isla/nelly | late 20s | the local goth | tea consumer | chronic vampire smoocher | auDHD writer + artist just trying her best
just a multi-fandom blog + things I find interesting/funny โ @dreams-of-tamriel is my side blog where iโm also quite active and I'm also on Pillowfort!
fandoms: the elder scrolls, elden ring, bg3, coe33 mostly, but I enjoy a lot of others!
ocs: Estelle, Thorn, Dโarcy, Kallista (bg3) | Aoife, Danielle, Moren Vaelith (tes V) | Ardwen (tes IV) | Elodie (33) | Darius (Elden Ring)
(and more I might mention here and there)
fics: The Last of Their Kind, Aoife x Kaidan (ongoing) - ao3 link Tumblr link
Aeterna Devotio, Vaelith x Feran Sadri (ongoing) - ao3 link Tumblr link
#art by isla is my art tag, and #whispers from the coffin โฐ๏ธ is where I talk to myself
โผ๏ธTHIS BLOG IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN ANTI GEN AIโผ๏ธ
Thank you @nerevarbean @cresu @darkcimba @honeybeebunny111 @theflowergrrl for the tags today ๐ซถ Again feeling awkward in tagging back, I hate being so late to these lately... I might start prepping them on Tuesdays until I'm settled because what even is my schedule right now..??
I have some Danielle x Rune 'first meeting shenanigans' that I'm working on. I posted a peek of it before a LONG time ago, before anyone really knew about them, but I've been revising it little by little. Going from their oneshot where their relationship has been established already to this makes me feel very....
WHIPLASH. Ya know? So this might feel kinda off. It's old. You know how it goes.
(crappy wip, 1770 words)
"Good day, ma'am," he began, a piece of folded paper held between his hands flipped again and again. Danielle's pleased smile could barely contain itself. She's never been 'ma'am' to anyone, and she rather liked it. "I'm hoping you might be able to help me. You seeโฆ I'm hoping you might have a book on symbols or something."
It took a moment for her to speak, too busy being caught up in the scent of him to really hear what he said. He didn't smell good by any means, but there was something about the salty, fresh scent that made her head spin. It was a mix of sweat and frost, ale, and musk; and somehow it drove her insane.
"Sorry," she blinked a few times, slipping her finger from between the pages of her abandoned book, the action catching his eye. "Could you clarify? Perhaps an example?"
"Oh, yes," he reached underneath his collar, producing a necklace with a small runed stone to show her. "Can you make sense of it?"
Danielle gave a barely perceptible glance of disbelief, not knowing why he didn't just take the thing off and hand it to her. A wicked thought crossed her mind, though it left her feeling a bit delusional. Perhaps this was a test; a game. Whether it was delusional or not, it was entertaining to consider, so she played along, leaning closer over the front desk to study the strange carving. It whirled in a nonsensical pattern, with a tiny jagged mark in the center. She had never seen a thing like it, but her own judgement was useless. She had nothing to offer in respects to it besides commenting on its pretty design.
"Well?" he asked softly, a degree of anxiety in his voice. She looked at him again, only now seeing the hues of his eyes that she could have sworn had stolen a glance at her low neckline. Slowly, she leaned back away to her original position.
"I don't recognize it myself, but there might be a book or two that might have something. Give me a moment."
She left for one of the locked bookshelves, only realizing upon return that she had forgotten to move the book she was reading. The man was very clearly staring at the cover, some sort of wry smirk on his face when he next regarded her. That knowing lookโฆ It was as if he was picking her apart.
"Good read," he commented, quite obviously pleased with himself when she blushed.
"It is," she stammered, wishing for a moment for the ground to swallow her up. She sets the two books down on the counter. "Here's these." He reached for them casually, and she gasped suddenly, causing him to pause. "Pleaseโฆ handle them with care. My boss will know if they are not."
"What, is he lurking behind a corner?" he joked with a glance around the room that held a degree of seriousness that hinted that his jest was for show. She gave a humorous snort.
"Be glad he isn't."
"Hm, I know a thing or two about difficult bosses. Mine didn't even want me to take this trip. Said it was a waste of time."
Danielle gave the covers of the books a good-natured pat. "Shall we see if we can prove that wrong?"
He flashed a toothy smile before opening the first book. He scanned it eagerly at first, his smile fading the more pages he flipped through. He checked his pendant again and again, not bothering to anymore when he reached the last ten pages of the book.
