Bottles And Paper Squid Squad

[didyougavemepaperandink]

gonna watch you... or not.

And sometimes you’ve got to add variety to your bedroom… activities. (1514 words, nsfw)

He was leaning against Leonas playing with the toy in his hands. The toy Leonas was eyeing since Athras took it out of his bag.

“So you want to use it on me,” Leonas stated and wanted to grab it. But Athras was faster with standing up and walking over to the chair at the desk, turning it to face the bed. He placed the plug on it, grinning.

Weiterlesen

[didyougavemepaperandink]

little presents

Athras doesn’t forget what others did for him. Or that they need a bit of luck. And even if he doesn’t know if someone likes selfmade stuff he still makes them. (744 words)

Athras had waited for Partha to fall asleep before he sat down on the floor, leaning against the bed while the wood was pressing uncomfortable against his back. At least he wouldn’t fall asleep like that and could finish the band. His own wristband was for him to lessen his homesickness when it should hit him again and he didn’t care if the others were going to think of it as just a stupid dalish superstition. He was going to finish the second wristband, tying wooden pearls, carved with symbols, into it that were said to bring luck. And when he looked at his own band he was even more determined to finish it.

Weiterlesen

[bnpsquidsquad]

Thoughts

After his spirit friend helped them, without anyone but him knowing, and seeing a possession Athras has some things to think about.  (779 words)

They all were lazing around the fire, talking, drinking. It was after dinner after all, the fire still bright because it was getting colder day after day. On his blanket sat Athras, weaving the strings he had bought into a wristband. Again. He had been finished but undid it to start anew. His back faced the others, almost. He chose that position to have the fire shine on the strings and he wasn’t really interested in that drunken banter to begin with. At his feet, hidden from the gaze of the others was sitting a bird he made from ice. A little exercise from his keeper, to keep up his concentration even though he did something else beside it. Like weaving.

When Bastien had asked why he didn’t just buy a wristband he hadn’t told the truth. At least not the whole. He wouldn’t tell anybody he wanted to make it so he could do something familiar, something that reminded him of home. Thanks to Corvin he had been reminded of possessions, a topic he loved to push to the back and not think about. But now he wasn’t sure when something would happen and if he would see his family again if something happens. Yes, he worked on that wristband to feel less homesick.

Maybe he would've felt better if he could talk with his friend but he didn't find him when he looked for him in the fade. He hadn’t been in contact with him since the incident with the demon. He had said that he won’t be able to help him again in the near future but… that didn’t include talking with him, did it?

He had tried to act like he always did, to not show his concern about him as they continued their way back to Denerim. Acting like always. He had thought it would be harder but it was easier now than when he was with his family. Hiding his friend, hiding what his dreams showed him, hiding his feelings, hiding… it was easier if nobody knows a thing about someone. And that was a reason why he wasn’t really miffed about Corvin hiding stuff too.

A little chuckle almost escaped him as he thought that the others didn’t know anything about him too, he didn’t know much about them too if he had to be honest. And still they let him travel with them. Did it even occur to them that he could hide a demon or something else too? Not that he did, not exactly, but he would’ve thought that at least one of them would make a comment in that direction. But the likeliest candidate for that was probably too busy competing with the Orlesian lord. And he didn’t even had a connection to the spirit right now.

Can they die? The spirits? It had taken him a few days before he started to ask himself that question. He knew he wasn’t dead, dead dead. Or spirit dead. However people would call it. The last sentence he heard from him let him believe that he was still somewhere out there. But that didn’t stop him from thinking about it. And he felt bad for just taking his help without thinking of the possible consequences. What if a demon was too strong? Do spirits just vanish?

And if the demon had been too strong the ones around him would be dead as well.

A sudden squeal caused Athras to look up and he noticed how the others flinched as the bird flew straight into the fire, almost extinguishing it. He had lost his concentration over thinking too much. They all stared at the fire, still trying to get what just happened as Athras mumbled: “Would he do something suicidal too?” Something like trying to help him when the other party was too powerful?

He realised too late that he spoke part of his thoughts out loud when he noticed Partha, who sat beside him, staring at him with furrowed brows.

“What was that?” Corvin asked, turning from the fire to Athras since the bird came from his direction. Athras swallowed as the others looked at him too now that Corvin had asked.

