CRYSTAL BRAVES.

𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑦 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑖'𝑣𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 .

[blooferarch]

𝚂𝙷𝙴  𝙼𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃  𝙱𝙴  𝙰  𝙺𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚁     //     indie lucy westenra of dracula. by annie. formerly stlucy.

[conjury]

palevein​   ---   𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧  .

WHAT WEARINESS BURIED ITSELF IN HIS BONES,  was far more ancient,  far more reluctant and stubborn than what she might initially believe.  wounds are one thing,  scars are another.  but there is another breed of sorrow,  of absolute exhaustion.  a tiredness which soaks him out from under year after year,  century after century.  he does not speak of it and perhaps he never will,  time rolls onward,  it withers like sand between his fingers and he stays silent a moment longer. 

her touches are coddling as are her words.  in another time he would have been far more bitter,  far more cruel,  he still is in his own manner.  cruelty laces and lathers across his soul like a warp and weft,  though he knows how to tend to it better than most.   astarion permits her nursing for all that it is and isn’t,  gaze falling across her cheek until he lets out another scoff.   

❝  ha !   far from it.   i simply know my own limitations,  and a fumbling oaf with a sword is of no concern to me.  ❞  teeth glisten in the fire - light where he carries on.  still,  something pulls beneath his flesh,  his muscles,  his very bones.  uneasiness ?  uncertainty ?  tender things are never meant to last,  this is why daisies wither so very quickly.  they  — like most things  —  are always destined to die.    

❝   well when you have spent years dwelling in the shadows,  trying to draw as much attention away from your person as i have  …  maybe all this fuss is a pleasant surprise.  maybe.  ❞   

a flash of fangs.  he grins,  almost as content as a great long cat. 

𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐬  𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲  𝐨𝐧  𝐡𝐢𝐬  𝐚𝐫𝐦  ,   𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐡𝐢𝐦  𝐭𝐨  𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞  𝐛𝐲  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞  .   for  all  of  his  languid  appearance  ,   his  sleep  is  often  fitful  and  his  face  is  often  tired  .   edda  hopes  every  night  that  it  will  be  different  ,   but  some  things  are  simply  too  deep  to  change  .   it  is  painful  knowing  a  friend  has  suffered  and  that  the  cure  for  it  lies  out  of  reach  .

“    you’ve  more  than  earned  a  measure  of  coddling  ,   petal  ,    ”    edda  says  ,   lowering  her  voice  and  turning  away  from  their  companions  .   she  needs  a  moment  to  herself  every  now  and  again  .   astarion  has  never  counted  among  those  from  whom  she  would  like  a  break  .

instead  ,   her  finger  follows  the  soft  lines  where  his  palm  ends  and  his  delicate  fingers  begin  .   for  someone  so  ancient  ,   he  is  not  as  frail  as  one  may  believe  .   the  infinite  mercy  and  kindness  of  his  heart  is  apparent  every  second  that  he  does  not  crush  her  windpipe  in  his  powerful  grip  .

“    would  you  like  me  to  read  your  palm  ,   dear  ?   a  woman  in  my  village  used  to  do  so  for  a  silver  piece  .   i  think  i  remember  what  the  lines  mean  ,   but  i  shan’t  charge  for  it  .    ”

[conjury]

y’all wanna know some shit yda does that’s kinda cringe but also kinda sexy???

[conjury]

❥   @saintmarlboro​    ---   𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝  𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫  .    ↳    𝑦𝑑𝑎  .

𝐡𝐞  𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬  𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠  𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞  𝐨𝐟  𝐚  𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭  ,   not  taking  into  account  how  busted  his  ribs  might  feel  .   she’s  lucky  he’s  out  ,   she  supposes  ,   because  she  has  a  headache  and  isn’t  sure  if  whimpering  would  be  better  than  quips  .   maybe  both  were  just  terrible  .

but  she  tugs  the  blanket  down  and  does  her  best  not  to  wake  him  .   but  pulling  up  the  medical  tape  is  always  the  hardest  part  ,   as  is  trying  not  to  mess  too  badly  with  the  wounds  .   bullets  found  their  mark  in  him  ,   she  feels  a  twist  of  pity  in  her  gut  .

yeah  ,   probably  best  he’s  not  up  .   new  guys  never  know  what  to  make  of  the  nurse  with  the  fucked - up  face  .

that  is  ,   until  her  eyes  flit  over  to  his  .   and  yda  gives  a  little  jolt before  hazarding  a  smile  .

