i guess i'll drive.

it's funny. sometimes i think i've already fallen in love with you as much as possible... and then we share a night like this.

i'm falling more and more in love with you every day.

what about me turns you on the most?

do you feel connected to me when we're together like that?

was it good for you? is there anything i can do better next time?

you made a few sounds i've never heard before.

are you satisfied by our physical intimacy?

can i get you anything? do you need me to do anything?

you know i love you, right?

that was the best night of my life.

i don't even know who i was last night.

what do my lips taste like when you kiss them?

what's your favorite thing about my body?

i've never done anything like that before.

thanks for going easy on me. clearly i've still got a lot to learn.

you were so gentle with me.

wish we could just stay like this forever.

you can stay the night, you know. you don't have to leave just yet.

you look so beautiful like this.

i could get used to this. nights in bed with you laying beside me.

i just can't stop looking at you. i can't believe you're real.

was i too much for you? did i go too far?

i need to be close to you like this.

can i kiss you again? i promise i won't get carried away.

just stay like that and let me admire how beautiful you are.

no one has ever loved me like that.

i've never been touched like that before.

it's like your body was made for mine.

don't go. don't get out of bed just yet.

i'm not ready to let go of you.

let's just cancel our plans for the day. what do you think?

why don't we just stay like this forever?

come closer. please.

i heard you talking in your sleep.

i didn't know it could feel like that.

i'm glad to share one last moment of calm with you before the storm.

i think we're more than friends.

whatever happens, we'll always have each other. last night is proof of that.

well... that was fun. give me a moment to catch my breath.

we could take a shower together if you wanted.

what time is it? maybe we should go grab lunch.

i'm too comfortable to move. let's just stay right here.

you're really cute when you blush.

thank you for trusting me like that.

i have a confession to make. i think i love you.

your hair's a mess.

what did you dream about?

feel like going another round?

i've never seen you act like that before.

i don't know what came over me.

no, please don't get up. come back to bed.

was it that bad?

i'm sure the neighbors really enjoyed hearing all that.

so... does this change anything between us?

i don't regret a single thing about last night.

would you hold me while we sleep?

i feel safe in your arms.

nothing will take me away from you.

we had a long night. you should get some rest.

you're the best i've ever had.

i'm so in love with you it hurts.

don't hide that beautiful smile from me!

we could try spooning. i hear that's nice.

❛  i can't stop thinking about you even when i try.  ❜ ❛  every time i see you, it's like my heart skips a beat.  ❜ ❛  i never realized how much i needed you until you weren't there.  ❜ ❛  do you ever feel like there's something missing ... like a piece of your heart is somewhere else?  ❜ ❛  i wish i had the courage to tell you how i feel.  ❜ ❛  if only you knew how much you truly mean to me.  ❜ ❛  do you ever wonder what it would be like if things were different between us?  ❜ ❛  sometimes i wonder if you ever think about me the way i think about you.  ❜ ❛  i had a lot of dreams about you recently.  ❜ ❛  somehow, you're always on my mind.  ❜ ❛  i think i've been in love with you since the day we met - scratch that, i know i've been in love with you since the day we met.  ❜ ❛  my biggest wish is to hold you close and never let you go.  ❜ ❛  all my life i've felt like a part of me was missing, but with you i've finally found it.  ❜ ❛  you deserve better than who i am right now, but i'm gonna keep trying to become someone you do deserve.  ❜ ❛  every time you smile at me, i get this flutter in my chest.  ❜ ❛  do you think i'll ever be worthy of your love?  ❜ ❛  i want to be the person to make you happy. the one person you can always come to with whatever you need.  ❜ ❛  will we ever get another chance together?  ❜ ❛  you were the best thing that's ever happened to me.  ❜ ❛  my biggest regret is ever letting you go.  ❜ ❛  i'm still in love with you ... and i honestly never stopped.  ❜ ❛  when i wake up in the morning, you're the first person i want to see.  ❜ ❛  every time i wake up, i check if you wrote me another message.  ❜ ❛  i wish i could be as important to you as you are to me.  ❜ ❛  it hurts when you don't talk to me like you used to.  ❜ ❛  i miss everything about you, your touch, your laugh, your smile. i wish i could have that back.  ❜ ❛  i want to fall asleep wrapped in your arms.  ❜ ❛  hold me closer; i always feel safer when you're with me.  ❜ ❛  there's so much i wish i was able to tell you.  ❜ ❛  i know things aren't easy right now, but i want to remain a fixture in your life. after all, you're one in mine.  ❜ ❛  i miss the way you always made me smile.  ❜ ❛  you're the reason i keep holding on.  ❜ ❛  maybe we're supposed so to remain a case of 'right person, wrong time' forever.  ❜ ❛  if only you knew how i feel about you.  ❜ ❛  i'm yearning to hold your hand in mine.  ❜ ❛  i think you are the one for me, and i hope one day i'll be the one for you, too.  ❜ ❛  do you think i'll ever become more than a friend to you?  ❜ ❛  my heart belongs to you, always and forever.  ❜ ❛  my first instinct is to protect you, no matter the cost.  ❜ ❛  i've been thinking about us a lot lately.  ❜

