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Finn had been out on the balcony, a cigarette perched between her fingers and gaze set out on the moonlit bay when movement from the walkway below caught her attention. Surely there was no shortage of folks wandering around, even at this hour - a place like Booty Bay never slept, after all - but not many moved like Yin did. The woman’s stiff posture stuck out like a sore thumb among the slouched drunkards that she pushed past on her way towards the Gilnean’s home. At recognizing the woman, a small grin pulled at the corners of Finn’s lips, and she gave up her lean against the doorway to instead fold her arms over the balcony railing. As soon as the Kaldorei was in earshot, she’d call out to her.

“Evenin’, Fox. Didn’t think we ‘ad a date scheduled t’night.”

The elf simply brought herself to a stop in front of the house, an impassive stare set upwards on Finn. Even in the low light, it was easy to see the sheen of blood across her leathers. The woman’s silence persisted, and Finn clicked her tongue disapprovingly, idly tapping off some ash from the tobacco. “Yah, alright. I’ll be down in a second.”

~

As promised, the door swung open without much delay, and Finn invited her guest instead with a dramatic sweep of her arm. Yin remained silent, even now, simply entering the abode with a brief glance around. It looked just the same as the last time she’d seen it, even if that had been months ago. Thankfully, their meetings usually took place in Stormwind, so there weren’t many reasons for her to visit the Bay. This must have been at the forefront of Finn’s mind, as well - the woman exhaled a low chuckle as she swung the door shut and turned to face the elf.

“Ya’ get banged up on a job?” she lofted a guess, idly amused as she surveyed the crimson spray over Yin’s form. In the light of the room, it was easy to see some droplets had hit her forehead, as well. “Ya’ need healin’?”

“It is not my blood,” Yin’s voice finally came, as flat as it ever was. That dark midnight stare finally met the Gilnean’s mismatched one before continuing. “I will accept a rag to clean up with.”

“Oh yah, will ya’?” Finn snorted a laugh, but was already on her way to the sink. “Just march int’ my ‘ome, demandin’ I let ya’ bloody up my linens. Tha’ entitlement on ya’ elves will never cease t’amaze.”

Finn took a moment to select her best looking washcloth (one with the least amount of threads loose) and dipped it into some cool water. Wringing out the excess moisture, she then turned to offer it over.

“Bad job? Want t’gab ‘bout it?”

Yin was quiet for a moment, focusing on wiping her face down - careful not to sweep any of the blood anywhere near her eyes. “No,” was her terse reply, but she followed it up before Finn could speak again. “The job went well; almost too easily. There will be some follow-up from it that I will need your assistance with, but that is not why I’m here, now.”

The Gilnean was quiet while Yin spoke, her gaze watching as the woman began to tend to cleaning her chest piece. “Yah, alright. Then wot do ya’ need?”

“Advice.”

Finn blinked several quick times at the immediate response. Usually a conversation with the Kaldorei was like pulling teeth, but here she was, asking for...

“Ya’ want my advice?” The Gilnean’s disbelief extended to her tone, but before Yin could even think about retracting the request, Finn extended a hand towards the nearby table - a wordless invitation to take a seat. “Wot do ya’ need advice ‘bout, Fox?”

As Yin silently moved for the table, Finn followed - but not before stopping by a nearby shelf full of various liquors and grabbing a bottle of rum. She made sure to select one with a fine, golden label - she knew her guest well enough to know she wouldn’t drink anything less than her best.

Two mismatched steel mugs were inspected briefly for cleanliness, before she set them onto the table. Both were filled not-quite half-way, and the bottle - left open for the refills that would most likely be needed - was set to the side.

Yin didn’t hesitate to trade the washcloth for the drink, abandoning the now rogue-colored rag and lifting the mug up to her lips to drink deeply. In fact, she nearly drained it with that one ‘sip’, setting down the mug with a low hiss through her teeth as the liquid burned its way down into her stomach.

“That’a’girl,” Finn coo’d with a grin, already lifting the bottle to refill her mug. “Now, go on. Wot’s got ya’ comin’ t’my doorstep in tha’ dead of night?”

~

Finn lit up a cigarette as Yin’s summary of the past two weeks came to a pause, the Gilnean carefully considering all the information with a hum around the filter. “I see,” she responded, her words trapped in a puff of smoke. “So, this...Tsavorias...sounds like he’s been real good t’ya’, hm?” Her grin is idle as she balances her cigarette in her left hand to lift her drink up with her right. “I mean, if Ikky’s been sweet on ‘im, then he must be a good soul. Not t’mention ‘im ‘ealin’ ya’ an’ offerin’ all that ‘elp. I know it comes ‘long wit’ tha’ job, but still.”

“It’s more than just duty,” Yin corrected, already reaching for the bottle to refill her cup for the third time. “He said he considered me a ‘friend’. Which then sparked the beginning of an anxiety attack.” Yin admitted this easily, as if it weren’t an odd reaction to have to someone extending camaraderie. And while Finn was familiar with the elf’s anxiety disorder, the look she gave Yin was still well-deserved, mismatched eyes squinting as she considered the woman before her.

