so it goes

Assassin's Creed Outfit Moodboards ↳ Arno Dorian + Athos' Duel Shirt

Hi hello! I have not become a missing person; I'm just in the middle of my ranger season and haven't had reliable access to WiFi. Daily activities have included! Night hiking, hunting for aquatic macroinvertebrates, quilting, mimicking gray-cheeked salamanders, mimicking fireflies, inadvertently attracting owls, avoiding elk, wrangling chickens, dressing in 19th century garb and baking cornbread on the hearth of a 126-year old house, other duties as assigned. A standard season!

Anyway, I saw this ren faire photo from user Shakespeare922 on reddit and had to turn it into twentysomething Boromir suited up for tournament. HAD to.

Daily tenderness.

Some of the details are inspired by @bootlegslut 's fic Death Is Only A Horizon. Anyone who’s read it will recognise which ones. ✨

Ex boyfriend Vilkas would be sooo pathetic about it. He'd close himself off from everyone, rarely leaving home other than for work. He'd spend nights in bed imagining that he can still feel the weight of you on his chest. His emotional pain feels almost physical - the aches, the pains, the overall tiredness it leaves him with.

He swears that he's handling everything alright. He can shoulder this grief. He'd thought you were the one but it makes sense that you left him too. He's just a waste of your time, after all.

Vilkas who feels the first flicker of excitement in months because the stranger jostled into his side is you. You're there, cheeks bright and smiling up at him. You look a little uneasy but he doesn't think about that too much.

"Vilkas -"

"Hey, there you are." A man's voice cuts through this nice moment. Vilkas retreats into the safety of self loathing when this stranger's arm falls around your shoulder. He's tripping backwards, sadness ripping at his chest. The man's saying something but he can't hear anything but the ringing in his ears.

Ex boyfriend Vilkas who shows up on your doorstep in the dead of night. He hasn't slept since running into you. Can't stop thinking about you. He's surprised when you open the door - thank god you're alone.

"Does he treat you right?" Do you want him? Do you love him? Do you think about me? The rest of his questions are worthless.

"Who?"

"Your boyfriend." He sneers, relieved to feel anger once more. It may be unearned but it's better than the harrowing loneliness.

"He's not my boyfriend."

It takes a moment to reconcile in his mind. He's not your boyfriend. You aren't seeing someone else. Is there any way you could still want him? Vilkas feels like a fool but your hand is stroking his cheek.

"You haven't been sleeping well."

Ex boyfriend Vilkas who has you pinned against the wall of a house he once called home. His knee's between your thighs and he's devouring your throat. He can't seem to get enough of you, hands refusing to settle anywhere. You're whispering his name, hips rutting into his. Your hands are in his hair and for one fleeting moment Vilkas is certain you've missed him.

Maybe getting together was fairly easy - moving from friends with mutual crushes to friends who snuggle and kiss. It was so natural but neither of you were ready to have the 'what are we?' conversation. It's fun for a while - finally being able to openly flirt with each other instead of being shy. Holding hands, sleepovers, spending every day together.

But when neither of you are brave enough to initiate that conversation it all falls apart. Is it pointless to have bits and pieces of a relationship without the commitment? Instead of having a serious conversation you both just wait for it to reach a natural end. Even if you both want it, you can't get anywhere if no one is mature enough to speak first.

Farkas thinks you were just having fun with him to pass the time. He's pretty sure he's always been in love with you but there's no way you feel the same way. You may think he's cute and funny but he's not boyfriend material, is he? He doesn't take things seriously. He's away from home often. The Companions will always demand his attention. He understands why you don't want him.

Both of you were too scared of ruining the friendship to do anything about your feelings for each other so it just collapses. He's the right person but this is the wrong time - neither of you are mature enough to face your feelings but Farkas is your person. You just have to pray that when you feel ready to face that truth he feels the same.

So you date around. You're pretty sure Farkas is seeing someone casually too and try to ignore the gnawing jealousy. You find a boyfriend that's nice enough. He's not Farkas but it's better than nothing, you suppose. The absence of overwhelming, soul deep love somehow makes it easy. You don't care if this one doesn't work out.

Farkas can't be blamed if he brings up stories from years ago - he certainly doesn't intend to insinuate anything. If this guy picks up that Farkas has known you longer it's not his fault. He is a permanent fixture in your life. Boyfriends can come and go, Farkas knows he'll be by your side forever.

"You weren't very nice." Farkas adores the way you pout up at him. His heart skips when you prod a finger into his chest. "You were acting like a scary bodyguard."

"Not my fault he's intimidated by me."

"You flexed on purpose to show off your muscles!"

"Thought you liked my big muscles?" Farkas teases, leaning closer until your noses brush. He's thrilled that you still let him touch you like this, that you don't shove him away. For you, Farkas is a leashed dog - he will always belong to you.

He knows you like his muscles. Farkas can still remember how you'd drool when his arm flexed around your throat. How it always excited you to be lifted over his shoulder. Maybe he did put some thought into wearing shorter sleeves but that's not the point.