#I genuinely adore these two???

[cupophrogs]

@impishjesters okok but hear me out-

[nefelibatat]

So it's kinda interesting how Jinx is basically Caitlyn's own extremely malevolent genie. Every desire she has, Jinx fulfills, but with such a cruel twist that it almost defeats the point.

Want something new and exciting in your sheltered life? Well, one might say nearly getting blown up is pretty exciting. Looking for a real job to undertake? Here's a convenient pile of evidence leading you straight to the heart of a criminal empire. Good luck getting out of this mess though. Coworkers making you feel excluded? They can't do that now; they're dead. Longing to see Vi again? Don't worry. You will be taken straight to her, like it or not. Mum being too restrictive? Never again!

It's no wonder Jinx is associated with monkeys when her role in the show is ensuring a monkey's paw curls any time Caitlyn has a vague inclination towards something.

[treasureplcnet]

inverness here they come!!!!

[starryemeralds]

ad astra per aspera 🌠

[Image description: it is dusk, and Mabel and Ford from Gravity Falls are wearing witch hats and hanging by Bill’s statue in the woods. While holding a puppet of Stanley, she does an impromptu eulogy for Bill, dramatically saying, “Goodbye Cipher, you are dead. Blown up in my Grunkle’s head. Too much power hurt your soul. Reincarnate as a vole. Amen.” Ford laughs in response. End ID.]

here is a textless version:

and the pages this is based on!

[sensitiveheartless]

Man who would kill his best friend in order to exert his free will and unchain himself from the shackles of emotions VS man who has chosen to give up his own freedom in order to protect those closest to him, FIGHT

[biblicalhorror]

Aroace Riz real but also Fabian is SO clearly in love with him and Riz has no idea

[nikolas-ghostbusters-fixation]

Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is how everyone thought Egon had gone insane. What Happened that made them think that. They've fought a gigantic Stay Puft Marshmellow Man TWICE (counting the 2009 video game because iirc it's canon? Correct me if I'm wrong), fought an interdimensional god, fought a blood thirsty ruler that killed thousands and was hated by all that was trapped in a painting (and managed to get in to beat him by making THE STATUE OF LIBERTY start walking down the street with slime that reacted purely based on vibes), found an underground abandoned transit system full of the moodslime, had a bathtub try to eat Dana and her baby, fought a giant murderous black widow lady, fought the fisherman ghost who turned an entire hotel floor into the bottom of a ocean, and that's not even mentioning them getting trapped on an island that randomly raised up from underwater that had been abandoned for decades created by Ivor Shandor who worshipped Gozer. So what did he do or say that made everyone else think he'd gone insane?? All I can think is maybe he was acting strange / eratic before, but he's always been like that to some degree.

I don't know. It's something that I've been thinking about. The correct answer is 'it's not that deep and they needed a reason that the others weren't together anymore and weren't aware of Egons death or know what was going on,' but also. What Was He Saying that prompted everyone, including Ray, to think he lost his mind when he'd been right almost every time before that.

I'm genuinely so curious as to what he was up to before this. What was he doing. What insane idea was working on prior to this or was he even working on anything at all??

Also want to clarify this post isn't negative 😭 I really love the newer movies and their lore / the newer storyline / characters, I just like thinking about small stupid things like this. Gives me something to think about / speculate about / figure out an answer to.

[p4nishers]

no ok yes this is actually hilarious that it's in the show but can we talk about how ADORABLE aziraphale is?? like i know i'm absolutely obsessed and completely feral about him at this point but he's so fucking silly and goofy and the love of my life and he looks so happy and

[cloudiilink]

...guys I think I'm being judged by a gecko

[lavendernlilac]

I'm having some strawberry lemonade thoughts. They go like this:

Grian has to go reluctantly visit family because (insert major event that Pearl and Jimmy unintentionally guilt tripped him into attending here). Grian knows that his hyper-religious family will probably have wards, and he hasn't gotten any protective charms or counter-wards for Scar yet, so Scar can't go with him.

So for the week-ish that Grian is gone, Scar holds down the fort at the office and is waiting with Grian’s favorite take-out (his cooking is getting better, okay! This just isn't the time for experiments) When Grian comes home.

He greets him with hugs and kisses, but nothing more yet. Scar let's Grian eat while he vents about his family.

