This blog is at the moment dedicated to my writings around Baldur's Gate 3 and my Tavs, as well as my Durge Run. I also like analysing the plants in the game.
About me
Call me Tea. I'm an aro ace woman who has always liked telling stories, be it via prose writing or GMing for my table in Pathfinder and D&D.
𝕄𝕪 𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘
Imrae, the Mad Drow
In chronological order of events:
Your Are Beautiful
The moment Imrae decides to flee from his guardian's home.
First Sight
Imrae and Shadowheart explore the ravaged beach after the crash of the nautiloid and find a certain pale elf.
Whatever It Is
After meeting and disappointing Araj Oblodra, Imrae takes some time to himself to overthink what happened. Luckily, Astarion comes to save him from himself.
[Angst with Happy Ending, Asexuality, Astarion x Tav]
Oddity
A short time after getting together, Astarion has a question for his new beau. [Slice of Life, Astarion POV, Asexuality, Astarion x Tav]
Takes place a few days after "Whatever It Is"
One Night At A Time (The Graveyard)
[Hurt/Comfort, Changing POV (Imrae/Astarion), Astarion x Tav]
Written for Week Four of SpawNovember 2025
Old Fool
Halsin confesses his feelings to Imrae. Shadowheart eavesdrops and thus makes it her own problem when the situation goes awry.
[Hurt/Comfort, Shadowheart POV, Astarion x Tav]
The Hero and Me
A young drow asks his teacher about his adventures during the Absolute crisis. [Slice of Life, Astarion x Tav]
Alternate Universes
The Barrister's Bargain
Chapter One, Two, Three and Four.
My entry for the #bridgersgate event.
Lord Imyaraen Auvryervs, son of the Marchioness Lledrith Auvryervs, has come to Baldur's Gate for the social season in search of a bride, accompanied by his loyal friend Captain Lae'zel. One night, he meets the charming Mr. Ancunín, a former barrister, and they form a fast friendship. Meanwhile, Lord Wyll Ravengard, son of Duke Ulder Ravengard, is doing his best to keep his city safe while braving the marriage market himself.
[Regency AU, Changing POV, Astarion x Tav, Wyll x Lae'zel]
Llar Darthiir [Read on Lotta's AO3]
Chapter One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three and Twenty-Four.
A crossover between Imrae and @lottavilja's Tav/Lymune.
Among other survivors, Tav and Astarion are in search of a cure for their tadpole problem when they stumble upon a lone drow. As infected as they are, Imrae becomes part of the group. Two drow and a vampire, the three of them band together rather quickly, exploring Faerûn as well as each other in pursuit of answers.
[Adventure, Changing POV, Astarion x Tavs (Polyamory)]
Just For A Little While [Read on Lotta's AO3]
What if Imrae's parents were alive? What if Lymune's mother Vhaidra Uoswiir seeks shelter at the Auvryervs palace?
[What If? AU, Changing POV]
Silk and Blood [Read on Lotta's AO3]
Prologue, Chapter One
A crossover between Imrae and @lottavilja's Tav/Lymune.
Drow Tav and her companions make their way down into the Underdark to reach Moonrise Towers. On their way, they stumble upon a strange couple. A drow and a drider. What could have easily ended in bloodshed turns out to be something pleasant when the two drow recognize each other from when they were kids. Determined to help his friend, Imrae and his partner Zhah join the group.
A drider and a vampire, however, seem not the best combination, and so Tav and Imrae have to find a way to ensure the two 'monsters' get along with each other. A delicate matter because Tav and Astarion's romance is hanging on by a thread.
[Adventure, Changing POV, Astarion x Tav, Imrae x Zhah]
The Drow Wanderer
Imrae as a companion.
Act One, Part One
Meeting Imrae, Waukeen's Rest, Camp Scenes and the other companions' reactions to recruiting him
Act One, Part Two
Goblin Camp, Celebration and Romance
Act One, Part Three
Mountain Pass and Underdark
Act One - Imrae's reactions to recruiting the other companions
Act One Miscellany
Camp Idles and Banters
Act Two, Part One
Enter the Shadow-Cursed Lands
Act Two Hero's Romance (Leader saved the tieflings)
Act Two Pragmatist's Romance (Leader helped Minthara)
Coming soon
Companion Greetings (Non-Romanced/Romanced)
Zethino's Love Test
Dragomir, the Dark Urge
His Astral Intro
TEA'S DARK URGE RUN [A Gale x Durge Tale]
Part One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six
Impressions from a night with a wizard
Part Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve
Part Thirteen, Fourteen
Wanted to experiment with different ratios a bit. Can't decide which I prefer, so I'm including both + two wips I haven't shared before.
Had hard last two weeks, but I really wanted to post those today; to commemorate a certain reblog :3 (iykyk) Hopefully I'll be able to be more active again soon!
For the pride asks: 11, 13, 20, for any oc you want for each (or multiples, your choice 😊)
I'm doing well, thank you for asking, and thank you for the message!
And also...
11. Is your oc open about their identity? Are they more lowkey or more blunt about it? Why or why not?
Imrae (demiromantic ace)
He is a very reserved man. He only tells this to whom it concerns, so among the tadfools, this is between Astarion and him (or Astarion, Tav and him in Llar Darthiir).
Imrhys (bi)
He is/was not open about the fact that he had male lovers before his relationship with Lledrith. He is old-fashioned and does adhere to drow custom that his main objective is to serve a woman.
Lledrith (demiromantic demisexual)
She is/was very open about the fact that she is obsessed with her husband, but she does not consider herself queer.
Drovic (pan)
He is very open about loving freely and flirts with everyone. His guardians Imrae and Astarion made sure that he has a nuanced and informed perspective on love and consent.
Zhah (gay, after the curse gay ace)
He kept his preference a secret in Menzoberranzan, but after being cursed, he opens up to his companion Imrae very quickly, both about preferring the company of men and about being robbed of anything related to procreation.
Dragomir (bi)
He preferred heterosexual trysts and relationships as a Bhaalist to follow his father's command of making more Bhaalspawn, but he did not keep male lovers secret. His affair with Gortash was not shameful because they were men, but because he was sleeping with a Banite.
After his memory loss, he figured out that he liked both pretty quickly.
Periel Frock (bi)
With him, it depends on the setting. Despite being an extrovert, he is reserved about his own person, but he will shamelessly flirt with the muscular paladin lady at the bar or that hunk of a sea dog over there.
D'nahra (female-leaning bisexual)
She shows her orientation through actions more than words. She prefers women and effeminate/androgynous people (often elves) over manly men.
The Erlprince (pan)
He will flirt with anything that moves and he will mean it. The word "subtlety" does not exist in this man's dictionary.
Ajith (bi)
He is casually open about loving all of nature's creations.
13. Would your oc be open to a poly relationship? Why or why not?
Imrae (demiromantic ace)
He is not a jealous man and open to a poly relationship, though he might get worried about not actually being compatible with his partner if the sexual component is strong between them and the third.
Imrhys (bi)
He would have accepted it if Lledrith took other lovers, but I don't think it would have been enthusiastic.
Lledrith (demiromantic demisexual)
She is disinterested in anyone but Imrhys and she does not take it well if someone desires her husband.
Drovic (pan)
He is very open to "the more, the merrier". I have not figured out all the details yet, but he does get two love interests, and he will operate with the credo of "I have two hands".
Zhah (gay ace)
He would be open to a poly relationship, as long as he is assured that it is not about him being lacking in any way, but about growing a found family.
Dragomir (bi)
He prefers monogamy, once a relationship has been established and declared. He turns out to be quite the romantic despite his roots.
Periel Frock (bi)
He can be a very jealous man, but if a poly relationship came about because two people wanted to be with him, it might work.
D'nahra (female-leaning bisexual)
She prefers the security of monogamy.
The Erlprince (pan)
I think he would feel trapped and stifled in monogamy, so either an open or poly relationship would be his preference.
Ajith (bi)
He is fine with monogamy as well as polyamory. His druidic education made him very open-minded.
20. Have your ocs helped you in self discovery? How?
Less with discovery and more with acceptance, I'd say. Writing about it, spreading awareness and normalizing was pretty helpful feeling better about myself.
3. How did your oc discover themself? Did something cause them to question, or did they always know?
For Zhah
6. How does your oc feel about labels? Theirs, or in general?
For Lledrith
2. What's your oc's orientation? (Romantic/sexual/platonic alterous ect) Do they have opinions about it?
9. Are there cultural or lore specific aspects to their identity? If applicable, does their species affect it?
Hope you're having a good day!
Happy Pride! Thank you for the message!
