storm bringer

dialogue prompts taken from or inspired by the movie  PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2005).   please feel free to change the sentences for pronouns and context as you see fit!

‘ do you not want to know who has taken it? ’ 

‘ I doubt I have any choice in the matter. ’

‘ have you no compassion for my poor nerves? ’

‘ so will you come to the ball tomorrow? ’

‘ if every person in this room does not end the evening completely in love with you then I am no judge of beauty. ’

‘ they are not all bad. ’ 

‘ one of these days, someone will catch your eye and then you’ll have to watch your tongue. ’

‘ do you dance? ’

‘ so what do you recommend, to encourage affection? ’

‘ only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony. ’

‘ you’re a great deal too apt to like people in general, you know. ’

‘ I still cannot believe what he said about you. ’

‘ I doubt we shall ever speak again. ’

‘ oh,  please! it’s ten in the morning. ’

‘ do not be alarmed. excepting a sore throat, a fever, and a headache there is nothing much wrong with me. ’

‘ good lord, did you walk here? ’

‘ it’s all going according to plan. ’

‘ I never saw such a woman, she would certainly be a fearsome thing to behold. ’

‘ would you consider pride a fault or a virtue? ’

‘ my good opinion, once lost, is lost forever. ’

‘ I don’t know how to thank you. ’

‘ he can turn us out of the house as soon as he pleases. ’

‘ how happy for you, to possess the talent for flattering with such delicacy. ’

‘ shall we all look for some ribbon together? ’

‘ how do you like my ribbons for your ball? ’

‘ you may well be surprised, especially given our cold greeting this afternoon. ’

‘ oh no, it is not for me to be driven away. ’

‘ if you wish to avoid seeing me, you must go, not I. ’

‘ I hope never to encounter him. ’

‘ may I have the next dance? ’

‘ it would be most inconvenient since I have sworn to loathe you for all eternity. ’

‘ please advise me of what you would like most to hear. ’

‘ do you talk as a rule while dancing? ’

‘ I prefer to be unsociable and taciturn. ’ 

‘ why do you ask such a question? ’

‘ and what have you discovered? ’

‘ I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly. ’

‘ I hope to afford you more clarity in the future. ’

‘ what interesting relatives you have. ’

‘ almost as soon as I entered the house I singled you out as the companion of my future life. ’

‘ and now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affections. ’

‘ you are too hasty!  you forget that I have made no answer. ’

‘ you could not make happy and I’m convinced I’m the last person in the world who could make you happy. ’

‘ go back now and say you’ve changed your mind! ’

‘ there’s no earthly reason why I shouldn’t be as happy with him as any other. ’

‘ not all of us can afford to be romantic. ’

‘ I’ve been offered a comfortable home and protection, there’s a lot to be thankful for. ’

‘ I’m plain and I have no money and no prospects. ’

‘ do not make yourself uneasy, about your apparel. ’

‘ your mother must have been quite a slave to your education. ’

‘ upon my word, you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. ’

‘ no excellence can be acquired without constant practice. ’

‘ you would be in nobody’s way, you know, in that part of the house. ’

‘ I am well enough acquainted with you, to know I cannot alarm you even should I wish it. ’

‘ I do not have the talent of conversing easily with people I have never met before. ’

‘ I came to  ___  with the single object of seeing you. l had to see you. ’

‘ I love you. Most ardently. ’

‘ I appreciate the struggle you have been through, and I am very sorry to have caused you pain. ’

‘ I’m sure that the feelings which, as you’ve told me, have hindered your regard, will help you in overcoming it. ’

‘ might I ask why, with so little endeavour at civility, I am thus repulsed? ’

‘ I suppose you suspect that his fortune had same bearing on the matter? ’

‘ what excuse can you give for your behaviour to him? ’

‘ you take an eager interest in that gentleman’s concerns! ’

‘ oh yes, your misfortunes have been very great indeed! ’

‘ you have ruined his chances, and yet treat him with sarcasm? ’

‘ so this is your opinion of me! thank you for explaining so fully. ’

