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lailoken · 2 years

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Hollow Water:

An Aqueous Tincture of the Wild

I would like to briefly discuss a form of natural water which, if located and collected, can be used to great effect in a variety of different magical operations. Namely, I want to talk about Hollow Water.

Hollow Water is a naturally occurring liquid, which is closely related to Stump Water, but which can specifically be found within the hollows of living trees. It is amassed over time through precipitation and ambient humidity, and becomes slowly saturated by an array of natural adulterants, such as soil, plant matter, and the putrefied remains of small animals. Such hollows—scientifically referred to as dendrotelmata—also serve as rich microhabitats that ecologically support multiple creatures, from insects, to mollusks, to amphibians.

Over time, I have come to recognize that this water can be used in a number of ways, but it is most powerfully suited to any forms of Wild Magic, including things like charming animals, shifting the weather, or locating needed plants. It also makes an irresistible libation to many sylvan spirits.

As I understand it, however, one must follow certain protocols in order to harness the power of Hollow Water:

One must seek the tree they plan to harvest from in silence—both there and back—and it must be done privately.

The tree in question should be circled thrice, towards the sun, upon meeting.

The water must be gathered by hand. For most people, myself included, the thought of reaching into a damp, dark, cavity is atavistically repellent, but for this very reason, the act of facing down that biological impulse is a very simple, but highly important, way to prove one’s resolve.

No animals present should be harmed or displaced.

And finally, the contents of the gathered water mustn't be strained.

Additionally, Hollow Water is at its most potent during the time of the Full Moon. In order to gather this particularly charged form of the water and maintain those special virtues, it should be gathered with a tin or tin-alloy vessel and then transferred to a clean glass container.

#hollow water #nurse water #nurse bole #nurse stump #nurse log #water magic #folk magic #american folk magic

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brayjts · 2 years

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Tsuga heterophylla

#hemlock #western hemlock #pnw #nurse stump

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frothytundra · 1 year

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Linley Valley Drive and Linley Valley Cottle Lake Parks

In between rain showers today I enjoyed a 5 km walk through Linley Valley Drive Park and part of the way into Linley Valley/Cottle Lake Park with my Monday morning hiking group. The trees were resplendent in their coatings of lichens and moss, and I also enjoyed seeing several nurse stumps. Nurse stumps are mother nature’s use of the remains of logged trees to nurture new growth. As seeds fall…

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#hiking #Linley Valley Cottle Lake Park #Linley Valley Drive Park #Nanaimo BC #nurse stump

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fisheito · 5 months

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i wanted to see altaria rei then i started goofin around

#the only ones i could see clearly were eevee eiden and morpeko morvay #i couldn't pin rei to a single mon bc i don't know a THING ABOUT HIM yet #but i want to see ghost type rei fight ghost type kuya and they're both just super effective against each other #i wonder if all the old men automatically get honourary ghost type membership. live 300 years ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: spooky #ANYWAY LET ME TALK ABOUT MY LIST #as in the list i was compiling of pokemon who matched the VIBE of someone and i couldn't decide #now BESIDES the ones req et al. already mentioned. which i already 👍👍👍 i was trying to find even moooore . exploring what could be.....#rei: altaria. marowak (alolan). noctowl. chandelure. decidueye. ribombee [a quiet friend :)]. inteleon.#once again i don't know rei's birdy deal yet so i won't (eheheh) pigeonhole him into an owl pokemon but we'll just wait and see #i had inteleon under rei before milke brought up sobble yakumo so now i'm like..... oh no...#rei fits the last evol and yakumo fits the first two.... uhhhhh #they can share. like they share gem placement. butt buddies.#yakumo had: girafarig. froslass. azurill (crying). tropius. wishiwashi. leavanny. marshadow.#i just want him to hang out with the food related mons and enjoy some fresh fruit with a giant flying dinosaur. yah #OK FOR EDMOND I SAW SIRFETCH'D AND COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING #WHAT A REGAL BOY. I HAVE TO. PLEASE I NEED EDMOND TO WIELD ONIONS #i was trying to be serious and find him a proper majestic pokesona . i swear. but the look on sirfetch'd's's face #edmond's list went: skarmory. lucario. cinccino. zeraora. dachsbun.#do i know edmond? i doubt. he's fluffy. wait no he's severe. wait no would he dare carry a fluffy cakey pokemon around? DARE HE????#for olivine i was even more stumped. seems like a lot of the pokemon i immediately thought of were the fluffy nurse types #stuff like chansey/blissey. kangaskhan.#this pokemon is 100% female? *flings pokedex out the window* no. olivine is a gender now #some of the newer pokemon i considered were bewear. drampa. mabosstiff.#but once again these were all just Protective of the Little Ones types #so i was imagining olivine just chilling with his serene smile and an army of MASSIVE CARETAKER POKEMON behind him #but. there has to be more to him than just taking care of others . furrows brow. idk. i'll settle for lapras FOR NOW #ditto eiden riding on the back of lapras. wonderful. glorious #pokemon crossover

