#nature's pause

[herbalnature]

Whispering pines bow under a soft blanket of snow, framing a secluded rock alcove. Nature’s serene pause, an icy entrance to a winter wonderland, invites peaceful reflection.

[hyakunana]

A Wizard and a Rogue walk into the Archive

[chestnutroan]

Just 50 days until Spring...

[in-tenebris-et-in-solitudine]

[ride-a-dromedary]

My favourite part of Halsin's speech pattern are the deliberate pauses he takes when attempting to search for a word or phrase, but especially when you know he's doing the work to consider what he really wants to say, and then decide how to phrase that thing as delicately as he possibly can.

[fatguarddog]

It's a really big turn on when someone comes in with the energy of "I'm gonna make you so fat because that's I want and that's what you're meant to be" 🥵

[royaltea000]

Watching hetalia again and was boutta rip on how stupid America looks when he’s eating chocolate for lunch in the Industrial Revolution arc instead of lasagna but then I remembered that I literally just ate candy for lunch today and shut my busy broke ass up

[bumblingbabooshka]

 🗣🚨 YAOI ALERT 🚨🗣 [TEXT: Neelix took a seat next to Tuvok. He hoped the Vulcan would make some comment about his story, but a long silence ensued. Neelix found himself feeling unaccountably nervous, reading into Tuvok's silence a general disapproval - and yet, what could he expect? From the moment they first met, Tuvok had been aloof and judgmental. Nonetheless, his opinion mattered to Neelix, and so, inwardly chastising himself for doing so, he turned to the somber man. "So, Mr. Vulcan...what did you think of my story?" Another silence. Neelix felt himself begin to perspire. Why wasn't Tuvok answering him? Had he embarrassed himself that fully? He felt his heart beating in his chest. "I know I've done some awful things in my life," he stammered, "but I've tried to make up for them. I hope you won't hold what I've told you against me..." He trailed off lamely, his words sounding hollow. Tuvok turned slowly to look at him, his dark visage glistening in the heat of the setting sun. His eyes seemed to pierce Neelix's brain. He stared like that for a full moment before he spoke. "I found it an exceptional story. You have complexities, and courage, I would never have imagined." Neelix couldn't believe what he was hearing - Tuvok was actually complimenting him! He felt a little shiver of pleasure, but he couldn't for the life of him think of anything to say in return...] Source: Pathfinders by Jeri Taylor

[rebouks]

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Transcript:

[Wyatt flinches as Courtney’s palm collides with his cheek, though realises he should have expected as much]

Courtney: Sorry doesn’t cut it! What the hell is wrong with you?! Wyatt: I don’t know! It’s not like I want to be-… Courtney: You literally have no idea, do you?

Wyatt: I do! I just wanted to explain. Oscar: You’ve got ten seconds before I launch you down those fucking stairs. Wyatt: Uhm-.. what’s his name?

Oscar: Yeah, no. Wyatt: I never would’ve done it if I knew, why didn’t you say anything? Courtney: I didn’t know…

Oscar: It’s fucked up either way! Wyatt: I sent you somewhere you’d be safe on purpose, I-… Courtney: [scoffs] Safe-.. and what about everyone else, tough luck?

Wyatt: That’s not-.. Ash didn’t exactly tell me the whole truth, I thought they’d work for him. Oscar: Come off it, you could’ve guessed as much. Wyatt: I guess I ignored it because-.. well, I won’t bore you with the why; but I know it was wrong.

Oscar: Yet you carried on regardless. Wyatt: I’ve tried to put things right. I came here for your sake, not mine; if you’d let me explain everything. Courtney: [sighs] Half an hour, max.

…

Wyatt: I’m not here for absolution. You started all this; I figured you deserved the whole story, and now you have it. Courtney: I could’ve handled Dale, you shouldn’t have-… Wyatt: You don’t know that, men like him-…

Oscar: Men like you. Wyatt: It’s true that I don’t experience emotion the same as others-.. it makes it easier to do terrible things, but there’s a reason behind every decision I make. I do have morals, they’re just extremely easy to ignore. In the future, I-…

Oscar: [scoffs] The future, as if you’ve got one. Courtney: Oscar, we can’t… [Oscar glares at Wyatt, then Courtney; returning the look, she motions toward the kitchen]

[cyberkn1fe]

I try not to post things that didn't make it into the game, but I feel like full dialogue from the intro adds important context to Simon’s feelings about the accident. Transcript under the cut.

