#odeofodr

Hocus Pocus Starters - @ode-of-odr mused: “You know, I’ve always wanted a child.“

The idea of children was something that Eve had been going and forth on for many, many years. Some days, the thought of the pitter patter of tiny feet brought her JOY, but other times she worried that she wouldn't be good for a kid. Certainly she was the motherly sort, and she'd love them more than anything in the world, but she was so unstable lately and currently, they had this little...tadpole problem.

"All the more reason to get these unwelcome little visitors of ours out of our heads." Eve smiles a little though, looking him over. "Hard to SERIOUSLY think about bringing children into the world when we could turn at any moment..."

At the same time, it was hard not to ponder such things when they ran into kids on their travels. Just being amongst the Tiefling orphans for long enough had had Eve wanting to keep them at camp if for no reason other than to keep them safe and sound. So...perhaps it wasn't hard to think about kids, it just didn't seem like a viable option to attain at the moment.

"I understand that on some level. Because you don't even mean it like loving a toxic lover who belittles you. But your dreams hurt because you can't have them. And it's like thorns growing in your lungs when you think about them. You love them though; those dreams. Hold them close even if they are killing you too."

At the gesture sent his way, Astarion huffs. He should probably heed his words but still, he doesn't want to be quiet. He's having quite the time annoying the much much taller man. It's been quite fun to annoy him, even if he looks like he can break him in half within a single second. Perhaps that's half the fun of it.

Still, there must be a reason he gestured for him to be quiet and so Astarion falls silent, listening and honing his hearing in on his surroundings. He does not sense anything just yet, however.

So his silence is brief before the vampire decides to speak up, though his voice is still lowered in a whisper. Perception is something he's skilled at and yet he sees nothing. Which means whatever, or whoever, is out there is just as sneaky and clever as he is.

If there's something out there.

send me "§" if you'd ever consider shipping our muses.

Sometimes, Eve found herself lost in quiet moments, just in nature as the oak father intended. At the moment, she was thoroughly enjoying using a little plant magic to watch some FLOWERS grow, and she smiled a little bit as she the magic flow and ebb as needed to spring forth such delights. More than anything, she found that such things reminded her of the good old days...and it was nice when Raserei seemed to be happy about it as well.

They both enjoyed nature as it was, and sometimes, Eve was quite glad to have someone else take pleasures in it as she did. There were moments when one could simply enjoy the breeze, or could stand in utter SILENCE amongst the trees, and simply enjoy the company of the birds.

"I wouldn't follow me. The place I am destined for is not a place for those like you. Or deserving of you." He wouldn't dare tell her he thought Avernus was a better fate than the Shadowsea, being driven mad to be a plaything for a mad being's bid for power. Or true oblivion. Because he knew Avernus and the Blood War was no picnic, and oblivion at least might feel like a better deal. "Let us just focus on getting to Baldur's Gate first and surviving these cursed lands."

Once you'd seen one hell, you had seen them all. Well, the foundations of them at least. Some had wars, others were cesspools of other horrendous things she dared not think about.

For the first time in ten years, she was free to do as she pleased. Go where she pleased. Follow whoever she wanted to without the looming threat of betrayal like the cold kiss of a dagger against the softness of a bared throat.

No one could buy true loyalty quite like hers, and she knew that he knew that.

"Pretty sure Avernus was no place for those like me either," she pointed out with a toothy grin. A joke, though there was truth that bled into those words.

The Shadow-cursed lands felt cold, and Karlach found that she had to get used to the fact that she would need a blanket when they returned to camp. Soft, non-scratchy blankets. What bliss.