50 is for writer’s choice! Since Túlio belongs to @leothelionsaysgrrrr, I had her choose the prompt: 30. “It’s not what it looks like…”
—–
It started with a large nondescript box in Túlio’s room. Itsat neatly in a far corner, and if Thelrand hadn’t practically memorized thelayout and contents of his room with how frequently he stays, he wouldn’t havenoticed it. He didn’t bring it up when Túlio finally joined him, expecting himto, but the night flew by without a mention.He oddly couldn’t find a chance to try to bring it up until a few days later.“Hey, vhenan, I’ve barely seen you for a while.” Thelrand trailed a finger downhis arm, settling his hand on his waist. “Well outside of working. What haveyou been up to?”
Túlio simply smiled and shrugged. “Same old, same old. Still trying to find allthe secret passageways in this place though.”“You’re… spending all your free time looking for secret rooms?”“Well, yeah. I placed a bet with the bartender that I’d find them all beforeCorypheus is dead. I must have gotten carried away though.”Thelrand hummed noncommittally, to which Túlio rolled over half on top of himand squeezed him. “Thelllll, please don’t be mad.”“I’m not mad.”“But you’re sulking.” Túlio peppered his face with kisses. “It’s not going tokill you to spend a few afternoons away from me, okay?” He laughed whenThelrand leveled him with a look. “I know, I know, I sulked too when we stoppedtalking, but this is different and you know it.”Thelrand sighed. “You’re right, you’re right.” He then slowly smiled and heldhim close, playfully nipping up his neck.
A few days later, on a day off, he ventured back to Túlio’sroom. For some reason, the man still made himself scarce, and he needed to knowwhy. He bet it had to do with that box. He opened the door without knocking andwas immediately pelted in the face with some cloth. “Maker’s breath, Thel! Don’t you knock?”“I’ve never had to knock..” He paused after he pulled the cloth away from hisface to see Túlio quickly kicking back something under the bed. “..before. Túlio…?”Túlio smiled. “Yes?”Thelrand frowned, opening his mouth to say something, then closed it. “Have you…been avoiding me this week?”“No!” Túlio took a step forward, then hesitated when Thelrand took a step back.He sighed. “Yes, but it’s not what it looks like…. I promise. It’s a surprise!”“Surprise?” Thelrand crossed his arms.Túlio bent down to pull the box from under his bed – the very box that Thelrandnoticed earlier in the week – and held it out to him. There were colorfulembroidered silks nestled inside.“What is this..?” Thelrand pulled out a cloth: a deep crimson red with goldrays of the sun embroidered in one corner. Another was a deep navy with a patternin white that reminded him of his vallaslin, though perhaps that was wishfulthinking.“This,” Túlio said, pulling the crimson cloth from his hands, “is a recreationof my costume from my first duet performance.” He slipped his arms through thesleeves, wrapping the excess around his frame. “There’s still a bit to be donewith, but it’s almost there.”Thelrand glanced up, then back down at the navy cloth, running his fingers overthe white stitching. “And this…? It sounds silly, but it reminds me of, well,me.”“Because.” Túlio brushed his fingers along his then interlaced them. “It isinspired by you.” He helped him slip it on then rubbed his arms. “We’ve beenpracticing this dance for a while now, and you’ve caught on quickly enough.”Thelrand looked away and blushed. “You’re just saying that.”“it’s true!” Túlio turned his head back and planted a soft tender kiss on hislips. He pulled back with a fond smile. “I don’t care that you’re not perfect;you’re dancing, and more importantly, you’re dancing with me!” He gave Thelranda little twirl, then pulled him back flushed against him. “I wanted to perform withyou, with the costumes and the music.” He kissed him again. “That’s what I washiding. Until everything was ready.”Thelrand smiled and indulged in his kisses. “This doesn’t mean you’re gettingout of this.” He clasped his hands around his neck. “I’m still, “ he kissed hisjaw, “very mad at you.” Another one under his ear. “For making me worry oversomething so sweet.”“Hmmm, I should get you mad more often – O-kay, don’t bite so hard.”
