Neve

@neve-ra

Upfront and forthcoming. Rook supposed he should've expected as much— Neve has always been pragmatic. Still, to glance beyond the curtain, to witness the inklings of internal struggle within the bulwark— he was rather mystified.

"We've all craved to alter the decisions made in the past," he comes to lean against the side of her desk, turning his body just-so to properly look at her, coffee in hand. "But..." For a brief moment, he trails, glancing away from Neve to look somewhat solemnly down into his cup, as if lost in thought.

I cannot afford regret, he wants to say— but that may open a door to far more vulnerability than he's accustomed to. "I think if I went back to change anything, I wouldn't be where I am now." Rook settles, returning his gaze to rest upon Neve, the smallest of content smiles curling in his lip.

It takes him a moment to realize what he might have just implied, and he immediately rips his gaze away once more with an awkward clearing of the throat. And yet he can't find it in him to dismiss the accidental implication, so he leaves it to silence, and to her interpretation.

@tarrasch

         ​🇫​​🇴​​🇷​   ​🇹​​🇭​​🇪​   ​🇹​​🇮​​🇲​​🇪​   ​🇹​​🇭​​🇪​​🇾​   ​🇰​​🇳​​🇪​​🇼​   ​🇴​​🇫​   ​🇪​​🇦​​🇨​​🇭​   ​🇴​​🇹​​🇭​​🇪​​🇷​   ,   ​🇭​​🇪​   ​🇭​​🇦​​🇩​   ​🇬​​🇷​​🇴​​🇼​​🇳​   ​🇹​​🇴​   ​🇸​​🇺​​🇷​​🇵​​🇷​​🇮​​🇸​​🇪​   ​🇭​​🇪​​🇷​   ​🇫​​🇷​​🇴​​🇲​   ​🇹​​🇮​​🇲​​🇪​   ​🇹​​🇴​   ​🇹​​🇮​​🇲​​🇪​       —       be   it   with   some    bigger    decisions   of   even   the   things   he   says   in   the   privacy   they   find   themselves   within   at   the   time.   but   his   comment   seems   to   bring   a   bit   more    wonder    into   passing   ,   etched   upon   her   features   for   but   a   moment   with   brows   to   raise.   and   she   contemplates   her   previous   answer   then   ,   curious   unto   herself   if   she   would   change   anything   that   may   have   altered   where   she   would   be   now.

                             no   ,   she   quite   likes   this   company   ,    doesnt   she?

         gifted   back   to   him   ,   she   finds   herself   smiling   a   bit   more   ,   a   bit   more    sincere.            ❛   well   ,   in   truth   ,   if   any   of   my   decisions   may   have   stopped   the    Gods    from   behaving   like   this   -   ❜           a   shrug   is   given   then   as   she   leans   back   into   her   seat   ,   eyes   trained   upon   the   qunari   in   a   near    quizzical    manner.   she   doesnt   finish   her   sentence   ,   there   was   no    reason    too   with   where   she   was   going.

         eyes   flicker   across   the   others   features   ,   observant   as   always   ,   before   a   simple    dry    laugh   escapes.    their   stories.    what   an   inquisitive   ,    scary    thing   to   think   on   ,   for   their   futures   were   so    unknown.           ❛   a   bit   too   much   ,   if   you   ask   me.   ❜           she   finds   herself   retorting   with   a   shake   of   the   head.   and   there   ,   in   the   midst   of   even   the    bit    of   joking   she   may   have   had   ,   a   solemn   look   graces   her   visage.     

@neve-ra: ' you want a better story . who wouldn’t ? '

'Who wouldn't?'

Neve's response rang curiously in Rook's head— he had yet to witness her give even a hint toward her insecurities— and here she was, cracking her own veneer. He wasn't even sure that she had meant to. Whatever the case, something felt special about this, like he had seen something he shouldn't have.

