tagged by @midandevil @purpleasters-inseptember and @lizziemajestic <3 you are wonderful!!
tags for @krawwan (since you've been asking hehe) @arach-tinilith @blackjackkent @little-paperboat if you want to <3
some ester/xeni kissing upcoming! (they are not kissing in this snippet though)!! xeni gets to be sad and drunk and angry and ester gets another "i can fix them" to put her grabby paws on. everyone's happy!
~*~
It took some time for the breeze from the Chionthar to breathe life back into the city. Though its people celebrated the night of the fall of the Netherbrain, the following months were spent licking at wounds that were slow to heal. One can still see the scars around the city, if one knows where to look, small signs like walls where the plaster is lighter than the rest of the building, cobblestones that have yet to be stained by the life bustling through the city.
The people of the Gate watch the scars fade more as each day passes, and with reminders of death disappearing, life finds its way back to the streets. Weeds and flowers shooting through the cracks left by earthquakes, street performers daring to spread joy once more, a group of women laughing loudly as they walk towards the Elfsong.
The women choose a spot by the window, the last rays of sunshine slipping through the window onto glasses generously filled with the house red. Lips, soon stained by the beverage, never stop moving while laughter and chatter fills the air.
Soon, it's Ester's turn to make the short trip to the bar for another bottle. Zigzagging her way through the patrons crowding the space, she doesn't notice the tiefling sitting by the bar. Xeni notices Ester though, recognition striking through a clouded mind.
Xeni fought in the battle, not by choice. No, she would never dream of sacrificing herself to any greater good. She fought for survival, as she has for plenty of years. Be it for not being on the pointy end of some bastard's sword, or for coin to put food on her table, she has always fought.
Her survival hadn't guaranteed the others' though. One took an arrow to the head. Quick and painless. All one can hope for in their line of work. Another, she watched convulse onto himself before turning into a monster. They say your mind is no longer your own once transformed, Xeni can only hope that to be true or his last memories are of her hacking his head from body, silver blood spraying on her cheek as metal dulled by battle made the job messier than it should have been.
Curiosity led her to the ceremony a tenday after the battle. "To honour the fallen," they said. Xeni figured she could do as much. All they did was to show off the woman that struck the killing blow to the monstrosity in the sky. What pissed her off the most was how normal she looked. Not a knight in shining armour, but an elf, shorter than most, and with an accent that disclosed an upbringing few are lucky enough to have.
The elf said some words, and the world moved on.
Xeni tried her best to move on too, but days turned into months of staring at bottoms of tankards, hoping to find solace that never wants to find her. By now, she should have thought of somewhere else to look for it.
"Hey you," Xeni says, voice slurred by one too many ales, but the elf catches her gaze. Kind blue eyes turn towards her, a curious smile on plump lips. "Aren't you the one who saved the city?"
thank you for the tag @purpleasters-inseptember and sorry for taking so long to get to this <3
Rule: List the first line of your last 10 fics/or chapters (posted or WIP) and see if there's a pattern. If you don't have 10 fics, then as many first lines as you do have!
~*~
The rifle sits heavily against Ophelia's shoulder, she can't quite get it into a stable position.
from a respite for my malfunctioning being (pasqal x rogue trader)
Raphael is fully aware of what happens when a devil is struck down on the material plane.
from chapter 1 of you keep showing up (raphael x tav)
Aradin can’t say he never had his doubts, he even considered leaving the Gate before everything went down with the disgusting and monstrous brain in the sky.
from chapter 1 of moths to the flame (aradin x tav)
It’s a bad plan – hardly a plan at all – to sneak away from camp in the middle of the night.
from the maddest of dogs (ketheric x durge)
Working for the new Rogue Trader is a nightmare.
from fire escape in space (abelard x rogue trader)
The bell above the door stirs Xeni from her daydreams.