‘ and those are the words of a gentleman? ’

‘ from the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, made me realize that you were the last person in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry. ’

‘ I shall not renew the sentiments which were so disgusting to you. ’

‘ what are men, compared to rocks and mountains? ’

‘ believe me, men are either eaten up with arrogance or stupidity, and if they are amiable they’re so easily led that they have no minds of their own whatsoever. ’

‘ take care, my love, that savors strongly of bitterness. ’

‘ I’m so sorry to intrude. they said the house was open for visitors. I had no idea… ’

‘ there is something pleasing about his mouth, when he speaks. ’

‘ you don’t mind delaying our journey for another day? ’

‘ but I know very well that nothing can be done. we have not the smallest hope. ’

‘ would I could help you. ’

‘ sir, I think it is too late. ’

‘ this is grave indeed. I will leave you. ’ 

‘ I forgot! I shouldn’t have said a word! ’

‘ I’m just glad that you come alone, because then I shall see less of you. ’

‘ not that I’m afraid of myself, but I dread other people’s remarks. ’

‘ oh my goodness! everybody behave naturally. ’

‘ whatever you do, do not appear overbearing. ’

‘ stop that racket and sit down! find yourself some work! ’

‘ oh lord. I shall have a seizure, I’m sure I shall. ’

‘ I return to town tomorrow. ’

‘ so soon? ’

‘ for when you were in town last winter you promised to take a family dinner with us. I have not forgot you see. at least three courses. ’

‘ well, I’m glad that’s over. ’

‘ we can now meet as indifferent acquaintances. ’

‘ you cannot think me so weak as to be in danger now. ’

‘ I think you are in great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever. ’

‘ I know this is all very untoward, but I would like to request the privilege of speaking with you. ’

‘ first, I have to tell you that I have been an unmitigated and comprehensive ass. ’

‘ thank the lord for that! I thought it would never happen. ’

‘ I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing. ’

‘ can you die of happiness? ’

‘ bravo! that is the most unforgiving speech you’ve ever made. ’

‘ you can be at no loss to understand why I am here. ’

‘ I warn you, I am not to be trifled with. ’

‘ if you believed it impossible, I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. ’

‘ you may ask the questions, which I may not choose to answer. ’ 

‘ you have insulted me in every possible way and can now have nothing further to say. I must ask you to leave immediately. ’

‘ I have never been thus treated in my entire life. ’

‘ for once in your life,  just leave me alone! ’

‘ I couldn’t sleep. ’

‘ how can I ever make amends for such behaviour? ’

‘ you must know  —  surely you must know, that it was all for you. ’

‘ you are too generous to trifle with me. ’

‘ my affections and wishes have not changed. ’

‘ one word from you will silence me forever. ’

‘ you have bewitched me body and soul and I love and love and love you. ’

‘ I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. ’

‘ your hands are cold. ’

‘ I thought you hated the man. ’

‘ but will that make you happy? ’

‘ I was wrong, entirely wrong about him. ’

‘ you mustn’t tell anyone. he wouldn’t want it. ’

‘ you do love him, don’t you? ’

‘ I cannot believe that anyone can deserve you. ’

‘ and how are you today, my dear? ’

‘ I wish you would not call me “my dear”. ’

‘ what endearments am I allowed? ’

‘ and what shall I call you when I’m cross? ’

continuing from this list i made earlier!

“ i miss you. ”

“ i don’t think i can do this anymore. ”

“ were you really about to leave without saying goodbye? ”

“ please don’t make me say it. ”

“ i need you. ”

“ please don’t go… ”

“ you know i’m never going to let anything happen to you. don’t you? ”

“ are you… are you afraid of me? ”

“ you’re a good person. ”

“ don’t worry. i’ll stay. i’m not going anywhere. ”

“ …is what they’re saying true? ”

“ i don’t care about any of that. i only care about you! ”

“ i’m here. ”

“ you have no idea how glad i am to see you. ”

“ just… tell me how to fix this. ”

“ please. now is not the time for lies. please, just… tell me the truth. ”

