#we are just going to relax in camp now. we are battled out. we just want to throw balls around the camp and eat curry for 20 years

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Hi, how are you? Hope everything's peachy. I've been waiting for your requests to be open since probably December. I figured, maybe I could leave you my thoughts and you'll decide what to do with them. Is that fine? 😅 You can throw it straight to the trash if you'd like.

So that now every F1 Team have a girl driver in F1 Academy, I thought maybe they want to promote the Academy more and includes it in DTS series. So the reader is a driver for Ferrari. They assign her to Carlos and they've to film a Training camp before the season. Carlos sort of being her PT. Plot twist: they HATE each other. But their combined fury can easily catch on fire and lead them to other type of sport, more sensual one. So it's like enemies but/to lovers sort of thing. A lot of arguing, angst but also a bunch of steamy sex

The Uphill Battle || CS55

Warnings: Smut, angst, name calling WC: 1.8k

Pre-season Training - Dolomites This had to be the worst PR disaster in the making. Whoever thought it would be a great idea to pair you up with Jr Sainz needed to fall right off this mountainside. To make matters worse, they had a TV crew following you around all day and you were fairly sure your suite was bugged like Big Brother.

“Hurry up, I want to make it back in time for dinner,” Carlos growled as he stopped to look back at you. 

You narrowed your eyes, not that he could see them beneath the snow goggles, and sarcastically replied, “Oh no, baby boy can’t go to bed without his supper.”

He stabbed his sticks into the snow and pulled his googles up over his beanie. “You think I want to be out here babysitting a spoiled little brat? I am crawling just so you don’t get left behind and lost up here. Pick. Up. The. Pace.”

“Fuck you,” you spat as you pushed harder, your calves protesting the hardship you were putting them through to prove a point. You overtook the Spaniard and made sure to only just miss his foot from the piercing pike on your ski stick. “Keep up, Junior.”

You were both panting by the time you arrived back at the luxury accommodation in the resort town at the base of the mountain. You were starving but you were also damp with sweat beneath the layers of cashmere and feather-stuffed coats so you went straight to the private pool. You figured after the whining Carlos had done about his dinner you wouldn’t be disturbed in the heated outdoor pool, but you were wrong.

Carlos curled a brow at the trail of clothes that led from the twin penthouse suites to the rooftop pool they shared, each layer getting thinner until it ended with a sports bra and panties. Snow littered the ground and he shivered in his bathrobe as he watched you float on the surface of the steaming water with your eyes closed. You looked relaxed, peaceful. It was a look he rarely saw on your face and it immediately washed away when you opened your eyes and caught him watching.

“Dirty perv,” you hissed as you slipped back beneath the water up to your neck and covered your breasts. 

“I’m not the one going for a skinny dip. You’re just looking for attention.”

“I don’t have to look for attention, it comes looking for me,” you said as you eyed up the goosebumps on his legs below the robe. “I figured you were too busy stuffing your face.”

“The Netflix crew were in the dining hall,” he admitted quietly.

“Ah, so you are not nearly as comfortable in front of them as you act. Could have fooled me.”

“I don’t think that would be hard.”

“I hope your balls get frostbite.”

Carlos winced at the idea and took a step closer to the water's edge and the warmth it promised. 

“If you get in here with me we are going to have a problem,” you warned, swimming closer to defend your territory. “There’s no cameras around to keep you safe.”

Carlo snickered and dipped his foot in. “I’ve seen your training in the ring, I think I can handle it.”

“Brave words when you are all the way over there.”

Your blood could have heated the water to boiling point as he slipped his robe off and tossed it over the rail before taking another step in, then another. You watched the water disappear over his skin tight trunks and darken the happy trail before rising over his abs. The team at Ferrari at least assigned you someone who was taking their PT position seriously, you could see from his physique that he kept his own routine solid and you could learn a thing or two - if he wasn’t such an asshole.

“Take a picture, malcriada,” he said with a wink when your eyes finally reached his face.

“Such a shame,” you murmured wistfully.

“What?”

You dragged your eyes back over his body before sighing. “That a body that fine has a personality like yours.”

A wave splashed over you as he dove into the water and you lost sight of him in the dark. You should have put the underwater lights on but hadn’t wanted to light the water up when you hadn’t bothered to even change into a bikini. 

A large hand grabbed your ankle and you barely had time to inhale a breath before you were pulled under. Just as quickly as he grabbed you, he was gone again and you spluttered to the surface, wiping the water from your eyes. “Asshole!” 

“Is that the best you can do?” he laughed from the edge he was leisurely reclining against. 

“Come here and find out.”

He slipped beneath the water but this time you were prepared and met him halfway. Your bodies collided, twisting and turning trying to fathom some kind of dominance until your legs wrapped around his waist and he sank to the bottom with you on top. His hands found your thighs and dug into the soft skin until your lips parted with a sudden thought and the last of your air bubbled to the surface. 

“Not the attack I was expecting,” he taunted as he rose to the surface behind you. The water falling from his hair cooled as it dropped to your shoulder and his hand traced the curve of your neck. “Someone plays dirty.”

“I’m not playing.” Your voice wasn’t the cold detached sound you had hoped it would be, but a needy sigh. Your legs pressed together and you were suddenly reminded of how very naked you were. 

“Is that another invitation? You almost won that time.”

You turned around with a glare to find his smirk growing as wide as his pupils as he looked down at your body. “It’s not a fair fight anyway. I am naked and vulnerable.”

He chuckled at that. “I don’t think anyone could mistake you as vulnerable, malcriada, not with that prickly attitude and sharp tongue. But, if it would make you feel better about losing again…” his hands brushed over his hips and pushed his trunks down his thighs before he tossed them out of the pool. “Happy now?”

“I’m certainly something,” you murmured before realising you spoke aloud. Anger flushed your body again at the distraction he caused and you shoved your hand across the surface, spraying him in the face with the water. His momentary surprise was only that, momentary, and he leapt into your personal space with his own attack.

You weren’t quite sure how it happened, or how it started. Maybe the tension that had been brimming all week finally reached its breaking point and it was a mutual decision. One moment you were writhing to escape from his attack, your hands trying to find purchase on his body as you wriggled in his arms, the next you were writhing for an entirely different reason. 

His chest brushed over your sensitive peaks and your nails scraped down his back. Your legs tightened around his waist and felt the large length pressed between your stomachs. Your heads broke the surface but the gasp had nothing to do with the need for air when his palms squeezed your ass to hold you still. 

“What are you doing?” you moaned as you clit pressed to his shaft and every little movement rode you over the rigid veins. 

“I’m not doing anything,” he rasped, his voice dropping as he felt the heat of your core on him. “I’m trying to not fuck you right now.”

“Right, because you hate me,” you laughed humorlessly as you tried to wriggle out of his grasp but you both moaned at the feeling.

“No, because you hate me.”

It had been a while since you last had sex, that was the excuse you gave for being so needy and wanting to be filled right at that moment. “I can hate you and still want to fuck.”

Carlos stared into your eyes and saw the desire in them, felt the desire that had your nipples hard and begging for his mouth. “Fuck it,” he decided aloud. “I can hate you and still make you come.”

“Bold words.”

He didn’t give you a response, at least not in words. His strong hands lifted you higher and pulled you back down on his cock. Your teeth clamped around the muscle where his shoulder met his neck and he groaned at the pain and your muffled cry. 

“Fuck, you’re tight.”

“You’re too big,” you whispered as he slowly speared you down his shaft until you looked down your body expecting to see a bugle at your belly button. Easing you back up, he set a slow rhythm as your body adjusted to his size and walked you both to the edge of the pool.

“You can take it,” he promised as your legs untangled from around him and you found yourself facing the mountain you had climbed earlier. His hips snapped forward and buried himself back in you from behind and your cry echoed out into the night. “That’s it, make an avalanche, malcriada.”

You didn’t care that he called you brat. You didn’t care if you brought the mountain down on the whole town. You only cared about reaching your own high and you chased it with your hips, pushing back to meet him stroke for stroke. Waves rippled out across the water and soon turned to splashes as your core tightened and those ripples began to make their way down your spine.

“I can feel you shaking,” he teased in your ear, his hand snaking over your hip to find your clit. “Let go, dulce, let me feel you come.”

Your eyes slammed shut as waves of pleasure rocked through you and his name tumbled from your lips, betraying yourself with the reverent tone it held. His pleasure grew at the sound and he slammed himself as deep as he could in your cunt, letting your tight walls milk him as he came. There should have been anger at the idea of being filled with his seed, but you took delight in the liquid warmth pooling inside you. You had made him come undone, it was a win of sorts in your mind.

Satisfied for the moment, you pushed his body back and walked up the steps, into the biting cold night. Carlos was still high from his release and he didn't realise until it was too late. You were already halfway to the suites when he noticed his robe was missing, a quick scan of the snow confirmed his trunks had found the same fate.

“Brat!” he called out as you disappeared inside.

“Asshole.”

Click here for part two.

#carlos sainz fanfic #carlos sainz imagine #carlos sainz x reader #carlos sainz x you #carlos sainz smut #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #f1 smut #f1 x reader #f1 x y/n #f1 x you

[m00nlight-ramblings]

Before the Happiness

After developing feelings for Astarion, it becomes clear to you that this is uncharted territory...and not just for you.

Pairings: Astarion x female Tav

Warnings: smut, fluff, angst, dual pov. MINORS DNI, 18+

Word Count: 4.4k

Requested: yes

A/N: Graphic made by me, I do not give permission to share it without asking.

The conversation and laughter around you had lulled to a dull roar as the night sky darkened. Sitting diagonal from Astarion at the campfire, you watched his lips move, almost in slow motion. You couldn’t focus on anything else – the rest of the party were conversing over bottles of wine that you all had found earlier in an abandoned village’s pub. Deciding to stay in the same campsite for two days as an extended rest, Karlach and Gale had the big idea of taking it easy and getting drunk – “to relax, and build morale!” Karlach had claimed.

Too bad you couldn’t take your eyes off of the fair-haired vampire across from you.

What started as an innocent crush – who could blame you, with Astarion being so cocky, and so charming, and so handsome? – quickly turned into something more. Now, you were unfortunately dealing with what you were sure was an unrequited love on one of Faerun’s biggest lady killers.

Figuratively, and literally.

“What say you, Tav?” Wyll asked, elbowing you gently. Snapping you back to reality, you immediately brought your goblet of wine up to your lips to buy yourself some time.

“Sorry, what?” You asked Wyll, keeping your gaze on your goblet. You felt a blush creeping to your lips…hopefully, no one had noticed your total focus on Astarion.

“Gale here was just saying that he could easily have taken on that hoard of goblins we came across this morning by himself!” Wyll chuckled, nodding towards Gale, “Him! Against 20 goblins himself! I say bullshit.”

“Now, now,” Gale interrupted, readying to defend himself, “I said if I had the proper time to prepare my spells correctly, I could easily fight against them-”

“Well, of course, if you had time to properly prepare for battle, you are more able to fight,” Shadowheart retorted, rolling her eyes, “But that’s not the point of battle.”

“Well…” You started as the party erupted into conversations about the designs of battle. As mini discussions started, you swept your eyes across the rest of the party, all who were animatedly debating whether they were for or against Gale’s point.

All, except for Astarion.

Once your eyes met his, you were locked on. He was absentmindedly swirling the wine in his goblet, his eyes unwavering against yours. Face completely unreadable, he caused heat to rise in you. You looked away quickly, only to check again to see if he was still looking at you.

He was.

You felt panic start in your fingertips as you gulped down the rest of your wine and immediately put your goblet down next to you. Standing, you wiped your hands on your pants.

“I’m going for a walk – I need some air.” You announced to no one (as they were still engulfed in their can-Gale-fight-20-goblins discussion). Without hesitation, you made your way to the creek a little bit beyond your campsite. Through the trees, the only noise was the fading of voices and the snapping of twigs beneath your camp boots. Finally reaching the creek, you were able to breathe out a sigh of relief, leaning against the nearest tree.

Your infatuation with Astarion was a point of panic for you – having never been in love (nor never had a partner before), you found yourself in undiscovered territory. You spent your whole life training as a fighter, not a girlfriend. So of course, the irony of it all would be that your first love would be a man who had so much experience, he would make the employees at Sharess’ Caress blush. He also happened to be a man that, though kind enough, wasn’t exactly a buddy. Astarion wouldn’t be the first person you’d reach out to in times of trouble at camp, no matter how much you wanted to. You and Astarion hadn’t had any talks where you were able to divulge your backstories – the only thing you knew about him was that he was a vampire, and his past with Cazador, really.

Oh, and that he was really, absurdly sexy.

You had only hoped that the others around you – especially Astarion – didn’t notice the extra time you spent staring at his face when you hoped no one was watching. Or the fact that your laugh was the loudest when he told funny stories around the campfire. Or that when travelling, you often found yourself walking near him.

“Are you alright?” A voice asked, forcing your eyes to pop open. You whipped around from the tree, finding Astarion step out from behind the forest. A friendly smile played on his lips, putting your thundering heart at ease slightly.

“Oh…yes, I’m fine. Thank you…I think I’ve had too much wine.” You said, quickly making up an excuse, “I guess my body has forgotten how to drink since we started this journey…since…we haven’t really had any wine…since…we started journeying.”

Smooth.

Astarion let out a chuckle, meeting you at the tree you were leaning against. “Ah yes, that makes…sense.” He paused the same way you had. You locked eyes and he broke out in a smile, and you realized he was teasing you. Your heart sped.

“You know what I mean…” You grumbled, kicking a rock in front of you and blushing.

“Yes, yes. I certainly do,” He paused for a moment, looking out at the creek. He didn’t speak, and you were suddenly aware of how loud the running of the water was. “I was worried about you when you ran off so suddenly. I was hoping you weren’t feeling ill.”

“Oh! Oh, no, I’m fine,” You felt flustered – Astarion? Worried about you? “Thank you, though…for checking on me.”

His eyes flickered down to your lips for a split second before returning to your eyes. For a moment, his eyes seemed to change…were they darker somehow? But he blinked, and they returned to his normal ruby red. He raised his eyebrows and he nodded, gracefully slipping his hands into his pants pockets. “You are welcome.”

“I’m feeling better, if you wanted to walk back to the campfire…with me?” You asked hesitantly. Gods, he was just a man! He wasn’t some sort of monstrous creature…so why did he make you so nervous?

Smiling, Astarion raised his arm as if to say, lead the way, “After you.”

You nodded and walked past him, ready to shake off your nerves. You committed to yourself to go back to the campfire and not look at Astarion once. You needed to be objective about your feelings towards him, no matter how strong they were. After all, you all had a mission to complete, and falling in love would simply get in the way. Leave your thoughts of Astarion when you were alone in your bed, drifting off to sleep – not when you were needed to be present.

Suddenly, Astarion gently grabbed your wrist. His fingers were ice cold as you expected, but it still sent a shiver down your spine. “I want to say something to you.” He started. You felt a lump in your throat, unable to speak. You simply nodded, your nerves making you unable to look at him.

“I have noticed that you and I haven’t been able to…get to know each other as much as the others,” His voice, barely above a whisper, was confident and sultry. “I would like that to change. I do enjoy your company very much. And after all, who knows how long we will be spending with each other until we can reclaim our minds from these wretched tadpoles, no?”

You swallowed and nodded, turning to look at him. His eyes glittered, mischievously. His signatured smirk was on his face as he slowly let go of your wrist. Somehow, his icy fingers left your skin burning.

“I would like that,” You eventually say, over the pounding of your heartbeat in your ears, “I also enjoy your…” Gulp. “Company.”

“Wonderful,” Astarion said. “Well, now that that’s settled, let’s get back to camp, shall we?” And even though he originally had you lead the way, he started off to camp first, leaving you a few steps behind.

Not that you minded…you obviously had to use this time to collect your thoughts.

Astarion wasn’t quite sure what had come over him at the party’s get-together the previous evening, but once he had seen you (very obviously) fixating on him from across the fire, something in him snapped.

Sure, he had noticed you immediately when he had joined the party – your kind eyes, and beautiful hair. Not to mention your lyrical laugh, and curvy body…the same one where, the mere thought of could keep him up all night…

It was safe to say he had developed strong feelings for you, so Astarion decided to do what he did best – keep a safe distance, and play it cool. There was no way romance and love and feelings would be a good idea in any sense.

Especially when he knew that your feelings were probably just lust.

Love was something so far from Astarion’s lexicon, he couldn’t even remember the last time he felt it. No one could ever love him – not after everything he had done, or even because of who he was. Worthless, disgusting, abysmal…there weren’t enough words to describe Astarion’s shortcomings.

Astarion was very aware of what many others thought of him – his only redeeming quality to the world was his looks, so the idea that people only wanted to fuck and leave was not a new concept. Though he couldn’t necessarily get himself into that particular situation all that much while under Cazador (though he somehow was able to sneak away for an hour or two while completing a mission), he saw how people looked at him on this journey.

It would’ve been flattering to him if he didn’t hate himself so much.

So the idea that your feelings – which were always written all over your face – could be any more than a fantasy of bedding him, was preposterous. Up until now, Astarion would be able to push that aside for a night or two in order to satiate his (and your) need to get off, but something inside him told him that his feelings would get in the way. His fantasies about you weren’t just sexual…sometimes, his mind wandered to holding you in his arms, or simply eating a meal with you by the campfire.

Or even worse…a future with you. One that didn’t include tadpoles and battles, but of sleeping in a fluffy bed with you on a Sunday morning; of going to the town market together to complete your errands, and of owning a cat with you.

Which, truth be told, scared him more than anything.

So when he found himself following you to the creek after you had left the campfire that evening without even thinking about it, he knew he was in trouble. Gone was any sense in his brain; instead, he knew his heart was taking over, and for whatever reason, he decided to go along with it. Maybe it was because his feelings were too strong, or that he couldn’t help himself, but he knew he needed to finally be around you more.

Even if that meant you wanted nothing more than a dirty fuck.

A few days after the night at the campfire (and - surprise, surprise - another night of drinking the following evening), you found yourself once again headed towards Baldur's Gate, party and belongings in tow. Since then, you and Astarion had fallen into your familiar rhythm of what seemed like standoffishness, but now with more smiles and pleasantries peppered in. Which, was more than okay with you, since the very idea of Astarion becoming close seemed to scare you.

However, your heart couldn't help but flutter when the surprisingly flirty remark Astarion made was thrown your way. So much so that you didn't mind the curious glances from Lae'zel, or Gale.

"C'mon, you have to tell us!" Karlach pleaded while on the road, her voice a hoarse whisper as to not draw attention, "What is going on between you and Astarion?! Don't think I didn't notice, soldier...him running after you the other night? And now he's flirting with you...complimenting you?! The others may not be noticing all that much, but I certainly am!"

You laughed nervously and swatted your hand in the air as if to say, it's nothing! "Oh, you know Astarion. He flirts with everyone!"

"Yeah, but this is the first time he's flirting with you," Karlach retorted. "Which, took long enough since Gods, you're hot! But, don't think I haven't noticed the change in attitude between you two."

A blush crept to your face as you felt yourself unable to look away from the back of Astarion's head, who was walking a few paces ahead of you, discussing something with Halsin very intently. Your mind wandered to other things as your eyes scanned his body...his back, his behind...how both of them would look naked.

"Alright, I'm leaving you to whatever weird fantasy is currently going on in that brain of yours, okay?" Karlach finally said, pulling you out of your daydream. She playfully shoved your shoulder and walked faster, stepping in line with Shadowheart at the front of the pack. As she passed, Astarion slowly turned his head to look at you, Halsin still blabbering away in his ear. Your heart leapt to your throat as you locked eyes with him.

