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herehavesomeheadcanons · 2 years

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Seraph of the End x reader headcanons, but it’s only the characters that I think deserve more attention

Ferid Bathory

🤍♦️ Does Ferid already get a lot of attention? Yes. But I like him so of course I think he deserves more attention. I’ve got two words necessary for your survival with this bastard: Entertain Him.

🤍♦️ Your best bet for surviving is to try and match his energy. Try to out-perv him, if you will. Most humans are absolutely scared shitless at the mere sight of him, so if you sass him back he’s sure to take an interest. But is that really such a good idea?

🤍♦️ Ferid gets bored easily, and if he gets bored of you he’ll likely kill you. I’m sorry if you’re just here for sugar-coated fluff, but that’s the way he is. Maybe you should have picked Yuu instead. Like I said, if you catch his attention you’re going to have to work hard to survive.

🤍♦️ Yes, he will spoil you. Money is irrelevant during a literal fucking apocalypse, and he has like 5 mansions or something stupid.

🤍♦️ Also yes, he will keep you as a pet. Probably not the best situation, but it’s better than dying of the plague. At least you have a nice place to live where you don’t need to worry about being brutally murdered by the giant monsters roaming the planet.

🤍♦️ Yes, the collar is necessary. He needs to make sure you won’t run off on him. If you’re not careful, he’ll have to get a leash to go with it~ 🤍♦️ Yes he is going to drink your blood. It’s a damn good thing being bitten by a vampire feels good in this world, because he is going to drink A LOT of your blood. And there is nothing you can do about it.

🤍♦️ He does take good care of you, not to worry. He needs to keep you in good health, otherwise him drinking your blood might kill you! He will provide plenty of good food.

🤍♦️ He would love for you to play with his hair and tell him how pretty he is! He knows he’s drop-dead gorgeous, but he’d still like to hear it from his favorite little pet~!

🤍♦️ Physical affection is a MUST. This fucker is SO DAMN HANDSY. Always wants to be touching you in some way. There is no avoiding it. He’s going to drape himself over you, grab you from behind, kiss you without warning, nibble your neck, and randomly pick you up. Definitely a biter as well, and he loves to leave marks.

🤍♦️ He will acquire (can’t really say ‘buy’, since money is irrelevant) fancy clothes for you. Yes, you are required to put them on for him. He loves to play dress-up with you! You might be able to persuade him to try on clothing of your choosing, but it will take a lot of sucking up to him. Speaking of which…

🤍♦️ Definitely suck up to him. He loves it. He’ll probably force you to call him “lord Ferid” or “master Ferid” or something along those lines.

🤍♦️ Going in the complete opposite direction, he also finds it amusing when you back-sass him. It might result in punishment, depending on his mood, but you’re probably into that shit if you’re here for him anyway. Sass battles will ensue, and might lead to some less-than-holy actions.

🤍♦️ I like to think that he would enjoy being introduced to human games. Show him some Minecraft or another videogame. Play board games with him. He’s definitely amazing at Cards Against Humanity. He wins every damn time because he’s just that funny. He would probably enjoy DnD, but he’s definitely one of the WORST players to DM.

🤍♦️ Playing with Ferid is a dangerous game, but it’s worth it if you can handle his ‘eccentricities.’ He’s certainly fun to be around, that’s for sure! Just be very careful with what you say to him. Do not suggest an ‘action’ if you are not 100% willing to perform said ‘action.’ As much as I love this unapologetic bastard, I’d have to say he is the most dangerous pick on this list.

Lacus Welt

💜✨ Another of my favorite boys! And another dangerous one. Lacus is really only here for the pleasure, so that’s what you have to offer him to get close to him.

💜✨ This little shit is 100% down to keep a pet human. Mostly as food, but if you offer him other pleasures he likely won’t decline. 💜✨ Lacus has been known to accidentally kill his victims because he just doesn’t. Stop. Drinking. It feels good to him, and he just doesn’t want to stop. You’re going to have to remind him that if he keeps drinking, you’re literally going to die.

💜✨ Honestly, he’s like a toned-down Ferid. He likely won’t think of anything too awful on his own, so just make sure you don’t give him suggestions. By that i mean, don’t joke about him getting you a collar. He’ll think that’s a FANTASTIC idea.

💜✨ Actually gets super into physical affection when you start giving it to him. Very touchy, though not as bad as Ferid. He also wants ALL of your attention. He also likes to bite. Like, a lot.

💜✨ Yeah he’s also going to force you to address him as “master Lacus”. You’re his pet, after all.

