#but boy if i am not incensed at how dissatisfying this is after everything

[ayrennaranaaldmeri]

lol now that i went back and redid the whole thing, the final conversation with shadowheart is actually that fucking bad in general.

(for the good(TM) ending i.e no shar) she has one of the most emotion driven slowburn romances in the game if you do it correctly that is purely committed to each other shit, she literally tells the pc she wants a life WITH THEM WHICH THEY CAN SAY THEY WANT TOO, if her dad is there he tells the pc he hopes shadowheart will want to live near his wife and him, with her paramour, and then larian proceeds to treat relationship is treated like you had a fling and you never discussed your future together, lmao 'you and i had a connection' 'oh i had hoped for more bc our time has been so precious to me' 'come find me when you're free it's not like i just asked you to build a life with me recently' just remove all of the player's autonomy here too, what a fucking joke.

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

The true scent of Medieval times.

Pt 3. < Previous *A couple hours went by, they didn't speak much after they entered the room Raven obviously had been living in for a while. There were muddy foot prints all over the old wooden floors, the smell was the smell of a man that hadn't had a proper shower for months. The bedsheets were dirty and stained with stuff no one wanted to question what was, and although the lit fire place sorta created a cozy atmosphere, the old stale air of the room was so thick it was hard to breath. Raven had been sitting in an almost dark corner on a short oak wood stool, drinking one shot of the Whiskey after another, until he 30 minutes ago had started drinking straight from the bottle, no longer bothering with the tiny shot glass.*

Sparkle: *She had been observing him for quite some time, he was in pain, it was easy to see. She had gotten the news from Andy a while back, he had told her Raven was missing, and why he had left. Everything with Pete and Benjamin. It had made sense to her. She often felt trapped in her own life, needing to escape it all, and here they were, both of them, in the mid of their escape, yet still both bound to the people they loved. Perhaps there were never truly a way to escape. Perhaps true freedom only comes when you are bound to nothing and no one?*

Raven: *He would grunt here and there, clearly lost in his own thoughts as well as she was. And it was after such a grunt, that she finally snapped out of it*

Sparkle: Alright!  *She stood up quick* If I have to be here, with you, in this room, I gotta be able to breath at least! *She forced a soft chuckle to try to lighten the mood and walked in quick steps to the one window, opening it wide, waving her arms a bit as if she was trying to force all the thick smelly air out of it, welcoming new fresh air instead* Right *she leaned a bit out the window and took a deep breath of the Medieval streets below, quickly wrinkling her nose and pulled her head back in, as all she caught was warm horse shit*

Raven: So, my room is better after all then?

Sparkle: *She frowned soft and pointed at the window as she turned to look at him* I had imagined the smell of bonfires, roasting meat wine, herbs, veggies, fruits and maybe some tobacco or incense?

Raven: Medieval times... not as glamorous as the movies makes it appear, huh? *he shrugged lightly* even a Princess like you, will  get used to it in a day or two...

Sparkle: *She was once again about to bite back, but his look of misery just made it too sad, and for the first time, she actually pitied him, and felt an urge to try to cheer him up. *She looked at a wooden bathtub standing in another corner of the room, it looked unused... no wonder with that stench*

Raven: What? *He looked at her with a soft glare, obviously having noticed she was lost in some thoughts*

Sparkle: *She pointed at the tub* does that work?

Raven: *He lifted an eyebrow as he looked at the tub* I suppose.... it's a wooden tub.... if there's no leak in it, it works.

Sparkle: *She looked around a bit* How would one fill it?

Raven: By heating water over the fire... *he pointed at some large metal buckets on the floor next to the fire place* Or by being a handy demon?

Sparkle: *She forced another soft smile* Can you fill it for me, please?

Raven: *He waved a hand towards the tub as if he couldn't be bothered* As you wish, your highness.

Sparkle: *She frowned soft, but decided to once again, ignore the comment, although it was really grinding her nerves. She sighed soft and tiptoed over the floor, peeking into the tub. It was filled with warm steamy water, some Lavender twigs and some Basil as far as she could smell, few Rose petals here and there as well. She smiled soft by the lovely warm scent rising from the steamy water* Nice.

Raven: I'm glad it suits your highness.

Sparkle: First of all.... *she sighed irritated* don't call me that! *He voice getting more strict now* Secondly, it was for you... I had a shower this morning, thank you, now please tell me when YOU Last had one?

Raven: ......... *he sighed deep*

Sparkle: Don't make me mom you! If I have to share this room with you, you have to shower! The room has to shower! *She pointed at the bed* I don't know who's more dirty, you or that pile of whatever that is?!