rowan   seemed   to   be   a   person   that   spoke   what   was   on   his   mind   in   that   moment.   gale   could   respect   it.   his   traveling   companions,   karlach   and   halsin   aside,   had   always   kept   things   close   to   the   chest.   he   most   of   all,   with   the   orb.   "   i   can   assure   you   it   is   very   important   research   indeed.   "   this   time   it   was   not   a   novel   for   leisure,   though   he   considered   most   reading   to   be   leisure   indeed.   "   your   company   is   no   bother.   "   the   wizard   lays   a   silk   bookmark   down   in   between   the   pages,   "   how   can   i   help   my   lyrical   and   verbose   friend   ?   "

lumenor's   face   heats   up   and   it's   a   good   thing   that   they   are   turned   towards   their   tent   or   else   rowan   would   see   it.   the   paladin   had   a   knack   for   making   them   react   more   than   they   wanted   to.   their   eyes   narrow   as   they   watch   astarion's   ruby   red   ones   flicker   in   fascination.   he   isn't   even   talking   to   either   of   them.   shadowheart   and   lae'zel   are   with   the   half   elf   and   lae'zels's   annoyance   is   clear   in   their   words,   "   chk,   enough.   i   grow   tired   of   your   flowery   words,   paladin.   "   but   he   seems   to   take   it   all   in   stride.

rowan  couldn't  help  it,  not  when  a  comment  like  that  almost  promised  a  reaction  from  lumenor  –  blush  or  a  piercing  word.  his  favourite  sort  of  reaction  for  them.  when  he  catches  the  vampire  watching  he  offers  a  smirk  and  a  wink  towards  him,  they  have  their  own  version  of  these  words  often  enough.  "was  that  a  pun,  lae'zel  or  was  it  unintentional??"  he  asks,  syrupy  sweet,  looking  towards  the  other.  it's  impossible  for  him  not  to  get  her  going  either,  she  makes  it  even  easier  than  lumenor  does  and  he  had  never  expected  that.

the   hood   hiding   his   face   from   the   almost   empty   pub   does   but   nothing   to   shield   his   feelings   from   her.   gin   knows   what   addie   is   saying,   what   she's   been   saying   for   so   long.   but   this   kind   of   influence   for   his   patron   could   be   detrimental   ?   if   they   knew   which   buttons   to   press,   at   least.   it's   why   he   knows   he   can't   stay,   has   been   avoiding   the   inevitable   for   weeks   in   spending   time   with   her.   the   crowned   princess.   for   gods   sake   he   had   chosen   the   worst   person   to   fall   in   love   with.   but   as   he   meet's   her   eyes,   he   knows   the   label   is   an   apt   one.   they   are   in   love   with   her.

"   you   do   not   know   me   as   well   as   your   tone   suggests,   your   royal   highness.   "   they   take   a   sip   from   their   stein   of   ale,   "   i   know   that   there's   there   is   not   much   that   does   truly   frighten   you.   "   addie   was   the   very   definition   of   bravery.   any   strength   he   had   came   from   her.   she   was   a   warrior   at   her   very   core.   many   would   have   said   princess   or   royal,   but   not   him.   he   knew   better.   he   had   seen   her   soul.

