#Nyenna/Teldryn Sero

[mareenavee]

Nyenna ☼ & Teldryn ☾✩

First art of Nyenna and Teldryn for my fic, The World on Our Shoulders! Done by my friend, the most esteemed Painting.Roses on Insta.

[thana-topsy]

A gift for @mareenavee of her dear OC, Nyenna, and Teldryn. Having a tender moment.

[tanithias-art-blog]

Wanted to do something nice for a new friend, although so many have been done lately I feel like I'm jumping on the bandwagon rather late! Here's mother goddess Nyenna with her consort, Teldryn. For @mareenavee

[mareenavee]

World AU | Something More

9th of Heartfire 4E 201

“I think he’s nice, actually,” said the Bosmeri girl to her companion. Teldryn didn’t miss the quick glance she threw in his direction, or the way her face and ears flushed. She nodded and lifted her mug of Sujamma, just barely, just for him to see. He mimicked the motion. Her smile was pretty, actually. Brought out the odd bright orange of her eyes. 

He wasn’t usually such an obvious eavesdropper, but she – well, she was attractive, at the very least, and therefore interesting. Raven Rock was devoid of interesting on a good day, anyway. It reflected here in the Retching Netch. It’d been different years ago, but now hardly anyone wandered through. The outlanders across the way stood out among the worn furniture and dusty bookshelves. Their voices carried now that it was close to last call and the locals had all wandered home, or else melted into the background like permanent fixtures.

“He’s clearly a mercenary, Nya,” the lanky Dunmer across from her said, tone sarcastic and mildly amused. Nobody in the tavern sounded more like an outlander than he did; his voice did not have even a trace of the typical Dunmeris drawl. Teldryn expected the lilt from the girl, but not, he supposed, of her companion. Regardless, he couldn’t quite place where they might have blown in from. Probably somewhere in Valenwood, what with the brogue, but even that felt somehow…off. Too simple an answer. He watched as the man carefully inscribed something from a book onto a crumpled piece of parchment. White hair fell into his face as he concentrated. Strange, really. Geldis probably would have given him the book had he asked.

“That doesn’t mean anything, Eris,” the pretty outlander said, pausing to rebraid her mass of silvery-blonde curls. “He bought me a drink, though.”

“They all buy you drinks,” Eris said dryly. She scoffed and he cracked a half-grin. “But fine. Go talk to him if you want. We’re in room two. And let me know if, at any point, he needs his ass kicked. I’ve got you covered, as always.”

Teldryn snorted into his mug and missed the girl’s response. This Eris would be about half a foot shorter than he was, from what he could tell. He was not muscular in any obvious way. Bold, really, to think he could take on anyone, let alone a mercenary. He watched in amusement through the little lenses in his chitin helm as the outlander got up and hugged the Dunmer around his neck. Eris tried to swat her arms away and they both laughed. She walked back over to the bar, Sujamma mug in hand.

“Nice to see you again, outlander,” Teldryn said. “Who’s your friend?” 

“Oh, that’s just Eris. My brother,” she said, waving dismissively. She chuckled to herself and threw the Dunmer a look over her shoulder, before returning her attention back to their conversation. “Thank you for the drink.” She took a seat at the bar next to him. “Nyenna, by the way. Sorry, I didn’t catch your name before.”

“Teldryn Sero, best swordsman in all of Morrowind,” he said. He shook her hand, which seemed maybe overly warm, and buzzed a bit, like Shock magic, but different. Odd. He felt it run through his whole arm, practically. “Good to meet you.” His voice trailed off, puzzled. He cleared his throat.

“Best swordsman? In all of Morrowind?” she asked after a moment. He shifted a bit on his seat. She sipped her drink and looked up at him from under her eyelashes. “That can’t possibly be true.” He let out a bark of a laugh and she grinned.

“Well, someone has to have the title,” he answered smoothly. 

Presently, Geldis walked out from the kitchen, face twisted in annoyance. He stared right at Teldryn and pointedly did not say a word. He dried the mug he was holding at him. It was his friend’s way of warning him, per usual, not to do anything stupid. Teldryn only grinned and sipped his drink. 

He turned back to Nyenna. “What brings you two all the way out here to this rock in the middle of nowhere?”

“Our uncle Lleras is the tailor here. He’s on a job right now with, ehm, the Telvanni, I believe. So we’re heading out in the morning to cross the southern ashlands and meet him,” Nyenna said. She flipped her braid over her shoulder. “This and Eris is somewhat of a prodigy with whatever he can do about spell scrolls. Can’t say I understand, really. It’d be best to speak with Master Neloth, he thinks, for maybe an odd job before we move on to Blacklight.”

“Oh, Lleras is a good man. Always busy, though. Never a day’s rest that I can tell. But working with Neloth is always like that. Had my fair share of nonsense from the old wizard over the years, too,” Teldryn said. He finished his drink and set the mug down on the bar. Geldis whisked it away. The sound of the innkeep’s retreating footsteps echoed slightly, seeing as there were more ashes than patrons in here this evening. “Blacklight, though? Quite a journey. Haven’t been back that way in some time, myself.”

“Hmm, I probably shouldn’t have said as much,” Nyenna said with a laugh. She fidgeted with a loose thread in the sleeve of her blue dress. “But yes. We’re on our way there. We’ve been…traveling for a few years at this point. It’ll be nice to find a more permanent place, I think.” Her face fell as she mentioned traveling, only for a moment, the expression there and then gone again. She smiled, and it took a little extra effort, it seemed, for the light to reach her eyes. A good actress, then. Passable. She was hiding something, anyway. -> Read the rest on AO3

[mareenavee]

The World on Our Shoulders | 37: Like Trees Through Ruins

26th of Sun’s Dawn 4E 202

Nyenna would always be the one that everyone turned to to fix things — she’d more than accepted that by now, however misguided they were about this. She didn’t want the responsibility, if she was being honest with herself. As she knelt by Teldryn Sero, a Healing spell chiming in her hand, she realized it didn’t matter what she wanted, and it likely never had.

She sighed. Teldryn had his own more powerful Healing spells that were perfectly serviceable, but this injury had been Athis’s fault — and part of her felt she had no choice but to clean up the mess. She closed her eyes and focused. Restoration was not so much in her wheelhouse, but she knew enough to sense the break and see where the blood flow could be stanched so it would stop pouring out of Teldryn’s nose.

“Thank you, Nyenna,” Teldryn said, voice softened to the point of insult. He tried to reach out of her, but she shrugged out from underneath his palm and adjusted her pose, continuing to pour Magicka into her spell.

It wasn’t as if his tone or his words would make up for what he’d done, after all. And that expression he wore at her reaction — shock, hurt, confusion — he would have to sit with that. She sniffed and dropped the spell, opting not to indulge his attempts at civility just now. Part of her almost agreed that he deserved what Athis had given him, and more…but she’d had quite enough of unproductive violence for the time being. She could, at least, remain silent and be the hero, and move past this. Be the bigger person, as Farkas would say. -> Read the rest on AO3!

[mareenavee]

WIP Whenever~!

Oh hey it's actually Wednesday already! I have been tagged by a great deal of amazing people! Let's see -- @kookaburra1701, @ladytanithia, and @skyrim-forever! I'm tagging the similarly fantastic: @paraparadigm, @polypolymorph, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @thequeenofthewinter, @dirty-bosmer, @wildhexe, @expended-sleeper, @throughtrialbyfire, @elfinismsarts, @rainpebble3, @saltymaplesyrup, @gilgamish, @tallmatcha, @archangelsunited, @snippetsrus, @miraakulous-cloud-district, @nuwanders and YOU. Yes you. Please absolutely consider yourself tagged and tag me back if you post! Here's a snip of chapter 30 of The World on Our Shoulders. Some of you may have seen versions of this before :> More soggy emotions, because, of course. OF COURSE.