But towards the end of Grian venting, he notices something. Scar isn't quite as...vibrant as he was when Grian left. There are bags under his eyes, and his smile is tired. So he asks Scar if he's okay.

After much deflection and Grian pushing the question, Scar finally tells him what's wrong.

Scar hasn't, um. "Eaten" for a week.

They never talked about exclusivity, and Grian had assumed that Scar would have found "sustenance" while he was gone. But Scar knew from the moment he first kissed Grian that he didn't want anyone else.

Scar urges Grian to rest, insisting he can wait until tomorrow, but Grian's having none of it. He drags Scar to the bedroom and that have the most tooth-rotting sweet and gentle sex ever. Grian focuses on taking care of Scar and rides him slow and steady.

By the end, Scar feels much better and Grian is exhausted, so they fall asleep.

In the morning once Grian feels fresh again, they go several more rounds. Because Scar is still starving 😉

I’m taking your thoughts and eating them rn /pos

building off of them:

I think the event that grian specifically goes to is some small family reunion. pearl and jimmy don’t want to go by themselves, and jimmy ends up being the one who gets grian to cave and come with them

scar is extremely pouty about it when grian tells him he can’t come along because of wards and the last thing grian wants is for scar to come with him and get hurt. or worse. obviously scar is not happy about this because he doesn’t want grian to have to go alone (and maybe because he wants to get a chance to punch grian’s dad but that’s a whole other thing)

so grian is home for a week and he hates it. he’s miserable the entire time. he’s uncomfortable and trying to avoid his father. he spends two days at his childhood home (he refuses to go into the study), and then on the third day, his siblings and father all pile into one car to drive up north for the actual reunion the following day

and scar texts him every day. scar is staying in his apartment while he’s gone, grian gets pictures of his cats and jellie (because ofc scar brought her), and he gives updates on the happenings at the lab and stuff. for each night, the two of them call until grian goes to sleep. scar checks in on him a lot to ask how he’s doing, and grian doesn’t want scar worrying about him so he says he’s okay, counting the days until he’s home again

and it goes mostly alright, grian is uncomfortable and wishes more than anything to be home, snuggling with his boyfriend. but it’s alright!

up until the actual reunion. that’s… where it really goes downhill. grian is the black sheep of the family, and he’s reminded of that. there’s probably some situation; someone says something and grian’s been so wound up that it tips him over and he cracks. he makes a scene before excusing himself. he calls scar and the flood gates open, and he’s not okay. scar has never wished so badly that he could teleport, or even that he could overpower wards. pearl keeps him company after, and it’s tense but… they have a long overdue conversation

when grian calls scar that night, scar does all of the talking. he rambles about the day; something funny mumbo did when he came by the office, or how cute jellie and maui were when they were curled up together. scar talks about his recent cooking attempt (“I didn’t burn it this time! It was actually edible too :D though you’ll have to be the judge when you get back, birdie.”) grian ends up falling asleep on the phone with him, his gentle breaths coming through the speaker, and scar’s heart squeezes

(maybe… maybe scar uses his powers to dream walk, entering grian’s dream. it’s not a lot, but it gives scar a small chance to hold him and give him some kind of comfort)

the next few days go by in a blur, and grian is walking through his apartment door, exhausted. scar’s got comfort food on table, and grian practically falls into his arms, clinging to him. scar buries his face into grian’s hair and grian tells scar he missed him. they stand in the entrance for a few minutes together, holding each other and exchanging a few kisses, until scar gently nudges them toward the kitchen to eat. I think grian has a strict “no eating on the couch” rule, but he breaks it this time, the two of them sitting on the couch in the living room and eating

scar lets grian talk about everything, patient and attentive with him. but during it all… grian sees how unkempt scar looks, with his eyebags and tired smile. his usual energy is missing, that extra spark gone. naturally it concerns grian and he presses and presses. scar doesn’t want to take the focus away from grian but grian is so adamant that scar tells him what’s wrong

so scar sighs and tells him he’s low on energy, not having uh, fed, while grian was away and—

“you… didn’t feed? scar you need to do that to live, why didn’t you—”

“I know, I-I know! but I could survive a week without you and be just fine!”

“you look really tired.”

“ah… that’s just because I was doing so much! it’s fine g, really.”

“why didn’t you just find someone else to, y’know.”