she  sits  across  from  them,  full  armour  in  it's  shining  rose  gold  on  display.  the  two  of  them  must  look  so  different  to  people,  one  sat  in  darkness  hidden  away  and  the  other  in  armour  with  symbols  of  florals,  thorns,  and  a  heart  etched  on  it.  it  doesn't  matter  to  her,  no  one  else  has  mattered  to  her  except  gin  in  a  long  time  now.  she  doesn't  dwell  on  her  past,  on  what  came  before  them  very  often  anymore.  it  doesn't  do  any  good  for  her,  the  few  times  she  has  thought  about  it  –  always  results  in  her  knowing  that  it  doesn't  matter,  she  would've  chosen  him  even  if  the  queen  and  king  had  been  supportive.  would've  sworn  an  oath  in  front  of  everyone,  instead  of  accepting  a  coronation.  it  was  meant  to  be,  the  gods  seemed  to  have  ensured  that,  and  if  they  do  not  wish  to  take  any  of  the  credit,  addie  will  own  it  with  every  part  of  her.

"please,  my  love,  in  case  you've  forgotten  i  know  you  better  than  you  may  know  yourself."  the  smirk  that  slides  onto  her  face  doesn't  falter  when  she  picks  up  her  own  glass  to  take  a  sip,  the  innuendo  can't  be  missed  from  the  look  she  is  giving  him.  "what  could  ever  frighten  me  when  i  stand  beside  the  fiercest  person  i've  ever  known??"  the  joke,  the  nickname  of  your  royal  highness  had  bothered  her,  once  upon  a  time,  when  things  were  still  fresh  and  they  had  left.  now??  it  didn't  make  her  think  twice,  the  other  may  as  well  be  calling  her  my  heart  for  the  way  it  comes  out.

Assorted memes of a suggestive and sexual nature, intended for the spicier type of interactions. Be mindful of your partners' boundaries! Change pronouns / etc. as needed, and feel free to combine the sentence prompts with the action and / or location prompts when sending if you want.

tw: strong sexual content , minors DO NOT interact with this meme at all!

𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒

❝ I just want to look at you like this for a moment. ❞

❝ Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this? ❞

❝ Your heart is beating so fast. ❞

❝ Be gentle with me. Please. ❞

❝ I’ve never done this before. ❞

❝ I want to learn. Teach me. ❞

❝ Show me how to please you. ❞

❝ I want to give you everything tonight. ❞

❝ That feels so good ─ ❞

❝ Don’t stop ─ ❞

❝ You won’t break me. I promise. ❞

❝ I want your hands on me. ❞

❝ Make love to me. ❞

❝ I need you, your lips on my skin. I need you deep inside me. ❞

❝ Can’t you see what you do to me? ❞

❝ I don’t want to repeat my innocence. I want the pleasure of losing it again. ❞

❝ There is no taste sweeter than yours. ❞

❝ Look at you, what a mess you are. ❞

❝ You’re doing so good for me. Keep going. ❞

❝ I’ll taste every part of you before the night has ended. ❞

❝ No one else can make me feel this way. ❞

❝ I am already yours. Now I want you to lay your claim. ❞

❝ Your body sings to me. ❞

❝ I know you’re close. Just let it go now. Give in to it. ❞

❝ I want to feel you come undone. ❞

❝ Shh. Quiet love. They’re going to hear you. ❞

❝ I want to feel your fire, even if it burns me. ❞

❝ You take me so well. ❞

❝ You look so beautiful like this. ❞

❝ I never knew I could feel this good. ❞

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄 & 𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘

❝ God whispers to us in our pleasures. ❞

❝ I’m going to fuck you until your legs shake. ❞

❝ Take me. I can’t bear this anymore, just take me. ❞

❝ You’re dripping already. ❞

❝ Good girl, take it all. ❞

❝ I’m going to fill you over and over again. ❞

❝ Harder, god, harder ─ ❞

❝ Did I say you could stop? ❞

❝ Show me how much you want it. ❞

❝ Give me your mouth. ❞

❝ Spread yourself for me. ❞

❝ I’m going to leave you aching in the morning. And then I’m going to take you again. ❞

