly before turning to leave.

“I was hoping for a kind soul,” he said behind her. “Well, not to worry.”

Before she could react to the threat in his voice, his dagger was pressed against her neck while his other arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling them both to the ground. Instinctively, she reached up for his alabaster wrist, attempting to pull the blade away, but he was stronger than his frilly clothes suggested.

“Is this necessary?” she said with a scowl.

He shushed her and smiled threateningly at her. “Not another sound. Not if you want to keep that lovely neck of yours.”

Risking the reaction of him slicing said neck, Aurella slipped her hand over his and released a shock of lightning.

“Augh! You little--”

He pulled back, and she used the opportunity to roll away and jump to her feet, unsheathing her sword just as he stood up. 

The elf’s smile was replaced by a vicious sneer. “I saw you on that ship,” he hissed, “strutting about while I was trapped in that pod.” His arm gestured to the tank behind him. “What did you and those tentacled freaks do to me?”

Her grip on her sword tightened as she spoke. “I didn’t do a damned thing to you.” She smirked. “Put down the dagger, or I promise that sentence ends with a ‘yet.’”

He returned her threatening grin. “You arrogant little--Augh!” His words were cut short as he veered back, gripping the back of his head.

Aurella reacted similarly, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through the skull and into her temples, like claws seeking to escape her mind. She saw herself stalking through dark streets, but the image was too sharp, too perfect to be through her own eyes. The noise of bustling taverns and closing shops too loud for her ears. Aurella tried to focus on what she saw, but only caught a glimpse of a pale, lanky hand that didn’t belong to her reaching to push back unfamiliar curly hair as she looked up at the sky. Unexpected light blinded her, and a fear she’d never experienced before settled in the pit of her stomach, her limbs screaming to flee. And then, the image slipped away.

She blinked, the sallow elf returning to focus.

“What was that?” he breathed, stumbling as he regained his surroundings. “What’s going on?”

Her fingertips pressed into her temple, the pain dulled but still present. “I don’t know. I think I saw… you. Or I was you. Walking the streets in the middle of the night.”

“It sounds like you saw a glimpse of my past,” he remarked, seemingly more steady on his feet. “And I believe I saw yours.”

The pair stared at each other for a time before the elf tentatively calmed his stance and held his dagger at his hip. Aurella allowed a moment of making him question whether she’d lower her weapon as well before finally doing so.

His shoulders relaxed further as he let out a sigh. “It’s those tentacled monsters,” he said. “Whatever they did to us caused that link. They took you too. I saw it during… whatever just happened.” He waved his hand and chuckled as he sheathed his dagger. “I’m half-tempted to spill your guts all over the dirt anyway, but for now--apologies.”

Aurella smirked, feeling emboldened now that the threat had passed. “I can’t say I wouldn’t have enjoyed seeing you try.”

“Is that so?” he replied, raising a brow. “The day is still young, though I’m not sure how long we’ll have with these things in our heads. I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone that little entanglement.”

“Shame, but you’re right,” she replied, her smile dropping a moment before returning. “And I have to say, an apology is a sad offering after threatening to kill me.”

“Well, I’m out of wine and flowers,” he said with a scoff, “so I hope an introduction will suffice. My name’s Astarion. I was in Baldur’s Gate when those beasts snatched me.”

She crossed her arms. “So was I. My name’s Aurella.”

“Aurella,” he repeated. “We clearly move in different circles.”

“It would seem so,” she remarked, eyeing the ruffles of his torn tunic.

“So,” he sighed, resting his hands on his lower back, “do you know anything about these worms?”

“I’m sure you know as much as I do,” she replied. 

“I suppose it’s not exactly common knowledge,” he said, his arms falling to his side. “These worms are already affecting me. I can feel it. Now, what to do about it…” 

She pursed her lips, wondering, beyond the telepathic connection they’d experienced, how he was affected, but she didn’t ask. “Any ideas? Or are you planning on keeping that to yourself? I would consider a plan a good addition to your apology.”

“Aren’t you cheeky,” he muttered with a grin. “Getting out of here would be an ideal start. Then finding anyone who might know about these worms. We need an expert, someone who knows how to control these things…”

“I prefer it be taken out entirely.”

“Well, yes, of course,” he said, rolling his eyes. “But first things first.”

She held up her hands. “Fair enough.” Pausing a moment, she eyed him, considering her next words. “You know, I could… use the company. I have no idea where we are, and if this worm is going to make my head burst, I at least want an audience.”

He let out a short laugh. “I was ready to go this alone, but,” he returned her scrutinizing gaze and smiled, “maybe sticking with the herd isn’t such a bad idea. And watching your head explode is a rather enticing thought. All right.” He gave a half-hearted bow. “I accept.”