Teldryn buried his face in his hands and Geldis squeezed his shoulder. He let the silence wash over him — not that it was actually silent. The crowd left him anonymous, another sad fool alone at a bar, which, to be honest, was for the best.

“She doesn’t want me here, either. She wants to go home, back to just…everything she had before. Even after what we’ve survived. Even after realizing what we are,” Teldryn said. He picked at the sweetroll again, crumbling it onto the plate. “She doesn’t owe me anything, of course. I was the s’wit who thought for half a second the feeling was mutual. And clearly, I was wrong.”

“Did you ask?” Geldis asked. Teldryn glared at his friend.

“Oh, I don’t know, Geldis. Did I ask my married friend if she lo — ” He paused and cleared his throat. “No, I didn’t ask her.” He sighed heavily again and crossed his arms over his chest, mind filled with the iciness of the distance she’d put between them, even after everything. A whole northern sea, dark waves to drag him under and everything. He’d added to it, too, not innocent at all in the endeavor. He shivered. “I didn’t have to.”

“You’re an idiot, Teldryn Sero, that’s what you are,” Geldis said evenly and put up a hand to prevent him from protesting this. “You’re gonna carry this around until it tears you apart instead of resolving it — just like a hundred other issues I’ve seen you struggle through. And you know what? It is, in the end, up to you to make the changes instead of cozying up in the corner over there deep in your cups, becoming another mess I’ve got to clean up.” He leaned in and shook Teldryn’s shoulder. “Even if it’s a no, it doesn’t mean this is the end of the world. But clear the air, for Gods’ sakes. And let her go if that’s what she wants. Plenty of fish in the sea, no matter what you believe about fate and other nonsense.”

Fate and other nonsense indeed.

He didn’t say anything at first. Geldis understood part of this, in his way, but not the entire story. Not the echo. Not the gravity of the situation Nyenna was about to face. Teldryn had lost someone he’d loved before due to the trappings — or failings — of heroism, watching across a vast expanse of sand as the earth quaked under his feet, leagues away from the damage. The Red Year, not long after he’d chosen to leave everything behind. A whole life he’d refused, a whole person he could have been instead of…this. He was no stranger to wrong choices and the urge to simply…run away. To put it all behind you and keep going. From an ultimatum or a destiny, it didn’t matter — the cause was the same. Guilt, fear, grief, and a deep unshakable conviction that you are simply not good enough. And have never been.

Sometimes she visited him in his nightmares, the one he’d left for the job in Elsweyr. She was still so clear in his head, almost two hundred years later, like he had only just turned from her offer of peace. When the horrors faded and left room for regret, he felt the memory of her hands held tight in his like the ghost of a missing limb. Every so often, he swore he could still smell the light scent of her coda flower perfume, her own recipe mixed with sweetbarrel blossoms and the spice of juniper. There was never a time back then when his mind hadn’t been occupied with feeling stuck, so why did she still torture him like this? It was as if she served as a haunting reminder of what could happen the second he let himself be seen. It would all be gone from him in a flash, and then what?

He did not deserve peace. Not then, not now. Part of him was still convinced all of this chaos with Nyenna was just another extraction of debt due to one God or the next for that specific misstep. Sometimes he could go years without remembering. Years soaked in Sujamma, true, but years nevertheless. But then, times like these? Given the chance to start over, it seemed he never quite could. Or perhaps he was never quite worthy. He both wanted to walk away and couldn’t.

Geldis was right in a way. Maybe if he cleared the air, then he could go and prevent another disaster. Or try. And then it could be the same as it’d always been. Square one. And Nyenna would fade from his memory, same as the rest, eventually, no matter how long it took. He had eternity, anyway. It would be better this way. Hurt less, if he was lucky, if he could find the words to begin with.

Sure. You keep telling yourself that, you s’wit.

He wanted another Sujamma, but he knew it would do him no good. He took the sweetroll that he hadn’t crumbled to nothing and bit into it like an apple. There were things to do to prepare for the trip to Skyrim. Geldis would have to accept the subject change. He wasn’t going to bring up things that had been done with long before Geldis was even born.

[mareenavee]

Sentences Someday

(Or Short Snippet Someday. Or Six-Sentence Sunday.) (I have no concept of time or titles.)

Tagged by the amazing @throughtrialbyfire! Tagging @paraparadigm, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @thequeenofthewinter, @gilgamish, @archangelsunited, @polypolymorph, @kookaburra1701, @dirty-bosmer, @wildhexe, @orfeoarte and @miraakulous-cloud-district!! And you. Yes. Your tag is invisible, but still there. Tag me back so I can read! Here is a tiny snippet from Chapter 29 of The World on Our Shoulders. (Soggy with Emotions!Teldryn again.)

Small cw for reflection on past alcohol/substance abuse.

Teldryn sighed, a headache blooming from grinding his teeth as he allowed the stress to continue building in his neck and jaw. The thing was, [drinking] never really did fix a single thing. Or he wouldn’t keep ending up back at square one, never able to move forward and never able to turn back time no matter how hard he tried. Turning his brain into a mazte-soaked rag would not actually fix the root of the problem. Problems, really. He’d lost count of exactly how many over the last handful of decades. Centuries. Geldis would have the number, though. He stared down at his hands. Gods, he wanted to change. He had been right there at the precipice, that day in the Netch when he’d told the truth about who he was and [Nyenna had] accepted him for it. Sobbed about it, if he remembered right. Because she realized she wasn’t actually alone, and, for once, neither was he. He could have a purpose. But, like a s’wit, he’d fallen in — Nope. He felt the fracture as he shoved the word down again. It would not do to keep dwelling. But the cracks were letting all the water out. It was so exhausting to be this empty, this hollow. That, and it was getting hard to see past it all, to figure out if he could let whatever this was settle into something resembling normal again. It’s never been normal, and you know it.

[mareenavee]

WIP Whenever~

Heyo <3 I was tagged by the amazing and wonderful @paraparadigm and @gilgamish! I shall be tagging @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @polypolymorph, @thequeenofthewinter, @elfinismsarts, @wildhexe, @ladytanithia, @miraakulous-cloud-district, @expended-sleeper, @kookaburra1701, @saltymaplesyrup, @archangelsunited, @tallmatcha, @snippetsrus, @dirty-bosmer and you. Yes. If you're not on this list, consider yourself tagged anyway and tag me back.

More from chapter 29 as I conclude the Raven Rock arc. (:

“Teldryn!! Gods, where on Nirn have you been!? If it wasn’t you, I would’ve been half-worried you were dead somewhere out there!” Geldis shouted as the two of them filtered into the Netch, pockets filled with Crescius’s coin and cloaks covered in ash. “Geldis!” Teldryn laughed. There were so many patrons around the bar and crowding every table, it almost didn’t feel like the same tavern. Many of them stopped talking to eavesdrop. Teldryn scratched his chin through his scarf as Geldis shot out from behind the bar and grabbed his shoulders before closing him in a rough embrace. He clapped his back and almost knocked the air out of him. Teldryn steadied his friend’s shoulders. Geldis was, at least, grinning as he shook his head in disapproval. Nyenna scooted forward as a couple patrons filed away from them, looking on in disapproval. Geldis startled as he noticed her in her dented armor. “And Nyenna! Ah you made it in one piece,” Geldis said. “Gods, but the guard couldn’t find a trace of either of you down in the mine. I was beside myself!” Nyenna smiled and said, “You did tell me he does a fine job at keeping people safe.” She paused and glanced over her shoulder at him. “And that he did. I didn’t mean to keep him away this long.” Teldryn felt his face flush, and was once again thankful for the helmet, broken as it was at the moment. Oh, curse this.