❝ Louder. Don’t hold back on me. Let me hear your pleasure. ❞

❝ I want to hear my name on your lips and make you come. ❞

❝ Don’t come until I tell you to. ❞

❝ If you wanted soft and gentle, you’ve come to the wrong person. ❞

❝ I don’t want soft. I want to ache for you when you’re done. ❞

❝ I like the marks. They stay with me even when you must leave. ❞

❝ Use me. Fuck me. Do whatever you want, but god, please touch me. ❞

❝ They’ll all know your mine when they hear you screaming my name. ❞

❝ You need relief. I can give you that. ❞

❝ You’re not leaving this bed until I’m done with you. ❞

❝ I want to spend every night buried inside of you, pleasing you, fucking you. ❞

❝ I like it when you lose control, when I can feel how desperately you need me. ❞

❝ You’re my good girl, and my girl deserves the best of me. ❞

❝ Such a good boy, always eager to please. ❞

❝ You look like an angel; it’s only right that I fuck you until you see heaven. ❞

❝ Your body is my place of worship, and it’s time for me to say my prayers. ❞

❝ This is my favorite seat. ❞

❝ Watch me ride you. ❞

𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐒𝐓 & 𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐘

❝ Does he fuck you like this? ❞

❝ We shouldn’t be doing this. ❞

❝ I missed you beyond words. Every night I dreamt of you, of what it would be like to hold you again, and I’ll be damned if I let the chance slip through my fingers when you’re right here. ❞

❝ Why can’t I keep myself away from you? ❞

❝ This could be our last night together. I’m going to make it count. ❞

❝ Don’t bring emotions into this. This has always been about pleasure, nothing else. ❞

❝ We fuck. It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that. ❞

❝ I have no right to touch you, so why do you ask it of me when I know I am unworthy? ❞

❝ You should be mine. I don’t care what they say, you are mine. ❞

❝ You dare have the audacity to pretend like you’re not mine in front of them? We both know the truth; even now look how your body reacts to me. ❞

❝ Do you honestly think I could possibly want anyone else when this is what you do to me? ❞

❝ You’re mine. Only mine. ❞

❝ I want them to hear us. I want them to know you belong to me. ❞

❝ Claim me. Have me in a way that anyone who looks at me will see your passion written upon my skin. ❞

❝ You’re not mine. You could never be mine. Yet I want you anyway. I want you so badly that it burns me inside. ❞

❝ You’ve ruined me for all others. ❞

❝ I can’t stop myself from wanting you, no matter how much we both know we shouldn’t do this. ❞

❝ I don’t care if they see. Part of me wants them to. ❞

❝ You’re not good for me. So how can you make me feel something no one else can? ❞

❝ This is the last time, then never again. This has to stop. ❞

𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

one muse gives the other oral

one muse rides the other

one muse grinds on the other

one muse takes the other from the front

one muse takes the other from behind

one muse takes the other anally

one muse holds the other down during rough sex

one muse pleasures the other with their hand

one muse sits on the other’s face

one muse controls the other’s movements by grabbing their hips

one muse ties up the other

one muse uses a toy on the other

our muses engage in edging or orgasm denial

one muse makes the other have multiple orgasms

our muses engage in sensory play (blindfolds, ice, etc.)

one muse shows the other a new position

one muse touches the other on the outside of their clothes

one muse dresses up to seduce the other

one muse undresses the other

one muse strips for the other

one muse (or both) pleasures themself for the other’s view

one muse leaves marks on the other

one muse watches the other have sex with a third party

our muses are being watched by a third party

our muses have a threesome

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

in a bed

on the floor

on a couch or chair

in a bath, shower, or pool

in a semi-public place

against a wall

on a table or counter

in the kitchen

outdoors

in a tent

on a rug in front of a fireplace

in a sacred place

in a stairwell

in a ruined building / castle

in a garden

by the ocean

in an inn / hotel

while traveling

in an office or conference room

the   wildflowers   around   them   seem   to   respond   to   the   bard's   words   too.   "   i   think   the   grove   responds   to   you   as   she   does   one   of   us.   the   oakfather   cares   for   those   that   put   their   faith   in   him.   even   as   your   mother   joined   him,   he   would   look   after   you.   "   even   if   rowan   did   not   follow   the   oakfather   himself,   he   would   never   be   abandoned   by   him.   halsin   knew   that.   and   the   way   rowan   spoke   about   his   parents,   how   he   loved   them,   the   druid   knew   that   the   oakfather   would   take   watch   of   their   children.   "   nature's   song   has   always   been   one   my   ears   are   eager   to   tune   into.   and   now   that   the   shadow   curse   has   fallen,   i   find   that   my   spare   time   can   be   spent   listening.   "

