A new dawn.

Not the best start to a marriage. And still, it worked.

"You were married to a stranger, one you'd never had the chance to meet, who you met at the altar - I imagine you were given my name and perhaps my occupation, at most. You're from a wealthy, powerful council family with much influence and I surmise, pride, attached. There is status and wealth and power to be had from our union, but it is not us who will reap it - it is our families, institutions greater than ourselves. And those institutions will use us how they see fit. Believe me: I know it has nothing to do with me, specifically. It could have been any Altmer stood at that altar, and I imagine you'd have felt the exact same way."

No-one ever accused Iachesis of being imperceptive, or humble. His pride was too great to be threatened and his understanding of the situation too sharp to be fooled. He, Líranel - they were married off as matters of practicality, of sealing alliances, of improving standing and wealth for both families. He was too wise to the politics of it to not understand.

🍄 . . . ╰──╮    ❝How lovely~!❞    Their initial excitement didn't last long, however. They knew that essentially, they would just have to play pretend, until one day, maybe, they would learn to love one another. Maybe. One could dream.

Those institutions will use us how they see fit.

That particular sentence cut through the haze of wine ; their brows arched slightly & they weighed their next words for a moment. Voicing certain thoughts aloud was dangerous, even for someone of their standing  ──   perhaps especially for someone of their standing.

The wine had clearly clouded their judgment somewhat, because now they found themself wondering whether their husband shared similar views...?

❝Yes... they do indeed use us...❞    Amrûn murmured softly, their gaze dropping to their wine.    ❝One's worth is only ever measured by how useful we are to them. What we want does not factor into it at all… You know, I've always wanted a wedding made of love. Oh well... Foolish, I know.❞    They refilled their glass   &   let out a humorless chuckle.     

❝Sad, isn't it, that such a thing is considered foolish among our kind? Hm... When I was younger, I spent a lot of time at the Khajiit markets. The friends I made there were happier than any highborn mer I have ever met. What they built, they built on love. How I envied them... I still do. I would give every coin I own for that sort of freedom...❞   Their voice had grown increasingly slurred and…. resigned.  Maybe they should stop rambling.

❝Apologies. The wine has loosened my tongue! I should stop talking before I say something treasonous… Sooo…❞  

Amrûn emptied yet another glass of wine, then decided on a rather abrupt change of subject :   ❝How many children do you want?❞  

i'm surprised that you stayed.

would you believe me if i said that i don't normally do this?

last night was incredible. i especially liked it when you did the thing.

how long have you been awake?

don't move. i'm comfortable.

what would you say to some breakfast?

i should really go.

i like waking up next to you.

you know, i could go another round. or three.

you look cute first thing in the morning.

i don't think i'm gonna be able to walk today.

what time is it?

i don't think i caught your name.

stop moving.

you talk in your sleep.

you have to leave, right now.

how did my shirt get there?

i'm trying so hard not to kiss you right now.

shut up, i'm trying to sleep.

your feet are cold.

i was worried last night had been a dream.

wanna order food and spoon for a while?

i thought you'd left.

come back to bed.

i didn't want to disturb you.

your phone was ringing.

last night didn't mean anything. you know that, right?

i've been waiting so long for this.

i love you.

kiss. for sender's muse to waken receiver's muse up with a kiss.

spoon. for sender's muse to pull receiver's muse flush against them, spooning them.

breakfast. for sender's muse to bring receiver's muse breakfast in bed.

morning. for our muses to have sleepy, morning sex.

shower. for our muses to shower together.

bathe. for our muses to bathe together.

kitchen. for our muses to prepare breakfast together.

trace. for sender's muse to trace the marks they left on receiver's body.

watch. for sender's muse to just silently watch the receiver's muse as they sleep.

display. for sender's muse to watch as receiver's muse begins to get dressed.

pin. for sender's muse to stop the receiver's muse from leaving the bed.

🌑 . . . ╰──╮   ❛ We have emptied our hearts of falsehoods. We have vanquished your foes. In DARKNESS, we see your truth. Embrace us, your loyal warriors. Cloak us in your shadow. Guide us to your victory.  ❜

ind. & selective rp blog for SHADOWHEART featuring TOLKIEN & ELDER SCROLLS verses and a soft spot for canon divergent, pre-game / post-game AUs ♡ mun is 30.

He set himself down, exhausted, in a chair, and used the momentary lull as he settled himself to think on their question. Enjoy. He enjoyed the respect and pride from his job, he supposed, but he had the feeling that wasn't what his new wife was asking. What did he enjoy for it's own sake?

Eventually, he came up with something.

"My home. The manor, outside Alinor, where the reception was? You recall there was a balcony outside my room?" He asked distantly, lost in the memory.

"When I was younger, my life was full of tutelage. I was up at the crack of dawn for breakfast, ushered straight to my classes, then after lunch, combat training, and more classes... at the end of the day, after supper, I liked sitting out on the balcony and feeling the wind off of the sea and just enjoying the solitude."