He had definitely heard.

The night had fallen silently, the only noise in camp being crickets chirping away. The oil lamp in your tent flickered as you pulled the blanket on your bed closer to your body. The book you were reading was propped up in your lap, and you reveled in the peace of the evening - retiring to your tent early, you heard exactly when everyone else had gone to sleep. Sure, you probably should have been sleeping already since Wyll insisted on an early morning start, but you wanted to enjoy your book for just a few more moments.

Suddenly, a rustling came from the front of your tent, the sound of someone announcing themselves.

"It's me," Astarion's voice called, "Are you decent?"

"Um-" You threw the book closed and swept the blanket off of you in a panic, though there was literally nothing to panic about. Rising from the bed quickly, you started to pace your tent, "Yes. Come in."

The flap to your tent was quickly undid and thrust open. Astarion strode in and redid the flap with ease. He looked down, and once he realized you had enchanted your tent with a wooden floor, slipped off his camp shoes. When he looked back up at you, he smiled.

"Good evening, darling."

"Good evening." You said, holding your hands behind your back. You plastered a smile on your face, trying to suppress the urge to smooth your hair. A moment of silence passed by before you snapped into action, "Would you like to sit?" You asked, motioning to your bed.

"Ah, yes. Thank you." Astarion said awkwardly, moving towards the bed. He sat at the far corner, causing you to sit at the opposite side.

How funny...with how badly you wanted to jump his bones, you'd think you wouldn't be on basically the other side of the world.

"Well, darling, I just came here tonight to...see how you were doing?" Astarion started, looking at you. You couldn't help but smile as he leaned back on the footpost of your bed.

"How I'm doing?" You clarified.

He nodded, "Yes, as friends do. That's what we're working towards," He paused, his eyes flickering down your body. Then, his eyes did the thing - darkened slightly, causing an indescribable look to cross his face.

Suddenly, you recognized that it wasn't an indescribable look.

It was lust.

"Friends, correct? That's what we're looking for." He finally finished, meeting your eyes again. This time, his eyes stayed dark, running his tongue quickly over his lips to moisten them.

You heart began to thud and you shifted in your nightclothes, arousal springing in your belly. Just Astarion's look alone and you were suddenly putty in his hands.

"Y-yes. Friends...that's what we are." You quietly confirmed. Feeling bold - you couldn't believe that Astarion was feeling lustful towards you! Could it be a mistake? - you scooted a bit closer and leaned in slightly, "Unless you had...other plans."

Astarion smirked and cocked and eyebrow, mirroring your body language by scooting closer. "Darling...are you coming on to me?" His voice was low, floating to your ears. You began to feel warm, a bit of sweat pooling on your brow. "If so...well, that changes everything."

"Does it now?" You murmured, staring at his lips. Your boldness surprised you - you were surprised that the first time you took a chance with Astarion was working in your favor.

Not that you were complaining.

As your heart started to beat faster, Astarion slid closer to you, closing the gap between your bodies. His hand slowly snaked up your side, his pointer finger lightly tracing your thigh. He moved in, his lips mere inches from yours.

"Say the word", He said, his voice ringing in your ears, "And tonight, I'm yours. But I will not continue unless you say it."

Your belly pooled with heat, and you couldn't contain yourself, no matter how nervous you were, "Then be mine tonight."

At once Astarion was on top of you, his lips pressed against yours. Spreading his legs so that yours were in between his, he pressed himself down on your body, his erection already prominent. You moaned into the kiss, causing him to deepen it.

"Astarion," You breathed as he pulled away slightly, starting to push your sleep shirt up from the bottom. He smiled as he quickly looked into your eyes, finally finding your lips with his again.

"If this is what friendship means for us, then I cannot wait to get closer." He spoke teasingly, his words sloppy, encased in your lips. You giggled through the kiss and suddenly gasped as you felt his cold hands on your sides, under your shirt.

You heart raced as your hands found their way to Astarion's shirt, pulling it above his head. You ran your fingers down his chest, taking in the sight before you. He paused, obviously loving the attention. A smirk played on his lips as he pushed your shirt above your head, eyes widening as your bare chest was finally on display.

"Gods, you're gorgeous." He purred, maintaining eye contact as he slowly lowered his head to latch his lips on to one of your erect nipples. You immediately moaned as his tongue swirled around your breast, leaving evidence of saliva around your nipple.

"Fuck, Astarion." You grumbled, your back arching into his mouth. He smiled but continued with his mouth, his hands finding their way to your soft pants. Without ties or buttons, Astarion was able to easily push them down, and you helped by kicking them off of your ankles.

"Darling, I can't wait to take you all in," He said, his mouth rising to yours again. One of his hands found its way to your neck, holding on to the side, while resting on his elbow. His other hand met your clit, immediately rubbing circles, "You're already so wet." He chuckled.

"You feel so good," You retorted as an explanation. Your thoughts were swimming overwhelmingly - you couldn't believe you were finally in bed with Astarion. You had fantasized about this moment basically since you had met him, and being here felt better than you could have ever imagined.

Say the word, and tonight, I'm yours. His words rang in your brain, causing your face to flush even more.

Tonight.

Tonight.

But what about after tonight?

You hadn't much experience with lovers, aside from the few and far between "relationships" as a teen, so you didn't know what was supposed to happen after this night. Were you supposed to go back to normal...as friends?

Suddenly, a pang of panic spread through you - the idea of going back to normal, as just friends, was painful to you. Here you were, with Astarion finally as a lover, someone you've come to care for deeply.

How deep it was going to hurt if you couldn't continue on with him. How deep it would hurt if you gave yourself to him like that, only to have him take you and discard you.

You snapped back to reality, realizing that many moments of silence from you had gone by. You hadn't even felt anything Astarion was doing, and he noticed, quizzically looking at you while continuing to work on your clit. You felt anxiety rise to the surface violently, and you suddenly sat up in the bed.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, stop. Stop!" You said, immediately criss-crossing your legs. Astarion, shocked, sat back on his knees, his glistening chest heaving.

"I'm sorry! Did I do something wrong?" His lips were full and swollen, his eyes wide. You recognized the look of fear on his face, causing your heart to drop.

"I can't do this," You spoke frantically, sighing heavily. "I'm sorry I just...can't."

"Oh...kay," Astarion spoke slowly, seemingly afraid to startle you, "What's wrong?"

Your thoughts were still jumbled, the anxiety still at the surface, "I just...I just can't have you dismiss me after tonight!" Your voice was shrill, you knew it, but you couldn't stop.

Confused, Astarion slid closer. He was quiet for a moment, handing over your blanket. You took it, covering yourself, silently thanking him for the gesture.

"'Dismiss' you?" He asked, tilting his head to the side, "What do you mean, 'dismiss' you?"

"You know..." You said, almost panting from the panic, "Dismiss me! Like your...your other lovers!" You waved your hand in the air to accentuate the point, "Here I am, with true, deep feelings of love for you, and all I am to you will be another notch in your bedpost!" You sighed, finally catching your breath, "And I know I said yes to this, but truth be told I am not...experienced...with someone who is as experienced as you, and I know I said yes because I couldn't help myself due to my feelings for you. But I cannot go back to just friends after this, to party members after this. Like nothing had happened. I cannot be discarded..." Finally deciding to look at him, you felt tears spring to your eyes, "I think that will break my heart."

"Darling," Astarion whispered, taking your hand in his. "What makes you think I planned to discard you after this?"

"Isn't that what you want?" You asked, allowing the small tears to fall freely, "To just...fuck?"

"Gods, no!" Astarion cried, moving closer and smiling, "That's what I thought you wanted!"

"What?!" You asked, matching his smile, "What do you mean?"

"I thought you only wanted to bed me," He said, squeezing your hand, "That's why I came here tonight - because I thought it was what you wanted. My whole life, for as long as I can remember, my body has been used for others. I've never had someone bed me and want to stay...You know my history with Cazador...you know what I've been subjected to. I've never had anyone...care...for me before," He looked down, his voice softening, "...are you saying that you care for me?"

You nodded slowly. Bravely, you reached your hand to touch his cheek, causing him to look up to you again, "I care for you...deeply. I've fantasized about this moment since I've met you but..." You tried to find the proper words, "I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it. I have little experience and, I know that sounds young, but-"

"My darling, I would never ever push you to do something you don't want," Astarion interrupted, shaking his head, "If anyone knows about being forced to do things you don't want, it's me. Truth be told...it's quite a relief to hear you say that...I'm not...quite sure my body is ready to be touched in that way...right now," He smiled sadly, "Not by someone I care for deeply. Not in a relationship I want to grow more then just...sleeping with one another. I find that it is hard to think of myself sexually due to...my past. And I'd rather move past that before I..." His words trailed off, as if he didn't want to continue.

"Astarion," You whispered. "I won't hurt you like that. Just like you didn't want to hurt me."

He smiled finally, taking your hand closer to his mouth. Gently, he kissed your knuckles, a smile playing on his lips, "The last thing I will ever do is hurt you."

"So..." You gently nudged, "You're saying that you care deeply for me as well?"

Astarion looked at you seriously, continuing to hold your hand. He nodded, "I do. I'm terrified, but I do. I don't know what this is, and I don't know what it will become, but I've come to realize that whatever it is...I want to do it with you," He chuckled to himself, "A terrifying thought, my heart in your hands."

"And mine in yours." You spoke. Your heart was thundering with an overflow of joy - after all this time, this new revelation felt like a sunrise after a dark and stormy night. After a moment of silence, you tucked a piece of hair behind his ear, "Tonight, I think we just lay together. We don't need anything else. But I would like to spend time with you."

Astarion's eyes glittered as he nodded again, noticing your sleep clothes on the ground and picking them up. As he slipped his shirt back on, he laid beside you in bed, hesitantly putting his arms around you.

"I've never just...lay with someone before."

"There's a first for everything." You said mildly, turning to him in his arms. He smiled, gently kissing your forehead.

"I'm scared." He offered. You nodded, knowingly.

"I know. So am I."

"But before the happiness, there is always fear." He said. He looked at you, sincerity and kindness in his eyes. Gently, you met his lips with yours, trying to muster as much courage and support as you could through a kiss. When you pulled back, you smiled at him.

"And there will be a lot of happiness."

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What did you all think? I'm so sorry for the long break! I'm back! As always, reblogs, likes, and comments mean the WORLD for writers and are much appreciated!

My inbox is OPEN for requests!

#astarion x reader #astarion oneshot #bg3 astarion #astarion bg3 #astarion #astarion fan fiction #astarion fanfic #astarion imagine #bg3 #astarion smut #astarion fluff #baldurs gate 3

[wtfwriter]

I Promise - Clarisse La Rue x F!Reader

Reader Age: 16-17

Reader Godly Parent: Poseidon

Synopsis: Reader has just returned from the Labyrinth onto a battlefield. In an adaptation of the Battle of the Labyrinth, the Reader is faced with their own internal battle and wonders if keeping their relationship with Clarisse a secret is truly worth it, as well as facing the realities of war and its implications for their little brother.

Word Count: 3197 (I had thoughts and suddenly there were words on a google document. I had nothing to do with this.)

Preface:

Some of the lines and dialogue are written directly or slightly changed lines from Rick Riordian’s novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth.” Not all of this story is originally from me. Majority of these events happen in the order that they occur in the book with some minor tweaks

Also don’t ask me how the prophecy works here okay. I just think Percy deserves a big sister idk

I'm not 100% sure what age Clarisse is in this book, but google says she's about 16-17, so keep that in mind

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Even if pegasi are like neutral territory between Zeus and Poseidon, I never would fully relax while flying on the back of one. I held on tightly to my pegasus the entire time, muttering apologies for my grip to her the whole time. It’s alright, boss, she told me. If you could just let up on my skin, that would be great. 

Once we landed in Camp Half-Blood, I dismounted, petting my pegasus’ snout and apologizing again until she turned with the rest of her friends back towards the stables. Once I turned towards everyone else, Percy seemed to have already shared our story with Chiron and Silenus was arguing with Grover about Pan.

I didn’t pay much attention to this. Not because I didn’t care, but because the lines of half-bloods around Zeus’ fist caught my eye first. I watched as every single half-blood seemed to fall into place, with the Hephaestus cabin maintaining their traps, Apollo and Hermes’ cabins ready with bows in the trees, and Aphrodite kids running around combing people’s hair and straightening their armor.

What I was truly looking for, however, was the Ares cabin, which I found exactly where I knew they would be: the front lines. I surveyed for the girl I had been aching to see since I had left camp, a time that seemed much longer than it probably was. My eyes eventually found her, barking orders at her siblings.

I watched Clarisse move across the lines, prepared for battle and preparing those that stood with her. My eyes moved wherever she moved, never letting up, as if they were people who had finally gotten their first sip of water after years in a desert. I was so focused on her movements, I barely noticed when she finally looked at me.

I wondered if anyone else was following her line of sight, or mine. I wondered if we held the same expressions on our faces. I wondered if anyone could figure out what we were saying.

I love you. I’m sorry we can’t talk right now. Not with what’s happening. Not with this many people around. I will find you after all of this is over.

I promise.

We nodded at each other, faces determined, before we both turned back to our respective duties. I watched as each of my friends dispersed to do what they had to: Annabeth with her siblings, Tyson with the Hephaestus kids, and Grover went over to Juniper.

“Both of you, stay with me,” Chiron spoke. “I want you to wait so we know what we are dealing with. You must go where we need reinforcements.”

Percy and I nodded at him. “I saw Kronos,” Percy suddenly said. “It was Luke.. but he wasn’t…”

“He had golden eyes, yes? To merge with a mortal body would be… arduous. I’m not sure how he could have merged with Luke’s form without it burning into ash,” Chiron wondered aloud.

I chimed in, “Kronos said he had prepared the body.”

“I fear what that can mean. Perhaps it will limit his power, being in a mortal form.”

“Chiron,” Percy’s voice was laced with worry. “What if Kronos is leading this attack?”

“He is not,” Chiron replied, incredibly sure. “I would sense if he was drawing near. I believe you have… inconvenienced him when you two pulled his throne room on top of him.” He paused. “You two and your friend Nico, son of Hades.”

Percy looked down at the ground as I spoke. “We know we should’ve told you. It’s just—”

“I understand why you did not tell me. You felt responsible. You sought to protect him. However, if we are to survive this, we must be able to trust each other. We must —”

Chiron was cut off by the sudden wavering of the Earth. I heard Clarisse yell, “Lock shields!”

Then the Titan Army was upon us.

At first, all I saw was the Laistrygonians. Beckendorf yelled orders to fire the catapults, one of which fired a boulder that took one of them down. Arrows flew through the air. Campers gathered to bring down the remaining giants. I watched as Clarisse yelled even more orders.

Just when it seemed we were winning, another wave came out of the Labyrinth, this time of dracaenae. They were completely covered with battle armor, carrying nets and spears. I watched as some fell into traps while others were battling with campers. I looked for Clarisse again, finding her in a locked fight with one of the reptilian women.

I thought about how unfair this all was. How we were all just kids. How we were forced into this war. How all of this hate and pain was caused by hunger for power. 

I thought about how badly I wanted to take Percy away from all of this. How every day I wanted to get him away from his prophecy. How I wanted more than anything for him to be a little kid again.

I thought about how much I wanted to do with Clarisse. How beautiful she was. How she never failed to be the person I could always return to. How she promised me the world and I promised her the universe and it was still less than the both of us deserved.

I thought about how different my life could be if we were brave enough to change it. Maybe being a half-blood wasn’t something we wanted or something we could change. But, we didn’t need to be hiding anymore. It all seemed so stupid now, in the face of life and death,

Suddenly, a hellhound burst out of the opening and Chiron was yelling. “GO!”

Percy and I ran towards the hellhound. All I could see was horrifically clear images in the midst of a blur. Past friends and siblings fighting on opposing sides. Monsters disintegrating whilst others yelled triumphantly. I watched as Nico summoned a dozen undead warriors in various army attire before crumbling to the floor.

“Nico!” I yelled.

“Go! I’ll get the hellhound. You make sure he’s okay!” Percy yelled, running off as I slowed down. I pivoted to Nico, getting on my knees beside him.

“You okay?” I yelled over the commotion of battle.

“Yeah…” he panted. “Go, there’s more of them. You need to help.”

I looked up and got my first full look at everything that was happening. At the gruesome sights of battle. I watched as campers defended their home, the one place they were meant to be safe. I nodded to Nico before getting up.

I almost started to run back where Percy had gone when I heard Grover. He and Juniper were desperately trying to stop a fire that was getting dangerously close to Juniper’s tree. I rushed over, seeing Percy do the same.

I wasn’t sure what to do and by the look on his face, Percy didn’t either. The closest water source was nearly half a mile away, and we didn’t have petrified seashells here. All we could do was concentrate, praying to Poseidon, until I felt a pull in my gut. Suddenly, a wall of water appeared through the trees, dousing the fire. I sighed in relief, glad at least one crisis was averted.

Suddenly, a screech filled the air, followed by the sound of loud flapping wings. Kampê shot into the sky from the labyrinth entrance. Her right hand carried Ariadne’s string until her belt of animal heads rotated to the lion. She stuck the string into the lion’s maw. Safe keeping, I suppose.

Kampê drew her twin swords, which seemed to be dripping with poison. Chiron sent an arrow through the sky towards her, which she sensed as she moved at the last moment. Campers started to run away in fear.

“No! Stay and fight!” Tyson yelled, before being promptly slammed to the ground by a hellhound. They went rolling away.

Kampê landed on the Athena tent and Percy and I ran after her. Annabeth appeared on Percy’s side.

“This might be it,” she said.

“Could be,” Percy replied.

“Okay… morbid,” I muttered under my breath, but neither of them seemed to hear me, or acted like they didn’t.

“Nice fighting with you, seaweed brain.”

“Ditto.”

We all rushed towards Kampê, who lashed at us with her swords. My eyes burned from the poison lacing the blades. My lungs couldn’t seem to fully fill with air.

“We need help!” I yelled.

But there was no one to help. Either each half-blood was locked in their own fight or was too afraid to move towards us.

“Now!” Annabeth yelled, and all three of us rushed in at different angles. But it wasn’t enough. Kampê’s belt of animals snapped at me and I went back trying to not get bitten. 

Suddenly, I was on my back, ears ringing and head spinning. I couldn’t breathe due to a heavy weight. I opened my eyes to see Kampê’s leg on my chest, Percy pinned under the other, and Annabeth thrown off to the side, dazed and not getting up. Kampê raised her sword and I realized this was it. I prayed that Percy would get a fair judgement from the council in the Underworld, that they hadn’t all been bought out by Kronos.

Suddenly, a whirl of black pounced onto Kampê, throwing her off of us and I gasped for air.

“Good girl!” Daedalus called after her. I turned my head and watched as he slashed down monsters, followed closely behind by a friendly face… and many hands.

“Briares!” Tyson called excitedly.

“Hail, little brother!” Briares bellowed back. “Stand firm!”

Briares took up a boulder in nearly each hand, throwing them at Kampê, piling them around her. She was encased within her own makeshift monument taller than Zeus’ fist. By the time he was done, the only evidence that there was an ancient monster inside was from the twin swords still poking out between the stones.

The rocks shifted slightly, slotting into place.

Before I could celebrate that victory, I heard commotion over to the side. I turned just in time to watch Chiron get knocked down from his hind legs, laying on his side. I tried my best to get up, ignoring the ache in my chest from Kampê’s attack. 

As suddenly as I had gotten up to start running towards Chiron, I was back on my knees, covering my ears. The shrill sound seemed to come out of nowhere until I looked over at Grover. His mouth open wide, he seemed to have infinite lung capacity as the sound continued.