“A bird… made of ice,” he answered slowly. He didn’t really wanted to explain much right now. “We used it as a concentration exercise back home.” But the others still didn’t look satisfied with that so he started to tell them about how the keeper used to let them make small animals to keep up their concentration. And during the explanation he could feel Parthas gaze on him. There it was. Something he hid from most people slipped out.

[bnpsquidsquad]

Countdowns

Countdowns - Sleeping At Last (please listen along for full effect) 

[bnpsquidsquad]

No second chances

Usually, when she decided someone had to die, she didn’t get a second chance to talk to them. (361 words)

Usually, when she decided someone had to die, she didn’t get a second chance to talk to them.  Partha always tried to avoid killing. She didn’t relish in taking lives, but when you grew up like she had, you knew that sometimes it was unavoidable. Ever since that day she had killed that boy in order to save her mentor’s life, she had understood that sometimes, in order to protect, in order to live, those who would try to harm you or those you loved, simply had to die. She didn’t do it lightly, ever, and when she saw another way, she took it. She only killed those she had to kill. Because of that, she had never once regretted a single life she took. She regretted situations, circumstances, but never the kills, for if there had been anything to regret, she just would not have killed. But here he was. Chained, unconscious, badly beaten, yes, but alive. She didn’t quite understand how that had come to pass. In her head, she had killed him ten different ways after Bastien had basically confirmed to her that no, he knew of no way to save the mage, and yes, he would kill everyone Partha cared about. She had decided he had to die. And she had been ready. But he was alive, and that was better. It was good that he was alive, she was glad. Did that mean she had been wrong? She had decided his death was a necessity, something inevitable if she and her companions were to survive this encounter. But they lived, and so did he. She didn’t feel like her decision at the time had been wrong, she didn’t regret it. But if she was glad he was alive now, what did that say about the other lives she took? Could they have been- She averted her gaze from the chained mage and focused again on Athras, her friend, asleep in the grass. She refused to explore that line of thinking any further. If they were to get attacked right now, she would have to be ready. Ready to fight, defend, and, if necessary, ready to kill.

[bnpsquidsquad]

The one you forgot

Sometimes you wish for anger instead of sadness. (304 words)

She woke up, slowly. It felt like something hard had hit her head. Her sight was blurred. While slowly sitting up she tried gathering her toughts. But before she could remember where she was, she heard a scream.  She got up, regretting it the next moment. The world felt like it was shifting in front of her. Grateful she held onto the next wall while trying not to vomit. Gathering all her strength she prepared to run. Her feet carried her as fast as they could.  A second scream, nearer this time. It was a child’s voice. Partha tried running faster her lung nearly collapsing. As she got closer she began to hear the sound of something hitting skin. She stopped, unable to move as her past suddenly got a hold of her. She remembered this day. The first time she was beaten in front of everyone on the streets. And nobody had done anything. No, it wasn’t her memory. This was a different child. But she recognised the face of the female dwarf beating the small one. Without thinking she busted into the scene, tears on her cheek. „STOP!“ She finally said it. She wasn’t able to do it all these years. Everyones eyes lay on her. But she didn’t mind. The woman looked up to her, slowly. „Who are you to tell me what to do?“ Partha had always feared this encounter, never knowing how she would react. Most of the time she tought she would be angry at her. She looked into these eyes which were swollen from the ongoing abuse of alcohol and hollow from absent hope. Partha felt her heart aching. Not because of anger but sadness. Her not recognising Partha was more of an impact than any hit she had to take in the past. „The one you forgot, mother.“ (music for this piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mjzoMh2fJo. I was listening to this song while writing it.)

[bnpsquidsquad]

just another job

you do what you have to do to get your information (Athras, 484 words)

“They’re looking for some additional servants for the celebration,” Partha told them. She was the only one who found out something helpful, the people in the city sure like to talk about a lot of unnecessary stuff. Athras hadn’t paid much attention until he felt the eyes on him and when he looked up he noticed the others looking at him. “Come on. You know they don’t let male elves work for them this time,” he said. They already got that information yesterday but Issala started to grin. “Just leave it to me,” she laughed, earning a confused look from Athras. It didn’t take long to figure out why she was so happy all of a sudden and she was so enthusiastic that Landon had to stop her and fix a few things here and there.

