#symphonyverse

[shandoratheexplorer]

A Symphony of Colors

FIC FINISHED!!!!!

"Aodhán is working on a second potion", Octavian explains. "He says that right now, two forces are battling it out within your body. One that tries to make you a little more than just a vampire, and the vampiric one that wants to keep you just as you are." Astarion nods weakly. He feels every bit like that, too. Torn asunder by pain, like there are hooks in his back trying to split him open. "—trying to shift the imbalance in favor of you still being able to walk in the sun." He didn't hear all of it, but knowing Aodhán and his alchemical miracles, the druid is likely not sleeping or resting for even a second until this is done. "And if he can't?" Astarion forces himself to ask. "You'll either just go back to being a regular vampire", Octavian answers. "Or… you lose both and become a mortal elf again." "My back hurts…", Astarion finally admits. "A lot." "Let me see", Tav frowns, helping Astarion roll over and gently pushing his shirt up. When his husband goes unnaturally still, fear creeps up Astarion's spine. "What is it?" he asks. "What do you see?" "I didn't think… I had no idea that's what Aodhán meant by the demi-divine force trying to make you into something more."

[shandoratheexplorer]

The Beginning of the End

Second-to-last chapter is out!

One more chapter to go!

He swallows audibly, glancing over to Aodhán and Halsin, who give him encouraging smiles. Then he extends his hand. His knees give out, and a sob rips free from his throat as he feels the warmth of the sun on his skin for the first time in years. Octavian is next to him the next second, holding him up as he stares at his hand in awe. "It worked", Tav exclaims. "It bloody worked." "Of course it did", Aodhán smiles. "I put all my knowledge into this." Tears stream down Astarion's face as Tav helps him walk fully into the sun, and he clings to his husband with the force of someone whose life just made a fundamental leap for the better. Octavian holds him up, one arm around his waist, the other grasping his hand as he leads him toward the window, into the light. The moment the sun hits his face, Astarion sobs again. This time, there is no stopping it, he wails openly, basking in the warmth as he leans back into his husband. "Thank you!" he cries, moving to hug Aodhán, that brilliant druid who made this happen. "Thank you so, so much!"

[shandoratheexplorer]

Chapter 17: A bonding experience

"Cazador wouldn't always exert that control over us. It took up too much energy", he continues, his voice stronger now. "So he found other ways to keep us compliant." Edraele squeezes his hand gently, and he looks at her. "Gilnir", she softly says, her brows drawn together in a frown that makes the wrinkles around her mouth appear deeper than ever. "You don't have to tell me all of this. Please, don't force yourself to dig up painful memories just to share them with me." Astarion nods, smiling even as tears begin to cloud his vision. But still, he keeps talking. "He had us go out into the city and fetch him prey. Souls for the ritual he wanted to do", he clears his throat, squeezing his eyes shut. "I brought him over a thousand victims." "That was his cruelty, not yours", his mother instantly says, shifting so she can hug him even as he keeps sitting slumped in his chair. It's an awkward position, but a small price to pay to comfort her son. He pulls her in, nestling his face into the crook of her neck and drawing a deep breath there. She smells like oil paints, kohl, and the air right before spring's first rain. The scent grounds him more than any words ever could. He's crying again, he feels it when he presses even closer, trying to crawl into her embrace as though he were still the child she once lost. And the words keep on spilling out of him. "He had us entertain them first. I-In… In that bedroom", sobs shake his body between words, soon joined by hiccups. "F-For a long time, I felt nothing at all when being intimate with someone. I just went through the motions." He feels tears drip into his hair as Edraele pulls him even closer, raking her fingers through his hair as she cries with him. "O-Only with Octavian did I finally begin to want someone f-for myself again", he cries. "But even s-so… I felt used up, like I wasn't worthy of his love, like he might look at my body and see all those handprints of the ones that held it down before he ever came along." "Sweetheart", Edraele whispers, her own voice wet with tears. "Octavian loves you—truly loves you. You're soulmates. I'm sure he cares little about your past other than feeling anger on your behalf."

[shandoratheexplorer]

Chapter 117: How to find out your Paladin is a brat.

WEDDING NIGHT

WEDDING NIGHT

WEDDING NIGHT

WEDDING NIGHT!