The enemies seemed to think better than to stick around after that. I watched dracaenae put down their weapons and sprint towards the labyrinth entrance. I watch laestrygonians rush towards the entrance right after them. More and more of the armies retreated until eventually they all seemed to have gone back underground.

Once the screeching had stopped, the sudden stillness in the air was agonizing. All I could hear was my own breathing as I heaved, still trying to recover from the previous heaviness crushing my lungs. I eventually pushed myself up and grabbed one of Annabeth’s arms with Percy.

I ran with the other two over to Chiron and kneeled in front of him.

“Are you alright? What can I do?”

“Nothing. This is embarrassing,” Chiron chuckled. “Thankfully, we don’t shoot centaurs with broken legs. I’ll be alright eventually.”

“Let me get someone from the medic tent,” Annabeth rushed, already standing up before Chiron stopped her.

“No need, Annabeth. There are far more severe injuries.”

“Guys!” I whipped my head to look for the source of the voice. “Come quick! It’s Nico.”

I shot up, running over to the black heap on the floor. I’d forgotten about him after the intense battle. Dammit.

I got down next to him, looking at his sweaty face. I grabbed his ice cold hands for a pulse.

“He needs nectar! Quickly!” Percy yelled. One of the Ares campers quickly came over with the bottle as I propped Nico up as best as I could onto my knee. Percy dribbled some of the liquid into his mouth. I let out a sigh of relief as he stirred.

“Gods, Nico. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

The boy coughed slightly before nodding. “Never tried to summon so many at once before. I’ll be okay.” He turned his head to look beside me. “Daedalus.”

I looked over at the man as Mrs. O’Leary loomed behind him, licking his wounds that were leaking oil. Freaky.

Percy and Daedalus spoke as I tried to convince Nico to rest for a moment. Of course, he refused. I shook my head at him. “One day, you'll have to stop being so stubborn,” I told him.

He rolled his eyes, but smiled slightly. “Bianca would say the same thing. I’ll stop when it doesn’t work for me anymore.”

“But Daedalus,” Percy said. “Even without the string, Kronos’ army still has a way into camp.”

“You’re right,” Daedalus sighed. “As long as the Labyrinth is here, your enemies can use it. And so, the labyrinth can no longer continue.”

Annabeth stepped forward. “But, you said the Labyrinth was connected to you. If the labyrinth’s gone –”

“Yes, Annabeth. I too will be gone. And so, I have a present for you.”

Daedalus removed his satchel from his back and pulled out his laptop, engraved with a greek delta, and handed it to Annabeth. “That holds several designs of mine. Some unfinished, some I think you’ll find interesting, others I felt could never be in the mortal world. I'm positive you will find some things useful there.”

Annabeth was speechless. “This… This is priceless. And you’re just giving this to me?”

“It is less than you deserve. Less than I should do to atone for my mistakes.”

As Daedalus spoke of his time coming to an end and accepting whatever punishment he will be given from his judgment in the Underworld, I came to realize just how small we all are. Just how little we are meant to live. How many regrets we still have over such little time.

I looked around at all of the half-bloods scattered around. I saw some over at the medical tent, others scattered just hugging their friends and siblings, some sitting by the ones we lost who had been covered by thin fabrics.

I questioned my own mortality, and Percy’s. We weren’t meant to live forever. We were never going to. But with the little amount of time we both had, how many regrets would we hold with us?

I thought of Clarisse. I thought of how I hadn’t gone up to her before the battle. How I’d always regret that. I thought of how we both decided to keep our relationship a secret. How that was something I didn’t want to do anymore if it meant having to live with regrets. I thought about how I hadn’t seen her since I had joined the battle.

I looked back at the scene before me as Nico pulled out his sword and stepped before Daedalus. After being zoned out for a second, it freaked me out, until I realized Nico wasn’t raising it.

“Your time has long since come. Be released and rest.”

The relief in Daedalus’ eyes was freeing for us all. Knowing that he was truly ready brought us all some consolation. We watched as his body turned to dust.

I took Percy’s hand in mine and gave him a small smile. “I know there’s a lot to do, but there's something I have to do first.”

Percy nodded. “I know,” he said, and for some odd reason, I knew that he fully did, even though he didn’t say it. I looked down as he continued to speak. “You really didn’t have to hide it from me, you know? I was a bit upset about it at first but I think I was more… sad that you felt you couldn’t tell me.”

I looked back into his eyes and breathed out through my nose, smiling softly. “I just didn’t want you to hate me for this. More than just the ‘Clarisse’ part.”

“Oh, well, that part I might hold a bit of a grudge about,” he smiled at me in a way that told me he was joking. “But otherwise, all I care about is that you’re happy.”

We smiled at each other before Percy suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist. It felt like he was just a little kid again, like he was just my little brother, nothing more. It felt like we suddenly weren’t in the middle of a battlefield and there was an ancient monster buried in rubble just a few feet over. It felt like I was back home. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

“I will kill her if she makes you cry.”

We laughed harder than we should have.

He pulls away first, telling me to “get my girl.” I don’t even think twice before turning and starting to run through the battlefield.

I frantically looked around for Clarisse, hoping and praying to every single god that she was okay. I was so frantic that I nearly missed her over by the Ares station, seeming to be ignoring something her brother was saying in favor of looking out at all of the other half-bloods.

I didn’t even think before my feet were moving. Clarisse started to walk around, looking for something. It wasn’t until we made eye contact that I realized it was me she was looking for, when her eyes softened in the way they always seemed to whenever she looked at me, like she was letting go of the anger embedded within her skin and cooling off just a bit.

It didn’t matter to me that we were surrounded by people, and Clarisse made no complaints when my left hand cupped her cheek and my lips met hers. Her arms held my waist as my right arm circled around to hold the back of her neck. I could feel the sweat that was dripping down from the battle and the adrenaline that was just beginning to crash.

I didn’t realize she was crying until I tasted the saltiness. I withdrew slightly before pecking her lips once more. The thumb of my left hand moved to her cheek and under her eye to wipe the tears.

I didn’t realize I was crying until Clarisse’s left hand left my waist to wipe the tears on the right side of my face. We both laughed slightly, bringing our foreheads together and closing our eyes. I angled my head to kiss her one more time before hugging her properly. She buried her face into my neck and I laughed at how it tickled.

“Gods, we both smell horrible.”

“I know.”

We didn’t speak for a while, soaking up each other, but it still didn't feel like enough.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she whispered.

“I’m glad you’re okay, too.”

It didn’t matter that everyone at camp could see us and Clarisse didn’t seem to mind it either. There were more important things than reputation right now.

#clarisse la rue x reader #percy jackson x reader #clarisse x reader #dior goodjohn x reader #clarisse la rue

[sordezos]

Farewell promise II

Soo this is the second part! hope you like it!

Word count: 2232

Warnings: bit of angst, happy ending tho

Thanks @wososapologist for the amazing ideas!! x

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You open your eyes a minute after trying to relax yourself. You finally turn the engine off and turn your head to the right, logo big enough to make you realize again what you were doing here.

After Ingrid’s departure, you spent one year more at Wolfsburg, but it wasn’t the same, so when an offer from Chelsea appeared, you accepted without hesitation. It was known that you were rather a private person and not so talkative in public, but you and Guro hit it off instantly, become close friends after a few weeks. Time passed, you won your place at the starting squad along with a few titles and being recognized as one of the best wingers.

Your family used to tell you at every call that you had everything: friends, a good job with a good pay and at the peak of your career. At first, you agreed, not even thinking about that person that was on the back on your mind. So every time they asked when you were going to get a boyfriend you just laughed and waved them off, changing the topic after.

If someone asked Guro about your love life, she wouldn’t know what to say. Yes, she has seen you going on dates arranged by her and Erin, but every time you came back, excitement about a second date was never present, you just said the same thing: “We didn’t connect” or “He was nice, but I don’t think we hit it off” and went to prepare dinner. Usually, after you came back the three of you would have dinner and watch some movies. It was there when Guro noticed the way you would fidget with the bracelet placed on your wrist. But she didn’t push it, if you wanted to talk, she would give you all the time you needed.

The season came to an end and a decision had to be made. After Chelsea won the league, offers started to rain, and after talking with your agent about each one, both of you decided for a change. After signing up the contract you went to your shared apartment and shared the news with Guro.

You could tell that she was sad, but the encouraging comments made you think that you did the correct decision. It wasn’t until you were in your bed that you started to overthink, was it a hasty decision? It's true that it was the highest offer by far, but you weren’t sure about a lot of things. Well, about one thing, were you ready to see her again? Will she be happy or mad? Will things be the same? Before you could think more, exhaustion caught up to you and sleep consumed you until the morning.

After the official announcement was made, you went to a goodbye party organized by your now ex-teammates. While the driver got you to your new house after the flight, you took your phone to see the ton of messages from a few of your new teammates. You would lie if you say that disappointment didn’t cross your face when that teammate didn’t send a message.

So now you’re here, sit in your car and looking at the giant FC Barcelona logo on the building on your right, checking the time in order to not be late. Today you and Ona Battle were about to start your season at Barcelona, both looking for a change from the London weather.

The two of you have played together at national team camp, so you were good friends, and that’s why when she knocked of your window and smiled at you that you smiled back and got out of the car.

“Qué tal guapa? Con ganas de empezar?” (What’s up? Eager to start?) she asks you jumping on your back as soon as you get out, happiness radiating from her, so you can’t help it but laugh and take your training bag out of the car “Claro que si, te vas a bajar?” (Of course, but are you going to get down?) you say while you start walking “No” is all she says as she tightens her grip and laugh.

Upon entering the changing room you are meet by cheering and applause, your national teammates happy that the two of you are finally playing with them and not against them. They all hug Ona, and they all hug you, except one person. You sit in your assigned place next to Claudia and Patri, and they instantly start to talk to you about something and not wanting to think too much about her, you join the conversation, taping your wrist at the same time and head to the pitch a few minutes later with them.

Ingrid on the other side of the room, watches you leave and turns to Frido, already regretting not approaching to you a few minutes before. Her friend looks at her confused, and before she can ask any questions, Ingrid takes her hand get them out of the room, heading to the pitch. On their way there, Ingrid explains to her all, and by the time she has finished they are already at the pitch doing some paired drills. Frido takes her wrist taking a better look to the special bracelet and before Ingrid can ask her, Frido starts to scold her for not talking to you before.

From the other side of the pitch you see as she takes Ingrid’s hand rather confused, have you read things wrong? Where they something before and you haven’t seen it? Thankfully Patri seems to read your mind, because the next thing she does is explain to you about what happened between Mapi and Ingrid and the aftermath of it, telling you about how Ingrid ended things because she said that she feel things for other person, and before she could tell you anything about said person, the whistle blew and the team got prepared for a practice match.

To your luck, you were put in the same team as Ingrid, and both of you stood there, a few meters apart. Not knowing what to say, should you say something about what happened back there? Say that you’re sorry for her breakup? You finally decided on your words, so you turned around to look at her, just to find that she was looking at you. You finally opened your mouth only for the both to talk at the same time. A laugh came out from your mouth and Ingrid could feel the feelings that she has tried to put down for years coming to the surface at once. Before you could ask her why she looked serious the whistle let all of you know that the match was on, so you turned around and gave your best on the grass.

1 goal and two assists is what you get by the time practice has finished. Making your way to the water bottles you receive several congratulations from your teammates, more than one highlighting how you and Ingrid seems to read each other’s mind with your passes.

You finally go back to the changing rooms along Marta and Alexia, talking about strategies for the next match, taking the tape off your wrist and giving your opinion on a few plays. What you didn’t see is how Frido and Ingrid were behind, and Ingrid was listening to her teammate about the plan that she made for her in order to win you again. Ingrid herself building up the courage to talk to you after all the team left the locker room.

Taking your time on the shower, trying to get rid of your already sore muscles you hear the changing room door opening and closing, thinking it was the last teammate leaving, therefore you thought you were the only one left.

As you get dressed up and exit the showers, you're surprised to find Ingrid waiting for you by your locker. You send her a smile, and she smiles back looking more… relaxed?

But there's something different about Ingrid now—she seems more confident, more self-assured. And as you study her face, you can't help but notice the subtle changes that time has wrought. It's clear she's grown since you last saw her, both as a player and as a person.

Meanwhile, Ingrid studies your face and doesn’t fall to notice how now you are a bit taller than her, how you have let your hair grow longer, and how you seem more mature, looking at a small scar that you had since you were little just above your eyebrow.

Ingrid's eyes twinkle mischievously as she catches you staring, and she smirks teasingly. “Like what you see?” she quips, her tone playful.

You roll your eyes, unable to resist teasing her right back. “Please, I've seen better,” you retort, earning a mock offended gasp from Ingrid.

It seems like the right moment, so you decide to offer your condolences about her breakup with Mapi, not wanting to intrude.

Ingrid's expression flickers with a hint of sadness before she offers a small smile. “Yeah, we broke up,” she admits, her voice tinged with regret. “I realized I still had feelings for someone else.”

Your heart skips a beat at her words, a glimmer of hope sparking within you. Could it be...?

You catch the subtle shift in Ingrid's demeanor, the way her eyes search yours for understanding. You don’t know from where the confidence came from, but with a teasing grin, you nudge her playfully. “Oh, so you finally realized you couldn't live without me, huh?”

Ingrid laughs, a sound that you wouldn't mind listening to every day. “Something like that,” she teases back, her eyes dancing with mischief.

As you continue to chat, Ingrid's gaze drifts to the bracelet adorning your wrist—the same bracelet she gave you years ago before she left. Her expression softens, and she reaches out to touch it gently, her fingers tracing the familiar pattern.

“I can't believe you still have this,” she murmurs, her voice filled with affection.

You shrug nonchalantly, trying to hide the warmth that spreads through you at her touch. “What can I say? It's a good luck charm.”

Ingrid smiles, a genuine smile that reaches her eyes. “Well, it certainly seems to be working,” she says softly, her gaze lingering on yours.

Is when she let go of your hand that you notice her bracelet. “And what do we have here?” you ask her now taking her hand in yours.

She just smiles and shrugs “What can I say? I have excellent taste in jewelry.”

Your laughter fills the room, a melodic sound that sends shivers down her spine. “ Well, I can't argue with that, princesa” you quip, your eyes sparkling with affection.

Then, in a bold move that takes you by surprise, Ingrid asks if you'd like her to show you around the city.

As Ingrid's words hang in the air, the tension between you becomes palpable. Your hidden feelings under the surface threatening to scape at any moment.

Without a word, you step closer, your hands finding their way to Ingrid's waist, pulling her gently towards you. Ingrid's eyes widen slightly in surprise at the sudden intimacy, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, her hand finds the back of your head, fingers tangling in your hair as she draws you closer.

The kiss is hesitant at first, a tentative exploration of emotions long suppressed. But as the seconds pass, it deepens. Your heart pounds in your chest as you lose yourself in the taste and feel of Ingrid's lips against yours.

When you finally pull back, breathless and exhilarated, Ingrid's eyes are filled with a mixture of wonder and longing. You can see the uncertainty lingering in her gaze, a silent question waiting to be answered.

 “So, is that a yes?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, her fingers still tracing patterns on your skin.

“Well, I don't know,” you say, feigning uncertainty. “I've heard you're a bit rusty when it comes to giving tours. Might need a more experienced guide.”

Ingrid rolls her eyes playfully, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, please. I practically wrote the guidebook on this city,” she retorts, her tone teasing.

As Ingrid's fingers continue to trace patterns on your skin, you can't help but tease her in return, savoring the playful banter that has always been there between the two of you.

 “Well, in that case,” you say, a mischievous twinkle in your eyes, “I suppose I'll have to take my chances with the self-proclaimed expert guide.”

Ingrid chuckles softly, her smirk widening into a grin. “You won't regret it, elsking” she assures you, her voice laced with amusement.

With a playful grin, you lean in once more, capturing her lips in another sweet kiss. When you finally pull back, you can't help but laugh. “We have a lot of lost time to make up for, don't we cariño?” you remark, a hint of teasing in your voice.

Ingrid's eyes sparkle with amusement as she nods, a playful glint in her gaze. “Oh, definitely,” she replies, her tone filled with promise. “But I have a feeling we'll have no trouble catching up.”

And before you know it, you are hand in hand walking towards your car and talking about the movie you are going to see tonight.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just hope ya'll liked it, if you have any request feel free to tell me!

Any ideas for the next one?

#ingrid engen x reader #woso x reader #woso community #woso imagine #barca femini x reader

[cxptain-capsicle]

Beyond the Sea | Luke Castellan | IV

Pairing: Luke Castellan x Unclaimed Poseidon!Reader

Warnings: angst, fluff, established relationship, Gods being terrible parents

The mess hall was quiet, you had gotten to the Hermes table early, the sun was shining warm golden rays on your skin. It was a beautiful morning, relaxing even. 

“Y/n!” Annabeth nearly screamed from across the pavilion. There went your relaxation.

“Good morning to you too Annabeth.” You smiled at her as she stormed the table. “What’s wrong?”

“Ya know the new kid?” She asked.

“Percy?” You confirmed.

“Something happened last night.” She said cryptically.

“Oh?” You sat up straighter. “He seems really sweet just make sure you’re always safe-”

“Oh my gods!” She shouted and covered her ears. “Not like that! Something else happened.”

Before Annabeth could get another word out Luke’s voice came booming behind you.

“Morning ladies!” Someone was in a good mood.

“I’ll tell you later.” She practically scowled at Percy as she walked away.

“Well, she’s a ray of sunshine.” Percy watched Annabeth as she left.

“What’re you two up to?” You asked as they took a seat with you at the table.

“Giving Percy my life story.” Luke shrugged.

“Not again.” You said sarcastically making Luke roll his eyes at you.

“Anyways, before camp, I was on the road. Me and a forbidden kid I met along the way. Her name was Thalia.” Luke smiled a little when he said her name. It made your stomach hurt and your face flush. You were jealous of a tree.  

“And what does that mean, forbidden?” Percy asked. 

“A long time ago, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades agreed their children were becoming too powerful, so they made a pact not to father anymore. And it held for a long time until Zeus broke that pact. Until Thalia.” Luke explained. 

“Forbidden kids attract trouble.” You added. “Monsters everywhere, constantly battling to stay alive.”

“One day, we, uh, find this little girl hiding in an alley. Annabeth. We were worried about taking her in, exposing her to all that danger. Then we saw her fight.” He chuckled at the memory then fell silent. “Thalia didn't make it. But Annabeth and me... we did. And we've been family ever since.”

“She's been watching me since I got here. Why?” Percy asked.

“Annabeth is the strongest warrior in camp.”

“Rude” You mumbled

“The only way left to prove herself is to go on a quest.” Luke gave you a little smirk as he continued

“And what does this have to do with me?”

“Chiron's been promising her for years,” Luke explained again. 

“One day, a demigod would arrive who was fated to go on a quest that even Chiron couldn't prevent. And when that happened, she could join it.” You explained to Percy. “Every new arrival, Annabeth watches, looking for a sign they're the one. Usually, she gives up after a day or two, but she's still watching you.” 

“Can you ask her to knock it off?” Percy said shyly.

“Yeah, sure. But what if she's right?” Luke shrugged.

“Annabeth will always do what she wants.” You chuckled. The conch shell rang and everyone turned back to see Chiron in the center of the pavilion.

“Heroes... it's time.” He announced. “The game begins.”

Everyone rose from their seats and began to follow Chiron.

“We’re doing this now?” Percy scrambled from his seat at the table. 

“Don’t worry kid, you’ll have fun.” You laughed at him.

“So what about you.” He asked, you looked at him with a raised brow. “How’d you end up here.”

