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theartone · 6 years

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Spellbound

Chapter 8

<<Chapter 1 <Chapter 7

A/N: Special thanks to my beta Samzjo. I worked on this a bit after she looked at it so any mistakes are mine.

Music and Dancing

Sherlock was sitting primly next to Lestrade on the London Eye. So far all they’d been able to manage was stilted awkward conversations. Over lunch Sherlock ate simply because he didn’t want to talk. He was glad to have a reason not to. Sherlock was thinking about home and how the city below them felt like his now. Sherlock didn’t want to live in a castle. He didn’t even want to go back to his cottage (not that he could after what that troll did to it). He wanted to be in a small flat with loud wallpaper.

“Dates are fun,” Lestrade said, bumping their knees together.

Sherlock shifted away so it didn’t happen again. He didn’t respond to Lestrade. The outing he’d been on with John hadn’t been a date, but it had been a lot more fun than this. Sherlock had to listen to Lestrade talk about himself the entire time and the things he said weren’t very interesting. It was all troll hunting and his plans for the kingdom when he took the throne. Sherlock wasn’t interested in either of those things. How had he thought he could live happily with Prince Lestrade? He could live amicably, sure. There’d be no fights and they’d never leave each other because neither of them felt passionately about their relationship. That might pass for happily ever after in this world and his own, but it wasn’t what Sherlock wanted.

Their time on the ride was up and they disembarked.

“Shall we go?” Lestrade asked. He prayed Sherlock said yes. He was eager to get out of this dirty town where people gave him and his love strange looks when they walked by.

“Go where?” Sherlock asked.

“Back to Andalasia, of course. To be married. To live happily ever after forever and ever.”

That sounded dreadful. Maybe it was the lack of music that was the problem. Music always stoked the spark in Sherlock’s heart. And dancing, they needed to dance too. “We don’t have to go back yet.”

“How long do these dates usually last?” Lestrade asked sceptically. He could see something was wrong with Sherlock he just couldn’t figure out what. Sherlock was acting like he didn’t want to be with Lestrade and that was mind-boggling. People always wanted to be with Lestrade, they fought over it, even.

“Oh, well,” Sherlock didn’t actually know the answer to that. “They can go as long as you want, really. They can just keep going and going as long as you can keep coming up with activities to do. For example, there’s a ball tonight. Do you want to go dancing?”

“That sounds lovely. But then, after that, we go back to Andalasia. Alright?”

“Yeah.” Either way I guess I have to go back. I don’t belong here, Sherlock thought.

They split ways to get ready.

----

Mycroft completed his task with time to spare. He used his charm to call Moriarty back to the castle.

When the king arrived, he was livid and made short work of the ghouls Mycroft had secretly released onto the castle grounds.

“Thank goodness you came back, your highness,” Mycroft said. “Since no one else in the castle has any magical powers and your step-son is missing we would have been overrun. I know where those ghouls came from and I’ll make sure the person who released them gets their just deserts.”

“See that you do.” Moriarty spun on his heel. “I’m leaving to get the final ingredient for my trip now and I’m not going to see you again before I use the portal. See that the kingdom is still here when I get back, will you?”

Mycroft used the moment Moriarty turned and looked back to swap the charm that would allow Moriarty to travel back to Andalasia with the one he’d stolen and modified while Moriarty was gone. Mycroft might not have been magical but he was dexterous. He’d used this trick before multiple times to swap things of his brother’s. He’d never used his skill on anyone else before, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

---

Sherlock found Hamish with the tenants of flat A.

“Sherlock!” Hamish shouted and ran headlong into Sherlock’s arms. “You’re back, you’re back!”

“Hey, Hamish.” Sherlock hugged the boy and thanked the neighbours for watching him.

“Are you and I going to hang out until Dad gets back?”

“No, I actually came because I need your help,” Sherlock said, walking up the stairs with Hamish. When they got to flat B Sherlock said, “I’m going to the ball and I’m not sure what to wear or what to do and I don’t even know where to find a fairy godmother at this late hour.”

“I have something better than a fairy godmother,” Hamish said. He ran into his father’s room and opened a drawer. “Daddy says it’s only for emergencies and this is definitely an emergency.”

Sherlock looked at the object Hamish pulled out. It was a little square of plastic.