“ you know you can tell me anything… right? ”

“ hey… there is nothing in this world that you can tell me, that’ll ever make me hate, fear, or leave you. please, rest easy in that knowledge. ”

“ i never thought i’d see you again. ”

“ please… you have to understand why i did what i did… ”

“ why didn’t you tell me? ”

“ everyone has secrets, don’t they? i’m sure you’ll tell me yours when you’re ready. ”

“ you’re not alone. ”

“ you can trust me. ”

“ i can’t believe i ever trusted you… ”

“ it’s okay… everything’s going to be alright. ”

“ i…  i  don’t know how to fix this. ”

“ there’s no other way, is there? ”

“ no. absolutely not. no way. i’m not letting you do this. ”

“ you don’t know what it was like. ”

“ for gods sake, don’t do this! don’t you dare make me lose anyone else! not today! ”

“ i can’t lose you… ”

“ haven’t we suffered enough? can’t we have this one good thing? ”

“ you know, i think this might be the first time i’ve ever seen you frightened… ”

“ goodbye, my love/old friend. ”

“ you didn’t honestly expect me to let you do this alone, did you? ”

“ you lied to me. ”

“ you abandoned me. ”

“ promise me. ”

“ you promised! ”

“ please don’t do this… ”

“ we were one hell of a pair, weren’t we? ”

“ perhaps i am a little frightened… ”

“ we’re a team. remember? so let’s face this one together. ”

“ sorry. you’re stuck with me, i’m afraid. it’s part of the whole friendship/relationship thing. wherever you go, i go. ”

“ you… you must know, before anything else happens tonight… you must know that you were the greatest thing that ever happened to me. ”

memes for touches that are platonic. ‘My muse’ is the receiver, ‘Your muse’ is the sender. 

add + REVERSE to reverse the actions

[ SHOULDER ] to grasp my muse by the shoulder to turn them around

[ MUG ] wrap my muse’s hands around a hot mug

[ BLANKET ] to drape a blanket over my muse’s shoulder

[ HUG ] to hug my muse from behind

[ SNUGGLE ] to watch a movie snuggled together

[ SHOVE ] to playfully shove my muse

[ HIGH FIVE ] to attempt to high five my muse

[ SIT ] to sit next to my muse and bump shoulders

[ DRAPE ] to drape an arm over my muse’s shoulder

[ OFFER ] to offer my muse food

[ GROAN ] to groan in frustration at my muse over the phone

[ LIFT ] to help my muse lift something heavy

[ HAND ] to touch my muse’s hand/s in comfort

[ NIGHTMARE ] to wake my muse up from a nightmare

[ SIGN ] to use sign language to sign to my muse gratitude 

[ FLICK ] to flick my muse on the forehead for something they said

“ don't go. stay. “

“ but you're here. so stay. “

“ i wouldn't tell you this if it wasn't important. “

“ you can talk to about anything, you know. “

“ do you hate me? “

“ i could never hate you. not really. “

“ you're my friend, but, i wish you were more than that.

“ we're not just friends. you know that. “

“ i think you're in love with me. “

“ i think i'm in love with you. “

“ i don't want to be alone tonight. “

“ let's be alone together.

“ hold my hand. “

“ can i hold your hand? “

“ your hand is tiny. look at the size different. “

“ things would be so much easier if we were honest with each other. “

“ why can't you just be honest with me? with yourself? “

“ maybe you could stay? just for tonight? it’s dark outside, and it’s raining. my arms are much safer. “

“ you can't keep doing this. you can't keep lying to yourself. “

“ i can't keep lying to myself, or to you. it's not fair to either of us. “

“ i think you should kiss me. “ “ really? “ “ yeah. “

“ kiss me like you mean it. “

“ just kiss me. “

“ you shouldn't kiss me right now. “

“ look me in the eyes and tell me you love me. “

“ you can't lie to me, you know. you can try but, your eyes will always tell the truth. “