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d3adonarrival · 30 days

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౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ

ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: centuries - fall out boy

1:28 ━━━━◉─────── 4:32

◁ㅤㅤ❚❚ㅤㅤ▷

౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ

🌿 pete / eden

they / he / it ⚔️

🌿 fob + mcr enthusiast

horror lvr !!! ⚔️

🌿 ANDY HURLEY'S #1 FAN !

widewally pete wentz ... ⚔️

🌿 just slid headfirst into cooperstown... wyd?

౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ౨ৎ

#intro post #my chemical romance #mcr #fall out boy #fob #mikey way #gerard way #frank iero #ray toro #patrick stump #pete wentz #joe trohman #andy hurley #nurse gerard #nonbinary

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bunni-writing-desk · 1 year

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I'm writing for bandom now since that's been my recent special interest!

if you're interested in requesting some bandom x reader stuff checkout

the characters (and now people) I write

and

Requesting Rules

update: Thank y'all so much for the requests, I'm closing my requests box for now to work on the ones I have currently!

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mbhfphotos · 2 years

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Old tree stumps feeding new life

Western Washington, April 22, 2022 Mary Howerton (shop)

#trees #stumps #nurse stumps #nurse stump #stump #tree stumps #nature #forest #woods #dirtcore #mosscore #forestcore #photography #aesthetic #original photography #photographers on tumblr #lensblr #pnw #washington state

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seabeck · 3 months

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Nurse stump

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pytheon · 7 months

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#february 2023 #pnw #washington #forest #moss #trees #nurse stump

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cy-cyborg · 8 months

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Tips for Writing and Drawing Amputees: Bandaged Stumps

When writing and drawing amputee characters, unless your character only just lost their limb, they don't need to wear a bandage over their stumps.

to be clear, eda's depiction in the show was fine, since she'd only just lost her arm and went (presumably) without any medical attention, but because the show didn't have much time to show her afterwards, I've noticed a tendency of the fandom to draw her wearing the bandage permanently, so that's why I'm picking on her for my example lol.

It's a bit of a trope at this point, and I think it comes from one of a few different places:

Amputees do wear bandages on their stumps, but usually only for the first 6-12 weeks post-amputation, sometimes longer if the amputation was a result of a burn. It's possible people saw this though and assumed it was permanent.

Most amputees wear a sock made of either cotton or silicone under their prosthetics to provide them with some extra padding. These socks, called liners, often stick out from the top of the prosthetic socket and could possibly be mistaken for a bandage from a distance.

Some amputees will wear compression garments for a few months to a few years after their amputations which could also be mistaken for a bandage from a distance. These garments are designed to stop swelling and reduce phantom pain, but they aren't bandages.

Stumps get cold easier because their circulation typically isn't as good as the rest of the body, so some amputees will wear socks over them even if they aren't wearing a prosthetic to keep warm, which again could be mistaken for a bandage from a distance.