[mareenavee]

The World on Our Shoulders | Chapter 35: I’ll Carry as Much as I Can

Chapter 35: I’ll Carry as Much as I Can

25th of Sun’s Dawn 4E 202

“Do you mean —  Teldryn  Sero?” Nyenna whispered.

“Ah, yeah, that sounds about right. I’d have to rifle through my correspondence in the room below to be sure,” Delphine said, more nonchalant than the woman had any right to be.

Nyenna started looking pale, eyes going distant. Her demeanor was getting more meek by the second. Athis watched as she swayed on her feet, trying to hold it together. He was already pissed off, but his rage swelled like a tidal wave at the mention of that fucking sellsword. As Nyenna said, another ghost. Or he would be in no time at all if he’d anything to say about the situation.

“Absolutely fucking  not,”  Athis growled, marching back over to where Delphine, curse her, and Nyenna stood.

“And what, pray tell, do you think is our other option?” Delphine spat, squaring her shoulders as if to get into a fistfight with him. Wouldn’t that be a treat.

Athis exhaled loudly through his nose. “I will get her there myself. We’ve killed Thalmor before, and we’ll do it again.”

“Absolutely fucking  not,”  Delphine parroted and let out a sarcastic bark of a laugh. “You’re a  liability.  You’ve always  been  a liability — I knew it during that battle with Sahloknir when you turned your back to a  dragon.”  She scowled and prodded him in the sternum. He could have ripped her arm from the socket in that moment, but bit back his temper. Delphine threw her hands up and stalked away from him. “Imagine, trusting you — and then what would we have? A dead Dragonborn, and a world set ablaze.” She huffed and let out a bitter laugh. “As if the world isn’t already on fire.”

“Delphine, Athis is right — I can’t trust Teldryn Sero.”

Nyenna’s voice was firm and as even as she could make it, but heavy with so much sorrow. Athis turned and laced his fingers through hers. She exhaled and let her shoulders drop, tension too much to keep holding on to.

“How do you know that?”

“I hired him when I was in Solstheim. He was the one that saved my life, true — but matters are much more complicated than I’ve been able to properly convey.” She paused and gave Delphine a moment to calm down and circle back to where they were standing, glancing sidelong at her the entire time. “He’s a sellsword and a thief. He had…no interest whatever in my actual safety. He wanted — he wanted more from me than that, and when I refused, he turned on me.” Nyenna hung her head and slid her fingers from Athis’s grasp. “Suffice to say… He can’t be trusted.”

Delphine cursed under her breath. “Brynjolf is part of the Thieves Guild, so yes, you’re right — Sero  would  be a thief. If he’s taken up additional work as a sellsword, that’s his prerogative.” She let out a long, irritated sigh. “You can go with him, and make use of the kind of work he’s really good at, according to my contacts, or you can find all the trouble we’ve been fearing between here and the Thalmor Embassy. I don’t see another option.” She scoffed. “Sorry to say.” -> Read the rest on AO3!

[mareenavee]

WIP Whenever~

Tagged by the lovely @thequeenofthewinter and @ladytanithia!

Tagging the phenomenal @paraparadigm, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @wildhexe, @dirty-bosmer, @saltymaplesyrup, @miraakulous-cloud-district, @kookaburra1701, @polypolymorph, @gilgamish, @elfinismsarts, @archangelsunited and @friend-of-giants

I forgot what day it was! Winter always reminds me! Or perhaps it's not Wednesday until it's WIP WEDNESDAY ;>

Here we go with a chunk of chapter 29, fresh out the braincells. Below the cut. Just over 1100 words because I wrote more five minutes ago and have, as ya'll have gathered by now, absolutely no chill.

Dawn was beautiful when the ash storms weren’t brewing. The sun tinged the clouds a warm orange and, for a moment, everything seemed to glow gold in the light — even Nyenna. She was standing with her arms crossed over her chest, hair and cloak blowing in the slight breeze as she stared out across the ash wastes. She didn’t turn when he stepped out onto the landing, and instead just sighed behind her mask. There was a bit of an iciness to her pose — she was closed off, almost like she was trying to build a wall that kept collapsing with each attempt to stack the next stone.

“I — ” she started, words faltering on their way out. “I was going to leave, Teldryn.” She spoke with a kind of crumbling doubt that sent a shiver through his spine. Tugging her cloak around herself, she spoke again, voice soft and miserable. “Just like before. I was so tempted to just…run. To let myself believe I wasn’t enough for what comes next. I woke up and I was so sure. So sure. But then…”

Teldryn reached out and unfolded her hand from herself. She let him take it. The moonstone accents of her elven armor reflected the early rays right back into his eyes. He’d been here before, this same junction. He’d said it, perhaps not in as many words, the first time she talked about this. How before a certain point, it was so easy to believe all of it could fall to someone else. How the world quickly reminded you it wouldn’t.

“You stayed,” he said with a nod. “Or rather, didn’t exactly leave me and everything all behind.”

“I stopped frantically packing my things and tried to find somewhere to think.” She ran a hand over her hair. “It’s hard to come to terms with the person I’m supposed to be.”

Teldryn knew that feeling. It still itched in the back of his mind. How does one live up to the kind of expectations legendary heroes live under? Was there an answer that would actually suffice in the face of something like this?

“All you can do is your best,” Teldryn said. He squeezed her hand. “Not running a second time is you showing yourself how far you’ve come.”

She lowered her mask and let it fall over the collar of her cloak. The little red chitin lenses glinted as she tilted her head.

“Wise once again,” she said after a long moment. She turned her sharp citrine gaze on him. “You didn’t seem very wise when we met.” She seemed not to be able to hold the conversation without humor. It was one of the heavier topics, and he could relate. He cracked a grin.

“It’s an illusion,” he scoffed. “Wisdom, from me? Ha! Imagine.”

Nyenna laughed, and for a second the world seemed far less cold and chaotic. Another illusion, of course, but he’d take it. They were interrupted by the keening of the silt strider, the sound of it reverberating through their skulls and off the mushroom stalks of the settlement. It was still a tiny dot on the horizon, coming in from the direction of Raven Rock.

“Did you want to wish anyone farewell?” Nyenna asked. They’d be able to depart any moment now. “I’ve said all I can. I still feel too much like…well. Like an outlander.”

Teldryn scoffed. “Don’t let Neloth’s nonsense get to you.” He shifted and handed Nyenna her bag, then fished a spare leather strip from his pocket and handed that to her, too. She was always losing them, it seemed. She tied back her hair, expression going mildly melancholic.

“It’s not that he’s gotten to me. Well, not worse than already established. It’s just…it’s all wrapped up in my feeling like I should have never come here.”

Did she really believe that? That she shouldn’t have come here? That they shouldn’t have met? There was nothing that said they’d never have crossed paths otherwise. He couldn’t breathe. It was too much to be wrestling fate into shape in his head. There was a reason she came here. There was a reason they’d met. There was always a reason. He’d learned the hard way so many times over. Did she regret crossing paths? No. It wasn’t about him. This was her story. It’s not like he’d written himself into the spaces. This — the two of them? It was meant to be. It was. It had to be, or else —

She caught his eye then, and for a moment that seemed like it stretched into eras, all he could see what that perfect golden thread that connected them. Her gaze calmed him, and his pulse steadied. His ears were too full of the echo of Magicka. Or heartbeats. It mattered little at this point. That spark he’d felt back in the Netch was bright. It burnt, almost — the odd light of dawn adding to the notion of fire. She was right there, exactly where she was supposed to be. And so was he. And it wasn’t fair, not least because he could have easily kissed her now, damn the consequences. He shoved that particularly unkind realization down. S’wit. He took her other hand, though why he did, he couldn’t tell. He’d rarely been this overwhelmed.

“You — ” he started. She gave him a puzzled look. He cleared his throat. “We’re only ever where we’re supposed to be at any given time.”