Raven: It's called a bed *he grunted irritated*

Sparkle: Maybe in your book, but it's gross and I can't sleep there, so do you have some clean sheets or is there a maid or something around here?

Raven: *He snorted amused* No, Princess... there's no maid. Room gets cleaned when someone moves out, that's it. Money doesn't hang on trees in this time, and since no one knows I am technically royal, I have come here on equal terms with everyone else. I keep my magic at a minimum cause it's a way my family will eventually be able to track me. Magic leaves a bit of residue once used... like fingerprints scattered behind you, a trail for people to pick up on if they are skilled enough. So I'm just as poor as the next son of a bitch, and have to find my way to make money day by day. I would rent you a fancy private room, if I could, and have bought you a dress rather than giving you a handover one. But this is what we got *he gestured vaguely at the room* Take it or leave it! I can send you home sooner than later, if it isn't fancy enough for you...

Sparkle: *She grunted irritated* Fancy enough for ME? The Raven I know sleeps in the most expensive silk sheets, his hair is never out of place, and lord knows you would never catch him with dirt under his nails. And if anyone is royal here, it's YOU! *She scoffed angrily* It smells like death in here, which I suppose is fitting in some way since you look like death. If I'm not supposed to waddle in self pity and let myself go because of a stupid boy that will never love me the way I want him to, well, then neither should you! And for the record, both Pete and Benjamin loves you very much! They are both miserable without you! Christmas is coming soon and then what? People are literally terrified of you being hurt or never coming back!

Raven: *He slammed a fist hard down on the table so the Whiskey bottle almost tipped over* I TOLD YOU NOT TO MENTION TIME BACK THERE!!!

Sparkle: And I told you to quit making me sound fancier than I am! So I guess we are even! And I'm not going anywhere unless you decide to simply throw me back there against my will, and honestly if you do so, I'll fucking tell people where you are, cause I have had enough of the way you treat me and I wont take shit any longer from anyone. You wanted m to toughen up, well here you go! I'm fucking done being everyone's push-over! So we might as well "make the fucking best out of the situation" no matter how much that phrase currently makes me want to gag! *She sighed deep and pointed at the bed* Please tell me how I get that mess cleaned then, and if it involves boiling water and shit, and while I take care of that, you take care of this *she pointed at the tub with a firm frown*

Raven: *He kept sitting on the chair, quietly but most certainly grumpily ignoring her. Grinding his teeth here and there*

Sparkle: Fine! I'll figure it out myself! *She sighed deep and looked around the room, finally spotting a broom she quickly walked towards, and quietly started sweeping the floor*

Raven: *It took him a couple of minutes till he finally got up, and although she didn't turn to look at him, she could easily tell he was getting undressed, by the sound of several belt buckles unbuckling and heavy leather and cloth dropping to the floor. The sound of naked Raven walking over the floor followed shortly after.* I hope you're happy now

Sparkle: *She couldn't help but slightly twist her body and peek out the corner of her eyes, catching a glimpse of naked Raven before he sunk into the warm water with a dissatisfied groan, she couldn't help but blush at the sight combined with his now darker, rougher voice, his groan almost vibrating through the air around them. But she quickly shook her head and returned to sweeping the floor, trying her best to get it somewhat presentable*

*They staid quiet and to themselves for several minutes, before she dared to look at him again. He sat hunching in the tub, a firm frown on his face, dirt and mud still covering him here and there. His body was bruised and full of scars, some old, some still fresh, but didn't seem deep, although she could bet they were still painful.*

Raven: You're starring.

Sparkle: *She sighed deep and slow* I'm sorry... I was just thinking you look extremely tense.

Raven: I am.

Sparkle: *She sighed again and leaned the broom against a wall, then elegantly tapped her feet over the floor in his direction. She hesitated a bit before she sat down on the edge of the tub and placed her hands on his shoulders, without any second thoughts starting to massage him*

Raven: *He moaned deep, followed by a sigh of pain* Careful!

Sparkle: Dude... I barely touch you.... I thought you were an almighty demon who ‘didn't care about ants poking him’?

Raven: *He grunted unamused*

Sparkle: *She sighed soft, but kept massaging him* It will hurt less once you are warmed up... give it a moment.

Raven: ............ *he grunted again*

Sparkle: What?

Raven: ...... you really are a mommy

Sparkle: *She snorted soft* Coming from you, I take that as a compliment!

Raven: *He moaned deep and hoarse* Sparkle.... you're hurting me

Sparkle: *She loosened her grip a bit, but kept massaging* .... I'm kinda tired of my name... I'm tired of a lot of things about me, really... it wasn't just about changing myself for Andy.... you're right, sometimes you can also be the toxic person in your life... and then it is up to you to fix it. I just don't know where to begin. A lot of my life has always revolved around Andy... you know... being in love with him has somewhat been the biggest event of my life. It has shaped me a lot, and made me the person I am. I just don't know who to be without that?