This one is funny, but in my experience unfortunately, it's the most common: people think the end of an amputee's stump is just a perpetual open wound that never heals. Meaning to avoid "gore" it needs to be covered. I've met fully grown adults who believed this until I showed up to work/uni without my prosthetics or socks on.

People are uncomfortable with seeing an uncovered stump and so put bandages over it to avoid confronting their biases.

Some combination of these points.

But yeah, unless your amputee has only just lost their limb in the last few weeks, they don't need a bandage.

The ironic thing too, is that for most amputees, bandaging a stump is nearly impossible. I've been in and out of hospital since I was 1 year old and only ever met 3 nurses and no doctors/surgeons who could successfully bandage my stump in a way that the bandage would even stay on. This is because stumps are usually tapered in shape (meaning they are wider at the top, closer to the body, and thinner at the bottom), so gravity will pull the bandage off 9 times out of 10.

On a final note: it's ok to show your amputee's stump, it's not gore, there's no blood, it just looks like a regular limb that just stops early. In fact, if you are writing/creating anything for kids or that is likely to be seen by kids, I encourage you to show your amputee's stumps at least once. I used to work on a disability awareness program for kids, and I lost count of the amount of times kids were terrified of me, because they all expected my leg to be bloody and gory. For a lot of kids, I was their first real-life exposure to an amputee, meaning they'd never even heard of people like me, or they had seen an amputee on TV, but because the show went out of its way to avoid showing the person's stump, they assumed it must have been because there was "something scary at the end" that they weren't supposed to see (kids are surprisingly perceptive, they will pick up on stuff like that without you realising). And scared kids aren't good at articulating why they're scared, and would often say really mean or hurtful things to me. I knew not to take it personally and learned how to handle those situations, but not everyone is used to dealing with kids. For a new amputee (or anyone who's less confident in their disability), the kinds of things those kids would say could be absolutely confidence destroying. I never blame the kids, it's not their fault, but the whole situation could have been avoided if they had seen people like us before they had the chance to hear the wrong info. Good representation like this can be the difference between a kid crying, making throw-up sounds and calling an amputee "disgusting monsters" (all things I've had kids do/say) and them just being like "oh ok, cool."

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transbookoftheday · 2 months

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Trans Horror Podcasts

My post about trans horror books last year was much more popular than I expected, and since I've recently fallen in love with fiction podcasts and audio dramas, I thought I'd make a post about trans horror podcasts as well.

If you like trans horror, please give these a try - especially if you enjoy listening to audiobooks!

Hello From The Hallowoods:

Come walk between the black pines! In this award-winning queer fiction podcast, an eldritch narrator follows the increasingly connected residents of the forest at the end of the world. It's a bittersweet story that explores queer identity, horror genre tropes, and finding hope in humanity's last moments.

Hello From The Hallowoods is my absolute favorite podcast! If you only listen to one podcast from this list, please make it this one - it's so beautifully written and super queer! Also: season 4 starts today!

Trans main characters include:

our nonbinary eye-affiliated podcast host

a nonbinary "Frankenstein's creature"

a transmasc ghost

a genderfluid storm witch

a trans woman who can visit other people's dreams

multiple characters using neopronouns

Camp Here & There:

Good morning, campers! Camp Here & There is a weekly horror comedy podcast tuned in to the loudspeakers of a small midwestern sleepaway camp plagued by supernatural terrors and natural disasters. Sydney Sargent, resident camp nurse, cheerfully reports on all the terror we must face with a big smile. Let’s hope there’s nothing weird about that!

Sydney is a trans man.

Dos: After You:

Things have changed. Deck has fallen in love with someone who isn't human, and leaves a hungry house behind to see him again. Will he be waiting for you? The world has changed… but what about him? Dos: After You is a queer urban fantasy/horror audiodrama available in both English & Spanish

Deck is a trans man.