“    i  would’ve  said  hello  ,   but  i  thought  you  were  asleep  .    ”    she  says  .    “    you  should  try  to  get  back  to  it  soon  as  you  can  ,   once  your  morphine  shot  wears  off  ,   i  shan’t  be  allowed  to  give  you  any  more  .    ”

[conjury]

“I promise I’ll be good.”

❥   @speedjunkie    ---   𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞  .  ↳    𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑢  .

“    𝐲𝐨𝐮  𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧  𝐭𝐨  𝐛𝐞  𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐨𝐧  𝐦𝐲  𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫  .    ”    she  informs  him  with  a  little  smile  on  her  face  .   he  looks  a  sight  with  his  knees  spread  ,  bound  and  beautiful  on  the  floor  .   she  leans  in  ,   hazarding  a  soft  touch  over  the  head  of  his  cock  .    “    is  that  what  good  boys  do  ?    ”

tataru  presses  her  soft  ,   pink  lips  to  roche’s  and  revels  in  his  desperation  .   he  whines  ,   hips  rocking  against  her  hand  .   so  she  pulls  away  with  a  sharp  giggle  .

“    i  will  believe  you’ll  behave  when  i  see  such  a  rarity  .    ”    she  grins  ,   resting  her  retracted  arm  on  the  sofa’s  armrest  .   

he’s  perfect  .   he’s  beautiful  .  the  soft  blush  on  his  cheeks  has  moved  down  to  his  neck  ,   a  sight  that  would  usually  lead  her  to  pause  and  make  certain  he  was  all  right  .   but  she’s  checked  already  and  his  permission  glowed  green  .

“    turn  around  ,   petal  ,    ”    she  says  .    “    and  you  can  show  me  that  you’re  truly  serious  ,   instead  of  simply  saying  so  .    ”

[conjury]

❝ wild birds die in cages. ❞ for edda!

❥   @palevein    ---   𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫  𝐚𝐧𝐝  𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐞  .    ↳    𝑒𝑑𝑑𝑎  .

𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬  𝐡𝐞  𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰  𝐡𝐞'𝐬  𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞  ?   his  eyes  are  red  ,   made  of  water  and  something  else’s  blood  .   edda  feels  cold  ,   too  .   her  hands  are  the  colour  of  skimmed  milk  ,   white - blue  and  holding  fast  to  his  .   astarion  knows  he’s  dying  every  second  that  he  stays  .   he  must  .

and  he  too  must  know  that  he  is  already  dead  .

“    and  you  are  wild  ,   my  friend  .    ”    she  gives  him  a  shaky  smile  ,   wishing  she  did  not  have  more  experience  than  him  with  freedom  despite  his  age  .   “    you  deserve  to  be  unbound  .   please  ,   let  me  help  you  .    ”

is  she  hurting  him  ?   she  hopes  not  ,   but  her  grip  will  not  loosen  .   the  fight  in  him  is  almost  gone  ,   she  has  to  hope  he’ll  light  it  himself  if  it  goes  out  before  he  can  run  away  with  her  .

“    come  with  me  .    ”    she  sighs  .    “    come  with  me  and  i’ll  protect  you  .   you  never  have  to  see  him  again  .    ”

[conjury]

goroni​   ---   𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐢𝐦𝐚  .

the hammer against molten steel,  harsh and blunt and honing.  majima has only known the tempering force and scraping against his person,  whittling him away to the finest point.  a coal crushed and turned to a diamond.  there’s an endless list of metaphors of poetry to wax but the reality is much more dim.  torture,  a knife to the eye,  needles and branding and excruciating pain over and over and over and over and  ——    taking a deep breath,  majima rewinds.  this is not a pity party.  majima would not be the host.  rather takes that anger so entrenched in who he is and expels it through the length of his bat,  the sharp edge of his knife,  the force of his fists and elbows and his body.