“ you're pretty amazing. you know that, right? “

“ you're just... you're extraordinary. “

“ you're good to me, you know. really good. “

“ you've made me the happiest i've ever been. “

“ i don't know what i would have done if you weren't here. “

“ our love could conquer anything. “

“ and for many generations to come, our love story will live on. “

“ i want you to marry me. “

“ if you asked me to marry you tomorrow, i'd say yes. “ “ what about today? “

“ marry me, name. marry me and make me the luckiest [x] in the world. “

“ i'd tell you i love you but, i'd rather show you. “

“ your kiss could mend a broken heart. “

“ are you going to kiss me again, or do i have to do it myself? “

“ i could cry, that's how much i love you. “

“ you're worthy of my love. “

“ truth is that i'm so damn in love with you that i don't know what to do with myself. “

“ maybe tonight, it's you and me. “

“ i don't know what the future holds. all i know is that i hope you're in it. “

“ could you promise me one thing? “ “ what's that? “ “ that we'll be together, no matter what. “

“ it's you and me, forever. no matter what. “

“ i didn't want to tell you before i was sure, but... i'm pregnant. “

“ we're going to be family! “

“ this baby, it's the best thing that could ever have happened to us. “

“ i can't believe this! we're going to be parents! “

“ dance with me? “

“ may i have this dance? “

“ take me to paris, and kiss me under the stars. “

“ you're my whole world, you know. “

“ don't speak, just... kiss me. “

“ you have no idea how long i've been wanting to that. “

“ i've been wanting to tell you for so long... “

“ so... is this, like a thing now? “

“ i always miss you. even when you're right beside me. “

“ you make me happier. “

“ i love waking up next to you. “

“ my favorite thing is falling asleep next to you. “

“ just hold me. “

“ come cuddle with me. “

“ this is torture, isn't it? “ “ not in the slightest. “

“ do you love me? “

“ could this be something more? “

“ move in with me. “

“ do you think we should move in together?

“ maybe you should move in? you spend all your time here anyway. “

“ are you serious? i've had a crush on you for as long as i can remember. “

“ i know you're in love with me. “

“ you're really cute, you know. “

“ you're so damn attractive. you know that right? “

↬   THE  LANGUAGE  OF  THORNS,  midnight  tales  and  dangerous  magic.   (  2017  )  by  leigh  bardugo.

sentences  taken  from  or  inspired  by  the  collection’s  dialogue  &  narration.

+   feel  free  to  change  pronouns  !

i.    AYAMA  AND  THE  THORN  WOOD.

‘  love  speaks  in  flowers.  truth  requires  thorns.  ’

‘  we  all  know  the  story  of  how  the  queen  becomes  a  queen.  ’

‘  we  should  leave  this  place.  ’

‘  no  doubt  it  will  come  and  devour  us  all.  ’

‘  the  beast  will  laugh  you  right  out  of  the  wild  lands.  ’

‘  you  know  how  the  stories  go.  interesting  things  happen  only  to  pretty  girls.  ’

‘  is  the  wood  much  worse  than  a  garden  overgrown  with  pricklers  ?  ’

‘  stupid  girl  !  do  you  wish  to  become  a  monster  ?  ’

‘  strike  me.  cleave  me  in  two.  ’

‘  you’re  as  thorny  as  the  wood.  ’  

‘  there  is  but  one  rule  in  my  wood.  speak  truth.  ’

‘  perhaps  you  might  show  mercy  freely.  ’

‘  just  eat  a  bit  of  the  sun  to  fill  the  sky,  and  you  will  feel  empty  no  longer.  ’

‘  what  nonsense  !  of  course  that’s  not  how  the  story  ends.  ’

‘  some  people  are  born  with  a  piece  of  night  inside,  and  that  hollow  place  can  never  be  filled.  ’

‘  what  do  i  care  for  winter  ?  no  season  touches  this  wood.  ’

‘  you  know  the  only  bargain  i  will  make.  ’

‘  sometimes  the  unseen  is  not  to  be  feared  and  those  that  are  meant  to  love  us  most  are  not  always  the  ones  that  do.  ’

‘  bad  fates  do  not  always  follow  those  that  deserve  them.  ’

‘  no  prince  is  worth  your  life.  ’

‘  are  you  so  eager  to  be  eaten  ?  ’

‘  they  have  told  me  to  return  with  your  heart.  ’

‘  you  think  to  love  a  monster  ?  ’

‘  a  man  like  you  is  owed  no  words.  ’

ii.    THE  TOO  CLEVER  FOX.