Jar of Rebuke:

Follow Dr. Jared Hel's journey as he works to re-discover his forgotten past and finds his place within the small Indiana farm town of Wichton and the cryptozoological organization he works for called 'The Enclosure'. These audio journals, and other recordings, dive deep into Midwestern US cryptids and folklore while also telling a mystery about identity, queerness, neurodivergence, and community.

Jared is nonbinary.

Spirit Box Radio:

Spirit Box Radio is an award winning, horror audio drama podcast about a radio show for enthusiasts of all things arcane. Follow Sam Enfield a former postboy with no experience in the arcane arts, who finds themselves forced to take over running the show, following the disappearance of the previous host. Sam soon discovers there are more than ghosts haunting the show, and finds himself amidst a mystery which threatens everything he knows about the world beyond his tiny basement broadcast studio, and maybe even himself.

Sam is a trans man.

The Silt Verses:

Carpenter and Faulkner, two worshippers of an outlawed god, travel up the length of their deity’s great black river, searching for holy revelations amongst the reeds and the wetlands. As their pilgrimage lengthens and the river’s mysteries deepen, the two acolytes find themselves under threat from a police manhunt, but also come into conflict with the weirder gods that have flourished in these forgotten rural territories. This is a world where divine intervention takes place through prayer-markings scratched into stumping-posts, and offerings are left squirming to die in the flats of the delta. This is a world of ritual, and hidden language, and sacrifice. This is folk horror, and fantasy, and a dark road trip into the depths of unusual faith.

Faulkner is a trans man.

The Magnus Protocol:

The Magnus Archives 2: The Magnus Protocol is the prequel/sequel/”sidequel” to the internationally renowned Magnus Archives podcast. The Magnus Institute was an organisation dedicated to academic research into the esoteric and the paranormal, based out of Manchester, England. It burned to the ground in 1999. There were no survivors. Now, almost 25 years later, Alice and Sam, a pair of low-level civil service workers at the underfunded Office of Incident Assessment and Response, have stumbled across its legacy. A legacy that will put them in grave danger. If this intrigues you then it is our pleasure to welcome you to the Office of Incident, Assessment and Response. Make sure you pick up your badge at desk and report to your line manager before sitting down. Oh and stay away from I.T., seriously.

I'm not sure if Alice is canonically trans, but her voice actress is a trans woman.

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woso-dreamzzz · 3 months

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Firsts

Hardersson x Baby!Reader

Part of The Big Adventures Universe

Summary: Your first week at home

You get to come home the day after you're born.

Thankfully, you sleep the entire time though Pernille stays in the back with you just in case. It's a little strange, she thinks. The last time she was home, she was pregnant. Now she has you.

Your name is decided the day you come home and you do little but nap and eat. You're a little devil that first night and wake up on the hour, every hour to cry and feed.

Pernille has to get up because she's practically your walking food source but Magda gets up in solidarity too (though it's mainly to coo in awe at you).

The next day is more active. Magda drives you all to the registry office where they finalise your name and then to the embassies to register you as a citizen of Denmark and Sweden.

You seem to like the car because it sends you to sleep every time but dislike leaving it because you cry and whine until one of them holds you nice and tight.

You seem to like affection though. You're most content in Pernille and Magda's arms and you get all wiggly and weird when you're put in your car seat or crib. Magda can't quite tell yet if you just like their presence or if it's because of their warmth. Either way, she doesn't really care, more than happy to give in to your every need.

She takes a lot of pictures of you, sending them to family members who lament about not being able to visit but promise to book tickets to Germany very soon.

The exhaustion kicks in around day three. You haven't settled since your last feed of the night and Pernille's practically falling asleep in her seat as you suckle at her insistently.

Her eyes slip closed every few seconds and she has to wrench them open each time just in case something happens to you. Magda looks to be in a similar state as she lies on the floor at Pernille's feet, snoring softly before lifting her head when Pernille nudges at her.

"Huh?" She asks groggily," Wha's...Wha's goin' on?" Her words are slurred and she blinks the sleep from her eyes.

"She needs a change," Pernille says, unlatching you and handing you down to Magda.