@tarrasch

         ​🇦​   ​🇸​​🇮​​🇳​​🇬​​🇱​​🇪​   ​🇧​​🇱​​🇺​​🇳​​🇹​   ​🇳​​🇦​​🇮​​🇱​   ​🇹​​🇦​​🇵​​🇸​   ​🇦​​🇬​​🇦​​🇮​​🇳​​🇸​​🇹​   ​🇹​​🇭​​🇪​   ​🇬​​🇱​​🇦​​🇸​​🇸​   ​🇸​​🇭​​🇪​   ​🇮​​🇸​   ​🇭​​🇴​​🇱​​🇩​​🇮​​🇳​​🇬​   ,   ​🇱​​🇮​​🇵​​🇸​   ​🇵​​🇺​​🇷​​🇸​​🇪​​🇩​   ​🇪​​🇻​​🇪​​🇷​   ​🇮​​🇳​   ​🇹​​🇭​​🇪​   ​🇸​​🇱​​🇮​​🇬​​🇭​​🇹​​🇪​​🇸​​🇹​       —       contemplation   as   easy   to   read   as   ever   across   ones   expressionism.   her   own   tales   were   oft   spoken   across   papers   and   word   of   mouth   ,   known   to   some   or   many   who   may   think   to    listen.    but   so   few   know   the   depth   of   them   ,   what   could   have   happened   or   been   done   or   said.   so   ,   she   sits   there   for   a   moment   ,    thinking.

         what   harm   was   there   in   being   a   bit   honest   about   those   things?

                    ❛   hm.   would   probably   retain   some   of   the    ‘benefit   of   the   doubt’    i   have   given   others   ,   maybe   spoken   up   sooner   on   some.   ❜           dark   shades   move   towards   the   other   ,   the   corner   of   her   lips   perking   upward   then.           ❛   finish   a   story   to   start   another   ,   learn   how   to   correct   my   mistakes   for   them   to   be.   .   .    completed    with   better   means   for   the   end.   but   that   is   just   me   being   vague   ,   isnt   it?   ❜           she   leans   forward   to   set   her   cup   down   ,   soon   to   lean   over   the   arm   over   her   seat   in   a    lazed    position.

@neve-ra

She would never realize it, but her words shook something heavy from his shoulders— as if a weight he didn't know he carried had been pulled away with her hands— that she had been the only one to see it. Perhaps he should have expected it, she was a detective, impossibly aware of her surroundings, seeing things no one else could.

Neve saw right through him, saw right through that thick outer shell Rook had painstakingly put together to keep others away, to keep them safe— to keep himself safe. Maybe it was easy for her to see, for she, too, maintained that selfsame shell. She saw in him what he forced upon himself. The burden of responsibility, of leadership, and the shoes he had been unceremoniously placed into, and his intense desire to prove himself worthy.

He was more than this sudden leader, more than a shadow dragon, more than the tower sworn to protect the king upon the chess board, more than 'rook'. No one else seemed to see that, not even him— but she did. Who else could?

And so, a soft chuckle is pulled from his chest, the smallest of smiles pulling at one corner of his lip.

"You always seem to know just what to say."

I just hope something I become is yours, too — he wants to add, but he forces it down with a swallow. His smile remains, and so does the hand he places upon hers.

[ lean ] sender rests their head on receiver's shoulder

[ shop ] sender and receiver go to the grocery store together

[ brush ] sender brushes receiver's hair

[ tie ] sender helps receiver with their tie, either by putting it on or adjusting it

[ necklace ] sender helps receiver with the clasp of their necklace from behind

[ zip up ] sender assists receiver with zipping up a piece of clothing

[ unzip ] sender assists receiver with unzipping a piece of clothing

[ shoelaces ] sender bends down to tie receiver's shoelaces

[ swipe ] sender notices a smudge of something on receiver's face and gently wipes it off

[ braid ] sender braids receiver's hair

[ jacket ] sender takes their jacket off and hangs it on receiver's shoulders

[ puddle ] sender hurries to stop receiver from stepping into a puddle

[ drinks ] sender brings receiver a drink from a bar/their kitchen

[ feed ] sender feeds receiver's pet/s for them

[ cook ] sender and receiver cook a meal together

[ feed ] sender allows receiver to try a bite of their dish, holding their fork out for receiver to taste

[ teach ] sender, an expert at something, takes time to teach receiver how it works and how they can get better at it, too

[ readjust ] sender comes up behind receiver and readjusts their stance (maybe holding a gun, holding a golf club, aiming for something, etc.) to help them

[ makeup ] sender fixes receiver's makeup for them

[ bathroom ] sender and receiver go to a public restroom together and have a normal conversation in between the stalls

[ aloud ] sender reads aloud to receiver

[ refill ] sender refills receiver's glass without asking

[ massage ] sender notices receiver looks tense, steps up behind them, and massages their shoulders

