𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥 .

❝ i can't even say he deceived me. i knew exactly what he was and i jumped in anyway. ❞

❝ i think eventually i got so used to the chaos and the pain and the toxicity i began to look for it. ❞

❝ i never got a chance to discover myself. i never had that privilege. ❞

❝ you can tell me anything. i mean i can't promise i'm good at keeping secrets, but i'm a hell of a listener. ❞

❝ no one wants to yearn anymore. ❞

❝ i'm doing some of my best work here and you don't even have the decency to roll your eyes at me. honestly it's hurtful. ❞

❝ i know what you're thinking. ❞

❝ if i ask for your help are you gonna make a big deal out of it? ❞

❝ can we just be normal for like two seconds for once. ❞

❝ i would say i don't know what's wrong with you but i actually do and that's the problem. ❞

❝ against my better judgement i trust you and i think that says a lot about the state of the world right now. ❞

❝ i don't actually care but i'm bored so i'm here. ❞

❝ last time i listened to you we almost died. ❞

❝ i would've come sooner. i would've been here if you'd only asked. ❞

❝ i don't want to hurt anymore. ❞

❝ you don't have to hurt anymore. you can let go of those burdens. ❞

❝ it'd be a lot easier if i actually cared as little as i pretend to. ❞

❝ i do need you. i wouldn't be here if i didn't. ❞

❝ sometimes you don't know it's wrong until it's too late. sometimes you don't know you're being hurt until you realize you're in pieces. ❞

❝ pretending you don't need people doesn't make you strong it just makes you a jackass. ❞

❝ you're gonna be okay. eventually. but first you gotta not be okay for a while. it's gotta suck so you can actually recognize when you're alright again. ❞

❝ you shouldn't have said that. ❞

❝ sometimes i wish they had done something worse. then it'd justify how hard it's been to get over it. ❞

the  reaction  doesn’t  surprise  him;   for  years  he’d  even  believed  himself  incapable  of  dropping  to  one  knee  without  taking  damage,   so  for  meadow  to  not  take  his  question  seriously  is  no  insult.   after  all,   she’s  been  hurt  by  him  before.   abandoned  and  cast  aside  once  the  idea  of  commitment  reared  its  ugly  head,   causing  him  to  flee  for  the  hills,   following  the  habit  of  a  lifetime   —   but  that  feels  like  a  lifetime  ago,   too,   and  he’s  changed.   parts  of  him  have  dampened  with  maturity;   the  flames  of  obligation  anxiety  have  been  thoroughly  doused,   and  in  no  small  part  due  to  her.

          perhaps  he’d  asked  the  question  too  casually?   it  had  tumbled  by  surprise  from  his  lips  without  a  second  thought,   as  naturally  as  wind  blows  and  rain  falls   —   so  now  shen  straightens  from  where  he's  been  lounging  with  his  beloved  before  the  fire,   and  with  a  sincere  expression  and  a  sparkle  in  lavender  eyes,   he  speaks  again. 

she blinks, her eyes slowly widening as his words wash over her, as they sink into her skin, drawing goosebumps up her spine. absently, her fingertips curl against the fabric of his shirt before straightening: she can, of course, hear the dance of his heartbeat. no fear there. by mielikki's horn, he really is serious. he's really...

for many reasons, it comes a shock to her. but every one of them vanishes from her mind as she nods ecstatically and softly murmurs that yes, yes she will. it's bittersweet though, that happy assent - her family gone, their friends all but vanished. who left to celebrate them but them? still, of course meadow says yes. as if she could say anything else.

          “ even  if  i  were  to  be  crowned  king  of  the  entirety  of  faerûn,   i’d  gladly  tear  myself  away  from  the  coronation  to  spend  but  a  second  with  you. ”   wow;   even  his  poetic  nature  is  tipsy.   

          but  it’s  not  untrue.

          the  flush  to  her  cheeks  is  far  too  tempting,   and  soon  he’s  leaning  closer,   nuzzling  in  with  his  nose  before  his  lips  speckle  over  the  skin  there,   trailing  affection  down  to  her  jaw   —   but  that  shift  in  weight  distribution  threatens  to  overbalance  them  both,   and  he  has  to  grab  back  at  the  door  frame  to  prevent  them  from  toppling  forward.

          “ —  upright.   yeah.   that  sounds  good. ”

          so  he  listens  to  her,   and  fixes  his  wobbly  gaze  ahead  in  the  direction  of  the  fireplace.   “ we’ll  keep  the  bear  idea  on  standby…   not  saying  i  wouldn’t  be  interested, ”   with  swaying  steps  shen  begins  to  make  progress,   his  arm  around  her  loosening  if  only  so  that  she  can  turn  and  face  they  way  they’ll  be  walking.   “ but  i  wouldn’t  want  you  to  damage  the  floorboards  with  your  claws.   ‘cause  who’s  gonna  replace  them?   not  me.   just  had  my  nails  done. ”   not a hint of irony.