from to go (aradin x tav)
Tav has performed enough mental gymnastics for her to receive a scholarship to Blackstaff but still hasn’t come up with an excuse to meet up with the adventurer again that won’t scream she wants her brain fucked out of her skull to take her mind of the raging crisis around her.
from looking for a place to get lost (aradin x tav)
Tav stands in front of the full body mirror, carefully applying the last adjustments to her eyeliner to make sure the wings end up looking more like sisters than neighbours on her face.
from somewhere there's a party (aradin x tav)
Tav isn’t sure what time it is, though the lack of noise coming from the tavern downstairs suggests it’s probably sometime after moondark.
from never pull a punch for free (aradin x tav)
They haven’t been at the grove for more than an hour and Tav is already fuming.
from the oldest trick in the book (aradin x tav)
tags for: @littleplasticrat @thelittlewolverine @ccrystalfox @vil-gereon and anyone who wants to! <3
I've come for my revenge and also chose multiple words >:D up to you if its one story or multiple~ (and I don't mind if its nameless people, new OCs or anything! you don't have to pander lol)
silent fury
collapse
soak
SORRY THIS TOOK YEARS
in some kind of future where they're probably not together but definitely are.
xeni is getting out of shape :/
ENJOY
It has rained all night, heavy drops smattering against the the canvas roof of their wagon, loud enough for none of them to get any proper sleep. It's not the end of the world, the mules could do with another day of rest and they've got enough provisions to last them a week if necessary.
It's just boring, even when the rain stops there's not much to do than walk around the little clearing and keep an eye on the grazing beasts.
Xeni is doing so with her back resting against one of the wagon's wheels and soaks up up the first rays of sunlight, making stiff limbs soften after a restless night on the uncomfortable wood floor.
She never notices her eyelids close as she drifts off into a half-dreaming state, at least not until a something hitting her feet startles her awake.
"I'm bored."
Through one open eye, she sees Aradin's silhouette where the sun is supposed to warm her.
"Ain't nobody else 'round 'ere." He kicks her boot, not with a lot of force but just enough to be really annoying. "Spar with me."
"No."
"C'mon." Another kick to her boot, she pulls her legs up to her chest.
"You always lose."
"That's 'cause I let ya win."
Despite herself, Xeni laughs at the remark, and when she peeks her eyes open once more, he's grinning from ear to ear, knowing full well he's pushed the right buttons to have her accept the challenge.
"Fine," she drawls, holding her hand out. "Help me up."
Cool and calloused fingers wrap around her wrist, pulling her up from the ground way more force than necessary, side-stepping her and sending her stumbling out into the uneven grass of the clearing.
"Bastard," she mutters.
Once her balance is regained, she turns around to face Aradin. She does so just in time to catch the quarterstaff he throws her way. It's not her weapon of choice, but if she got something with a pointy end she's quite certain she'd ram it through his thigh for throwing her around like that.
Across from her, Aradin's grin has turned into one of the shit-eating kind, making her grip the quarterstaff so hard her knuckles turn light grey.
He's armed himself with a greatclub, one without barbs at least. And she could consider it unfair that he's got hisweapon of choice, but Xeni's fought him enough times to know that as long as she goes low, hits him below his centre of gravity, she'll have him squirming on the ground within seconds.
He raises her eyebrows at her, an invite to strike first. So she does, charging towards him with a couple of quick steps, using the quarterstaff to block his blow as she goes low.
Her body never hits his, he side-steps her once more and this time she tumbles straight into the wagon, her horns catching on the canvas,
"Asshole," she pushes out through gritted teeth, yanking her horns out from where they got stuck, leaving two small holes that she'll have him mend once his stupid game is over.
"Ya never call me anythin' nice," he scolds with mock offence, pushing the tip of his greatclub between her shoulder blades.
"You never do anything to deserve nice," Xeni bites back.
She swings her staff behind her blindly, getting a satisfying thump and a couple of curses when it hits its intended target on his shin. The greatclub disappears from her back and she takes the opportunity to retreat away from the wagon and further into the clearing.
