#anoffering.

" – " ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ they're silent at first, wide eyes passing through a quick series of emotions: ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ affection, exhaustion, determination, and something they can't quite articulate. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ from no family, to one of her own, she cradles it with such an efficiency that it masks the anxiety of failing. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ " if she does anything to them, if she even tries ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ – " ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ their voice cracks, they swallow that uncertainty, and continue: ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ " i will kill her, she surely knows that doesn't she? " ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ mystra, not present physically but somehow ever around, a lingering haunt in each spell and each pass of her fingers over his body ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (she's there in the tears ashlyn wipes off of his face in their darkest nights). ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ " this is my family, you, the twins, i can't ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ... ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ we have to be more careful when they're learning magic, they have to, we have to ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ – " ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ their voice trails off, and suddenly her body feels heavy, like every emotion crashing. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ " i will kill her. " ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ (@anoffering.)

a blush blooms across pale cheeks. a hand forcing out a blast of elemental energy to keep their attackers at bay so she can reward her champion with a kiss. ❝ i love you too, vax. ❞ like the wind he's gone. nothing but a blur of black cloak as blades meet their mark. keyleth joins in his dance, air, fire, and earth flowing in harmony to reward them a win. soon they stand amongst the littered bodies of their foes, pools of red staining their clothes. ❝ it's just that once i finish the trails of the water ashari my aramenté will be over. i want you to come home with me. ❞

she takes his hand first, demanding his attention. the kiss she places on his lips is gentle. everything she feels poured into this one simple action; pride, admiration, love. they still have so much to, so many battles to fight, but now astarion gets to do them as a free man. ❝ you're nothing like i ever expected, you know. ❞ proof that people - vampires - can change. well, some of them, anyway. and, god, if the darcie of a few weeks ago heard her think such a thing, she would surely think she had gone mad. ❝ come on, i think we could both do with a hot bath. ❞

❝ oh - ❞ eyelids flicker as his fingers graze her cheek, flicking away a fleck of dust. everything feels weak, like she might just melt into a puddle, as her body relaxes in the mere presence of someone safe. as if nothing can touch her now. buck's rewarded with a kiss, a soft peck against his lips, as she leads him out towards the parking lot. ❝ i can't believe you're here. you must be exhausted. ❞

❝ hello to you, too. ❞ he's rewarded with a kiss to the cheek, tucking her perfectly manicured nails into the crook of his elbow. ❝ mommy and daddy almost pitched a fit when i told them i was spending the summer at your beach house instead of theirs. ❞ head shakes, eyes rolling slightly. honestly, it was like she had told them she was spending christmas skiing in canada instead of the alps. so dramatic. ❝ as if they aren't just a few hours up the road. honestly! ❞

neither of them initiate the kiss. it's like they're two magnets being pulled together, two jigsaw pieces finding their missing part. the cheering around them grows which only brings forth a soft laugh from gina's lips. to the audience it must seem like part of the show, the newly married ariel and eric sharing one last kiss, but their cast mates must know it's more then that. ❝ come with me. ❞ she breathes against his lips. the question she's been meaning to ask all day, since that fateful phone call with her brother. ❝ to la for the summer. they have some pick ups to do for the film and my brother's agreed to let me stay with him so my mom doesn't have to take time off work. ❞ a pause. her smile never falters, but nerves flutter in the pit of her stomach. ❝ you should come with me, ricky. ❞

he knows exactly what to say. anxious gaze meets his and suddenly her whole body relaxes. shoulders drop, heartbeat returns to normal, as timid hand reaches out for his. a comforting gesture as rapunzel takes her first steps onto the boat that will carry her away from the only home she's ever known. ❝ it's only water, right? it's not that scary. ❞ rapunzel paints a smile on her lips. at least there's no sign of the twins her mother had sent after them and with flynn at her side she'll be safe. ❝ so, are we continuing my lessons? i, um, i don't think i quite pass for a - ❞ gaze darts to each side before meeting his again, voice dropping to a whisper. ❝ - princess yet. ❞