“I don’t want anyone who isn’t you.”

grian is flustered by this of course, before he’s Determined and dragging scar to his room. and scar just wants grian to rest because he’s had a hard week and this is exactly why he didn’t want to tell grian but his pesky researcher is just too perceptive sometimes

the sex is very gentle and incredibly sweet. grian is the one to lead them along for a bit, crawling into scar’s lap and undressing them both as they kiss. he doesn’t let scar do much because grian wants to take care of him. the most he lets scar do is prep him (he missed the feeling of scar’s hands on him, he missed a lot about scar). and for once it’s grian talking, as he rides scar, keeping each roll of his hips slow but at an angle that scar is deep inside him

grian tells scar how much he missed him, how he thought about him the whole time he was away, how much grian loves him because he feels like he doesn’t say it enough. he covers scar’s face in kisses, brushes his fingers through his hair very tenderly. it doesn’t take scar long to come apart, head buried into the crook of grian’s neck as he holds his hips in place. scar takes a moment to breathe before he’s pushing grian into the sheets, returning the favor

he knows grian won’t last much longer, so scar ruts into him, wrapping him in an embrace and reminding grian of how much he’s loved

they skip out on the bath this time, both tired and clingy. grian falls asleep on scar’s chest, and scar follows soon after. in the morning, they don’t even get the chance to leave the bed before scar is pulling grian into a needy kiss, and grian knows he’s in for it. he’s a trembly, overstimulated mess by the end of it (scar’s aphrodisiac is definitely used to help grian keep up with him, but even in the end, grian is left a wreck) they cuddle in the bathtub and scar is beaming with energy again <3

[kyouka-supremacy]

(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

[crispycreambacon]

Must you betray me with a kiss?

I love how I have a list of things I wanna draw (including one that I actually need to draw for a school assignment) and I completely dropped all of them to work on this, I’m so cool y’all 🤠👍🏽

Before you ask, yes, this was inspired by Judas’ betrayal of Jesus because Ryan and the Professor genuinely remind me of them for some reason and The Kiss by Gustav Klimt because. I don’t have an excuse I just wanted to base my drawing off it–

Lowkey proud of myself for the rendering! It was a pain to get through, and for a moment, I genuinely couldn’t tell if Ryan looked like Ryan or not, but you know what they say, trust the process!!

I hope y’all will have an awesome New Year’s and an awesome 2024 by the way :D

Click below for a filterless version, a WIP and two reactions from my friends ‘cause they’re the funniest people on the planet (shoutout to @couchpotato1206 for making the last image btw)

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

i literally can’t watch this without putting my face in my hands

[fisheito]

will i ever stop thinking about little red riding yakumo and the big bad fox.?hm. no... no, i don't think i will

[secret-smut-sideblog]

A Hole In the Earth

Gale x F! Tav (named)

(Child Of Dawn, part 10)

18+ tenderness, early morning sex, allusions to trauma, rough sex, dom Gale, use of birth control, religous trauma, complicated relationships with trauma, longing, praying, allusions to incoming death, crying (a lot of crying in this one), porn w/ plot

Sharing a perfect intimate morning together, Gale comes to learn more about his beloved. And within it, the reality of their future coming to tearful clarity...

Masterlist, Prev Chapter

-

Gale felt the bed shift, the feeling of a body pulling away.

"Nooo..." He moaned, hands grasping at where her waist just was. Catching the edge of her hipbone.

"Morning," Aurum hummed, an endeared lilt in her voice. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

"Bed... come back..." He murmured, fingers pulling her hipbone to him.

She slid over him, kissing his forehead and both of his cheeks. "You're too sweet when you're cozy."

"Don't let me spoil your morning, go back to sleep, lovely boy."

He caught her mouth above his, twining his arms around her waist.

Settling into his kiss, she moaned softly. Knee pushing forward to slide up level with him. Cupping his upturned jaw in elegant hands.

He was truly addicted to her. Now that they had their own space and felt safe enough with one another, they couldn't keep their hands busy enough.

Every part of her body was poetry in motion. The fluid grace of her hips, the arching slope of her back. All the dips and curves seemed designed to be held. His hand slotting and splaying along every plane.

