I have this fated mates concept in my head for Gortash, Durge and Tav. AU where we don't have the Netherbrain plot (yet?) and instead have Gortash, Durge and Ketheric try and take Baldur's Gate for themselves anyway; and a noble!Tav mixed up in all that.
Where we have a good-aligned Tav trying her best to combat the weird Banites, and Bhaalist murders, and the death cult worshippers of Myrkul. Where Gortash and Durge are in an established toxic relationship.
Where Tav and Gortash meet and they both shake hands, only to feel the bond click into place immediately. Where they both refuse to accept it, made only worse by the fact they find themselves in each other's presence again and again and again.
I have been looking over my old Skyrim WIPs again and am slowly rediscovering the brainrot that has led to those plots.
Yet there is one fic where I don't think I can continue the plot as it was originally intended. Yet, reworking the whole plot line is... far more difficult than I thought. There are elements I absolutely love and I want to keep, but fitting those in ... difficult.
Been tagged by many people in the last two weeks, thank you for having faith in me @orangekittyenergy @elimenise @theory-of-the-crows and @nusaran !! I am a slowpoke, so tagging you right back.
Here is the result of terminal brainrot an attempt at the post-euphrates freeze scene. Not sure if the weird brush I found can make decent ice, so subject to further improvement.
Aaaand circle tagging @fourraccoonsinacoat @picayune-artist @demong @totemsloth @veraoflight @apricoctopus @avalost for this chaos ice bucket :). And open tag for everyone, as always.
Working on my WIPs, though there has been a bit of a writing break (yay job, how I love thee.... not). Still working on that Rogue Trader Role Reversal AU (the others i havent had time for to properly sit down for yet), and parts of the bg3 fic "Of Lighthouses and Sunken Ships".
Role Reversal AU: "Reunion" (Working title for now, will change once I have a more suitable one)
âThe planet is lost. As we speak, millions turn over their souls to the forces of chaos. There is no salvation we can offer them but death.â
He remained silent, his stare on her unblinking and unwavering. The decision had been made, but he needed to collect the resolve to issue the final and irrevocable order.
âIs there truly no way to salvage those worlds?â
âOnce the process is initiated, it cannot be undone.â Heinrix let out a sigh, squeezing the bridge of his nose. âBut there is a small window⊠before it crosses that lineâŠâ
âWould you â ?â
âIf afforded such luxury, yes.â
He had sounded so resolute then. And now⊠now he was chasing said sliver of hope still. Looking at her for the confirmation he already had in his gut. The hexagram on his back would tell him as much. Rykad was lost. There was nothing they could do anymore.
A memory struck her then. This was not seeking what he already knew. NoâŠ.
âHeinrix, my dear boy,â Xavier leaned forward on his desk, hands clasped under his chin as he pinned Heinrix into place by his mere stare. âI heard from Lady Lichtenhart that your studies in Sanctic Daemonology are progressing very well.â
He paused. Helena did not dare to breath, nor did Heinrix who had frozen into an immovable statue.
âLady Lichtenhart has high praise,â Heinrix finally answered slowly. âI only ever seek to serve.â
âOf course you do,â Xavier replied smoothly. âI am quite pleased.â
The hair on Helenaâs neck stood on end. An edge was there screaming of impending danger. If Xavier was pleased, it meant his expectations and calculations had been exceeded. That was what pleased him, yet it also displeased him for not accurately judging someoneâs worth. In fact, he detested such unpredictability even if it benefited him. Her eyes flitted between the two men. One ram rod straight wearing a blank expression, not betraying any fear nor anxiety, while the other hid a growing predatory smirk behind those clasped hands.
âThank you, my Lord.â
âWould you not say you are ready for your second sanctioning?â Xavier asked lightly, as if he were merely asking a triviality.
Heinrix, for the first time since they had stepped into the Lord Inquisitorâs office, swallowed heavily. They both knew there was only one answer Xaiver would accept. A second sanctioning⊠Helena remembered the little bits Heinrix told her⊠ Ice ran down her spine. The chance to ascend in the Emperorâs light⊠or⊠a death death sentence. She dared a glance over to him. Only to see him having done the same with her. A wide eye met hers, barely hiding the shock and fear.