💜✨ Rene is 100% of his logical reasoning AND impulse control. If it’s just you and Lacus, which it usually is, he’s going to say and do some pretty stupid things. (”haha those idiot humans thought we were saving them! We were just protecting our property.” “Master Lacus, that’s the same fucking thing-”)

💜✨ He’s a little stupid, but he’s got the spirit. Will ask you weird questions. There’s no avoiding his curiosity.

💜✨ He’ll likely offer to share you with Rene (they’re best bros after all-), who will casually decline. Rene’s emo ass just isn’t as into the whole ‘pet’ thing as Lacus is.

💜✨ All in all: scary, but not as bad as Mr. Thirsty Whore Ferid. Once he actually takes a genuine liking to you, he can be a real sweetheart. You just gotta get through his thick skull!

Rene Simm

🖤♦️ One word: TSUNDERE.

🖤♦️ I genuinely don’t know how the fuck you managed to get his attention, but good job. Unfortunately for you, he will NOT show his feelings. He’s a vampire, he should be above such things.

🖤♦️ Honestly? Just fucking throw yourself at him. If you’re lucky, Lacus will convince him to take you in. Lacus knows Rene better than anyone, and can probably tell that he actually wants you. Lacus has your back, don’t worry. He’ll be your wingman.

🖤♦️ Rene will mostly leave you to yourself, unless he’s feeling peckish. Then he might come bother you for some blood.

🖤♦️ He really isn’t clingy or needy. Like, at all. He’s not one to initiate physical affection either. You’re going to have to do all the work.

🖤♦️ He wouldn’t mind having you climb on his lap and play with his hair, it’s just not high on his priorities list.

🖤♦️ Don’t worry, he will keep you well fed and cared for. He’ll also keep Lacus’s thirsty ass off you. He knows how Lacus can be, and he doesn’t want you to end up dead.

🖤♦️ I feel like he’d be the type to watch you sleep. Dunno why, I just think he’d like watching your peaceful resting face.

🖤♦️ Rene is a pretty great pick, if you can get through his Tsundere shell. It’s difficult, but not impossible. Just be patient with him.

Urd Geales

Snagged this image off pinterest cause i was too lazy to get my own screenshot-

💡Gonna be honest, Urd is the best pick on the list if you can get to him. Unfortunately, he’s also the hardest to get at.

💡This guy has more braincells than his entire species combined. He actually functionally runs his country, and his people are happy. He does his fucking job like a responsible leader.

💡 Anyway, he’s also a big rule follower. Remember how vampires are not allowed to drink directly from a human? Yeah. Good luck getting him to be your sugar daddy. I can really only see him getting with a vampire s/o.

💡If you approach him, he’ll likely carry out a short, polite conversation with you. He is a busy man, though. He has to ACTUALLY RUN HIS COUNTRY LIKE A LEADER IS SUPPOSED TO- *ahem* anyways…

💡It’s gonna take a whole heck of a lot of time to get him to fall for you. Not only that, he can definitely tell when you like him. He’s not stupid like Lacus, he can tell when you’re flirting.

💡He’s definitely a gentleman. He won’t touch you without permission, and would never insult you. 💡 He likes to just… talk. Just carry on an intelligent conversation with him and he’ll at least take a little liking to you. If he goes out of his way to talk with you, you’ve already won. Congrats!

💡 If you get him to open up about his past and the whole Rigr Stafford thing, you’re a miracle worker. And you’ve got him in the palm of your hand.

💡He’ll bring you simple, elegant gifts. Nothing too fancy or extravagant, but definitely practical. I could see him getting you a nice wristwatch, or a fluffy coat (it’s fuckin COLD in Russia-).

💡 Not one for PDA, or physical affection. His love language is acts of service. You best bet he makes some excellent breakfast. And he knows how to make a house spotless. WHERE he found the time to do all this you have no clue—but hey. Who cares?

💡He can be very romantic when he chooses. And incredibly classy. Red roses, candles, classical music, the whole shebang.

💡 Overall, definitely the hardest to get with. But hey, nothing worth anything comes easy! (Sorry Ferid and Lacus!)

Ky Luc

Found this image on pinterest and it was too cute not to use- lookit his lil face-

🔹🤎 Well well well… what do we have here? Another diluted Ferid! Like with Pretty Bastard Man, you gotta entertain him.

🔹🤎 Got a funky or non-conventional personality? Perfect! Spout that tumblr nonsense, he’ll love it! Anything that makes him giggle is sure to pique his interest in you.

🔹🤎 Ky isn’t quite as off-the-deep-end as Ferid is, which is good for you. He’s still one of the eccentrics though, don’t forget that. You’re only alive because he finds you amusing.