❝ oh, yeah, definitely not. can't have you damaging any precious part of you, ❞ she replies, mock-serious, nodding sagely as they settle down on the couch. ❝ although, let's be honest - if anyone is renovating anything around here, it's me, darling. ❞ the fire is burning low, but a burst of heat from her palm sends it happily bustling taller.

meadow relaxes into him, smoothing any harried strands of silver out of his face. ❝ things got a little rowdy earlier when two of the lads got into an argument about whether copper or bronze dragons were superior, and some hot chocolate went flying... ❞ she gestures towards the back, where a conspicuous stain mars the backboards - it'll need to be sanded down and painted over at some point. ❝ luckily, no one was hurt, but I had to sit them both down and give 'em a talking to about being careful. ❞ a pause. ❝ besides, it was a silly fight, anyhow. everyone knows bronze dragons are the best. ❞ a pang strikes her chest at the memory of ansur beneath the city.

"i've missed you," she murmurs when he returns from worshipping his lady, indulging in music and revelry and all other types of mirth she can't possibly imagine. her arms wrap around shen's neck, a quick peck to his lips. "how was it?"

he's  undeniably  drunk,   sweet  alcohol  on  his  lips  and  a  heaviness  in  his  limbs  that  has  him  leaning  against  the  wall   —   but  when  meadow  comes  to  him,   he  straightens,   even  his  inebriated  teetering  somewhat  rhythmic.  

          tonight  he's  dressed  exquisitely,   a  shirt  that  shows  altogether  too  much  shadowed  skin  to  be  deemed   ' clothing '   at  all,   netting  meticulously  woven  with  thin  strands  of  a  thread  that  gleams  iridescent  in  the  light.   on  his  hands  glint  a  multitude  of  rings  and  bracelets;   his  neck  sports  no  fewer  than  three  necklaces  draped  in  different  lengths  down  his  chest.   moonsilver  hair  hangs  freely  down  to  his  waist,   save  for  a  few  braids  to  save  him  from  assuming  his  appearance  to  be  monotonous.

          and  her  kiss  is  cut  too  short.   with  great  effort  shen  drags  his  attention  from  her  lips  to  her  words,   even  the  mere  sound,   like  warm  birdsong,   making  him  smile.   has  he  ever  loved  so  strongly?   has  he  ever  looked  at  someone  with  the  adoration  that's  in  his  glazed  eyes  now?

          “ good, ”   he  confirms,   though  whether  that's  a  comment  on  her  missing  him  or  the  worship  itself  is  left  undecided.   one  of  his  arms  snakes  around  her  waist,   pressing  her  closer.   his  other  is  tasked  with  steadying  himself  against  the  doorway.   “ would  that  you'd  been  there,   you'd've  seen  a  great  many  things  that're  entirely  new.   so  would  i,   actually… ”

          he'd  like  that.   to  see  meadow  enthralled  by  his  goddess.   it's  a  dream  he  knows  not  to  reach  for,   but  it  doesn't  stop  him  picturing  it  nonetheless.   

          “ we  sang  joyously,   we  danced  freely,   we  drank  heavily…   i  left  early. ” 

          the  festivities  continue  out  in  the  wilderness,   yet  they've  devolved  into  a  nature  he  nowadays  refuses  to  be  part  of   ( amazing  what  meadow's  done  to  him,   luring  even  drunken  feet  away  from  the  promise  of  divine  pleasure   —   but  he  wouldn't  betray  her,   and  it  would  pale  in  comparison  to  having  her  skin  against  his,   all  writhing  hips  and  soft  thighs ).

          not  to  say  that  doesn't  add  to  the  drow's  wish  of  having  her  there  with  him,   beneath  the  curtains  of  moonlight.   he'd  lie  her  down  in  the  long  grass,   under  the  trees…   her  namesake   s w a y i n g   in  the  night  air,   tall  enough  to  obscure  her  body  from  others’  view…

          were  i  to  ask  for  her  hand,   would  she  wed  me  under  the  gaze  of  eilistraee? 

          “ gods,   you're  fucking  beautiful.   if  i  could  still  stand,   i'd  take  you  to  bed.   think  it'll  have  to  wait,   though   —   it'd  take  me  an  age  to  climb  the  stairs,   and  i  doubt  my  ability  to  perform  in  these  conditions... ”

there's a chuckle half-way on her lips, bravely restrained up until the moment he begins to lean them both against the nearby doorway. she cannot be blamed for the laugh that escapes; he cuts a stark figure to the memory of him from so many centuries ago, blurry now and cold and distant when held up in comparison to the softness of the man before her, the lazy affection in his eyes warming her better than any fire ever could.