He slid along her now, parallel hands along the not nearly traveled enough journey from thighs up to ribcage. Hissing a breath between teeth at the sensation, her body unbearably soft. Slapping a hand back on her ass, rolling taut but giving flesh in his palm.

"Come here." He murmured, voice still low from sleep. Pulling her by hips over his pelvis.

She took a shuddering breath in, hips hovering over his. Robe draping and split, cascading over her curves. Hair pooled on her head starting to come undone, falling in golden strands around her shoulders.

He groaned, knowing she hated the comparison, but she truly was a goddess. That he could partake in her so intimately was still unreal.

Pulling up, he braced his back against the headboard so he could face her. Always needing her mouth on him.

Starting to grind down on him, her eyes closed. Breathing out a quiet whine.

His own breath picked up, cupping her face. Sliding tender kisses onto her lips. Hips rocking under her, cock already throbbing.

The pace was slow, his mind still hazy from sleep. She seemed to be considerable of that, moving in languid waves. Pulling back to breath in deep slow breaths against his lips, foreheads touching.

His heart filled to a dizzy height, feeling in a dream. Early morning sex with her was actual heaven. The intimacy and honesty of her love that he craved.

He pulled his sleep pants down, her hips rising naturally for him. He stroked the precum down his length, other hand coming to encourage on her lower back. "Come here." He croaked out again.

She lowered onto him slowly, her face turning in strained pleasure. Kissing the point of her ear, moaning directly into it at the molten grip of her cunt. Gods above and below, he would never get used to it.

Winding her arms around his shoulders, she began her ride. Hips rising and falling in rolling waves. The sight absolutely mesmerizing. He watched rapturously at the crease of her hip as she lowered, the curve of her ribcage as she rose, the slit of her cunt revealing and sheathing his cock.

She started to pick up her pace, getting that mean desperation in her eyes. He wound his arms around her back, slowing her back down. Hushing into her neck. His pelvis already shaking in strain, wanting to savor this.

"Slow, Rosa, slow." He urged, cupping the back of her head. Kissing the underside of her jaw in tender pulses.

While he greatly enjoyed when she got rough, it was this kind of love that filled him. All hard breathing and tangled slow coveting.

He was aware that it was a hurdle for her still, seeing it in the reluctant slowing of her hips. But he was more than willing to wait for her. To show her that it was good. That she was safe with him this way.

She gave in slowly, like she always did, hips eventually returning to a languid canter. Falling far farther into him, burying her face into his neck. Little sweet whines muffled there.

"There you go," He purred, hands assisting her hips in their efforts. "Let go, baby."

Her fingernails dug into his shoulders, feeling the first clenches, groaning as they sucked his cock in demand. Having to harness all of his focus to keep his orgasm at bay. Kissing her neck in increasingly desperate caresses.

She pulled back and stared into him, taking his breath. Her devastating beauty made ten times more deadly in this state, all flushed and pouted. Eyes lidded in lust, lips kiss swollen. That she deigned him worthy to see her like this making his heart spin.

"I love you." He breathed, looking up at her. Hands sliding up to cup her ribs reverently.

"I love you." She echoed, smiling in that sweet way that curled into her cheeks, popping her dimples up. Her genuine smile, a little crooked and utterly perfect, not the serene mask she gave others.

He lost control at that, hips starting to buck. "Ugh- I'm- ah!" He moaned, fingers gripping into her ribs.

Her mouth slid into his, kissing him achingly tender. Knowing that he loved to cum that way, love pouring from her.

The force of his orgasm rose to shocking heights, ripping through him. Gripping onto her lifeline, her cunt clenching down in hard pulses as her own end crested. Whimpering against his mouth, tremoring under his hold. Vice gripping his cock in an unforgiving velvet fist. Pulling all of the spend from him by force.

His cry was muffled into her mouth, fist coming down to beat into the mattress. Pelvis clenching hard, emptying into her in vicious waves. Both of their bodies demanding of each other beyond their control.

"Stop, stop," He breathed, head falling back in a thunk against the headboard. Eyes rolling in his sockets, breath beyond him. "Don't move, Gods don't move." He gasped.

Her own breath heaved, head resting in the curve of his shoulder. He caressed her bowed back with an exhausted arm. Still joined blissfully. Getting their bearings back together.

She pulled on his fingers.

You okay?

He laughed, leaning his head into hers.