She shook her head. “So I’m always in the wrong place at the wrong time, perpetually?” She waved her hand dismissively, and folded her arms over her chest again. Teldryn didn’t know what to do with his hands. His palms were sweating in his gauntlets. Damn it. She sighed. “Fate, or whatever such nonsense, is quite cruel in that case.”

“Is it, though?” he asked; none of the usual sarcasm laced his words. Shut up, Sero, what are you doing? “Not like we didn’t cross paths.” He walked closer to her and took her hand again. She looked him over and frowned.

“Well, alright. Perhaps not everything that happened was for the worst,” she said, but her tone was flippant. She sniffed and stepped back from him. Just like that, the moment crumbled. Because of course it would. Because what on Nirn was he really expecting? Idiot. Keep it together. He wanted to say something. Anything. Instead, he stayed silent as she finished her thought. “Most of it, maybe, was. Can’t quite deny that truth, can we?” She laughed. He shook his head. “At least we can suffer the consequences together.”

Well, there was that.

“Sure,” Teldryn answered. He laughed, hoping it didn’t sound as hollow as he felt. If he’d be able to manage, they could, anyway.

[mareenavee]

WIP Whenever :D

Though it's actually on Wednesday this week, hehe.

Tagged by the lovely @thequeenofthewinter!

Tagging the most esteemed @friend-of-giants, @paraparadigm, @changelingsandothernonsense and @saltymaplesyrup!

I did share the last lines of this particular chapter earlier this week, so I'll pick a few paragraphs from earlier on! I actually just posted a chapter today that this will call back to. (: Enjoy!

“Calm down for a second,” Teldryn said. “I’m the one that’s supposed to be upset about the ice and cold.” He kicked at a few rocks and pebbles, all of them mostly wedged into thick ice. “He’s messing with me, but I know it’s because there’s work to do here. I flat out refused to check it out before. But I recognize where we are.” He watched as Nyenna wrestled with fury and fear, then decided to let them both go. She sighed and crossed her arms. They walked into the cave together, blessedly out of the biting wind, before she spoke.

“So what does he want from here?” Nyenna asked warily, scanning the place. Her eyes caught on something across the way, but she tore her gaze away.

“There’s interference here. This is as close as we can get to Benkongerike where another of his stupid books is apparently hidden,” Teldryn said. “In other words, this place… Or, really, the entire fucking iceberg of a coast is haunted. Hopefully not by more liches. I’m not sure what the theory is.”

“You knew he was collecting Black Books? Daedric artifacts?” Nyenna asked, looking aghast.

“It’s not as bad as all that. They’re safer with him,” Teldryn said. Nyenna raised an eyebrow. He just shook his head. “He’s a pain in the ass, really, but not evil. At least not in the traditional sense, I suppose.” He could tell with each word that Nyenna was getting more and more apprehensive about the whole thing. He scratched the back of his neck. “Just trust me on this, alright? Let’s figure out what is causing all the fuss here.”

“It’s probably that,” Nyenna said. She pointed across the cave to what appeared to be a troll skull wedged in the ice. It was adorned with horns that curved upward toward the ceiling. There was something familiar about that, but Teldryn couldn’t quite place it. “I noticed it almost immediately. It’s got some kind of magic attached to it. Not sure exactly what it is from back here, though.”

She motioned for him to follow. Something twisted in Teldryn’s gut as he walked behind her. It all seemed like a bad idea, suddenly. Nyenna was so casually walking toward the thing, but it was all wrong. He watched as time almost seemed to slow, her breath a cloud in the chilled air, arm outstretched toward the thing. Little stolen candles flickered and melted down on worn wooden boxes. Tiny, sharp spears were dug into the ice, holding up scraps of painted leather. Some were adorned with carved bristleback bones crossed and bound. Tiny carved runes were scrubbed with dirt to bring them forward against the harsh yellow-white of the fragments. All signs of Rieklings. This was an altar. With a shock, Teldryn remembered what this skull must have belonged to. He settled a hand over an amulet he had tucked under his shirt. He could feel the enchantment even through his armor. It bore the same spell signature as the skull in the ice. He gasped as the centuries-old realization hit him like a boulder. This belonged to Karstaag.

“Wait, Nyenna! Don’t – !”

He reached out his hand and caught her sleeve just as her fingers grazed the chilled bone of the frost giant’s skull.

[mareenavee]

All the Lines Tag Game!

AUGh I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. Okay thank you to @throughtrialbyfire and @miraakulous-cloud-district for the tags! I am thus tagging @paraparadigm, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @thequeenofthewinter, @gilgamish, @rhiannon1199, @elfinismsarts, @kookaburra1701, @dirty-bosmer, @nuwanders, @ladytanithia, @polypolymorph, @saltymaplesyrup and @archangelsunited!! And, you if I didn't tag you. Tag me back! I want to see!

Here are the questions for the tag game right here! Fill them out!

Without further ado, read on for some lines for The World on Our Shoulders!

A line from your fic that makes you laugh

Chapter 25: A Perfect Storm

“Then why did you not poison the Dragonborn?” Teldryn ventured. He’d already taken the coin purse from the bench next to the Thalmor without being noticed. He grinned as the man’s face twisted through several different emotions until he buried his face in his hands. “Oh, please. At this point, you must know I never did claim to be a good double agent,” the Thalmor lamented. Teldryn let out a loud cackle.

I have a few zingers lol but Varlais, Varlais. He's the comic relief here.

A line from your fic that makes you sad

Chapter 8: Haunted By the Ghost of You

“I can’t do this by myself, love. I really need you here,” he whispered to the ghost of the girl he remembered, singing in the kitchen with autumn eyes full of love and hope. She didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t. She was gone, and Athis knew no matter when Nyenna next came home, that girl in his memories would never, ever return.

Bean </3 Poor, poor Athis 😭 Why did I do this to him? augh.

A line from your fic you're proud of

Chapter 26: Voice Within

More and more of its lair started to fall away back into the void, or else Oblivion; patches of reality pulled forward, stark against the ruined illusion. Varlais, face set in a severe scowl, took its moment of weakness as a signal and pulled an ebony dagger from somewhere in his coat. He rushed at the Atronach, stabbing into it with all the force he could muster. As with ice, silence shattered.

I just really loved this entire scene actually. It causes so much trouble for CHAPTERS after this. And it's excellent.

A line for your fic you think could have been better

Chapter 3: A World of Fragile Things

“Of course you do,” the second vampire said. Her voice seemed calm, distant. This one was a Nord at one point, tall and imposing. She was casting a spell of some kind, but it hurt. Nyenna looked down at her hands and was shocked to see the color being drained from her, her hands almost skeletal. She screamed then, terror getting the better of her and clouding her mind.

I kind of wished I pushed the description of this magic a little bit further. I do love editing and I'm still in awe of past Katie for how far she's gotten so far. So I'm still fine with this line but it was an opportunity I didn't take.

A line from your fic that makes you want to punch a character.

Chapter 19: Although I am Already a Danger

“You seemed to be having a hard time. Nothing a sweetroll can’t fix, I figured. Want to talk about it?” he offered. Nyenna gave him an apprehensive look. She didn’t really want to talk to him particularly about all her nonsense, but if she didn’t, it would be harder to focus moving forward with all that had to be done in the next few days. “No. But I’ll tell you anyway,” she said. He scoffed. She ate the piece of sweetroll she held before continuing. “I…was not the best wife. I ran away in the middle of the night. It was unkind. I knew it was when I did it, but just like he followed me into battle with a dragon, I knew if I didn’t simply go, he’d turn his back in another horrible situation all because of me. And after everything I’ve been through, I just…I guess I couldn’t handle watching him get injured again. Or worse, as it sometimes goes with dragons.”