❝ mm. I see... well, that sounds like quite the time. ❞ not her kind of celebration, but she can't deny the curiosity that has ebbed and flowed through the years they've been together now. meadow wouldn't mind experiencing life through his eyes, if only for a night but... it is shen's escape, not hers. she could never bring herself to ask first. ❝ I'm touched you managed to rip yourself away from such exciting festivities just for little old me. ❞ there's teasing in her words, but there is also sincerity there. her fingers absently stroke at the hand by her waist.

❝ wh- shen! ❞ she laughs at his words, blushing at compliments that have never failed to have that arresting effect over her. a woman yes, but still a girl in so many ways. especially with him holding her like this. though really, she's the one holding him. ❝ alright, well- let's save that for another night then? for now... let's focus on keeping you upright, mm? ❞ her brows raise until receiving affirmation. ❝ we should get you something to eat too... ❞

SITTING IN SOMEONE'S LAP PROMPTS.

↳ @refabled : [ STUMBLE ]: sender loses their balance and trips backwards, falling into the receiver's lap in the process. ( yeah this checks out )

she comes out of nowhere , but he catches her like he was expecting the fall --- with sharp reflexes , and even sharper claws , clutching tight to the small thing that tumbled onto his lap , his razor-edged fingers securing her still , in place , like a predator with a small little rodent between its talons .

he pauses , and he looks down at her --- unfazed , but ever so eager to taunt . ❝ little doe , ❞ the drow sing-songs , honey on the tip of his tongue and malice in his eyes . ❝ if you wanted to sit on my lap , you could've asked first . ❞

she winces at the feel of his nails on her waist, digging past the flimsy fabric of her dress, like a cat's claws making biscuits... except she's the one in his lap. to pull back would be a mistake; blood and a million tiny tears in her skin. to remain there might be a mistake too. there's nowhere to go, so instead fable tries for a small smile; stays still, supine. look, her expression practically speaks for itself, I'm not a threat. it's all animal instinct.

¹⁾ a darkened apothecary illuminated only by the light somehow being emitted by the many bottles and jars lining the walls

²⁾ the banquet hall of a nobleman’s sprawling estate, in the throes of a lavish ball attended by everyone in the townland

³⁾ at a healer’s cabin in the dead of night, overwhelmed by adrenaline and the scent of countless tinctures and remedies as they’re applied

⁴⁾ the last imperial guardpost before crossing into enemy lands

⁵⁾ a run-down inn in the middle of nowhere, half reclaimed by the woodlands around it

⁶⁾ a lake set deep into the mountains with something sinister lurking beneath the surface

⁷⁾ the first port in a new land after weeks at sea trying to get there

⁸⁾ the highest turret in the royal family’s castle on a wintery morning

⁹⁾ the war council’s planning room, the morning after a bloody defeat

¹⁰⁾ an alchemist’s workshop

¹¹⁾ the stables just before daybreak

¹²⁾ the impromptu camp that the leader of the journey had to be begged into allowing after everyone else grew exhausted from being on the road all day

¹³⁾ the army barracks before a battle

¹⁴⁾ the last altar of a dying god’s religion

¹⁵⁾ the empress’s chambers, trussed up in nothing more than silken bedsheets and the morning sunshine

¹⁶⁾ the bedside of an old mentor, right before the end

¹⁷⁾ on the wrong end of a traitor’s sword

¹⁸⁾ a beast’s underground lair, alone and unarmed

¹⁹⁾ the thick of the enemy’s encampment, shackled and unrepentant

²⁰⁾ the mage’s quarters, having seen something there’s no worldly explanation for

²¹⁾ the armoury in the late hours of the night, stinking of polish and tears

²²⁾ in the throne room of the imperial citadel with an ulterior motive

²³⁾ by the scholar’s side in the library, eager for a little more than knowledge

²⁴⁾ an alehouse in the dead countryside, hoping not to be found

PROMPTS FOR THE FORCED PROXIMITY TROPE

↳ @refabled : "oh no. don't tell me it's locked."

the steel door rattles and clinks against his persistent pull , but it doesn't budge . vhaalkrin's lips smack together with a loud , sticky sound as he releases his hold , knowing full well that neither fire nor steel would force this thing to open . it'd open when the host decided they ought to leave , and not a minute sooner .

❝ mmm ... okay . ❞ like that'd help . he agrees to her stipulations , turning around to face her with a less than convincing smile , pale palms outstretched , flashing at her in a sign of surrender . ❝ so ... have you been having strange dreams lately ? ❞ well , if she wants to live in denial , they might as well make conversation .

the decisive ring of the door's closing is like the pound of a gavel signaling a session adjourned. they're in here for the time being, and there's no arguing about it. fable's heart sinks as she glances about –– the room lacks anything organic. no sign of sun, or sky, or grass, or even the stubbornest of weeds poking through the brick and mortar. she grimaces, but, ever the trooper, attempts to smile back. it's... not a very convincing one.