Hamish took his father’s credit card and Sherlock’s hand. Together they walked to the store that Hamish always wanted to go into. It always had the best suits in the window. Next, they went to the store where Hamish knew his father bought his cologne. After that it was time for shoes. Since Sherlock didn’t have a wallet Hamish decided Sherlock needed one of those too. They got sidetracked when Sherlock couldn’t pull his eyes away from a window that sold intricate floral hairpins. Hamish helped Sherlock select a very small one that was silvery with stones that looked like diamonds.

After their shopping was completed Hamish took Sherlock to a spa to get their hair done.

“You have to be careful on your date with Prince Lestrade, Sherlock,” Hamish warned.

“Why?” Sherlock asked.

“You can’t be too forward because some people take advantage. Some people only go on dates to get one thing.”

“What’s that?” Sherlock asked. He guessed from Hamish’s tone that whatever it was it was important.

“I don’t know, no one will tell me.” Hamish hoped that Sherlock would let him in on the secret.

“Oh,” Sherlock said. He pursed his lips as he thought about what the answer might be. He couldn’t come up with anything that people wouldn’t tell Hamish.

“Is this what it’s like?” Hamish asked shyly, looking away.

“What?”

“Going on a shopping spree with your parent?” Hamish peeked back up at Sherlock.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Sherlock said. “I never went shopping with either of my parents.”

Hamish accepted that with a nod. “Well, this is better than when Dad or Harry take me shopping. It’s more fun with you.”

Sherlock smiled. “I like it too.” He felt his smile fall. “Just think, soon you’ll have a new parent to do this with,” he said with false cheer. He saw that Hamish didn’t notice the change in his voice.

“Step-parent,” Hamish said glumly.

Sherlock leaned over to look Hamish in the eyes. “It’s not true what they say. I have met a lot of kind and loving step-parents.” And he had, they weren’t kind to him, but they loved their step-children dearly.

“Do you have step-parents?”

Sherlock bought himself some time by sitting back. “No, when my parents passed my brother and I were too old to get step-parents.”

“Oh,” Hamish said. He realized Sherlock was sad about this and felt bad for bringing it up. “You have a brother?” He asked to change the subject.

Sherlock went on a tirade about Mycroft and Hamish chipped in with stories about Harry. This lasted them through their haircuts and styling. By the time they were on their way back to the flat they were in much better spirits.

---

Unable to resist the urge to make a dramatic entrance Moriarty entered London with a bang. The lid to the sewer flew off and crashed into the large screen in Piccadilly Circus sending detritus down and sparks everywhere. People shouted and ran. Moriarty levitated up out of the hole into the street. Instead of arriving in glitter he arrived in ghostly green light and billowing smoke. Electricity sparked between his fingers.

He stalked down the street, head held high with the crown perched on top. His cape flared out behind him. People on the pavement stepped into the street to avoid him.

Sally was just exiting the hotel room when Moriarty found her.

“Hello, worthless. Did you miss me?”

Sally jumped and fell back on her arse. “Your majesty!”

They walked together through London. Mrs Hudson hid in Sally’s jacket.

At a fountain Moriarty spoke the magic words that allowed him to spy on his target. He watched the images play across the mist, a building, fancy script saying King and Queen’s Ball, and then Sherlock was stepping out of a cab, taking Prince Lestrade’s hand. Together they walked along the pavement until they got out of sight of the puddle. But it didn’t matter, Moriarty knew where to strike. The address of the building was clear.

“Take me to this address,” Moriarty ordered Sally.

“Of course, your highness.” Sally held her hand out, trying to hail a cab.

Mrs Hudson snuck out of her coat and ran down the street. She had to get there first and warn Sherlock!

Once Mrs Hudson was down the road Moriarty laughed loudly. He turned Sally into a toad for her insolence and went on the hunt. They needed to charm a stranger if they were going to get Sherlock to take a bite of the remaining apple.

----

John was actually having fun. He expected to be miserable the entire time, but they’d spent the first part of the ball learning the dances. They were simple and John tripped over his feet a little but was eventually able to get the hang of it. He was a little uncomfortable done up in his dress uniform, it wasn’t made for dancing, but there were a lot of men and women in uniform and John had the opportunity to speak with several of them.

Molly looked lovely in her ball gown and John dreaded ruining her night, it looked like she was having a lot of fun.

John looked politely away from Molly’s décolletage as she bent over. He saw them arrive. Lestrade, in his prince’s outfit, looked out of place and drew a lot of eyes. But John only had eyes for Sherlock. Sherlock, in a dove grey tux and white shirt. His hair was tamed into smooth shiny curls. He was looking down at the crowded dancefloor nervously.

