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AnasAbdin

★
todays bird
d e v o n
Claire Keane

⁂
RMH
Misplaced Lens Cap
🪼
DEAR READER
h
Sweet Seals For You, Always
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Sade Olutola

#extradirty
$LAYYYTER
YOU ARE THE REASON

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pixel skylines

seen from France

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@oruvunen
*pulls a coin out from behind your ear* *gets taken to the circle by templars*
iiofcups:
The angle of the setting sun ensured long shadows were cast throughout Skyhold: the already chilled temperature dropping further when one stepped out from the remaining light into the expanding dark. For his part, Manvunean—rather, Majda, as he was called in this age, did not feel much difference as he crossed from the shade into the sun. He could not see the shift, but he felt - if only barely - the shift of warmth as he moved through the light.
For the most part, he was ignored by passers-by. Those with duties about Skyhold had more important things to do than strike up random conversations with strange elves swathed in dark clothing. Fingers bedecked with rings curled beneath lace sleeves and Majda’s hands joined afront him, long, dark nails crossing over one another.
A figure in the unseen distance was Majda’s goal - a figure burning gold in the remaining sunlight, dancing about the sparring ring with sword in hand. His black eyes could not appreciate the beauty, but he could feel the magical signature of the younger - his main means of tracking others when without a guide of some sort. From under the veil covering his head and hair, a soft tinkling accompanied his slow movements - courtesy of the bells weaved by the golden hands of the mother of the other elf.
Majda did not call out to Gaelavun when Majda reached the low fence, instead reaching out to feel the rough wood beneath his fingers. He tilted his face into the sun, even as the ever cold breeze rendered his unshifted eyes into wetted pools upon his face and forced a red flush across his cheeks as what life remained in his body fought against the harsh environment. He still could not feel much. But he smiled, regardless, listening in fascination to the sound of metal against wood and the pattern, the beat, woven within it.
Gael continued his practice, unaware of Majda's presence as he maintained battle-focus. It only broke as he finished a rather graceful set of offensive moves. He panted tiredly and dropped the point of his sword somewhat toward the ground. Briefly, he eyed the wooden dummy before him, as if it might suddenly attack at his lowered guard like a proper opponent. When it didn't, he allowed himself break.
It was only then that he could feel eyes (even unseeing as they were) upon him. He twirled himself on his heel searching for the source of the aura that made the fine hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
His eyes fell upon Majda and he relaxed, slacking his shoulders so that the tip of his sword now dragged through the dirt beneath him. He gave a genuine smile; it was an automatic response to seeing Majda, who- if he thought about it, would deem him as his favorite person. But he did not think about it. Instead his mind emptied as it almost always did around the other, and he approached.
"Hey, you." Was all he could think to say.
Send 🌼 to put a flower in my muse's hair!
rp-meme-glaceon
Specify what kind of flower!
"Tell me about your first heartbreak."
“I’ve... Not actually ever been in a romantic relationship before. Not really. I guess that’s probably the kind of answer you were looking for, but... I do still have an answer, I think. It was when I first learned of how I was conceived. A priest told me when I was old enough to understand. It was..” He frowns. “Not mutually agreed upon.”
"Tell me about your first ____."
[…] I burn’d And ached for wings,
Jonh Keats, from “Ode on Indolence,” in Selected Poems (Bloomsbury Poetry Classics). (via antigonies)
exnobis:
The more Gael spoke, the harder it became for Andrai to resist the urge to roll his eyes. He could not stop the amused perk of a brow, however, when his companion’s presence and physical presentation were so very eloquently brought to attention. The tiger’s reaction - a low, unamused rumble in her throat - only made it that much more entertaining. He almost cracked a smile. Almost.
“Her name is Narissa.” While his voice retained it’s cool clarity, his eyes uncharacteristically softened with affection when they traveled to her. “And she has been my companion since well before these modern ages.”