“We can do the Good Cop Bad Cop routine” for Rangie lol ;)
“So, what are we gonna do with him?” Reggie gestured to the doorleading to the room that held one of Sloane’s lackeys. “Reyes told me that wecan’t kill this guy.”“What makes him so special?” Randy asked.“Apparently, he’s in charge of her exports for the rare modded weapons shesmuggles through Kadara. He knows when the next one arrives, and we have to getthat time and location out of him.”“Well…. We can do the Good Cop Bad Cop routine.”Reggie blinked at him and then glared. “This ain’t no buddy cop show, Rando. No,we’re not doing that.”Randy scoffed and crossed his arms. “Well, fine, I was gonna let you be the BadCop, but now you’re the Good Cop.” He started to head for the door.“Randy…!” But he was already through the door, and she growled under her breathbefore putting her helmet on and joined him.
The man inside was cuffed at his wrists and ankles, sitting upright at a smalltable. He barely looked up when they walked in.“Okay, you son of a bitch!” Randy began, deepening his voice, and slammed hishands on the table. “You will tell us what we need to know or you will pay forit severely. And on this lawless barren planet, we aren’t above torture.”The man looked him up, raising a brow and curling his lip. “The fuck you gonna do,pretty boy? Blind me with your perfect white teeth?”“I am so glad you asked.” Randy looked to Reggie, smirking, and could onlyimagine her eyeroll as she shifted weight. He swiped through a few screens andwhen he hit the final button, a very loud, very obnoxious noise came throughthe omnitool. And out of his mouth.“TELL ME WHY! AIN’T NOTHING BY A HEARRRRTAAAACHE! TELL ME WHY! AIN’T NOTHINGBUT A MIIISTAAAKE! TELL ME WHY! I NEVER WANNA HEAAAAAR YOU SAAAAAAY ‘I…WAAANTIT THAAAAAT WAAAAAY’!”And it continued. For two hours. Randy went through his ancient playlist of1990’s/early 2000’s boyband hits, belting his heart out, throwing wild gesturesas a he sang. At some point, he was serenading the poor prisoner, clutching athis clothes, and reaching up to caress his face.“Jesus Christ, will you make him stop!?”Reggie shrugged. “Are you ready to talk?”“Yes! Fucking hell, just make him stop!”Later, after they confirmed the time and location of the drop, Reggie regardedRandy, her arms crossed.Randy caught her staring and gave her a crooked smile. “What?”“That…certainly got the job done.” She pursed her lips and nodded a little. “Butnext time, I’ll be the Bad Cop, okay? I need time to get that godawful musicout of my head.”He gasped, a hand to his chest. “Boyband music still fucking slaps.”She stared at him, then shook her head. “You were gonna get laid tonight beforeyou made that comment, but now, your hand is gonna have to do the job.”
Sylathi hoped by forsaking her home as his magic washed hervallaslin away, she found a new one in his arms, on his lips, in his heart.
Sylathi hoped she found home again after years of chasingphantoms in dreams, but as he took back his purpose from her, she knew deep inher heart that home was just as empty as his promises.
Even now, after finding home again in her dear friend,filled with warmth her heart craved, Sylathi still hoped the Dread Wolf would catchher scent.
For @lavellanlove with a moment between Sylathi and Avira. This takes place after they explored the Dirthamen temple and before Avira left for Adamant.
In the dead of night, Sylathi made her way to the kitchen, stopping at the doorway when she saw there was someone already in there. Her heart pounded in her chest and her hand flew to her heart. The person turned to her and they were revealed to be Avira, and Sylathi sighed, though it would take several more moments for her heart to settle.
Avira’s own startled expression relaxed to a somber smile. “Ah, it’s only you, falon. You look as if you seen a ghost. Are you alright?”
Sylathi nodded and padded over to her, noting that she was standing in front of a heating pot of water. “Looks like you have the same idea as I do. I came down to make some tea, too.”
“If I had known you were coming, I would have made you heat the water. This fire is taking ages.”
“And the cold doesn’t help, even though it is considerably warmer inside than out.” She chuckled, though it sounded flat, and watched the slow rising bubbles in the simmering water. She sighed, drawing Avira’s eyes to her. “I had a nightmare.”