"Nothing?" she asked. He shook his head.
The next book he opened with much less vigor, aimlessly studying the text-heavy pages as they flipped over and laid flat. She fought the urge to discipline him over merely scanning the words, but she supposed words did little in helping to decipher what a picture would succeed in ten times better.
"Could I ask you something else?" she wondered, her finger tracing the edges of the book he was finished with. He made a sound to signal he heard her, so she continued. "What's the story with this?" She reached out and touched the stone with the tip of her first two fingers, brushing against the leather that covered his chest; partly as a test to see just how receptive he would be to such a simple advance. To her pleasant surprise, he didn't move away. The exchange felt natural, like she had done such a thing many times before. "Where did you find it?"
"I was found with it," he told her. "The man I call my father found me in a wreckage, off the coast of Solitude. It was all I had on me. I've spent every last coin I have to try and find out what it means, butโฆ I don't knowโฆ it could be nonsense. Inane scribbles done by someone out of boredom. But if it actually means somethingโฆ it might tell me where I'm from. What ship I was on. Everything."
Danielle listened carefully, nodding in support as he went on. She felt sympathetic to his story, but her mind had never been busier. This was something out of a novel; a handsome protaganist, road-worn and weary, spending every last coin to dredge his past, and her; the eager librarian, supplying the answer. If she actually had it, of course.
"Shipsโฆ Hmmโฆ" she hummed to herself, turning around and producing another iron key from her chatelaine. This time, she travels to a shelf full of records. She glanced over her shoulder. "How old are you?"
"Uhโฆ I don't know," he answered with a hint of shame. "Thirtyโฆtwo? Thirty-four?"
She hoisted a large log into her arms and set it down in front of him. "Ship logs from Solitude. Departures, returns, and wrecks from the past fifty years. There could be something in here."
"Worth a look. Since I came all this way." The man pushed the other book aside, opening the log and letting the thick cover fall with a graceful 'thud'. He found the index and started reading, underlining each section with his finger.
Danielle picked up the two other volumes and moved to put them away, glancing at the man once more before turning her back. There was something about him she couldn't put her finger on. If she ignored her own attraction, she couldn't help but sense that something more lurked underneath his worldly exterior.
"All this way?" she echoed curiously, sliding the first book back into place. "Where do you come from?"
"Riften," he answered briefly without looking up at her, casually leaning on the counter on his right elbow. Her eyebrow raise delicately in surprise. It was no wonder he was desperate to find information here. It very well might have been his last chance. She opened her mouth to reply when he suddenly straightened up, his palm planted on the page. There's quickfire flashes of surprise, curiosity, confusion, relief, and thenโฆ apprehension?
"Find something?" she asked carefully.
"The only wreck listed here that happened near Solitude around the time of my birth is this one, the Orphan's Tear. The Brinehammer is closer to the city, but my father wouldn't have been fishing that close to the mouth of the river. That leaves the Tear."
"Do you suppose the remains are still there?" she wondered, peering at the page for herself. A small gridded map illustrated where the ship went down in respects to the city. It lied north, in the wilderness.
"Only one way to tell," he trailed, letting out a resolute huff. He opened the paper he had been originally holding that laid on the counter and picked up the quill that sat ready in the inkwell, copying down the map. Danielle held her breath as the tip dug into the paper. That was Urag's quill - the one he forebade anyone else to use. She was surely going to hear about this later.
Once he was finished, the man offered his hand. "Thank you for your help."
She dumbly offered her own hand and shook his back. "I-Is that all you're going to write down?"
"It's all I need," he simply replied, giving her a wide, boyish smile. "I know where the ship is, now it's time to investigate."
She imagined the road to Solitude and the journey through the wilderness to reach the coast. Many times during her youth, she had undergone the journey alongside her mother for hunting trips. They wouldn't last more than a few days, but they always had each other to rely on. As far as she could tell, no one else lingered at the exit. He was alone. "On your own? It's dangerous."
"All due respect, ma'am, how d'you think I got here?"
"All due respect, sir, but you probably used the main roads," she shot back. He scoffed lightheartedly, not expecting such a quick retort. "This will be pure wilderness. The sort I'm willing to bet you haven't traversed before."
He leaned across the counter again, his smile growing lopsided and lazy. "It's starting to sound like you're offering something."
Lips curving up like a cat, she too leaned closer. "I might be."
There's a pause, but their eyes held their own conversation. "How much?"
"Keep your septims."
