#romantic squids

The two merchants had been given an extremely difficult mission by De'cadad, their elder brain. A human scholar had found, in an expedition to the underdark, ancient qualith document that held the key to repairing part of a nataloid spelljammer. The De'cadad colony had a nearly functional nataloid so they desperately wanted the information. Orrizz and Squild were picked due to their experience with traveling. They had been given extra thralls and even some intellect devourers for the mission.

"I can't believe we are going to the surface Squild!" Orrizz said playing with one of the devourers.

Squild nodded solemnly. Orrizz looked up at him.

"Darling we can handle this easily." Orrizz said

Squild sighed and sat next to Orrizz, "Its the surface Orrizz. Everyone and everything is the enemy."

Orrizz snuggled closer to Squild and put the wriggling legged brain in his lap. "We have eachother and together we are unstoppable. Now, pet her, you'll feel better."

Squild chuckled and did just that.

They headed out early in the morning. Squild held one of Orrizz's tentacles tightly the whole way to the surface. As they exited the underdark the sun burned their eyes a little but soon they adjusted. The two looked out over a massive green forest. Orrizz gasped gently and squeezed Squild's hand. Squild pulled him close. They both thought it was rather beautiful if not terrifying. They traveled deep into the woods, avoiding other intelligent creatures at all cost. As night drew close they came to a cliff face that overlooked the city they were heading to. The lights of the city danced against the twilight sky.

"Squild the surface is wonderous." Orrizz murmured. For a brief moment Orrizz fantasized over have a small cottage in the woods with Squild. Images of the two of them in snuggled into a warm bed with a roaring fire danced scross the illithids' minds. Orrizz quickly caught himself and dashed the images from his mind. Squild nuzzled his lover tenderly.

"Your home is in my arms love." Squild said softly.

Orrizz blushed and played with one of Squild's tentacles, "Sorry... sometimes our apartment just feels very cold. The colony is very cold."

Squild turned Orrizz's head gently to stare into his eyes, "Then I must do a better job at keeping you warm."

Orrizz's entire face was flushed at this point and he buried his embarrassment into Squild's chest, pressing himself into him. "Darling! You can't just say stuff like that!"

Squild laughed and squeezed Orrizz tightly. "I'd say it one thousand times to see you blush like that more."

Anytime they went to a drow city Squild knew what came immediately after trade deals, clothes shopping. Orrizz held Squild's hand and float into a shop looking as giddy as could be.

"Squild my love we need to get matching beach clothes! I want us to visit the ocean some time!" Orrizz said looking over a selection of summery robes.

Squild looked over his shoulder at the counter. The woman who ran the shop was glaring at them with a mix of horror and disgust. Squild narrowed his eyes, her thoughts comfirmed his suspicious.

"Orrizz we should try a different shop. The woman here will only mistreat you." Squild said

"Any shop risks that love. We are what we are. Only natural for prey animals to fear predators." Orrizz said holding up a design to Squild. "I like the blue in this but the orange clashes horribly with your complexion love."

Squild's eyes softened at Orrizz's actions and he leaned in to nuzzle into his husband's neck. Orrizz hummed softly and nuzzled back. Squild stayed close to Orrizz as he picked out more clothes. They overheard the drow owners thoughts as she decided she wouldn't let them try anything on for fear of their mucus staining her designs. Orrizz rolled his eyes.

"Her clothes would be bless to have your mucus in them." Squild hissed.

Orrizz burst into laughter, "Darling that sounds so gross!"

The two laughed and ended up picking two matching beach outfits. As they headed out Orrizz spotted another store.

"Squil-"

"Yes we can go there too." Squild said.

To say the trip had been exhausting would be putting it mildly. They had gotten into a fight with some umbra hulks and lost a thrall. The meal after was nice but Squild was exhausted. He barely made it to their couch before collapsing into it. He must have passed out because he soon felt Orrizz's tentacle on his shoulder rocking him awake.

"Come on dearest." Orrizz said softly.

Squild groaned but followed Orrizz. It was only when they reached the bathroom that Squild was awake enough to see Orrizz had disrobed.

"Come on I had a bath drawn for you." Orrizz sang out.

Soon Squild was in the water, Orrizz joining him. He sank into the tub. Orrizz has added some sort of mineral to the bath that felt wonderful on his skin. Orrizz started to scrub him gently. Squild closed his eyes and relaxed.

"Tsk, Squild you have a gash on you arm. Why didn't you say anything?" Orrizz said.

Squild opened one eye to look at Orrizz who was giving him a disappointed glare. Squild grabbed his husband gently and pulled him close.

"You are dodging the question darling." Orrizz said.

Squild chuckled, "It wasn't that bad of a wound."

Orrizz pressed himself into Squild. He could feel his worried thought floating through his mind. Squild pet Orrizz's head gently.

"I'm fine Orrizz." Squild said

Orrizz sighed and draped his arms around Squild's neck. "I'll kill you if you're lying."

Squild laughed at that and continued to pet Orrizz till the water went cold. When they finally got out Orrizz dressed his wound properly.

"Seriously Squild I have no idea what I'll do if something where to happen to you." Orrizz said finishing.

Squild gently rested his head on Orrizz's shoulder, "I promise dear, you will never have to worry about me. I'm tougher than I look."

Squild and Orrizz were eating a group of explorers who had gotten too close to the colony. Squild held onto his husband as memories filled both of them. He snuggled into him during their trace when he suddenly realized Orrizz was crying.

"Darling?" Squild said concerned.

"I- I want a family." Orrizz said as tears cascaded down his face.

Squild was alarmed and confused. "O-Orrizz my love are you ok?"

Orrizz wiped his face. "Sorry. Those memories were so intense. They had a warm and loving family. It was... I just realized it was everything I ever wanted."

Orrizz shared images with Squild mentally. They were in a warm little cottage with two illithid "children". An impossiblity since childhood for them was just their tadpole stage but cute. They even had a little intellect devourer as a pet.

"Its a cute fantasy dearest." Squild said. "If not a strange one."

Orrizz whined. "Please don't make fun of me darling. I don't know why I want this."

Squild chuckled, "Yes you do darling. You don't have to hide it from me anymore."

Orrizz went pale. The mental image melted away, and was replaced by a human man with a wife, two children and a dog. These were memories Orrizz had of his host, one he kept extremely secret.

"How long have you known?" Orrizz said.

"Orrizz we share thoughts constantly, I've known a long time." Squild chuckled.

Orrizz blushed and hid underneath his husband's tentacles. "This is so embarrassing."

Squild rubbed his husband's back and then filled his mind with his own memories. Orrizz went wide eyed as suddenly images of a half-elf woman on the deck of a ship, singing softly to herself as the waves battled the hull.

"Sorry, this is the only solid one I really have." Squild said.

Orrizz giggled. "So this is why you think of the ocean so much? Your host was a sailor."

Squild nodded. "Really all I can remember from her are sailing songs and the ocean."

Orrizz got comfy in Squild's lap. "I can see his children growing older. He was a merchant. They loved their father deeply and would beg him not to go on trips."

"A merchant just like you." Squild chuckled.

"I share a lot if his mannerisms." Orrizz said

The two spent a lot time just sharing memories together. A few hours went by and finally Orrizz realized he had shared every single secret he had with Squild. He sat up and looked at his lover. Squild had nothing but warm, soft, feelings of understanding for him. Orrizz teared up again and pulled Squild into a warm embrace.

"I love you so much." Orrizz said. "I'm so lucky I have you."