There are a few instances where Nyenna makes really stupid mistakes. Extremely stupid mistakes. And this, innocuous though it seems, is one of them. One of the huge ones. I think only @paraparadigm caught it. I was yelling when I wrote this. Like "REALLY NYENNA?!" On the other side of the coin, she's used to people behaving like Teldryn had before this; it was expected. When that dust settled, and he was elsewise, well. She just blabbed.

A line from your fic that makes you go 'aww'

Chapter 6: Together, We Are Enough (slightly longer snippet, I can't help it lol)

She made him feel less alone, after so long and so much struggle. They could build something beautiful together. He hoped. Better to ask and be sure. He was still grinning, and no longer cared a whit who saw, or who had comments or jokes to make on the matter. He was happy. Actually happy. And he loved her with all his heart. It may not have been a long time, but it felt right. And so he’d worn the pendant. And he had hoped. And here she was, an Amulet of Mara in her hands. “Well?” he asked, after a moment. “You want to marry…me?” she asked with a giggle. “Won’t lie. I do,” Athis answered. He felt his face get hot. Other people were shushing each other up near Jorrvaskr. A few people had even wandered further down the stairs to better spy on them. “What about you?” She gasped and all but danced in place. She held onto the amulet with both hands, staring at it just for a moment. She let it fall to her chest. She looked him right in the eye and beamed. “Of course, of course!” she squealed. She threw her arms around his neck again and he embraced her back. “Then it’s settled. It’s you and me, love,” Athis whispered, squeezing her tightly before lifting her up and spinning around. There was a huge roar of applause behind them, as the Companions and a few townsfolk there for Anoriath’s event celebrated with them. Athis laughed deeply, embracing his soon-to-be wife. They walked back up to Jorrvaskr, hand in hand, into the crowd of merry friends and feast-goers.

A line from your fic that's full of symbolism

Chapter 27: Echoes

He reached for her then, running as fast as he could toward her. He seemed to run forever, never getting any closer. As if his hands were blocked somehow. She never came into focus. Instead, the figure — who wasn’t at all Nyenna — turned, silvery hair curling back on itself like a stole. The figure threw its head back in a wicked laugh that broke through the buzz. The hair morphed into the form of a silver snake, twisting over the figure’s shoulders and arms, which they held out to either side. The snake’s scales slowly shifted golden in hue. Teldryn couldn’t see the figure’s face. He never got close enough. A sword in their other hand glinted in the light from the moonless sky, driven into the ground at their feet. Still, the image wasn’t quite clear. Still, he could not reach.

I almost linked the entire fanfic.

A line from your fic that contains an Easter egg

“Ground rules,” she said, trying to seem aggravated. “Keep those thoughts to yourself, especially in public.” “As you wish, sera,” Teldryn said, still beaming. She rolled her eyes. Geldis gave him a harsh look as he dropped off two bowls of porridge and two mugs of canis root tea, but said nothing.

I always yell about all the Tolkien references so, instead, have this Princess Bride easter egg instead :>

A line from your fic that's shocking

Chapter 1: Prologue

“I don’t regret us, for the record. My fear has nothing to do anymore with where we are and how much stronger we’ve become. We’re supposed to be together. She’s supposed to exist,” Nyenna said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She drummed her fingers over his hands which still lay on her stomach. “She? More like he," Teldryn scoffed in a teasing tone. He paused, waiting for her retort, and chuckled instead in the silence. “You keep saying that,” Nyenna said and shook her head. She laughed too, especially as the little one kicked at their touch, restless and relentless. Teldryn kissed the side of her jaw near her ear and she sighed. “I’d have never made it through any of this without you, you know.” “You would have. I see you. You’re stronger than you know,” he replied. He always said the right things at the right time. She wondered briefly how he always seemed to know exactly what she needed to hear.

I could've linked the entire prologue lol. I laid everything out on the table right at the beginning. Perhaps this isn't shocking anymore for most of you LOL but I mean...sorta yeah. There's more that probably would be. But it's not published yet. :>

A line from your fic you want to talk about more

Chapter 27: Echoes (longer snippet again lol)

“Tell me what to do,” he said after a moment. “Oh, I really hate this, though,” Neloth said, apprehension sounding odd and incongruous for him. “There’s a reason people don’t practice this way. It might seem like nothing to you now that you’ve already accomplished the connection. That it brought forth memories of immature jokes should have told me enough… But… I’ve seen people disintegrate, their Magicka pools just… gone. In an instant. I’ve… Well, I’ve done it to someone before, myself.” Teldryn stopped short. “Jokes aside, Neloth, but…you? With someone else?” When Neloth fell silent and pensive instead of digging back at him, Teldryn knew something was wrong. His stomach lurched again as the old wizard opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again and ground his teeth against whatever he was holding back. He cleared his throat before he was able to make his point. “Yes, I… It was during the Oblivion Crisis. We closed a gate that opened at Sadrith Mora. We were… We were without resources, but…” He trailed off, grief and anger crossing his brow like a squall. His eyes went dark. “I thought I didn’t care about her at the time. My apprentice.” He smoothed his robes and sighed heavily. “We were the last two mages left alive and the Redoran hadn’t gotten anywhere near the settlement yet. Neither of us were enough on our own. The option was this… indecent spellwork or both of us dying trying to break the siege of Dremora ourselves.” He fidgeted with his sleeve and looked anywhere else except at Teldryn. “It had been our last resort. I reached and she answered and then in a moment, she was gone. Ashes. Like she’d never even existed. But I still remember her. And I remember the sound of it…of her Magicka evaporating… like it was yesterday.” He cleared his throat and glanced up at the ceiling. “She wasn’t weak by any means. This happened anyway. And I… I still feel like I’ve lost something of myself all these years later. Something I’ll never get back.”

NELOTH BACKSTORY. I could and probably will write more fic set before the events of World and include more of this. More of what this person meant to Neloth, and more of what this event really caused for him personally, for House Telvanni, for his standing in the Council, for the outcome of the Oblivion Crisis. Everything. Oh it'll be so much fun.

[mareenavee]

The World on Our Shoulders | Chapter 36: The Ghosts of Your Own Mistakes

25th of Sun’s Dawn 4E 202

If there was one thing going for this Godsforsaken province, at least the auroras were nice to glance up at. This one shone green and purple amidst a myriad stars. Something about it was calming — or it would have been if there hadn’t been so much trouble to work through. Teldryn looked back down and prodded at his campfire with a stick, stirring the ashes and sending up sparks. He’d decided to leave Windhelm on foot rather than fighting with the carriage driver for the millionth time — the very same one who seemed to hate Dunmer worse than Ulfric himself did. It was unfortunate. He’d crossed into Whiterun Hold, sure, but it still felt like the city was ages away. He’d walked so far. Farther than he should have, given his haste to leave and resultant lack of supplies. His entire body ached with the effort he’d put into trying to catch up with Nyenna.

Part of him still wished he hadn’t been so stupid. There was a reason he’d let her go, even if it wasn’t quite as thought out as it should have been — or even if he was a bastard about it. And he had been. He knew it. Everyone knew it. He sighed as the stick broke where it had burnt away to charcoal. He tossed the other half into the flames and reached for his mug of canis root tea he’d left on a rock by his knee. At least there was that.

He dug around in his pack for an old map he’d purchased from Revyn before he left Windhelm. If he wasn’t too far off the mark, he’d be right across the river from Whiterun proper after a day of traveling. He could take a slightly longer route and cross in relative safety at Riverwood. He’d always liked that town. Quiet. Peaceful. Nothing chaotic ever happened there. But it would take an extra day at least to then travel back north toward the city.

What does it even matter, you s’wit? A day, a year? She’s not going to forgive you. Not after everything.

His inner thoughts had never been particularly kind, but these days he couldn’t keep a kind word in his skull if it killed him. Riverwood, then. He could at least resupply and stay at the inn there. He’d already sent word ahead to Delvin that after he took care of an errand, he’d be back in Riften. Might as well take on a few jobs while he was here, especially if Nyenna wasn’t about to forgive him. He had to try. He had to. Riften was just a backup plan. She’d have every right to reject him and send him on his way. And he would go. But he had to try and make things right, if he could.

But you can’t and you know it. Why even try?

He sighed again and sipped his tea. Why try? Because it was the right thing to do. To apologize for being the worst version of himself that she’d ever have to see. Hopefully, even if he did have to turn tail and leave immediately, he wouldn’t have to be that person again. Something in the back of his mind itched — like he’d tried to stay true to those words before, and never could quite manage. He wondered for half a moment what Geldis would have had to say about his inner voice and the thoughts which seared through his head these days. He should have said something before he left — though there was little that could be done that he wasn’t already trying to do. He shrugged and downed the rest of his tea. It would be best to settle in, get a little shut eye — if the damned echo would let him rest properly. Maybe the trip tomorrow wouldn’t take as long as he’d estimated. The map Revyn had was rather old, and parts were still incomplete. He’d have to find out.

Teldryn yawned and stretched. He’d set up camp far enough away from the road to not at first be noticeable, but close enough that he could hear if someone left the path in order to investigate the woods. He’d set his tent up on the leeward side of a particularly large boulder, and had burnt his campfire low and small — easy to kick dirt over if he had to conceal his position in a hurry. Traveling alone wasn’t that big of a deal, but it wasn’t without its danger. He knew that well enough by now.

He glanced up one last time, watching the aurora meander across the sky. His breath fogged in the cold and he drew the thin blanket from his bedroll around his shoulders. Yes. It would be better to rest, if he could. He tossed another few branches onto the fire before sprinkling in a pinch of fire salts, then climbed into his tent. He tucked the rest of the pouch into his pack and drew his cloak around him, praying they’d keep him warm enough. -> Read the rest on AO3!

[mareenavee]

WIP Wednesday WHENEVER :>

Hi everyone. I have a busy day today so I'll tag ya'll instead lol <3

Tagging the amazing and wonderful @paraparadigm, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @thequeenofthewinter, @throughtrialbyfire, @wildhexe, @oblivions-dawn, @archangelsunited, @gilgamish, @dirty-bosmer, @kookaburra1701, @inquisition-dragonborn, @snippetsrus, @saltymaplesyrup, @expended-sleeper, @orfeoarte, @elfinismsarts, @ladytanithia, @miraakulous-cloud-district, @polypolymorph, @tallmatcha, @rainpebble3, @rhiannon1199, @viss-and-pinegar, @late-nite-scholar, @greyborn2, and YOU. Yep. If I've forgotten you, then you're tagged. Feel free to tag me back :>

I have two active WIPS today so you'll get a ~400 word fragment of each <3

Below the cut!

1) Light the Way (yet unpublished) Set in the 3rd Era, (and canon to World's fic universe) our Nerevarine Teldryn Sero has somehow convinced Neloth not to blatantly start a war, and to instead try a different approach to achieve his goals.

Sero’s face twisted through several emotions before it settled back into the familiar frustrated scowl he always wore. “The Empire can go f—”

“ —yes, yes, we know your sentiment. Spare me the histrionics, if you don’t mind,” Neloth interrupted with a flap of his hand, “because we do rather have things to accomplish today if we aren’t simply going to wreak havoc on the Mainland as I’d intended.”

“You know, we will have to discuss that topic again later,” Sero drawled, scratching the back of his neck. “As much as I don’t want to. For now, though, you’re right.” He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Hortator. It’s madness.”

Neloth glanced over at the distracted Nerevarine, caught in the glare from the soul gem. He’d likely win a prize for brooding if such a contest existed. Nobody seemed quite as capable of being so sullen over something as ridiculous as this. Granted, it was a responsibility that came with expectations even Neloth would be remiss to shrug off in favor of this abolitionist nonsense. But, like anything worth having, he’d eventually have little choice but to take the title. Or—Sero being Sero—convince himself he’d already earned it. The utter chivalry of the entire situation got exhausting after a while. What had happened to the slovenly bandit with a chip on his shoulder?

Though, come to think of it, Sero had never really been the type who allowed himself to be pointed in a direction and told to stab. He’d always been too clever for whatever he’d believed about himself all those years before. Not that he’d be caught dead telling the fool that, though.

Neloth shuddered at the implications of admitting any kind of respect for a non-mage, first of all, and an otherwise nameless urchin besides. Imagine. The Council would be in hysterics, and the ruse would be dropped, and every ounce of power he’d clawed to himself would evaporate in the blink of an eye. No. Securing a seat on the Grand Council was imperative if he wanted to keep his status. One did not simply earn a seat the same as anywhere else. Connections—or honestly, more like assassinations and lies. No. There had to be concrete proof of concept. What, exactly, could one do as a Grand Councilor that would advance the House’s position as a whole?

Destroy another house—especially one intent on encroaching on one’s own—by any means necessary.

2) The World on Our Shoulders, Chapter 31 The Embassy Arc begins and Athis is reeling from his encounter with someone some of you may find a bit...familiar :>

“You have no chance here,” the Altmer said. Athis paused and glanced at the man, eyebrow furrowed. His tone was matter of fact, like this was Gods-given truth. “They will find you and you’ll be no better off than I am.”

“We have a werewolf on our side, actually,” Athis said dryly as he scraped at the lock with his knife. “They’re welcome to try.”

“You are in over your head, Athis,” the Altmer said. Athis froze. For a second, he felt his heart all but stop. He exhaled through his nose. The man had to have heard Avulstein bellowing orders like he was leading the charge. That was the only explanation. The Altmer laughed, a mirthless thing. “Yes, just as I thought. I know who you are. We’ve known for a while now. Tell me, have you any idea where Nyenna ended up?” Athis slowly backed away, dropping the hunter’s knife in favor of his sword. The Altmer grinned crookedly and let out a low chuckle. “Because I do.”

Who was this?

“I’ll leave you here,” Athis warned, anger or bile rising in his throat, “and when Farkas is done here, there’ll be nobody left and you’ll rot alone in the darkness.”

“You wouldn’t, despite wiser advice,” the Altmer said, picking a thread off of his roughspun tunic. “That’s not who you are, from what’s been observed.” His voice had taken on a matter-of-fact tone. He was right, but Athis was still reeling.

“What do you know of Nyenna?” he asked after a moment, voice wavering. He swallowed hard. He had so many other questions, but the mention of her in a place like this… He had to know.

The Altmer seemed to ponder the question for a moment. “She’s on Solstheim. In a bit of a bad way, the last I’d heard, but the Telvanni are working on resolving the problem.”

“You’re lying.” Athis felt a knot form in his gut. A bad way? He knew then that listening to Aela’s advice had been a horrible mistake. That, or he’d fallen into some kind of trap.

“Believe whatever you want,” the Altmer said, gazing at his nails, caked as they were with dirt. He picked at them absently. “Regardless, it's as I said." He paused, listening intently as crashing sounded from somewhere on the upper levels of the keep. “The issue of Nyenna aside, you’ll never understand the gravity of what you’ve done here today. This will follow you. You’ve played right into their hands.”

[mareenavee]

Fic Authors Self Rec!

Tagged by the indominable @kookaburra1701! Rules:

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love!

I love this. OKAY LET'S GO. Tell me about how proud you are of your work, friends. You've come so far <3

Tagging: @paraparadigm, @polypolymorph, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @dirty-bosmer, @thequeenofthewinter, @gilgamish, @archangelsunited, @throughtrialbyfire, @expended-sleeper, @ladytanithia and YOU yes if you see this, talk kindly about your writing journey and TAG ME BACK <3

Below the cut because I do be ramblin' (: They're not really in any particular order, I just love them all for different reasons.