He gradually pushed away from the surface and gave it a pat. "Anything free is too good to be true."
"Look, I'm not after money, I just need an adventure," she confessed freely, helplessly gesturing to the dark, musty room. "I've been stuck in this place so long I've forgotten what the outdoors smell like. The real outdoors. Don't worry about what I can or cannot handle. I'm a mage, and I grew up learning to fend for myself. I won't get in your way. If I do, then it's on me, isn't it?"
She watched him contemplate, twisting her fingers under the counter hidden away from sight. If he was to say yes, this would quite possibly be the most exciting thing to happen to her. To run away from her duties and travel with a stranger she had only met barely an hour ago away from civilization? If she survived, she'd have her own great story to write.
"Alright," he relented. "I suppose I could use the extra pair of hands." A finger lanced the air towards her. "But I expect you to keep up."
"I can just fine," she said slyly, picking up the giant log book and throwing a wink over the edges of the cover. "You'll see."
to that lovely person on ao3 who commented today I wish you were here </3 your piece of Runelle cake is waiting for you ๐๐
Lately every day has been spent on my feet sorting/cleaning/boxing things up (8 days til move out, I'm STRESSIN) so I've been really inactive, but I've missed playing blogs with you all ๐ฅบ
Might have a late Wip Wednesday to share later tonight now that I'm done for the day... We'll see what I can conjure up...
Omg another WIP Wednesday has arrived and I ACTUALLY have more to share! ALSO! I have updated my main fic for the next chapter and posted a uh nsfw one shot on AO3 with Kayla and Miraak if anyoneโs interested in that ๐๐ ANYWAYS!
Thanks to these folks for tagging me:
@chronicgirlfailure @nerevarbean @chiqita @cresu
Starting with this one that Iโve barely made progress on but hey itโs something!
As always more under the cut!
Next we got- The BEST DOGGIE IN SKYRIM I LOVE HER SO MUCHHHHH REEEEEEE WINNIE IS THE BEST GIRL ๐ฅน๐ฅบ๐๐๐ญ๐ฅบ
Okay I put this next one on my character trivia post but this is Kayla and her two older brothers ๐ฅบ the one on the left is the oldest brother Gavin (the one whose an Imperial Legion Captain whoโs going to have an unexpected and tragic reunion with Kayla in the fic) and the on the right is Julian (AKA SKOOMA BOYYYY ๐๐). I love these goofies so so much!
Then of course- MY BELOVED PRIESTESS AND ASSASSIN I ADORE THEM SO MUCHHH!! GAGWHSJAVEJSH This is a frame for a new animatic Iโm working on ๐ gotta let Kaylaโs parents exist more in my art hehe
And you know I had to post a lil more WIP ship art with Miraak and Kayla ๐ฅบ
Anddddd bonus memes:
Tagging these lovely folks below and YOU๐ซต if you want! Again as always, no pressure to post and if I forgot to tag you, it was not intentional and feel free to post and tag me cuz I love seeing everyoneโs art and writing ๐:
Thank you for tag @nerevarbean โบ๏ธ
Little bit of progress on the background. I was thinking that once I finish this, I want to make a post showing the steps and stages of my traditional art process ๐
Tagging (no pressure) @juliette-has-a-pencil @aspendruid @neloths-tea @thegrunkiest @theflowergrrl @cresu @heavy-metal-dick (Lmk if any yโall want me to tag you in future WIP Wednesdays ๐ซถ)
Thanks for tagging me @nerevarbean @solar-nightengale @chiqita @ashblind โก
Behold, I have so much bullshit to share this week (waiting for the inevitable crashout)
Still slowly working on a ref-sheet but got distracted over shirtless Brynjolf (linking it here because it's also a wip, I will render it one day) once again during the weekend, then some crackship-of all time-shenanigans, and.. more Bryala because.. I need them injected directly in my veins occasionally otherwise I will perish
Shared little bit of Mora's Agony-transformation last week, but there's also some other forms she has, like the Mephala's Favour (it's not quite as drastic as Mora's, but it's still something >:)
Also yay, Shiala finally has some clothes!! I'm thinking of doing customised Ebony Mail and Nightingale-fit aside this, but we'll see how long will my spoons last
Putting the rest under the cut because I am freaking yapping and there's MORE
Also, weapons!! Been slowly working on Chillrend, it's been so much to render (Yes it's the version from Oblivion Remastered, I prefer that one over the Skyrim-one). Also Ebony daggers from one my older wips (will get size to match with Chillrend properly later, they're just there for now lol)
