words words words

Seregil suddenly grabbed him by the arm and whirled him into an eccentric jig around the room. Alec hadn't even heard him approach. But he recovered swiftly and took the lead.

"But Sir Alec is a stiff-necked Dalnan yeoman," he said, laughing as he clomped through the steps of a country dance Beka and Elsbet had taught him.

"Wrong!" Grinning wickedly, Seregil yanked him into a formal pavan. "Sir Alec is stiff-necked Dalnan gentry. Besides, he should be picking up some of Lord Seregil's airs along the way."

Alec leaned back in mock horror. "Maker's Mercy, anything but that!"

NICKED

a collection of lines from the novel Nicked by M. T. Anderson, use as you wish, adjust as needed

Though I am a nonbeliever, I pray for faith.

We must leave our nest.

You’re not ready for the graveyard.

You look like a very good boy to me.

Do you know how I greet the morning each day?

We will keep the world from you as long as we can.

We do not know the bodies we live in.

There are those who would devour us.

You seem utterly useless to me.

They are deciding whether to pitch you overboard.

I do not want to die a worm.

Lord, tell me this is not all my doing.

As the sun sets, you skin seems to glow - with a greasy, unwashed sheen.

One should only lie if it will make you a prophet.

Do you feel safe with me beside you?

That’s what you were thinking? In your actual head?

I don’t want to be known.

There is kindness, __. not everyone is hard. Not everyone betrays.

I was once dead.

The rich do not need miracles.

When you know someone, truly know someone, it is easier to use them.

There is so much more for you to atone for.

You were my friend? And now that you have what you want..?

I am here once upon this earth, and you have given me such avenues to breathe deeply, to be.

Never forget that your life is a wonder.

It is our duty to imagine the suffering of all.

People only die once.

What grave did you rob?

Look what this sword can do! - And - And this! And this!

You have damned us all. We will be killed by crowds. By our own neighbors.

This is such an impressive crowd.

Remember, when you are trapped in this life, that often whatever liberates you, whatever transports you, must drag you by the hair to yank you free.

Don't mock me.

You're an excellent person. A good person. You came back for me.

_, what have you done?

I hear a riot, and I know you're nearby.

I had to do the right thing.

You betrayed me! You beat me! You clever bastard.

I didn't lie. I only told the truth.

Lie to me. Tell me the lie I want to hear.

He came out of nothingness, took form, was loved, was always bound to return to nothingness.

Only I did not think it would be so soon.

Or that he would precede us.

Two passing temporarinesses developed feelings for one another.

Two puffs of smoke became mutually fond.

I mistook him for a solidity and now must pay.

𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕟𝕙𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕖

a collection of lines from the novella Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, use as you wish, adjust as needed

You have been following me

I thought you were something more malign.

This is my place. You are in it.

Does the fire trouble you?

How long have you been here?

There is something here I wish to see.

We are not always given the choices we want.

Remember us, and if you can, find your way back to us in time.

If I can make it right, I will.

its a dangerous thing, curiosity

I mostly came for answers. Or maybe just the story.

Enchant him if you can. Kill him if you must.

Tell me at once if this hurts.

I can safely say that in all my life, no one has ever said that to me before.

You are too human.

I was born human, but things happened.

The spell went wrong.

You have not failed yet.

You don't know what you are yet, but I do.

You have to try to be good.

If we live through this, I will tell you everything I can think of.

I've come to keep you from doing harm… and again and again, I've failed.

Perhaps saving my life was merely to cover your intentions.

I am probably doing this wrong again, not feeling something when I should.

You endure this all, without complaint, day after day.

It is only the wicked that are sent to make mischief.

By rights she should be burned at the stake.

I should have killed her years ago.

I cannot do this! I have never killed anything fiercer than a fish!

Sleep and do not wake.

Someone else would do it better.

I won't turn into a beautiful lady at the end of this. This is what I look like.

Can you kill her? I dont mean… that's not a request- that's a question. Do you think you could?

But you couldn't leave here, could you?

I take it that didnt go quite as planned.

I thought I'd know what to do next.

I am probably mad or a fool or enchanted.

I believe you.

I had to stop you! You were hurting people!

Some things can't be fixed.

It should have mattered.

All that love and all that trying should have changed… something.

I'm sorry. I'm sobbing all over you.

Bones heal faster than spirits.

The dead do no harm to anyone.

We are made of cruelty and kindness both.

Welcome home, beloved.

I left without telling him goodbye.

We'll always be here. You're ours and we're yours.

𝕂𝕒𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕤 { 𝕡𝕥. 𝟙 }

a collection of lines from the novel Katabasis by R. F. Kuang, use as you wish, adjust as needed

You naughty girl. You're trying to go to Hell.

Hell is other people I've heard.

I don't think about you like that, truly.

We have talked about this. You may not have mental breakdowns in the stacks.

Why don’t you come back up here.

I think I shall go for a swim.

It might be there's only one way forward.

I feel sometimes it is so difficult to be conscious.