On the next day he was standing in front of the guards of the mansion and ignored the looks they gave him. Issala put him into an older looking, long skirt and a simple blouse. Together with Landon she did his hair and told him more than once to leave it open like that even though he hated when it fell into his face. “You want to work as a servant?” one of the guards asked and he nodded. The other guard stepped forward and grabbed Athras chin, forcing him to look up. “I’m leading you to the entrance. There’s the dude who will look if you get the job or not.” Athras tried to nod but it wasn’t possible with the grip the guard held him with. “Can’t you speak? Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. That’s what you should say, knife-ear.” In that moment Athras would have loved to punch that asshole but he touched his neck and then his mouth, hoping the guard would understand. The human looked down at him, “So you’re really a mute. Come with me.” He let go of Athras and turned, starting to walk down a byway. Athras followed him until they reached a door which the guard opened. They entered the room behind that was pretty empty. A few glass bottles were lying around and two tables standing at the walls. Athras looked around when an old man came from the next room. “We have a mute knife-ear today,” the guard told him before pushing Athras into his direction. “A mute? That’s good,” the old man said, looking Athras up and down. “For now it’s alright,” he said after the elf started to avoid his stare. “I will show you the quarters. We will see how you do with serving later today.” He gestured to another door, leaving Athras to go there. When Athras walked past the man put one hand on his back. He couldn’t help but feel that something was very wrong here. If their client was right he had to deal with slave traders now.

[bnpsquidsquad]

50 word stories

-5 stories / one word prompt list

Issala couldn’t help but to let out a loud scream. There were even birds that left the trees nearby and flew away, thanks to it. But who could hold it against her. The water’s freezing cold and she was wondering how the little elf could say it was pleasantly warm.

When Partha left Orzammar she had a lot of different feelings. One of them had been hope. Hope to leave it behind forever, to not see dust town again. She’d never really paid attention to that feeling so she couldn’t answer when Issala asked what she hoped for in life.

Athras dropped his staff and raised his arms. They’re too many to get out of here unharmed. One of the templars went up to him and took the staff. “It’s better to surrender, mage.” Surrender? He promised the others he would be back soon and he’s to keep that promise.

His hair was still dripping wet when he sat down on the rock. The cold air left him freezing now that he was out of the water but Athras didn’t mind at all. He absentmindedly touched the tattoo on his leg while thinking about home. He really missed his family.

It took Landon a moment to know where he was when he woke up. A second before he had been in Denerim, the fight out of control and now there were the peaceful sounds of a new-born day. Landon let out a deep breath. Usually he didn’t have bad dreams.

[bnpsquidsquad]

50 word stories

-5 stories / one word prompt list

The moons hung full and bright in the night sky while she’s walking. When Issala looked up she saw a star falling. “You can make a wish on a shooting star,” she heard her mothers’ voice inside her head and huffed. A wish… maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.

Her whole life had been a fight. She fought to survive when she was a mere duster, she fought to get out of there. But the fighting didn’t stop, it just got more bearable as she found more people she could call friends. And today, today she was fighting too.

Who knew that betrayal would hurt that much. Athras was kneeling on the floor, a hand clenched into the fabric that covered his chest. The pain was too much, almost felt like his heart was bursting. They had warned him not to trust that other mage but he didn’t listen.

Landon leaned against a tree, able to overlook the whole valley while the sunset drowned it in orange-red light. It was a sight he would have never seen when he stayed at home and once again he was asking himself if he would find other beautiful places like this one.

Landon stepped in front of Partha, blocking the attack that was meant for her. Yes, he told his family she’s his bodyguard too but that didn’t mean he let an enemy hurt her if he could prevent that. He readied his sword and attacked himself. Those enemies would die today.

[stumblingarts]

The lovely @gatchayam commissioned me again, thank you 💚 This time with a scene from our current dragon age p&p campaign, where her dwarven character Partha is riding on a horse with @nati-latte s Noble Knight Landon ✨💚

[bnpsquidsquad]

Partha now canonically carries Athras’ staff around when they’re in a town and he needs to hide he’s a mage, and I think that’s very cute.

[bnpsquidsquad]

keeping mum busy

you can’t leave little kids alone / Athras childhood (253 words)

Everyone was sitting down for dinner but the only thing Athras knew was that he was bored. The others didn’t pay him attention as his mother was busy stirring the soup in the pot and his father was cutting the meat of the hare he caught a few hours ago. His grandmother wasn’t around right now so nobody saw the little boy slowly getting up. That was still difficult when he had nothing to hold on to.