For Imrae
3. How did your oc discover themself? Did something cause them to question, or did they always know?
He always knew he did not fit into the role his guardian had chosen for him. Being flirtatious and alluring does not come naturally to him. All those feelings like lust and attraction found in books about sensuality? He did not find those in him himself.
When he fled his guardian's fortress, it took a while for him to experience his first time with the warrior Veldrin Gallaer. It was enjoyable, but it did not incite a need or want in him, which made him very certain that this was just how he was.
His studies of history did give hints that people like him have always existed.
For Zhah
6. How does your oc feel about labels? Theirs, or in general?
His own labels are incredibly important to him. To be able to openly say that he prefers the company of men is freeing.
In addition, as a drider, he is technically sexless. To him, still identifying as a man who loves men even after being cursed is holding onto his personhood.
For Lledrith
2. What's your oc's orientation? (Romantic/sexual/platonic alterous ect) Do they have opinions about it?
Her high libido might mask it, but she is demisexual (and demiromantic). She has no interest in intimacy with anybody but her husband Imrhys.
To her, that is how it should be, so she does not question herself. Since she is in a heterosexual relationship, she would not identify as queer.
9. Are there cultural or lore specific aspects to their identity? If applicable, does their species affect it?
Her sexuality makes her monogamous, which is not the norm for a drow matron.
An event set up by the marvellous @missfortunetherogue!
|| Words: 1.732 || CONTENT WARNINGS: None ||
Lakrissa's feet hurt. Hurt, burned, cramped. And it was only midday.
But, there was good money to be earned during the holiday season, people were more generous with tips, and her and Alfira's coffers could always do with a little extra. Owning a building and running a school was expensive and repairs were constant.
The Elfsong's taproom was bursting and bustling with people trying to escape the cold outside and warm themselves with a hot drink, and it was her task to hand out mulled wine by the gallon. She smirked as she set down a whole tray of steaming mugs in front of a group of halflings. Any excuse to have a drink this early, huh?
She retrieved the next tray from Alan, who seemed equally tired of today already as he pointed to the tables the drinks would go to. More mulled wine and some spiced kaeth.
And one lone cup of tea with candied lemon, for a sun elf who was reading today's broadsheet at a dark corner table.
Lakrissa passed out the other drinks before she approached the sharp-featured man clad in a nice green jacket. “What's your poison, stranger? Wyvern, taggit-” she lilted, seeking the elf's golden gaze as she leaned down, “-drow?”
He smirked. “Hello, Lakrissa,” said a familiar voice out of a vaguely familiar face.
She returned the smirk. “Alfira's at home, if you-”
“Actually, I was looking for you.”
Lakrissa raised an eyebrow. “I don't owe you money, right?” she joked as she took a seat.
“Word has it that you are the one 'keeping tabs' on the former refugees of Elturel.” Imrae took a sip of his tea and hummed in delight. “Keeping in touch, looking out for them, such things.”
“Well, yeah. We've spread out a bit, with Dammon in his forge, and Alfira's school close to here, Bex and Danis with their bakery, and then Rolan and his siblings in the Upper City. Many of the scouts now work for Sword Coast Couriers and settled in Rivington. Don't get me started on Mol and the kids.”
“How about we do something nice for all of them?”
Lakrissa chuckled. “Are you bored, or what's going on?”
The disguised drow shrugged. “I have been away for while and I wish to make up for it.”
Feeling Alan trying to light her on fire with his stare, Lakrissa dropped her inquisition. “I have to run, but I will get off in half an hour. Drink your tea, then we can talk more. If you want to do something nice for me, give me a decent tip and buy me a drink.”
Imrae laughed. “Alright. We have a deal.”
It had started to snow by the time Lakrissa left the Elfsong Tavern in the company of the drow mage, the falling flakes covering their warm cloaks with a white pattern.
While they walked, she thought back to their first meeting a the druids' grove. She had kept her distance from the dark elf and his group, observing him rather than talking to him directly.
Stories painted his kind as cruel and underhanded, but first impressions told her otherwise. Better than devils in any case.
He had earned Zevlor's respect by giving them a hand in fending off the goblins and by calming Aradin down with words rather than blades. But, him and his alien friend also had needlessly bullied Zorru, then had ignored most of them as he looked for the healer Nettie, only to later save Arabella and Mirkon from certain death.
The druids had immediately been hostile to him, just like some of them had acted towards her fellow tieflings and her, but it had been his meeting with her sweet, sweet Alfira that had spurred the drow to promise Zevlor to help them with the goblin problem.
Oh, how jealous Lakrissa had been when Imrae had paid special attention to her fellow queen at the party that followed his triumph over his foes, and how relieved had she been when he had focused his efforts on the elven vampire in his group instead.
Their care for one another had not been obvious from the way the two men jabbed at one another, but when she saw them again at Last Light Inn and in Baldur's Gate, their bond was something she would have envied if she had not found the very same with Alfira on this taxing journey.
Lakrissa chuckled when she thought back to her prison stay at Moonrise Towers. When speaking to her in the cell, the drow posing as a True Soul had made her day by letting her cuss him out and even spit at him as a cover for their conversation.
Despite his previous successes, Alfira and her had been relieved when the drow had waltzed into the Elfsong Tavern with his group. Many a night afterwards had been spent on the rooftop by the brassier, sipping drinks, laughing and singing songs with any of him and his crew who were interested.
The Blade of Frontiers and Karlach had often requested music to dance to. Minsc of Rashemen in turn had requested songs for his hamster, tunes Alfira had never heard about. The wizard from Waterdeep had talked about his favourite tunes on the piano. Others, like Jaheira and Shadowheart, had sipped their drinks and listened as they rested. As for Astarion, Lakrissa suspected he had only ever come for the wine and for the drow's singing.
During their first stop, she almost made herself sick with suppressed laughter at the look of abject terror Imrae tried to hide when faced with the social expectation of holding Bex and Danis' infant daughter.
Lakrissa took pity on the man after a few awkward moments so he could hand the couple a collection of knitwear and a bundle of Underdark spices like fire lichen and funguswood.
Ramazith's Tower was next. Watching Rolan and Imrae bluster and squabble was fun for a while, and it gave her time to catch up with Cal and Lia. When the tiefling wizard received a box of arcane crystals, he had to fight hard to keep up his grumpy facade.
At Dammon's forge, the smith was more openly delighted with his present, some old manuscripts about metallurgy from some gnome inventor from Grymforge. Him and Imrae spent almost an hour discussing that man while Lakrissa nodded along with a polite smile.
Later, he spent another hour inspecting the stability, as well as repairing damages in the walls of the tiefling kids' hideout while Lakrissa handed them Bex's box of baked goods, then amused herself by playing betting games with the youngins. As usual, the kids were cheating even more than her.
The longer their tour through the city lasted, the more she found herself asking on why he needed her there. Not that she minded his company, but would he not rather take Alfira or his partner on this walk?
Speaking of Alfira, her sweetheart was last on their list.
The sun had already set by the time they approached the music school, and it did not help one bit with the chill already settling in Lakrissa's bones. While she fiddled with her key, she caught the drow's embarrassed look when he spotted his name next to Lihala's on the plaque by the door.
He was a strange one. Other wizards wanted their names on everything, Rolan already was hard at work publishing books with his variants of spells, with each and every one having his name slotted in front. But not the drow.
When Lakrissa opened the door towards their little living space on the upper floor and spotted flower petals on the stairway, everything clicked in her mind.
“You were distracting me for her, weren't you?” she asked her companion.
Imrae's face was guiltless. “I never claimed otherwise.”
“Treacherous drow.” Lakrissa chuckled. “Want to come upstairs for a warm drink?”
“Thank you, but since I was away for most of the day, I have promised my own beloved I'd be his for the night. I wish you a pleasant evening,” Imrae said with a small bow, then waved her goodbye before he left.
Once the door had snapped shut, Lakrissa fixed her ponytail and hurried up the petalled stairs, her tail curling with excitement.
She found their living space decorated, something they had not managed to get done during the stressful holiday season, and Alfira waiting on their sofa in a beautiful new silk dressing gown that clung to curves and the ridges of her body in the most alluring way possible.
If she had to guess, then she would have said that the gown was Alfira's Solstice present from their drow friend, and if it had been from anybody but him, she would have been wildly jealous.
“There she is, proud that her plan succeeded,” Lakrissa said as she joined her girlfriend on the couch, planting a kiss on her nose. “Hey, you.”
Alfira giggled. “Did you have a nice day?”
