Grave Curiosity

Nelle Miller Breton; (wannabe) mage A runaway from Cyrodiil, Nelle is on a mission to find her mother's childhood friend and begin to form her own life, her own way. ((I track the gravecuriosity tag)). ((Banner by the wonderful Fritjof!Mod)).

[crownmemes]

General Sentences, Vol. 2

(Assorted original sentences. Adjust phrasing where needed)

“It could have been worse…”

“I’m sorry, I can’t do this anymore.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“I know you’re hiding something.”

“I’ve been thinking about you.”

“Would you like a drink?”

“I’m not stupid, you know?”

“Whatever you’ve done, you can’t run away from it forever.”

“Your denial screams of guilt.”

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”

“I don’t like getting my hands dirty.”

“Is that your real name?”

“I did it because I love you!”

“You’re far too clever for your own good.”

“Are you going to kiss him again?”

“I think we need to talk.”

“You look absolutely terrible today.”

“Loss changes us in ways we can never fully comprehend.”

“Are you doing anything tonight?”

“Who said anything happened?”

“Why are you here?”

“Who are you to judge me?”

“Who’s been talking to you about me?”

“So nobody else knows about this?”

“Promise you won’t tell anyone?”

“You just can’t keep away from me, can you?”

“What the hell am I supposed to say to that?”

“I expected better from you.”

“You need to learn to enjoy yourself!”

“Is there anything else you can do?”

“Why did you ask me here?”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“Stop being such a drama queen!”

“You better be right about this.”

“To lose someone is to carry a piece of them within us forever.”

“After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me?”

[crownmemes]

General Sentences, Vol. 1

(Assorted original sentences. Adjust phrasing where needed)

“I don’t believe in ghosts.”

“When did you become so corrupt?”

“Do you have brain damage or something?”

“I refuse to discuss the matter further.”

“What were you like as a child?”

“You’re so predictable.”

“It’s time to calm down now.”

“Could you take a picture of me?”

“I have never been so disappointed in my life.”

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you?”“Do you mind if I smoke?”

“And what time do you call this?”

“The cruelty in this world is undeniable.”

“Why can’t people just think for themselves for once?”

“You’ll come crawling back like a dog.”

“Do you ever think of leaving it all behind?”

“I got this for you!”

“You lie like a politician.”

“This isn’t funny!”

“Why can’t you just be normal for once?”

“Do you always talk so much?”

“Sometimes I feel like vanishing; like walking away and never looking back.”

“Don’t worry, nobody is ever going to find out.”

“Look to your left. Someone is watching us.”

“Isn’t this enough for you?”

“Do you think you’ve ever actually been loved?”

“You seem to have a lot of unresolved personal trauma.”

“Are you afraid to die?”

“Aren’t you tired of being nice?”

[gravecuriosity]

WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE SMELL LIKE?

Coffee

key words: intelligent, old soul, complex. you are an extremely thoughtful individual with a creative mind and loving heart. being around you is like sinking into a warm bath. there's something truly wise about the advice you give others, and being in your presence leaves others feeling warm, reassured, and inspired. 

compatible with: coffee, candle smoke, freshly baked bread.

[gravecuriosity]

“You asleep?”

[Prompt]

A mumble. Incomprehensible in nature. Then nothing but quiet snoring. It would seem Halldis had her answer.

[gravecuriosity]

"Your hair is a mess. Sit still."

[Prompt]

“It’s always a mess after I run around in the woods,” she countered with a laugh, but managed to plant herself in a seat long enough for him to tend to her hair. “The twigs caught in there give me character.”

[gravecuriosity]

“You snore in your sleep. But… it’s adorable, okay?”

[Prompt]

The end of a yawn and then worry furrowed her brows.

“Oh no, did I keep you up? I’m so sorry! This cold just keeps my nose stuffed all the time.”

[gravecuriosity]

Sickness and Health [Dalamus, Nelle]

[gravecuriosity]

dalamusrex‌:

The tension was palpable. Why had he even brought it up? Why ruin this friendship with unnecessary and worrying details? What could he possibly gain that he did not already have? There was no reason she had to know he was a vampire. Although… He supposed it was better than her finding out on accident. Or from someone else.

He relaxed ever so slightly when she admitted her trust, even if it was hesitant. It was more than he could have asked for. He smiled a little, grateful and a little apologetic, hoping it would somehow comfort her as he finally let her in on his secret.