As soon as he was standing, a little wobbly on his feet, he made the first step, a second one. Once he was into it his steps became safer and quicker and Athras couldn’t help but to gurgle because he had fun. Making that little noise made one of the others look up. It took a moment until they saw the little kid slowly walking away from his parents. “Silea, you may want to look where your son is going,” the elf shouted since he was in the middle of work too. Silea looked up from the pot and finally noticed Athras absence. She stood up, sighing because her knee was still hurting a little and went to her child. “You don’t walk there, ‘Ma’dharlin,” she said as she turned Athras around. He looked at her as she picked him up for that short moment and giggled. As soon as Silea put him down again, now facing the cooking place, he started walking again. Back to his father who was already looking over to him, waiting.

[bnpsquidsquad]

good advice

some spirits like to annoy people with advice (236 words)

He looked around and saw the old oak tree the beyond almost always provides for him. Slowly he walked over to it and sat down, his legs bent and the chin resting on his knees. He dug his fingers into the dirt to his feet while trying to hold his tears back. He didn’t understand it. He never had been much of a crier but his heart felt like it had shattered into pieces. And it hurt so much that he couldn’t hold his tears back. He was happy that he was able to flee into the beyond to hide his outburst from everyone. He didn’t want to be the one who wasn’t happy for the newly bonded couple but it wasn’t easy to keep that smile on his face and tomorrow.. Tomorrow the smiling game would start anew.

He felt the presence of the spirit of learning before he appeared before him. Without a word the spirit sat down too and Athras sighed. “Don’t you have something to tell me? I told you that you should tell him what you feel for him”, he said, looking on his feet while waiting for an answer. He didn’t do it because he was too scared. The spirit knew that, he knew him better than he knew himself. “I don’t see a reason to tell you that anymore. But heartbreak is a step you can use to grow.”

[bnpsquidsquad]

Betrayal?

Sometimes choices are made in a short moment... (623 words)

He couldn’t believe his eyes. They ran into an ambush from other elves and he really didn’t know how it happened. Two other elves came out of the forest, hooded like the others and when they stopped one of them started to talk, sounding a bit surprised. “Now that is an odd group we’ve got here. And then there’s a… dalish too.” The men looked at Athras now and the second one hold the first back as he wanted to step forward. “Let me talk to him. Please.” Athras watched them but after that they went on with talking quietly and it was hard to understand anything. It didn’t take long until the second man stepped forward, in the line of the other elves that pointed their weapons at them and took down his hood. When Athras realized who was standing in front of him he was shook. “I don’t know what you’re thinking right now but it probably isn’t anything good,” Dhearas started, looking over the other elves before his gaze turned back to Athras. “I would love to talk to you.” Athras swallowed hard, trying to ignore the looks the others were giving him now that it was clear that he knew at least one of those elves. “Here? In front of everyone? Or after you finished robbing us?” he asked after he found his voice again. “You are one of us. We are not here to attack you.” Dhea took another step forward, gaze steady on Athras while he pointed to the others. “You don’t have to get into any fight.” “But you’re attacking the others.” “Not if they give us their stuff without making a fuss.” As soon as Dhea finished there was a groaning going through the other elves. They probably wanted a fight. Athras took one step forward too which caused Partha to reach for him. He felt her hand lightly brushing against his skin before she pulled her hand back. He was thankful that no one of them had said anything till now. “You want to talk afterwards?” he asked and Dhea nodded. “But I have one question. How is Leena doing?” “She is doing well. At least before I left. I didn’t see her afterwards,” Dhea answered after a moment. He had probably been too surprised that Athras was bringing up his sister. Athras went over to the elves but stopped halfway when he heard Partha whispering. “But… we are friends.” He took a deep breath. She had no clue how much that sentence hurt and he tried to look composed when he turned to his companions. “We are, Partha,” he said, forcing himself to smile, “but Dhea was my friend first.” When he saw their expressions he had hold himself back from going back to them. He was standing in the middle and the idea he just had after Dhea told him about Leena was stupid. If not suicidal since he wasn’t a good fighter anyways. But if he went back now the surprise moment wasn’t there anymore. So he took his staff, facing his companions and raised it in the air. “At least run towards me,” he thought as he started to cast the spell. But they just stood there watching him. He was fast. From one second to the other he turned around and threw an arcane lance at Dhea who hadn’t seen this coming at all. The other elves didn’t as well so he had time to cast another one before one of them was at his side, burying a dagger in Athras arm. He didn’t care about it. Dhea had promised to take care of Leena and he didn’t. And after that he didn’t believe a word Dhea just said.