🔹🤎 This guy is WHIP smart. Don’t let his wide-eyed, elevator-music-on-the-brain smile fool you. He’s easily as smart as Ferid, and almost as smart as Urd. He will know when you catch feelings for him. And he will use said feelings to torment you for his own amusement.

🔹🤎 Yes. He is a tease. He can’t help it! Your reactions are so cute! This little shit loves making you blush and whine. He’ll poke you, pull your hair, trip you, push you around, and generally fuck with you. He’s definitely one to slam you against a wall and act all sexy just to make you squirm. Then he’ll just laugh about it.

🔹🤎 He’ll definitely entertain your feelings for a little bit. He’s curious to see what happens in a ‘relationship.’ He’s curious about a lot of things. Get ready for some uncomfortable questions. It’ll be a while before he realizes that he genuinely likes you and wants to keep you around.

🔹🤎 Thankfully, despite his bastardous energy, he is a rule follower. No need to worry about him drinking you dry.

🔹🤎 Not super into physical affection, but definitely curious about it. There isn’t much he’s not willing to try. He’ll hold your hand and let you cuddle up against him if you like. There is one thing he especially loves, which is…

🔹🤎 Coming home to find you wearing his clothes. He thinks it’s just the cutest thing! When he walks in to see you bundled up in one of his coats, it’s almost like his dead heart starts beating again! Especially if you tell him it’s because it smelled like him!

🔹🤎 Still a horrible tease though. Heck, it actually gets WORSE after he realizes he has feelings for you. Hope you like being constantly pestered, cause that’s what’s going to happen.

🔹🤎 All in all, not a bad choice. Not the best, but far from the worst. Good for someone who enjoys Ferid’s energy, but could do without the sadism.

#seraph of the end x reader #ons x reader #Ferid Bathory x reader #ons ferid x reader #lacus welt x reader #ons lacus #lacus welt #ferid bathory #ons lacus welt x reader #ons renne simm #renne simm #renne simm x reader #ons renne x reader #urd geales #urd geales x reader #ky luc #ky luc x reader

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effable-as-f · 5 months

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If this was a real dnd game and I got to be in charge of what to do with the vampire spawn I’d try to be strategic about it rather than just unleashing them all on the world all at once. Here’s what I’d do: take over Cazador’s mansion, use it as like a halfway house for recovering vampires. They’re spawn who can’t go out in the daytime, so start during the day so they can’t run away to go on a murder spree or whatever and release a few people at a time.

Start with the ones who were most recently turned (sucks for Sebastian and all the ones who have been down there fucking forever, I know, but the youngest ones who haven’t been starved for so long are gonna be the ones most capable of keeping their hunger under control)

Try to find people with living family members or friends, find people who might be willing blood donors and would be willing to take them in. I know Astarion said he mostly took people he thought wouldn’t be missed, but it seems like Sebastian at least had loved ones at the time so there are probably other people who do. If you can’t find willing “victims”, bring in animals for them to feed on. For people who have nowhere to go, let as many people stay in the mansion as can possibly fit for as long as possible until they can get on their feet.

It would take a LONG ass time to get through 7,000 people and I know in universe they have the very pressing matters of the Absolute cult marching on the city and the elder brain breaking free from its bonds but like you could maybe at least get the other siblings on it to start off and then we can come back later and pitch in? Maybe some of the Gur might be willing to help out too, like idk but especially since Gandrel’s daughters are in there

#baldur’s gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 spoilers #bg3 astarion #there are also probably at least a couple who were just complete and utter shits who astarion could point out #they could maybe just get the stake and make things easier for everyone else lmao

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schrijverr · 1 year

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DnD Night at the Harrington Mansion

Gareth is invited alongside the rest of Hellfire to play DnD at the Harrington mansion, something that is very odd. Throughout the night he meets a much nicer king Steve, who is playing house with their DM. He watches in confusion at their domesticity, wondering how that came about

On AO3.