“Was good to catch up with everybody.” Lakrissa put her arm around her songstress, their tails intertwining as they always did. “Why make a whole plot out of this?”
Her expression turning serious, Alfira cuddled up against her. “I wanted to surprise you and do something nice. You've been working so hard all year, just so I could focus on my music and so that I could have this school. You put my dream first.”
“Our dream.” Lakrissa grinned.
Alfira looked up at her.
“After Elturel fell, my biggest wish was that we'd make it to safety, and we did. I'm not much one for the gods, but maybe at least one was paying attention.” Lakrissa shrugged and chuckled. “Afterwards, I just wanted us to be a community again, and we are. People come into your school and see that we're also people, just like them. Not this divide between good refugees, bad refugees and citizens.”
“That does make me feel better.... I never looked at it that way.”
“Music connects, you said it yourself.”
Alfira giggled again. “I did?”
“Yep. You sweet thing charmed that drow into doing whatever your want. You're powerful.“ Lakrissa leaned in for a kiss, which Alfira deepened, and soon after, they followed the trail of petals to their shared bedchamber.
An event set up by the marvellous @missfortunetherogue!
|| Words: 1.732 || CONTENT WARNINGS: None ||
Lakrissa's feet hurt. Hurt, burned, cramped. And it was only midday.
But, there was good money to be earned during the holiday season, people were more generous with tips, and her and Alfira's coffers could always do with a little extra. Owning a building and running a school was expensive and repairs were constant.
The Elfsong's taproom was bursting and bustling with people trying to escape the cold outside and warm themselves with a hot drink, and it was her task to hand out mulled wine by the gallon. She smirked as she set down a whole tray of steaming mugs in front of a group of halflings. Any excuse to have a drink this early, huh?
She retrieved the next tray from Alan, who seemed equally tired of today already as he pointed to the tables the drinks would go to. More mulled wine and some spiced kaeth.
And one lone cup of tea with candied lemon, for a sun elf who was reading today's broadsheet at a dark corner table.
Lakrissa passed out the other drinks before she approached the sharp-featured man clad in a nice green jacket. “What's your poison, stranger? Wyvern, taggit-” she lilted, seeking the elf's golden gaze as she leaned down, “-drow?”
He smirked. “Hello, Lakrissa,” said a familiar voice out of a vaguely familiar face.
She returned the smirk. “Alfira's at home, if you-”
“Actually, I was looking for you.”
Lakrissa raised an eyebrow. “I don't owe you money, right?” she joked as she took a seat.
“Word has it that you are the one 'keeping tabs' on the former refugees of Elturel.” Imrae took a sip of his tea and hummed in delight. “Keeping in touch, looking out for them, such things.”
“Well, yeah. We've spread out a bit, with Dammon in his forge, and Alfira's school close to here, Bex and Danis with their bakery, and then Rolan and his siblings in the Upper City. Many of the scouts now work for Sword Coast Couriers and settled in Rivington. Don't get me started on Mol and the kids.”
“How about we do something nice for all of them?”
Lakrissa chuckled. “Are you bored, or what's going on?”
The disguised drow shrugged. “I have been away for while and I wish to make up for it.”
Feeling Alan trying to light her on fire with his stare, Lakrissa dropped her inquisition. “I have to run, but I will get off in half an hour. Drink your tea, then we can talk more. If you want to do something nice for me, give me a decent tip and buy me a drink.”
Imrae laughed. “Alright. We have a deal.”
It had started to snow by the time Lakrissa left the Elfsong Tavern in the company of the drow mage, the falling flakes covering their warm cloaks with a white pattern.
While they walked, she thought back to their first meeting a the druids' grove. She had kept her distance from the dark elf and his group, observing him rather than talking to him directly.
Stories painted his kind as cruel and underhanded, but first impressions told her otherwise. Better than devils in any case.
He had earned Zevlor's respect by giving them a hand in fending off the goblins and by calming Aradin down with words rather than blades. But, him and his alien friend also had needlessly bullied Zorru, then had ignored most of them as he looked for the healer Nettie, only to later save Arabella and Mirkon from certain death.
The druids had immediately been hostile to him, just like some of them had acted towards her fellow tieflings and her, but it had been his meeting with her sweet, sweet Alfira that had spurred the drow to promise Zevlor to help them with the goblin problem.
Oh, how jealous Lakrissa had been when Imrae had paid special attention to her fellow queen at the party that followed his triumph over his foes, and how relieved had she been when he had focused his efforts on the elven vampire in his group instead.
Their care for one another had not been obvious from the way the two men jabbed at one another, but when she saw them again at Last Light Inn and in Baldur's Gate, their bond was something she would have envied if she had not found the very same with Alfira on this taxing journey.
Lakrissa chuckled when she thought back to her prison stay at Moonrise Towers. When speaking to her in the cell, the drow posing as a True Soul had made her day by letting her cuss him out and even spit at him as a cover for their conversation.
Despite his previous successes, Alfira and her had been relieved when the drow had waltzed into the Elfsong Tavern with his group. Many a night afterwards had been spent on the rooftop by the brassier, sipping drinks, laughing and singing songs with any of him and his crew who were interested.
The Blade of Frontiers and Karlach had often requested music to dance to. Minsc of Rashemen in turn had requested songs for his hamster, tunes Alfira had never heard about. The wizard from Waterdeep had talked about his favourite tunes on the piano. Others, like Jaheira and Shadowheart, had sipped their drinks and listened as they rested. As for Astarion, Lakrissa suspected he had only ever come for the wine and for the drow's singing.
During their first stop, she almost made herself sick with suppressed laughter at the look of abject terror Imrae tried to hide when faced with the social expectation of holding Bex and Danis' infant daughter.
Lakrissa took pity on the man after a few awkward moments so he could hand the couple a collection of knitwear and a bundle of Underdark spices like fire lichen and funguswood.
Ramazith's Tower was next. Watching Rolan and Imrae bluster and squabble was fun for a while, and it gave her time to catch up with Cal and Lia. When the tiefling wizard received a box of arcane crystals, he had to fight hard to keep up his grumpy facade.
At Dammon's forge, the smith was more openly delighted with his present, some old manuscripts about metallurgy from some gnome inventor from Grymforge. Him and Imrae spent almost an hour discussing that man while Lakrissa nodded along with a polite smile.
Later, he spent another hour inspecting the stability, as well as repairing damages in the walls of the tiefling kids' hideout while Lakrissa handed them Bex's box of baked goods, then amused herself by playing betting games with the youngins. As usual, the kids were cheating even more than her.
The longer their tour through the city lasted, the more she found herself asking on why he needed her there. Not that she minded his company, but would he not rather take Alfira or his partner on this walk?
Speaking of Alfira, her sweetheart was last on their list.
The sun had already set by the time they approached the music school, and it did not help one bit with the chill already settling in Lakrissa's bones. While she fiddled with her key, she caught the drow's embarrassed look when he spotted his name next to Lihala's on the plaque by the door.
He was a strange one. Other wizards wanted their names on everything, Rolan already was hard at work publishing books with his variants of spells, with each and every one having his name slotted in front. But not the drow.
When Lakrissa opened the door towards their little living space on the upper floor and spotted flower petals on the stairway, everything clicked in her mind.
“You were distracting me for her, weren't you?” she asked her companion.
Imrae's face was guiltless. “I never claimed otherwise.”
“Treacherous drow.” Lakrissa chuckled. “Want to come upstairs for a warm drink?”
“Thank you, but since I was away for most of the day, I have promised my own beloved I'd be his for the night. I wish you a pleasant evening,” Imrae said with a small bow, then waved her goodbye before he left.
Once the door had snapped shut, Lakrissa fixed her ponytail and hurried up the petalled stairs, her tail curling with excitement.
She found their living space decorated, something they had not managed to get done during the stressful holiday season, and Alfira waiting on their sofa in a beautiful new silk dressing gown that clung to curves and the ridges of her body in the most alluring way possible.
If she had to guess, then she would have said that the gown was Alfira's Solstice present from their drow friend, and if it had been from anybody but him, she would have been wildly jealous.
“There she is, proud that her plan succeeded,” Lakrissa said as she joined her girlfriend on the couch, planting a kiss on her nose. “Hey, you.”
Alfira giggled. “Did you have a nice day?”
“Was good to catch up with everybody.” Lakrissa put her arm around her songstress, their tails intertwining as they always did. “Why make a whole plot out of this?”
Her expression turning serious, Alfira cuddled up against her. “I wanted to surprise you and do something nice. You've been working so hard all year, just so I could focus on my music and so that I could have this school. You put my dream first.”
“Our dream.” Lakrissa grinned.