[bnpsquidsquad]

Landon, looking fabulous as ever 

[bnpsquidsquad]

sleepless nights

Overthinking stuff at night happens quite often. (611 words)

Nothing he thought of helped him with falling asleep and since it was like that he just lied there, staring at the ceiling and listening to Parthas regular breathing. He couldn’t tell how much time had already passed, the time when he lied awake waiting for sleep to come was a bizarre one. And it was also a time when his thoughts drifted off and he began thinking about stuff that wasn’t important during the day. Because he had better things to do then. When he saw the moon slowly appearing in the window he sighed. If he could just be back in Denerim and not somewhere in the middle of nowhere, he thought, just to stop himself. Denerim? It took him a few moments to realize that he hadn't thought about Dhea at all for a while now. Why Denerim? There was someone else who he thought of, someone who snuck into his life. When he finally noticed that Athras sat up and whispered, "Fenedhis." There was no way he could have feelings for him. But thinking about what his keeper would say if he found out about that, his family, it made his chest hurt. Why did he have to end up having feelings for someone he shouldn’t have feelings for? He flinched a bit when Partha turned around and reached out her hand. “Is everything alright?” she asked in a voice that told him that she already knew it wasn’t. “Did you have a nightmare again?” He shook his head, “No, I didn’t sleep.” He then stood up, breaking away from Parthas touch. That was something he didn’t need right now, not at all. Because he already felt like he couldn’t hold back his tears and didn’t even know why his eyes got wet. “But…,” Partha started but Athras cut her off. “It’s nothing! Just something about what my clan would think about some choices I may make.” He regretted saying those words out loud as soon as they had left his mouth. Not only because they made his throat feel like it had a lump in it, but saying them made them feel more real. It wasn’t a ‘they could disapprove his choices’, it felt more like ‘they are going to disapprove the choices he made.’ “You are so far away from them. Why would they care about what you do right now?” Partha asked quietly. He knew she walked away from Orzammar, from the dwarves there. He knew he shouldn’t judge her for not wanting to have anything to do with the dwarves but the words left his mouth before he was thinking about their meaning. “What would you know about clans and what comes with them?” he asked her. “You may be free now after running away but I still have shackles on my wrists. A chain around my neck! You don’t leave the traditions and pride behind like it’s nothing!” He was almost shouting the last sentences, gesticulating with his hands while he spoke. But when he looked at Partha and saw her expression he was taken aback. “Forget it,” he said, through clenched teeth and turned to the door. He was out of the room before Partha found her voice again and went outside. A walk sounded refreshing and he really didn’t want to go back in. He took a deep breath when he felt the cold air hitting his face. The moment he looked at Partha he knew he shouldn’t have said what he said. She just asked him because she didn’t understand and maybe… maybe it was time to tell, at least her, what stuff could end in punishment for him.

[bnpsquidsquad]

50 words stories

-6 stories / Athras memories

“Your hair is getting long,” Dhea stated, running his hand through Athras hair. The younger one just pushed the hand away and tried to concentrate on the bow again. “I told you when I'll let mum cut it.” “You’re not even seven. They won’t let you search for that flower.”

“What is up with the elven kid here?” he heard someone ask behind him and froze. “Hey, little girl what are you doing here?” He felt a hand on his shoulder when Dhea pulled him to the side and ran with him. “I told you to cut your hair short!”

A toy arrow hit Athras arm. He shouted while the other was laughing. “I hit you. You have to fall on the ground!” Athras turned to his friend. “You shot me in the arm. That wouldn’t get me down.” At that moment he was tackled and hit the ground hard.

“I’m not sleepy. Why can’t I walk around outside for a little longer?”, Athras asked. His mother stood in front of him, her arms crossed. “Because you are going to play with the Halla and get dirty again,”  she said. Sometimes he felt like his mother could read his thoughts.

Athras felt a sting in his chest when Dhea told him about the afternoon he spent with the others. He’d already heard them talk, sitting behind a tree. While Dhea was talking how much fun the trip was he tried to repress the feeling of loneliness, to stop the ache.

Athras listened as they exchanged their vows. He didn’t know why he didn’t see it coming. It must have been obvious to the others that there was something between his sister and his best friend. “Isn’t there someone you laid your eyes on? the keeper asked Athras after the ceremony.