[ listen ] sender listens to receiver explain something they're passionate about

[ silence ] sender and receiver comfortably exist in silence together, both of them working or reading or focusing on something different

[ food ] sender brings food over to receiver's house

[ hum ] sender hums along to a song receiver is singing

[ see ] sender sees something that reminds them of receiver and texts them a picture of it

[ admire ] sender stares at receiver across a room, silently admiring and appreciating them from afar

[ win ] sender lets receiver beat them in a game

[ puzzle ] sender helps receiver solve/put together a puzzle

[ carry ] after receiver falls asleep in an inconvenient place, sender carries them to a bed and tucks them in

[ kneel ] sender finds receiver sick in the bathroom ("tossing their cookies"), and kneels beside them, holding their hair back and cleaning their face

[ clean ] sender helps bathe receiver

[ wash ] sender helps receiver wash their hair

@neve-ra 

Beneath the red moon with her— on this doomed night— he couldn't imagine himself spending it with anyone else. No matter what may unfold, they had this moment. Words may go unspoken, but they can be shown through other means where fear otherwise grips them both tight.

A low rumble of a laugh is pulled from his throat at her batting, Rook raising his hands back and away in faux surrender. "Me; playing the investigator? I wouldn't dare outshine you in that department." He says with a soft snicker, letting his hands fall to rest loosely on her thighs once again, very obviously content with her taking the reins as it allowed him to take a moment to admire her— so he may put her very being to memory.

When she's tugging at his sleeves does he finally adjust further, craning forward awkwardly in order to swing his arms out enough to shrug off his outer layers. Despite the awkwardness of the angle, it places his head mere inches from Neve's chest— so he's certainly not complaining, however brief it was.

Soft laughter leaves him again at her comment. "You love the challenge," he retorts gently, his teasing smile dissolving into something far more affectionate and meaningful as he leans back to give her the space needed, her fingers slipping beneath his undershirt. He's watching, enamored— a gaze he commonly leveled at her in fleeting moments— some of which she may have never realized were there. Even he didn't know when it truly began.

His very flesh would mold beneath her fingertips if she willed it— the heat of his flesh a comforting parallel to her cool touch. She felt like the warm blanket of crackling magic, right behind the eyes. Intoxicating. As Neve went, the coils in Rook's belly began to wind tighter and tighter. His breathing was becoming noticeably more heavy, his heart like thunder beneath her hand. A soft purple hue danced in his eyes.

Neve pulls him from his thoughts when she calls his name, meeting her gaze. The question catches him off guard— and it makes his cheeks burn, as if she had somehow exposed him, calling attention to something previously unnoticed. And she was right.

"Yes," he whispers, soft and honest and direct, not once breaking eye contact. Rook's chest swells once more with that desire to bring words unspoken to the light, but he fights the urge. "There's no one else I'd rather be like this with."

The hands previously on her thighs move upwards, guiding Neve toward him enough to kiss her again. It's gentle and chaste, Rook then moves to trail his lips along her jaw, halting only to place a kiss upon her forehead before slipping lower, encouraging her further into his lap.

There's so many things he wants to say— to bear his bleeding heart to her— but he knows neither of them are ready, that he would scare her off if he dared to. So instead, he shall show his heart through actions, not words.

He's going to love her like this night might be their last night.

@tarrasch

         ᴛᴏ   ꜱᴀʏ   ʜᴇʀ   ᴄʜᴇꜱᴛ   ꜰᴇʟᴛ   ᴛʜᴇ   ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ   ᴏꜰ   ʜɪꜱ   ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ   ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ   ᴀɴᴅ   ᴡᴏʀᴅ   ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ   ʙᴇ   ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ   ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ   ᴏꜰ   ᴛʜᴇ   ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ       —       for   he   really   added   onto   the   ordeal   of   their   being   together   at   this   time   and   place   in   such   a   way   that   collide   with   their   possible    (   or   not   so   much?   )    future   together.   it   only   heightened   the   near    neediness    she   may   have   been   feeling   in   this   moment   ,   to   revel   in   each   others   presences   like   this   ,   for   who   else   would   she   want   their   may    limited    time   to   be   spent   with? 

                    but   of   course   ,   who   was   she   to   let   her   mind   wander   when   he   looked   at   her   like    that?

         the   warmth   of   color   upon   the   apple   of   his   cheeks   do   not   go   unnoticed.   she   found   herself   half   tempted   to   lean   forward   and   shower   them   in   sweet   and   tender   kisses.   for   where    words    seem   to   halt   so   quickly   upon   her   tongue   ,   her   actions   would   continue   to   present   everything   she   cannot    say.    