Alfira looked up at her.
“After Elturel fell, my biggest wish was that we'd make it to safety, and we did. I'm not much one for the gods, but maybe at least one was paying attention.” Lakrissa shrugged and chuckled. “Afterwards, I just wanted us to be a community again, and we are. People come into your school and see that we're also people, just like them. Not this divide between good refugees, bad refugees and citizens.”
“That does make me feel better.... I never looked at it that way.”
“Music connects, you said it yourself.”
Alfira giggled again. “I did?”
“Yep. You sweet thing charmed that drow into doing whatever your want. You're powerful.“ Lakrissa leaned in for a kiss, which Alfira deepened, and soon after, they followed the trail of petals to their shared bedchamber.
1. What's your oc's gender identity? What's their relationship to their gender?
2. What's your oc's orientation? (Romantic/sexual/platonic alterous ect) Do they have opinions about it?
3. How did your oc discover themself? Did something cause them to question, or did they always know?
4. Is your oc's environment supportive about their identity? How does this impact them?
5. How did you figure out your oc's identity?
6. How does your oc feel about labels? Theirs, or in general?
7. Is there something that could cause your oc to question their identity? What?
8. Have they had struggles with their identity, be it due to internal or external reasons?
9. Are there cultural or lore specific aspects to their identity? If applicable, does their species affect it?
10. Does your oc celebrate Pride? How?
11. Is your oc open about their identity? Are they more lowkey or more blunt about it? Why or why not?
12. Does/did your oc ever wish they could change the way they are? Why? If it's in the past, how did they get over the feeling? (this can be about internalized homo/transphobia)
13. Would your oc be open to a poly relationship? Why or why not?
[Not aimed at a specific character] / [Aimed at creator]
14. Do you have ocs on the aro or ace spectrum?
15. Do any of your ocs use neopronouns? Which ones?
16. Did you ever change an oc's identity when they were already established? Why?
17. Do you share identity with any of your ocs? Which ones?
18. Do you prefer to give your ocs specific labels, or keep it unspecified? Why? If applicable, do you change their labels depending on circumstance?
19. Do you have preferences about depicting homo/transphobia in your stories? What, and why? Does it vary by story?
20. Have your ocs helped you in self discovery? How?
Thank you for the questions! Since it wasn't specified, I will answer for Imrae and Astarion.
💕 How did they both realize “oh wait, this is actually love”?
Astarion realizes it first.
Perhaps because even if he has forgotten most of his mortal life, something in him does remember that feeling he gets when he looks at his drow. He doesn't say anything and carries it around for quite a while, he only feels free to tell him when he is truly free - in the graveyard, after killing Cazador.
Imrae is demiromantic, thus loves and trusts very gradually.
He still has no idea if what he feels for Astarion is love, but by the time that the both of them are in that graveyard together, he has no other name for it, so he says it back when the rogue confesses to him.
😈 Who is more likely to start chaos “for the vine” & who films it?
In a modern AU - Astarion. Imrae would film it diligently if asked and as long as he is not on screen. He doesn't like attention.
💔 What’s the one fight that almost ended them?
They had their tough phases, but I think the worst period in their relationship is when their ward Drovic is shoved onto them by the Bregan D'aerthe. Astarion rejects the situation completely while Imrae is doing his best to cope by bonding with the teenage drow.
Astarion sees that as a betrayal of their agreement that they should not be parents. Imrae on the other hand feels attacked because what is he supposed to do, mistreat the boy? As someone who was mistreated as a foster child, it is not something he could ever do to Drovic.
They thankfully do apologize and make up.
After some distance, perspective-taking and -gaining, Astarion admits that he was taking out his frustration on those present and not those responsible for the situation. Imrae concedes that part of him does want to continue to take care of Drovic.
They finally do have a sensible conversation about the future, with the result that both agree that abandoning the kid at this point is not an option. Their "no children" agreement was more about not wanting a baby or a small child around, an adolescent is a different topic entirely.
🚪 Who’s more likely to say “we’re not leaving this room today”?
Astarion.
Imrae is not a "spend the day in bed" kind of person, neither for rest and relaxation nor for intimate fun times, but he will try his best for his partner.
make sure to include the pairing(s) you are wanting these questions to be answered for . these should work for poly ships as well as monogamous . feel free to edit these as you see fit .
💕 How did they both realize “oh wait, this is actually love”?
🌹 Who fell harder & who fell first?
🫂 What’s their favorite way to hold each other when words aren’t enough?
🔥 What’s the pettiest thing they’ve ever argued about?
💋 Who says “I love you” first & how?
🌙 Who’s the little spoon & who pretends they hate it but secretly loves it?
💍 Would they ever get married? What would the proposal look like?
🧸 Who still has the very first gift the other ever gave them?
😈 Who is more likely to start chaos “for the vine” & who films it?
🎶 What’s their song - the one that makes them both tear up / grin like idiots?
☕ Who’s the morning person & how do they lure the night owl out of bed?
🛡️ Who jumps in front of danger for the other without thinking?
😳 What’s the most embarrassing thing they’ve walked in on the other doing?
💔 What’s the one fight that almost ended them?
🩹 How do they comfort each other after nightmares?
👀 Who gets jealous more easily & how obvious are they about it?
🍳 Who cooks & who sets off the smoke alarm trying to help?
🧳 If they had to run away together tomorrow, where would they go?
😏 Who is bolder in public (hand-holding, kisses, etc.)?
🌧️ Who steals whose hoodies when it rains?
🎂 How do they celebrate each other’s birthdays?
🖤 What’s the darkest “we’ll never tell anyone” thing they’ve done together?
💌 Who leaves little love notes & where do they hide them?
🛌 Who hogs the blanket & who ends up freezing dramatically?
😴 Who falls asleep first & who watches them with heart-eyes?
🚪 Who’s more likely to say “we’re not leaving this room today”?
🌸 What nickname do they have for each other that would mortify them if others heard?
🎤 Who sings in the shower & who secretly records it for blackmail?
💞 How do they act when one of them is sick?
🩸 Who would literally kill for the other & who would help hide the body?
🌅 Do they go on sunrise / stargazing dates? Which one do they love more?
😤 Who apologizes first after a fight, even if they weren’t wrong?
🧩 What tiny habit of the other do they find unbearably adorable?
🎪 Who plans elaborate surprise dates & who just wants to stay in?
👑 In their relationship, who’s the king / queen & who’s the knight / advisor?
🌪️ What’s the most chaotic thing they’ve done together on pure impulse?
💤 Who has the weirdest sleep-talking lines that the other quotes constantly?
🧡 What color reminds each of them of the other?
🕰️ If they could go back in time, what moment would they relive together?
😶 Who’s terrified of saying “meet my parents” & why?
🍷 Who gets tipsy first & starts spilling embarrassing love confessions?
🌿 Do they want kids/pets/plants together? What do they name them?
🪞 Who takes longer getting ready & who hypes the other up in the mirror?
💥 What’s the biggest risk one of them took for the other that the partner didn’t find out about until much later?
🧣 Who steals the other’s scarf / gloves “on accident” every winter?
🌌 What’s their “we made it through hell” memory they’ll tell their grandkids?
😘 Who kisses the other first thing in the morning, morning breath & all?
🩰 Slow dancing in the kitchen at 3 a.m. - who starts it?
⚓ If one of them had to leave forever, what would they leave behind for the other?
💫 Ten years from now, what random Tuesday are they spending together?
Sorry that I took a while to get back to these and thank you for your patience! At least this is fitting for Pride Month, since both the characters identify as asexual, huzzah!
I rolled 39 - a tentative kiss. The following scene is for the AU in which Imrae (demiromantic asexual) and the drider Zhah (gay ace) live happily ever after. Because I like to twist the knife in my own heart, apparently.
Alerting @lottavilja, since we write Silk and Blood together, and @elceewunjo, since you commented that you enjoyed my outline for this moment on the 20 Couple's Questions for Imrae and Zhah. Here's the full scene.
Everything, and Nothing At All
CW: Arachnophobia due to minor mentions of drider anatomy, angsty fluff, negative self image, implications of past homophobia.
“How does one know that they are in love?”
Zhah tightened his grasp on the arrow he was working on, taking a few even breaths before he turned to look at Imrae, his mage companion, while he wondered if his own cursed mind had fabricated the question.
“In your experience, I mean,” the drow clarified. “I do not demand a universal answer, especially since it is not a common sentiment in Menzoberranzan.”
What had brought this about? Had Imrae met somebody who had caught his eye? Where? At the market?