“Well, I was alone for a long time.” You and Percy followed the large crowd up the hill, Luke continued ahead to talk with Annabeth. “A couple of years. I was constantly running from monsters and eventually one trapped me. I was stuck in a cave and I couldn’t get out. I was in there for a few days before they found me.”

“Who found you.” He was listening intently.

“Luke,” You smiled. “It was technically Grover’s quest, him, Luke, and Clarisse.” Percy’s nose crinkled in disgust. “Clarisse is an acquired taste.”

“So you and Luke,” Percy said slowly. “You guys…” He was making a gesture with his hands, you thought it was supposed to mimic kissing. You laughed and smacked his hands.

“Yeah, he’s my boyfriend.” You hadn’t called him that in a while. Dating at camp wasn’t forbidden but it wasn’t encouraged. Especially in a case like yours, living in the same cabin. Everyone knew you and Luke were together, when you first started dating you had to have some strongly worded conversations with a few aphrodite campers.

“For how long.” He seemed genuinely interested.

“Hard to say.” You shrugged. “It never really had a clear start. Just sort of happened.”

“You’ve been here three summers.” He eyed your necklace.

“This’ll be number four.” You confirmed.

“And you like it?” He asked as you finally came up over the hill.

“Happiest place on earth.”

Everyone got suited up and gathered supplies before separating to our designated sides of the river. Chiron went over the rules and the first conch blew.

“All right.” Annabeth jumped immediately into action. “We have 20 minutes before the second conch and game on. You know what you're doing?”

“Yes, ma'am.” You and Luke said in unison and prepared to take off. 

“Hey.” She stopped you. “Today feel like a winning kind of day to you?”

“As always.” You smiled.

“I'll see you on the other side.” Luke smirked. “Company, move out!”

Percy went to follow you and Luke but Annabeth stopped him. “Not you, sunshine. You're with me.” Percy looked at you like he was asked for help but all you could do was give him a sympathetic smile.

You and Luke escorted the flag carrier to the decided location then set out for the red team’s flag.

“Annabeth tell you what she has planned?” You asked Luke.

“Not really, just that she has a job for Percy.”

“That scares me.” You sighed. Before Luke could respond the sound of screaming and battle cries came from the trees behind you. A group of red soldiers came charging out of the woods towards you. You and Luke had done this so many times before it was as instinctual as breathing. You lined up back to back and fought off those dumb enough to try to attack you.

“Watch out!” Luke shouted as an arrow came down at you. The two of you rolled away from each other. When you emerged a warrior was right in front of you ready to strike you down. You took a slash at the back of her knees that sent her to the ground. You glanced over at Luke who seemed to be managing two opponents just fine. You took on each soldier one by one until finally, one girl raised her arms in surrender.

“We give up.” She panted.

“I wanna move quick.” Luke explained as he sheathed his sword. “Straight through the woods to their flag.”

“Clarisse hunts in those woods for the first few hours, you know that. She's gonna cut us down.” Chris spoke up. 

“Annabeth's got a plan.” Luke told him. “Percy's on it.”

Chris rolled his eyes a little.

“Come on, trust the kid a little.” You told him.

“When it's time, he's gonna be ready. I know it.” That seemed to instill a bit of confidence in the rest of the group because they all started towards enemy territory.

“Percy’s gonna be ready right?” He whispered to you.

“Totally.” You lacked confidence.

You and Luke caught up with the group and continued through the woods. You led the group quietly past a few small groups of soldiers having to convince Luke each time that you could take the stealth tactic and not just storm in. You came to a clearing in the woods and where it was. A bright red flag planted in the ground, waving in the wind.

“This has to be a trap.” You looked around. “No one’s here.”

“I agree,” Luke whispered. “I don’t trust it.”

“Perfect. You volunteer then.” You used the butt of your sword to push Luke out of the woods and into the clearing. He stumbled to his feet, raised his sword, and looked around waiting for the enemy to attack. 

“I don’t see anyone.” He said in a hushed voice to you. Almost as if on cue a flash of red came falling out of the tree above him. A girl with a sword came hurdling down on top of Luke knocking his sword out of his hands and sending it flying to the ground. You rushed the two of them, pushing the girl off of Luke and pinning her to the ground. You had a knee on her left arm and the other was under your hand. With your free hand, you had the blade of your sword against her cheek.

“I surrender.” She sputtered. By the time you got to your feet the rest of the group had handled the other two members of the red team that were guarding the flag. Luke grabbed the flag and turned to look at you with a big smile on his face.

“Look at this killer.” That was the nickname he gave you when you fought. You loved to fight, it made you passionate and deadly. He gestured to the flag in his hands. “Look what I got.”

“Congratulations.” His smile was contagious to you. “Getting the flag is easy, getting it back is the hard part.”

Clarisse was always hunting, waiting for us to get cocky after capturing the flag just to try to kill us on our way back. But this time that didn’t happen. We made our way back, fighting off a few opponents and reuniting with several members of our team. Soon the river was in sight and the company began to charge. Luke triumphantly placed the flag in the rocks, sealing our victory. Everyone cheered and shouted in victory and you couldn’t help but admire Luke. He raised his sword in the air and cheered, he looked like a true hero. He turned and began to search the crown with his eyes before they landed on you. He practically ran to you, pushing through other people with his shield to get to you. He dropped his sword and shield on the ground and ripped off his helmet before placing both hands on the sides of your face and pulling you in to kiss him. When he pulled away his hair was messy from underneath his helmet and his cheeks were flushed with adrenaline. You couldn’t help but laugh at his forwardness, affection around camp had to be kept to a minimum to avoid unwanted attention from Chiron or Mr. D. However every once in a while in the heat of the moment Luke didn’t care about the attention. Your loving moment was cut off by Percy’s shouts.

“What is wrong with you?” Percy was sitting in the water looking up at Annabeth who must have pushed him. You had no clue why she would do that until he stood up.

When Percy rose from the water a shimmering blue trident appeared floating above his head. Your stomach dropped, the sounds around you became muffled, your face paled. You were white hot with fury practically seeing red. You had waited nearly three years for your father to claim you, even chalking it up to him choosing not to claim you because of the pact to no longer father forbidden children. But now, this kid has been here for three days and your father claimed him. Everything you’d ever wanted in your life he got in three days. You didn’t come back to reality until you felt a hand land on your shoulder.

“Hey, are you okay?” Luke asked as you jumped away from his touch. “Let's go somewhere and talk-”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” You shrugged him off. You could hear the whispers now, feel the stares. You had tried to keep your powers in check but over the years there had been slip-ups. When you accidentally threw a wave at Silena Beauregard for getting a little too close and comfortable with Luke. Rumors spread fast at camp.

You pushed through the crowd as hot tears welled in your eyes. As you walked past the cabins trying your best not to look at the blue cabin at the end of the row your mind was on one thing. You hated the gods.

Feedback is always appreciated <3 feel free to slide into the inbox

Taglist:

@fudosl @lenasvoid @light-23 @petrichorvzlia-blog @vampsaddicted @bbgkaykay @teigo-the-explorer @number-onekidqueen @niktwazny303 @bonnie-tz @purplerose291 @yarnify

#luke castellan #luke castellan x reader #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson #pjo fandom #pjo series #luke x reader #percy jackson show #percy jackson x reader #luke pjo #pjo x reader #pjo x you #pjo

[mimsynims]

Fool For Love

part 6

~~~

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5

~~~

Author's Note: Sorry it took longer than usual! The first bit I wrote was shorter than I wanted, so I kept writing - and now you'll get more than usual instead haha... (Sorry not sorry about sneaking in a bit of a side ship I have, but it fit in this part and I want Karlach to have her hot blacksmith - yay HeartForge!)

Thank you for the comments! <3

Oh, and as I think I mentioned before, this will of course stray from canon but I have and will use things that actually happen in the game too (act 1/2), just FYI.

~~~

Astarion x reader/Tav

Tags: angst, pining, pining while fucking, jealousy, minor Karlach/Dammon, eventual happy ending

Summary: You thought you knew what you were doing when you let Astarion into your bed. He doesn't have feelings for you, and vice versa. Only... now you do. And you're not handling it very well, making a rash decision you will regret. Is there a way to undo it?

~~~

It’s eerily quiet when you get back to camp. Not that you expected your friends to still be awake, but the silence feels ominous.

Or perhaps it’s just your guilt making it seem that way.

You’re not sure breaking things off was the wrong decision — the jury is still out on that — but you regret how it happened. Regret being so harsh.

Regret not waiting until morning to have the conversation.

A noise coming from the direction of Gale’s tent snaps you out of your musings. Your body tenses up, readying for battle. Scanning the area, your hand drifts down towards a weapon that isn’t there. You must have dropped it sometime during… during. It aches thinking back and you can’t bring yourself to go back. Not now, anyway. 

You spot a flash of purple and instantly relax. Gale must be awake still. 

Perhaps the gods decided to be lenient after the night you had, giving you the opportunity to stomp out at least one fire you’ve accidentally started before it becomes an uncontrollable inferno.

“Still up, Gale?”

“Tav!” He smiles. “Yes, but I was about to tuck in for the night too.”

His eyes roam over you, but if he suspects what you and Astarion were up to after he and the others left, he doesn’t mention it.

“So, Gale…” You clear your throat. “I actually came over to apologise.”

“Apologise?” He sounds genuinely surprised. “Whatever for?”

“I think I might’ve given you the impression that I’m interested in more than friendship. And that was careless of me.” And apparently, you’re too much of a coward to admit that you used him. “I’m sorry.”

Gale takes a moment before he answers. “You were careless, yes. But I think I may have an inkling as to why.”

“Ah.” Of course he does. “For the record, the circumstances surrounding that… reason, have changed, one might say.” Because you were acting without thought, yet again. “Which doesn’t affect things between us — you and me, I mean. I value our friendship dearly, but–”

“Tav.” Gale holds up a hand to stop you. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

He sounds sincere, and searching his face, you find nothing to suggest otherwise. “Thank you. For what it’s worth, I did have a really nice time tonight.”

“Good. Me too.” A half-smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “I can’t pretend I wasn’t disappointed when you invited the others, but in retrospect, I think you did the right thing.”

“You’re a good man, Gale.” A hug seems inappropriate, so you place a hand on his arm instead. “I’m sure someone better and kinder than me is waiting somewhere out there for you.”

His smile turns wry. “And I’m sure you and your ‘reason’ can sort things out once you both stop being stubborn arses.”

It’s probably because you’re still a bit drunk and in need of sleep, but you can’t stop yourself from bursting out laughing. “I think we would need a miracle for that.” Gale isn’t wrong, both you and Astarion are often too stubborn for your own good.

You expect Gale to at least chuckle, but instead, his expression softens. “It seems a miracle we’re all still alive, so who’s to say we can’t have another?”

He sounds so serious you stop laughing just as abruptly as you started. The hurt from before resurfaces, because there’s a bigger obstacle than stubbornness in your way. “I think I would need more than one miracle to accomplish what you’re talking about, and I doubt that I’m that lucky.”

Because even if you would talk, he still doesn’t love you, and in your current miserable state, you doubt that he ever will. To your dismay, you feel tears threatening to spill. Perhaps you should’ve waited until tomorrow to talk to Gale, after all.

Gale comes closer and puts a hand on your shoulder, squeezing it, sympathy plain on his face. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

This conversation has taken a turn you don’t want to face right now — and with Gale, of all people — so you just nod.

“Thank you for your honesty, Tav. Now off to bed with you.” Taking a step back, Gale lets his hand drop, Gale. “We both need all the sleep we can get, I think.”

“We do, yes.” You turn to leave but not before giving him another smile. “Thank you, Gale.” You don’t elaborate, but you can tell that you don’t have to as he bows his head in understanding.

“Goodnight, Tav. Sleep well.”

“You too, goodnight.”

As you walk over to your tent to change before going to bed, you think you see movement in the corner of your eye, but when you turn your head to look, there’s nothing there.

“And now you’re imagining things,” you mutter to yourself. “No more alcohol for you until we’re somewhere safe.”

Whenever that may be.

The following days go by in a whirlwind of events, and even if you somehow would have plucked up the nerve to talk to Astarion, you never get the chance. 

First, it was Elminster showing up to talk to Gale. You’re still not convinced it was a good idea to let him into your camp — most likely not, considering the message he was here to deliver.

You know you probably should’ve waited to let Gale have the time to process, but he insisted you press on and next thing you knew, your party was in the Shadowlands, facing goblins and driders and Harpers.

And Jaheira.

Astarion has been ignoring you as much as he can since the night, but you could sense his approval when you refused to drink the wine Jaheira offered you. Perhaps you can mend things between the two of you, in time. You desperately hope so, because a part of you already misses the chats. His embrace. The connection.

Last Light Inn turns out to be a place with many familiar faces, but after the long day you’ve all had, you decide to rest before reacquainting yourself with everyone — with one exception. 

To your — and Karlach’s — delight, you find Dammon in the stables outside the inn building.

You hide a smile when Dammon lights up at the sight of the Karlach. He may be greeting all of you, but his eyes rarely leave the Tiefling, even when he talks to you and the others. It soothes your aching heart to know that things might work out for at least one of you, even if your own love life seems doomed.

Somewhere along the way, she’s become one of your best friends. She deserves nothing but happiness, and it feels like she’s one step closer when Dammon tells her that he can craft an insulating chamber for the infernal engine. It’s not a permanent solution, but it’s enough, for now, to finally allow her to touch people again.

You stand back as Karlach instals the chamber; Dammon looks at her so intently it almost feels like you’re intruding.

The chamber clicks into place.

“Go on,” Dammon says, lifting a hand. “Give us your hand.”

Circumstances aside, it’s a lovely moment, watching the two of them.

“Damn. I’m good.” Dammon laces their fingers for the briefest of moments. “And you — you’re very touchable.”

They’re both so adorable you wish you could grab the others and leave these two be. And perhaps you also wish that this could be you and a certain vampire that is currently looking everywhere but at you.

Letting go of Dammon, Karlach turns to you with the biggest smile you’ve ever seen from her yet.

“Tav! I can touch you now!”

“I’m so happy for you, Karlach! May I hug you?”

“Yes.” Her smile wavers with emotion. “Please.”

Her skin is hot against yours but it’s not unbearable, so you wrap your arms tight around her, glad to finally be able to hug your friend.

“Thank you.” She sounds close to tears. “Talk more back at camp, yeah?”

“Sure.”

“Karlach? I need to explain the bad news too.”

You can feel a hitch in her movements and when she pulls back, her smile is strained.

She listens to what Dammon has to say, but you’re not sure she fully accepts it. You decide to leave it, for now, not wanting to dim her joy more than necessary.

Back at camp, Karlach keeps touching everyone here and there — even a moody Lae’zel accepts it, albeit reluctantly — and her happiness seems to lift the spirit of the others, too.

When everything calms down for the night, you seek her out. You can feel Astarion’s eyes on you, and in a moment of bravery, you decide you’ll talk to him after you’ve spoken to Karlach.

“Karlach? May I come in?”

“Of course! You’re always welcome into my tent, Tav.” She’s ever-moving, still brimming with energy. “Everything alright?”

“I’m fine.” You decide to get right to the point. “I’m actually here to talk about you.”

“About me?”

“It was impossible not to notice the chemistry between Dammon and you today. With everything that’s happened, and considering what the future seems to hold for us… I think you should seize the moment. Go and find him. Be happy, while we still have time.”

Karlach stops to look at you, uncertain. “You think he would want that?”

“I do. He looked just as smitten as you clearly are.” 

“He did, didn’t he?” Her expression turns a bit bashful. “I didn’t just imagine it?”

“No, definitely not. And we won’t be rushing out of here just yet, so if you find yourself inclined to spend the night with him…”

“Tav!”

You shrug, holding back a grin. “I’m just saying.”

“Right.” She nods to herself. “You’re right. I should go right now, shouldn’t I?”

“Yes. Go, shoo.”

She laughs. “So eager to get rid of me. Planning to seduce someone yourself, Tav? I’ve seen your looks towards a certain someone.”

You don’t bother holding back the curse as you both leave her tent. “Am I that obvious?”

“Yeaaah. But it’s fine, and I’m rooting for you.”

You look around, searching for the man in question. “Does that mean that everyone…?”

“Think so, yeah.”

“Fuck. Double fuck.” So everyone knows. And Astarion is nowhere to be found. Again. “He’s not here.”

“Wanna tag along to the Inn? Perhaps he’s there?”

You’re not sure you’ll be able to approach him if he’s there but not alone, but then again, there’s probably no use waiting in camp either. “Yes, why not?”

You tell yourself that if he’s not there, you’ll drink one beer — because gods know you need it — and then you’ll head back. It’s been a long day, and even with everything buzzing around in your mind like a swarm of hornets, you’ll probably have no trouble falling asleep the moment your head hits your bedroll.

It turns out that Karlach is right, Astarion is there. You spot him right away, sitting on a barstool, a goblet of wine in his hand. But he’s not alone. He’s sitting very, very close to someone. You can’t see their face, but the way Astarion holds himself, the way he moves his hand to touch their shoulder…

It seems he has found someone else to spend the night with.

As is his right, but the pain is more than you can handle. You won’t stop him, but it’s impossible to stay and watch it happen. The jealousy would break you. As unluck would have it, Astarion chooses that moment to glance over his shoulder, and before you have time to react, he sees you.

Leave. You have to leave. You spin around and flee through the door, almost bumping into one of the Harpers. You’re making a fool of yourself, but you’d rather have that than seeing a smug expression on Astarion’s face.