Raven: *He grunted soft* I'm not the best at advices....

Sparkle: .... I'm not asking for an advice, I'm trying to do something about the awkward silence.

Raven: ...... *he sighed soft* right now I prefer silence. If I'm forced to bathe, I might as well try to enjoy it. I do that quietly.

Sparkle: *She snorted soft* Alright, I'll shut up.

*A handful of minutes passed by before Raven finally broke the silence*

Raven: *A deep sigh escaped him, as if he had been holding his breath for a while* Anything you want cleaned, you can throw on the floor. I have a spell.... it will take care of it...

Sparkle: *She paused her hands* I thought you said you keep your magic at a low cause it leaves fingerprints?

Raven: If you stop mommy'ing me, then I will make an exception.

Sparkle: *She chuckled soft and stood up, walked to the bed and quickly grabbed the dirty blankets and pillows, throwing them on the floor* Thank you *she smiled soft as she walked back towards him* And thank you for saving my ass, I appreciate it more than I can describe. *She observed his beaten up body and hollow eyes, then looked down herself, without hesitating slowly starting to untie her dress. She let it slip off her body, so she stood naked in front of him, elegantly kicking off her boots as well* Anything on the floor, gets cleaned, right?

Raven: *He lifted an eyebrow, observing her closely*

Sparkle: She silently slipped into the tub, sitting down on his lap, then grabbed a sponge, wetting it to make it soft, before she very gently started washing his wounds and dirty skin* How about I take care of the mess in here, while you take care of the mess out there?

Raven: *He moaned soft* You don't have to...

Sparkle: I want to... let's call it a thank you for getting me out of there in time.

Raven: ..... well *he grunted soft, but placed his hands firmly on her hips* I thought it would be a pity to ruin a body like this

Sparkle: *She couldn't help but smirk a little* A real compliment?

Raven: Mmhh *he leaned forwards, planting a kiss on her shoulder* Don't make it a habit.

Sparkle: Hey there big boy *her voice was soft and caring now* sit up straight so I can take care of your hair and wounds... You look like an alley cat *she chuckled soft* and as much as I love strays, this one is a bit too smelly for my taste.

*The bath took at least 30 minutes, before he was finally clean, well, in the places that she washed, the rest he quickly took care of as she stepped out of the bath to add more wood to the fire*

Sparkle: *She took a look at the bed, impressed by how clean and neat it looked now* This will do *she smiled satisfied, then got distracted as the sound of Raven exciting the tub reached her, and she quickly spun around to look at him, getting caught off guard by his naked body, and how big he was, although she had felt it briefly under the water, a soft gasp escaping her*

Raven: *He smirked lightly and grabbed a towel, running it through his hair* See anything you like, Princess?

Sparkle: *This time it burst out of her irritated and defensive* I'm not a Princess! And I thought I told you to cut that fucking shit!

Raven: *He snorted amused* And I thought I reminded you that I am a demon...

Sparkle: What's that even supposed to mean? So you can't respect that I don't want you to call me shit like that, just because you're a demon or what?

Raven: Whatever you make of it darling, I really don't care *he grunted irritated and kept rubbing his hair as he slowly walked past her, most likely on his way back to his corner to finish the sad leftovers of his Whiskey*

Sparkle: God! You constantly insult me! You can't even put your hands on me in the bath! You really are a fine demon when you can't even get it up any longer!

Raven: I can get it up just fine *he paused his steps, slightly turning his head to glare at her from the corner of his eyes* I just happen to agree with Andy, you're not my type...

Sparkle: *She gasped by his words, shocked, humiliated and now more than angry* You really are a special kind of asshole, aren't you?!

Raven: *He slowly turned his body half around, to somewhat face her with angry eyes* What did you just call me?!

Sparkle: A fucking asshole, cause that's honestly what you are!

Raven: *So many feelings bubbled up in him, last one to call him that being Benjamin, and it was as if the cup finally spilled over and he burst with a ton of mixed emotions about everything, a loud long groan of anger and despair escaping him, before he marched the few steps that separated them, grabbed her violently and threw her on the bed, panting from anger as he a split second later landed on top of her, her much smaller body trapped beneath him, a familiar feeling he had been longing for for so long* Again!!!

Sparkle: *She looked at him shocked and surprised, but quickly spoke loud and clear* Asshole!!!

Raven: *He pressed his quickly growing dick against her, growling low* Again! And I will give you everything you came looking for, and more!!!