Andrai’s gaze snapped back up sharply, the softness gone so quickly it was almost as though it had never been there. They fell into a silence as he looked Gael up and down, ruthlessly analytical, until they seemed to settle on his eyes. His locked gaze was intense, as if he meant to bore deep into Gael’s head simply by staring him down. He’d been told in the past that he made people uncomfortable with how intensely he watched them. Like he was trying to learn their strengths and weaknesses, guess their skills, and plan exactly how to kill them all with one look. Andrai typically did not tell the people complaining to him that that was indeed exactly what he was doing.
“I know who you are,” he said finally, breaking the uncomfortably long silence and returning the arrow he’d nocked to his quiver. “And I assume you know who I am beyond ‘that one with the tiger.’”
Narissa let out another low rumble, her great head turning just enough to level her ice blue eyes on him like a mother silently scolding her child. He sighed.
“Andrai. My name is Andrai.” He shouldered his bow, turning his body now to face Gael in real conversation. He had announced himself for a reason, after all. “And if you are to face proper combat on behalf of the Inquisition, I can teach you to better defend yourself.”
Narissa’s eyes remained on him insistently. He stubbornly did not look at her. “…If you’re willing to accept my help, I mean.”
It was definitely odd, Gael thought, that Andrai so freely spoke of being older than 'modern ages'. He raised his eyebrows, wondering if he was that forward with everyone or if it was because he really did know exactly who he was. He didn't know how much Andrai knew, or who told him what he knew, but that would be an issue for sometime later. For now he found himself on the receiving end of quite the piercing stare. Gael responded only with a pleasant smile. He didn't know why the other gave him such an intense look. It would have been intimidating but he figured if that was his intention, then he wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
He repeated his name and in retrospect, just saying that would have probably left him better off than ‘that one with the tiger’. He opened his mouth to speak but as Andrai went on, he closed it again. He noted pretty immediately that Andrai was not exactly tactful. The way he offered help suggested that he needed it. If he was insulted by that insinuation, he kept it to himself. He returned the soft smile to his face, and loosened his arms, letting the tip of his sword rest on the ground.
"Sure, I suppose. Maybe we could help each other." He looked at the tiger and smiled. There was definitely something different about Narissa. And not just because it was a tiger who was peacefully following a person around. She was clearly fade-touched, that much was obvious both in her size and in the aura she gave off. But there was a deeper intelligence in her eyes, and Gael had a pretty good guess as to why. He wanted to know if he was right, but wasn't sure how to go about asking. He figured it would come up when the time was right. "As long as I'm not interrupting something. I'm guessing you were out here for a reason, after all."
@oruvunen gets a random starter // prepare for tempers!!
This trip into the mountains had been his idea, a chance to clear his head and get away from all the eyes in the keep. Andrai could feel them always, hear the whispers when he passed, and he could not blame them in the least. His introduction to the Inquisition had been loud, to say the least, and by now the rumor of the explosive reunion between father and son has spread all the way from servant to the Inquisitor himself. Combined with his less-than-approachable nature, it made sense that most questioned his presence and his motivations. And truthfully, he preferred it that way as there was no chance of attachment, which was safer for both him and them. But he had no intention of leaving, not while his father remained.
So he’d told Leliana he needed a reprieve in the wilderness, and she’d understood. She was a good woman, he’d realized that early on. This Inquisition was full of good people. Another reason he did not belong.
But the hike had had the desired effect, as being out in nature often did. He could breathe easier there, and with Narissa walking in companionable silence at his side, he felt at peace - a rare and cherished thing. So when they first stumbled on the trail left behind by some humanoid being, the decision to follow it had been made with almost playful curiosity. But now that he’d been on it for a time, it felt more like an obligation. After all, who else would be all the way out here on their own?