it's   not   that   halsin   had   stopped   in   his   hundred   year   journey   to   end   the   shadow   curse,   but   he   had   worked   so   hard   to   stop   it.   even   as   he   revered   and   loved   this   world   and   all   its   creatures,   he   felt   like   some   of   his   ability   to   just   be   at   one   with   nature   had   fallen   short.   and   with   his   duties   as   arch   druid   of   the   grove   ?   it   made   him   wonder,   as   he   had   said   to   his   companions,   that   perhaps   he   was   not   made   for   leadership.   the   grove   had,   after   all,   bloomed   under   francesca's   watchful   eye.

rowan  looks  to  the  flowers,  looks  at  the  way  even  the  grass  moves  when  halsin  speaks  and  his  mind  wanders  to  enid.  wondering  how  they  are  doing  now  that  the  party  is  no  longer  together.  if  the  loudness  of  the  plants  surrounds  them  just  as  it  always  had.  he  thinks  that  treenid  would  enjoy  the  grove.  maybe,  if  rowan  stays  longer  than  he  has  planned  –  he  will  extend  an  invitation.  he  knows  in  his  heart  that  there  isn't  a  chance  that  halsin  won't  love  enid.  "it  does  seem  that  way,  doesn't  it??  i'm  glad  to  know  that  silvanus  watches  me  for  her.  for  my  father  too.  i'm  sure  that  it  would  mean  a  lot  to  them  both."  he  hesitates,  unsure  if  he  should  speak  on  his  own  god,  before  he  pushes  his  dexterous  fingers  into  another  part  of  the  druid's  hair  and  starts  plaiting  again,  "before  i  became  close  to  stratos...i  didn't  understand  that  other  gods  and  goddess  could  be  reached  by  someone  who  followed  another.  i  thought  perhaps  that  would  be  something  they  didn't  enjoy,  but  after  my  talks  with  him  and  his  sister  –  i  realized  i  had  assumed  that  they  would  react  in  a  more  human  way,  i'm  glad  i  have  that  now."

he  nods  at  halsin's  words,  smiling  sweetly  at  the  man.  "perhaps  it  missed  you  just  as  much  as  you  missed  it,  and  so  it  plays  the  song  loudly  so  it'll  never  leave  your  mind."  he  offers,  raising  an  auburn  eyebrow  in  consideration.  rowan  has  heard  murmurs,  within  the  grove  of  how  halsin  used  to  lead,  and  how  francesca  had  taken  over.  the  paladin  knows  that  the  druid  didn't  miss  the  role,  even  if  he  hadn't  been  in  the  grove  during  it.  rowan  recognized  a  lightness  in  people  when  they  had  been  weighed  down  by  other  obligations  before.  he  was  positive  that  halsin  was  very  content  right  where  they  were.

“there is a time and place for violence. i mean - this place is perfect. but is it the time?”

“heaven forbid. we’re all entitled to our secrets.”

“sitting by the fire while you do all the hard work sounds marvelous, actually.”

“couldn’t you wait ten minutes before being an absolute freak?”

“you’re welcome to try and kill me, of course. but i don’t die easily these days.”

“ugh, don’t be so nice to me. it makes me want to be nice back.”

“a horrible death is always just around the corner with you.”

“stabbing someone a dozen times can be many things. but ‘the right thing to do’? hm, i doubt it.”

“immortality is only as good as the life you’re living. an eternity of luxury sounds a lot better than an eternity of struggle.”

“what are you doing? this isn’t safe. you can’t trust him.”

“look, i’m a not a details person, all right. but turning up and causing chaos has worked for us so far.”

“they were clearly artists. you can tell because it’s a mess in here.”

“you know, there is a point where bravery becomes stupidity. and walking into that thing would be very, very stupid.”

“i’ve had enough of bad poets singing of my looks - urgh.”

“is the plant bothering you?”

“until then, try not to die.”

“oh yes, i’m fine. i just feel… awful.”

“shut that oversized chicken up.”

“you know, the only way to cure temptation… is to give in to it.”

“next time, just warn me before you do something stupid.”

“there certainly is a strong ambience down here. i don’t know if it’s the bats or the decaying - everything. it’s quite homey.”