It's his turn to strike first this time, and he does so with full force. Blocking his strike with the staff sends a jolt of pain through her arms, down to her shoulders and spine.
And it keeps going like that, he easily steps away from every strike she does, and it takes all of her power to just keep her weapon in her hands as he counterattacks.
Xeni grits her teeth in silent fury, sweat running from her brows into her eyes. When the fuck did he get so strong? And when the fuck did she get so slow? She never even gets to chance to get close enough to hurt him just a little.
The last blow doesn't even come from his greatclub. No, he simply kicks her legs away from underneath her and she collapses into the wet grass, the night's rain soaking into her clothes.
Once more his silhouette covers the light, the same shit-eating grin in place and just a single drop of sweat on his forehead.
"Givin' up?"
"Fuck you."
"Bet ya'd love that."
Xeni glares at him, not seeing any point in getting off the ground, and promises herself to keep her legs crossed for at least a tenday. Perhaps a month if he doesn't stop grinning like that.
At least he has the courtesy to hold out a helping hand, a hand Xeni quickly yanks towards her, sending the man tumbling onto the damp ground. While a sting of curses no ears should fall victim to flows from his mouth, Xeni takes the opportunity to roll in the opposite direction.
She doesn't get far. An iron grip on her ankle makes her unable to move away, instead she prone on her stomach. A heavy body pressing her down into the grass. She can practically feel the grin on his face as his breath tickles the shell of her ear.
"Givin' up?"
And it's fucking unfair how her stomach flutters from the weight of him above her, and how he nuzzles his nose against her neck.
thank you for the tags @graysparrowao3 @redroomroaving @lemonsrosesandlavender @darkurgetrash (OH LOOK THE GANG IS HERE!!!) <3
tags for @honeybee-bard (also thank you for the last line tag, i will get to that one too <3) @pinkberrytea @heartfluttered @judasiskariot
i've been on the struggle bus with the writing the last month or so, which means we're at the throwing words on the page to see what sicks state right now.
anyway, there's some long awaited (by me lmao) you keep showing up chapter 8 (AND AN ARRIVAL WHOA):
Keeping the little mouse distracted from whatever torments she’s got planned for Raphael proves itself quite easy. The trick seems to be making sure her mouth is occupied, be it with lazy kisses or wanton moans. The only obstacles to his mission are trivial tasks such as brunch, and his own recovery time.
Not that he’s complaining, quite the opposite actually. He’s enjoying himself plenty. By the end of the third day there’s no flat surface in the house left unsullied.
Though Raphael hates the expression (there’s nothing domesticated about him) he’s starting to wonder if this is what they might be referring to as domestic bliss. At least he’s experiencing some type of bliss as he’s got the little mouse pressed against the kitchen counter, hands bundling together the fabric of her skirt.
It’s just very unfortunate that is the moment he’s too distracted to notice the rattle of keys at the front door.
“Darling, I’m home.”
The little mouse yelps, and yanks Raphael’s head away with a force that most likely has him lose a couple of strands of hair before placing herself at a distance that would give the illusion of prosperity, weren’t it for the way she’s flushed red from tip to toe.
Raphael, on the other hand, is in no hurry to give off such impressions. He slowly adjusts his shirt and removes some invisible specks of dust before facing the wide-eyed vampling standing by the door. Though his good mood is completely obliterated, he must admit this is going to be interesting.
(me, writing this: hmmm i wonder if i've made it clear they're fucking like bunnies off page 🤔)
thank you for the tags @graysparrowao3 and @darkurgetrash <3
tags for @lizziemajestic @krawwan @lemonsrosesandlavender @arach-tinilith if you want to <3
here's something from ophelia's magnae accessio :D
Ophelia von Valancius is used to getting what she wants. Even when she was simply known as Ophelia Stubbs, the third generation ruler of a whole star system of wonderfully corrupted thieves, she still got what she wanted.