No. They kept no secrets between them. They told one another almost everything. Imrae was no liar, he was different from the scheming high-born drow of Zhah’s birthplace.
“I don’t know if there’s one telltale sign. I think there are many smaller ones which weave into a full tapestry.” Zhah rolled the arrow around between his fingers to calm himself.
The drider thought back to before the curse, to the secret relationships with likeminded men in Menzoberranzan. He had truly loved a select few of them, even when that was not done, even when that was foolish. It could never last.
Maybe he had always been an aberration.
Over in his spot, Imrae provided him with all the time he needed to put his answer into words.
This patience was one of the many, many things Zhah loved about this beautiful man.
“You think about the person you love first thing when rousing and before you close your eyes to rest. You cannot imagine a future without them. You feel truly at ease in their presence.”
He had never said anything about his feelings. What would it change? They already had promised each other they would never be parted again. What more did he want?
“You want them to know the real you. You want them to be happy, even if it costs you.”
The mage nodded along, taking in the information.
Zhah meant it.
Imrae deserved a lover who could give him everything, who could kiss and caress that fine face safely, not someone whose spittle and mind had been turned into poison.
Maybe it was just a question born from curiosity. Maybe it did not mean anything. Maybe there was nothing to worry about. Maybe-
“I think I am in love with you.”
“I love you, too,” Zhah blurted out without further thought and much too loud, judging by the echo in their cavern.
Neither said a word for a few heartbeats as they stared at one another.
Imrae smiled after he, too, had assured himself that he had heard right.
It was Zhah who broke the silence with a choked chuckle, the feeling of relief driving tears to his eyes. “This changes everything and nothing at all, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, dearest,” Imrae responded as he walked over. “Are you alright?”
“I was frightened you were asking because of someone else.”
Imrae reached for Zhah’s hand, a slow, gentle motion. "Oh. Oh, no. My apologies for causing you distress. I wished to be certain before making any sort of declaration.”
Extending a leg, Zhah dropped the arrow still in his grasp and pulled his companion closer to feel the drow’s breath and heartbeat against his stomach. “It’s fine. We’re fine now. Can you say it again, please?”
“I love you, Zhah.”
A rush of pure joy surged through him. “I love you, too.”
“May I kiss you?”
The rush of joy ebbed. “Im…”
“I have an Elixir of Poison Resistance. We have antidote potions, just in case.” Imrae pulled a small bottle from the depths of his robes and looked up at him, that fearless curiosity which Zhah also loved shining in his eyes.
The mage had prepared for this, hadn’t he? He would use up an expensive elixir just to kiss him. Foolish. A foolish gesture that meant everything.
“But I will not push you,” Imrae said, mistaking Zhah’s silence for hesitance and discomfort.
The drider shook his head, another choked chuckle escaping him. “No. I want to try. I wanted to for a long time.”
Imrae nodded and swallowed the elixir without complaint. First, he planted a kiss on Zhah’s clawed hand, then his wrist, then he reached up to cup his face before he joined their lips together, gentle and undemanding.
Evil, ignorant tongues would call the mage chaste, shy, or prudish, would damn his lack of experience, call it a personal failing.
Zhah did not mind. Not one bit. He preferred someone lacking experience to someone lacking care any day.
Slowly opening his mouth, minding his deadly fangs, he deepened the kiss, his hands caressing Imrae’s shoulders. He, too, had to learn despite having been quite the expert once, and yet the effort felt like reclaiming a part of himself that he had thought lost for good.
When they separated, coming up for air, Zhah chuckled, this time without the heavy tightness in his throat. “This was perhaps the most expensive kiss I ever had.”
Parings: Astarion x Lymune (named Tav), Astarion x Imrae
|| Timeline: Act 3 || Word count: 2.273 ||
Content Warnings for the whole work: mention of forced marriage, mention of Astarion's past, light angst, mention of familial abuse, canon-typical violence, blood drinking, blood and injury, jealousy, sickness, dehydration, hurt with comfort
Content warning for this chapter: None
Recommended music.
Chapter 26: Vaendin-Thiil
Tav is as still as a statue while I recount the events at the trading outpost to her.
Looking at the wares. Smelling Imrae's blood, a faint trace anyone but me would have missed, then discovering that he's gone. Following the scent upstairs to end up at a closed door, bolted from inside. Using the Knock spell from my skeleton key to magic it open. Rescuing my darling wizard from that poor excuse for a hostage situation.
Gods, how much I wanted to rip that woman's throat out in that moment. But there had to have been a reason that Imrae humored her little scheme, so I let her live.
And looking back, I am glad I did, because Tav seems like she appreciates our restraint. Whatever her aunt wants to tell her, it must be important. One thorough description of Imrae's assailant later, she confirms that the drow is, in all likelihood, Ulua of House Uoswiir.
Imrae, her brother, the family she's chosen, sits beside her, giving her his hand to hold with his usual stoic diligence.
At certain points in the story, Tav squeezes it, looking at him with concern and sorrow, which culminates in wrath when she hears how he was treated. After asking to see the cuts on his fingers, she retrieves a salve and applies it while she mutters to herself.
“How dare she talk to you like that! No matter how much time she or my mother have spent on the surface, nothing ever changes for them! They still treat men like shit!”
My fiery little drow is a vision when she is like this, whenever her warmth turns into a wildfire that is as alluring as it is terrifying.
“I have had worse, Tav. These things are not worth losing sleep over.”
My stony drow on the other hand is not angry enough for my taste. He's still wearing that damned magical disguise, for crying out loud. It's like having a stranger in our tent! It even messes with his scent a little, adding a hint of ozone that Gale, too, has clinging to him.
Tav seems to agree, because she huffs and bandages the wound.
“Now, what about me? It was an ordeal for the both of us. I think I chipped a nail,” I joke, showing her my hand. I'm used to filing them down to blend in, but neither Tav nor Imrae seem to mind a more claw-like look... and feel.
“You poor thing.” Tav gives me a mild smile for my efforts, but she is elsewhere with her thoughts.
I extend my hand further to cup her face. “And there I was, afraid I was the only one facing a difficult family reunion. First Imrae's cousin, now this.”
“Don't forget Wyll and Shadowheart. We need to save their parents.” Tav sighs, leaning into my touch. We have not even reached the city yet and her head is already full of things to get done.
“Oh yes, how could I forget.” I want to roll my eyes, but don't.
Honestly, I don't want to think about Shadowheart's problems at all, not after what Shar did to sweet Imrae. I don't want neither him nor Tav anywhere near another temple of that bitch of a goddess. I can't bear the thought that either could just forget about all that we've been through.
A whole city was quick to forget about me once, that was bitter enough. For the two people who care about me now to forget me? No, that'd be more than I could take.
But Shadowheart is one of us, isn't she? Tav cares a great deal for her.
Damn and bless her tender heart.
I fix an errant strand of Tav's hair. “You don't have to go. It's some sort of trap, for all we know. I'm sure we can get the information out of her one way or another.”
She is quiet for a moment, wringing her hands while she pushes herself to confide in us. “I do want to meet her,” she says in a low voice. “I've missed her, you know? She wasn't as harsh as my mother.”
I try to read her tone of voice, but she is way too good at masking her feelings. Is she ashamed that she wants a connection to her aunt? She is conflicted at the very least, as she should be, after what happened to her brother.
That very brother holds his tongue, but there is a sadness to him all of a sudden. Envy, perhaps? Wishing for memories of his parents? Wishing that he, too, could have had some positive interactions with the family he was raised in?
He really should not. Family that you haven't chosen is nothing but trouble.
“She taught me a lot about surviving in the Underdark.” Tav smiles, but it falters moments later. “I did not get to see her much after we had reached the surface. She was always away, trying to help my mother rebuild our house.”
“She does know her craft,” Imrae throws in, which makes me snort.
Just half an hour ago, that woman held a dagger to his throat, but now he is complimenting her for Tav's sake? Sweet fool, trying so hard to put it behind him, still disappointed with himself for getting angry when it was more than appropriate. How frustrating.
Then again, would I want him to be a raging lunatic? His calm and patient nature is what makes him feel so incredibly safe. Cazador flew off the handle at the drop of a hat. One time literally, even.
Gods-damned bastard.
Distracted by shoving down the memory, I miss what Tav was saying, which leads to her and Imrae staring at me with concern on their pretty faces.
“Are you okay, Astarion?” my little drow asks.
My smile puts itself on. “Of course! I was just considering our next steps,” I lie.
One raised eyebrow from Imrae and one shake of the head from Tav is enough to cause my dead heart to clench.
“Trying to shift the attention away from you, aren't you, little drow?” I jest, though part of me wonders if I've hit the nail on the head when Tav's face scrunches up.
