#petrifiedbear

The petrified drow are rock hard once more hehe

I’m so happy this is finally done and that I finished it at all… now I feel free to work on more stuff

Full - Version 2 - Daylight

Gale’s Rivington camp view lol

—

A couple children were climbing atop Halsin's bear form, fur firmly in their little hands. They giggled together like they held a duckling instead of being dwarfed by a predator.

Artimezt stood upright from leaning on the porch railing and grabbed his cane. His knee only had the slightest ache today — a good day for a little stroll. The sun was setting, which meant he could steal the bear away from the kids soon enough. He made sure to go down the few steps carefully, knowing Halsin would worry about going for a walk otherwise. But just as Artimezt took the first level step, pain shot through his knee.

"Xsa'ol-!" Artimezt hissed as he half stumbled to catch himself on his other leg, hand grabbing at his uncooperative knee. When the intensity subsided, he stretched and bent his leg to test the pain. The ache was worse once again, yet he would have still tried to steal Halsin away for a walk if the man wasn't already heading towards the drow with a look of concern.

"Are you alright, my heart?" Halsin knelt down, hands glowing around the bad knee and soothing the recent pain.

"I'm fine, yes. Must have stepped wrong…" Artimezt idly played with a strand of Halsin's hair. "I don't suppose you'd want to take a walk with me tonight?" Halsin looked up, one hand cupping the back of Artimezt's thigh, the other taking his hand and kissing the palm.

"If you are certain it won't be too much, I would love to."

"I will be careful, and you can just carry me back if I turn out to be too stubborn a fool halfway."

"Do not push yourself, my love."

"I know, I know. Get up here." Artimezt pulled slightly on Halsin's hand before he rose to his feet, leaning so their lips could meet halfway.

Artimezt hooked his arm into Halsin's before they turned to leave the town. It only took a few steps, however, before pain once more shot through the old ranger's knee.

"Vithin-!" Halsin quickly held up his partner as Artimezt began to drop into him. "This damned knee… I thought it was a good day…"

"Perhaps we stay home instead, my heart. I could give you a massage, if you'd like?"

"…yeah." Artimezt sighed in frustration as he looked to the treeline. It was coming up on a tenday he hadn't been out of town, but today was proving to be yet another day it wouldn't happen either. "Can… you just carry me?"

"Of course." Halsin carefully lifted Artimezt, the drow certain not to accidentally smack Halsin with his cane again.

"Something wrong?" Arcagh greeted them when they got inside, mug of tea in hand.

"It is a bad knee day," Halsin answered as he put Artimezt down on the sofa.

"Ah. You looked to be doing well when you left."

"I was… Thought it was a good enough day for a walk and barely made it beyond the damned steps." Artimezt propped his cane up against the side of the sofa before slipping off his shoes and pants. Halsin had grabbed the salve while he did so, sitting down beside him. The two got comfortable in their usual position before Halsin took some salve from the bowl. Artimezt smiled and let out a small chuckle.

"What is it, my heart?" Halsin half chuckled back as he began massaging the pained knee.

"Just remembering the first time, when I nearly broke your nose for this."

"Ah…" Halsin laughed fondly over the memory. "You were indeed very quick to try to kick me when I told you the ingredients."

"And here I thought Izwae and I were the harshest towards Halsin back then," Arcagh joined in their laughter.

"You'd have done worse if you heard wisp lichen was the reason your leg was tingling."

"Maybe. I'd have been more concerned of lying than blatantly listing everything." Arcagh put his mug on the table and walked over to them, sitting on the floor between Halsin's legs. He gently propped one leg over his shoulder, careful not to disturb Artimezt too much before he began to give Halsin's foot a massage as well.

Halsin let out a hum of contentment. The three sat that way for a while, small conversations coming and going, easing each other of pains and stresses. It wasn't the walk Artimezt had wanted, but it was lovely nonetheless.

—

Xsa'ol - damnit

“Come to join me?” Halsin was getting used to his partners’ ways and was certain he knew who it was - and that he wouldn’t actually be wanted any closer.

“Hmph. You have good hearing,” Izwae huffed from the shaded side of the tree.

“You would have been quieter if you did not wish to be heard, my heart. Are you going to stay back there?”

“I am.”

“As you wish. I appreciate your company, my love.”

“Mm.”

Izwae hardly spoke to Halsin, even less so when they had become partners. At first glance, the assassin always seemed cold and distant. His words bit when he wanted them to - which was often - to keep people away. But it wasn’t long before his complaining softened towards Halsin, and the man’s staring and lurking spoke to undermine the attitude he tried to keep.

Izwae watched over Halsin like he did the others but still kept him at an arm’s length. It seemed he fought to stay aloof, only a couple of the others and Halsin noticing his slight shift. Halsin sometimes couldn’t help but worry perhaps it was all too much too fast for Izwae for how distant he stayed.

But a stolen kiss in the dark, an expression of worry over the druid when wounded, had made certain Halsin didn’t question his love was returned. So he didn’t mind the space Izwae wanted. His love stayed at his side, even if at arm’s length. When he wished for more - if he wished for more - Halsin would welcome it.

“Here.” Halsin reached his arm back and around the side of the tree, placing the wooden bat as close as he could get to Izwae on the other side. He could hear the drow pick it up and turn it over in his hands.

“You and your creatures…”

“You may keep it, if you’d like.”

Don’t have to sift through characterizations I don’t care for

Don’t have to worry about people complaining my characterizations aren’t the same as theirs

Don’t have to worry about drama in general because no one cares

I’m alone so I can do whatever freely without worry about the Fandom PoliceTM

Cons of being alone on a ship: