#1268dr

[dreadspawn]

“ go in peace, seedlings. and know that you made one whose heart was long quiet, 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐖. ” act iii.    ⸻   love eternal or doomed eternally. 𝔄𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔄𝔫𝔠𝔲𝔫𝔦𝔫, 1268dr. ╱ 夏斐, dreadspawn.

[dreadspawn]

❛   i can love only what i can place so high above me that i cannot reach it.  ❜ 

in the meme tag somewhere ╱ 1268dr.

  “ ... ” with astarion leading most of the conversation, he wonders how much of this was drunken rambling and how much came from a hidden place. after all, alcohol was merely a catalyst for what sat fermenting in the deepest confines of one’s mind. xia fei didn't realize it was his turn to speak until the moment's silence lingered a heartbeat too long, with nothing but the crackling fire - and the occasional sigh of this ghostly-cursed lands, whistling distant echoes of ancient damned, filling this otherwise empty stillness. “ ah. ” he didn't want to dissuade him from sharing unfiltered thoughts, didn't wish to meet him with silence when he dares test the waters to lay even a fraction his heart out in the open.

  his eyes briefly close to gather his own muddled head to form something coherent. he's fortunate not to have reached the threshold where his own senses and self-restraint have been overcome. as his eyelids flutter open again, he offers astarion a calm, attentive look, “ must you really deny yourself that kind of bliss? not that there's any rush to seek such things, considering our situation. but why set it so high above you? like you're too far below to deserve it? ”

  astarion was his own eccentric fog of mystery, veiling parts of himself behind shadows and drifting mist. he only presents the ever-so-faint silhouette of his innermost self. if not that, he scatters a crimson red herring to misdirect any unwanted prodding. deviate entirely from what he truly meant if one were to creep too close for his liking. unfortunately for him, xia fei was persistent in conversation as he was resilient in battle. he knows his way around falsities and illusions, too - he’s lived a whole century steeped in them. or rather, what his vague, fragmented memory has led him to believe so far. “ you have the freedom now to reach for whatever you may want. and i'll be around to keep those away from you who try to take it. why hold back? ”

[dreadspawn]

chews on him >:)

what happened to we ask before we bite?? ╱ 1268dr.

  “ ah! aagh—!!! ” had this been done by regular teeth, gnawing at his shoulder perhaps may not have sparked such a big reaction. no, there must be a reason, isn’t there? with intent dressed as foreplay, astarion bided his time with xia fei. like a seasoned hunter stalking its prey, he strikes while his lover’s guard was dropped. xia fei made the naïve mistake to let exhaustion distract him from that half-lidded, looming gaze. twin blood-red moons size him up; astarion wanted something xia fei could not yet name. it’s subtle, but he sees that mischievous twinkle; he can tell he’s keen on chipping cracks into his seemingly perfect poise. whatever stirred this, his steady, well-bred calm was under ( playful ) threat. and by the gods - he got him stirring, alright.

  xia fei's shoulder dips away, and the rest of him follows to the foot of the bedroll. this would be the place he claims until he can get his bearings, until he lands on a probable reason that coincides with astarion’s cause to chew. not bite, chew. like a dog would towards a tasty treat - xia fei was his favourite. “ any more of that, and we'll need something to sheath those things. specifically from me. ” arms cross. “ lethal those things are. ” and as the shock and exasperation ebb away, his firm gaze peers at astarion. fixes on him. his golden fringe sweeps aside when he tilts his head, to obscure his view a little less. a knowing smile plays on his lips now as the cogs in his head click and turn, arms staying neatly folded across his toned chest. his expression hints with mock softness, it seems someone wants to play. “ use your words, love. lest i find a creative means to keep you in line. ”

[oathkyrie]

( BLOOD, BLOOD, GALLONS OF THE STUFF. )  1268dr as ASTARION has sent in,    “before you say anything, it wasn’t me!” / ACCEPTING.

      HIS APPEARANCE JUST ABOUT CONTRADICTS WHAT HE'S TRYING TO ARGUE, armour may aswell be showered in the crimson had she known better, with a corpse close by his feet; understandably why he'd been forced to face such a predicament. valkyrie keeps her attention at the corpse for a moment longer / her arms overlapping under her breastline & brings her gaze back to astarion.

SHE LOOKS FOR ANY SIGN OF TRUTH FROM HIM, while there's a tilt of her head. though she is willing to give him a benefit of the doubt, FOR NOW. ❛ so, do you want to explain what happened here then ? ❜

[pecatus]

❛   it’s because of their stupidity that they’re able to be so sure of themselves.  ❜  to Cordelia!

♕ `,— 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐳 𝐤𝐚𝐟𝐤𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

a smirk formed on ruby red lips at the pale elf's comment, "it must be glorious being that daft." cordelia laughed, shaking her head as she brought her pipe to her lips, taking a long pull before slowly exhaling, "do you ever wish you could bask in pure ignorance and positivity like them? do you think it'd be easier? better?" she questioned as she looked out at the masses. truthfully, she would never choose to be an idiot, so much power was held in knowledge, but...perhaps for a day basking in ignorance couldn't hurt.

[baldursgte-arc]

“you're plotting something, aren't you, zaélun?”

astarion's voice startles her out of her own mind. she isn't as good at hiding when the wheels are turning within, or perhaps he's just good at reading her. shoulders jolt slightly & her head turns to spare him a glance before her eyes shift back ahead to the drider they follow behind. she's been assessing the situation. the convoy is full of people she's sure they could take. she's never fought a drider before, never even seen one, but this whole adventure so far has been doing things she never thought of otherwise. ( githyanki blood is still under her nails despite the endless scrubbing. somehow, zaelun gets the feeling they were nothing in comparison to what may await them in this land. )

" just thinking, s'all. " she keeps her voice just low enough for astarion to hear, keeping her eyes on the unfamiliar group they follow closely behind. kar'niss is far too distracted with his rambles about his queen to notice the chatter. she catches astarion's eyes with her one good one & trails her gaze to the lantern that illuminates the path they follow. they could take down this convoy & take the lantern for themselves. it'd leave them with less to kill later & give them the protection needed against these cursed lands. she looks back to him once she's made her silent point & shrugs as if to ask without words : should we ?