So she did the only thing she could give him.
Numb, she gave him a slight nod.
If faith was all she could give, she would give it wholly.
So she did. Lowering her eyes as she did, the finality of it all sank in. The sentence was set, long ago. Certainty and sanction had to be given by her. Â
Of Lighthouses and Sunken Ships (Chapter 12):
âI do not quite see how this is an urgent matter,â Ilyana mused. âThis can be properly settled once the majority of the population isnât scraping by.â
âIt has become relevant already,â Enver patiently explained. âInheritance and covetous neighbours, as you can imagine. With the rebuilding fully picking up speed, the ownership of those building needs to have been established prior.â
âI still fail to see how he regards the matter as urgent.â
Enver chuckled. âA lot of ruins lie unclaimed, their last owner deceased without any issue and a lot of people in need for housing. One could see it as an opportunity, especially those rich enough to afford to buy up whole sections of the city.â
A cold shiver ran down Ilyanaâs spine as the realization sunk in. If whatever the Lord proposed this meeting would come to pass, then the patriars would buy up all available space.
Tagging very very gently: @ravelsquadespresso, @redstairs, @redbatchedcumbermayned, @lucheiah, @alittlelevity, @bearhugsandshrugs
Tagged by @fictionobsession @clevermird @youquzhiji @nusaran and @roguelioness. Thank you!!
Still working on the next MH chapter, and am thinking I may combine the fic's March and April updates into one longer chapter as I have yet to find a satisfying cut off. Anyway, here's Vis and Heinrix being bad at communication while going through the horrors.
Her appreciation caused a flutter in Heinrix's chest, though he was quick to brush it offâalmost habitually so.
"It's unnecessary," Heinrix said, though not unkindly. In truth, her words were nice to hear, just unwarranted. To do anything else would have been a failure of duty. "Hopefully, we canâ"
A sudden surge of nausea gripped him once more, and he dropped his face into his handâgait stuttering as he swayed for a moment on unsteady legs. He rubbed at his eyes, then blinked them open as the sensation faded.
"Hopefully," he started again, picking his thought back up without ceding any room for the Lord Captain to fuss over him. "We can get you out of here and to a medicae unit before too long."
Visenya said nothing, and though her face was unreadableâobscured as it was in the hazy shadows of the hallâHeinrix got the sense there was something she wanted to say. And yet, the silence wore on.
They were coming to where the corridor dead-ended into a thick pair of reinforced blast doors, separating them from whatever lay beyond. His face ached, and he could feel the tacky coating of blood across his right cheek and jaw beginning to crust and itchâthe wound, itself, now having gone numb. The pain was bolstered by the pressure mounting in his headâa deep skull-rattling throb that blurred his vision with each pulse of agony. The warp energies permeating the wreckage were the strongest he'd felt since stepping foot in this accursed place. So much so that if a hoard of pestilent ghouls didn't wait at the other end of the corridor, Heinrix would have suggested they turn back.
Something lurked on the other side of those doors. Its form and intent was unknown to him, but Heinrix could sense its nature, and it made his stomach turn. This ship was a maelstrom of anguish and torment. A seeping wound of turmoil in the Immaterium whose blood scent was capable of attracting untold horrors.
Gently tagging @shalfea @gingerfan24 @atnichos @avalost @poetikat @cawyden-gaming and anyone else who has something to share!
Got tagged twice, thank you @alittlelevity and @ravelsquadespresso <3 Tagging you right back :3
So you will all get two snippets. All from the Role Reversal AU cause I am a slow writer these days.
Flashback to Helenas and Heinrix's time together in the Inquisition:
âWhat is all of this?â
The syringeâs glass tube glinted in the lumensâ low light.
âAdrenalin, corticoids, benzothiazines, metamizoles,â Heinrix muttered absentmindedly as he flicked it with his index finger. âYou are going alone on this mission with no medicae at stand by.â
A single air bubble floated to the top which was then immediately pushed out of the tube until a single droplet was then flicked away and immediately sealed. Then it was placed neatly beside other tubes, sealed and prepared inside a swatch of leather that would be rolled up and stored inside a metal cannister for safe keeping.