Avira’s hand on her arm, though comforting, made her eyes sting. The images from her dream sprang forth in her mind, consuming her vision with nothing but the acolytes of Dirthamen tearing their Head Priest apart. Literally.
“Hey, hey...” Avira rubbed her arm, then gently tugged her into a hug. After a long moment she pulled back and wiped the tears off Sylathi’s cheeks. “I struggle with what happened in that temple, too, and I know it has affected you more. But falon, please, don’t let the horrors of the past consume you.”
Sylathi nodded and smiled tightly through her tears. “I-I know. I knew our history wasn’t as glamorous as the stories say, b-but..”
Avira smoothed her thumbs over her cheeks. “It still hurts.” She tilted her head down to kiss her forehead then pulled away to pour some now hot water into two cups and dropped small pouches of herbs into each. They both sat at the counter. “Did you ever tell Maleus what happened?”
Sylathi’s eyes and nose twitched then settled on a frown. “Yes, I did, as soon as I returned. He wasn’t happy that I kept it from him. He won’t stop me from going anywhere without him, but he’s going to worry that much more.” She shrugged a little, warming her hands around the cup. “I’d be upset if he hid something like that from me too, so I can’t blame him.” She pulled the pouch out of her cup and took a tentative sip, the tea warming her. “He was awake tonight when I left my room. I told him I just needed some air.”
“And tea.” Avira raised her cup and took a sip herself. “I did warn you about not telling him. I’m glad you did, though. It’s easy to think that keeping secrets will protect someone, but it only makes the truth hurts when it comes out. And the truth will always come out in one way or another.”
“You speak as if from experience.”
Avira smiled and looked at her from under her lashes. “Do you not know me? I’ve always had secrets. But now the secrets I have aren’t necessarily my own.”
Sylathi smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Right. I never did ask why you were down here, too.”
Avira remained silent for several minutes, and Sylathi knew not to pry further. Then, Avira looked over to her and asked, “Do you regret knowing me?”
Sylathi’s cup slipped from her fingers, hitting the table once and spilling about half of the tea before she caught it and steadied it on the counter. She reached for a linen rag to clean up the spill. “No! No, of course not! Why would you ever ask that?”
Avira looked away, her shoulders slumping. “It’s obvious you’re happy. I watch how you are around Maleus and how blissfully in love you are with him. I’ve watched your confidence grow, standing rightfully up to people instead of shrinking away from conflict.” She looked back to her, chewing on her bottom lip. “But at what cost? Sylathi, you’ve lost your home, probably exiled, that sense of community you grew up with. And I fear with all the research, you’re losing your faith, too. I don’t want to – I can’t have you lose who you are because of me. I love you too much for that.”
As soon as Avira finished, Sylathi pulled her into a hug, careful to keep their balance on the stools. “Oh, Avira, I will never ever regret knowing you. I admit it’s been hard at times to be away from home, my family, and that familiarity, but..” She pulled back and looked at her with a broad smile and tears in her eyes. “I wouldn’t change what happened for the world. Because of you, I found the love of my life, who I can imagine a long and happy future with. I have seen more of Thedas than I could ever dream, and although painful, I’ve learned more about the People, and that’s only strengthened my faith.”
She tucked an errant strand of hair behind Avira’s ear. “You helped me see that my future doesn’t need to be contained in a neat little box where it’s predictable and easy. My life is messy and hard, but it’s filled with love and adventure and so much wonder. I wouldn’t trade my life for anything if it meant I wouldn’t have met you.”
Avira laughed, slightly choked from her crying. “Oh, Syla, you have no idea how relieved that makes me feel.” She pulled her into another crushing hug. “I just want you to be happy and fulfilled and live to the fullest.”
Sylathi laughed along with her. “ And I am, Avi, I am.”
After @lavellanlove ripped out my heart, I had to write a happy ending.