Ships: Steve x Eddie

Warnings: brief smoking

~~~~~~~~~~

Gareth isn’t sure what happened over spring break. In fact, the whole thing is quite the mystery among the older members of Hellfire, save Eddie, because of course Eddie is at the middle of their conundrum.

Eddie, who got accused of murder. Eddie, who was in the hospital for a month. Eddie, who scrapped a part of his DnD campaign, because it was too gory. Eddie, who is even closer with the three Freshmen that joined this year. Eddie, who somehow managed to befriend Steve Harrington throughout the whole ordeal.

Honestly, if you had told Gareth in Sophomore year that he was going to get invited by Eddie to go to Steve’s house for anything other than committing a crime, he’d think you were insane. Yet here he is, ringing the bell to the Harrington mansion to play DnD.

He half expects Steve to laugh at him, before punching him when he opens the door in his full preppy glory, but instead the man smiles pleasantly and asks: “Gareth, right? Welcome!”

“Uh, yeah, yeah, that’s me,” he replies awkwardly, willing himself to disappear out of the sight of the jock.

Luckily Steve seems to pick up on his awkwardness, because he steps aside to let him in as he tells him: “Take your shoes off, please. The others are through there in the big dining room.”

“Yeah, okay, sure,” Gareth stumbles over his words as he gets in, Steve closing the door and disappearing in the direction he’d pointed to. The big dining room. Of fucking course the Harringtons had multiple dining rooms, Gareth mentally rolls his eyes.

However, when he finds it, he has to admit it’s pretty cool. The walls are a cream greenish-blue and there is a fire place on one side, above it an empty space where the oil painting that’s on the ground next to it, turned away from the viewer, used to hang. The floor has a giant soft Persian rug on it, that looks good on the dark hardwood floor.

The center piece, though, is the table. Made out of equally dark wood, it stands imposing, filling the whole room. It can seat a big group, probably twenty or something, because the DnD party gathered there far from fills it.

Gareth can see why Eddie would want to play here.

Eddie, who has taken over the table like a king at his court. He looks good. The most Eddie-like Gareth has seen him in months. He is seated at the head of the table, sprawled over a fancy chair, wearing a lazy grin as he watches Lucas and Dustin argue about a loophole Dustin thinks he has discovered.

When he spots Gareth, his grin widens and he opens his arms in a dramatic beckoning gesture as he booms: “Ah, Gareth the Great, welcome to our new, less than humble lair.”

“Yeah, man, this is crazy,” Gareth greets, relaxing a little in the big house with Eddie and the annoying kids there, while Steve is nowhere to be seen. “How did you even pull this?”

“I have my charms,” Eddie grins mysteriously as both Dustin and Mike pretend to gag, earning them a small cuff on the head from their DM.

The whole thing leaves Gareth a little confused, but before he can ask about it, he is distracted again by Eddie, who points to a kid Gareth hasn’t met yet. The kid looks vaguely familiar with his brown bowl cut and shier demeanor. Eddie introduces him: “This here, is Will the Wise. A cleric. He’s in town from Cali and will be joining us alongside baby Sinclair for the summer campaign.”

“Hi,” Will says softly, giving Gareth a soft wave.

He looks nice and Gareth knows what it’s like to be not that outgoing and in the middle of a group having to meet new people, so he puts on his kindest smile and waves back, with a: “Hi, nice to meet you.”

The rest of the group seems pleased at his greeting to Will, as if he passed some sort of test. Before they can fall into an awkward silence, however, Erica enters the room again with a drink. Gareth doesn’t know her well, having only played with her once before, but she was a riot then, so he just says hi and goes to sit at the table.

It’s a little awkward.

Not intentionally, of course. Eddie has a thing about making people feel included, he just also gets distracted easily. And the kids are really distracting, albeit in the best way.

They’re loud, yelling arguments to each other as they debate what will happen and discuss strategies for scenarios that might never be. They pester Eddie, who is notorious for never sharing anything, though his steady silence isn’t stopping them. Besides, Eddie looks like he finds the whole thing amusing, making vague comments when they seem to loose steam that send the kids back into a tizzy again.

The room is lively. Fun. It just also feels like the others are way closer with each other than Gareth, even Eddie, who has known for three years already. So, he just sits awkwardly at the fringes and wills Jeff and Chris to come soon.

Throughout the whole wait, he doesn’t see Steve again, almost wondering why the man had agreed to host if he seemingly wants to avoid everyone like they have the plague. Honestly, Gareth would have assumed Steve joined the hunt Eddie down crowd this spring, but apparently not if he was agreeing to let Eddie host his devil’s game here.

He only sees Steve again when the doorbell rings once more. A door to the dining room opens and Steve comes out, followed by the wafting smell of food, which confuses Gareth. Especially when Steve appears to be taking off an apron as he comes by.