1) If We Knew Anything At All

This one was a hell ship prompted by a list that Topsy shared with a bunch of us and I had a brainwyrm, then ended up crying while I wrote the end of it. Quite possibly one of my favorite ever pieces. This one is both the inevitable end to my fic universe and something completely outside time. How did I manage this? Via Sheogorath's voicing. I don't think it gets more unreliable than that.

2) Metempsychosis

A very dear friend and fantastic teammate I met through Skywind sent me this prompt and it gave me such an excellent challenge not only to flex on weird god voice stuff again, but also to bust out some spoken word poetry tricks. I did end up recording myself reading this one too and it felt like old times. I loved all the layers of references I shoved into 1,000 words. It is also my first Morrowfic. And also one that reminded me what I am capable of even more strongly than some of my other projects did. 🥰

3) Serpens Caput

This one is newer, yes BUT OH MY GODS what a flex it was. ANOTHER Morrowfic but it's set in Ceth's fic universe featuring not only major character death but the mindset of a villain in his final moments. And we get to see Danger!Josh through his eyes. It was WEIRD. WEIRD WEIRD but so much fun. I don't think I've yelled so much about a fic whilst writing before. Ceth threw me this prompt, but I don't think was expecting this to end up...being this way (: Borrowed the description of Teldryn and Nerevar from her universe and just RAN WITH IT.

4) Little Dragon

This was written as part of my cute, happy LDB!Athis polycule AU where nothing is quite as horrifically messy as my main fic universe. It is a different kind of catharsis to write, often fun and humorous and a flex in that direction, since I didn't know what i was capable of—I always write pining and heartbreak lol. This came about as part of a fic writer's duel with AU (judged by Poly) which was honestly one of the coolest fandom experiences I've ever been in. It has become its own thing now with multiple other stories and I've been in yet another fandom duel since then. So it's all cute fuzzy feelings and happy memories and I love it to bits.

and last but certainly not least:

5) The World on Our Shoulders

My longfic which throws characters into extremely tough situations, handles horribly difficult themes and topics, shows people being messy and still finds ways to show it all with grace. It's what got me out of my multi-year writing slump and truly, truly brought me back to myself. So yes maybe some of the characters have some of my irl nonsense. Some scenes are far too relatable and it's a little scary sometimes how horrible that is, but it's a different kind of Catharsis. I love also the support its gotten so far for its specific type of storytelling structure as well as all the weird details that sprawl into other stories (Like my honorable mention written for Para, Recurse) and sequels and spin offs. It's been a great joy to be writing this and it's continued to inspire me. From draft one, which I wrote in challenge mode, posting every day this last February to now, where I am mid-ground-up-edit, I love this project to bits and will do all I can to see it through to the end. I see how much I can accomplish in this project. I see what can be done with common tropes and themes and even Fic in general. It's unalienated labor that I do for the sheer hell of it because I can and it's mine and I don't have to follow The Rules. There's something beautiful about that. It's one reason I get up at the crack of dawn every day -- to write for the sake of writing. Out of spite sometimes for all the ways the world tries to crush this kind of self expression out of us. This is my gem of a project. And I am proud of it and how far I've come since I started it. (:

So now it's your turn, if you got this far. Why do you write? How have your favorite fics you've written changed your perspective on the craft so far?

[mareenavee]

Bold the Facts | OC Tag Game

Hi there, I can do a tumblr post once in a while maybe LOL I was tagged to do this one by @throughtrialbyfire!! I'm tagging: @paraparadigm, @changelingsandothernonsense, @thana-topsy, @thequeenofthewinter, @dirty-bosmer, @miraakulous-cloud-district, @wildhexe, @expended-sleeper, @gilgamish, @tallmatcha, @rainpebble3, @oblivions-dawn, @kookaburra1701, @saltymaplesyrup, @snippetsrus, @elfinismsarts, @orfeoarte, @polypolymorph, @inquisition-dragonborn -- and you! YES if you'd like to do this tag game, go ahead and tag me back :> I'm gonna fill this one out for Nyenna, Teldryn, Athis and Varlais. (NPCs-Become-OCs are totally fine.) More below the cut coz this is actually quite a long one.

Nyenna

✧˖°. PERSONAL

$ Financial: wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty ✚ Medical: fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged / non-applicable ✪Class/Caste: upper / middle / working / unsure / other ✔ Education: qualified / unqualified / studying / other ✖ Criminal Record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no / has committed crimes, but not caught yet / yes, but charges were dismissed

✧˖°. FAMILY

◒ Children: had a child or children / has no children / wants children ◑ Relationship with Family: close with sibling(s) / not close with sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) is deceased ◔ Affiliation: orphaned / abandoned / adopted / found family / disowned / raised by birth parent(s) / not applicable

✧˖°. TRAITS + TENDENCIES

♦ extroverted / introverted / in-between ♦ disorganized / organized / in-between ♦ close-minded / open-minded / in-between ♦ calm / anxious / in-between / highly contextual ♦ disagreeable / agreeable / in-between ♦ cautious / reckless / in-between / highly contextual ♦ patient / impatient / in-between ♦ outspoken / reserved / in-between / highly contextual ♦ leader / follower / in-between ♦ empathetic / vicious bastard / in-between / highly contextual ♦ optimistic / pessimistic / in-between ♦ traditional / modern / in-between ♦ hard-working / lazy / in-between ♦ cultured / uncultured / in-between / unknown ♦ loyal / disloyal / unknown / highly contextual ♦ faithful / unfaithful / unknown / highly contextual

✧˖°. BELIEFS

★ Faith: monotheist / polytheist / atheist / agnostic ☆ Belief in Ghosts or Spirits: yes / no / don't know / don’t care / in a matter of speaking ✮ Belief in an Afterlife: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ✯ Belief in Reincarnation: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ❃ Belief in Aliens: yes / no / don’t know / don't care ✧ Religious: orthodox / liberal / in between / not religious ❀ Philosophical: yes / no / highly contextual

✧˖°. SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION

❤ Sexuality: heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual ❥ Sex: sex-repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable / naive and clueless ♥ Romance: romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable / naive and clueless / romance suspicious ❣ Sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious ⚧ Potential Sexual Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all ⚧ Potential Romantic Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

✧˖°. ABILITIES

☠ Combat Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ≡ Literacy Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✍ Artistic Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✂ Technical Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

✧˖°. HABITS

☕ Drinking Alcohol: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / alcoholic / former borderline alcoholic turned sober ☁ Smoking: tried it / trying to quit / quit / never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / chain-smoker ✿ Recreational Drugs: tried some / never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / addict ✌ Medicinal Drugs: never / no longer needs medication / some medication needed / frequently / to excess ☻ Unhealthy Food: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / binge eater $ Splurge Spending: never / sometimes / frequently / shopaholic ♣ Gambling: never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / compulsive gamble

Teldryn

✧˖°. PERSONAL

$ Financial: wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty ✚ Medical: fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged / non-applicable ✪Class/Caste: upper / middle / working / unsure / other ✔ Education: qualified / unqualified / studying / other ✖ Criminal Record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no / has committed crimes, but not caught yet / yes, but charges were dismissed

✧˖°. FAMILY

◒ Children: had a child or children / has no children / wants children / never thought about having a family ◑ Relationship with Family: close with sibling(s) / not close with sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) is deceased ◔ Affiliation: orphaned / abandoned / adopted / found family / disowned / raised by birth parent(s) / not applicable