                             ‘   there’s   no   one   else   i'd   rather   be   like   this   with.   '

         such   words   may   be   so    simple    to   some   ,   but   it   swelled   a   certain   sensation   within   her   that   near   washed   away   the    worries    that   clung   to   her.   and   so   ready   she   was   when   guided   forward   ,   against   the   warmth   of   the   other   ,   smiling   into   the   kiss   shared   to   quickly.   he   was   so   gentle   ,    so   sweet    ,   she   before   might   have   been   surprised   by   the   fact   but   it   had   come   to   be   something   she   cherished   so    deeply.    another   soft    mmh    comes   from   her   ,   finding   words   to   lack   in   response   ,   for   what   could   she   says   to   match   such   a   statement   that   made   her   heart   a    flutter?

( this is basically just a very self indulgent list of various fluff, angst, and suggestive themed dialogue sentence starters. )

❛ i could keep you safe. they’re all afraid of me. ❜

❛ i’m trying to fix your hair, so hold still. ❜

❛ your heart is beating so fast right now. ❜

❛ promise me you’ll still be here when i wake up. ❜

❛ you’re not as bad as everyone says you are. ❜

❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜ 

❛ clean yourself up. you're getting blood all over the place. ❜

❛ here, give this a try and tell me what you think. ❜

❛ you can kiss me, you know. ❜

❛ come back to bed. ❜

❛ you look good like this. ❜

❛ working together again, it’s just like old times. ❜

❛ how is it you always know what i need, huh? ❜

❛ you’re lucky you got away with only a scratch. ❜ 

❛ i can’t imagine losing someone like that. i’m sorry. ❜

❛ you know you can always talk to me. ❜

❛ the only one who gets to kill you, is me. ❜

❛ so, what do i owe this pleasure? ❜

❛ ah, so you aren’t heartless after all. ❜

❛ may i have this dance? ❜ 

❛ it’s okay, you can touch me. i won't break. ❜

❛ enemies make the best lovers, you know. ❜

❛ hold still. this might sting a little. ❜

❛ we can't keep doing this. ❜ 

❛ you look like you've got something to say. ❜

❛ just relax and let me take care of you. ❜

❛ thought you’d be lighter without all that blood. ❜

❛ i had it under control. you didn’t need to do that. ❜

❛ everything looks so beautiful from up here. ❜

❛ you treat all your ladies like this? ❜

❛ well? how do i look? ❜

❛ can’t sleep? ❜

❛ do you mind if i smoke? ❜

❛ i’m scared of ending up alone. ❜

❛ i don’t think i’ve ever seen you smile. ❜

❛ how long has it been since you've slept? ❜

❛ you are losing my interest, and that’s very dangerous. ❜

❛ i’d suffer hell if you’d tell me what you’d do to me tonight. ❜

❛ you look really pretty right now. ❜

❛ i’ve never cared for anyone the way i care for you. ❜

❛ i’m not wearing any underwear. thought you’d like to know. ❜

❛ just a few more stitches and you’ll be as good as new. ❜

❛ i’d say we make a pretty good team. ❜

❛ i want you to forget this ever happened. ❜

❛ i'm here for business — not pleasure. ❜

❛ if i didn't know any better, i'd say you were jealous. ❜

❛ you'd look better down on your knees. ❜

❛ fine, keep acting like you hate me. ❜

❛ kiss me again. ❜

❛ are you asking me out on a date? ❜

❛ just sit there and look pretty and let me handle this. ❜

❛ you okay? caught you staring off into space again. ❜

❛ well, i do feel better now that you're here. ❜

❛ i'm not drunk enough for this. ❜ 

❛ why is it whenever we see each other, you’re covered in blood? ❜

❛ i was wrong about you. ❜ 

❛ the first time i met you, i had no idea you'd mean this much. ❜

❛ you gonna be a good girl / boy for me? ❜

❛ i’m not afraid of you. ❜

❛ books mean more to me than people anyway. ❜

❛ i just wanted to say thank you for protecting me. ❜

❛ how about a kiss goodnight? ❜

❛ i don’t have time for distractions right now. ❜

❛ you shouldn’t be out here by yourself. ❜