âOne would think I was going alone into a heretic den and not to the anointment of the next Arch Cardinal for the Koronus Expanse,â Helena quipped lightly, yet could not quite tear her eyes from the spread out medical contingency plans Heinrix was meticulously setting out with neat labels on each item.
Her only response was a hard stare and a downturn of his mouth. There was no amusement found from him. Not even her own father had deigned it necessary to equip her with such an extensive medicae kit. The thought had her twist the silver ring on her index finger.
âThis is what they will do and will be fatal if used wrong,â Heinrix finally spoke into the sudden heavy silence. âAnd I need you to listen carefully, promise me this.â
2. And then the scene on the Bridge after Rykads Fall. Helena realises Abelard recognised her while actively bleeding out on the throne steps.
âYoung mistress,â Abelard grunted, forcing her shoulders down on the steps she was laying on. âBe still, for Emperorâs sake!â
âYoung Mistress, your mother is ready to see you now.â
Helena blinked. Stunned. What had he called her? Her struggle ceased in the small moment where her eyes and Abelardâs connected. Truly, without the veneer of his hatred towards her organisation. Helena HelenH
âIt is an honour to serve your mother and you, Young Mistress.â
Without having noticed, her clammy and numb hand had wrapped around his wrist. A weak grip, she was certain, but if she didnât hold onto him at this moment, she knew she would fall backwards into a darkness she may never return from.
âAbelard!â Sweet smelling flowers brushed past her cheeks as she ran over the soft grass of the dynasty gardens, hand in hand with another girl with white ribbons fluttering in through the air. âYou will never catch us!â
âYoung Mistress!â The Seneschalâs distant shout was drowned in breathless giggles by both of her and Astartia.
It was strange. Astartia also had Abelardâs eyes. How long has she not thought of her former friend? The same wrinkles would form around their eyes whenever they smiled. Those same ones held hers steadily now.
Abelard had recognised her. And with how his eyes widened he realised she had caught on as well.
Yet before she could ask, grab onto him and demand to know more.
Who killed her mother?
Why hadn't he been with her?
Soooo, tagging @fourraccoonsinacoat, @roguelioness, @redstairs, @aureli-us and whoever wants to participate <3
was tagged by my lovely mutuals @amasec and @redbatchedcumbermayned <3 (been a while, my job is kicking my ass atm in the post holiday rush)
This is a flashback (again) in the role reversal AU. Helena is not having a good time with major blood loss so is hallucinating back into the past where Heinrix was still part of Xavier's retinue with her. (sorry this is a bit of a lengthier snippet)
Helena rushed down a narrow hallway towards the faint muffled shouting disturbing the otherwise quiet compound. If there was one rule living here it was not to disturb the meticulous order Xavier had established. And he was very particular about the times the compound was to be quiet. As it was the only time he permitted himself to lay down and sleep.
Woe to who would dare to disturb the Lord Inquisitorâs rest. The last one who had dared disappeared and no one dared to ask.
It was not audible yet to anyone else but her and her augmented hearing, it was growing louder with no sign of stopping. Rushing through the darkened corridor as quietly as she could, ensuring the heels of her boots did not clack at all on the metal flooring, she tried to pick out who it was causing the noise.
Tanakia?
Rounding the corner, she came face to face with a furious Tanakia staring Heinrix down, even as she only reached the middle of his chest. His jaw was clenched and even from the short distance, Helena could hear the low grind of his teeth against one another. Â
âI do not take orders from you,â Tanakia spat taking a threatening step towards Heinrix.
Heinrixâs whole posture twitched. The back of his heels slid backward, but then he squared his shoulders and glowered down on the much smaller woman.
âThese are the Lord Inquisitorâs orders,â he ground out.
âAs if the Lord Inquisitor himself would let you relay his orders,â Tanakia sneered. âHis little lapdog is around, isnât she? Why is she not giving me the orders?â
That Tanakia disliked her was not new. In fact, it had been apparent the first time she had met the woman. Back then Tanakia had called into question whether she would even be useful as she had no relevant skills to the Inquisition. Tanakia had not been shy about voicing it either. Openly calling it a mistake to the Lord Inquisitor who had then sent her on a gruelling and dangerous mission as a response. Once she had departed, he had told Helena to take this as a warning. To become useful quick or she would be gone too if Tanakia returned and found her lacking still.