"I just came the hardest I ever had. Sorry, I don't know how to say that through hands."

She giggled into his shoulder. "How about..."

Wait. Good. Death.

He laughed again, nodding.

"That's pretty close."

He rolled them onto their sides, tangling into each other on the undone blankets. Finally sliding out of her, casting Prestidigation without even needing to look at the mess.

"It's so hot when you cast spells like that." She sighed.

"Yeah?" He hummed, amused.

"Mm-hm." She kissed in increasing hunger into his jaw. "Your hands are very sexy, has anyone ever told you that?"

He felt a blush creeping up his cheeks, smiling. "No, certainly not. Any more flattering observations you'd care to share?"

"Shoulders, your shoulders are so... ugh." She ran her fingers over them in a slow line.

"Neck, very biteable." She hummed, licking his adam's apple.

"Forearms. Gods your forearms... the veins are so... prominent." Her hips arched at the last word.

He was dizzy with her praise, body heated back into arousal. Hers seeming to have followed his there.

"Gods, Aurum... we have so much to do today..." His protests barely holding conviction, body already rolling over hers. Hitching her leg up over his hip.

"We'll be quick then." Her eyes sparkling in mischief. "Quick and dirty."

He wound his hand into her hair.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" He growled, her whine of approval spurning him on.

"Yes, saer." She breathed.

Oh, that was doing something for him.

Cock hardened to full mast, he angled inside her. Pushing flush in one hard thrust.

Her legs curled up, eyes fluttering into lids.

He planted a hand on her clavicle, fingers curling up around the base of her throat. Other hand braced on her lower belly. Hips snapping into her.

"You want me to hold you down and fuck you, don't you?" He rumbled, fingers flexing on her throat. A moan rising in his, slipping out into his words. "Pin you under me and have my way with you, make you a mess. Isn't that right?"

"Mm-hm- ah! Ah! Yes, saer." She whined, mouth opening from a hard line to uninhibited panting. Eyes glazed and rising to the ceiling. Body jolting with each of his hard thrusts.

"Look at me." He commanded, pulling her hair in his fist.

Her eyes found his again, mouth open in nearly aghast pleasure.

"Harder, please." She begged, eyes wide.

He couldn't go any harder, not in this state. But he understood what she wanted. Meaner.

He drug his fingernails up her thighs, surely leaving welts. Biting down hard into her shoulder.

"Ah-!" She cried out, bucking against him. "I'm- fuck!"

Her contractions hit him with the same verocity as his hold. Her cum pushing out onto his pelvis, her hands gripping hard into sheets. The force buckling him into her, bracing on forearms.

"Gods!" He cried out. His body giving what little spend he had left in a fast crashing orgasm. Shuddering all across his body, pleasure chokeholding his pelvis.

He collapsed into her, his wrathful lust thoroughly tamed. All soft and pliant inside her arms.

Her only leaving his hold to retrieve the morning ofter potion on the bedside. Taking one pull of it and wrapping him back in her embrace.

"You make an excellent dom. I know you prefer something softer, but damn are you good at it." She praised in a taken voice.

"Thank you, my love." He laughed with shallow breath. "The compliments will be my undoing, surely."

"Mmm, I'll keep that in mind." She teased, crossing her legs around his hips. A gentle hold locking him in place.

"There's still a lot of morning left, let's go back to sleep, baby." She sighed.

"Oh, all the heaven on Toril, yes." He pulled them back up onto pillows, truly getting everything he wanted. Settling back into her under the blankets, arm winding around her. A deep bliss caressing him inside the warm cocoon with her.

"Good morning, lovely boy." She hummed, breath already evening out into sleep.

-

"Gods, it's so loud here." She sighed into his ear, threading her fingers into his.

He was relieved, finding Lower City extremely overstimulating but trying to mask his discomfort. Reassured that she felt the same.

"Want to wander?" She asked, pointing at the less populated trail towards the sea.

"Gods, yes. Lead the way." He sighed.

It was just them out today, and he was glad for it. Feeling more calmed in her solidarity.

They walked along the water, her staring in fascination at the sailboats docked at the edge.

"Wow..." Her wide-eyed awe thrilling the love in his chest.

"You grew up in Waterdeep, my love. Have you never seen a sailboat before?" He teased, curled fingers pumping into her hand.