Half-running towards camp, you decide it’s time to get over yourself. Astarion clearly has moved on — and so should you.

~~~

#astarion #astarion ancunin #astarion x reader #astarion x tav #bg3 fanfiction #bg3 fic #bg3 astarion #bg3 spoilers #bg3 tav #fic wip

[harfanfare]

Idia drabble, fluff, female reader! ♡

You know you’re in for a losing game when you have to ask AI chat to help you with date ideas.

Idia outrightly rejected places that statistically—he pulled up an unnecessary chart, to prove you—had many people visiting at every time of the year. Maybe for some exceptions for ungodly hours, but, while he really loves you, he would rather relax with you in a bed with a silly game on than wake up at 3 am to, whatever, go to the planetarium and stare at the cosmos.

And, we might do it in VR, either way, he argues with your every suggestion.

“Well,” you persist, glancing from the screen at Idia whose attention is divided between you with your half-hearted pleadings, and his game character who clears another villain camp with slashes of a grand sword and sharp arrows. “Can’t we get something to eat, then?”

“Instant soups are irreplaceable.”

“That’s why we should eat something else to confirm their superiority over other goods once again,” you lick your lips to hide a subtle smile as Idia grins at your debating point. It’s an unreasonable argument, yet you have known your boyfriend for long enough to know that these ones are the most convincing when you are out of ideas. “Like, churros maybe? Or those fine-looking cupcakes.”

“They have too much crème and are too heavy in taste. Have you ever tried one? They are like dry cake and sugar but with a fancy texture. Sooo unhealthy, mm.”

He says it as the bag that was filled with candy this morning, falls soundly from the desk. Idia was never one to say no to sweets, but only to the ones that suit his specific tastes: then, even the most logical reasons to eat healthier don’t come in handy. If it wasn’t for Ortho, and now you, he would’ve probably died from the excess of sugar from that sweet and sour gummy candy he loves.

You collect the bag before the little cleaning robot can ever reach it, and on the way to the trashcan, you bonk an empty plastic bottle on your boyfriend’s head. He should instil in himself some want of keeping his room tidy.

“So, the cafes are no-go?”

“Yeah.”

You take a seat again next to Idia and scroll down through the list of generated date ideas.

“Even the cat cafes?”

Idia opens his mouth to protest but finds that he can’t bring himself to do so. The silence is long enough that you stop reading the AI suggestions and lift your gaze up to Idia.

That’s the pause you’ve been waiting for.

“Then, it’s decided!” You clasp your hands together, and beam at Idia as he sighs at you. “I should have known that the virtual cats could never replace the real ones.”

Your boyfriend remains silent. The awkward expression he makes as two different parts of himself battle each other is entrancing; should he go mingle with other people to go to the cafe, or he will be better off remaining adamant about his vow of not going out anywhere? The fact he doesn’t roast you over this suggestion, makes it look like the former stance was a bit more appealing.

“Then I shall put them on your ultimate weakness list,” you say cheerily, getting giddy over Idia being wordless. It’s such a rare sight since he’s got used to the little acts of intimacy. Though you loved his stutters and furious blushes, the banter and suave smiles are welcome as well, of course. You can’t help but move closer to him and give him a peck on his lips. The single strands of his hair light up to pink, and you smile. “I am gathering an intel on you.”

Idia blinks and lays back in his chair, his game paused for a second. You know that gesture too well; in idianese it’s a sign that he changed his mindset to “it is what it is”, and decided that the worst case scenario might still be worth going to the cat cafe. In a fit of new resolution, his playful wryness returns in a heartbeat.

“Heh, yeah? It’s very wise of you to do so. How much data have you gathered already?”

You open a notebook app on your phone.

“Well, as I started putting it up just five seconds ago, there are… people… and me… And now cats,” you list out loud as you quickly type things into your phone. The basic font and too big characters make the list look like some kind of meme, which, in a way, it is. “And me, again.”

Idia snorts. “Basic info. Weak.”

“I could prepare your character profile. I know more of your strengths than weaknesses,” You say, and make a mental note to do a powerpoint presentation on Idia, this time with fewer memes and more candid photos of him. “But it's still enough to have you go on a date with me!”

He sighs again. Idia likes to make show off how much trouble he has to go through for you, but you don’t miss how his eyes light up, even if he rolls his eyes.

“I guess we can go for one short date there,” he tells you slowly, and before you believe once again that you have the magic privilege of a girlfriend, he throws a comment that quenches the flames of your self-satisfaction. “You are the one ordering, though.”

…No. Your fellow introvert won’t be dumping the trial of courage solely on you.

“Let’s take turns.”

“Offer rejected.”

“Let’s bring Ortho.”

“Offer accepted,” he lifts his hand as if he demands a pause in a game. “…But don’t you mind bringing my brother on a date?”

“It will be a “hangout” then. At least, until Ortho decides that we are too cringe and dumps us in the middle, then it’ll turn its status to a date.”

“Will he?” Idia ponders, but then his eyes land on you, and he smiles knowingly. “Oh yeah, he will. He might have implemented himself a module to go away if our cringe stat will rise over sixty per cent.”

“That’s a generous amount of cringe we can spread.”

“With you, I think it should be doubled.”

“Thanks, I love you too.”

“You’re welcome.”

#i believe you have to give idia a 10/10 suggestion at the moment for him to ever go on a date outside #like you have offered to go to the cat cafe already but he watched some old shoujo and now the idea with the cosplay cafe or an convent is #cats are a safe choice #twisted wonderland imagines #twst imagines #idia shroud #idia x reader #idia shroud x reader #idia #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland #twst x reader #twst

[imdeadinsidesiriuslydead]

Hi, your stories are wonderful and feed my fantasy for imaginary men. Could you write a Percy Jackson after all the wars? just him and his girlfriend living life in peace finally

Finally Peace. | Percy Jackson x fem! Reader

Warnings: Fluff, slight angst.

A/N: first of all, thank you!💕 second, I’m so glad I get to do some fluff. I feel like I’ve been pumping out all this smut (not complaining I love writing it) it’s nice to get to do some wholesome fluff.

————

As you stared out at the beautiful ocean, you thought back to when you first met him.

How he your eyes met the boy who allegedly stole Zeus’s lightning bolt. How your eyes met again when he his brother showed up at camp.

How your eyes met again at the battle of Manhattan, his eyes were pleading with you, trying to will himself to finally talk to you.

How it wasn’t until he was found again after he mysteriously disappeared, when his eyes met you again that he finally got the nerve to talk to you.

How after all the craziness he wanted to get to know you better. He just wanted to relax and not asked questions on “what happened” and “where were you”

He simply wanted to start fresh and spend some time in your company.

After all the adventures and nightmares he’s been on, he always comes back to you for comfort, for relaxation, for love.

You think of how you two were when trudging through Tartarus, clinging to each other as you lives depended on it.

You breathe in. Remembering all the friends you made, all the ones you’ve lost. All the challenges you faced. All the memories you made, with friends, enemies, siblings, him.

You breathe out, letting it all go. A weight finally off your shoulders. You two had survived it all together. And he had never let go of you.

You turn to face him. He stares out as he breathes in the sea water.

You remember laying eyes on the cute boy you met as an eleven year old. You now stare at the handsome man, proud to call him your boyfriend and to be called his girlfriend.

He turned to look at you, those dazzling sea green eyes staring into yours. He smiles.

“What?” Percy asks as he reaches down to hold your hand.

“Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you.” You hum as you lean into him.

“funny, I could be saying the same thing about you.” He smiles and leans his head on yours.

He breathes deeply.

“Now what?” He asks as he looks back to the sea, your eyes never leaving his.

You can see the tension in his shoulders, like he’s waiting for something to ruin this paradise and drag him back to the pain and suffering he’s becoming accustomed to.

You put you hand on his shoulder and feel him visibly relax.

“Now we go home.” You say, looking into his eyes again.

He smiles before hugging you tightly.

“It’s over?” He asked hopeful yet still worried.

“It’s over.” You say as you hold him close to you, finally at peace.

——

🌊

requests are open!

#percy jackson x reader #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson x you #percy jackson fluff #percy jackson x y/n

[bmtillerbabe]

A Beneficial Arrangement

inspired by BG3, and my crazy love for the fanged vampire spawn - I wrote original fanfic content (smut and sex galore)

I posted the full story on AO3, but here is the first chapter :)

Enjoy!

-----------------------

The campfire crackled and popped in the night air as a charred log shifted within the ashes, sending sparks dancing up away into the night sky.

  Your camp was quiet. Calm. And for the first time in a while – peaceful.

  The road you had traversed in the last few weeks had more than taken its toll on you and your party members, and you could not only feel the physical exhaustion throughout your soul, but your mind and heart as well. Alone with your thoughts was a dangerous thing…. Albeit a good one.

  Your eyes shimmered, reflecting the warm, golden glow of the flames. You watched in admiration as the tender trills of fire danced and swayed, bending in the slightest breeze before righting itself once more. You adjusted your legs and shifted your weight to avoid any pins and needles forming, wrapping your arms around your knees as you pulled them up to your chest.

  This was nice.

  Gentle snoring and glowing coming from Karlach’s tent. Scratch breathing softly, pattering his legs every now and again. Halsin off in some corner, meditating to the moon.

  And then, a pale, moonlit figure making its way towards where you now sat, approaching from the underbrush nearby.

  Astarion.

  Your head turned to meet his blood-red eyes, the soft tendrils of silver hair that curled around his face, and the tiny trail of blood that dripped from the corner of his mouth when he grinned. His gaze met yours as he reached up to wipe his mouth clean, licking the side of his hand so as not to let anything go to waste.

  You found yourself ashamed to admit that you had watched his actions much more intently than you should.

  “Well,” he drawled, “someone’s up late.” Sauntering over, he plopped himself down on the ground next to you. “Can’t sleep?”

  You smirked. “I could say the same thing to you.”

  “Ah, but my dear, I am a vampire, after all. I have a reason to be out at this hour.” He rested his forearm on his own knee, eyeing his fingers again for any trace of leftover blood. You took this moment to let your eyes trail down his figure. His shining white hair, his sharp jawline, pointed ears….  Gods, he looked perfect. Looked delicious.

  You couldn’t deny that over the last several weeks, as well as fighting your way through numerous battles, there was a battle going on within your mind every day that you couldn’t seem to win. Astarion was a beautiful, beautiful being, and every day you spent with him, you felt yourself slipping away more and more; your heart aching to be near him, to touch him, to feel him….

  You shook your head to yourself, trying to shy away from the thoughts that threatened to consume you. Astarion was a person. A party member. A friend.

  Yes. A friend.

  And you’re not supposed to think about friends that way.

  But gods. When he sat like this, literally glowing in the moonlight, eyes shining like liquid rubies under thick, dark lashes…. 

  “I’m just trying to relax some before tomorrow comes along,” You half-answered his question of why you were awake so late at night. You sighed, painfully tearing your eyes away from him and back to the fire. “It’s been a long week, and we have an even longer one ahead of us. Not only do we have to make our way to Moonrise, but we also must find a way to accrue some gold along the way. We need a way to stay alive without draining our only cleric.” You attempted a laugh.

  Your heart skipped a beat at the chuckle that rumbled from the back of the pale elf’s throat. “That might not be such a terrible idea.” He agreed.

   Apparently finding a small speck of blood, Astarion lifted his finger to his mouth to further clean himself off.

  Your stomach did a little flip at the sound of his gentle suckle, and your mouth watered. You swallowed involuntarily.

  To distract yourself again, you let your mind wander to another topic.

  Why he still chose to go out hunting late at night. Although you appreciated the fact that he seemed to care enough about the party’s outlook on his vampirism, it never seemed to bother you that much. Even when you had found him standing over you, fangs bared, those nights ago. Not only was there some kind of morbid curiosity about the whole thing…. You couldn’t deny the fact that somehow, inexplicably, it turned you on.

  Drinking blood had never been something you actively had sought out before, but ever since this beautiful creature had come into your life, you had to admit – it was on your mind so much more now. There was just something so…. Intimate about it. Having to give oneself over so fully, so entirely, trusting the other person so much as to play with your life. It was thrilling.

  And sexy.

  Not to mention, the feeling you had gotten when his cool, firm lips planted on your neck, his sharp fangs grazing your pulse before sinking in with a soft pop, and feeling him drink from you and your life’s force that first time….

  Maybe it was the night air, maybe it was your own thoughts, but you shivered.

  Astarion was suddenly concerned, and a part of you mentally berated yourself for drawing more attention towards yourself. That was the exact opposite of what you wanted.

  He cocked his head to the side and eyed you. “Oh. I do seem to forget how easily you humans tend to react to the weather.” He chuckled, a pure, angelic sound to your ears, “I can’t even remember the last time I was cold.”

  You were thankful that he hadn’t probed further into your mind via tadpole to reveal the true nature of your gooseflesh. Or how his gaze alone seemed to ignite a new fire deep within you, warming you from the inside out.

  And before you had a chance to think better of it, the question blurted out.

  “Why do you still go hunting?”

  Astarion’s laugh was the audible version of a glistering gemstone. Your eyes caught his fangs. “Well, in case you haven’t noticed my dear, there’s hardly any real food for me around here. Lest I remind you that I can’t survive alone on whatever vegetables and wines we find.”

  But you were shaking your head before he finished, raising a hand. “No, no, no. That’s not what I meant. I mean….” You gulped, almost unable to speak directly to him.

  Gods, could you smell him?

  “I mean…” Your breath quickened as the question you had wanted so desperately to ask him for many, many nights now bubbled up in your throat. Perhaps you had drank too much wine this night, perhaps your inhibitions had gotten the better of you. Or perhaps, you just wanted to see what would happen. Either way, before you could talk yourself out of it, you heard your own voice before it had even registered that you had begun to talk again,

  “I mean, why waste so much energy and time when all of us need you at your peak during the day… You’re a very important member of our party… and it just makes more sense, and… I want to help everyone in any way I can…” You seemed to be talking to yourself now, more than to him, trailing off every few words and stumbling over yourself in an endless barrage of words.... 

  Nevertheless, his eyes were locked onto yours. You tried to get a reading from him in any way you could but found your insight lacking. He could be thinking of the temple of Shar for all you knew, and you’d never know any better.

  He waited for you to finish, eyeing you curiously.

  As pathetic an excuse as it may sound, you couldn’t help yourself. You just had to say it.

  “You.... can feed on me, instead." Hearing it sounded worse than thinking it, so you quickly added, "If you like.”

  Astarion seemed genuinely surprised at your words. His eyes widened, but he otherwise made no move.

 Shit, You thought to yourself. Shit, shit, shit, way to go Tav, now you've done it... 

  Stomach in knots when he didn’t say anything, you quickly began to back up, trying to fix what you just said, the longer it had time to sink in.

  “Well, it just…  I mean…  You don’t have to if you don’t want to, I just figured that it would be so much easier than to try and hunt, and maybe find something to eat, maybe not. It would just be easier to…. Y’know….” You shrugged, cheeks flushing ever so slightly and a shiver threatening to break across your skin again, for a completely different reason this time, “I can help.”

  Yes, that was why you said it. Definitely. You just wanted to help. After all, he was a fellow party member, and you would hate for any of your party to feel alienated or alone, or punished for something that really wasn’t their choice to begin with.

  Yep. That’s exactly what it was.

  Astarion was quiet for a moment, contemplating. His crimson eyes danced between the fire and you before finally resting on your face. You found his expression still as unreadable as before, but…. You thought that maybe, just maybe, you could detect a hint of… warmth?

  “You…. you would do that?” His voice betrayed him for just a mere moment before it was concealed under his mask again. It was a sincere question, and he sounded…. Eager, almost. Perhaps you had been right. “Even after I almost…” He grimaced at the memory of the first time you had allowed him to drink from you, when he had nearly killed you caught in the bloodlust.

  You gulped, realizing the implications your words meant. But with the fire in your belly roaring into a flame, you nodded, pushing any fear to the back of your mind to sit behind the desire that was ever growing.

  “Of course.” You offered, resisiting the urge to reach out and touch his hand. “It just makes sense. Besides, think of all the energy you’ll save this way. You’ll have more time to rest, less exertion. Not to mention, I – we,” you quickly corrected yourself, “– don’t have to worry about a stray thief or wild animal catching you off guard. It’s the smart thing to do.” You concluded with a grimace, realizing it had gone from something kind to something akin to a sales pitch at the nearest Blacksmith’s Shop.

  He seemed to ponder this, almost as if in disbelief. This was definitely not the conversation he expected to have with you this night and you could tell.

  You awaited his answer, both eager for him to say both yes and no equally.

  Astarion looked back into the campfire again. It was quiet again between you once more – the nightsounds of the world seeming to be on full blast in the background. But slowly, he began to nod.

  “I think that would be a beneficial arrangement,” he concurred. “This.... This is not something to take lightly, you know. Offering blood is... well, not for just anyone. And I would hate for our friendship to come to an end simply because of a misunderstanding. So, I propose a counter-offer." He shifted his legs towards you - your stomach dropping - and looked directly into your eyes. 

  That damn shiver....

  "Alright. I will agree to allow you to share your blood with me, on one condition. We try it for two weeks, and revisit the notion to see how you're faring afterward. I won't need to feed from you every night, mind you, but..." His eyes squinted, and he... smirked?  "You may find the side effects to be more than you bargained for." He paused, looking you over, and the silence between you felt an eternity. 

  "Do we have a deal?" 

  Almost lost in his unrelenting gaze, you chided yourself mentally with a nod, releasing the breath you didn't realize you'd been holding. 

  "Yes," You cleared your throat, realizing that you had not only stopped breathing, but stopped swallowing as well, and your throat was now scratchy. You tried again, "Yes. Deal." 

  "Excellent." Astarion's eyes shone with something akin to malice, but it was quickly hidden behind his mask once again. With a much warmer smile, he thrust his hand out towards you, and you shook on it, sealing the deal. 

  You gasped softly when he yanked your grip to bring your face closer to his, and whispered - "This is a gift, you know. Thank you. I will not forget it.”

  You spent the next few minutes talking over the details and times of day when he could feed on you, coming to the agreement that he would only feed on you at night, whilst everyone else was asleep; they were to tell no one else of the arrangement; and it was to be done in your tent, while you were awake, on the off chance he would accidentally drank too much again, and you would be able to push him off. Or, at the very least, call for help.

  The finer details could be worked out along the way.

  Astarion grinned at her as the conversation came to a close. “Well, darling, this has been a surprisingly delightful conversation. As I am unfortunately sated at this moment, do expect me tomorrow night,” He paused and tilted his head. It made your stomach swoon. It was the eyes. It had to be the eyes.... 

  “And keep in mind, darling; I shall be quite hungry.”

  You managed to keep yourself from shivering this time.

  The two of you sat next to the fire in comfortable silence for a time after that, watching the fire slowly burn itself out.

  And maybe you had fallen asleep. Maybe the warmth of the fire had finally gotten to you, or maybe you just felt …. Safe. Maybe one of the goblins had hit you just a little too hard in the head with their clubs, and knocked a few braincells loose. 

  Either way, you stirred on the cool ground, only to wake and find your head resting on your bedroll and a blanket wrapped around your slender frame.

  Blinking away the sleep that threatened to pull you back under its dark tendrils, you slowly rose until you were laying on your elbows and lazily adjusted your vision to your new surroundings.

  You were in your tent.

  How…?

  The candle next to your roll flickered, casting little monsters in their shadows, and you yawned. Try as you may, you couldn’t stop yourself from smiling sweetly to yourself, closing your eyes against the butterflies in your stomach.

  Perhaps you weren’t so crazy after all for offering yourself to him. Perhaps this would indeed help everyone in the party after all…. Perhaps this would help you not be so crazily obsessed with those crimson eyes, and those sharp fangs, or the way he smiled when he thought no one could see…

  Perhaps….

 You dozed back off before you could fully finish your thought.

Read the rest on AO3 now! 🥰

#astarion smut #Astarion #Fluff #Smut #baldurs gate 3 #baldurs gate astarion #Astarion sex #Fanfic #ao3 #ao3 writer #ao3 fanfic #fanfiction #fic