Sherlock found John and smiled. John was in his uniform. This was the place Sherlock kept seeing in all his potions. Except in real life they weren’t going to kiss. Down the stairs John was still staring and he licked his lips. Sherlock looked away. How cruel was fate that his one true love wanted another?

Lestrade held out his hand for Sherlock to hold as they walked down the stairs. The people here wore funny clothes but many of them were clearly officers. Lestrade could respect that. He wished he had his officer’s uniform too. He decided when Sherlock and he returned to Andalasia he’d throw a ball too.

Molly hugged John after the dance. She noticed his attention wasn’t focused on her anymore. She turned around to see what John was staring at.

“What is he doing here?” She asked, spotting Sherlock.

“I have no idea,” John responded.

Molly watched John, even when he spoke to her his eyes never left Sherlock. Her heart sank. John was in love with Sherlock. It was obvious. She should have known that it wasn’t going to work out when he didn’t propose. She’d been waiting five years and their relationship hadn’t progressed at all. She was just now meeting Hamish. Well, she wasn’t going to be what John settled for when Sherlock left. After the dance she’d dump John. She deserved better and she wasn’t going to rest until she found it.

“I’m a little surprised to see you here,” John said. He hadn’t even noticed that he’d walked to the end of the staircase to intercept the other couple.

“I’m the one who’s surprised, you said you didn’t dance,” Sherlock said.

John rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah… Well…” He wasn’t about to admit that he didn’t dance because he couldn’t. Besides, he was doing fine.

The group looked at each other until Lestrade cleared his throat pointedly.

“Oh, sorry. This is Lestrade, he’s my… uh…” Sherlock wasn’t sure what to say. Lestrade wasn’t his one true love. Seeing John in his uniform made Sherlock realize that he couldn’t go and marry Lestrade now that he knew they weren’t meant for each other. They wouldn’t even be affianced after tonight. Lestrade would understand once Sherlock explained it. He still needed a term to describe him though. “…prince.” Yes, there. That would do.

“Right and this is Molly. She’s my… she’s…” John stumbled. He thought she was going to be his wife, at the very least his fiancée. Now, after tonight, she wasn’t even going to be his girlfriend.

Molly glared at John. She had reservations before but those were long gone. She’d dump John right here and now if she could do so without making a scene.

“And this beautiful man is Sherlock. The love of my life, my heart’s true desire,” Lestrade said.

Sherlock winced. That was completely unnecessary.

“Wow,” Molly gasped.

“Is something wrong?” Lestrade asked.

“No, no! It’s just the way you said that, so straightforward. Not a hint of irony. It’s very romantic. I usually see people who wished they spoke like you while their spouses were still alive.” Molly realized halfway through her last sentence that maybe she shouldn’t have said that.

Lestrade was unfazed by Molly’s faux pas. “Well, if you were mine I’d tell you every day.”

“Well, folks,” a man announced over the microphone, “it’s that time of night. I’d like for each person to invite a person they did not accompany this evening to dance the king and queen’s waltz.”

Lestrade looked over at John, he wanted to see if it was ok that he asked Molly to dance but John was busy pointedly not looking at Sherlock so he asked anyway. “My lady, may I have the pleasure?”

“Of course,” Molly said breathlessly.

Sherlock watched as everyone around the ballroom paired up. He wished he hadn’t taken so long getting ready. It looked like the night was almost over.

John looked up at Sherlock. He swallowed and clenched his fist. I can do this! Just ask him to dance. Tell him not to leave. Marry him so he’ll stay forever. John shook his head at the last thought. That was taking it a little too far. He’d just met Sherlock. Still, he was being a coward when it came to his heart. But he was brave, he’d been to war for christ sakes. He could ask a man to dance!

“Shall we?” Sherlock asked and held out his hand.

John blinked up in surprise. He smiled and took Sherlock’s hand. Together they walked into the centre of the dancefloor. Once there John wrapped his hand around Sherlock’s waist and started doing a simple box step.

“Ouch!” Sherlock hissed as John tread on his toes for the third time. “You really can’t dance, can you?”

“Shut it,” John said and looked down at his feet.

Sherlock pretended to sigh heavily. He stopped their dancing and reversed their positions. “Here, just let me lead, alright?”

They waltzed around the other dancers and John laughed, he was happily focusing on his partner instead of his feet.