‘  you  are  doomed  to  a  miserable  life.  ’

‘  better  to  be  hungry  now  than  to  be  sorry  later.  ’

‘  what  will  everyone  say  when  they  see  such  a  face  ?  ’

‘  we  have  not  gone  so  soft  as  that.  ’

‘  you  think  that  we  will  let  you  live  on  foolish  promises  ?  ’

‘  you  have  bested  me.  that  much  is  clear.  ’

‘  will  you  not  free  me  ?  ’

‘  you  will  have  a  fine  time  of  it,  i  can  tell  you.  ’

‘  i  can  bear  ugliness.  i  find  the  one  thing  i  cannot  live  with  is  death.  ’

‘  if  you  will  only  cease  your  talking,  i  will  gladly  go.  ’

‘  where  he  went,  he  bled  the  woods  dry.  ’

‘  what’s  a  bit  more  blood  ?  ’

‘  you  should  leave  this  place.  you  are  not  safe  here.  ’

‘  with  such  big  eyes,  i  think  you  see  too  much.  ’

‘  will  you  not  tell  me  what  troubles  you  ?  ’

‘  why  do  you  stay  with  him  ?  you’re  pretty  enough  to  catch  a  husband.  ’

‘  just  because  you  escape  one  trap,  doesn’t  mean  you  will  escape  the  next.  ’

‘  first  i  must  find  my  courage.  ’

‘  few  can  resist  the  sight  of  a  pretty  girl  crying.  ’

‘  the  trap  is  loneliness,  and  no  one  escapes  it.  not  even  me.  ’

‘  in  the  wood,  even  songbirds  must  be  survivors.  ’

iii.    THE  WITCH  OF  DUVA.

‘  there  was  a  time  when  the  wood  ate  girls.  ’

‘  be  back  before  dark.  the  trees  are  hungry  tonight.  ’

‘  who  can  say  what  shapes  an  appetite  ?  ’

‘  this  is  my  home,  you  can’t  just  send  me  away.  ’ 

‘  don’t  be  foolish.  there’s  plenty  of  light.  ’

‘  well  then,  come  help  me  stir  the  pot.  ’

‘  i  will  warn  you  just  this  once.  go.  ’ 

‘  you  cannot  come  and  go  from  this  place  like  you’re  fetching  water  from  a  well.  ’  

‘  hope  made  me  stubborn.  ’

‘  stay  there  and  keep  quiet.  i  don’t  need  rumors  that  i’ve  been  taking  girls.  ’

‘  i  will  not  have  you  bring  a  monster  to  my  door.  ’

‘  you  know  that  you  are  welcome  to  remain  here  with  me.  ’

‘  i  will  follow  her.  i  will  peck  out  her  eyes.  ’

‘  believe  me.  say  you  believe  me.  ’

‘  dark  things  have  a  way  of  slipping  through  narrow  spaces.  ’

iv.    LITTLE  KNIFE.

‘  it  is  dangerous  to  travel  the  northern  road  with  a  troubled  heart.  ’

‘  if  you  are  lost  in  your  own  thoughts,  you  may  find  yourself  stepping  off  the  path  and  into  the  dark  woods.  ’

‘  she  was  beautiful  from  the  moment  of  her  birth.  ’

‘  why  must  i  be  the  one  to  hide  ?  ’

‘  do  you  think  i  am  so  foolish  or  so  cruel  ?  ’

‘  water  only  wants  direction.  it  wants  to  be  told  what  to  do.  ’

‘  always  you  have  done  my  bidding,  but  what  good  are  you  to  me  now  ?  ’