“it’s nice to see heroes are as awful as the rest of us.”

“unusually polite for a god.”

“of all the places you dragged me, this might just be the most foul. and that is saying something, given some of the things you exposed me to.”

“i mean, i hate to judge the proverbial book, but that oath may be all cover and no pages.”

“a shapeshifter? it could be anyone. i mean - it’s not me. but it could be anyone else.”

“sometimes we need to think with our heads before our knifes, dear.”

“you could watch for anyone acting strangely, but - well, you know the lunatics we camp with.”

“thank you. for being that evil bastard.”

“can you feel that? the dark, it’s - hungry. best watch the shadows.”

“this place brings back the worst memories.”

“well, that’s disturbing. still, better than having an actual conversation with him though.”

“oh no. not again.”

“honestly, just once, could we end up somewhere normal?”

“i prefer to travel in smaller groups. it’s more… intimate.”

“nice as it is, she still doesn’t have the best hair in the camp.”

“thank goodness. i was worried i’d have to get involved. now, let’s keep our hands to ourselves.”

“i much prefer it when i’m the one prowling in the shadows - about to strike.”

“ah, nothing says ‘true love’ like faking your own death to avoid someone.”

“you’re not going to eviscerate him? i was hoping for a show.”

“it’s just a waste of a perfectly good cult we could be controlling.”

“can you - ugh, can you shut up and let me read?”

“i hate to be negative. but they’ll carve you up like a goose.”

“my, she sounds positively demented. i love it. let’s tell her everything.”

“you villain. i didn’t know you had it in you.”

“a well-presented face can open a lot of doors.”

“hardly a promising introduction.”

“do you mind? i’m brooding.”

“i’d rather be the only dark power inside your body, if it’s all the same to you.”

“easy now, let’s not do anything hilarious.” 

“i’m with you, my dear. wherever this leads.” 

“i appreciate anyone who opens a conversation with bodily harm.” 

“nothing like a little camp drama to spice up the evening.” 

“it’s almost a pity things ended up amicably.”

“what do you see when you look at me?”

“i would’ve liked more for my trouble than a pat on the head and vinegar for wine.”

“do you have any other chaos you need to unleash here?”

“all i want is a little fun. is that so much to ask?” 

“don’t be so sour. i like a good time as much as anyone.” 

gale   had   been   told   once   or   twice   that   he   was   considered   to   be   somewhat   of   a   snob   in   the   magical   community.   sorcerers   worked   not   for   their   magic,   nor   clerics   or   druids.   bards,   at   the   very   least,   studied   somewhat   in   their   chosen   proficiency.   but   being   a   wizard   required   years   of   study.   it   was   truly   an   accomplishment   to   be   considered   on   of   mystra's   children.   he   feels   the   weave   at   work   in   the   square   around   them   and   he   knows   that   somwhere,   mystra   is   bristling   at   the   very   audacity   he   had   to   reach   out.   though   he   had   survived   his   ordeals,   she   would   never   forgive.

❛   excuse   me,   if   you   have   a   moment,   i   would   love   to   converse   on   how   you're   keeping   those   shadows   at   bay.   it   is   quite   marvelous.   i   am   always   delighted   to   find   a   child   of   the   weave   such   as   myself   -   although,   ❜    gale   grins,   his   eyes   sparkling,   ❛   these   aching   knees   and   graying   hairs   do   not   let   me   pretend   i   am   a   child   any   longer.   ❜   he   was   familiar   with   the   shadowfell   of   course,   had   protected   the   portal   into   the   dimension   with   his   party   during   halsin's   rescue   of   thaniel.

vel  had  lived  among  shadows  for  most  of  their  life  now.  it  had  been  so  long,  and  they  had  forgotten  what  it  was  like  to  be  out  in  the  open.  the  caw  of  a  raven  distracts  them  from  where  they  had  been  watching,  "hush  now,  dearest."  it's  said  softly,  not  even  loud  enough  for  anyone  else  to  hear  but  the  raven  swoops  down  in  response,  joining  in  on  the  shadow  and  landing  onto  alvelath's  shoulder.  they  push  their  hood  down,  black  robes  flowing  in  the  wind  and  turn  towards  the  sound  of  the  voice.  they  have  grown  unused  to  anyone  approaching  them.  usually  people  see  them  and  avoid,  or  they  don't  even  pay  attention  the  the  figure  within  the  shadows.