❛❛  some of us do not get to be anything but tough,  ❜❜  his voice is firm,  sure of itself and the conviction brought forth.  because it’s true.  his childhood,  his teenage years,  his adulthood.  all of them were exhausting,  excruciating in their own ways,  and majima could be nothing but tough.  could do nothing as he watched the life drain from mother dearest,  could do nothing but watch as his eye was deflated like a balloon,  could do nothing as his sworn brother left thinking majima had abandoned him.  ❛❛  but some of us are tough ‘cuz others were never made to be.  would be dead if they were us,  yeah?  so we are.  we have to be.  doesn’t mean we ‘gotta be all the time,  though.  ❜❜

𝐲𝐝𝐚  𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬  𝐚  𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝  𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐠  ,   𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐧𝐨𝐭  𝐭𝐨  𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤  𝐭𝐨𝐨  𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐟𝐮𝐥  .   people  don’t  trust  a  girl  in  a  mask  ,   they’re  the  ones  with  knives  behind  their  backs  .

she  prefers  to  go  unarmed  .

but  he  doesn’t  ask  ,   perhaps  because  of  his  own  secrets  .   he  just  shrugs  and  goes  back  to  bottling  the  bad  feelings  .   for  one  rumoured  to  be  unhinged  ,   he  has  so  much  control  over  his  emotions  .   enough  to  appear  erratic  when  he  chooses  .   yda  offers  up  a  small  smile  as  the  consolation  prize  for  the  sad  truth  .

“    i  have  a  little  sister  ,    ”    she  confesses  ,   looking  distant  and  sounding  nostalgic  at  even  the  mention  of  lyse  .    “    i  think  she  could  be  terribly  tough  if  the  need  required  ,   but  i  must  do  my  best  to  make  sure  it  never  is  .    ”

she  sits  back  ,   tiring  so  easily  of  her  lapse  in  sunny  persona  .   yda  didn’t  think  it  possible  to  wear  two  masks  at  once  ,   but  both  of  them  manage  it  .    “    who  do  you  fight  to  protect  ,   hm  ?    tell  me  all  about  them  ,   i’m  certain  they’re  lovely  !!    ”

[conjury]

all my girls peg bc they’re not cowards.

[conjury]

❝ hush, you mad thing. ❞ - for x'rhun tia !!

❥   @ancsthctist    ---   𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫  𝐚𝐧𝐝  𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐞  .    ↳    𝑥'𝑟𝘩𝑢𝑛

𝐡𝐞'𝐬  𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫  𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝  𝐬𝐨  𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡  ,   𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐝  𝐬𝐨  𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝  .    not  since  his  brothers  and  sisters  in  red  sat  around  him  ,   several  long  years  ago  .   but  x’rhun  is  startled  by  the  sound  of  his  own  joy  ,   a  response  to  rham’s  joke  that  sends  him  reeling  .

it’s  foreign  to  be  this  happy  ,   as  much  as  he  trusts  in  the  sensation  .

“    forgive  me  ,    ”    he  covers  his  mouth  with  his  hand  ,   trying  to  stifle  the  noise  .   it  won’t  do  to  draw  goblins  from  their  homes  around  idyllshire  with  his  racket  .   he’s  having  such  a  wonderful  time  ,   one  that  he  would  rather  not  spoil  .    “    you  can  be  very  entertaining  .    ”

the  stars  look  separate  from  the  ink - black  ,   quite  different  from  how  they  usually  do  .   he  used  to  feel  so  alone  staring  up  at  the  sky  ,   wondering  if  he  was  meant  to  gaze  alone  .   

he  moves  his  hand  slightly  to  the  left  .   his  fingers  brush  over  rham’ir’s

[conjury]

“make me.” umm

❥   @tyranted    ---   𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞  .  ↳    𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑒  .

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬  𝐢𝐬  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞  𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐡𝐚𝐬  𝐭𝐨  𝐩𝐚𝐲  𝐟𝐨𝐫  𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞  𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧  𝐨'𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤  𝐢𝐧  𝐭𝐡𝐞  𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠  .   not  that  it’s  much  of  one  .   pagan  looks  like  his  namesake  ,   half - sneer  and  half - smirk  in  his  tired  eyes  on  the  other  side  of  the  sofa  .

elodie  takes  a  sip  of  her  champagne  ,   giving  a  fuzzy  hum  as  if  caught  in  an  internal  debate  .   she’d  never  truly  debate  fucking  him  ,   of  course  .   she  would  have  to  be  truly  stupid  .