“We could have gotten the door, Stevie,” Eddie sighs fondly when Steve rushes out of the kitchen, before anyone has gotten the chance to get up. The deep affection in his tone taking Gareth by surprise, wondering what happened to make his friend sound like that about Steve Harrington, the jock he used to scoff at, even if he would blush about how hot he is right after.

Steve surprises him again by smiling back at Eddie, equally fond, and saying: “But I like hosting and you have a game to play.”

“I set up ages ago,” Eddie protests, though he’s already relenting.

“So did I,” Steve says smugly, then disappears as Eddie rolls his eyes in the background.

Mike fake-gags again and pouts: “You two are terrible. Do you have to be so mushy all the time? I mean, you used to be cool, Eddie.”

“I’m still cool,” Eddie gasps dramatically, sounding incredibly offended at the implication that he isn’t as he brings a hand to his chest.

His actions makes everyone giggle, even Gareth finds himself cracking a smile at their fearless leader finally loosing his seeming coolness to the Freshmen. It’s enough to distract him from the strange interactions between Steve and Eddie.

Then Jeff and Chris finally enter, Steve disappearing back into the kitchen, and their evening can begin, just plain old DnD as they’ve always done.

It’s clear that Jeff and Chris are also a little intimidated and confused by their venue and host, so the three can share glances every once in a while when it hits them again. Or, more accurately, when Eddie hits them again. They already knew the kids adored Steve for some reason, but to see Eddie so comfortable in his house is strange.

It’s all little things that add up throughout the night. The way Eddie carelessly sits in his seat, the way he easily slips into the kitchen and get something to drink when he’s thirsty, the way he doesn’t get lost on his way to the bathroom like Gareth had. Just how comfortable he is. He looks so out of place in the fancy house, yet entirely at ease.

Safe to say that by the time it really gets weird, Gareth, Chris and Jeff are already curious. So, when the next oddity happens, they all notice. Starting with their host showing his face again for the first time since letting them in.

The door to the kitchen opens and there Steve stands, hands on his hips, dishtowel over his shoulder and apron tied around his waist. He looks closer to a housewife than the king of Hawkins High as he says: “Dinner is ready, go sit on the other side to eat, I’m not going to listen to your whining if you get pasta sauce on your character sheets.”

“But Steveeeee,” Dustin whines. “We’re in the middle of an important battle. We can’t just pause the game to eat.”

And Dustin is right that they’re in the middle of their campaign and Eddie hates anything interrupting their campaign at any other time besides the breaks he built into it himself. But it appears that Steve has cooked and none of the older members are gonna go against King Steve, especially not when he’s hosting them for some unknown reason.

However, with how comfortable he is, they all expect Eddie to have about the same reaction as Dustin just had. Naturally that means Eddie surprises them, by going: “No complaining, you heard your mother, Henderson.”

“He’s not my mom,” Dustin complains.

“Sure, whatever,” Eddie grins as the other boys all back Eddie up to make fun of Dustin, getting up to sit at the other half of the table, which is empty.

It’s out of character for Eddie, like so much has been this night and Gareth shares another one of their looks with Jeff and Chris. Eddie is a good guy, but one stubborn bastard, who would never fold or give up what he wants to do just because conforming sheep jock Steve Harrington asked.

Yet, there he is, backing Steve up and covering his notes, before getting up and popping his head in the kitchen and calling out: “You need help there, big boy?”

“Can you do the drinks?” they hear Steve reply, sounding almost apologetic as he comes out of the kitchen juggling a dish of lasagna and two coasters.

“Sure,” Eddie agrees easily, despite the fact that he hates most chores. “Kids, go fetch a drink,” he tells the others, who disappear into the kitchen alongside Steve, also comfortable at the house, as Eddie turns to the other three, still sitting uncomfortably at the table, and asks: “What do you wanna drink? Don’t worry, Stevie always buys everything, even Lucas’ weird New Coke.”

“Uhm, sprite?” Jeff is the first who speaks up.

“Just water,” Chris adds.

“Coke,” Gareth manages himself.

“Cool,” Eddie smiles, then pauses and asks: “Are you three okay? You seem quiet.”

And it’s so very Eddie to worry about them that it eases the tension that had unknowingly crept back up without the game to distract them. Eddie has always been the one, who gave the least fucks, who got between them and the world. He’s always been protective and more kind than people give him credit for.

Gareth gives him a smile and says: “Yeah, man, we’re good. Just fucking weird to be in the Harrington mansion of all places, you know.”

That startles a laugh out of Eddie, who grins: “Fuck, don’t I know it. I broke a vase my first time over, thought I was going to get arrested.”

They all laugh a little and it feels just like old times, even if there has been an inexpiable barrier between them and Eddie ever since spring break. Eddie is still Eddie in the end. Gareth kind of wants to ask him what the deal is between him and Steve, but doesn’t get the chance with the gremlins coming back in, chattering loudly.