"Oh, come on!" the vampire exclaims. "They already filled the tub, and there are rose petals in the water too! I'm gonna smell like those damned flowers for a tenday!" Tav snickers softly, taking off his shirt and stepping out of his pants along with his underthings, making his way over and taking in the ensuite. Astarion is right; there are rose petals and candles everywhere here, just like in the bedroom. But the best thing is that one of their friends must be artistically inclined, because someone painted an image of the two of them kissing onto the mirror. "Have you seen this?" Octavian asks and nods his head toward the masterpiece. Astarion glances at him, tilting his head and giving him an appreciative once-over. His lips twist into a teasing smirk. "I'm looking at it right now." Tav laughs and draws his husband into his embrace, kissing him again. He just can't keep his hands off him, and tonight's the one night where he doesn't even have to pretend to attempt restraint. "I didn't mean my naked ass", he chuckles as he draws back. "I meant the mirror." "Oh", Astarion sighs softly, his eyes still closed after the toe-curling kiss they shared. "I usually avoid looking at mirrors…" his husband's voice is quiet, almost mournful. Tav knows he misses his mortality. But most of all, he knows that Astarion will miss the sun once the tadpole is taken care of. "Mirrors never show me what I want to see." "This one does", Octavian insists, gently cupping Astarion's cheek. Finally, the vampire's eyes blink open, and he turns his head to look at the image on the mirror. His next "Oh" is so soft, Tav wouldn't have heard it if he weren't so close. The vampire walks over, hand outstretched as if he can roll up the image like a painting on a canvas and put it in his pocket to keep it forever. "It's… It's us… It's me."

[shandoratheexplorer]

WIP snippet tag train

Thank you for the tag @arachnomancer

Have a snippet from the very last Chapter of Symphony of Nature. I'm so sad it's ending, but at the same time excited to write more about Aodhán and Halsin's life in a new One Shot I want to do~

His mate has always been a social butterfly, and this event is no different. It was just the ceremonial part he was nervous about. But now that that’s done, he flits from person to person, offering an open ear to anyone and giving insight when it is asked of him. Halsin’s heart swells with pride, and he knows he can only call himself lucky, so, so lucky, that this man, this gift of nature, is his. He vows to worship him tonight, to thoroughly unravel him and make him feel just how loved he truly is. But just as Halsin imagines kissing down the slope of his neck, the proof that this, today, was the right choice to make glows all around them. Because just as Aodhán is deep in conversation with Neghan’s wife, giving her advice on how to best combat her husband’s depression, nature answers for them. Around them, in a stunning display of a symphony of nature, autumn flowers flare to life. Vibrant red and white petals protrude from the earth, and the trees of the forest grow taller even as colorful leaves flutter down to the ground. At first, no one but Halsin notices. But then Yenna points it out, and Aodhán’s cheeks flush with that telltale sign that tells him that his mate feels what he’s done. Feels the magic that subtly drains from him even when he’s but a conduit for a higher power. Feels the flow of life through him when he is just feeling like his chest seems too small for the sheer amount of love he feels for Halsin, for their girls, for every person in this circle that now depends on him. And—gods—Halsin is so damn proud.

tearfully tagging @dramatiquechipmunk @sawickibalisong @fartasticdurge @roguishcat @nw39

[shandoratheexplorer]

WIP snippet tag train

thank you for the tag @strixamans!

Delivering a snippet from the upcoming chapter of Symphony of Colors

Órellel is elvish for "little dreamer"

Context: Edraele (Astarion's mother) just found Evindral (Astarion's brother) play the piano in the great ballroom. The following conversation ensues:

"I got so lost in my own grief", she says quietly, "that I forgot I still had a second boy. One who still needed his mother. I stopped supporting you when you needed me most. I left you to fend off your father's expectations alone." "I..." Evin opens his mouth to refute her—to tell her she did no such thing. But he can't. Because it would be a lie. She did drown in her grief. For years. Locked herself in her room. Stopped coming to his concerts. Stopped listening. Stopped being his mother. And now, instead of easing the weight on her shoulders with kind lies, Evin chooses honesty. Because this family has endured enough silence—enough false politeness—to last a lifetime. "It was like you died too", he murmurs. "Like I lost Starry and you in one fell swoop. And all I had left was Pa... just him and his lectures about what I was supposed to do with my life." "I know, Órellel." Tears well up again in Edraele's eyes—this time heavy enough to fall. She doesn't try to wipe them away. Instead, she presses her palm more firmly against his cheek, as if anchoring herself in the moment. "We lost so, so many years... Years we can't get back. Years I should've sketched, drawn, painted. For you. For me. For all of us. But that stops now."