“    must  you  be  such  a  challenge  ,   pet  ?    ”    she  asks  .   her  eyes  are  a  little  bleary  ,   too  .   and  she  tilts  her  head  as  if  to  beckon  him  a  second  time  .    “    your  pride  is  something  of  a  hinderance  where  sex  is  involved  .    ”

but  she  smiles  ,   draining  her  glass  and  shifting  onto  her  back  .   propped  up  on  the  armrest  ,   she  lounges  like  a  venus  of  some  fucking  city  and  throws  an  arm  across  her  face  .

her  legs  part  just  a  fraction  ,   perhaps  unintentionally  .

“    i  don’t  think  i  shall  make  you  do  a  thing  ,   pagan  .    ”    she  sighs  .    “    for  i  know  how  desperate  can  be  where  cock  is  involved  .   and  you’ve  yet  to  fuck  your  own  staff  .   which  means  i  can  claim  exclusive  rights  to  your  unmentionables  ,   i  need  only  wait  for  you  to  realize  it  .     ”

she  licks  her  lips  ,   still  not  looking  .   she  doesn’t  need  to  .    “    everyone  loves  a  conquest  ,   darling  .   but  how  long  will  it  take  for  you  to  understand  you  are  my  conquest  already  ?    ” 

[conjury]

elodie lanoue — endless fc edits . 
 ↳ marrow made a wife of eve but no one gave up a rib for me .

[conjury]

heads up re; tataru: i absolutely do not want to discuss nsfw with her outside of her final fantasy 7 au where she’s a human woman oh my god

[asteritm]

the bear and the nightingale sentence starters.

quotes taken from katherine arden’s first book in the winternight trilogy, which i highly recommend if you loved deathless. feel free to combine, change pronouns, live your life, etc. sometimes i exchange “you” for “her” to make it more direct. i did edit a couple of these to make them more meme friendly. enjoy!!