“Well...shit, Fox. Ain’t that wot ya’ want? T’be ‘is friend?” Finn tilted her head back, drawing another drag from her cigarette as she let Yin process the question.

“Yes,” Yin began, carefully considering her next words, “but there is only so much I want any one person to know about me.”

“Ain’t ‘ow it works, sweetie,” Finn snickered, amusement painting her features as she blew a stream of smoke into the air. “Ya’ eitha’ let ‘im in, or ya’ don’t. Simple as.”

Yin exhaled a low grunt, though the sound warbled a little under the influence of her drinking. “We’ve spoken only a handful of times and I believe that he’s already got an idea of my lineage.” Her fingers claimed the mug, but she made no moves to take a drink. “I worry what he might infer if I say too much. He’s smart, Finn.”

“Or maybe you’re not as clever as ya’ think ya’ are?” Finn met Yin’s glare with a bright grin, but released the expression with a sigh as she changed her tone to something softer. “Listen, Ayindae. I get it. It’s scary t’let people in--...”

“Don’t patronize me,” Yin cut in with a growl, but the sound lacked fangs, which is probably why Finn simply laughed at it.

“An’ don’t interrupt me,” she retorted, before continuing. “Look, this is your problem, right? Ya’ hide so well, yet still hope someone, someday will find ya’. It was tha’ same wit’...wot’s ‘is face?” She looked to Yin, as if expecting her to fill in with the name, but the woman had gone silent, gaze set on her mug. Finn hummed a small, thoughtful noise before continuing. “Anyways, ya’ just keep diggin’ yourself further int’ that hole, tellin’ tha’ world t’fuck off an’ leave ya’ ‘lone, an’ then wonder why you’re lonely. For such an intelligent woman, ya’ sure are stupid.”

Yin rumbled with another growl, but drowned out the sound with a swig of rum. She squinted her eyes closed, her voice returning after a moment.

“My actions are not made entirely by choice.”

There was something...quiet, almost defeated in her tone, and it led Finn’s shoulders to droop and her gaze to avert. “Yah...I know, Fox. An’ I’m real sorry ‘bout it. But.” Her attention drifted back to the woman, a slight frown set on her brow. “Ya’ aren’t powerless, right? Ya’ can’t spend your entire life crushed unda’ tha’ weight of wot’s happened to ya’. It may not be easy, but ya’ do ‘ave a choice ‘ere.”

“So I guess tha’ question really is this: wot is it that ya’ want, Ayindae Duskbloom?”

The Kaldorei’s lips parted as Finn’s words struck her, her lashes fluttering as her fingers trembled slightly against their grip on the mug. For a moment, her gaze seemed a thousand miles away - but then suddenly it sharpens and the trembling ceases. Her now determined stare met Finn’s, the Gilnean already hosting a sharp grin across her lips.

“Good,” she nearly purred, before balancing her cigarette between her lips as she stood up from the table with a stretch. She moved then to one of the walls to unhook a hammock, preparing it for the night. “Now - stay ‘ere wit’ me for tha’ weekend, alright?” she spoke around the filter. “I could use your ‘elp anyways. An’ when ya’ ‘ead back t’tha’ City, well...” She peered over her shoulder towards the elf, who’s expression was not entirely impassive now. Finn issued a quiet chuckle at the sight.

“...I’ll be rootin’ for ya’. Good luck, Fox.”

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Awesome animations by Joel Roset

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These opals look like tiny hatching dragon eggs.

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I can relate to this

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what’s the difference between a lawyer and a mango? lots of things! i love to make jokes

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I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you,

I’m sorry that I survived,

And if I could go back in time

You never would have died

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Lil’ doodle of a sprite darter dragon! Their bright, happy colors are so soothing to work with.I’ve got a much bigger sprite darter project complete as well, but you’ll have to wait till I get some decent pictures to see it >:)

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Please don’t repost without credit!

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What I want the Shaman class hall to look like

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The Dragon Aspects are leaders of five dragonflights; the titans empowered the five dragons, each with specific powers, to lead the major dragonflights and watch over Azeroth…

-Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder: Aspect of the red dragonflight and the guardian of all life in the world of Azeroth.

-Ysera, the Dreamer: Aspect of the green dragonflight, charged with the protection of the Emerald Dream and watches over the growing wilds of Azeroth.

-Nozdormu, the Timeless One: Aspect of the bronze dragonflight, he is tasked with ensuring that the flow of time occurs without interruption, and that events happen as they are fated.

-Kalecgos, the Spell-Weaver: Aspect of the remaining blue dragonflight and the guardian of magic and hidden arcanum.

-Neltharion, the Earth-Warder: Aspect of the black dragonflight, empowered with dominion over the earth and the deep places of Azeroth.

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Imagine dragons sleeping the same way giraffes do

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Nuclear