Simon: Ashley, you want a ride? Ashley: That yours? I thought you took the train. Simon: I take the car sometimes when I know it's gonna be late. Fridays usually drag on. Ashley: Well, sure, if you don't mind swinging by Parkdale. Simon: No problem, hop in.

Simon: Long day, right? Ashley: Yeah. So tired right now. Simon: Liking the job so far? Ashley: Yeah, I'm having fun. Been a good week.

Ashley: Are you okay, Simon? I think you're bleeding. Simon: Oh, that's nothing -- it's just my brain can't stop bleeding from the accident. Ashley: Here, take this. Simon: No, that's for later -- for the scan.

Ashley: It's green.

Simon: Ashley, I need to tell you something. Ashley: Simon, please don't make this weird-- Simon: No, no, it's not like that. Simon: Why now? Ashley: Who's David Munshi? Simon: Why is there never enough time?! Ashley: For what?

Simon: To say I'm sorry.

[auntieblues]

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).” ― Mark Twain

original auntieblues

[countess-of-edessa]

the thing about taking advice from anyone on tiktok or instagram including catholic and christian type influencers, parenting advice, relationship advice, etc, or internalizing any stories of horrible relationships and betrayal people tell on those platforms, or reading about all the ways interpersonal relationships can end horribly and be cycled through extremely quickly on those platforms is that you are necessarily then consuming the thoughts and experiences of someone who is willing to put their face and name on a public social media platform to talk at you. and like 1% of those people have a good reason for doing so and the other 99% are completely unhinged. so everything you’re consuming has first gone through the filter of "is this person weird and insane enough to make Instagram reels of themselves crying?" and if the answer is yes maybe their advice doesn’t apply to your life because you’re a normal person who would not do that.

[missingn000]

[csideguy]

poll for research

[csphire]

Meet Mouse

Legal Name: Mouse (Mouse Dekarios eventually)

Nickname / Aliases: Just Mouse. He was given that nickname by other street urchins because he was so quiet and small. Mouse does not recall anything about his life before waking up at the Open Hand temple of Ilmater after getting beaten within an inch of his life around seven or eight which gave him those scars.

Background: Criminal (cutpurse/thief)

Age: Unknown. Although he cannot remember his birth or name day or much else before being found, from what he recalls of his life from then on and according to accounts of other children who found him, Mouse has worked out he is at least twenty-two years old. He eventually adopts the day he met Gale as a special day to mark him surviving another year.

Pronouns: He / Him / They

Race/Subrace: High Half-Elf (Possibly of Seldarine Drow in his family tree too.)

Alignment: Chaotic Good (Before abduction Chaotic Neutral perhaps. He doesn't steal as much anymore.)

Deities: It's complicated. Tymora and Ilmater, he prays to the most followed by extending respects to Jergal, Lathander, Loviatar, and Mystra (grudgingly) later in life.

Class / Subclass: Rogue (Thief) / Wizard (Evocation) Instruments of Choice: Whistling, Flute, and lute? (Alfira tried and he's got potential with a sweet sopranist singing voice.)

Weapons of Choice: Shortbow, Crossbow, Hand Crossbows, Daggers, Stave, and Shield. Hand Crossbows are his most preferred weapon.

Personality: He lived up to his name before the abduction in every sense. He's soft-spoken, unassuming, sneaky, skittish, and cautious. All traits that kept him alive so far and that kept him and others alive later. After meeting the others he blooms a bit more in the confidence department and at being more social. It bothers him to kill people and before the abduction, to his knowledge, he's never killed anyone. However, he's not opposed to fighting and softening up or ambushing the enemy and letting someone else take the kill. Bio: At around the age of seven or eight, Mouse was found by a gang of other street urchins in Baldur's Gate unconscious, seriously injured, and dumped in an alley. They took him to the nearby Open Hand Temple in Rivington for healing. Upon waking up he did not talk much and could not give a name. Eventually, the other kids settled on calling him Mouse. It did not take them long to realize the blows to his head and neck had not knocked all the sense out of him as Mouse did understand them and he listened well to instructions. At first, acting as a distraction so the older kids could pickpocket or snatch something, usually food from vendors. Out of a crew of twenty or so kids, only Mouse and four others made it to adulthood. The rest died from illness, were caught committing some crime, executed or murdered by someone else for one reason or another, usually over gold or a grudge. In essence, most of Mouse's life was no picnic. Being kidnapped by mind flayers and infected with a tadpole was actually a first step up for him. If only to experience Gale's fine cooking and three regular meals a day alone. I'm dabbling with the idea Mouse is Gustav's long-lost, slightly younger by a half-hour, twin brother. Since they have similar coloring and they use the same head. No proper name for Mouse yet but will probably go with the idea Fergus was kidnapped and due to a botched ransom is now assumed dead by his family. A few years after Gale and he have been married, and he's polished up his appearance more, someone mistakes him for being Gustav at a fancy party filled with other nobles. When Mouse politely corrects the noble the man goes pale in shock and before fainting he asks, "Fergus?" This eventually leads to a whole slew of questions once the man wakes up, a journey back to Baldur's Gate, and a tearful and uneasy reunion with Mouse's long-lost family.