“No!” she protests, much too eagerly. “Giving my partner a chance to talk openly.”
“Tonight,” I promise. And I mean it.
Later, when her aunt is dealt with. Preferably for good.
“Okay. I'll hold you to it, you know?” Tav says, her smile much too quick and easy, just like mine earlier.
Imrae sees it, too.
When she tries to get up, both he and I do not loosen our grasp on her.
“Let's go, Jaheira's waiting.”
“Little bard, you're tense like a coil and your heart is racing.” I give her a smile to lighten the mood a little. “As much as I'd like to take credit for the latter, I think there's still something weighing on you.”
Her lips press into a line, but she sits back down.
“He is right, sister,” Imrae agrees. “You will fare better during the conversation with your aunt if you are calm and collected, not simply putting on the facade of it. Jaheira will manage for whatever time you need.”
Tav stares at him for a moment, then squeezes her eyes shut. “I'm scared.”
Before I can react, Imrae closes the gap between them to offer her a gentle embrace.
Not even two heartbeats later, she clings to him for dear life, face buried in his chest while she vents to us. “I have no idea what she wants from me. What if she's here on my mother's orders? What if Astarion's right and it is a trap? She was already okay with hurting you!” She sniffs. “I don't know what I'll do when I see her!”
I know what I would do. But Tav might not approve my ideas. They might rend her soft heart in two.
“I meant what I said, sister. She could have been much worse.”
This time, I don't keep quiet. “Yes, and she could also have been nicer, and served tea and brandy for our troubles! Stop defending her!”
“I am not defending her.” Imrae's tone remains calm. “I am providing a nuanced view of the situation.”
Tav sniffs. “Don't fight. Please.”
That moment, something becomes clear in my head. Why this whole deal of his has been annoying me so much. “I am not the one condemning getting upset.”
Imrae's face falls. “I am not condemning anybody but myself. I told you, this is about my own emotional discipline, nothing more.”
“Ugh. You're infuriating.”
“Astarion, do you really believe Imrae is judging others on this?”
I crumble under her gaze. “I- No.”
She has a way of stripping me bare, and I don't mean in the carnal way, but a deeper, more intense connection. It is relieving and frightening at the same time.
“Good. Because I don't think he is, too.” Tav shifts in her brother's hold, not finished with the interrogation. “Were you worried that he was judging you?”
“Maybe. Hearing it again and again was... rough, I suppose.”
“I apologize. That was never my intention.” Imrae shifts on the cushions we're on. “You are incredible. I hope you know that.”
“Naturally. But thank you for saying it out loud.” While still a judgement, I'll take it. After a long time of hearing only in what ways I am faulty, their praise is balsam to the wounds. Part of me almost believes it.
“All good, then.” Tav wipes her eyes and nose on the inner fabric of her sleeve, then takes a deep breath and looks up at Imrae. “Alright. I've gotten it all out. Thank you, brother.”
“Do not mention it.” Imrae kisses her forehead.
Before I can feel left out, Tav scuffles over and pulls me in for a tender kiss on the lips. “Haven't forgotten about you. Thank you,” she says with a smile.
A surge of heat goes through me, as it so often has during these past few days of delightful exploration and experimentation, and I do not want to let go of her and her warmth when she withdraws to exit the tent.
I look to Imrae, unsure if I've offended him despite his apology. That patience of his must run out at some point even for those he cares about, right?
But instead of pulling away, he takes my hand, brushes his lips over my knuckles and presses them to my wrist, then smiles at me before he follows Tav, leaving me aching for more.
That evil, evil drow. Well played.
Part of me wanted to take him right on that desk at Moonrise Towers, find out if he's truly the gentle lover I had clocked him as, no matter how public that space was. Yet, a much larger part was not ready for it and was glad that he does not expect, let alone demand any of that, especially since I only halfway through thought about how Tav would feel about it.
She and I are still not clear on that. But I shouldn't think about that anyway before I can protect what I've found with my drow.
Outside Tav's tent, the brain thing is already waiting for Imrae. Why Tav let him keep it is beyond me, as is why he did not just kill it. Sympathy, perhaps.
Figures that a wizard would identify with a brain on legs.
I watch Tav as she dons a hooded cloak while she puts Gale and Lae'zel in charge before we head off to the trading outpost, then her and Imrae as they walk together, side by side, brother and sister.
I won't lose them. I cannot lose them. I have to keep them safe.
Tav from her mother. Imrae from all those who hunt him.
And both of them from Cazador. The bastard would love to get his spindly old hands on someone dear to me.
Which is why I have to steal the ritual from him.
I already have Imrae's support for the plan. He understands that power is necessary to secure our future, he said that exact thing on his second night in camp. Sure, the man has his practical concerns, which I expected. He wouldn't be my wizard if he did not overthink everything. No, his actual disapproval looks different.
Hah. Gale's flummoxed face was priceless that night.
The crux of the matter is, once again, Tav. I am going to have to make her see that this is best for everybody involved, that this is for her and her brother as much as it is for me. She and Imrae could not only be tolerated in the city, by my side, they could both live like royalty. We deserve it!
And her tender heart could not stand the thought that she would be forcing me back into the shadows if she denied me this chance, right?
Who knows, maybe whatever her aunt wants to say will play into my hands, too.
Ample opportunities to pull her to my side.
With my newfound power, her grace, and Imrae's magic, we could rule the city, if we so pleased. My darling mage is so worried about causing catastrophic amounts of damage when angered, could he really level a building like Moonrise in a fit of rage? What an exciting thought.
Parings: Astarion x Lymune (named Tav), Astarion x Imrae
|| Timeline: Act 3 || Word count: 2.273 ||
Content Warnings for the whole work: mention of forced marriage, mention of Astarion's past, light angst, mention of familial abuse, canon-typical violence, blood drinking, blood and injury, jealousy, sickness, dehydration, hurt with comfort
Content warning for this chapter: None
Recommended music.
Chapter 26: Vaendin-Thiil
Tav is as still as a statue while I recount the events at the trading outpost to her.
Looking at the wares. Smelling Imrae's blood, a faint trace anyone but me would have missed, then discovering that he's gone. Following the scent upstairs to end up at a closed door, bolted from inside. Using the Knock spell from my skeleton key to magic it open. Rescuing my darling wizard from that poor excuse for a hostage situation.
Gods, how much I wanted to rip that woman's throat out in that moment. But there had to have been a reason that Imrae humored her little scheme, so I let her live.
And looking back, I am glad I did, because Tav seems like she appreciates our restraint. Whatever her aunt wants to tell her, it must be important. One thorough description of Imrae's assailant later, she confirms that the drow is, in all likelihood, Ulua of House Uoswiir.
Imrae, her brother, the family she's chosen, sits beside her, giving her his hand to hold with his usual stoic diligence.
At certain points in the story, Tav squeezes it, looking at him with concern and sorrow, which culminates in wrath when she hears how he was treated. After asking to see the cuts on his fingers, she retrieves a salve and applies it while she mutters to herself.
“How dare she talk to you like that! No matter how much time she or my mother have spent on the surface, nothing ever changes for them! They still treat men like shit!”
My fiery little drow is a vision when she is like this, whenever her warmth turns into a wildfire that is as alluring as it is terrifying.
“I have had worse, Tav. These things are not worth losing sleep over.”
My stony drow on the other hand is not angry enough for my taste. He's still wearing that damned magical disguise, for crying out loud. It's like having a stranger in our tent! It even messes with his scent a little, adding a hint of ozone that Gale, too, has clinging to him.
Tav seems to agree, because she huffs and bandages the wound.
“Now, what about me? It was an ordeal for the both of us. I think I chipped a nail,” I joke, showing her my hand. I'm used to filing them down to blend in, but neither Tav nor Imrae seem to mind a more claw-like look... and feel.
“You poor thing.” Tav gives me a mild smile for my efforts, but she is elsewhere with her thoughts.
I extend my hand further to cup her face. “And there I was, afraid I was the only one facing a difficult family reunion. First Imrae's cousin, now this.”
“Don't forget Wyll and Shadowheart. We need to save their parents.” Tav sighs, leaning into my touch. We have not even reached the city yet and her head is already full of things to get done.
“Oh yes, how could I forget.” I want to roll my eyes, but don't.
Honestly, I don't want to think about Shadowheart's problems at all, not after what Shar did to sweet Imrae. I don't want neither him nor Tav anywhere near another temple of that bitch of a goddess. I can't bear the thought that either could just forget about all that we've been through.