I think anything would be easier. Anything at all.

How can you be so calm right now?

Do you think they’re friendly?

We’re going to die.

We’re not going to die. We’ll figure it out.

That's a pretty way to say we have no idea what we're doing.

I would have simply kept that to myself.

You can't tell anyone about this.

Is there something I need to know?

I live the life of an aesthete.

You’re breathing all funny.

I don’t forget things.

If I didn't have to sweat for it, it doesn't count.

Sounds like you violated some rights.

You’re always snapping at people not to touch your teabags.

Pretend, pretend for your life.

You have no room for mistake.

You and I- we were not so blessed.

I need you to be exceptional.

If you’re angry with me, just tell me.

Still, I am a romantic!

Haven’t you ever been in love?

I think being in love might be the hardest thing to imagine.

We do not have time to articulate a philosophy of love.

Is it so hard to pretend you’re in love with me?

I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.

Please don’t blame me. I don’t know what I’m doing, I am not even a subject, I am not here.

You’re all part of the same story.

I know your script, and I can rewrite it. I am doing you a favor.

You just condemned me? For fun?

We’ve got to look out for each other, we magicians. It’s a sad world when we don’t.

I’m a genius, you know.

It was the absolute farce of it all. One day it seemed so silly to me, and I couldn’t stop laughing about it.

He treated me like a dog.

I realized there were no rewards coming. It was too late and there was no way out.

He’s just a hack like all the rest.

How did you end up here? And what did it cost you?

One day I stopped feeling anything at all. There was no difference between pain and pleasure. It was all just the same wash. Nothing mattered.

You’ve got that look about you.

We have to make it count. It has to be worth something. We can’t have done this all for nothing.

You’re giving up too much. This can’t be worth it.

You’re obsessed with gold stars.

Little ivory tower princess, you.

It hurts to be human.

Hurts to be reminded what you don’t have anymore. Better to erase yourself, bit by bit, until you are only what you need in the present moment.

You could achieve so much without the burdens of personhood.

There’s no one in the real world who cares about what we do.

Beats me why you’d want to go back.

I’m going to sit outside. I’m going to have a cup of tea, Assam, with lots of milk and a swirl of honey. And a cinnamon bun. With raisins.

The cosmos should have some coherence, don’t you think?

Hell’s not so bad for the people who are in it.

You seem very invested in persuading me to give up and die.

𝔸 ℍ𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝔹𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕤

a collection of lines from the novel A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher, use as you wish, adjust as needed

Did you know you’ve got yard vultures?

Do you know how long you’re staying?

I’m so glad to see you. I just wish it didn’t have to be here.

You know this is your home too.

Fuuuuck…

It sounds like something out a of a horror movie.

You must never allow your good name to be sullied by other people’s mouths.

Well, obviously the rumors weren’t true.

If I’m going to be miserable, at least I’ll be productively miserable.

You could be so pretty.

Don’t trust that guy. He’s got an alibi. People with alibis are always suspicious.

There should be a lot more of you.

Why aren’t there more of you?

Another childhood trauma vanquished by science.

I used to have nightmares about them.

You were my baby sister and I should have protected you.

I don’t remember it happening.

Thank god you remember it too.

Christ, no wonder you hated her.

If you need money, tell me.

I wouldn’t actually do it. I’m a very peaceful person. Usually.

I don’t like the thought of you having to be here all by yourself.

Oh god, why did I ever give up yoga?

You’re having a dream.

Do you think there will be more when we get back?

I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use it!

Don’t shoot! It’s just me!

Who the hell is just me?

I don’t actually have a gun. I just thought it would scare you.

Good first impressions are so important, don’t you think?

It must be so fascinating. Like a treasure hunt.

You know I never turn down free food.

I'm not actually a warlock, I just dress like one.

I don’t believe in any of that stuff.

I know you think I'm crazy.

I hope I'm crazy. Being crazy would be a lot easier than being right about thus.

It's real. You're not imagining things.

I didn't say she wasn't dead, I said she wasn't gone.

How did you come out so well?

I can feel it all over again. I know somethings going to happen.

If you keep your mouth hanging open like that, I'm going to toss a dead mouse in it.

There may be hope for you yet.

People are complicated.

She's dead! Very dead! Years and years dead!

I don’t even get a hello? After all these years?

Everything was wrong with me, all this time.

You've been sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong, haven't you?

Never stopped to think things might be buried for a reason, did you?

I can't believe you’re using instant mashed potatoes.

Magic. Yes, I suppose you'd call it magic.

You are being unreasonable, and you know it, but you can't admit you're wrong.

I am trying to fix things! Because none of you could ever do it for yourselves!

How dare you talk to me that way!

You can turn right around and go back to where you came from, witch.

Don't look at me. I'm just a witch.

Don't be ridiculous, you don't know him well enough to miss him.

I'll take any explanation you can give me.

Try growing a garden. I think you'd be surprisingly good at it.

They may be entirely gone, or at least mostly dead, but I don't think you should gamble on that.