Warden au! Talira
817 words
Avira opened her eyes to find herself standing in a small meadow spotted with wildflowers of nearly every color she could imagine, enclosed in a forest. At the edge of the meadow stood a modest cottage with smoke blowing out the chimney, curled by a gentle breeze. The sun was high and bright in the sky, but she didn’t feel hot like she would expect, but instead a pleasant warmth, a wonderful contrast from the coldness she felt before.
She wasn’t sure where she was or how she got there. The last thing she could remember was darkness, coldness, and a bitter taste on her tongue. I can’t wait so see him again. Her breath caught in her throat and she flushed with a memory she couldn’t quite a place. Her eyes focused on the cottage again and her thrumming heart only made her curiouser, like her body knew something that her mind did not.
Before she could knock on the door, it opened and stood before her was a young man with white hair and bright blue eyes and a smile that knocked the breath out of her. Another flush in her chest left her wanting to remember who this man was. He was so achingly familiar.
“I missed you, Avira.”
And then it came to her in a flood of memories. A man assigned to train her so she could rise to her newly acquired position. Finding the reserved man endearing, even frustrating many a times, but it was always worth it to make him smile. The first nights of heated passion, heartfelt confessions, painful talks of the past. The elated smile when he confessed his love for her. The promise to remain at his side for the rest of his days, even when those days loomed so near. The loss of witnessing his last breath, hearing his final words, and the promise to record their legacy.
“Talim?!” Tears welled in her eyes as she pulled him in for a deep kiss, wrapping her arms tight around his neck, a hand carding through his hair. His arms wrapped around her waist, familiar and strong, and she realized with a heavy heart that it really had been years since she felt their comfort.
She parted, though kept their bodies pressed, and smiled through her tears. “You look so different.” She brushed her fingers over the smooth skin of his face where his scars used to be. “Younger, less tired.”
Talim chuckled and turned his head to kiss her palm. “Is that bad? It took me time before I figured out that I could change my appearance.” He brought a hand to her cheek. “You look older, more tired.”
She smacked the back of his head. “What every woman wants to hear.” She laughed and pulled him for another kiss, more tender than the last. “While you’re very handsome, I do miss the laugh lines, the crow’s feet, and yes, even the scars.”
His smile fell just a little. “Why? I looked like this before I became a Warden.”
She kissed each corner of his lips, then pressed her forehead against his, taking in his familiar scent, less tainted by the putrid copper of tainted blood. “Because they tell your story, all the good and the bad, and how despite everything, you push forward. And because they belonged to a man I fell in love with. And,” she purred in a low voice. “I’ve always found them pretty sexy.”
Talim snorted. “As you wish, then, but close your eyes.”
When Avira opened her eyes a moment later, she was met with the same blue, but now he looked like the man she remembered. The man she loved. The man she still loved. She traced his scars. “Is this okay?”
“You’re the one who has to look at me.”
She laughed. Then, having been swept in the moment of their reunion, Avira forgot about the circumstances of their arrival. “Do you know where we are? How did I get here? Is… is this the afterlife?”
“No, I’m not sure, and maybe.” His smile was wide as he took in their surroundings. “But it doesn’t matter now that you’re here. I always knew that you would come home to me even as the years went by, though they only felt like mere minutes.”
“You waited for me? But what about… um, I think her name was Laisa?”
Talim pulled back, though the smile never left. “And I’ll tell you now what I’ve told you then: I love you. I love only you. While I know in my heart, I will always care for her, as my first love and mother of my children, I will always choose you. It will always be you.”
He stepped back to welcome her into the cottage. “Now come in and tell me everything. We have all the time in the world, after all.”
Some modern!au Thelvira fluff for @lavellanlove to cheer her up during a stressful time <3
Avira woke with a start, her heart pounding in her ears, looking around in the dark room. How long was she sleeping? She scrambled for her phone, blindly grasping at sheets until she felt the hard, cool surface. Turning it on, she felt her chest tighten.
It was 8:39.
Shit.
Fuck!
In a flurry of hurried movements and flailing limbs, she got out of bed, and nearly tripped in the hall as she made her way to the living room. To find Thelrand. Her stomach dropped in anticipation of his reaction. The living room was vacant, so she marched to the kitchen.