Molly was happy dancing with Lestrade. She found him charming and admired the way he spoke of his home.

“It sounds like you do a lot to keep your people safe,” Molly said after being twirled.

“It’s my duty. But tell me about what you do,” Lestrade said.

Molly did, stumbling over her words occasionally. She found Lestrade to be a good listener and he didn’t seem off-put by some of her grosser stories and by the time the song ended she had stopped being self-conscious.

Lestrade bowed, saddened that the song was over. Molly was a lively partner and a fascinating person. He’d never heard of anyone having a job that considered why someone died. Having someone do so in his kingdom would be extremely helpful. He wondered if she’d be willing to visit Andalasia to teach her trade. She could have stopped the bloody feud between two families if she’d been there to say the death had been self-inflicted and not murder. Instead they had to wait until a Cleric who knew how to speak with the dead came around and by then it was too late.

Lestrade grasped Molly’s shoulder when she looked around for John. “Would you do me the honour of returning to Andalasia and teaching your trade? I’ll make sure you’re rewarded handsomely.”

Molly was about to say no but she stopped herself. She had time off from work she could take if she wanted and she would need a vacation after she broke things off with John. Besides, Molly thought, I wouldn’t mind getting to know this prince better. She had a feeling Sherlock wouldn’t be marrying him, and even if he did, Molly wouldn’t mind a friend.

“I’ll have to talk to my work,” Molly tentatively agreed.

“I’ll come back for your answer,” Lestrade promised.

The ball wasn’t over yet but John couldn’t wait. He needed to break it off with Molly now and tell Sherlock how he felt now before Sherlock left. He was right behind Molly when she turned away.

“Molly, we need to talk,” John said.

“Yes, I think we do,” Molly agreed.

“Are you ready to go, my sweet?” Lestrade asked Sherlock.

Sherlock was trying to hear what John and Molly were saying to each other but the music started up again. Lestrade took Sherlock into his arms and led him around the ballroom. Sherlock allowed himself to be led but he didn’t feel like he was floating. He felt like he was sinking. Lestrade spun him and Sherlock saw John and Molly kiss.

He came to a complete halt, stomach rolling. “We should go.” Sherlock didn’t know what he was thinking, coming here. He wanted to see John again but that was stupid. He’d only tortured himself and saw the man of his dreams kiss another. John wants Molly, not you, Sherlock thought to himself. And why wouldn’t he? She’s from here, she knows this world, belongs in this world. No matter how much you want it this will never be your home.

“I’ll call for a carriage,” Lestrade said and took off up the stairs.

Sherlock climbed the steps slowly, not looking back. He couldn’t bear to look at John again. It hurt too much.

A person bumped into Sherlock, someone he’d never seen before.

“Sorry,” they said before getting a good look. “You alright, mate?”

“No,” Sherlock answered honestly.

They pulled an apple out of their pocket. “I think you need this more than me.”

“No,” Sherlock said and tried to brush past them. John had said not to take food from strangers.

They grabbed Sherlock’s elbow. “It’s from a wizard.”

That made Sherlock pause. “I beg your pardon?”

“I met a wizard and they told me that just one bite and all your pain will go away. There will only be sweet dreams and happy endings.”

Sherlock stared at the red apple. He was sorely tempted.

“You must hurry, the magic will not work once the clock strikes twelve. Hurry, now. Hurry.”

There was something wrong with this situation. He could deduce that the person in front of him was under some sort of spell. But that just led credence to his story. To be under a spell the person must have met a wizard. He looked at John and Molly, hugging to the side of the dance floor.

“Screw it,” Sherlock said and took a large bite.

End A/N: The next chapter is the last one. We’re almost done!

Chapter 9>

@sherlockyourholmes @emmybm15tbfe If you’d like a tag let me know.

#spellbound #chapter 8 #moved from ao3 #sherlock holmes/john watson #magic #enchanted au #too many dnd references #this is what happens when I gm and write at the same time #finished story #updating as I edit #I actually play pathfinder but meh #you get it #sherlock #fanfiction

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sleepymarmot · 7 years

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Skyrim liveblog: Riften, Dawnguard, more house decoration, etc.

"Good luck finding those jazbay grapes, they're very rare" Actually, I'm growing them in my garden...

This poor woman is spending all her time growing this nirnroot and I just come here and steal it.

Also nirnroot makes the same sound as the shards in DAI and it makes me nervous.