[lockewrites]

Meeting the Bear

Halsin x F!OC || SFW || 893 words AO3 & FF

The party meets Halsin, and Serilda puts up with her twin’s attitude.

The bear stood eye level with her, watching her with a tilt of its head. Goblin bodies and stench surrounded them, and while the threat of the bear remained, Serilda hoped this bear was actually the person they were searching for. It blinked at her, and she swore she saw its mouth twitch into a smile before it shifted its weight to its hind legs and began to glow. The body morphed into one more sapien, and the light dissipated, revealing a very large, wide-smiled elf.

He shook his hand, flicking away goblin blood and grimacing when something solid hit the ground. 

"Pardon the viscera," the elf said in a warm, deep voice. "One should cherish all of nature's bounty, but goblin guts are quite far down the list."

Serilda let out a nervous chuckle, still in shock at the sight before her: not that the bear had turned into the elf--she’d seen that already in the grove--but that the elf was so… big. He stood over a head taller than her--to meet his eyes required her to crane her neck a tad--and his sheer bulk was nothing short of impressive. And he was admittedly attractive, even with the deep-set scars running across his face.

“You aided a bear without knowing if it would savage you,” he remarked with a laugh, his facial scars moving as his eyes crinkled. “A true friend of nature--or perhaps a lunatic.”

“I believe the lunatic would be my sister,” Serilda said, shooting a glare at Aurella. “I’m so sorry she goaded those children on.”

“Whatever,” Aurella scoffed as she rubbed goblin blood out of her blonde strands. “They were having so much fun. How could you not join in?”

The elf shrugged. “It is easy to fall into the wiles of children.”

“You’re lucky he wasn’t a real bear,” Astarion muttered, nudging Aurella’s arm and smirking. “You deserve to be torn to shreds.”

Aurella returned his smirk. “I’m sure the sight would be one you’d keep in mind when alone in your tent.”

Astarion opened his mouth to retort--or continue their disturbing flirtations if his grin was anything to go by--but Serilda’s groan quieted him. She rubbed her leathered hand against forehead and sighed.

“Either way,” the elf continued, a smile playing on his lips, “I owe thanks. I am the druid Halsin.”

Serilda grinned, “I’d hoped so. We were asked to find you.” She sucked in the corner of her lip, considering spoiling the rescue with grim news. “The druids are about to perform some rite and close off the grove, leaving the Tieflings stranded or killed.”

“What?” his grateful demeanor changed abruptly. He set his hands on his hips and sighed, looking down at the ground. “Kagha. We must return to the grove. I cannot allow this rite to be completed.”

“She thinks she’s saving it.”

“This is my doing,” he admitted. “I foolishly left it vulnerable to this rabble.” His eyes returned to hers, and again, his features shifted. “There’s more, isn’t there?” He stepped forward and leaned down slightly. “That look in your eyes--in all of your eyes--I’ve seen in before. Are you feeling all right?”

“It can wait,” she said, holding up her hand.

“The hell it can,” Aurella said. “There are mindflayer tadpoles in our heads. We need them taken care of!” 

“And what is he supposed to do here?” Serilda asked, turning her head toward her twin. “Slice us open in the middle of a goblin hoard?” 

She turned back to Halsin who was stroking his chin. “It’s spreading then,” he said. “You all suffer from the very blight I came here to investigate. I thought all the afflicted worked together. Clearly, I was wrong.” He paused, his gaze bouncing to each of them before settling back on Serilda. “No visible signs of ceremorphosis. Just like the others. The good news is you still have time.” His eyes turned downcast. “The bad news: I don’t know how much.”

Aurella let out an irritated sigh, drawing an apologetic look from Halsin. Serilda ignored her.

“I will do my best to help you,” he promised, “but, as you said, I’m unable to slice you open in the middle of a goblin hoard.” He smiled as he spoke, but it quickly fell. “There’s work to do--blood to spill. I cannot allow these butchers to threaten my grove. The natural order must be protected.”

Each word spoken seemed to add another inch to his height. Gone was the man who laughed about strangers saving a possibly wild bear; this was a leader of druids, the Master of the Emerald Grove. Serilda could do little but stare, a bit in awe of the authority he demanded just in the shift of voice.

“What can we do?” Serilda asked without a second thought.

“More running around putting ourselves in danger for others, right?” Aurella muttered.

“We came here to kill the gobbos anyway,” Wyll remarked. “It’s good to be the hero every now and then, Aurella.”

Aurella and Serilda rolled their eyes, though for entirely different reasons. Serilda gave Halsin a nod to continue.

“Rare is the beast that survives decapitation,” he replied, his more jovial side returning. “These parasites are nothing without their command. We must eliminate their leaders, and nature will cure itself.”

“Okay,” Serilda replied. “We’ll help.”

He beamed at her. “Thank you.”