The group is followed by Steve, who puts down another dish of lasagna on the empty coaster he brought last time. Telling the group still seated at the play area of the table to make themselves comfortable while he gets plates with a gentle smile.

He has lost the apron, but he is still… off? Domestic. Gareth can’t believe it, but there is no other way to describe this new Steve, who made them all lasagna, hosting their DnD night as he putters around doing the catering. As if he’s some housewife instead of a popular jock.

Though all of them had seen how he changed halfway through his Junior year. How he had left his old friends behind. How he lost his throne to Billy. How he stopped caring. How he become nicer to people.

It seems that went further than any of them could have realized while still walking the halls of Hawkins High with him.

But they can’t help but feel they stepped into an alternate reality as Steve sets the table for them and asks how their game is going, clumsy on the terminology and names, but obviously trying and looking very proud whenever he gets something right.

And it is also very weird how easily they talk to him as they get settled down, for some reason Eddie still at the head of the table, Steve on his right and Dustin on his left.

Steve fills everyone’s plate, telling them he hopes they like lasagna and all of them assuring that they do. It’s odd, Gareth thinks, how Steve’s expression makes one want to reassure him, even if he’s always been the most confident guy around.

However, Gareth also has to concede that this is a very different arena for the former king. So, maybe it’s not that weird to reassure him about the food he cooked for them. Because that is their life now. King Steve making them food for their DnD campaign. It is genuinely good too, another surprising fact that Gareth finds himself not minding in the slightest.

When they’re done with eating, Eddie offers: “Why don’t you go sit down, sweetheart. We can do the dishes.” The petname not registering as weird for any of them, because it’s Eddie, though Steve’s lack of reaction to it is noteworthy in Gareth’s opinion.

“Yeah, you already cooked,” Will pipes up.

“No,” Steve refuses, sounding like this is a common argument. “You have your little game to play and I have nothing better to do. Besides, I like doing the dishes and I am hosting. I’m not letting guests do the dishes.”

He looks almost offended at the thought of anyone implying he would force his guests to do that, which is slightly hilarious.

From across Steve, Dustin rolls his eyes and says: “You need to let that go at some point, Steve. We are over so much that we can hardly be counted as guests at this point.”

“Maybe another day,” Steve says in a way that alludes he doesn’t mean that at all, as he starts stacking dishes, everyone quickly jumping to help. “There are more guests than you shitheads here today anyway. It’s not polite to keep people waiting.”

“You’re not actually responsible for our upbringing, you know that right?” Mike rolls his eyes as he hands Steve a stack of plates and gets up to carry the empty dishes.

“I do,” Steve sniffs. “I just don’t need your bad behavior to reflect on me.”

“Whatever,” Mike says and they both disappear into the kitchen.

Eddie collects everything that couldn’t be carried and hurries after them, soon reemerging with a wet cloth to wipe down the table. Another show of how comfortable he’s gotten there that baffles the trio.

Unable to help himself, Jeff comments: “Who would have thought that Eddie Munson could function in a household.”

At the words, Eddie pauses, looking at his own hands as if he’s only just realizing what he’s doing, the utter domesticity of it all. Then the confused realization makes place for a dopey, dare he say, lovesick smile.

He quickly shakes it off and gives Jeff a crooked smirk and says: “You know me, always doing the least expected. I’m out housewiving the housewives,” which makes everyone at the table crack up, before they move back to their spots.

They quickly loose themselves into the game again, Steve easily put out of mind without his presence there.

The party doesn’t see him again until about an hour later when he comes to refill their drinks and ask if they’re hungry for a snack again. The kids all fall over themselves to tell Steve they’re starving, which is hard to believe with how much food they watched them pack away earlier, but Steve just smiles and nods.

Then he looks at the three not initiated into the weird thing that bonds the others. Gareth, like the others, never says no to snacks, seeing that he is a teen boy himself. However, he feels kind of awkward about it, so he pulls a face that he hopes conveys ‘if it’s not an inconvenience?’

Going off the way Steve smiles back, that message is conveyed.

When he entered, Eddie was just calculating the damage done, so he hasn’t replied by the time Steve checked with everyone else. A part of Gareth assumes that Steve will go ahead with everyone else’s approval, yet Steve does the unexpected again, which he should have seen coming.

He cards a quick hand through Eddie’s hair, another one of those intimate moments between them that Gareth feels like he should be questioning, but he doesn’t even know how to begin questioning them.

The whole group here feels closer than normal people should. They are all a tad too comfortable with each other and Steve and Eddie could very well be that. Still, it feels like more, though Gareth can’t grasp how. He knows Eddie is gay, but Steve? Steve is the straightest man to ever straight, so the only logical conclusion of their closeness can’t be right.

