I HC that Infernal doesn't really have a word for 'love'. So MANY words for contracts and bindings, but not love.
One couldn't say "I love you" in Infernal.
But the Infernal do love their fire. So I imagine there's a lot of play on words to mean love.
Some things I came up with that one would translate from Infernal:
"The fire of my soul."
"Kindle of my heart."
"the warmth in my soul."
"Flame of my being."
The way Infernals like devils and all work in the currency of souls, telling someone they're the reason your soul burns is very intimate, so personal. Because when a flame goes out, the fire dies, and when fires end there's nothing left but ash. So that person is basically saying "without you, I would cease to be."
I finally edited this piece full from when I was snowed in. So have a fluffy Au piece for teen Isa.
Coren belongs to @tealfling
Ma'na & the unnamed children belong to @faerunsbest
Rackal and the unnamed children are owned by @barbwillbrb
Isa wrapped her arms around Coren and laid her head on her shoulder. Coren played with Isa's hair. The auditorium was massive and cold despite the warm toned wood that filled the space. A half elf a few sets away whispered are they dating to their friend. Isa was never one to avoid being affectionate towards her friends even if it caused wild rumors. She shivered as the doors opened again.
“Did you forget your jacket again? You're colder than my ice spells,” Coren whispered.
“It's drying roof started leaking above my seat. Wynnie is bringing my back up,” Isa groaned.
“Storm is going to get worse. I can feel it building.”
“Bet that's why we're in here. If we're getting sent home early I'm grabbing lavender hair dye on my way home.”
Coren gave Isa a glare as thunder cracked. She could tell Coren liked the color idea but was more upset over her not taking the storm seriously. Isa booped Coren on the nose as the headmaster started the lecture about the storm and getting home. I'll be fine I can teleport if it gets bad enough, I'm not wasting my freedom over a storm.
Wynnie threw Isa the waterproof jacket as she and Coren left the auditorium. Isa threw it on careful not to ruin her makeup. Coren's tail twitched as the thunder clapped louder this time. Isa drew a circle on Coren's forearm with her finger removing some of the built up static. She smiled softly as Coren exhaled.
“I've gotta run Sylvie skipped the lecture to get a carriage home. It's getting bad Isa's usual alleyway shortcut has water rushing out of it.”
“Oh no I'll have to take the long way that passes the store with hair dye,” Isa giggled.
As the three of them went through the door the rain picked up. Wynnie waved as she sprinted to her brothers. Isa tried shushing the nagging voice in her head that said maybe we should ask Coren if we can crash with her. Coren looked at the sky her nose crinkling.
“I'll walk you to carriage depot,”Coren said nervously.
The wind howled and the rain started pounding down. Isa and Coren were both soaked. Coren's tail was coiled around Isa's waist. Multicolored lightning filled the sky as they reached the carriage depot. While Isa was getting a time estimate Coren pulled out a silver carabineer. She put it around both of their bags and in one Isa’s jacket loops. Coren quickly casted arcane lock. That's an insanely long wait time I'll just run home hide in the library if it gets too bad.
“I'll just run home Coren. Go your Mom is going to be worried sick about you,” Isa said her teeth starting to chatter.
Isa started walking up the road only to feel something tugging behind her. Coren stood there with her arms crossed.She quickly tried unhooking the bags only to see the arcane lock light up.
“What the fuck Coren drop the spell. Go home it's just a storm.”
“Nope you're going home with me,”she said tugging on the bags forcing Isa to follow.
“This is kidnapping. I'm not a stray cat!”
Isa pouted waiting for Coren's response as she got dragged towards the lower city. Coren being just as stubborn as her adoptive father when I get into trouble wasn't something I expected.
“I'll feed you and make you something hot to drink. Mama was going to make banana bread.”
She exhaled knowing what she was about to say would add more evidence to her being like a cat. The rain was starting to sting as it hit her skin.Coren may be right but I didn't need to be kidnapped.
“Banana bread sounds delicious fine drag me with you. Just know I'm still upset I didn't get a say in this.”
Coren lead her through the winding streets. The storm was getting worse and the rain seemed to have a vendetta against Isa's skin. It felt like a knife coated in salt. A cottage that barely met the requirements of being in the city limits caught Isa's eye. Every stone and wood beam looked hand carved. She shivered as Coren unlocked the door.
Isa was soaked and had puddles forming around her when she stepped inside. A very pale short woman was in the kitchen to the left humming as she poured batter into a loaf pan. Coren nudged Isa's arm. Isa removed her drenched coat and boots. She wasn't sure where Coren placed them as one of Coren's younger siblings gave her a towel before vanishing. While Coren has mentioned her siblings Isa couldn't figure out which kid was which.
“Mama I'm home. This is Isa she's staying with us .”