[amica-aenigmata-naboo]

COLLISION

Astarion x Y/N - Chapter 2 - 2.5K WC

Masterlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2 (you are here!)

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5 NSFW 18+

Chapter 6 NSFW 18+

Chapter 7 NSFW 18+

-------------------

Magic was tougher than it looked. It felt like the most grueling full body workout. “Well, you’ve got enough to get you through a very short… heavily aided battle.” Shadowheart said, it sounded like the best backhanded compliment. 

“Can we be done for the day?” You asked, cracking your neck and stretching your back. “Please?”

Gale smiled and waved you off, “Just for today, we’ll need you in battle soon enough. Best you have a few tricks up your sleeve to survive… A word of advice, seek out Lae’zel, have her show you combat training. The Githyanke are -”

“Excellent warriors, I know.” you stated without thinking.

Gale’s face faltered for a moment before relaxing “Precisely, she’s the best to learn from.” he clapped his hand on your shoulder before walking back to his tent.

Shadowheart was walking back to her tent but gave you a smile and mouthed “good luck” towards you. 

You took a deep breath and walked to Lae’zel’s tent. Feet practically made of lead the way the anxiety made them drag. You stopped in front of her not looking up.

“Speak” was all she said.

“I’d like to spar with you… have you teach me how to fight… so I’m not just a useless cleric.” Your lip twitched up at the end of your sentence. Finally raising your gaze, Lae’zel looked at you and crossed her arms. 

“Fine. I suppose you can use this.” She said handing you what you recognized as “The Cruel Sting” sword from the drider, Kar’niss. 

You clutched the sword and followed Lae’zel to the center of the camp where she unceremoniously body checked you, knocking you onto your back with a groan.

“The Hell was that for?!” you yelled at her.

“Your enemy will not fight fair, you need to know brutality if you wish to fight.” she said as she unsheathed her sword.

You stood and held your sword. Nothing had ever felt more out of place. This wasn't a Renaissance Festival, this was real and you had to learn this to survive. You took a deep breath, closing your eyes and praying a collective prayer to any deity listening. You opened your eyes, the first strike of many clanged against your sword.

Shit.

________________________ 

Metal collides well past sundown. Lae’zel had run you ragged. You were currently trying to shove her back. She put her foot behind yours and shoved, sending you crashing onto your back.

“Have you learned nothing?!” she yelled so loudly everyone else in the camp was watching now. “Your enemy will not hesitate to kill you. You shall offer them no such mercy either!” she continued to yell.

That's it. That’s what broke the camel's back. Rage consumes you after being beaten down for hours. Your hand reached slowly for the small blade tucked into your breast pocket. Lae’zel put her sword to your neck to demand your surrender. You raised your hands. Lae’zel began putting her sword away and that's when you struck. You kicked her closest ankle and sent her falling. Dagger in your hand, you rolled on top of Lae’zel, straddling her hips and pressing the blade to her throat. She gawked at you, she was speechless. 

“Never assume the war is over because the battle was lost.” you said with hate in your voice but a proud smile on your face. 

Lae’zel gave the faintest smirk before taping the handle of the blade, signifying she surrendered. Both of you got up slowly. Lae’zel extended her arm. You stared at it in disbelief but your arm went to hers. Holding each other's forearms she shook it once firmly before saying, “Cleric, you may survive us yet.” she let go of your arm, walking to the bonfire as the meat roasting smelled as if it was almost done. 

Karlach walked over to you, “That’s as close as you’ll ever get to her saying you’re friends now.” she laughed. “You’ve improved a lot in one day. It’s going to be nice having you around soldier.” she patted your back before she herself walked to the campfire. 

You smiled watching her walk away. Glancing at Gale and Wyll they both gave you smiles, Gale giving a soft clap and Wyll a thumbs up. You walked back to your new tent that Karlach had set up for you while you were in the weave. It wrapped around the tree you slept on last night. A bedroll, some candles, and a small table with a lamp softly flickering. The flamed danced shadows across your tent, you laid on your bedroll momentarily, watching the shadows. Quickly, before you got too comfortable, you stood and began your walk to the stream. Your body ached but in a satisfactory way. Maybe you could be an adventurer. At least until you got back home. You shed your camp clothes at the shore, looking back and making sure everyone was at camp. You could hear them eating and telling stories  around the fire. You waded into the stream until it reached your ribs. You sat against a boulder in the stream. The water rushing around you felt calming, as if the water was trying to massage the ache out of you. You brushed water over your face and hair before leaning your head back and closing your eyes. Trying to connect to the earth around you, searching for a blissful escape in the elements even if only for a moment. 

---------------------

Astarion watched you from behind a tree near the shore and his tent. He didn’t mean to spy on you. He honestly thought he saw a fae or siren wade into the water, your body enchanting him. He watched you wade to the boulder finding some sort of solace in it. You leaned there unmoving for what felt like hours. 

Sad

That's what rang out in Astarion’s mind. The tadpole saying what your mind must have been screaming. He felt that unfamiliar pang in his chest again. He wanted to… comfort you? He didn’t even know what that would look like. Was it like seduction just… less? He both wanted to know and despised the thought of knowing.

Without realizing it, he had drifted off and he refocused on your form trudging back to the shore. He knew what he had to do to get rid of the pang in his chest. Crush it. Crush you. The very thought hurt him somehow but he knew it had to be done. He walked out from behind the tree heading towards the shore. Your back was facing him, your shirt and underwear on but nothing else. He adored the way the moonlight made your shirt cast a shadow of your body. He noticed every curve, dimple, freckle… he noticed them all. 

---------------------

“Oh! Astarion…” you jumped when you heard the rocks behind you shift. Your hands flew all over your body trying to cover up but not sure what exactly to cover. He grabbed your hip when you started to move backwards. You glanced at his hand before looking at his face, your eyebrows scrunched together. Astarion hadn’t exactly been the most welcoming in the camp so what was this? Hand still on your hip he possessively pulled you to his chest, his opposite hand tilting your chin up so your lips were a breath away from each other. Your whole body felt like cement and lava at the same time. Your eyes watched his every move. 

“A bath with no invite? Darling, you wound me.” he whispered onto your lips. You sucked in an unintentionally sharp breath when he leaned forwards and smashed his lips to yours. He was rough despite his gentle grasp on your chin. He continued to kiss you, nipping at your lower lip.

“Ouch!” you yipped, pushing his chest away. 

“Come now darling you cannot be so delicate…” he said seductively.

You backed up and held your arm out in front of you to put a physical barrier between you. “Astarion, stop.” You said as your finger smoothed over the nip on your lip that had drawn the smallest bit of blood. 

Now it was his turn to freeze, “What? Why? Is something wrong?” He asked. He almost sounded… annoyed? Instead of concern which you would expect from a lover. 

You knew enough about Astarion from your progress in Baldur's Gate III that he was trying to manipulate you by sleeping with you. It saddened you. He might not like you much in reality but you would still protect him like everyone else in your party. Your face gave a painful squeeze before you swallowed it all down. You put your arm down, picking up your pants, boots, and vest. “Astarion… you don’t truly want this. I’ll umm… I’ll see you at camp.” You whispered out. 

-----------------------

The world seemed to be so still and quiet down by the stream. Astarion heard every syllable. He watched you leave quickly and did he detect… a quiver in your voice? Why would you be upset about him trying to fuck you? Why did you say “you don’t truly want this”? He didn’t want it, but how did you know that? He walked back to his tent glumly. After seeing you take down Lae’zel he thought you might not be so bad to have under his thumb. Why would you reject him? He saw himself for the first time in 200 years that morning so he knew for a fact he was still beautiful, fangs and all. He wracked his brain but couldn’t come up with an answer to why his plan didn’t work on you. It works on everyone else. 

A bitter seed was planted inside him. He watched your form move around camp for the rest of the night. Eyes never meeting his. He watched you talk with the others. Sing with Wyll. attempt to dance with Karlach. Everyone wore soft smiles, even Lae’zel which was rare. A warmth was spread around the camp. As if the air was made of warm honey. Suffocating you in the best way possible. Rested and comfortable is what it was.

He wanted so desperately to be a part of it. And yet, that bitter seed took root and every thought of you suddenly felt like rot and decay. Finding the bad and none of the good. Making you the cause of such ire. He wanted to be rid of you. He thought of the item you had, the “mirror” he used. Had you told the others about that? What would they think of it? He could twist it to make you look like the villain, he was sure of it. 

------------------

“”Y/N darling…” 

Your head snapped to Astarion who had silently managed to sit across from you at the bonfire. Your head swirled a bit, whatever Karlach was drinking had some twang to it that's for sure. You were drunk and the warm glow of the fire made you feel like a cat in a sunbeam.

“Astarion darling…” you giggled back.

“Have you told our dear friends about your powerful little tool?” he batted his eyelashes at you but a devious smirk laid across his lips. 

Everyone's eyes slowly drifted to you and lord did you feel them on you.

“I… I showed Gale.” you rushed out. You weren’t hiding it. Not truly. You just didn’t know how to tell them what a phone was without having to tell them about your… well… life? And how to you, they were a mere video game. That they didn’t actually exist. That's a little tough to deliver. Especially while drunk. 

“Yes! She had me repower it.” Gale chimed in. 

“Oh it needs magic to power itself? Sounds dangerous if you ask me…” 

Now everyone's eyes were not only looking at you but focused on you, scanning you over for any potential danger. You slowly reached into your bedroll. Your phone lit up and everyone kept a strong hold on their weapons. 

“I… it is a power source… but it only powers itself. It’s not dangerous I swear…. It’s used to communicate where I’m from.” you quickly defended yourself.

“And where is that exactly?” Astarion hummed.

Your skin was crawling, you felt how unsteady your stomach was, a cold sweat coating your back, your hands shaking, and dear god you were fighting the urge to spill tears. All out of sheer anxiety. You didn’t want to lie, but you didn’t know how to tell the truth either. 

“I… I’m… not from here. Or Baldur’s Gate. Or Faerûn. I’m… I’m from somewhere far away. I’m not sure how to explain it.” you choked out. The tears slipped out but you quickly wiped them away and looked at your new friends, hoping they’d believe you but not push for more answers either. 

“How mysterious.” Astarion jested. “Care to show up what it does so we know it isn’t dangerous?” 

You looked down at the phone before looking at everyone around you. You had no idea if this would have some sort of butterfly effect or alter reality but you didn’t really care. These people were your best hope, you needed them and were in no position to test their patience. You looked down, defeated. You agreed, turning the phone on you opened the camera app. 

“I can use it to see people… and take portraits of them instantly.” you softly explained before taking a picture of yourself and then showing them all the picture. They looked impressed, borderline shocked. 

“Anything else?” Astarion asked, sounding unamused. 

You opened your music app and clicked on classical music, thinking that would be somewhat close to the music they know. Playing strauss II - voices of spring you turned the volume up and watched them become entranced. Karlach started swaying and humming with the melody. Everyone’s tense appearance faded and they all seemed pleased with the music. 

“Portrait machine and a music box, how delightful!” Gale spoke before drinking more wine. 

“If you all don’t mind I will retire early this evening.” you spoke softly as you got up and walked away leaving your phone as it began the classical music playlist you had saved for when you would study. Some of the group gave you nods, some were too deep in drink or conversation to notice. But Astarion did.

He saw how tightly you clasped your hands as you walked away. How your eyes were so big and full of fright. How your heartbeat sounded. Terrified.

Shit.

---------------------

He watched you from his tent as you threw rocks from the river bank into the riverbed. He could still hear your heartbeat. How strained it sounded. Like it was fighting itself. He felt wretched. He was doing what he needed to. Right? Then why did it hurt so damn bad? Why did the way the tears skimmed down your face feel like a wound to his heart? Why did he want nothing more than to go to you and whisper sweet apologies. He hates you. He has to because it is the only control he can feel at this moment. So why does the final sob he hears escaping you on the shore bring him right back to where he doesn’t want to be. He digs in his supply pack before pulling out the vile of angelic slumber. If he couldn’t meditate this away he was not above drugging himself to sleep for the night. Anything to not feel what he felt when it came to you.

Hello angels! You all were so sweet leaving me comments, likes, and reblogs. Thank you soooooo much! All that support went into overdrive so here is chapter 2! I'll be working on other chapters this week. Thank you again for all the love, I love interacting with ya'll! <3

#baldurs gate 3 #astarion x reader #astarion x tav #bg3 #fanfiction #karlach #lae'zel #gale of waterdeep #bg3 wyll #shadowheart #isekai #baldurs gate #baldurs gate astarion #baldurs gate iii #baldurs gate tav #larian #bg3 romance #bg3 brainrot #bg 3 #baldursgate #balduran #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #baldur's gate oc #astarionposting #astarion x you #astarion #baulders gate 3 #astarion my beloved #bg3 companions

[redux-iterum]

Charred Legacy: Chapter Two

(AO3 counterpart here.)

Over the next few nights, Fireheart observed Cloudkit as he wandered around camp and met his Clanmates. It was easier to count how many cats didn’t make a comment on his unusual colors, resulting in a frown on the little kit’s face that deepened with every repeated remark. The grey tom, Ashkit, took to standing protectively by Cloudkit and mimicking his frown until the topic was eventually dropped.

“I just don’t want him to feel self-conscious,” Brindleface said to Fireheart as the little toms wrestled with each other while their sister watched. “I know that every other Clan is going to say something about his face and tail. He can’t help being colored like that.”

Fireheart’s eye creased at Cloudkit yowling in triumph as he toppled Ashkit. “I’m sure RiverClan will like how he looks, at least. They’re all for unusual things.”

Brindleface twitched her whiskers. “Maybe he’ll be the one thing they like about us, then.”

A beautiful silver face passed over Fireheart’s vision. He said nothing.

Only a night or so after that conversation came the full moon, and with that came the Gathering. Fireheart watched the mixture of excitement and tension in everyone’s bodies come out in the form of nervously tapping their tails or kneading the sand with their claws out. He couldn’t blame them; ThunderClan had uncomfortable news to report, if they were brave enough to report it at all.

“I wish I could at least go for a moment.” Greystripe, sitting by Fireheart’s side, chewed morosely at his squirrel’s paws. “I’d like to see how everyone is.”

Ravenwing, on Greystripe’s other side, shook his head. “It’s for the best that you don’t go to any more Gatherings. Showing up right now especially is just begging for a fight to break out.”

Greystripe’s tail swiped to the right as he muttered, “Wouldn’t be the first time we broke the peace.”

Fireheart sighed. His chest tightened at the memory of the battle in ShadowClan’s moors during a Gathering night when he was still an apprentice. Kits and elders alike had died on the one night of the month where even arguments were sacrilege. Another cat that wasn’t to be named had been the cause of it, and, like the deputy, everyone danced around even the slightest mention of him.

As could’ve been predicted, Ravenwing was quick to change the topic. “Actually, does anyone know who’s going? It’s almost time to leave and I haven’t seen Bluestar at all yet.”

Fireheart blinked in surprise. “…You’re right. She must still be in her den.” He stood up. “I’ll ask her. I’d like to be there tonight myself.”

His friends nodded to him as he trotted to the camp entrance, noting that a few cats looked his way inquisitively, like he already had the answer of who was going. Through the tunnel and out to the border of camp, then to the left, and he reached the leader’s den quickly.

“Bluestar?” he called as he parted the lichen curtain. “Are you in here?”

His leader’s head jerked up from its position draped over her nest and she blinked hard, several times. “Who– oh.” The tension in her back relaxed and the fur there smoothed out. “Fireheart.”

“Sorry, were you sleeping?” Fireheart dipped his head in a respectful greeting. “I was just coming in to ask who all is going to the Gathering, since, well, it’s almost time to leave, and no one knows…”

“Oh.” Bluestar’s eyes narrowed distantly. “Right. Tonight.” She stood up and shook her fur free of dried moss. “Come on.”

Before Fireheart could respond, she walked past him and out of her den, leaving him to have to hurry after her. Her pace was regal, as usual, but her pawsteps seemed stiff, if only a little. Maybe her toes were numb from resting on them.

The Clan collectively looked up as they entered camp. Speckletail, who was speaking with Willowpelt, turned and took a few steps towards Bluestar.

“I’m content to stay home and see over things here, if you’d like,” she said briskly. “I don’t need many cats to hunt tonight.”

Bluestar lowered her chin and scanned the crowded clearing without responding for a long moment. Eventually, she turned to Speckletail. “Is there anyone you want to stay here?”

Speckletail shook her head.

“Then…” Bluestar’s eyes went over the Clan again. “Whitecloud and Ravenwing, you’ll be coming.” She looked at her old apprentice. “Fireheart, would you like to go?”

Fireheart nodded. “Please.”

“I’d like to, too,” Frostfur said. “It’s been ages since I’ve gone.”

“Can we go?” Brackenkit asked eagerly, sitting by his mother.

Frostfur gave him a gentle tap with her feathery tail. “When you four become apprentices.”

“Oh.” Brackenkit looked down in disappointment.

“Mousefur, Lizardtail, Teaselfoot…” Bluestar looked from the little group on her right to her left. “And Sandstorm. That will be enough.”

“Lucky us!” Teaselfoot looked at his sister in delight. “I’ve been wondering about Darkflower. Hopefully she’ll be there.”

“I doubt it.” Mousefur stood up and kicked some sand off her foot, leading the two toms to the others as they approached Bluestar. “Didn’t she say last time that she was going to try for a litter soon?”

“Oh, I forgot about that.” Teaselfoot tilted his head thoughtfully. “Well, who knows, maybe her mate or someone will be there. I still need to get the rest of that story from her.”

“If it’s her mate you’ll see, I wouldn’t ask about her, as a random ThunderClan tom,” Lizardtail said dryly.

“Fair enough.”

The party followed Bluestar out with tail-waves of farewell to their Clanmates. Fireheart trotted alongside Whitestorm and Ravenwing while the others fanned out a bit and chatted among themselves. Fireheart didn’t say much, mostly because he was trying to decipher the dimness in Whitecloud’s eyes when he looked at Bluestar, who had her jaw tightly set. One catch of Whitecloud’s gaze immediately told Fireheart to not say anything or press for information. The dimness was solemn and heavy. He made a mental note to check on Whitecloud when it was appropriate.

Blessedly, the walk to the neutral grounds outside of ThunderClan’s forest was uneventful. Fourtrees welcomed them with the rest of the Clans already present and chattering, their leaders seated on their boulder and quietly speaking to each other. Bluestar went straight for the boulder while her Clanmates spread out and easily melded into the crowd, which greeted them with varying levels of excitement.

Fireheart and Ravenwing stood together, looking over the crowd. Fireheart caught sight of a familiar little ShadowClan tom sitting by a black-and-white apprentice who was unusually round for a marsh cat (that is, he didn’t look on the brink of starvation).

“Rainpath!” Fireheart called, leading Ravenwing to his friend.

The grey tabby looked over and his large eyes lit up. “Fireheart and Ravenwing! Blessings, it’s been a long time.”

“You’re telling me.” Fireheart greeted him with a headbump. “Hey, Badgerpaw. I haven’t seen you in a while either.”

Badgerpaw, looking about as timid as Ravenwing usually was, nodded shyly. “Hello.”

“How’s training going?” Ravenwing asked, coming to stand beside Fireheart. “For you and your mentor.”

The apprentice didn’t look quite as nervous to speak to the black warrior. “Rainpath says I do well.”

“He does fantastically,” Rainpath said, puffing out his chest. “A hunter and fighter, all in one. He impresses even Blackstar.”

Badgerpaw shuffled his feet bashfully.

“That’s awesome!” Fireheart beamed at the little tom. “Good for you.” To Rainpath, he added, “If I remember right, he’s related to you?”

“Indeed,” Rainpath replied. “We’re cousins.”

“Well, it’s not for a while, but I’ll be a mentor to family too.” Fireheart snorted at the surprise, swiftly followed by confusion, on both ShadowClanners’ faces. “My nephew came to live with us, and Bluestar is having me teach him when he becomes an apprentice.”

“Ah!” Rainpath brightened up. “ThunderClan is quite kind to you and your blood. Congratulations.”

Fireheart chuffed lightly. “Thank you. Sorry if I start bugging you with questions about how to train him.”

“Oh, it isn’t difficult!” Rainpath cocked his head, gesturing towards Badgerpaw. “The bond is most important. Learning to speak to each other in a way you both understand, and finding how your charge learns, that is what’s vital. Teaching the ways of a warrior is easy enough after that.”

Badgerpaw nodded and leaned sideways to bump his mentor with his cheek, which Rainpath purred to.

Fireheart’s tail curled at the sight. “I just want to do my best and help him grow into a good cat.”

“You’ll do that fine,” Ravenwing said.

“That I trust in as well.” Rainpath gave Fireheart a friendly blink. “And if he’s of your blood, I also trust he will be eager to learn.”