Magda mechanically takes you, still completely exhausted but still awake enough to hold your properly.

You scrunch up your face in annoyance when she strips you of your babygrow and changes your nappy. It's one of the few things Magda can say that you absolutely hate. You screech loudly and kick out your little, uncoordinated limbs while Magda scrunches up her nose at the smell.

You're a little darling most of the time but she absolutely hates changing you. She thinks it's a fair exchange though. Pernille's barely producing enough milk to keep you full so there's none to express and put in bottles for Magda to use to feed you so Pernille stays as your sole feeder and Magda does the changing.

The little stump where your umbilical cord used to be looks fine when Magda checks it, a habit she has found herself doing ever since the nurse said that there was always a slight chance of infection. She tickles your stomach to distract you as she slips on a new nappy and buttons up your babygrow again.

"There," Magda says," All done!"

She picks you up and brings you into the crook of her neck. You're rooting immediately, trying to suck in her collarbone like it's going to get you milk.

Magda laughs a little, patting you on the back softly.

Day four and five happen much the same with the three of you trapped in your sweet little bubble at home.

Day six doesn't have much excitement either apart from the Wolfsburg chat blowing up when Nilla finally lets slip that Pernille has had you.

Most of the day is spent on a video call with you propped up on Magda's chest as Pernille shows you off to the camera. Everyone coos and awes over you as you yawn and clench your little fist.

Pernille swipes a finger against your cheek to show off how much you like to eat because you automatically move your face towards the pressure and start trying to root, searching for her breast.

It causes a fresh wave of coos to sound from the phone.

It makes you demonstrate your startle reflex expertly as your eyes go wide and you fling your arms out.

Magda likes to say that she knows you're going to be smart when you grow up just by how strong your instincts are but Pernille's planning on waiting until you're at least strong enough to hold up your own head to make such judgements.

"She's so pretty," Noelle coos from where she's squished between Ewa and Sara on the screen," When can we come to see her?"

"Pernille will come to you guys," Magda says as she holds you a little tighter with a wink to the camera. "We're keeping her to ourselves right now."

"Unfair," Ewa complains," Why can't we get baby love too?"

"Baby love is reserved for her mothers right now," Pernille laughs as she begins to say her goodbyes to everyone.

"How long do you think you can hold them off?"

"Probably until you leave. Frido, though, should probably get told before Nilla blabs to her too."

Magda sighs deeply. "I'll text her later."

"You better hurry," Pernille says," Or you're going to get a very angry phone call later."

On your seventh day at home, you let Magda know how you feel about her taking you from Pernille's breast before you're ready by spitting up all over her back when she tries to wind you.

Somehow, you've even gotten some under her shirt and she can feel the milky mixture slide down her skin.

Half-delirious from sleep exhaustion, Pernille finds this hysterical and laughs until she cries as Magda can do nothing but writhe in disgust.

"Pernille!" She whines," Stop laughing! Hold her so I can change!"

Pernille is still hysterically laughing as Magda feels your spit meet her waistband. To your credit, you're not crying or anything. You're just happily blowing spit bubbles out of your milk as Magda wriggles around.

"I've got her, I've got her," Pernille giggles as she takes you and mops up your face," Go and change. You smell."

"It's her fault!"

"Don't blame, princesse! She's just a baby!"

#woso x reader #hardersson x reader #pernille harder x reader #pernille harder #magdalena eriksson x reader #magdalena eriksson #woso community #woso fanfics #woso imagine #woso #The Big Adventures Universe

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flowersandbigteeth · 4 months

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Your orc husband comes to fetch you

A little thing to start 2024. I've gotten lots of requests for more orcs ^_^

General Plot: Your husband finds out you've been injured in battle and comes to fetch you.

Orc (Reven) x GN reader

Word count: 1K-ish

More SFW fics

TW: Mention of amputation, mention of break up, hurt comfort, sfw fluff, size difference

“Heard the news?” Reven’s client asked, a brave move considering the razor at his throat.