That never meant her desires came easily to her, thieves are, after all, opportunists, a finer expression for turncoats and backstabbers, meaning at times goals had to be reached by force, and at other times the price was higher than Ophelia ever could have imagined.
Nonetheless, that is all in the past now. The newfound knowledge of the blood surging through her veins turned her world on its axis, and with it her desires. It had been difficult to accept at first, the nagging feeling of the whole revelation being a long run con never fully ceased, but with every battle won, with every betrayal shot down, the desire to take her seat on the throne grew stronger.
It's so close she can taste it. The voices of thousands of her charges gathering to see her assert her right to Theodora's legacy echo from the streets and through her cracked open door to the balcony, and they're all there for her.
The last obstacle should be an easy one, but judging by the fussing of the maids, it might as well have been as difficult as getting out of Rykad.
At first glance, the gown might be considered simple compared to the flamboyant creations the other nobles wear. High-collared — as she prefers it — with bare shoulders, but the midnight blue silk hugs her body in all the right places, and when she moves, light catches on the tiny beads embroidered on the skirt, making it look like a galaxy.
Much to the dismay of the maids, Ophelia has chosen to keep her hair down, though she still lets them fuss about with the make-up, by now they know what she likes.
Another sweep of blush on her cheek before Ophelia raises her hand. The maid stops immediately.
“Leave me,” she says.
The maids scramble to vacate the room.
It's rare for Ophelia to have a moment of peaceful solitude, she cherishes every second of it, quietly observing herself in the mirror.
Her heart beats like a field drum within her chest, an equal mix of nerves and excitement, but her hand is steady as she reaches for her lipstick. The blood plum red stands in stark contrast to her pale skin, a colour she's used as long as she can remember, as much a safety as the rifle she usually carries on her back.
As always with her moments of solitude, it gets prematurely interrupted, this time by the sound of the door cracking open.
Do people not even have the decency to knock anymore?
“I said I wanted to be left alone,” Ophelia snaps without tearing her eyes from her reflection.
“My apologies, Lord Captain,” Abelard says from the door. “It’s time.”
The scowl immediately drops from Ophelia's face, a soft smile taking its place.
His presence soothes her nerves, warmth and safety caressing her racing heart. At the same time it overwhelms her, desire surging through her body with a force that has her lose her breath for a moment.
There's also the uncertainty, between running across galaxies and dealing with the workings of her ship, there hasn't been time to talk through what happened between them.
There won't be time for that today either, for now she'll just be happy to see him.
She stands up, twirling once with silk flowing around her before facing him.
“How do I look?” she asks, now grinning from ear to ear.
Abelard’s face is unreadable, his lips pursing ever so slightly. His natural eye stays put on her face, but the red lens of his ocular implant twitches downward.
“Suitable for the occasion, Lord Captain,” he says, tone short.
It takes all her strength to not show her disappointment, hiding the lump in her throat by taking another look in the mirror, applying another layer of lipstick to already immaculate lips.
"Fantastic," she says, walking past him without batting an eye his way. "Let us begin."
for the ficlet prompt game - Tav/Raphael, #13 "is that a challenge?"
you're not too late!! and sorry for taking some time to get to this
i'll still do more if anyone wants so send me some
Tap, tap, tap...
"Mouse." Raphael looks over the edge of the contract he's proof-reading to the woman splayed on the sofa opposite to him. "Would you be so kind as to stop making that noise?"
"What noise?" she asks, perplexed as if the thrumming of her foot against the end table isn't loud as thunder.
Raphael leans forward and taps his fingers against the table. "That noise."
"Hmph," is all the acknowledgement he gets before she pulls her legs up to her chest.
Then starts the hellsforsaken humming. Something that can hardly be a tune at all.
"Dear," he sighs. "Be quiet, or I will make you."
"Is that a challenge?" Tav grins.
Eyes still on the page in front to him, and with a snap of his fingers, Raphael casts silence.
The apple of his eye counterspells, and starts humming again.