❝ perhaps he desires death. if so, i can help him. ❞ ❝ there was something feral about you. ❞ ❝ you look like a wild thing new-caught and just barely groomed into submission.❞  ❝ we have never needed saving before. ❞ ❝ the first sign is fear. the second is always fire. your people are afraid, now the fires burn. ❞ ❝  you are not afraid. ❞ ❝ she does not fear God, she fears nothing. ❞ ❝ but leave me alone, or next time one of them comes for you, i shall not lift a finger to stop it.❞ ❝ did i not rob you of your quick ascent to heaven? ❞ ❝  suddenly she understood why the women all begged him for prayers. ❞ ❝ she understood that his warm hand, the strong bones of his face, were a weapon, to use where the weapons of speech had failed. ❞ ❝ he would get her obedience thus, with his rough hand, his beautiful eyes. ❞ ❝ she had a wild thing’s heedless grace. ❞ ❝ they had watched the wildness grow in her. ❞ ❝ in the stories the bird-prince and the wicked sorcerer, they only come for the wild maiden. ❞ ❝ beware the dead. ❞ ❝ i will not come again, not as myself. ❞ ❝ he will call me, and i will answer. ❞ ❝ he will have my allegiance and i will turn against you. i cannot do otherwise. ❞ ❝ the leaves are falling. do not leave the forest. ❞ ❝ the old eater is waking. ❞ ❝ you will die by your own choosing. ❞ ❝ why would i choose to die? ❞ ❝ it is easy to die, harder to live. ❞ ❝ you are very lovely. ❞ ❝ he loved my mother and i killed her. ❞ ❝ she was more like a warrior unblooded than a house-bred girl. ❞ ❝ they said you were beautiful, you are not. you are magnificent. ❞ ❝ his smile might be kind, but his horse is afraid of him. ❞ ❝  you want despite yourself and hate what you love. ❞ ❝ oh, you are beautiful. ❞ ❝ hush, you mad thing. ❞ ❝ i have never seen a girl walk so light in the words. ❞ ❝ i will teach you to want me. ❞ ❝ she is braver and wilder than any of my sons. ❞ ❝ she will not fear god, and she will not listen to reason. ❞ ❝ the more i looked at you, the harder it was to look away. ❞ ❝ wild birds die in cages. ❞ ❝ tell me what i must do, i will be faithful. ❞ ❝ call me with every breath, and call me by name. ❞ ❝ obey me always, and i will never leave you. ❞ ❝ you have never been more beautiful. ❞ ❝ you are all i see. ❞ ❝ i want only to be close. ❞ ❝ i see you, but there is little to see. ❞ ❝ our enemy has loosened his chains. soon he will be free, i cannot keep him out. ❞ ❝ he wants to eat the world. ❞  ❝ he will come again, can you smell it? ❞ ❝ i will not let him harm you. ❞ ❝ you must be strong and calm when it comes. ❞ ❝ she will be dead by morning. ❞ ❝ it cannot get in. i won’t let it, i won’t. ❞ ❝ by my blood you are barred from this place. ❞ ❝ be wary, be brave. ❞ ❝ she died afraid. ❞ ❝ it is in her blood. ❞        ❝ you can see it in her face, she has a witch’s eyes. ❞ ❝ there is evil in the woods. ❞ ❝ do you believe the priest? am i a witch? ❞ ❝ i think we will all die if you are gone. ❞ ❝ i will hold them off as long as i can. ❞ ❝ when you are here, i am stronger. ❞ ❝ get you gone, you have done enough evil here. ❞ ❝ they see your eyes follow her. ❞ ❝ they say she has tempted you from grace. ❞ ❝ terror overtook her, the terror of a wild thing in a trap. ❞ ❝ if this is the last decision i ever make, at least it is my decision. ❞ ❝ i come when men are dying. ❞ ❝ she is stronger than i dared hope.❞   ❝ i did not know anything could be that old, and live.❞ ❝ you are a creature as we are, formed raw from the powers of the world. ❞ ❝ you would’ve saved yourself. ❞          ❝ there is magic in your bones. you must reckon with it. ❞ ❝ yes there is death in it, but not before joy, before glory. ❞ ❝ i do not like half answers. ❞ ❝ do not ask half questions then. ❞ ❝ some things i can heal, but i cannot heal gently. ❞ ❝ there is virtue in your blood. ❞ ❝ what difference is there between me and the one you call god? ❞ ❝ i too revel in deeds done in my name. ❞ ❝ life must pay for life. ❞ ❝ magic is forgetting that something ever was other than as you willed it.❞ ❝ he makes men afraid. ❞ ❝ he eats their fear, gorges himself, and sleep until he hungers again. ❞ ❝ disorder he loves above all. ❞ ❝ he satisfies his hunger with you. ❞ ❝ all my life i have been told to ‘ go ’ and ‘ come ’. ❞ ❝ i am told how i must live, and how i must die. ❞ ❝ i would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing. ❞ ❝ i would rather die tomorrow, than live a hundred years of the life appointed to me. ❞ ❝ she will wither. ❞ ❝ you are cold, you are weary, you are frightened. ❞ ❝ you are frightened. it is delicious. ❞ ❝ sleep is cousin to death, and both are mine. ❞ ❝ believe in me, do not forget me. ❞ ❝ she is all i could desire. ❞ ❝ she can see me and she is afraid. ❞ ❝ you look different. ❞ ❝ perhaps i am different. ❞ ❝ i gave everything for you. ❞ ❝ i thought the voice was god, but it was not. ❞ ❝ i was left with my sin – that i wanted you. ❞ ❝ now i will never be clean again. ❞ ❝ scream again, it is beautiful. ❞ ❝ you are glorious. ❞ ❝ you are a mad fool. ❞ ❝ i am the fire, i will warm you. ❞ ❝ come here, and live forever. ❞ ❝ they are always afraid at the end. ❞ ❝ the fear of the brave— that is the best. ❞                        ❝ and now you will despair. ❞ ❝ despair is even better than fear. ❞ ❝ i threw flowers for you, and now i shed my blood. ❞   ❝ such is the strength of men. ❞ ❝ we who live forever can know no courage, nor do we love enough to give our own lives. ❞ ❝ it should’ve been me! ❞ ❝ i came back, but not alone. ❞ ❝ you will go, or you will die. and your death will not be easy. ❞ ❝ i will be no one’s bride, neither of man nor of god.❞           ❝ i will have my freedom. ❞ ❝ what is there for me here but walls and cages? ❞ ❝ i will be free, and i will not count the cost. ❞    

[tyranted-deactivated20220116]