Skilled fingers never wavering as he drew the blade across his client's chin, he let out a bored grunt, focused on his task.

“There’s rarely any news that hasn't made it through the shop.”

His client’s eyes twinkled, eager to share some gossip.

“They say the Dragon Slayer is retiring.”

Reven’s graceful stroke paused, and he pulled his hand back before he sliced the man's cheek.

“Oh? I thought they’d never give up their crusade.”

“Word is the crusade is over. The dragons pillaging Walker’s Keep are dead. The slayer killed them all.”

Reven took a deep breath before asking his next question.

“Will they be returning to their homeland?”

The client snorted.

“If they ever leave the hospital. They were gravely wounded in the final battle. Thank the Goddess the dragon’s gone, they won't be doing much-”

The razor clattered to the floor with a metallic clang, and Reven’s feet carried him out the front door of his barbershop without a word to the half-shaved client sitting in his chair.

He left his crinkled apron in the dirt as he mounted his horse and steered her towards the road to Walker’s Keep.

–

“Come on hero, eat a little,” one of the nurses at the clinic urged you, holding up a spoon of oatmeal.

You waved it away with your remaining hand, your face a miserable, twisted version of itself.

She huffed, getting annoyed.

“You haven't eaten in three days! It's only a hand. Some of the people here have lost brain matter, their genitals…You've already killed the dragons. You don't need-”

A clamor outside the door of your hospital room cut off her little tirade.

An orderly’s deep voice drifted through the door.

“Sir! Only family can-”

“I am family, dammit. I'm their husband!”

Reven’s familiar baritone made your heart flutter. Still, you were afraid. It had been so long since you'd seen one another. Three years and you hadn't parted on a happy note.

The door flew open, and there he was, his massive shoulders filling the frame, emerald green skin as rich as you remembered it. He’d changed his hair, no longer cropped around his ears, but long hanging in a thick ponytail over his shoulders.

He tipped his head to enter the room, dark eyes on you, and his lips twisted around his tusks in an expression you remembered as annoyance.

“Get out,” he barked at the nurse, and she shuffled past him without question.

Your voice was only a murmur.

“You came.”

“Of course, I came. I would have come sooner, but someone failed to send their spouse a note mentioning they’d lost their hand!”

Your eyes dipped, full of shame.

You'd left Reven on a cold December night. He'd begged you not to go, cried, yelled, and made you a million promises if you'd just let someone else handle the mission. But no, you had to be a hero, and look what that brought you. You were broken and useless, alone in a hospital bed.

“Stop thinking so hard,” he muttered, chestnut eyes roving over you, ever analytical.

He crossed the room and plopped down on the bed, holding his hand out.

“What?” you asked.

“Let me see it.”

You stretched your bandaged stump to him, and he fingered it gingerly. For an Orc he had nimble fingers honed by years as a barber.

“Bah…Just a scratch.”

He gently placed it in his lap, twisting his body so the two of you were face to face.

“It's my sword hand. I'll never kill another dragon.”

His head tipped to the side.

“I've heard the dragons are dead.”

“They are, but-”

“But nothing. You accomplished your mission…sacrificed for the kingdom…It's time to come home.”

You blinked at him, tears burning the backs of your eyes.

“You want me to come home? I'm…I'm useless.”

He chuckled.

“Nothing's changed without your hand. You've never been good at anything but killing.”

“Swordsmanship was my only skill.”

“A stupid one.”

His lips twisted around his tusks again, but this time with amusement. Large fingers slipped over your cheek, and he pulled your head to him, brushing his lips over yours. His scent and taste were so familiar. It was as if you'd been holding your breath the three years you'd been gone and could finally get some oxygen. When he pulled back, he looked down at you, expression solemn.

“I wrote you letters. You never wrote back. Did you toss them all out?”

You shook your head, trying to hold the tears back. The Dragon Slayer crying was embarrassing. You nodded to the small chest where the nurses had placed your belongings.