However, as he watches Steve murmur softly about snacks to Eddie, who pats his side absentmindedly and replies: “Sounds great, thanks, baby,” he can’t help but let his mind wonder to the possibility.

Again Steve leaves, returning a little later with more confusion surrounding him. Eddie hates it when their DnD stuff gets messy and has therefore banned many snacks at the table, which leave figurines or dice sticky or dirty.

And at this point, Gareth is proud to say, it doesn’t surprise him when Steve returns with only Eddie approved snacks.

Still, as has been the theme for this evening, Eddie stops mid narration, a think that has never happened in the history of Hellfire. He looks at Steve, who is putting down snacks, and frowns, before asking: “Are you okay, Stevie? You’re looking a little pale there, princess.”

Now that Gareth looks, Steve’s face does look a little pinched as he gives a reassuring smile: “I’m alright, just a bit of a headache starting.”

“If you’re admitting that, it must be bad,” Eddie replies with an achingly fond tone that alludes to how well he knows Steve and how much he cares about him. “Go lie down. I’ll man the hoard, you’ve been a great host tonight, doll.”

Steve puffs up for a moment, looking like he is going to protest, then deflates. He rubs his brow, then gives Gareth, Jeff and Chris an apologetic smile and says: “Sorry for dipping out early, enjoy your game.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, man, of course,” Gareth stumbles out, feeling Eddie’s eyes in the side of his skull daring him to say something bad to Steve right now. “Thanks for hosting us.”

Jeff and Chris quickly follow the sentiment and they see both Steve and Eddie relax for different reasons. Like they would be a dick to Steve, Gareth thinks. Tonight has been strange, but a good kind of strange.

And just as he thinks that, Steve does the strangest good thing he has done all night. He confirms the closeness between him and Eddie that Gareth had picked up on.

He wishes all the kids goodnight, promising to drive them to the arcade this weekend, even ruffling Dustin’s hair as he passes the kid, before pressing a kiss to Eddie’s cheek. The gesture is natural, thoughtless, done so effortlessly that it speaks of the many times he’s done so before. Gareth doesn’t know if Steve has forgotten they were there or if he doesn’t care as he says: “Don’t stay up too long, Eds. I’ll miss you and the kids have a curfew.”

None of the kids pretend to be grossed out by their mushiness, not even Mike. All looking away from the couple with fond eyes, happy they have each other.

Eddie lights up and cups Steve’s cheek, giving Steve a proper peck on the lips as he promises: “I’ll get them home on time, mother hen.”

“Like you’re not just as bad,” Steve teases, tone filled with love.

“Yeah, yeah,” Eddie agrees with a big smile on his face, the concession obviously not a hardship in the slightest. “Go take some pain meds and lie down, angel.”

“I will, love you,” Steve says, this time glances at them in a manner that tells Gareth he is aware of their presence, yet he apparently can’t leave without telling Eddie that, so he braves their potential reactions to say it.

The three of them fight to keep positive expressions on their face, none of them wanting Eddie or Steve to think they don’t agree with their relationship. Not the mention the kids, who are all eyeing them like Eddie was earlier, daring them to say something bad.

Eddie is the only one, who doesn’t seem to care, a big smile stretching over his face, the most genuine one Gareth has seen him wear in all their years of friendship. He replies: “I love you too, darling.”

With those words, Steve can tear himself away, giving one last wave, before disappearing into the dark bowels of the house.

None of them speak about what just happened, turning back to their game and ignoring the weirdness of the setting as they have done all evening.

In the end, the game lasts another two hours, before Eddie wraps it up. He assures everyone that he’ll clean up when he gets back, the corrals the kids into packing up their stuff and getting them into the van.

Jeff and Chris got there together and are the first to leave. Gareth doesn’t live too far, so he biked there.

He and Eddie are sharing a smoke as they wait for the kids to get done packing. After a moment of silence, Gareth says: “So, you and Steve.”

“Yeah,” Eddie concurs, seemingly unable to help the giddy smile at the mention of his boyfriend.

“I’m happy for you, man,” Gareth tells him. “You two look good together.”

“Thanks,” Eddie softly replies, looking a bit shy. They have always supported Eddie ever since he came out, but Gareth supposes actions to a reality are different than words to a hypothetical, so he tries not to take offense.

“Of course,” he smiles, then lets it morph into a grin as he jests: “As long as we don’t have to hear about his muscles again. I’ve heard enough during lunch period to last me a lifetime. I don’t need another rundown with more accurate information.”

Eddie lets out a bark of laughter and gives Gareth a light shove as he tells him to “Shut the fuck up, I’m not joking, Gareth.”

By then, the kids come piling out of the house and they both extinguish their cigarettes. Gareth claps Eddie on the back again and says: “See you around, Eddie. Don’t leave us hanging for too long with that cliffhanger. And ask Steve for his lasagna recipe. It was killer.”