âShe had been busy with her own duties, Tanakia,â Heinrix ground out as both his hands clenched into tight fists at his side. âAnd this order had been entrusted to me as his Interrogator.â
A sudden chill spread all over her skin. His psykana⊠The hair on the back of her neck. Every fibre in her screamed of danger. She froze on the spot, unable to move forward. Unable to breathe. The warp⊠she felt it cloying between her teeth.
âHow wroth she must be,â Tanakia taunted, unperturbed by the frost creeping along in delicate patterns on the wall. âBefore you came along, she was groomed to become his right hand man. And then⊠poof, relegated to a common errand girl once more.â
âShe is not just a common errand girl, Tanakia.â
In that moment, Tanakia noticed Helenaâs presence in the doorway. A large and wide smirk formed on her thin mouth as several white teeth flashed in the low lumen. Â
âToo bad for her and for us,â Tanakia jerked her head towards Helena and Heinrix jolted, seemingly sensing her presence for the first time. âWe are all relegated to be below in rank to a freak and a witch.â
His jaw slackened and his head jerked around to give her a wide eyed look.
âStill playing the guard dog?â Tanakia laughed before turning her attention back to Heinrix who looked off balance all of the sudden. âDo not even think for one second that she or anyone of us would not think you as an abomination.â
âTanakia!â Helena finally hissed as quietly as she could from her clenched teeth. âWatch your tongue! You are calling the Lord Inquisitorâs decisions into question! And why are you yelling? You know what time it is.â
âWhat good little lap dog you are,â Tanakia scoffed. âAll that boot licking and what did it ever get you, Helena? Stuck under the command of a mutant.â
A strange wave of calm took over Helena then, the chill falling away from her like a veil being pulled from her head.
âI will reiterate, you are questioning the Lord Inquisitorâs decisions and orders. And Heinrix is his right hand now. And we are bound by duty and oaths to follow them as they are extensions of the Lord Inquisitorâs will. You know this, Tanakia.â
âYou will just kowtow to âitâ?!â
âAs is our duty.â
âDo as you will, Acolyte,â Tanakia scoffed, straightening out and mercifully in a quieter tone.
Even she wasnât as foolish to risk the Lord Inquisitor descending on their little gathering in his full fury. Despite her nonchalant posturing, Helena knew that if it came down to it, Xavier would not hesitate to punish all of them harshly.
âBut it should know it is only tolerated because of his Lordship.â
Helena fought the urge to roll her eyes. âYou have received your orders, did you not?â
Tanakiaâs nostrils flared. Her infamous temper fighting against her better judgment to explode on Helena, who up until recently had been the Lord Inquisitorâs favourite.
âYou have been dismissed,â Helena reminded her into the dead quiet.
An indignant huff was all Tanakia let out before storming off to her own quarters.
Now alone, Helena turned to look at Heinrix who stood rooted in place. Face unreadable and closed off. Only the tick of his jaw gave away how tense he was.
âThat was not necessary, Mistress de Vahl,â he said flatly. âI had it under control with her.â
Helena opened her mouth to argue, yet halted. She had intervened on his behalf, a lower ranking acolyte intervening on an Interrogatorâs behalf. Effectively she had undermined his position.
âMy apologies, Master van Calox.â
She bowed her head, a gesture she had learned to demure to someone of higher ranking. Yet, the chill from before returned. Far more frostier than before making her teeth chatter.
âDo you think so as well?â
Helena lifted her head to see the same clenched fists at his side and the suppressed twitch of his jaw muscles.
âWhat do I think?â
âThat I am underserving of this title? That I am a freak who rose far above his station?â
A long beat of silence passed between them. The bitterness hanging between them as the accusation settled in the sudden cold space growing between them. Stunned, unable to form a coherent thought, Helena merely stared at the mutilated, still piecing himself back together, man before her. How could he think so? When she had sat by his bedside trying to stem the fever threatening to consume him?
âNo.â Her voice was hoarse and she hated how close to tears she sounded. âYou are not a freak, not an abomination. Not to me.â
Tagging very very gently, no pressure... @fourraccoonsinacoat, @redstairs, @ravelsquadespresso, and you who is seeing this and wants to join :3