Skills and Hobbies: Parkour but it's used more as a skill than a hobby, Mouse just calls it running away, usually from guards. Mending is another skill he had to pick up on the streets. This is something he and Astarion bond over as they swap techniques. Appearance and Build: Due to childhood malnourishment Mouse is short in stature. Gale only needs to lean forward to kiss him on the forehead essentially. The half-elf shortly after being abducted was also painfully thin. But in large part thanks to a certain wizard's culinary skills and urgings to eat more, Mouse puts on some more weight and muscle by the time they reach Baldur's Gate. Mouse's hair is a bit of a frizzy mop because he's had no real guidance on how to take care of his wave-textured hair. Astarion eventually takes pity on him and helps him tame it. Still, Mouse likes to keep his bangs over his pale blue eyes for shade as they're sensitive to bright light. Although Mouse has a lovely bone structure and a pleasing face, he doesn't put much effort into his appearance or even look in a mirror. Occasionally he expresses some self-consciousness when it comes to his scars but for the most part, he tries to act indifferent about them. His body is covered in a variety of them but mostly they're all small in size and it's his face that sport the majority of them.

Spouse: Gale Dekarios - Are they the ye old opposites-attract? Um...yes. Yes, they are and I don't care, I'm a sucker for that trope. Look at them, they're adorable. With vastly different upbrings and life experiences upon meeting one another instead of clashing they started to share their knowledge, bond over it, and grow stronger. They just click into place like two puzzle pieces. They are the kind of couple where one (Gale) is the talking charming social butterfly and the other (Mouse) is his quiet introverted spouse who stands next to him at a party mostly listening and saying a few thoughtful things here and there. And does Mouse get annoyed by being dragged to social wizarding functions, not at all so long as there is plenty of food. Gale's initial impression of Mouse was mixed. The half-elf looked every bit the stereotypical troublesome and indifferent rogue who also seemed a touch feral. Mouse also had uneasy feelings towards the prim and proper human wizard and assumed the man would literally and figuratively look down at him. They soon realize they got along just fine. Mouse, being a pretty easygoing person, took all Gale had to say seriously instead of scoffing. Gale, offering up his knowledge but not in any real intentional condescending manner. Mouse in return gave simple tips on how to stretch and loosen up limbs when Gale would complain about his knees along with how to climb up and over obstacles. The wizard also taught Mouse how to read as the rogue has zero formal education before. Again they get along well for the most part.

Best Friends: Gale (of course), Halsin, Karlach and Wyll. Other Friends: Lae'zel, Dammon, Rolan and his siblings, Zevlor, Alfira, Lakrissa, and all the tieflling orphans.

Found Family: Jaheira (aka mom), Shadowheart (aka sis), Astarion (aka brother) It's complicated but still civil: Minthara (He is scared of her doesn't trust her which Minthara would agree is wise.)

Thanks for reading this far and bear in mind this is a work in progress. I may or may not edit this a bit more in the future.

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

every time i remember "ingo is an ascian/ancient who literally forgot everything about that" it still kills me. so much staying power in the idea of the protagonists rocking up to ishgard having the worst day of their lives and there's a fucking ASCIAN just chilling waiting for them and they're like fucking dammit now we have to deal with THIS. and then he's not. like he's literally just chilling. he is so very much just some guy. and they're like why the fuck are you dressed like an evil wizard then and he's like they're comfy robes :(