Reven crossed the room, opening the box and pulling out a stack of letters tied with a green ribbon you’d come across.

“I didn’t know what to say. I felt…guilty…I guess.”

He tossed them on your lap, narrowing his eyes at you.

“Hello. I love you, would have sufficed.”

“I’m sorry, Reven. I left and ruined myself when I could have been home with you. I could have been happy.”

“You killed the dragons, accomplished your goal…You aren’t happy?”

“It feels emptier than I thought it would. I left you alone. Anything could have happened to you, and I would have lost my chance to see you again.”

He chuckled.

“I’m not helpless.”

“I left you alone. It’s unforgivable.”

“That’s for me to decide.”

You looked up at him, searching his eyes.

“You’d forgive me? I don’t deserve it. I got hurt. You told me this would happen, and I didn’t listen. Now I’m just a burden and a fool.”

He sighed and pushed you to the side, sliding into bed with you before pulling you back into his lap. His nose grazed the column of your neck, and you felt him breathe in your scent.

“Maybe a fool, but never a burden, and being foolish doesn’t make you unlovable. I missed you (Y/N).”

“I missed you, too.”

“You weren’t the only fool.”

“You started dating another bloodthirsty idiot while I was away?”

“I should have come with you. I was angry at you, but that didn’t last long. Then I was bitter you hadn’t asked me to join you, and I didn’t insist.”

“Kharma caught up to me.”

“If you hadn’t lost your hand, would you still be gallivanting over the countryside fighting monsters?”

“Probably.”

He buried his face in your neck, and you felt the slight wetness of tears against your skin.

“I don’t think it was Kharma…I think it was Fate.”

“Fate?”

“Fate spared two idiots unwilling to budge.”

You sat on those words for a few minutes, the heat of Reven’s body seeping into your bones. You could never quite get warm the entire time you’d been gone, no matter how many furs you donned. You always felt cold, even with the heat of the dragon’s flame singing the tips of your eyelashes.

“Don’t leave again,” he whispered.

“It wasn’t worth it. I’d read and reread your letters all those lonely nights, wishing I had the strength to abandon my quest and return. I was afraid…I’ve never been afraid before. I’ve killed monsters my whole life and never felt fear, but the thought that you might reject me if I walked through those doors…that I’d come home to find some other lover warming your bed…our home…”

You felt Reven smile into your skin.

“There aren’t too many half-feral sword-wielding jocks roaming around Elderoak. That’s what I go for.”

“Thank you for coming to get me, Reven.”

“I should have come sooner.”

“I wouldn’t have listened.”

“I’m bigger than you. I should have thrown you over my shoulder and taken you home.”

“And now…?”

“You could walk…or I could throw you over my shoulder anyway if you like that sort of thing.”

You twisted your body to snuggle deeper into Reven’s arms. You finally felt warm for the first time in three years.

“Did the doctor clear you to leave?”

“They’ve done all they can…they were waiting on me to eat.”

You felt his chest shudder as he chuckled.

“You don’t want cold hospital gruel? Spoiled.”

“Not spoiled enough. I miss your cooking. I want to go home.”

He hopped to his feet, making you jump as he hoisted you princess-style into his arms.

“I’ll come back for your things,” he promised as he carried you out the door.

“Forget about it…It’s just armor and weapons I don’t need anymore. The letters are the only things I want to keep.”

“Are you sure? They’re a little sad. I missed you so badly…I whined more than anything.”

“I want them to…remember how unfair it was…everything I put you through to stroke my own pride.”

He lifted you up to his lips to press a heavy kiss into your forehead.

“Even if you forget, I’ll make you remember. You left, but I let you go. I’m sorry for that (Y/N).”

“Then we’re both sorry.”

Your stomach grumbled loudly, and Reven laughed again.

“Sorry and hungry. Think you can get down some tavern food? It’s not my cooking, but you can’t wait to eat until we get back to Elderoak.”

You looked up at him, cupping his thick jaw with your remaining hand.

“In your company, it’s just as good.”

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