"Not up close."

Her mouth turned up in a rueful smile.

"I mean, I don't even know how to swim. I wasn't sailboat close."

He stopped short, her eyes meeting his in confusion.

"You don't know how to swim? How?"

The information inconceivable to him. "Every child in Waterdeep learns to swim by the time they can talk."

Her eyes creased in a knowing, gentle smile. Cupping his cheek.

She spoke low, warmth gliding through every word.

"You know, it warms me to think we were both there, that I was with you in some way. Out there, learning how to swim."

Sorrow gripped his heart, the weight of all she was robbed of rising over him again.

"When we get back, and we will, I'm going to take you everywhere. Every beautiful, wonderful place in Waterdeep will see your face. Anywhere you want to go, say the word, and I'm with you there."

She sucked in a breath. Eyes wide and glassy. Jaw tightening in restraint.

"Thank you... I..." She seemed to fight with herself.

"What? Please, Rosa, tell me." He urged, holding both of her cheeks.

She shook her head, taking a steadying breath. "Nothing, just too many feelings. Lets find somewhere to sit." Leading him gently by the hand to the alcove of a cave.

He relented, a sting in his chest knowing that she was holding back from him but willing to drop it. He knew opening up was a long painful thing for her, taking a counterweight of will. Though he was an open book for her, her pages were more guarded, more tender.

They passed a small shrine sitting along the seagrass, her eyes drawn to it implicitly, then darting away. He tried to get an identifying look but was whisked along further inside.

"Oh, the acoustics in here..." She smiled, looking around at the curved smooth walls.

"Hmm? Oh yeah..." He focused his ears, bringing the reverberations clearer.

Sitting down together, she got quiet, her face pensive.

He rubbed a reassuring hand into her back. Feeling the weight of things she wasn't saying.

"I... I miss it. All the time. The good parts... the choir, the people all together. Gods, I miss the music." Her voice, low and haunted, reverently bounced around the cavern.

"You haven't heard them, have you?" She whispered, turning to look at him.

"Heard them?" His brows creased in confusion.

"My choir, my... my flock." Her eyes creased in sorrow. "They still respond for me."

He shook his head, utterly bewildered but curious.

She took a long, steadying breath out, turning in a concise movement on knees. Eyes gauging the skyline to orient herself, the lowering sun her guide.

"Sunsets are for funerals, so I hope I'm not interrupting anything." She hushed.

Taking a deep diaphragm breath in, she started. Voice ringing out, clear as a bright bell, calling out in a rising question.

His breath was taken, her voice piercing the air in phrases. Only two high calls, and he heard it. Voices. Coming in from around them, stepping into her song. Harmonizing into an angelic blend under her, the high soprano of her voice leading them through a hymn he didn't recognize. But the sorrow in it still rang out beyond language.

He could see her getting swept away in it, swaying gently, hand to her chest. The glow brightening out into her shoulders, the silver light hitting the water and dappling the cavern roof in ribbons.

Reverently, he watched as the song began to crest, the voices rising with her, higher and higher. The sound of many filling the cavern, a phantom choir gathered.

The power of it rose her onto knees, her voice pushing out high into the air. Slow tears falling down cheekbones. Eyes squeezing shut as they reached the crescendo, a holy sound made full in the reverberation.

She fell back down, eyes wide, chest heaving as they continued on in a slow mournful phrase without her. Seeming to quiet to call her back to join them. Making space in the sound for her.

She turned her head, eyes closing again. Jaw tightening. Joining in one last lilting phrase, voice rising impossibly high. Ringing out an angelic call before falling fully silent. Tears a soft river.

They stayed for a few moments longer, a few distinct voices rising above in question, her hands clenching into the fabric on her lap. Recognition striking her in shots, biting down on her lip. Chest hitching with contained sobs.

The voices slowed, falling away. One voice staying longer than the others. A feminine voice, high in its youth, still calling out in soft cries.

Her jaw stayed clenched, shoulders shaking. A begging in her eyes. Begging them to go, to stop.

The little voice finally died away, leaving them to the lapping water again.

She took a shaky breath out in pursed lips. Hand rubbing small circles into her slow dimming chest.

"They're good people." She finally said. Wiping her tears with her thumb. "Misguided. Not their fault they worship a false idol. They... they mean well."