                                                                食得鹹魚抵得渴 …

an independent and selective pagan min

written by jett

est. january 2019

[conjury]

it’s not sunday but eh, I’m trash

minfilia - vanilla but bossy

raubahn- switch, service top

arenvald - obedient sub, total bottom

moenbryda - soft dom, will peg

the omegas - they switch, of course

x’rhun - tired dom, power bottom

artoriel - sub in denial

emmanellain - brat, 10/10 bottom

jessie - giggly switch

yda - firm yet gentle dom

tataru - brat tamer, will also peg

[conjury]

"please, say something" ( Em! )

❥   @hanakarii    ---   𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭  𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭  .  ↳    𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛 

𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬  𝐚𝐫𝐞  𝐧𝐨𝐭  𝐡𝐢𝐬  𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞  ,   𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧  𝐢𝐟  𝐡𝐞  𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬  𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲  .   though  aware  of  his  own  inability  to  fight   --- and  the  near - constant  delegation  of  meaningless  busywork  to  him  alone ---   he  still  tries  .   he  still  lifts  his  head  and  swings  a  sword  until  he’s  cut  down  .

it  wasn’t  much  of  a  fight  this  time  ,   he’ll  admit  .   but  a  bird - man  got  his  claws  in  his  chest  and  the  injury  is  very  real  .   in  spite  of  this  ,   he  opens  his  eyes  and  beams  at  the  lady  durendaire  .   she  cares  for  him  in  a  most  uncomplicated  way  ,   he’ll  not  abuse  her  kindness  by  being  pitiable  .

“    come  ,   come  my  lady  ,    ”    he  tuts  ,   lifting  a  hand  and  patting  the  back  of  hers  .   his  long  fingers  curl  around  her  palm  ,   giving  it  an  affectionate  squeeze  .    “    the  chiurgeon’s  insist  i  will  live  to  fight  another  day  ,   let  that  calm  any  fear  .    ”

he  shifts  ,  wincing  a  bit  on  his  way  to  sitting  up  .   he  looks  over  sayuri’s  shoulder  to  the  nurse  hovering  in  the  doorway  .

“    leave  us  ,   i  am  in  good  hands  .    ”

[conjury]

palevein​   ---   𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧  .

PAIN IS OFTEN SUBJECTIVE,   it can either be a strike through your heart or a searing through flesh down to marrow.  pain is different now,  not quite as bombastic or explosive when all your insides are already so fragile,  but  …  numb,  almost bereft.   he can feel the scalding ache but ofttimes the scars never stick  (  all but one  ).   when you have died before one cannot help but wonder if the same will happen again.  a second death.  what else could that take he wonders,  strange as it may seem.  

❝ now,  now,   i can’t have you fretting like an old maid over a simple cut.  ❞   neither a chide nor dismissal.  the tearing in his sleeve is no more than an afterthought,  after all,  he had suffered far,  far worse.  no scarlet can be seen or smelt,  though the lingering burning of violence remains.  before their makeshift hearth he settles,  after all,  the night will always welcome him home.  

♱   @conjury,   for edda  ! 

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭  𝐡𝐚𝐬  𝐬𝐡𝐞  𝐭𝐨  𝐝𝐨  𝐛𝐮𝐭  𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐭  𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧  𝐡𝐞𝐫  𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲  𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝  𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬  𝐬𝐨  𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲  𝐭𝐨  𝐡𝐢𝐬  𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞  ?    edda  refuses  to  blush  or  look  embarrassed  ,   settling  her  mouth  into  a  hard  line  and  giving  her  head  a  hard  shake  .

“    spoken  like  someone  entirely  unaware  of  their  own  importance  ,    ”    she  huffs  .   but  she  sits  down  with  him  ,   trying  even  now  to  reach  for  his  arm  and  assess  any  damage  .   true  ,   there  is  no  blood  but  that  does  not  mean  there  is  no  pain  .    “    who  are  you  and  what  have  you  done  with  astarion  ?    ”

edda  hazards  a  time  ,   the  corners  of  her  red  mouth  tugging  up  .   she  nudges  her  shoulder  against  his  and  is  finally  successful  in  prying  his  hand  into  her  lap  .

“    you’re  right  ,   ‘tis  nothing  to  fret  over  ,    ”    she  admits  ,   but  does  not  let  his  hand  go  .   she  traces  the  end  of  her  black - nailed  finger  over  the  fleshy  heel  of  his  palm  .   “   but  you  like  it  ,   deep  down  when  i  do  worry  about  you  .    ”