Aaand then some ship-wips to the end! (Who put crack on my coffee this week seriously) Bryala is my last night's sudden whimsy (Shiala kinda looks weird, idk?) saw a nice ref and I ran for it. And on the right we've got a peek for some new business-deal in Whiterun going on. >:)
Tagging with no pressure, just a gentle pat on the head and running away ~ @sulphuricgrin @umbracirrus @friend-of-giants @heavy-metal-dick @blue-dartwing @donemer @neloths-tea @honeybeebunny111 @runathequiet @sugarysins @skyrimhusbandmaterial @skyrim-forever @flycasual @theflowergrrl @thegrunkiest @silly-little-diary @theoneandonlysemla @dirty-bosmer @juliette-has-a-pencil @oblivions-dawn @logan-supernova @dark-brotherhoe @truth-01001001-liar @kauchenoe @peacefulcat @helloskitty99 @luciolafantastic โก
thanks for the tags last week @cresu @flycasual @donemer @honeybeebunny111 @theflowergrrl :) tagging you all back this week plus @changelingsandothernonsense @neloths-tea @dark-brotherhoe @runathequiet @darkcimba @juliette-has-a-pencil @sulphuricgrin @heavy-metal-dick @elavoria @rothvantes
i have finished some things i'd had in progress recently so i don't have much on the go at the moment but i have started a new sketch which is currently in the very messy stage:
bravoyn is waiting around at the docks in sadrith mora for someone to need him to tend an injury or whatever
also here is a little doodle from my desk of one of bravoyn's apprentices, Daren. he's a 15-year-old breton alchemist and the world's most awkward telvanni (if that's even possible)
Ordered to kneel as punishment or as a show of deference.
Shoved physically to the ground by hands on their shoulders, maybe a kick to the back of the knee.
Picking themself up off the ground but only getting as far as hands and knees.
Crawling because they haven't got the strength to stand anymore.
Dropping to their knees from exhaustion or despair.
Personal space.
Casually invading it.
Uninvited touch - from the deeply creepy to something as simple as a firm hand on the shoulder.
Standing too close - especially if taller or otherwise physically stronger.
Conversely, hurrying to get out of someone's way.
Eye contact.
Staring someone down. Who is the first to look away?
Averting eyes for one's social superiors. Trying to de-escalate by avoiding eye contact.
Too frightened or ashamed to look someone in the eye.
Insisting that someone maintain eye contact while you're talking to them. Insisting that someone never look you in the eye.
Singling someone out just by looking at them.
More generally, Attention.
The room falls quiet when they walk in.
Who cuts in, and who gets talked over. Ignoring those who are beneath your attention.
The excited attention given to the object of respect and idolization.
The careful, wary focus given to a potential threat.
Deliberately attending to something else to appear less threatening. Deliberately burying oneself in something else to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
Codified status behaviours.
Bowing to one's superiors. Bonus points if there are differentiated kinds of bowing for different status differentials.
Soldiers coming to attention when a superior officer comes.
Saluting. Who greets whom first?
Serving food in a particular order.
Standing up when a respected person enters the room.
Non-verbal threats.
Just resting a hand on a weapon, or perhaps even just near a weapon.
Cracking knuckles or rolling shoulders. Clenched fists. The little come-get-some-then life of the chin.
Stepping from a conversational stance into one that's balance for fight or flight.
Pointing a weapon at someone. Casually brushing aside a weapon.
Conversely, de-escalation and surrender.
Open hands, spread in front of them. Hands above head.
(Raised slowly, transitioning from the simple whoa-calm-down gesture to full on surrender as the situation gets tenser.)
Going still. Slow, careful movements being sure to keep hands where they can be seen. Laying down weapons.
Hands on head. Getting down on the floor. Deliberately making oneself vulnerable to prove non-hostile (or non-resisting) intent.
Alternately, deliberately showing "vulnerability" to demonstrate how little of a threat you consider the other person.
The slouch of villainy. Open posture, casual, relaxed in the face of apparent danger.
Casually putting weapons away or turning one's back, confident that they won't do anything.
A character can vastly expand their area of influence by laying a hand on a table, for example. If you're standing on opposite sides of a large table, and one of you puts your hand down, that can symbolically take you up into the other party's personal space in a much subtler and more deniable way than actually getting up in their face.
This can be used equally well to convey affection or threat.