But it was a little boring, and I wanted to make my balcony feel a little more like the gardens. My parents eventually allowed me to bring cuttings up from the garden or greenhouse to cultivate in pots on my balcony, as long as it didn't affect my studies and I didn't make a mess. I grew so many things there... paeony, hyacinth, violas, lavender, heliotrope. And edibles, too. Strawberries, mint, thyme, sedge, peas, cress. One of my favourite memories was treating my parents to lunch on my balcony, with a salad made from all the vegetables and herbs I'd planted. And lemonade, with lavender from my flower garden, of course, and cakes topped with my strawberries."

The memory turned to ash on his tongue.

🍄 . . . ╰──╮    WEDDINGS IN Altmer society had precious little to do with LOVE.

Still, Amrûn bore no ill feeling toward Iachesis. If anything, the handful of sentences they had exchanged had left them thinking he was... quite alright, actually. What they hadn't expected was the warmth that blossomed in their chest when their husband started talking about his balcony. They listened, both elbows on the bar, chin resting in their palms, smile growing wider with each word.

❝Ohh, that sounds so lovely…!!❞ Amrûn reached out & placed a hand on his arm, hoping the touch wasn't unwelcome ; a gesture Iachesis' company certainly wasn't, even if Amrûn had been making themself scarce until now... for which they felt a little sorry right now.

❝Rest assured, I shall personally see to it that our balcony becomes a greenhouse~! Assuming this future home of ours includes one, anyway... I hope?❞ The chuckle that followed faded slowly, leaving a moment of silence in its wake.

I might occasionally make exceptions for memes (even then I tend to assume our muses have met before), but I strongly prefer starting with a pre-established dynamic between our muses, even if it's just "they've been travelling w each other for 2 days".

“A bottle less than half full is a bottle wasted; they’re meant for holding things, and a mer without anything to hold isn’t pulling their weight.”

His arms crossed tighter as the other drew a bit closer, and he found their gaze hard to hold after a moment and was left to look at the floor. His boot tapped out some strange sort of rhythm.

“Not everything is meant for sharing. Some things… are… complicated. Maybe even beyond understanding.”

For that small moment his voice felt soft, something odd welling in his tone. A sort of sadness? Maybe. Or maybe something else. But again, he took a breath and rubbed at his stubble,

🍄 . . . ╰──╮    Amrûn didn't sound convinced at all ;   in fact, their frown deepened as they absently adjusted their round glasses they had forgotten to take off after reading. 

❝Alright.… okay…❞   They paused, struggling to find the right words which was terribly difficult, because, by Mara's Grace, they had SO MUCH to say right now, especially as memories of their own upbringing resurfaced univinted. 

ㅤStill, they didn't wish to overstep.

❝I.. I think that simply because something has always been a certain way does not mean it should remain that way,❞ the Altmer replied quietly. Unable to help themself they reached out, placing a hand on the Dunmer's shoulder.

❝A great many things are endured simply because no one dares to question them. Or because others decided it was simply how things ought to be. That does not make them good for us…❞  Amrûn quickly pulled their hand away with an anxious chuckle, ❝Does that make sense? Apologies, I-I didn't mean to lecture you, truly, I just hope you know that I always have a pointed ear ready to listen.❞ 

ELDER SCROLLS VERSE . . . plot hooks & wish list

If any of this sounds fun, hmu or LIKE this & I'll hop into your ims to plot!

SH is still on a mission in his TES verse : find artifact & bring artifact to Solitude.

ㅤㅤBut what is said artifact? Where is it? What does it do??

WELL I've intentionally left the specifics open beyond "it's a key to unleashing the Dark Heart" so we have more freedom in our thread.

I do have a rough concept: the artifact is tied to Auri-El bc Auri-El is basically be the polar opposite to Namira. It has to be delivered to the House of Grief in Solitude for a ritual that will corrupt it, turning it into Namira's weapon & the key to unleashing the Dark Heart. But I'm flexible on the details.

Alright 🫵 plot hooks / wish list :

I'd like to skip first meeting threads, tbh. Our muses could've met literally anywhere in Tamriel. I'm happy to throw SH into Cyrodiil or even the Summerset Isles while hunting for the macguffin.

Assuming our muses have been travelling together for a while & gotten close:

Vigilants of Stendarr ambush them, trying to kill SH. They accuse him of being a Daedra worshipping monster who massacred their camp months prior. SH has no memory of this...

SH and your muse have developed feelings for each other. SH is conflicteeed bc his heart is meant for Namira alone.

Your muse tries convincing SH to abandon Namira. Fair warning: this only works if our muses are extremely close & it'll be messy, angsty arc (which I am absolutely here for)

For too long, women have feared their own fire—mistaking it for madness, for sin, for excess. But the fire is the power of the feminine soul.

IND. SEL. ASOIAF MULTIMUSE | EST MAY 2026

AS LOVED BY GRACIE (follows from @meloraan)

heavily affiliated with: @knightcrowned, @drunkdreamer, @theclimbisallthereis & @ofdragonfireandblood