He was disappointed when he finally came upon his prey: another spawn of that twice-cursed healer, Astraeus. They’d exchanged glances at most, but he knew his name. Gaelavun, golden like the sun. Finding a Venatori patrol would have been preferable.
He stalked him for a time, observing what he was doing and toying with whether or not he wanted to bother announcing his presence. Then he realized the poor fool was training (if it could even be called that), and felt obligation rise in his chest. Andrai was many things, but he was not without his honor. He would not walk away from a comrade whom his skills might actually benefit. They were all on the same side, as he often reminded himself.
❝You leave yourself completely open on your left.❞ He voice rang loud and clear over the mountain air, plain to see now as if he’d materialized out of nowhere. His bow was drawn and aimed directly for Gaelavun’s heart. Narissa sat on her haunches beside him, sharp eyes critically watching the golden elf.
❝I could have killed you twice over by now, were I your enemy.❞ HIs express was calm but serious, as it often was, and he spoke with the tone of someone clearly unaccustomed to polite conversation. He lowered his bow slowly, assuming his point had been made. ❝Which I am not.❞
Gaelavun had been out since early dawn practicing against enemy silhouettes made of slowly falling snowflakes and Gael's imagination. He could be found out here frequently, as he most often kept himself busy with training or hunting and he did not easily tire. If Gael was less attentive of time, and he already often got lost in focus, he could very well spend an entire day in his trainings. He enjoyed it, and it was never something that seemed liked work to him.
So concentrated on predicting his snowflake soldier's next move, he was very deeply unaware of his stalker. Had he never spoken, Gael likely would have never known he was there. With a start, Gael turned toward the voice, putting his sword up defensively by instinct. He scanned for and, after a moment, found the pair of eyes that belong to the person who had spoken to him. There was a brief hesitation before he lowered his sword, even before the other lowered his bow. He was... somewhat certain he'd seen this person before around Skyhold, though he had no clear idea of who he was. But even with a weapon pointed at him, he did not sense danger, and a wide friendly smile crossed his face.
"Oh." He said simply, and curiously glanced down at his sword as if he was silently asking it why it had not been covering his left side.
"Lucky for us both, I suppose. Thank you." It was as he looked back up from his sword that he caught a look at the large white tiger to the side of the man.
"Wow. That's a tiger." Was the most immediate comment to leave his mouth and he instantly regretted how stupid it sounded. Of course he had heard of a giant tiger roaming around Skyhold as someone's pet (which was the only language he had heard people use to refer to it) but he had managed to never actually see it for himself until now. It wasn't everyday someone would show up at Skyhold with such a unique companion, and it was nice for Gael to finally be able put a face on the one people had been talking about. This was, Gael knew from the gossip, Nox's son Andrai. Or as Gael often called him in his mind 'the one with the tiger', and he said as much. "Ohhh. You're that one, with the... tiger." Obviously. Every word more he spoke made him sound less and less competent.
"I.. uh.. Thank you. For the tip." He repeated his thanks in an attempt to get himself to just stop speaking, and yet regardless he added,
"I'm Gaelavun."
@iiofcups plotted for a starter
The evening sun had, at best, a handful of hours before it would set, and Gaelavun would not waste them. He kept himself to a rather strict and rigorous training routine with his great sword that both kept him in shape, and kept his skills honed for battle.
He wasn’t the only one in the training grounds but he would be soon. Usually all of Cullen’s men would break off for bed or for the Herald’s Rest in the short hours before the cold of the night set in after the waning light had gone. The last of them were already winding themselves down; training with less fervor, and taking on more lighthearted faces. But not Gael. He maintained a centered composure. Though dressed down in a casual shirt and pants, he put himself on the battlefield, pretending that the wooden training dummy he was hitting was some manner of enemy; alive, moving, and dangerous. Breathing hard and with a sheen of cool sweat, almost nothing could break his focus.
I’m half child half ancient.
Björk (via wordsnquotes)
mood: (req)
“Azura’s Wisdom to you Friend!”
15 image panorama of the Milky Way in Maui
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