I don't want all these mods that let you have an entire army of followers. I just want to improve and charge their equipment without transferring it to my inventory and then back :(

Riften! It's so exciting to finally reach the city after a long journey that mostly consisted of losing my way and sidetracking, and get to see what's inside the walls! Even if it's 2am and there isn't much to see.

Okay, I can see why Mjoll is popular...

Let me guess: the only guy she trusts is secretly part of the guild.

"Last thing the Black-Briars need is some loudmouth meddling in their affairs" Last time I met a family this corrupt, its leader didn't live to tell the tale. Will I have to break the game again for justice?

Why is the argonian bodyguard naked?! Did one of my mods break something?

And the barmaid is naked too... I wonder what's wrong. An argonian bandit I killed a couple of hours before was wearing armor with no problem...

The argonian jeweller in the marketplace is clothed properly. The mystery continues...

"Marsh-friend", aw

Also I like that Argonians are famous for their jewellery. Then it makes sense I crafted so much of it!

An argonian, and an argonian-raised dark elf! I feel at home in this marketplace.

You'd go down to the sewers yourself, but can't? What about me? Is the Dragonborn not good enough for the job?

I like the jarl, she sounds reasonable.

...And believes Maven is a respectable citizen who is trying to destroy the Thieves Guild. Oops.

Ah, okay, that's why I'm supposed to break into Aventus's home? Okay, I'll try it. "Don't bother with the Dark Brotherhood, kiddo, I'll do the job for you myself!"

This writing is stupid. Everyone in the city talks about how shitty the Thieves Guild is, a bunch of pathetic thugs everyone hates, and it totally sounds like a setup for a quest where you clear the city from them... Instead the only option the game gives is to join them. Wut? Why the heck would I want to?

The naked guy in the inn is pretty nice! And handsome. And he asks for my help proposing to the naked lady! How cute. Oh, and his recipes don't just sound good -- apparently he's the only person in this country who can make drinks that don't have negative effects! That woman is damn lucky.

I wanted to propose to my (yet undetermined) future spouse with a ring, like a real Argonian, but if it requires three flawless amethysts... I'll have to make do with a normal amethyst ring I guess. Has anyone made a mod with a proper recipe? Maybe even making it a replacement for the amulet of Mara, if possible.

Shit, I'm an idiot. I gave Uthgerd a Soup Trap weapon but no gems, and was wondering why she's not catching anything!

Is there a mod to turn off friendly fire in this game? Allies can't stop jumping into my arrows. Fought a vampire, shot at her, when the fight was over I found Uthgerd dead. Reloaded, then Frost got in the way, quest failed. Third attempt: the quest giver jumps into my arrow but survives, after the vampire is dead he starts attacking the horse I stole for him, my follower and me.

Okay, I tried it five more times. I can't. That vampire is unbeatable. A dremora summoned by Sanguine Rose does 0 damage to her. If I let her get close she one-shots me with her sword.

I finally did it... Downing like five different potions at once did the trick, I think... I was headed for Fort Dawnguard, but maybe I shouldn't...

What, Convenient Horses considers Frost my horse now?! Where's MY horse?! Did it get lost somewhere? Was it killed by the Black-Briars? Fast travelling doesn't help...

Oh, okay, I fast travelled to Riften again and found it. I'm so relieved... This horse has been with me since the beginning of the game, I bought it just before entering Whiterun for the first time. So even if it's kinda useless and I prefer travelling on foot, I don't want to lose it!

Why is the map marker for Dawnguard so dumb and glitched...

The leader is very cool! I'm going to help rebuilding the fort, right?

Okay, so I think my crafting geek falls instantly in love with the crossbow, even though its damage is lower than her current bow. Can I upgrade it? Enchant it? Craft my own with better materials?

I can upgrade it! And now it has more damage than my legendary dwarven bows!

Okay, I guess the archery trainer that I made this journey for will appear after the fort is upgraded? Ah, that's okay. I have 51k gold saved up. Isran is training Heavy Armor, I need that too.

Aaaand that training leveled me up again so there was no point in saving that level, I still lost one lol.

Holy shit, those vampires are all the way across the map!

Ah, so now I have a quest to go into the Ratway and kill the thugs in there! Say hello to my newly crafted archery equipment, motherfuckers!

Hm, people in the bar don't seem to care that I broke in and murdered their bodyguards.