tagging @dramatiquechipmunk @sawickibalisong @roguishcat and @nw39

[shandoratheexplorer]

WIP Whenever & Fanfic Friday

thank you @optimisticgrey and @missfortunetherogue for tagging me!

Have a snippet from my next chapter for Symphony of Colors!

Yes, I'm still working on it XD two more chapters to go and I'm dragging my feet because I don't want it to end.

"Do you want to tell your family before we get started?" Octavian asks. "No", Astarion shakes his head. "Not before I know it really works. I wouldn't want to give them some false hope that I'll be able to participate in daylight activities." "I understand", Tav smiles and kisses his temple. "I'll be with you through it all, yeah? You won't have to worry about support." Astarion smiles, his hand reaching out to weave their fingers together. "Oh, I know, Angel", he says. "You're probably going to watch me like a hawk, even more so than Aodhán." He snickers softly. "No offense, but you both can be quite incessant in your hovering." "None taken", Aodhán grins. "And you're right. I'll make sure to be present through every part of the process", he looks to Octavian now. "You don't mind us staying here for a while, do you?" "Not at all", Tav answers easily. "Gives me the chance to sic you on Astarion's father", he grins. "The man desperately needs someone to tell him that being soft doesn't mean being weak. You can add him to your little 'projects', Aodhán." Aodhán brightens up even more, his emerald eyes shining. "Oh?" he chuckles. "Well, Minthara is doing a lot better with Gale now, so I guess I can have a chat with your folks, Astarion, see if I can help them help themselves." Astarion laughs fondly and shakes his head. "Honestly, if I knew it would help to tell you not to stick your feline nose into my business, I'd do it. But I'm aware that it's as hopeless as telling a leopard to change its spots." "A very fitting metaphor", Halsin smiles, a soft chuckle rumbling through his chest.

tagging @nw39 @roguishcat @denesmera @dramatiquechipmunk

[shandoratheexplorer]

How to be feral, druid style

Another chapter of Symphony of Shadow and Light is out!

I'm almost done writing this beast of a fanfic...

Only Raphael, Iron Throne, Gortash, and the brain are left for me to write.

Aodhán tilts his head in curiosity, straining his neck to peek at the scroll. "Dimension door?" he asks, then looks up at Halsin. "Where are you taking us, mo ghrian?" "Into nature", Halsin smiles, wrapping his arm back around his lover and planting a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I know that the woods surrounding the city are still a sore spot for you. But Jaheira told me, Baldur's Gate has a greenhouse that mimics a jungle. It's on the other end of the city, though, so I figured this would be faster." "A jungle, you say?" Aodhán instantly perks up, a smile creasing his freckled cheeks. "Yes", he nods, leaving the scroll be for a moment and turning to cup his soulmate's cheeks. "I know you're healing, and I know we mustn't rush such things. But I haven't seen you turn into your leopard form once since we rescued you." He frowns softly, his thumb brushing over the crease that appeared between Aodhán's brows just then. "I…" his lover begins, but trails off, closing his eyes. "I understand your concern. And I know it's not good to keep the leopard caged like this." "Then, will you allow me to take you someplace safe?" Halsin asks with a soft smile. "Someplace where your cat can climb to its heart's content while I stand guard?" Aodhán's worried expression melts into a tender smile at those words. "Yes", he answers. "Please, take me there." Halsin nods, kissing Aodhán's cheek, and then steps back, casts the spell, and offers his arm. Aodhán chuckles, not used to such a gallant display from his otherwise very grounded soulmate, but tonight is special; the romance of the wedding has caused a ripple effect through the entire group. Once his lover links their arms, Halsin leads them through the portal into the wonderland of Baldur's Gate's tropical greenhouse.