“I would not tell you this if I did not trust you a great deal, Nelle,” he stated softly. “…I was infected with Sanguinare Vampiris over two hundred years ago. I have been a vampire since then. I do not hurt people, though. Not good people, anyway. And I am more than willing to answer any and all questions you may have. I am still the Dalamus you have known–your friend. You just.. know more about me. I wanted you to know.”

He found it difficult to meet her eyes, afterwards. Even after so many times of this scenario going right, this could be the time it goes wrong.

Two Hundred Years. Two Hundred. Two Full Centuries.

Two centuries was little to a mer, and practically nothing to a near immortal, but over two lifetimes for a human. It was nearly incomprehensible. Not only the time, but the fact that for such a massive amount of time, Dalamus had been... that. The entire time she had known him.

Was it supposed to be comforting? To know she had spent time in the company of a vampire without knowing? That at any point he could have ripped the life from her but simply hadn’t because she was Good? That she had considered him a friend? One of the only ones she had managed to make and truly trust since she had come to Skyrim?

It wasn’t. It made her skin crawl. It made her throat threaten to close. Her heart want to run from its cage. It was too much. Too much information at once. An overload. Nelle gripped the strap of her bag, unable to even caress the familiar fabric to calm herself.

Panicking was bad. Mother had explained never to panic in front of a predator. They could sense it, smell it, it compelled them onward - to hunt, to kill. She swallowed, unable to look at him and yet unable to look away. She was terrified and hurt and confused.

“I--” she started, but couldn’t finish. Her mouth was too dry, her tongue too numb. She felt stupid. Betrayed. So terribly, terribly vulnerable. Nelle had questions. Tons of questions. But none she could voice now. 

Now she just needed to go.

“I need to turn in some plants to Elgrim. I’ll, um, I’ll just... catch up with you later.”

[gravecuriosity]

Whistle Past [Regis, Nelle]

[gravecuriosity]

ghostlyretinue‌:

His hand had barely made contact with the doorknob when he got the distinct feeling of being watched. Unwanted. Whatever was in the house really didn’t want him there, he could tell that much. Admittedly, he kind of tuned her out for a moment as he let the door swing open, alert eyes scanning the hallway in front of him. “Hm?” he said, mostly out of habit, but also because he had only caught the last bit of what she’d said. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope your friend isn’t here,” Regis replied. 

He did hear it. At least he assumed it was the same noise she was referring to. “I hear something,” he told her, looking back in her direction to make sure she was following. It was then that he noticed how she kept looking around, as if looking for something rather than at something, and he reached out towards her with a steady hand. “Come on, try and keep up,” he said, gently coaxing her along to walk next to him.

Once the door was open, her anxiety seemed to both quell and subside. As if something were fighting to keep her calm. Nelle didn’t like the feeling. It was relieving when Regis offered his hand, despite his words, and she gratefully grasped it.

“Do you think... that maybe we should just... go?” Nelle suggested quietly, looking around the empty home with wide, alert eyes. “I’m not sure we should be here.”

[gravecuriosity]

Sickness and Health [Dalamus, Nelle]

[gravecuriosity]

dalamusrex‌:

“It is only bad timing on my part, that is all.” 

Too late, now. She was worried. The only way to alleviate that worry would be to tell her, or to lie. He had a feeling she would see through a lie. A hand raked through his hair nervously. As much as he wanted to touch her shoulder or take her hand to comfort her, he also did not want her to feel trapped when he told her, nor did he want to feel the sting of her pulling away.

Strange. No matter how many times he had done this, no matter how many friends he had confided in, it was always hard. So far, he had chosen his friends well. They accepted him. But the stigma of ‘vampire’ is strong, and there was no telling how someone would react with meeting one face-to-face. Depending on the convictions of his confidant, it could potentially be life or death for him.

“It is difficult to explain. I do not need help so much as.. acceptance. There is a heavy stigma that comes with what I am–have–and I do not wish for you to think differently of me because of it. Regardless of different internal workings, I am still Dalamus. Do you trust me, Nelle?”

He was not meaning to scare her, but knew it was inevitable. He just hoped her fear would not override everything else they had. Hope. So much depended on hope. He hated it.

She waited patiently, despite the anxiety building in her chest. How long had he been sick? Why hadn’t he said something sooner? Was it incurable? Something no healer or potion could repair? Or was it something worse?