The light was on, and Thelrand’s back was to her as he cooked something on the stove. Without turning around, he said, “Good evening, sleepy head. Did you have a good nap?”
“Thel, I’m so so sorry.” She smoothed down her dress shirt, wrinkled from sleep and tucked it back in her black pants. She could only imagine the state of her hair, loose curls in her face, her hair elastic barely containing her bun. “I meant to only take a quick nap after work and- and my stupid alarm didn’t go off. We missed the reservation, I’m-“
Thelrand had turned around during her apology, and walked around the counter to cup her face. “Hey, hey,” he crooned, rubbing circles on her cheeks with his thumbs. “It’s okay. Don’t worry.” Avira could only blink. His eyes were warm instead of a cold steel. His jaw was relaxed when he would clench it so hard, she could almost hear his teeth grind. Sweeping her eyes over him, she noticed that he was dressed comfortably in shorts and a t-shirt.
She frowned. “I don’t understand. It’s our wedding anniversary. You had to schedule a reservation weeks ago. It’ll be ages before we can schedule another.”
Thelrand slid his hands down to her shoulders, squeezing them gently. “Yes, I know, but that was before you took on a case that demanded more time than you expected.” He frowned a little. “You come home late, go to bed even later, and sometimes are out the door before I get up.”
She bit her lip, her stomach twisting. “Thelrand, I’m-“ She was about to say “sorry,” but that would hardly make up for this.
He shook his head. “Hey, I’m not mad for that. You’re so very passionate about what you do, and I absolutely adore that about you. I know there are gonna be days where I don’t see you, and that’s okay. So, when I came home to still see you sleeping… I didn’t have the heart to wake you up, so I canceled the reservation. Your days are dominated by deadlines and appointments; I didn’t want tonight to be the same.”
Avira was at a lost for words, so she didn’t speak, just looking into his eyes. The tightness in her chest was gone, replaced by something fuller and warmer. She grabbed his hands to place on her waist and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. “Creators, you’re perfect. What did I ever do to deserve you?”
Thelrand’s arms tightened around her and he kissed her temple. “Don’t praise me yet,” he murmured in her hair. “I haven’t even told you the best part.”
“Hmm, and what’s that?”
“I’m making ramen.”
Avira pulled back, wide-eyed but breaking into a wide smile. “Shut up, no you’re not!”
His smile was infectious. “I am. Of course, adding my own seasoning, and adding fresh vegetables and-“
Laughing, Avira covered his mouth with her hand. “Shhh, don’t ruin it with all that healthy talk.” She yanked her hand back when he childishly licked her hand. “Yuck! Are you four?”
He snickered and kissed her cheek. “And your favorite desert: mug brownies.”
“Ooooh, you really know how to sweep a woman off her feet,” Avira cooed. She grabbed his chin to kiss him: soft quick kisses at first before melting into deeper, more languid ones. Her hand knotted in his hair, and his raked up and down her back. She pulled back for air and whispered on his lips, “I love you.”
“I love you. Now get in your comfy clothes and we’ll eat while watching trashy romcoms.”
“I’ll take that offer and raise wearing only our underwear.”
“Hmm, tempting, but is being topless on the table?”
Avira smirked. “Deal.”
A little heart to heart between Tamralan and Velriel, set after the clan helped save the city from lyrium-mad nobles in Wycome. Velriel belongs to @lavellanlove
Tamralan finally found Velriel just outside the city gates after searching for him for nearly an hour. He reached out to the other but thought against it, dropping his hand to his side. “Is.. everything alright?”
Velriel briefly looked over, then returned his gaze to the setting sun, its golden rays peaking through the treetops. “Ir abelas, I didn’t mean to disappear on you. I’ve… had a lot on my mind. This is the closest I can get to feeling like I’m still home without leaving the city.”
Tamralan leaned against the wall alongside him and folded his hands in front of him. “The walls are confining, I know. Even while trading, I’ve rarely liked them. What comforted me was knowing that I had the forest to return to when I was finished.” He looked over to him. “Someday we can return.”