The pale woman dusted herself off before walking over. She was the same height as Eletha which meant Isa stood close to a full foot taller than her. Isa was drying her hair with the towel accepting her clothes were just going to get magic used in them.
“I'm Ma’na lovely to meet you. Make yourself at home,” she said sweetly.
“Thank you for your hospitality I'm Isadora Lunelis just call me Isa,” she said cringing a bit at her introduction defaulting to that.
“ Coren go borrow her some clothes poor thing will catch her death otherwise. Worse case scenario your father will just be down a shirt until she can get home. I'll make some hot chocolate unless you prefer tea.”
“There’s no need to fuss over me but hot chocolate sounds divine,” Isa said.
Coren motioned for Isa to follow her and Isa did so. She'd never admit it but she was a tad overwhelmed between the noise the gaggle of children made and being made a priority instead of told to use magic to dry off before being ignored. Coren vanished into a room that looked like a bedroom.Her hair was twisted up in the towel by time Coren came back with pants that would fit Isa and a very baggy black t-shirt.
“Got lucky that Mama hadn't folded laundry yet. She probably forgot who's bedroom she left the basket in.”
Coren lead her down the hall to a door with a sign that said keep out on one side and enter on the other. The arrow was currently placed on keep out. Her room was decorated how Isa expected. A stained glass sun catcher on the window casted rainbows onto the floor every time lightning struck. The rest the room was decorated in blues and blacks with personal touches throughout. Isa changed into the dry clothes not caring that the black shirt was trying to eat her whole. Coren was already in black sweatpants and a grey poet shirt with blue clouds embroidered on the collar.
“ I can modify one my spells to dry my stuff off. So I can change out of these in like an hour.”
“Don't waste a spell slot Mama will insist they get washed so empty your pockets.”
“I'm just staying until I can go home Coren there’s no need for extra laundry to be done. Isn't this a bit much?”
“This is Mama toning herself down. You're lucky she isn't signing adoption papers.”
“Why would she adopt me?”
Coren just gave Isa a look that screamed really and threw her wet clothes into a basket. I can't even point to something my dad did recently as a counter argument as he got into a fight and kicked out during my last swim meet. Isa emptied her pockets and placed her clothes in the basket.
“Mama won't let you sleep in the couch so we're either sharing my bed or you're getting the cot with a pile of blankets.”
“ The storm will pass before this becomes a sleepover. Do you think the hot chocolate is ready yet my bones feel cold.”
“It won't. Storm is pulling on my magic hard it won't pass until tomorrow night at the earliest. We can check worse case scenario we're getting fed fruit or something.”
“Not all of us have natural way to predict the weather Coren,” Isa said playfully.
Coren laughed and her tail wagged. Isa was trying to weigh her options for sleeping when Coren threw a pillow at her. She caught it as she ducked making both of them laugh.
The house was starting to smell of toasted spices and banana bread. Something about that combined with everything else made Coren's home feel extra cozy. Coren wrapped her tail around Isa and lead her downstairs. Ma'na had nine mismatched mugs on the counter. Isa wasn't sure if she miscounted the number of siblings Coren had or if it was in case one her siblings wanted a different mug. I'm pretty sure even if her dad was here we'd only need eight mugs. One the mugs had a crow among purple flowers design. It's so pretty.
“You don't have any allergies do you sweetheart,” Ma’na asked as she rummaged through the cabinet.
“Not unless one developed overnight.”
“Perfect do you like cinnamon and nutmeg?”
“Yes,” Isa answered sounding unsure.
Ma’na added a stick of cinnamon to a pot on the stove. She stirred before adding a bit of nutmeg. A few moments later Ma’na motioned for Isa to pick her mug first. Isa immediately grabbed the one with the crow on it. She watched as Ma'na ladled the velvety hot chocolate into Isa's mug.
“Do you want any things like whipped cream,it'll take just a few minutes to make. I also have some homemade marshmallows,”Ma'na said.
“Marshmallows please. Preferably not burnt to a crisp.”
Ma’na chuckled before plopping two giant star shaped marshmallows in her mug. Isa took it and carefully walked to the table in the kitchen. Coren slid next to Isa. The hot chocolate was bubbling and slowly making the stars melt into shooting stars. Isa’s eyes widened as she did a happy shimmy. Coren looked amused at Isa's excitement.
“What? It's cool I didn't expect it to melt like a shooting star.”
“Your reaction is adorable and joyful. It's like you saw a triple rainbow.”
“Wait they can do more than double? Coren you gotta show me when Talos isn't trying to destroy the city.”
“We’ll find one eventually I swear. Making them isn't the same.”
Isa tried taking a sip of her hot chocolate. Still too hot to drink. Coren rested her head Isa's shoulder before summoning two ice cubes into their mugs. Ma’na placed a massive plate of sliced fruit on the table and tiny plates. Isa took a small mountain of fruit consisting mostly nectarines. They had been one her favorite fruits since she was small but she couldn't remember if it was her mom or Tathaln who always shared them with her.