‘  soon  i  will  be  very  rich,  but  will  i  have  a  good  man  ?  ’

‘  that  is  a  question  for  the  river.  ’

‘  your  tongue  is  not  fit  for  my  true  name.  ’

‘  will  you  come  with  me,  and  be  bride  to  nothing  but  the  shore  ?  ’

‘  she  was  terrifying  in  her  beauty,  bright  like  a  devouring  star.  ’

‘  remember  that  to  use  a  thing  is  not  to  own  it.  ’

‘  should  you  ever  take  a  bride,  listen  closely  to  her  questions.  ’

v.    THE  SOLDIER  PRINCE.

‘  this  is  the  problem  with  even  lesser  demons.  they  come  to  your  door  in  velvet  coats  and  polished  shoes.  ’

‘  you  will  find  great  love  and  more  gold  than  you  could  wish  for.  ’

‘  he’s  a  charming  fellow,  but  most  unusual,  and  peculiarities  seem  to  follow  him.  ’  

’  it  seemed  harmless  at  the  time.  ’

‘  he  needed  a  girl,  still  malleable,  one  that  he  could  make  admire  him.  ’

‘  this  is  pleasant.  this  is  enough.  ’

‘  are  you  my  soldier  ?  are  you  my  prince  ?  ’

‘  i  have  not  come  to  fight,  only  to  talk.  ’

‘  wanting  is  why  people  get  up  in  the  morning.  it  gives  them  something  to  dream  of  at  night.  ’

‘  i  am  perfectly  real.  ’

‘  she  loves  you,  though,  and  that  will  make  it  harder.  ’

‘  best  not  to  ask.  i  think  the  answer  would  please  no  one.  ’

‘  we  can  stay  forever  in  the  land  of  dreams.  ’

‘  kiss  me.  take  me  from  this  place.  ’

‘  i  sent  you  to  die  a  hundred  times.  ’

‘  i  eat  the  wonder  in  their  eyes.  ’

‘  you  were  an  idea  in  my  head.  you  were  nothing,  and  to  nothing  you  will  return  when  i  think  of  you  no  more.  ’

‘  you  wanted  only  that  i  might  live.  you  would  sacrifice  your  own  life  to  make  it  so.  ’

‘  are  you  my  darling  ?  are  you  mine  ?  ’

vi.    WHEN  WATER  SANG  FIRE.

‘  you  wish  to  strike  a  bargain.  ’

‘  make  me  someone  new.  ’

‘  this  is  the  problem  with  making  a  thing  forbidden.  it  does  nothing  but  build  an  ache  in  the  heart.  ’

‘  easy  magic  is  pretty.  great  magic  requires  that  you  trouble  the  waters.  ’

‘  no  one  expects  me  to  accomplish  anything.  ’

‘  i  can  smell  your  ambition  like  blood  in  the  water.’  

‘  i  know  that  you  should  keep  it  like  a  secret,  not  shout  it  like  a  curse.  ’

‘  yes.  i  can  imagine  it  all.  ’

‘  you  are  worth  more  than  that.  you  should  not  have  to  earn  him.  ’

‘  hope  rises  like  water  trapped  beneath  a  dam,  higher  and  higher,  in  increments  that  mean  nothing  until  you  face  the  flood.  ’

‘  there  is  no  pain  like  the  pain  of  transformation.  ’

‘  take  your  pleasures  as  you  will.  ’

‘  come,  and  i’ll  tell  you  all  you  wish  to  know.  ’

‘  he  made  me  dream  of  things  i  cannot  have.  ’

‘  i  do  not  care  for  dancing.  ’

‘  look  into  the  mirror,  and  try  to  deny  it.  ’

‘  you  have  never  been  like  the  others,  and  you  never  will  be.  ’

‘  we  were  not  made  to  please  princes.  ’

‘  i  am  not  quite  mortal  either,  and  i  have  many  lives  to  live.  ’

‘  i  wouldn’t  care  if  you  were  part  human  or  part  frog.  ’

‘  my  voice  is  not  enough.  ’