Velriel remained silent for several minutes, and Tamralan couldn’t read the impassive expression on his face. Velriel was always careful to expose his emotions. Even though he was his late love’s nephew, Tamralan never had a chance to closely work with him. His parents made that difficult enough, and he could sense competition between him and Thelrand. And he sensed that was born of some sort of jealousy.
Tamralan clasped Velriel’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, do you know that?”
Velirel turned his head sharply, his eyes wide, though his eyebrows pulled up slightly in the center. “Uh… why?” His voice was quiet.
Tamralan gave the younger’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Because you have flourished over the past year. Because you fought bravely when the human nobles threatened our lives. Because I realized I have never said it to you your entire life, even though you deserved to hear it every day. Because you’re you, Vel.”
Velriel’s ears turned pink, shrugging a little and rubbing the back of his neck. “I only did it for the clan. Like, this place isn’t really home for me, but you all are here, and I didn’t want to move again. The journey was hard enough on Runale. And… well, I’m just filling in for Thelrand until he comes back.”
When Tamralan didn’t immediately respond, he shrugged his hand off his shoulder and crossed his arms. He made a point to angle away from him. “I mean, that’s the only reason why I’m your apprentice: Thelrand up and left and you need someone to fill his spot. And when he comes back, he’ll be welcomed with open arms, like always, and it’ll be like he never left, and it’ll be one more thing I’ve failed at.”
Tamralan frowned, mulling over his words with a deep sigh before starting. “Yes, Thelrand’s absence opened spot that I had to fill, but only that’s where you’re correct. Understand that his departure wasn’t favored by many. He’s still welcomed back, but trust has been broken.” Even with the other’s back turned to him, Tamralan smiled. “And, in the event that Thelrand returns, he will need to find a new role to fill, because you’ll be the one to replace me when I decide to step down.”
At that, Velriel finally turned around, his mouth agape. “But…But why? Thelrand’s always been the best at everything, and I always had to play catch up. I still feel like I am. Why me?”
Tamralan quirked a brow and smiled wider, shrugging nonchalantly, as if his decision was no big deal. “Being the clan Master doesn’t require you to be the best warrior, the best leader, the best anything. Just the drive to better the clan no matter the cost, to get up and try again when you fail, and accept that you will fail. I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving than you.”
“But you still chose Thelrand first.”
“Yes, but despite his accomplishments, I never officially declared him my successor. The hahren already know, if you accept.”
Shock was still clear on Velriel’s face, and Tamralan couldn’t tell if the boy was close to tears, or the setting sun was playing tricks on his eyes. “I don’t need your pity,” Velriel said.
“I am not giving you pity, Velriel. I do admit that I feel like I have failed you, like I should have seen that you weren’t given the chance you deserve. I’m.. sure it doesn’t take much to imagine why I was distracted.”
Velriel rolled his eyes and snorted, giving him the first smile Tamralan had seen in a long time. It was half-hearted smile, but a smile none-the-less. “I am too tired to be mad about it. Better late than never, I guess. I still expect you to change your mind. I.. never thought that I had a chance to be Master someday. I-I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Tamralan returned his hand on his shoulder. “Just do what you’ve always done and know you deserve all the good that comes to you.”
Now there was a genuine smile. “Serannas, Tamralan. I won’t waste this opportunity.”
Tamralan pulled him into a hug. “I know you won’t.”
I was tagged not only by the lovely @leothelionsaysgrrrr but also by the terrific @thereluctantinquisitor. This passage is from this post I wrote about sleeping headcanons about how a few of my and @lavellanlove ships sleep together.
Tender is the stretch of time Velriel faces every night as he waits for his vhenan to fall asleep. Runale struggles each night, her body wound in a tight ball, her arms tucked close to herself, her legs folding. Her brows pinch, her jaw clenches as she grinds her teeth. He can read her turmoil on her face and slowly, tenderly, he smooths her face with caresses, reminding her that she’s safe, that despite what her mind tells her, she’s not alone, and she’ll never be alone again. His hand slides to her back, rubbing through the knots and the tension she holds there. As her breath slows and deepens, so does his movements, and over time her body unravels and softens under his touch. At last, Runale is asleep and there is peace on her face. Only then will Velriel join her.