"Stay out of trouble, or there's gonna be trouble" says one of these guys as I exit their hideout having killed and looted everything inside.

That's a pretty little garden they have here.

I'm visiting the crafting corner in Riften's keep for probably the third time in this session... Last time I reached 90 alchemy; maybe I'll make it legendary, since it's so easy to level up. Smithing is 86, Enchanting is 81. I finally picked the "Well fitted" perk and made myself a full set of heavy armor with enchantments -- what I was wearing before had light and unenchanted items. It's all steel & dwarven, because I can't afford to spend more perks, but legendary several times over.

I need a new loadout organizer. Every time I upgrade an item, it disappears from the group (because it's renamed, I guess).

Okay, I think I'm ready. Time to travel back to Dawnguard and train Heavy Armor for like the third time in a row... Well at least coursing between Riften and Dawnguard is a welcome change from the cursed Whiterun-Riverwood-Lakeview circle: it's too easy to get stuck there and never leave.

Oh great, another fort full of bandits. I'm starting to just speed past them. I'm not the fucking police!

...Aaaand a blood dragon descends just as I ride past the fort's entrance. Okay, that's my business, can't argue.

(I really should return to the main quest btw...)

Wait, how the fuck did we kill the dragon so fast?! Did the armor help? Or my second-level Marked for Death?

Aaalright, now I have to go back to Riften again. Finish a quest, heal a bone broken by a bear, disenchant something I bought for that purpose and forgot...

Speaking of enchanting: the best thing about being rich is just buying every filled grand soul gem I see, instead of worrying about the need to hunt mammoths or becoming an evil necromancer.

I was already like "haha, let's fill some gems" when the miner complained about spiders, but this is ridiculous! There's like five of them! I don't even think they had a really big one!

Just as I was about to give up, I finally came across the road to the Northwind Summit! And the dragon I needed to kill is just a dragon, not even frost or blood. His breath barely registered on my healthbar, and I needed like five arrows. What the fuck? Am I just walking around underleveled enemies, or did I grow strong overnight thanks to the armor and training?

Oh my, Black-Briars send mercenaries to deal with me, "the thief"! That's hilarious.

Nah, I'm not that good, a couple of necromancers with puppet draugr killed me.

Seriously, I should make more things for my own use instead of just for sale. I was like 5% away from one-shotting a boss from stealth and cancelling the entire fight. My damage health poisons were too weak. Thankfully, I had one fortify archery poison. One! What if I didn't? Would all of that overpriced multi-effect crap help me?

Btw I'm not using my shiny new crossbows because bolts are in short supply :(

Oh god! I have finally reached 70 speech and can take the Investor perk! Now that's a great excuse to make a tour around Skyrim and invest in everyone!

Aw, why can't I invest in my marsh-friend :(

Windhelm

Ugh, I knew that Blood on the Ice should have re-triggered, and I even saw the victim, but I didn't notice the guard standing next to her, so I had to google what to do. Why couldn't he address you automatically as you approach?

"Patrol Stone Quarter at night" and just as I was leaving the palace at noon and was opening the map to see what the Stone Quarter is, that quest was suddenly marked complete and I was shown a quest mark on the murderer. Yay immersion!

Time to invest in Wuunferth's business as an apology :D

His motive is exactly the same as the necromancer in the dungeon I just did, and in DA2. Can we have some new ideas please?

I completely forgot Lydia lives in my house, she spooked me.

I wonder why some merchants have unique responses to "I want to invest". Windhelm blacksmith and Belethor are arrogant, Arcadia is heartwarming. I really like Investor and the final perk in the tree because I feel like I'm being a positive influence, making rich not only myself but people around me.

Ugh, I accidentally sold Arcadia the wrong thing, reloaded, and all of the free stuff from her shelves disappeared -- what?

Shit, I was satisfied with how I decorated my home and then my stupid follower got in the way, I accidentally selected her, dropped, and wasn't sure she was all right so I had to reload.

And once again, from the start! This time I selected an enchanter and accidentally sent it to its original location, wherever that is.

Binch stand in the corner!! If you refuse to stay outside while I'm redecorating, at least get out of my way!

>walk out of my house at night >get attacked by a frost dragon >he circles overhead, I admire the beautiful starry night sky and his purplish wings against it >dragon flies away >I see his health very rapidly diminish >dragon dies >suddely I get attacked by a bunch of Thalmor Leave me alone...

Shit, I picked up a black soul gem and captured a vampire thrall's soul. Oops.