A few moments later she was savoring the hot chocolate as Coren told Ma’na about her day. It was the best hot chocolate she's had outside a cafe. Something about it made it feel richer with every sip. The banana bread was also amazing but the hot chocolate was the real star. Ma’na was focused on every word Coren said. Unfortunately Isa spaced out and had no idea what was being talked about.
“The hot chocolate is amazing.”
“Thank you honey. I spent a lot of time perfecting it to work the same on the surface as it did in the caves.”
The angry bleating of a goat made Isa turn her head to the window. A goat with an aura that made the hair on the back of Isa's neck raise. Something about that goat was interacting with her wild magic. Ma’na pulled out a bucket of vegetables and put a handful of sugar cubes in it. The goat took off with the bucket to what Isa could only describe as a goat palace.
“That's Pinky he just wanted snacks. You'll meet him officially when he's not sulking about the weather,” Coren said.
“ He's been spoiled rotten since he hatched from that egg,” Ma’na said.
Isa wasn't sure how to challenge a goat hatching from an egg so just nodded. Maybe animals in the Under dark are just super weird. Coren offered Isa the last piece of her fruit. She happily took it forgetting her concern about a goat coming from an egg.
The storm continued to howl against the cozy cottage. Isa had set up a mini station with all the makeup she had in her bag. The two younger kids Isa assumed were the twins buzzed with excitement by Coren. One of them wanted colorful flowers and they other want a dragon but would settle for something else if she couldn't. Normally Isa wouldn't have given into puppy eyes but they buttered her up by saying her makeup was prettier than Coren described.
Ma'na brought in another round of snacks smiling. Being fed constantly was something Isa had to adjust to. Coren's mom is super nice even with her taking my jacket to have another layer sewn in for warmth. Isa worked quickly on the designs. Coren was handing her brushes and reminding her younger siblings to keep still by pointing with her tail spade. The two kids giggled at Coren every time she did that gesture. Her hands were steady as she added more detail. Isa prayed to the universe that the eyeliner she applied with her left hand was even on the flowers. The twins got what designs they wanted even if the dragon was cute and barely resembled a dragon. They both ran off happy to a different part of the house.
“Alright Coren now that we got those two out our hair what design did you want?”
“No clue I just want eyeliner as sharp as you usually wear.”
“Fine but lay down and don't move it's easy to smudge it.”
Coren laid down by the spread of make up. Isa kneeled down and got whacked in the hand by Coren's excited tail wagging. Change of plans forgot how her tail seems to always hit my body. She straddled Coren making sure neither knee hit Coren. As she leaned in to apply eyeliner Coren's tail rested against Isa's back. It acted as a surprisingly good stabilizer. With a flick of her wrist Coren had the perfect wing sharp enough to stab someone. Isa hummed as she moved to work on the right eye. She mimicked the same wrist flick. Another wing was created it was the same level of sharpness but wasn't identical. Coren giggled as Isa tapped a brush into some sparkly purple eye shadow. Her hands worked to make a storm themed look using purples, an icy blueish white, and soft pink. She did a smokey eye then free-handed on lightning bolts.
The front door swung open. In stepped a drenched Rackal. His black hair and beard was plastered to his skin. The water pouring off him brought out the grey streaks throughout both his hair and beard. Isa turned her head and held a fluffy brush covered with highlighter off to the side. Rackal didn't seemed too phased by what he walked into.
“Glad you made home fine Coren. Good to see you Isa I must have forgotten you were sleeping over.”
“It wasn't planned Coren kidnapped me due to the storm.”
Rackal took a deep breath as if he had to think of how to word his thoughts nicely.
“Before I take this armor off do I need to let your father know where you're at,” he said his blue eyes flashing with anger on the word father.
“No he's on another one of his trips. Won't be back for like three weeks.”
Rackal nodded and had his brow furrow slightly. Isa knew what he was about to ask from that expression.
“ He left me with supervision this time. His brother is watching me until he's back.
Rackal's face went from being angry to concerned. No clue why he keeps trying figure out how to word simple questions.
“Which uncle is watching you and do they need to know you're here,” he said in a hesitant tone.
“Uncle Calenor, the Flaming fist uncle for clarification.”
Rackal's body language relaxed instantly.He said under his breath oh thank fuck.Isa wasn't sure why he was concerned her Uncle Liraen might have been watching her. Last time Uncle Liraen watched me we explored a super cool ruin and he punched a Flaming Fist at the tavern he took me to for dinner.Isa turned back to Coren and applied the highlighter.
“If you're still here when I have to go to work tomorrow I'll let him know. Coren I'm not even going to tell you not to kidnap your friends in this situation it was the right call,” he said peeling off his armor.