A whole city was quick to forget about me once, that was bitter enough. For the two people who care about me now to forget me? No, that'd be more than I could take.
But Shadowheart is one of us, isn't she? Tav cares a great deal for her.
Damn and bless her tender heart.
I fix an errant strand of Tav's hair. “You don't have to go. It's some sort of trap, for all we know. I'm sure we can get the information out of her one way or another.”
She is quiet for a moment, wringing her hands while she pushes herself to confide in us. “I do want to meet her,” she says in a low voice. “I've missed her, you know? She wasn't as harsh as my mother.”
I try to read her tone of voice, but she is way too good at masking her feelings. Is she ashamed that she wants a connection to her aunt? She is conflicted at the very least, as she should be, after what happened to her brother.
That very brother holds his tongue, but there is a sadness to him all of a sudden. Envy, perhaps? Wishing for memories of his parents? Wishing that he, too, could have had some positive interactions with the family he was raised in?
He really should not. Family that you haven't chosen is nothing but trouble.
“She taught me a lot about surviving in the Underdark.” Tav smiles, but it falters moments later. “I did not get to see her much after we had reached the surface. She was always away, trying to help my mother rebuild our house.”
“She does know her craft,” Imrae throws in, which makes me snort.
Just half an hour ago, that woman held a dagger to his throat, but now he is complimenting her for Tav's sake? Sweet fool, trying so hard to put it behind him, still disappointed with himself for getting angry when it was more than appropriate. How frustrating.
Then again, would I want him to be a raging lunatic? His calm and patient nature is what makes him feel so incredibly safe. Cazador flew off the handle at the drop of a hat. One time literally, even.
Gods-damned bastard.
Distracted by shoving down the memory, I miss what Tav was saying, which leads to her and Imrae staring at me with concern on their pretty faces.
“Are you okay, Astarion?” my little drow asks.
My smile puts itself on. “Of course! I was just considering our next steps,” I lie.
One raised eyebrow from Imrae and one shake of the head from Tav is enough to cause my dead heart to clench.
“Trying to shift the attention away from you, aren't you, little drow?” I jest, though part of me wonders if I've hit the nail on the head when Tav's face scrunches up.
“No!” she protests, much too eagerly. “Giving my partner a chance to talk openly.”
“Tonight,” I promise. And I mean it.
Later, when her aunt is dealt with. Preferably for good.
“Okay. I'll hold you to it, you know?” Tav says, her smile much too quick and easy, just like mine earlier.
Imrae sees it, too.
When she tries to get up, both he and I do not loosen our grasp on her.
“Let's go, Jaheira's waiting.”
“Little bard, you're tense like a coil and your heart is racing.” I give her a smile to lighten the mood a little. “As much as I'd like to take credit for the latter, I think there's still something weighing on you.”
Her lips press into a line, but she sits back down.
“He is right, sister,” Imrae agrees. “You will fare better during the conversation with your aunt if you are calm and collected, not simply putting on the facade of it. Jaheira will manage for whatever time you need.”
Tav stares at him for a moment, then squeezes her eyes shut. “I'm scared.”
Before I can react, Imrae closes the gap between them to offer her a gentle embrace.
Not even two heartbeats later, she clings to him for dear life, face buried in his chest while she vents to us. “I have no idea what she wants from me. What if she's here on my mother's orders? What if Astarion's right and it is a trap? She was already okay with hurting you!” She sniffs. “I don't know what I'll do when I see her!”
I know what I would do. But Tav might not approve my ideas. They might rend her soft heart in two.
“I meant what I said, sister. She could have been much worse.”
This time, I don't keep quiet. “Yes, and she could also have been nicer, and served tea and brandy for our troubles! Stop defending her!”
“I am not defending her.” Imrae's tone remains calm. “I am providing a nuanced view of the situation.”
Tav sniffs. “Don't fight. Please.”
That moment, something becomes clear in my head. Why this whole deal of his has been annoying me so much. “I am not the one condemning getting upset.”
Imrae's face falls. “I am not condemning anybody but myself. I told you, this is about my own emotional discipline, nothing more.”
“Ugh. You're infuriating.”
“Astarion, do you really believe Imrae is judging others on this?”
I crumble under her gaze. “I- No.”
She has a way of stripping me bare, and I don't mean in the carnal way, but a deeper, more intense connection. It is relieving and frightening at the same time.
“Good. Because I don't think he is, too.” Tav shifts in her brother's hold, not finished with the interrogation. “Were you worried that he was judging you?”
“Maybe. Hearing it again and again was... rough, I suppose.”
“I apologize. That was never my intention.” Imrae shifts on the cushions we're on. “You are incredible. I hope you know that.”
“Naturally. But thank you for saying it out loud.” While still a judgement, I'll take it. After a long time of hearing only in what ways I am faulty, their praise is balsam to the wounds. Part of me almost believes it.
“All good, then.” Tav wipes her eyes and nose on the inner fabric of her sleeve, then takes a deep breath and looks up at Imrae. “Alright. I've gotten it all out. Thank you, brother.”
“Do not mention it.” Imrae kisses her forehead.
Before I can feel left out, Tav scuffles over and pulls me in for a tender kiss on the lips. “Haven't forgotten about you. Thank you,” she says with a smile.
A surge of heat goes through me, as it so often has during these past few days of delightful exploration and experimentation, and I do not want to let go of her and her warmth when she withdraws to exit the tent.
I look to Imrae, unsure if I've offended him despite his apology. That patience of his must run out at some point even for those he cares about, right?
But instead of pulling away, he takes my hand, brushes his lips over my knuckles and presses them to my wrist, then smiles at me before he follows Tav, leaving me aching for more.
That evil, evil drow. Well played.
Part of me wanted to take him right on that desk at Moonrise Towers, find out if he's truly the gentle lover I had clocked him as, no matter how public that space was. Yet, a much larger part was not ready for it and was glad that he does not expect, let alone demand any of that, especially since I only halfway through thought about how Tav would feel about it.
She and I are still not clear on that. But I shouldn't think about that anyway before I can protect what I've found with my drow.
Outside Tav's tent, the brain thing is already waiting for Imrae. Why Tav let him keep it is beyond me, as is why he did not just kill it. Sympathy, perhaps.
Figures that a wizard would identify with a brain on legs.
I watch Tav as she dons a hooded cloak while she puts Gale and Lae'zel in charge before we head off to the trading outpost, then her and Imrae as they walk together, side by side, brother and sister.
I won't lose them. I cannot lose them. I have to keep them safe.
Tav from her mother. Imrae from all those who hunt him.
And both of them from Cazador. The bastard would love to get his spindly old hands on someone dear to me.
Which is why I have to steal the ritual from him.
I already have Imrae's support for the plan. He understands that power is necessary to secure our future, he said that exact thing on his second night in camp. Sure, the man has his practical concerns, which I expected. He wouldn't be my wizard if he did not overthink everything. No, his actual disapproval looks different.
Hah. Gale's flummoxed face was priceless that night.
The crux of the matter is, once again, Tav. I am going to have to make her see that this is best for everybody involved, that this is for her and her brother as much as it is for me. She and Imrae could not only be tolerated in the city, by my side, they could both live like royalty. We deserve it!
And her tender heart could not stand the thought that she would be forcing me back into the shadows if she denied me this chance, right?
Who knows, maybe whatever her aunt wants to say will play into my hands, too.
Ample opportunities to pull her to my side.
With my newfound power, her grace, and Imrae's magic, we could rule the city, if we so pleased. My darling mage is so worried about causing catastrophic amounts of damage when angered, could he really level a building like Moonrise in a fit of rage? What an exciting thought.
An event set up by the marvellous @missfortunetherogue!
|| Words: 1.067 || CONTENT WARNINGS: None ||
“When he said 'Let's go ice-fishing', this is not what I had expected.”
“Me neither, my friend.”
Yesterday, Imrae had received Minsc's invitation to meet by the wooden pavilion at Heapside Strand. Owning no fishing pole at the moment and having remembered that Wyll had talked about his favourite fishing spot at Wyrm's Rock, he had made a trip to the Ravengard household to ask if he may borrow one.
After his friend had learned about the nature of this afternoon excursion, namely to meet his idol Minsc of Rashemen, he had asked to be included, and since Imrae saw no reason against it, on the contrary, it would function as a little Solstice nicety, they had grabbed one fishing pole each and headed out.
Now the two men were faced with a bare-chested berserker, for whom ice-fishing did not seem to include hot drinks, little morsels, fishing poles, or even winter clothes. The most furred thing on him was Boo, who sat on Minsc's shaved head like a bad hairpiece.