Fireheart opened his mouth to respond, but a call sounded out from the boulder. With that, all conversation ceased and every eye turned to the leaders. Crookedstar, RiverClan’s brown-and-white leader, stood, his short tail waving back and forth.

“A pleasant night to you all!” he said, speaking around his jaw that jutted out to the side. “As always, I hate to interrupt your chatter, but we do have news to share. I hope you’ll excuse this aside before you continue your conversations.”

His voice was bright and cheery, but Fireheart didn’t miss that his face looked more… worn. Older. His muzzle was a bit greyer, his eyes heavy and sagging just a bit.

Losing Silverstream took a lot out of him, Fireheart thought immediately, and sadly. He looks so tired.

Crookedstar, luckily, did not appear to hear Fireheart’s thoughts, because he turned to the rest of the leaders with that same cheer. “Anyone care to go fir—”

“I will,” Bluestar said. She did not have anything resembling cheer in her voice or eyes. She stood as Crookedstar sat down with no small amount of surprise. “ThunderClan has a new deputy in Speckletail. She’s stayed home tonight to watch camp.”

Murmurs of surprise and congratulations rippled through the crowd. The ThunderClan cats Fireheart could see were stiff and silent.

“Good on her!” Crookedstar tilted his head. “I’m quite sorry to hear you lost Tigercl—”

“Don’t be,” Bluestar said curtly. “Our previous deputy was executed for murder and treason.”

Dead silence. Dead and shocked. Cats looked at each other with wide eyes and mouths agape. Teaselfoot and Lizardtail lowered their heads, and Whitecloud shut his eyes tightly with a grimace. Even Rookstar stared at Bluestar, and Blackstar’s fur stuck straight up off his back.

Bluestar’s grim eyes narrowed as the silence stretched for several heartbeats. She finally looked Blackstar’s way. “That’s all the news we have. Care to speak next?”

Props to Blackstar; he recovered almost immediately and straightened up again, his back-fur smoothing out. He stood and stepped forward, Bluestar retreating, and spoke.

“ShadowClan does well in this warm winter,” he said. At the sound of his voice, the air of Fourtrees lost some of its tension. “However, our ears have caught the buzz of the cats of the Aulmir. They travel in groups now, and a scouting patrol heard them speak of some sort of trouble a kemera told them of.” His ears, wide but smaller than an average ShadowClan cat’s, slid back against his head. “As if they knew we were curious, they spoke vaguely. All we know is that they are content to not do anything about whatever this trouble is, and from their words we believe they wait for the trouble to find us all.”

Tense air again, occupied by murmurs.

“I can tell you what that trouble is,” Rookstar said, flat and calm as ever.

With a blink of surprise, Blackstar nodded respectfully to his senior and stepped back. Rookstar stood next, his eyes roaming over the crowd. Even with his stoicism, Fireheart could see Rookstar’s claws ever-so-slightly unsheathed.

He gave a soft, aged sigh. “Dogs are loose.”

Fireheart perked his ears at the hisses and growls that rippled out from those few words. He had only interacted with dogs a couple times during his early life in the Houses; small white ones, and a taller yellow one. They had been noisy and eager to get near him to sniff, but obeyed their humans into harmlessness. Were leashless dogs different, then, going by everyone’s reaction?

Rookstar answered that question immediately. “Oatwhisker was torn apart by them. There’re at least two—scents are mixed up, makes it hard to tell them apart, but the pawprints were different sizes.”

Even jolly old Crookedstar gawked at Rookstar, back half-arched and eyes wide with fear. “Please tell me you have an idea of where they are.”

Rookstar shook his head. “They move fast. One day at the Barn, next one in the neutral grounds.”

Another, fiercer ripple of hissed terror and growled hatred. Fireheart wilted into a slight huddle as cats began looking around themselves, like they were expecting to find the dogs in the crowd. Rainpath reached out a paw and pulled Badgerpaw closer to his side, ratty tail bristling as well as it could.

“Then…” Blackstar lowly cleared his throat. “It’s safe to say we are all to be vigilant and wary, should these dogs come to visit our borders.”

Rookstar lowered his chin in a WindClan nod.

Fireheart peeked at Ravenwing. He was trembling.

“By the Three…” Crookedstar shook his head, that worn weariness more severe on his face. “A right lovely night this is.”

“You have a chance to cheer us up,” said Rookstar.

Crookedstar’s whiskers twitched mirthlessly. “Aside from us eating well, I have nothing to say.”

No one responded. The pause would have been awkward, were the air not still dripping cold fright and worry.

Rookstar was the one to break the silence. “We’ve shared our news. Continue your conversations.”

Uneasily and delayed, the crowd gradually turned to each other and spoke again. The topics, as Fireheart listened in, were pretty much all the same: what was to be done about the dogs and where they would go next. To his far-off left, Sandstorm chewed air stressfully, her claws flexing.

“This is no good,” Ravenwing muttered, head down. “We don’t need dogs here.”

Fireheart looked to his friend. “Is it really that bad? Won’t they go away?”

“If they’ve already murdered someone, I doubt it.” Ravenwing shivered. “They don’t hunt like us—they just… kill. For fun. I’ve heard the stories.”

“Ah—” Rainpath looked up. “Perhaps we will be alright. They must have a human they obey. It can call them off.”

Ravenwing didn’t meet his eyes, his voice so low Fireheart almost missed it. “I hope so.”

He did not sound remotely optimistic. 

#warrior cats #redux iterum #iterum #chapter #chapter two #book three #arc one #charred legacy

[podcastenthusiast]

Astarion/Karlach. Act 1 conversation after some questionable choices.

--

Someone approaches you at camp. You're a little on edge about this, tense despite the growing bond with your companions. The memory of the gith's sword against your neck is still fresh.

"Hey, soldier. Got a minute?"

It's Karlach. You relax.

"For you, my dear, of course."

She sits down beside you. You can feel the apprehension and ambient heat radiating from her skin. She picks at a loose thread on her shirt; you wonder if she's going to ask you to repair it for her. She always gets distracted mid-stitch or sets the fabric alight.

"You seem different," she says. "Since we've been here. Since you, uh, consumed that tadpole. Not sure I like who you're turning into lately."

"Worried I might be at risk of sprouting tentacles? Darling, I didn't know you cared."

She reaches out as if to playfully punch your arm, but catches herself, sparing you a nasty burn.

"Shut up. No, it's not that. It's just... You enjoy it, huh? The power it gives you. Power over other people. Toying with them."

You do, honestly. It feels good to be the one giving the orders, for once. And you need every advantage you can get with the odds stacked against you. You need to understand and control your new Illithid abilities before they control you, or Cazador does. An army of crazed cultists could be a useful asset if it comes to that.

But Karlach doesn't sound so happy about these developments.

She shouldn't have let you into her (figurative) heart. All you know how to do is break them.

"Well, how could I not? It's so easy to manipulate those brainless goblins. And we both know I detest hard work."

She frowns. "Nah. See, I think there's more to it. Getting your way and having a little fun at their expense--that's one thing. But I watched you torture someone, no tadpole required. So c'mon. Real talk, Astarion."

Ugh. You're starting to hate when she uses your name instead of a silly moniker. It means she's serious. Or cross about something. Or both.

"Fine. It makes me feel strong, all right?"

"Well yeah, I figured as much. Dig a little deeper."

Karlach will be the death of you, you think. Maybe that one will stick and she'll cry at your funeral. Good. It would serve her right for prodding so much. Trying to see you, and not just what you want everyone to see, either.

"I haven't felt anything even close to this strong in 200 years. You don't know what that's like. Suddenly I have authority. I can impose my will over others, force them to obey. With Cazador, I was so...powerless. Now I'm not."

She shifts uncomfortably. "I mean, that's great and all. But is that what you really want? To be like your old master?"

You bare your fangs. "I am nothing like Cazador!"

She raises her hands placatingly. "Whoa, hey! At ease, soldier. Didn't mean to hit a nerve. I'm sorry."

She looks at you a bit like you're a wounded animal. It makes you want to lash out even more. Instead you take a few deep breaths, the way Lae'zel once showed you during a sparring session. Harness your body, and the mind will follow.

"Finding that druid Halsin. Seeking the hag's help. Githyanki purification. The search for a cure is what brought our merry little band of freaks together, isn't it."

"...Yeah, I suppose," she says slowly, not quite sure where you're going with this.

"What do you suppose happens to me if we do find a cure?"

"I don't know. Who can say where any of us will be?"

"Take a guess. Lae'zel returns to her queen, Shadowheart completes her mission, Gale goes home to his beloved Waterdeep, Wyll carries on saving kittens from trees or something. And yours truly?"

"You could always come with me," Karlach says, a sentiment as absurd as it is sweet.

"No parasite means no freedom," you tell her. "Nothing to stop Cazador taking me back."

"That's where you're wrong." There's an intensity in her eyes. Not the familiar fiery explosive battle rage, but a calm controlled burn. "You helped me at least thrice over. Even if we never find a way to cool down my engine... Said I wouldn't let anyone hurt you, and I meant it. Your demons are my demons."

You look away, your throat suddenly tight, a confusing mix of fear and gratitude swirling in your gut.

"You don't know what he's capable of. You'd be a fool to do that for me."

"Psh. Who says it's all about you anyway? Maybe I just personally want to set the old bastard on fire. Sounds like he has it coming."

You laugh, and your chest feels lighter than it has in days.

"Right you are, Karlach."

"And for what it's worth, you know...I think you're pretty damn strong no matter what."

You don't agree. But it's a nice thought all the same.

#bg3 #baldur's gate iii #baldur's gate 3 #astarion #karlach #astarion x karlach

[toomanybandstocare]

Congrats on your account anniversary! You’re an awesome person and friend! ✨💕

I’m submitting the .𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓.𖥔 ݁ ˖ Sneaking Around request…

with Captain Rex x Reader!

Perhaps something fluffy and sweet? 💓

.𖥔 ݁ ˖☾𖤓.𖥔 ݁ ˖ - Sneaking Around

Drabble for character x reader. @starrylothcat requested something fluffy and sweet with our resident Captain with puppy dog eyes. I hope you enjoy it!! Thank you for celebrating with me, an dI so enjoyed chatting and getting to know you, friend <3

Pairing: Captain Rex x GN! reader

Genre: Fluff

Length: 800w

Warnings: Mention of alcohol, Barely proof read

Counselor Note: So sorry this is shorter! I really wanted to write this for you and just share a piece of sunshine fluff with our boi.

-> Celebration Announcement Post <- -> Celebration Masterlist <- -> Camp Resolute Masterlist <-

A warm sea breeze lazily drifts over the beach club as sun beams lightly kiss the skin of vacationers and employees. Cheers and shouts from the shoreline harmonize with the ocean’s rolling waves as children splash around in the crystal blue waters. Parents sit under umbrellas with blankets and coolers of snacks while they keep a careful eye on their kids as they enjoy a moment of relaxation. Other patrons chat excitedly as they wander around the cabanas and different restaurants on the property.

Arching your back with a satisfied hum, you sink further into your lounge chair. Although your movement is limited with the weight of your lover’s body resting on your chest. Rex’s sleeping expression pinches at your movement, and his arms tighten around your waist. 

“Where do you think you’re going,” he asks. His voice thick with sleep now rumbles against your skin with its low vibrato that sends shivers through you.

You peer down at him over your sunnies with an amused expression. “No where, I promise. I was, however, trying to get more comfortable, but it seems like someone’s more concerned about their afternoon nap,” you lightly tease. Rex presses his face into the crook of your neck and groans, which pulls a melodious laugh from you.

The two of you were granted an extended leave after the most recent battle. Without a second thought, Rex started to pack both your bags as he muttered under his breath about everything his commanding officers and brothers put him through with the latest so called plan. As he flew across your room looking for your favorite outfits, you quickly reserved a private cabana for the two of you to hide away and enjoy from prying eyes. Neither of you want to lift a single finger, and both of you made a secret promise to make sure the other didn’t as well.

Rex has never thought too much of what his future would be. The sensitive heart that makes it home in his chest shies away from false hope. After losing so many brothers and close friends, Rex isn’t sure he could survive even one more crack in his tattered heart. Yet when he pulls away from your soft skin, he melts when he meets your adoring expression. Late afternoon sunlight frames you in a breathtaking glow that makes Rex fall in love with you all over again. Only this time it feels like the air is knocked out of him, and Rex falls harder for you. “What would you like to do, hm?” Rex asks as one of his arms slips from your waist and cups your cheek.

Even with the summer heat, you alway find comfort in Rex’s warmth. Leaning into his palm, your eyes flutter shut for a moment as you hum in thought. “How about dinner and drinks? Been here all morning, and we forgot to bring a cooler and our beach bag today,” you muse out loud and look at him once more. Your mind finally slows into a languid peaceful bliss after half a month disconnected from the rest of the galaxy. Never in a rush to get from place to place as you focus on enjoying the taste of normalcy with your riduur.

“Then dinner and drinks, we will find,” Rex agrees with a groan as he pulls away from you. Slipping off the lounge chair, Rex stretches his arms above his head. When he opens his eyes to catch you unabashedly checking him out, Rex’s cheeks blush a deeper red from the already existing sun kiss to his cheeks. “Alright, enough of that. There’ll be plenty of time for whatever daydream you’ve come up with later,” Rex rushes to try and tame the butterflies soaring in a flurry within his stomach. He dips down and loops on arm under your knees as the other rests on your lower back. 

As Rex pulls you up to his chest, your chest sears with excited nerves as laughter falls from your lips. “Rex,” you cry out in giddy disbelief. Wrapping your arms around his neck, you rest your head on his shoulder while he begins to walk towards your favorite of the club restaurants. “Please, don’t drop me,” you breathe out. You trust Rex implicitly, but the lingering nerves make you press closer to him.

Rex glances down at you with a soft expression. “I will never drop you, cyar’ika. I’m always going to be there to catch you,” he promises you. Something squeezes at his lungs when you look up at him in utter adoration, and Rex swears to himself that he will always try to keep that expression on your face. Wholly devoted to your wellbeing and happiness, Rex has never felt more at home than he has in this moment.

#captain rex #captain rex imagines #captain rex imagine #captain rex x you #captain rex x yn #captain rex x reader #captain rex x female reader #captain rex x male reader #captain rex x gn! reader #captain rex fluff #clone wars fanfic #the clone wars fanfiction #the clone wars imagine #clone wars fanfiction #the clone wars fanfic #clone wars fluff #captain rex blurb #captain rex blurbs #captain rex one shot #captain rex fic #camp halfwit letters #camper ask #camper starrylothcat #counselor mythos report

[toska-writes]

“Tranquility… Sort of”

Summary: It was really hot- after a tricky battle everyone’s nerves could use a little washing away

Pairing: Hardcase x GN padawan reader (P-L-A-T-O-N-I-C)

Warning: None :) please enjoy!

Word Count: 1259

Notes: So I had another fic in progress but I couldn’t focus on one thing so this was mood written purely in the moment but y’all seemed to like the last spontaneous one! (My first Hunter one)

It was hot- very very hot.

Trudging all the way back to meet the ships that’s all that filled your mind, even if you tried not too.

The campaign was more a success then you all originally thought, the causality numbers were low and the objective was obtained quickly. But why this was taking forever you didn’t know.

No one dared speak as the footfalls echoed and crutched behind you. Silently your master held a small canteen of water out to you and you gratefully took it.

Anakin gave a small smile and once again the silence took over your senses.

You could feel the morale around you dropping and this just put you down more- after any battle the first thing you wanted to do was lay down and sleep for a while, but now that wasn’t really an option.

A brave voice started a small quite conversation behind you which was a good sign- because if there was silence for this long in the 501st you knew something was off.

Since the danger was behind them Anakin now started a chat with Rex who led the way with the other Jedi, no sooner than this a small tap at your shoulder pulled you into the small group conversation behind.

Lines of ranks now merged into one jumbled group as voice now floated around- still not as loud as in the barracks but that was fine.

You fell between Jeese and Hardcase who already took off their helmets and clipped the to their sides. Hardcase bumped shoulders with you pushing you slightly into Jesse with a sly smile on his face.

“I’m glad someone’s in a decent mood.” You half joked looking up the the trooper.

It was Jesses turn to get your attention as he said. “We were trying to figure out the odds that the General would let us stop for a moment, maybe cool off in a huge lake coming up.”

Many of the men around you nodded in agreement to this idea. “The real challenge is getting the captain to stop for a little bit.” You smiled already on board with this plan.

Hardcase was about to agree when Anakins voice rang out. “The ships running a little late so it might be a while before we see it. If we could find a place to stop that would be ideal”

Hardcase turned to you with a growing grin on his face, He wiggled his eyebrows quickly before pulling you back to the front of the group. Someone was watching out for you all now and you were ever grateful.

“You know Sir there’s a nice lake just up head not even a click off, it wouldn’t be a bad place to camp for the time being.”

You could already see the wheels turning in your masters mind as he thought it over. You flashed a smile up to Hardcase already knowing you had this in the bag. The sweat that gathered above Anakins brow already answered for him.

Quickly glancing at Rex for his thoughts and earning a small nod Anakin announced the plan to the group.

The rest of the clones seemed to get riled up at the fact that a nice break was in sight as a race broke out between you, Hardcase, Jesse, Fives, Echo and a few more to the lake that was now on the horizon.

Fives let out a happy holler while running before getting to the stop first.

Piling the top of his kit in one spot not even bothering to remove the bottoms he dove into the water with Echo following suit.

The rest of you followed his actions as armor was now littered all over the ground. To say the least it was going to be a soggy ride home.

You stripped a few layers of the robes you were wearing and placed your lightsaber down gently before you raced into the water.

The water was a nice greeting around your legs as you pretty much relaxed as you stood in the shallows for a moment. Just ahead about waist deep you saw some men already gathered there splashing each other.

With his back turned to you it was the perfect opportunity to knock him fully into the water. You made contact as you swam over, pushing Hardcase down by his shoulders you laughed as he breached the surface once again.

He spat some water out with a mock look of hurt on his face. “Sorry to say this commander but you left me with no choice. This means war.”

Quickly looking around you tried to swim behind Fives who was watching nearby. He laughed before saying. “Oh no you did this yourself.”

Hardcase came around quickly, letting out a loud scream he picked you up and as if you weighed nothing threw you into the water just ahead with a huge splash.

Coming back above the cool water you laughed trying to swim back to him. As you got into reach you tried to splash and get him underwater before he knew what was going on.

Hardcase was fast you had to give him that. Once again you were wrestling in the water as he got the upper hand and lifted you out of the water. With a giggly scream he threw you to Jesse who was waiting to catch you near by.

Then it was off to Tup, then Fives, then Hardcase again. By the end of the first round you were taken over by laughter.

You gripped on to Hardcase as the two of you looked over to where Fives and Echo were up to something.

Fives broke up from the water with Echo on his shoulders- how heavy that was with a full arc trooper and half of his gear on was unknown but pretty impressive.

“Oh I see how this is.” Hardcase laughed as he went under and you got the hint to go on his own shoulders.

A few other followed suit and now you were ready for an old fashioned chicken fight.

Hardcase took off without a moments notice running (well as well as you could run in water) towards Fives and Echo.

You gripped Echos shoulders with a smile on your face trying to get him off of Fives, Hardcase tried the same thing.

Echo grappled for your shoulders nearly pulling you in multiple times.

Turning around the pair your partner tried to take out Fives legs and in a moment of being unbalanced you shoved Echo into the water.

Hardcase let out one scream of a laugh as the both reappeared from the water.

You threw your hands up into the air with victory as Hardcase jumped around through the water with you.

One moment you were celebrating the next your whole body was met with the cold hug of the water. Very confused you looked to Hardcase as you came back up for a breath.

Standing behind where you two once towered was Rex with a very smiley General Skywalker on his shoulders.

“Care for a proper fight my padawan or are you two no match.” He quipped from the top. Rex flashed an evil grin of his own.

Hardcase landed a hand on your shoulder and with a brisk nod you said. “Oh it’s on.”

In this moment all thoughts about the war that burdened all of you so seemed to wash off in the cooling water below. Everything seemed normal and happy, and you wished it could last just five minutes longer.

—————————————————————

@arctrooper69 @thereforepizza

#star wars clone wars #clone wars #the clone boys #star wars #the clone wars #my writing #toska-writes #captain rex #clone boys #hardcase #clone trooper hardcase #hardcase x reader #clone boys x reader #reader insert

[renegade-skywalker]

Forgive Me

Summary:

Incensed with Gale's recent inclination to sacrifice himself, Merit is less inclined to let Gale heal her in the aftermath of a battle in Shadowheart's stead. Though she lets him anyway.

Word Count: 2,701

Rating: T