"Rosa..." He began, still dizzy with the power of their voices, overcome. He implicitly understood their devotion, how it must've been to behold her in her regalia. The voice of a god singing so high to them in a cathedral.

"After all these years, they just won't let go." She warbled out a laugh, a fresh tear slipping out of her eye. Wiping it away as it came.

"Of course they wont." He smiled, sliding her into his arms. "You're magnificent, you can't blame them."

She laughed again, his comforting still ringing true to him. He was among one of the many who couldn't even conceive of emptying his heart of her.

"Thank you. For sharing that with me. That was... breathtaking." Words shockingly failed him. No words he could drum up concise enough to condense his experience.

"You're welcome," She smiled, rubbing her thumb against his cheek. "It's... it hurts to hear them. But it's good too. To know they're safe."

He nodded, kissing her forehead. "I understand."

Looping fingers in his, she spoke to him. In her tender true fingers.

Thank you.

-

Bed cold again.

He sighed, opening his eyes blearily. Her side only blankets and sheets pushed back, an indent on the pillow. The cool night air rolling in from the balcony.

He rubbed a hand through his hair, sliding on shoes. Shuffling out into the candle kissed hallway. Passing by the common room, Astarion's long form stretched out on a couch, reading in the lamp light.

"She went to the sea." He remarked without turning. Flipping the page.

"Thank you." Gale sighed, heading towards the door. Astarion waving over his shoulder with curled fingers.

He walked down the path towards the water, cobblestones giving to dirt releasing to curving dunes and seagrass. Winding around to reveal to the sea, sailboats sleeping ahead in docks.

He caught distant sight of her far ahead, standing staring down at the little shabby shrine. Arms crossed under her chest, hand cupping her elbow. Wind pushing her robe in slow waves.

He slowed, feeling he was intruding on something. Her back still to him, she rocked back and forth slowly on her feet, seeming to consider something.

Her shoulders rose and fell in a deep breath, then kneeled down. Hands twining in her lap. Head bending forward.

He had never seen her pray, and something in it scared him. Drawing nearer to get within earshot. Her voice picking up on the wind.

"I know you are not my god." She started, voice low. "But you are a part of him. Some part of him. The good part, I've heard."

Lathander, it struck him. The shrine was for the morning lord.

"I have whipped my back with the many sorrows of your undivided form. Your father, I guess. Mine too. My body has been made his vessel, however unwilling it was. I sung his praises in every room, turned many hearts to him. Endured his righteous wrath with all of the grace he demanded and more. That must count for something."

"I dont know if you have the power..." She whispered. "The power to change things, but something awful happened... I'm happy."

"Gods, forgive me, I'm happy. I know my end must come in fire, but I will beg on knees one more time to be released. I will indulgently lament the cruelty of having just found him. I'm happy and I want to live."

Her head tilted up, seeming to wait for a response, a sign.

"Can you hear me? Or is it just my Father? I'll forgive it all, everything you've done to me. Everything you let happen to me in your name, your Chosen. Please, either of you, let me live."

Gale choked back on his sob, hand cupping his mouth with pressed fingers.

He couldn't know if she got a response as his eyes crumpled closed, doubling over with wrenching sobs. The weight finally hitting him, the reality he had been soothing and smothering over to contain the shattering sorrow of it. Breaking him apart on the sand. That she was dying. She was dying. He was going to outlive her and she was dying.

He wailed out a silent cry, buckled on the shore. Letting all of his grief pour out, a dam finally broken. Dry heaving and rocking on hands and knees.

The torrent slowed enough for him to get a breath out, looking up at her through thick water.

Her shoulders rounded, pulling the length of her hair forward. Unknotting the long silk she usually tied it back with, hair fanning out across her torso.

With two hands, she laid it out behind the altar. Tying it in a loop around the front. Rising to knees. Pausing and laying a hand on the stone.

"I still forgive you." She hushed.

She rose to feet, staring down with those folded arms again. Then turned and walked back up the dunes, head bent against the wind. Heading back towards the Elfsong.

He wiped his eyes with shaky fingers. Rising to feet less gracefully. Coming up to the shrine, eyes tight.

"If you take her from me, I will come to the outer planes and strike you down myself."

~

Part 11

[moeblob]

Windy at my house + power flickering = no comm work = quick laptop doodle