“If I freeze to death, tell Astarion that I love him,” Imrae whispered. “And that he needs to swap out the energy crystals in the kitchen in about two months, otherwise the tower will explode with them.”
Wyll gave a quiet snort. “Don't worry. I have an idea,” he whispered back before he addressed Minsc. “How about the two of us watch Boo and show him how we fish here in the Gate and down in the Underdark while you demonstrate your technique?”
“Ah! A fine idea, Blade!” Minsc walked over and set the hamster between Wyll's horns. “Boo shall be kept warm by friendship and camaraderie!”
Imrae smiled and nodded, breathing a silent sigh of relief.
So it happened that for half an hour, he, Wyll, and Boo were watching the berserker swim in the Chionthar, diving for fish that were hibernating down at the river bottom. They had cast their poles as well, but with all the commotion Minsc was causing, the fish kept their distance.
Imrae tried to not let it get to him. This was for fun, not for food. No catch did not mean a hungry night. There were taverns all around them and a full pantry at home.
After the berserker had emerged from the icy waters and gotten dressed, they shared their hot drinks with him, fearing Jaheira would have their hides if he caught a cold.
“Imrae!” Minsc exclaimed after he had downed a steaming hot cup of tea. “Has Astarion thought about Minsc's idea for the vampires to be more virtuous?”
When their group had defeated Cazador and given the captive spawn a chance at freedom in the Underdark, Minsc had been the most vocal about his concerns regarding the danger they might pose to innocents. The berserker had spent many a night watching the streets for any strays and stragglers from the incident.
Imrae could not fault him for it.
Minsc had, however, been reassured by his and Jaheira's word that Astarion's idea was a brilliant one and that there were not many innocents to be found out in the tunnels of the Underdark where the spawn would be hunting.
“You mean that they should feast on fish?” Imrae smiled. “He did implement an initiative.”
“And it works?” Wyll asked.
“If we include kua-toa and sahuagin under the category of 'fish', then yes.”
“Ah! Evil sea-beasts! It is good that they will have their scaly butts kicked! Err... Do the fish men have butts?”
Imrae chuckled. “I do not know for certain, Minsc. You are welcome to visit and find out.”
“A great idea, my friend! The evil drow there have to be reminded to behave! And Minsc and Boo will think of more ways for the vampires to be virtuous in future!”
“You can tell Astarion all about it over a drink or two.”
Whatever the ranger and his hamster would come up with, it could not be worse than some of the headache-inducing nonsense Petras and Violet had spouted at meetings. Imrae had to keep a tight hold on himself to not misuse his power by vetoing those two on principle.
“I have to admit, I was surprised when you told me that you were an advisor rather than part of the leadership in your community,” Wyll said. “You were very, well...”
“Prideful? Headstrong? Bossy?” Imrae suggested with a smirk.
Wyll laughed. “I was to say 'comfortable in the role of leader', but these other words did cross my mind sometimes.”
“The impulse to force the solution to problems that I would consider to be the best has been strong. But if I did this, I would just be another drow ruling over something to feel important. At the end of the day, I am their guide to the Underdark. No more and no less.”
“You took the trials of the Wyrmway to heart, I see.” Wyll smiled. “And Astarion has too, in his own way.”
“Hm. You are not lonely, friend, are you?” Minsc asked.
“What? No!” Imrae gave a chuckle thinned down by dishonesty.
Wyll and Minsc stared at him while Boo squeaked in what might be disappointment.
“Maybe somewhat, sometimes.” Imrae sighed. “That is no one's fault. It is not a matter of conscious exclusion. Simply a mixture of a busy schedule and an as of now uneven population regarding living and undead citizen.”
“If you are certain. All the more reason to enjoy the festivities here in the city,” Wyll said with an encouraging smile.
“Do not worry about me, Wyll. Things are changing, we have a healer for the living now. You may meet him on the night of the Solstice, he has never been to Baldur's Gate and was quite curious.”
“Gladly. Is everything set for the celebration?”
Imrae nodded. “Shadowheart and Jaheira have arranged everything.”
Boo made a few insistent squeaks, which caused Minsc to sigh.
“Imrae! Boo wishes to know if the 'divinely beautiful Lae'zel' will be present at the winter celebration.”
Wyll stifled a good-natured chortle behind his sleeve.
“She will be.” Imrae smiled. “And she will bring presents.”
The miniature giant space hamster made an excited noise in response, which drew another sigh from Minsc and laughter from Imrae and Wyll.
I don't know who needs to hear this today, but periods are not supposed to make you bleed more than 2-5 tablespoons (sorry, I'm too tired to convert that to metric( of blood during your period. At the low end of estimates, period fluid is about 33% blood (and on the higher end, it''s half). So if you lose 4-10 tablespoons, you could be bleeding too much, and if you lose 10-15 tablespoons you are almost DEFINITELY bleeding too much.
Blood clots are normal, but if they are the size of a quarter or bigger, that's too much. If you soak a pad or tampon with blood in two hours or less, that's too much bleeding. If you menstruate and your blood results suggest iron-deficiency anemia, your periods are the most likely culprit statistically (for people who don't menstruate, it's usually GI issues) and this needs to be investigated.
You aren't supposed to bleed so much you need a backup pad. You aren't supposed to soak through your pad and stain your sheets while sleeping. You should NOT need a towel under you while you sleep "just in case." These are signs you're bleeding too much.
You need to go to the doctor if any of these apply to you. It may be very hard to find a doctor to take you seriously. If you are able, see another doctor. if you can't, IE insurance issues or they're the only gynecologist in your area, there is one trick to keep in your back pocket.
Say that you want children but are worried your heavy periods could indicate an underlying fertility issue. It shouldn't be this way, but unfortunately, doctors are generally a lot more interested in treating a fertility concern than "just" a heavy period on its own. If you start bringing it up as a quality of life thing, and the doctor seems unimpressed, add "and I want children but I am really worried something might be wrong here that could make it hard to get pregnant."
It is okay to tell white lies to get the doctor to listen to you. Don't lie and say you've had symptoms you haven't, because that can get you misdiagnosed. But saying you're worried about successful pregnancy, or that you have a family member who said they think you have xyz, are all fine.
Thank you for the (reverse) tags, @elceewunjo, @scoldingdarjeeling and @graysparrowao3!
I did a WIP yesterday, though will spread out a few more soft tags. @lucretiouswept, @bladesingerlily, @goosebuermps, @r3drozebud and @bhaal-battle-beer-bard!
Dividers by @strangergraphics.
Here's something I concepted for Chapter 3 of Silk and Blood, a collab with the wonderful @lottavilja.
CW: Mention of Halsin's past as a prisoner in the Underdark and implication of similar experiences of Zhah.
After their guests had left, Imrae boiled more water to wash out the used cups while he reflected on the conversation.
“Halsin.” Zhah took off his silken cape and put it into a chest with great care. “I have heard that name before.”
The drider's tone made Imrae pause his task and give his partner his full attention. “In Menzoberranzan?”
“Yes.” Zhah gave a low chuckle while he hugged himself. “I suppose it is my turn to be reminded of my past life now.”
“Would you like to talk about it or should we let the matter rest?” Imrae asked while he put the cups aside and walked over to Zhah. When he reached out with one hand, his beloved tightened the grip on himself.
“Sarn. Not now. But I want to talk about it.”
Imrae nodded and knelt next to Zhah, his hands resting in his lap.
“I believe it was one of the first parties the matron threw after acquiring me. She was showing me off to her gaggle of friends. It got them talking about past playthings. The matron's older aunt talked about someone once owning a large young wood elf who would turn into a bear. Halsin.” Zhah shook his head. “I don't even know why that got stuck in my head.”
“Plaything as in gladiator, or-”
“Chained to a matron's bed.” Zhah spat out the last word.
Imrae wrung his hands. “Oh. Oh dear. The poor man.”
“Maybe it stayed in my head because I thought in that moment that my life could be worse.” Zhah's voice came out in a low monotone. “At least I was still weaving. Still free to move through the house.”
“Laele wanted me to be just like that chained man. Just a living accessory to put in a room and use when needed.”
“I am glad you ran,” Zhah said, returning to the here and now.
“Me too.”
“I don't think I tell you enough how brave that was.”
“Brave or foolhardy?” Imrae smirked. “How would you like to spend the evening?”
“Read to me? The book where they discover a secret civilization?”
“Can I complain about the implausible architecture?”
“Afterwards.”
“Hm. Alright.”
Author's Note: "Sarn" is Drowic for "Warning/Beware". It is a sort of safeword for Imrae and Zhah due to their respective traumas.