~~~

“May I humbly suggest we slow down a bit?” Astarion asked, derision coloring his words as if he were speaking them sweetly when Merit and the rest of the party knew that it wasn’t so much a question as much as it was a backhanded warning. “If my bow snags on another twisted branch I will-”

“We need to get back to camp,” Merit snapped, knowing that the man was right but shooting him daggers anyway. Astarion’s eyes flashed scarlet when Merit’s gaze met his unsuspecting one, her stare sharp as she turned on her heel and looked him dead on. The remainder of the party behind him stopped in kind, all of them coming to a hurried stop on the brink of a pile-up. Merit from a day ago would have laughed quietly at the display, but the Merit of today was running out of patience. “Now. ”

“We’ll get there, alright,” Karlach said with an uneasy laugh. “If we just take our time and-”

“We’ve already run out of time,” Merit argued, turning around and trudging on. “The sooner we get everyone to Last Light, the better. We can’t be wasting any more time in this place.”

If she were being honest, the ghostly land surrounding the remains of Reithwin unnerved her. Some semblance of its ruins rang eerily familiar with her memory though she did not yet know why, and as much as the curious part of her mind wanted to find out, the other part felt too suffocated by its encroaching darkness to delve too deep just yet, already afraid that this would be the end of things if only for the foreboding audience Elminster Aumar graced them with whilst politely eating all of their cheese. Merit kept her attention forward, peering through the gloom, though she sensed the remainder of the party exchanging dark glances behind her retreating back. 

“Merit, perhaps the others are right,” Gale finally pleaded with a gentle hand at her elbow, only Merit snatched it away, dancing out of his touch. Her name still sounded sweet on his tongue, yet hearing it still set an ache to well deep in her bones. “Maybe we should-”

The crook of her elbow seared with the closeness, both craving it yet damning it at once. 

“It doesn't matter,” she hissed. “We need to-”

Within the breadth of a moment, the forest around them closed in. The looming darkness shuddered nearly shut, allowing no light to pass, snuffing out their torches and leaving them almost entirely defenseless.

Merit cursed under her breath, wishing they’d gotten farther than they had. They were so close despite the others’ protests, she could even smell the comfort of their camp’s smoke from here, imagining the safety of its light and warmth. As if conjuring an image in exact opposite of her mind’s eye, massive tendrils of thorned roots rose from the ground, threatening to smother them as their limbs were entwined and pulled precariously towards the hard earth beneath their feet.

“Stay still,” Gale warned through the din, his voice cutting through the darkness. “Go against all instinct and relax .”

“But I-” Merit heard Karlach argue from somewhere beside her before Gale hushed her in a calming tone. She wanted to be annoyed with him. She wanted to ride her anger from the day before, unsure why a man with a death wish was so keen on all of them surviving just now. But she knew he was right.

“Do as he says,” Merit sighed, fighting against the natural prison still rising from the dirt at her feet threatening to crush her bones to dust. “Imagine you’re asleep. Just pretend.”

The only other thing they could do was potentially light the entire forest ablaze. But that would only manage to anger the already accursed land further, igniting ire along with its twisting, hungry branches.

Merit followed the advice herself, allowing her limbs to go lax and imagining herself as the very air around them, a sheer nothingness instead of the solid something she very much was. Soon she was set free, but only after her entire body was given a good enough squeeze for all the breath to leave her lungs, leaving her lurching in the aftermath, her hand grazing a retreating branch with sharp spearing pain that tore through her. Her vision was already dark but her sight still swam with spots of black, oxygen leaving her system as she collapsed to the ground and her hand throbbed with unspeakable pain.

Merit sucked on her teeth and willed the agony away, her hand lancing with an ice-hot pulse that threatened to overtake her mental faculties entirely. Her vision began to darken further, her skin paling as she suddenly felt cold, but before she could succumb to the anguish, she felt a warmer hand take hers and examine the wound. 

“Hold still,” Gale urged, his voice low and husky. Merit’s vision swam a little less and through the gloom of an impending fainting spell she witnessed the man settle her against the cool of a stone wall beside them and examine her with intent urgency. “You’ll be fine, trust me.”

It was such a silly injury. It should have hardly incapacitated her, let alone made her faint, but Merit’s vision continued to swim and fade regardless, her eyes only remaining open and alert out of pure will.

“I’m already fine,” she lied, watching as Gale inspected her hand, kneeling beside her. His hair fell into his eyes as he looked at her, his fingers gentle but probing, investigating just how deep her wound cut into her flesh and just how much magic he would need to summon on her behalf. “You don’t need to-”

“Nonsense,” he cut her off, affording her a proper glance. 

Shadowheart was back at camp, she thought sourly, earning her much-needed rest after succumbing to an injury of her own though one far less dire. Merit’s skin prickled, the damage clearer now as time passed and poison seeped beneath her skin with an urgent intent to do her in.

Gale’s dark eyes were wide as discs, the worry clear on his face as his gaze met hers. Something in her stirred, whatever dismay and discontent dwelling within her at his recent suicidal disposition dissipating as she watched him. Even as he worked, his eyes remained fearful, not of his handiwork but of her injury. Gale shot her another worried glance before eventually closing his hand around hers as the Weave began to sew her wound shut. “How do you feel?”

His voice was still low, his expression earnest. Whatever concern remained must have been genuine, she thought, wondering if someone intent on their own needless self-sacrifice would at all be capable of feigning such anguish knowing that what came after might very well outlive them. If she were being honest, her hand felt better and almost as if it had never been slashed. But her insides felt otherwise, a well of sentiment flooding her suddenly as she read perhaps too deeply into Gale’s expression as he held her hand clasped between his - both warm and comforting, a feeling she instantly knew she wanted to feel more of but wasn’t prepared to injure herself further in order to perpetuate, though maybe…

“B-better,” she stammered stupidly, her eyes still fixed on his, “Much better.”

The last part came out as almost a whisper, but also a confession. To herself as well as to him, whether he knew it or not. As irrationally irate as she’d felt in the aftermath of their previous conversation, Merit couldn’t help but fall a little more in love with the man kneeling before her, wondering if she were stupid for it or simply misguided given his recent sacrificial insistence. 

“Are you sure?” he asked, already knowing her all too well. Gale examined her hand, and upon seeing that the previous gash had since restitched itself, he brought her knuckles to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against her skin. “Because I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He didn’t say as much, but Merit felt it once his lips graced her fingers - a sweet but solemn please forgive me.

Merit stilled, stone as a statue. It was only just the other day that Gale mentioned learning more medicinal magic in order to better help the party, and here he was already mastering the spell and performing it effortlessly, even if he was very much planning on leaving them forever. And it was of course the latter that gave Merit pause.

“Gale -” she uttered his name, soft as if like a prayer, but he stopped her there too, reaching a hand up towards her face, his fingers threading through the hair at her temple and gently brushing it out of her still-dizzy eyeline. 

“Let me do this for you,” he pleaded. “Please.”

His eyes bore into hers, as earnest as ever.

“You don’t owe me anything,” he added in a harrowed half-whisper, “Just… let me repay the favor, at least. While I still can.”

Merit could only nod, leaning into his palm as he cradled her still-weary head.

“Okay,” she sighed. “I think I can do that.”

Gale smiled a charming half-smile and leaned ever so much closer.

“Good.”

Merit’s eyes fluttered shut, calmed by Gale’s words but especially his comforting closeness. What felt like a single exhausted moment passed in her mind but when she next blinked she was back at camp and unsure of all that had transpired between. 

“Where-?” Merit sat up and spun around, her head swimming. “How-?”

“Ho there,” Gale’s careful voice warned against the quiet of the camp. It took a moment for Merit to realize exactly where she was after parsing out just how much time had passed as well. “Careful, careful…”

Gale’s easy hand eased Merit back into a reclined position, finding herself suddenly laying near the fire she only just now realized was beside her, the remainder of the camp asleep. It felt alien though not entirely unwelcome to feel Gale this close. In fact, it warmed her in a way the fire couldn’t, her limbs suddenly freezing yet burning at once, shivering in her physiological confusion.

“It’s been about a day,” Gale whispered, one hand now softly gracing her forehead, which she now realized was clammy and cold. “You fell quick with a fever. But you’re coming around now, which is-”

He exhaled, a relieved smile crossing his face as he did. Despite the illness roiling through her, some inner part of Merit warmed at the display.

“Quite the comfort, to be honest,” Gale admitted eventually. His careful hand continued to caress her forehead with practiced pause, his touch ever-so-gentle yet ever-so-earnest all the same, his thumb stroking her skin as if he were both trying to be soft with her while also hungrily committing all of her to memory. 

“Did I-?” Merit began before coughing, all thought diminishing with the action. Gale held her still, his hand a steady one against her uncertain ailments.

“You just need to ride out the remainder of the fever, that’s all,” he assured. “It’s the poison, I suspect, though the shadow curse somehow made it worse and dealt additional necrotic injury. Shadowheart said as much. She examined your wound earlier as well, though she’s long since returned to her own much-needed rest.”

“But we need to get to Last Light,” Merit argued even if her body felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. Her bones might as well have been stones and if she were ever to be thrown into a lake, Merit would surely sink to the bottom of it. “We need to-”

“Tomorrow,” Gale assured her. “Tomorrow is another day.”

At least I'll have that with you, she thought. Before the end.

All Merit could do was sigh, involuntarily slumping against the lumpy pillows piled precariously behind her aching back.

“Here, allow me-” Gale reached over and adjusted her arrangement, but in doing so propped Merit against his own bracing chest while he worked. 

It took some effort, her every limb an anchor, but Merit raised a hand and stilled Gale’s eager movements. 

“Here’s fine,” she said softly, her voice a hoarse whisper. 

Gale looked at Merit sidelong, unsure, though he relented anyway, propping the pillows up beside himself instead so Merit could rest against his warmth. She could use it, Merit thought, sickness running through her with another feverish chill. But it was more than that. If Gale was true to his word, this may very well be her last night with him alive by her side, fever be damned. Any shared moment could be their last. And as angry as she was the day before, she found herself suddenly bereft of it now, left only with an incurable unease she felt might never go away. 

“You were watching over me?” she asked instead of voicing any of her inner worry, her voice a hollow shell of what she knew it to be. It was in part due to the fever, her head not feeling entirely a part of the rest of Merit’s body, but it was also in part to the quiet astonishment she felt at the realization of it as she spotted not one but two cups of tea beside her, two plates, as well as an open book placed face-down in the dirt nearby. 

“Someone had to,” Gale said as if he hadn’t volunteered, the truth of it clear on his face. His cheeks flushed red as Merit leaned more earnestly against him, in part because she had no strength not to, but also because it felt warm here beside him. Being this close afforded a warmth no fire could hope to match.

“If you say so,” Merit replied, hiding a small smile. “What are you reading?”

It was such an innocent question. Merit was entirely capable of reading it herself, the title apparent to her even from the angle at which she spied the book itself, but she wanted to hear Gale say it. She wanted to hear his voice and memorize his every intonation, relish in his every murmuring word. 

“It’s a history of the Grymforge,” he breathed into a laugh, perhaps also aware that Merit was capable of detecting the title full-well. “I know we’re clear of the place now and the crumbling monument is now behind us, but I found its insight on the Dark Justiciars to be an enlightening one, if not only for our friend’s sake.”

Would a man with a dying wish want to learn more about something that perhaps housed the future fate of one their own? Would a man waiting to die deign himself with more knowledge knowing he couldn’t take it with him?

None of these thoughts made it to the surface of Merit's lips, though the sentiments laced her tongue. She wanted to ask, but she also didn't want to know. Lest the answers she yielded were not the ones she wanted to hear.

“Read it to me,” Merit said, instead her voice laced with a lazy sort of love she couldn’t hide anymore, Gale’s earlier plea for forgiveness suddenly and all-encompassingly forgiven despite the fearfully eternal ache setting up camp at the base of her heart.

Gale looked at her sidelong again, his face growing red at the request.

“Read it to you?”

“Mhm,” she nodded, nuzzling against him. She felt him tense beneath her before succumbing to her closeness just as she did in kind. “And even when I’m asleep, just keep going. Okay?”

She wanted to hear his voice. For now and into eternity. Into sleep and beyond. 

Merit glanced over her shoulder, and despite the headache that slashed behind her eyes with the motion, she smiled, pleased to see Gale smile softly back at her. Sleep threatened the corners of her vision, but she held his gaze, studying the sight of him until the very scene was etched forever in her memory. If she was going to remember Gale long after he was gone, she wanted it to be like this.

Gale nodded, unspoken emotion welling in his eyes as he uttered in kind, “Okay.”

#bg3 #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #gale x tav #gale x oc #my writing #the brainrot continues

[jankwritten]

Jasico Week Day One: Confession

The pen on the table remains untouched. 

(This shouldn’t be an issue. This isn’t an issue. The fact that Nico noticed it is a fluke all on its own and it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t.) 

Jason’s hands are perfectly still in his lap beneath the table, conversation flowing freely as ever. They’d been chatting about their days - Nico just got back from a long job for his father, and happened to bump into Jason outside the Principia. They’d gone out to lunch. Nico made Jason laugh three times. 

The pen is still untouched. 

(The thing is, Jason is a fiddler. He fiddles, but only when he’s calm. He lets his hands move freely because he doesn’t feel the anxious pressure to keep himself in line. When he’s anxious, he’s still as the dead, the perfect picture of a well-mannered leader. Nico shouldn’t know this. He can’t help but know things about people.) 

Jason’s office looks the same as it did the day Nico first found himself in it, across from a stranger who stared at him like Nico was prey, was something to be hunted down, killed. 

Then, the office felt like a jail cell. He was their prisoner until Reyna could confirm his bullshit ambassador story, technically, not that either of them will admit it. 

Some of the pictures on the walls have Nico in them, now. He avoids looking at them if he can. It’s too weird. 

Nico stares at the pen, instead. 

“Annabeth should be getting out of her afternoon class pretty soon, if you’re bored,” Jason says, a little tone in his voice that sounds like he’s picked up on Nico’s wandering mind. 

“I’m not bored.” He does not move that damned pen. “Are you okay?” 

Jason stops, as much as an unmoving man can. Nico glances up to his eyes briefly, then over to a framed photo of Hazel and Reyna post-battle, the two of them in their full gladiator armor clasping hands respectfully. 

In Nico’s peripherals, Jason slumps in slightly, his chin dipping. “You always do that,” he sighs. 

“Do what?” 

Finally, Jason’s hand twitches across the desk, his fingers brushing the gold-capped pen. It’s Camp Jupiter branded, engraved with Jason’s name and rank and everything. A gift from the praetors who came before him and Reyna. 

Jason flicks the pen expertly across his knuckles. 

Nico exhales. He hadn’t realized how tense he was. 

“Nothing,” Jason says. “You reminded me that there was something I needed to ask you, though.” 

(Nico’s always noticed more things about Jason than he does other people. Jason’s just that kind of guy, the kind who deserves to be noticed. Of course Nico always watches him; Jason is a leader, everyone looks up to him, everybody sees him. 

Nico observes, though, he doesn’t just see. He takes note, remembers things, always trying to figure out the puzzle pieces that make Praetor Grace the way he is. 

Sometimes, it feels like Nico gives Jason more answers about himself than Jason even knows. It’s a good feeling, to show somebody a part of themself they hadn’t yet found, or appreciated. Nico loves the look on Jason’s face every time Nico points something out to him. Jason has a kind smile.) 

“That doesn’t sound good,” Nico says, though he’s not nervous. Jason has always been upfront with him - if there were an issue, they would’ve spoken about it over their meal. He leans back in his chair and folds his fingers across his stomach, able to relax now that Jason is behaving normally again. 

“It’s not bad, I promise.” Jason flicks the pen again and leans back in his own chair, the old parts squeaking under his weight. “I wanted to ask if…if you’d like to get dinner, sometime.” 

Nico frowns, skipping his gaze once again to Jason’s face. “But we just got lunch.” 

“I’m asking if you’d like to go on a date, Nico,” Jason says, his voice suddenly softened and amused and, a date. A date? 

Jason wants to go on a date? 

Nico stares at the pen, now, each revolution around Jason’s finger twisting his brain in a new knot. Jason- a date. Jason wants to go on a date. A dinner date. A romantic date. 

With Nico? 

“You don’t have to say yes.” Jason leans forward again, a fluid motion, and he stops spinning the pen but maybe not because he’s stressed. He presses his hand down onto the desk, close to Nico. He says, “don’t feel pressured or anything. I just…wanted to ask. Because I-I really like you, I like how you make me feel, about myself, and- and I love spending time with you. And, of course, if you don’t- feel that same way, I’m fine staying friends. I love being friends with you, too. But, if there’s a chance, y’know. I didn’t want to- miss it.” 

Miss his chance. Miss his chance, as if there would ever be a time Nico was unavailable, for- dating purposes? As if there are any other people anywhere who would consider Nico worthy of romance, as if Jason Grace hasn’t just presented Nico with the biggest anomaly since he brought his sister back to life. 

Miss his chance. Gods above. 

(The first time Nico saw Jason fidget, they were hanging out at Camp Half-Blood, waiting for Will to get out of a meeting with Chiron and his cabinmates. Jason started picking at the threads on the sofa, then moved on to twisting the beads of his necklace, and the small bronze ring Leo forged for him which wound up being too small to fit. 

It was also the first time Nico noticed that Jason had nice hands. It was the first time Nico looked at Jason and thought, he’s really pretty. 

It was the first time Nico thought, no. Not again.) 

“You’re serious?” Nico asks. He has to be sure. Jason would never joke about something like that, not knowing what he knows, and Nico knows all that, but none of this quite makes sense, either. 

Jason smiles, his face rosy pink like he’s flustered. “I am one hundred percent serious.” 

“You want to go on a date.” 

“Yes.” 

“With me?” 

“No. I want to go on many dates with you.” 

Nico blinks, draws a blank on responding to that one. He opens his mouth, then shuts it. He watches Jason weave the pen between his fingers expertly, unbothered by the weight of it. It’s a practiced movement, one Nico’s seen hundreds of times. 

“Well, uhm.” Nico shifts back and forth in his seat. “I don’t have to leave for another week, at least. So we could…get dinner while I'm here?” 

“The date way?” Jason asks, sitting up straighter, his face doing that thing it does when he’s trying hard not to smile. Not to get his hopes up. Jason has hopes to get up about dating. 

Nico feels some giddy little thing light off in his own chest, fluttering enough that he presses a hand to it to try and calm it down. “Yeah,” he says, and, dammit, now he’s smiling, because Jason’s grin breaks loose and it’s like sunlight on a clear blue day, warm and dazzling. “The date way.” 

#jasicoweek2023 #day1 #jasico #nico di angelo #jason grace #pjo #hoo #I just got home from a day of work and my brain is only halfway working so. my apologies if this is. illegible #I didn't even know Jasico week was this week but I'm glad I saw it!!! i wanna participate hehehehe >;) #tomorrow I don't work either so I can hopefully do some writing for this week then! WAHOO FUN TIMES #anyway I think Jason is very matter-of-fact about his feelings for Nico and wants to make it as clear as possible to Nico #because idk Jason just seems like that kind of guy to me #HRNGH. time to go roll around on the floor.