I notice I'm alone. Maybe I accidentally killed Uthgerd again? I backtrack. Finally meet her. Lead her forward... and at some point she turns around and *sprints* back. WTF?

I'm back in modding hell :(

Tried to copy a rug from a modded Breezehome, accidentally removed it instead, returned to a previous save -- and it was still gone. I guess that removed the asset from the mod entirely? I had to reinstall.

Installed several retextures for Alchemy and enchanting tables -- and like none of them :( Rustic is the most thought out, but I prefer the tables to be made of wood, thank you. It just doesn't make sense that every other shitty inn in the province has this carved black stone monstrosity, and the enchanting mesh somehow applies to all other candles in the game. Why can't people just make higher resolution versions of vanilla design?!

I really like Rugnarok in my house, but finding this perfectly preserved carpet covered in blood under a rack in a Nordic tomb...

I have no idea how to make followers tankier. Uthgerd knows block and has decent enchanted equipment, but she's always on her knees five seconds into the fight.

I'm testing ELFX now, and higher contrast makes my eyes hurt sometimes, and it's very inconvenient in dungeons, but having the dark be darker is kind of fun. This is the first time I had to use my camping mod and just lie down next to a Nordic ruin and some skeletons I just killed because I could see absolutely nothing.

Oh great, I enter this seemingly ordinary house, inside there's a mage who attacks immediately, I have to kill him, but afterwards I can't take any of his stuff, it's all marked "steal". Uh, ordinarily it's fair game in these situations? He has a very nicely designed home btw.

Wizard in Morthal: I'm not evil! *sells black soul gems*

Okay, it's been 111 hours, it's time to retrieve that horn!

This dungeon made me uninstall ELFX. Even with two torches I can't see shit.

Fuck these three stones! I know I need to use Whirlwind Sprint, I just can't do it fast enough!

Ugh, I went all this way for nothing?

Dawnguard

This master vampire can wait, there are so many ingredients here!

"Is that an Elder Scroll?" Good question, I've been playing this game called The Elder Scrolls for 100+ hours and this is my first encounter with the term.

Uh, so is there any reason why I, the fresh Dawnguard recruit, would not kill Serana on sight? I mean obviously I, the player, won't, but...

Like, even if I'm a nice person who doesn't attack unprovoked, why should I help her instead of dragging her to Fort Dawnguard and letting my new boss deal with her?

Aaaand I caught the vampire disease. Great. And of course I'm in the middle of nowhere with no shrines in sight. Alright, I have a stack of potions to burn...

Tried to take her to the fort. "I don't like the feel of this place, I'll wait for you back by the entrance". Oh great.

Well, at least the boss had dialogue for this and gave me approval for this nonsense, so I didn't make a trip across the entire country for nothing.

Unfathomable depths

I didn't even know that Riften had a dock outside the walls until I read about the quest I needed to take there...

This dwarven ruin is a nice opportunity to practice destruction magic, since the automatons can't be soul trapped so there's no reason to waste arrows on them.

Whoa, a health regen amulet!

Good thing Serana is with us, because my magic is severely underpowered.

Should have done this quest sooner, because I've been wearing dwarven armor for so long that by now I want to get rid of it, not bonuses to it.

I just checked -- and my normal set of heavy armor is already at the armor cap. I wonder if the bonus pushed it over the edge or not...

Lol, nah, I was already good. Well I'm having an existential crisis now. What am I supposed to do with my life now? I'm only level 46?

Modding hell

I'm slowly adding more and more HD retextures -- when I fix one thing, the one next to it suddenly looks too ugly... Now that I have Peltapalooza, ordinary beds suddenly look more comfortable, and next to them the blurry and dirty texture on noble beds is just terrible. Why couldn't someone just make a clean HD version of that bed?! Enhanced Noble Furniture 4x _byMike makes the bed red for some reason. Another mod, don't remember which, raises the resolution but doesn't delete the dirt, which you can now see in all HD glory. In the end I settled on Snazzy HD Noble Beds -- green, the closest to canonical, for single and double beds, and blue with drapes for the bed that obviously is supposed to have drapes but doesn't in vanilla. Then HD Noble Furniture, and Furniture and Clutter - HD Retextures for non-noble. The patterned bed and the new carpets are a bit too much together, but what can I do...

Aaaand the bed texture clashes horribly with the rug I placed under it in Lakeview :(

#skyrim #blah blah blah

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