A tightness took hold of her throat: was he infected with something dangerous? Something he could give her? Maybe something he already had and that’s why he was so hesitant?

No, no. Best not to worry about that now. Nelle was certain if Dalamus had contracted something deadly that could be passed on, he would have told her immediately upon realizing it himself. He wouldn’t wait and put her at risk.

His words only furthered her worry and confusion. A stigma? So he carried something serious. But what could be so serious to give him different inner workings, to make him technically dead and yet --

Oh. Oh, gods.

The thought, the realization, was almost too horrifying to comprehend fully. Her expression fell slack, caught between disbelief and utter shock. No, that couldn’t, it couldn’t be that... could it? Not Dalamus. That didn’t make sense.

And yet, deep down, it did.

“I... trust you,” she said, though there was clear hesitation in her voice that she did nothing to hide. It was obvious she was wary, but still concerned, still curious. Nelle didn’t know whether to let him tell her - to confirm what she feared, what couldn’t possibly be true - or to run away and pretend the conversation had never occurred in the first place. She paused, trying to find her words, studying his face for any hint of what was to come.

“I’m... just worried.”

[gravecuriosity]

Sickness and Health [Dalamus, Nelle]

dalamusrex replied to your post: “This is going to sound crazy, but… technically… I...

How to put this delicately? He wanted to tell her, but it was a difficult subject to be both subtle and clear about. “In a manner of speaking… Ah, but I did not mean to worry you, Nelle. I am sorry. Perhaps this is not the right time…”

Her worry only furthered, clear on her face. She seemed perplexed, and slightly wary. “I... don’t understand, Dalamus. Why would this be a bad time? If you’re sick, if there’s anything I can do, I want to know. I want to help.”

[gravecuriosity]

“This is going to sound crazy, but… technically… I should be dead.”

[Prompt]

Worry creased her forehead, her brows furrowing with immediate concern. Reaching out, she started to touch Dalamus, but then hesitated, eventually retracting her hand.

“What do you mean? Are you sick?”

[gravecuriosity]

hulvee‌:

@whatoddities

A stranger. A stranger in the woods, and Hulvee’s reaction is to tense her body and hide as much of her appearance. Impossible to do, considering her size.

Still, she tries.

Maybe she’ll get lucky and they’ll overlook her, letting her harvest in peace.

Nelle hiked along, pausing every now and again to pick or simply feel flowers and plants, or to quickly sketch them out. A sound catches her attention and she ceases her movement, wary, on edge. Slowly, she glances around, trying to find the source of the noise.

Finally, she spots the stranger, but they seem to be doing their best to hide themselves. Out of fear or because they were wanting to surprise her? Nelle isn’t sure and worry gnaws at her stomach. 

Too late to pretend she hadn’t seen them, the Breton clears her throat.

“Is someone there?”

[gravecuriosity]

“You’re not afraid of me, are you?”

[Prompt]

“No,” came the reply, accompanied by a confused look towards the Argonian. After a brief moment of thought, Nelle spoke again, 

“Should I be?”

[gravecuriosity]

“You’re just messing with me, aren’t you?”

[Prompt]

“No, no, I really mean it,” she insisted, a soft, sincere smile on her face. “You have a very unique, somehow soft appearance compared to a lot of the Argonians I’ve met. I think you look lovely, peaceful, even.”

[gravecuriosity]

“Are you telling me I’m not a pretty girl?”

[Prompt]

“Wha- no, that’s not what I meant at all!” Nelle cried, clearly horrified at the thought of having potentially offended the Argonian. “Honestly, I kind of thought you might not want to be called pretty. But you are a sight to behold, for sure.”

[gravecuriosity]

“The only thing people know about me is that I am scary.”

[Prompt]

“Since when does grumpy equal scary?” Nelle teased, gently nudging the mer’s arm. However, it struck her that perhaps he was saying this not in jest, but because he was bothered by it. 

“I don’t think you’re scary... and I didn’t even think you were before we had spoken,” she assured him, offering him a small smile. “Besides, if people think you’re scary, they don’t try to treat you like a soft fool all the time.”

[gravecuriosity]

❃ Mussing their hair or tugging at their clothes (a hat, sleeve, etc.)

[Prompt]

“Hey, hey, I’m not that adorable,” she said, managing to dodge the next oncoming onslaught of a hair mussing. “People are going to think I’m not tough if you keep doing that.”