❛   apologies,   how   long   have   you   been   standing   there   ?   i   find   the   highest   of   comforts   in   a   bit   of   light   reading,   ❜   the   wizard   looks   almost   sheepish   as   he   holds   up   the   large   tome   in   both   hands,   much   more   than   what   most   company   would   consider   to   be   light   reading,   ❛   is   there   something   i   could   aid   you   in,   rowan   ?   ❜   when   halsin   had   introduced   the   human   to   them,   gale   had   been   exuberant   that   his   friend   had   found   someone   that   made   him   so   joyous.   after   all,   halsin   had   spend   a   hundred   years   with   only   the   shadow   curse   as   his   constant   companion.   plus,   the   bard   was   delightful   company   indeed   !

"   not   this   time.   "   dorian   stands   away   from   sam,   watching   the   way   their   facial   expression   reveals   absolutely   nothing.   she   was   always   so   good   at   that,   he   wished   he   had   that   ability.   "   and   some   people   need   distraction   right   now.   "   they   pointedly   look   to   hina,   who   has   been   through   her   own   share   of   stuff   this   year.   "   but   last   year,   my   people   were   slaughtered.   "   it's   not   something   he's   told   sam,   not   something   he's   talked   about   at   all   with   their   group.   but   his   colony   of   druids   (   and   some   select   others   )   had   been   through   something   unimaginable,   a   massacre   of   their   village.   it   had   cost   the   fawn   close   friends,   neighbors,   and   his   girlfriend.

"   you're   not   the   only   one   with   stuff   from   your   past.   you....   you're   trivializing   what   other   people   have   gone   through   because   you're   upset   that   we   aren't   all   sulking.   i   did   that.....   for   six   months   after....   after   sorscha   died.   but,   that's   not   how   they   would   want   me   to   live   my   life.   "   

his   lip   trembles   as   he   talks   about   her,   remembers   how   she   probably   would   have   done   anything   to   make   him   smile,   how   nothing   had   felt   threatening   to   her.   he   can   only   imagine   it   was   the   same   in   death,   that   she   had   faced   it   with   that   snarky   attitude   and   strong   willed   determination,   something   he   had   envied.   

the  way  that  sam  had  learned  to  show  nothing  on  their  face  was  because  of  the  assassin's  guild.  she  had  been  beat  until  nothing  caused  a  reaction  and  though  they  try  to  hide  it  sometimes,  they  know  that  this  is  not  something  people  enjoy.  the  unflappable,  unfeeling  face  of  someone  who  can  cause  harm.  "distractions  only  do  so  much."  he  hadn't  told  them  about  it,  except  --  of  course  rhiannon  had  heard  about  it  when  sleuthing  around  for  information.  she  hadn't  realized  how  deeply  involved  dorian  had  been  with  it,  though  she  had  seen  a  very  familiar  look  that  seemed  to  haunt  his  eyes.  they  reach  a  hand  out  towards  the  others,  squeeze  softly,  "i'm  sorry  that  you  experienced  that."  a  genuine  expression  of  understanding,  of  their  own  loss  slides  onto  their  face  and  they  think  about  pushing  it  down  but  they  don't  instead  they  try  to  communicate  through  their  expression  that  they  understand  so  much  more  than  they  choose  to  say.

"i'm  not  the  only  one  who  has  experienced  pain.  and  i  don't  sulk,  i  plan.  do  you  want  a  reward??  you  were  able  to  move  past  the  thing  that  destroyed  you??  you  didn't  need  to  spend  your  whole  life  trying  to  figure  out  how  to  avenge  everyone  you  love??"  the  venom  of  her  words  devours  her,  and  she  fears  that  the  mask  she  wears  so  firmly  slips.  the  ruthless  killer,  the  last  of  her  family  stands  --  spitting  mad,  and  ready  to  say  something  they'll  regret.

and  then  she  sees  how  young  dorian  really  is,  even  if  they've  lived  through  perhaps  one  of  the  worst  things  life  has  to  offer  --  a  trembling  lip,  and  rhiannon's  face  relaxes.  the  anger  rushes  out  of  them  as  quickly  as  it  had  flooded  them.