✧˖°. TRAITS + TENDENCIES

♦ extroverted / introverted / in-between ♦ disorganized / organized / in-between ♦ close-minded / open-minded / in-between ♦ calm / anxious / in-between / highly contextual ♦ disagreeable / agreeable / in-between ♦ cautious / reckless / in-between / highly contextual ♦ patient / impatient / in-between ♦ outspoken / reserved / in-between / highly contextual ♦ leader / follower / in-between ♦ empathetic / vicious bastard / in-between / highly contextual ♦ optimistic / pessimistic / in-between ♦ traditional / modern / in-between ♦ hard-working / lazy / in-between ♦ cultured / uncultured / in-between / unknown ♦ loyal / disloyal / unknown / highly contextual ♦ faithful / unfaithful / unknown / highly contextual

✧˖°. BELIEFS

★ Faith: monotheist / polytheist / atheist / agnostic ☆ Belief in Ghosts or Spirits: yes / no / don't know / don’t care / in a matter of speaking ✮ Belief in an Afterlife: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ✯ Belief in Reincarnation: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ❃ Belief in Aliens: yes / no / don’t know / don't care ✧ Religious: orthodox / liberal / in between / not religious ❀ Philosophical: yes / no / highly contextual

✧˖°. SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION

❤ Sexuality: heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual ❥ Sex: sex-repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable / naive and clueless ♥ Romance: romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable / naive and clueless / romance suspicious ❣ Sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious ⚧ Potential Sexual Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all ⚧ Potential Romantic Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

✧˖°. ABILITIES

☠ Combat Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ≡ Literacy Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✍ Artistic Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✂ Technical Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

✧˖°. HABITS

☕ Drinking Alcohol: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / alcoholic / former borderline alcoholic turned sober ☁ Smoking: tried it / trying to quit / quit / never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / chain-smoker ✿ Recreational Drugs: tried some / never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / addict ✌ Medicinal Drugs: never / no longer needs medication / some medication needed / frequently / to excess ☻ Unhealthy Food: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / binge eater $ Splurge Spending: never / sometimes / frequently / shopaholic ♣ Gambling: never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / compulsive gamble

Athis

✧˖°. PERSONAL

$ Financial: wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty ✚ Medical: fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged / non-applicable ✪Class/Caste: upper / middle / working / unsure / other ✔ Education: qualified / unqualified / studying / other ✖ Criminal Record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no / has committed crimes, but not caught yet / yes, but charges were dismissed

✧˖°. FAMILY

◒ Children: had a child or children / has no children / wants children ◑ Relationship with Family: close with sibling(s) / not close with sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) is deceased ◔ Affiliation: orphaned / abandoned / adopted / found family / disowned / raised by birth parent(s) / not applicable

✧˖°. TRAITS + TENDENCIES

♦ extroverted / introverted / in-between ♦ disorganized / organized / in-between ♦ close-minded / open-minded / in-between ♦ calm / anxious / in-between / highly contextual ♦ disagreeable / agreeable / in-between ♦ cautious / reckless / in-between / highly contextual ♦ patient / impatient / in-between ♦ outspoken / reserved / in-between / highly contextual ♦ leader / follower / in-between ♦ empathetic / vicious bastard / in-between / highly contextual ♦ optimistic / pessimistic / in-between ♦ traditional / modern / in-between ♦ hard-working / lazy / in-between ♦ cultured / uncultured / in-between / unknown ♦ loyal / disloyal / unknown / highly contextual ♦ faithful / unfaithful / unknown / highly contextual

✧˖°. BELIEFS

★ Faith: monotheist / polytheist / atheist / agnostic ☆ Belief in Ghosts or Spirits: yes / no / don't know / don’t care / in a matter of speaking ✮ Belief in an Afterlife: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ✯ Belief in Reincarnation: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ❃ Belief in Aliens: yes / no / don’t know / don't care ✧ Religious: orthodox / liberal / in between / not religious ❀ Philosophical: yes / no / highly contextual

✧˖°. SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION

❤ Sexuality: heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual ❥ Sex: sex-repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable / naive and clueless ♥ Romance: romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable / naive and clueless / romance suspicious ❣ Sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious ⚧ Potential Sexual Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all ⚧ Potential Romantic Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

✧˖°. ABILITIES

☠ Combat Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ≡ Literacy Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✍ Artistic Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✂ Technical Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

✧˖°. HABITS

☕ Drinking Alcohol: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / alcoholic / former borderline alcoholic turned sober ☁ Smoking: tried it / trying to quit / quit / never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / chain-smoker ✿ Recreational Drugs: tried some / never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / addict ✌ Medicinal Drugs: never / no longer needs medication / some medication needed / frequently / to excess ☻ Unhealthy Food: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / binge eater $ Splurge Spending: never / sometimes / frequently / shopaholic ♣ Gambling: never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / compulsive gamble

Varlais

✧˖°. PERSONAL

$ Financial: wealthy / moderate / poor / in poverty ✚ Medical: fit / moderate / sickly / disabled / disadvantaged / non-applicable ✪Class/Caste: upper / middle / working / unsure / other ✔ Education: qualified / unqualified / studying / other ✖ Criminal Record: yes, for major crimes / yes, for minor crimes / no / has committed crimes, but not caught yet / yes, but charges were dismissed

✧˖°. FAMILY

◒ Children: had a child or children / has no children / wants children / never thought about starting a family ◑ Relationship with Family: close with sibling(s) / not close with sibling(s) / has no siblings / sibling(s) is deceased ◔ Affiliation: orphaned / abandoned / adopted / found family / disowned / raised by birth parent(s) / not applicable

✧˖°. TRAITS + TENDENCIES

♦ extroverted / introverted / in-between ♦ disorganized / organized / in-between ♦ close-minded / open-minded / in-between ♦ calm / anxious / in-between / highly contextual ♦ disagreeable / agreeable / in-between ♦ cautious / reckless / in-between / highly contextual ♦ patient / impatient / in-between ♦ outspoken / reserved / in-between / highly contextual ♦ leader / follower / in-between ♦ empathetic / vicious bastard / in-between / highly contextual ♦ optimistic / pessimistic / in-between ♦ traditional / modern / in-between ♦ hard-working / lazy / in-between ♦ cultured / uncultured / in-between / unknown ♦ loyal / disloyal / unknown / highly contextual ♦ faithful / unfaithful / unknown / highly contextual

✧˖°. BELIEFS

★ Faith: monotheist / polytheist / atheist / agnostic ☆ Belief in Ghosts or Spirits: yes / no / don't know / don’t care / in a matter of speaking ✮ Belief in an Afterlife: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ✯ Belief in Reincarnation: yes / no / don’t know / don’t care / in a manner of speaking ❃ Belief in Aliens: yes / no / don’t know / don't care ✧ Religious: orthodox / liberal / in between / not religious ❀ Philosophical: yes / no / highly contextual

✧˖°. SEXUALITY & ROMANTIC INCLINATION

❤ Sexuality: heterosexual / homosexual / bisexual / asexual / pansexual ❥ Sex: sex-repulsed / sex neutral / sex favorable / naive and clueless ♥ Romance: romance repulsed / romance neutral / romance favorable / naive and clueless / romance suspicious ❣ Sexually: adventurous / experienced / naive / inexperienced / curious ⚧ Potential Sexual Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all ⚧ Potential Romantic Partners: male / female / agender / other / none / all

✧˖°. ABILITIES

☠ Combat Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ≡ Literacy Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✍ Artistic Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none ✂ Technical Skills: excellent / good / moderate / poor / none

✧˖°. HABITS

☕ Drinking Alcohol: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / alcoholic / former borderline alcoholic turned sober ☁ Smoking: tried it / trying to quit / quit / never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / chain-smoker ✿ Recreational Drugs: tried some / never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / addict ✌ Medicinal Drugs: never / no longer needs medication / some medication needed / frequently / to excess ☻ Unhealthy Food: never / special occasions / sometimes / frequently / binge eater $ Splurge Spending: never / sometimes / frequently / shopaholic ♣ Gambling: never / rarely / sometimes / frequently / compulsive gamble