Coren stuck her tongue out at Isa Ma’na brought over a towel and kissed Rackal. Coren made fake gagging noises mixed with laughter as they kissed. Isa glared at her as the gagging noises made it difficult to finish the look. They switched positions so Coren could do a gemstone inspired look on Isa.
The next few hours were a blur. Coren had brought the cot in just in case her tail whacked Isa too much for her to sleep. Ma’na had brought in some hot tea while the two girls gossiped. Whatever was in that tea relaxed Isa enough she was the first one asleep.When breakfast was called the next morning she had no idea what century it was or why the future smelled like baked cinnamon apples and waffles. She nudged Coren awake as she pried herself from Coren's grip. The storm was still raging on as Isa enjoyed a plate of hot waffles accepting she might be here for a few nights.
Sketched @faerunsbest and I’s lineup/polycule for our modern fantasy rp (also known as the “what if we made Rackal a werewolf and gave Mortimer his cunt era” rp).
From left to right: Ma’na, Rackal, Mortimer, and Sybyll.
So if you wanna see me gnaw on the bars of my enclosure about them:
Because I no longer be normal about them:
Look how compatible they ARE!?!!
Their stamina?? These two probably need a 3rd to remind them breaks are a thing and hydration is important. (maybe someone strong enough to pull them apart) (and I thought Syvaris and Dwylla were inseparable)
Honey is from a little druidic commune not too far from the Wood of Sharp Teeth (SW of BG). She was raised by her mother's polycule along with her older brother Eno (short for Enoki).
Rackal is from Baldur's Gate. In their Au, he is a werewolf. You know what about Wood of Sharp Teeth:
"Former Grand Duke Valarken was rumored to live there after his failed coup in Baldur's Gate. He and his lycanthrope followers were trying to rebuild Vehlarr. The forest is home to satyrs, dryads, and a small number of werewolves, and some believe wolfweres also dwelt within."
Honey has a bright, and bubbly with a disarmingly charming personality. She's also a shameless flirt. Honey is loyal, fearlessly brave, and naturally protective. Her strong personality becomes ferociously defensive in the face of danger and she refuses to back down from a fight if she thinks she can keep others out of danger. That's why her wild shape is a badger 🦡 for their fierce, tough, strong, and fearless nature. Honey badger don't care how big the predator is, Honey Badger says Fuck around and find out. Which is why Honey is more attracted to larger partners.
And Rackal is attracted to what?
Rackal was also planned as a 'Rolan' <- tiefling romance.
but his first canon love was his barbarian childhood friend, Meirin <-also a tiefling
And Honey is a ya guess it a tiefling!!
See a pattern??? Someone has a type.
Also, Honey immediately being thirsty:
He was so tall she had to crane her neck to look up at him. “Did they give you a name with all those rippling pectorals or do you just want me to call you Big Guy all night?” she smirked. Never once had she not flirted with a man like him, and she wasn’t going to stop now. Even if he was a werewolf. Actually, that thought was pretty exciting. What’s a little harmless flirting between two strangers in the woods? “You can call me, Honey.” Her tail flicked around her.
Took less than 5 mins for her to turn him into a blushing fool.
10 minutes for her to be down bad:
She giggled at his wizard joke. He was funny, too. Gods what she wouldn’t give to have him throw her up against a wall.
And in 15 she started short circuiting his brain:
Rackal’s color deepened at the sight of her, dressed so comfortably, with neither her shirt or shorts leaving anything to the imagination. Honey was all plush, rolling curves, from her full breasts and wide hips; she looked so, so very soft. Heat crept up the back of his neck, his pulse ringing in his ears; he cast his gaze away, suddenly finding the floor utterly fascinating.
Rackal froze– was that a bow just above her tail? Yes, it was– resting above a pair of shorts that barely covered her rear.
Live reaction of Rackal starting to pray to the gods:
The immediate chemistry and tension between them was too much to say no to. They went from 0-100 so fast.
There was something innately soft about Rackal that Honey wanted to cradle in her hands. To hold. To have. To protect. They might have only met by chance, but she could already tell she would go to the ends of the world for him. And all he had to do was ask.
She was sweet and kind and good. She would ruin him, consume him, leave him needing and wanting and begging… and he would thank her for it.
They're one "I love you" from dispersing into atoms and reforming into Fated Mates.
But let's roll it back to his first love:
Like how beautiful?!?!?
and the juxtaposition between Meirin the friend that grew to slow, gentle, easy love? And Honey, the stranger that he crashed into that sparked an instant fierce connection they found themselves swept up in?!
since she lived in the mines for so long fresh fruit was rare and so decadent, Rackal is holding the mango just out of reach of her grasp. his strong legs wrapped around her waist, locking her in place.
she cant help it, grinding up against him while she reaches out for something sweet, what will she get?