“Will do,” Eddie grins brightly, before skipping over to his van, calling out the window: “Bike home safely!”

Gareth calls back: “Who’s the mother hen now?”

That gets him a “Fuck you!” and a middle finger as Eddie screeches out of the driveway and onto the road. Gareth just laughs at him, waiting until the danger that is Eddie behind the wheel is gone before getting on his bike.

After tonight, Gareth still isn’t sure what happened over spring break. In fact, Eddie has both semi-solved the mystery and made it worse by introducing this new relationship to Steve into the mix of weird shit he already does. The fucker probably likes being at the center of some weird plot.

Eddie, who got accused of loosing also being a mother hen. Eddie, who co-hosts from the Harrington mansion. Eddie, who now plays house, offering to do the dishes and cleaning up the table for Steve. Eddie, who is weirdly close with a group of kids. Eddie, who somehow managed to get into a relationship with Steve Harrington.

Honestly, if you had told Gareth anything of what happened tonight in Sophomore year, he would think you were insane. Yet here he is, biking home after playing DnD at the Harrington mansion, because their DM is dating Steve. What an odd world they live in, Gareth is pretty sure nothing in Hawkins could top this evening in weirdness.

A/N:

That one scene is based of my grandma, who refuses to let us do the dishes in her house, no matter how many times we offer or try. Like, if you allude to the fact of doing it, she’ll get up earlier to do them, just in case. It’s sweet, but also oma, lemme help!!

Also, I love writing oblivious characters, people who don’t know. Outsider POVs are one of my favorite things out there :D

#rr writing #tw: smoking #stranger things fic #stranger things #gareth stranger things #jeff stranger things #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie lives au #steve harrington x eddie munson #eddie munson #st the party #the party stranger things #the party #outsiders pov #steddie

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audiofictionuk · 6 months

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New Fiction Podcasts - 20th October

Fantasy Frameworks's Podcast New Audio RPG! Completely nonsensical tabletop fantasy RPG gameplay, and the sickest beats heard by human ears! https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231013-04 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2261662.rss

The Lion's Den New Audio Drama! Based on actual events. A drug smuggler finds God, and turns against the cartel, working as an undercover operative to take them down from the inside. Based on Dr. Hal Bradley's book, "A Fox In The Lion's Den" - you can find all of Dr. Hal Bradley's books at http://drhalbradley.com https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231003-09 RSS: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/thelionsden

Adventure Joek’s ”Did You Know?” New Audio Drama! Follow action news reporter Adventure Joek , and his protege, Jinpang Thwatercomb, as they travel across intergalactic borders in search for worthy news stories to report on behalf of the Farflarfennoodle Galaxy Tourism Co. Every month, Joek and Jinpang will bring followers of the FGTC a tale from within the 5G-Em (The 5 Galaxy Empire) and its many marvels. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231014-01 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/farflarfennoodle/feed.xml

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk - DnD Actual Play New Audio RPG! Quests and Chaos is proud to present the full playthrough of Phandelver and Below the Shattered Obelisk. This show features a fantastic cast of new and familiar faces. Dungeon Master Tiana Ren Hanson leads our group of adventurers all 12 levels of this campaign. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231013-05 RSS: https://feeds.captivate.fm/phandelver/

Radio Other New Audio Drama! In a new story-rich audio drama blending horror, weird fiction and comedy, comes Radio Other. Vikki Other, longtime podcaster, presents their show from their timeline to yours. On the other side of the timeline, in a place called the Otherworld, conspiracy is reality, and reality is conspiracy. But when cracks between the two timelines begin to show, Vikki finds themselves thrust into a rabbit hole far deeper than they ever could imagine. But even as the mystery grows too close for comfort, Vikki is not ready to give up. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20230226-03 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/db6e121c/podcast/rss

GRIM: A Haunted Mansion Fable New Audio Drama! Inspired by the many myths and legends surrounding Disney's classic Haunted Mansion attraction, GRIM follows Jason Holloway, a historian obsessed and perhaps even haunted by the stories of the old Gracey estate in New Orleans. His search for answers takes us on a journey through history as we see the tale of the Gracey family unfold throughout several ill-fated generations. It is a tale of lovers, pirates, tycoons, mystics, and murderers, all part of a puzzle that leads to a truth laying in wait, hiding just below the surface. But be warned, friends. The truth can be quite GRIM. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20230329-04 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/dade5988/podcast/rss

Dusty Attic Shorts New Audio Drama! Inspired by classic horror anthologies like Tales from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone, Dusty Attic combines horror and suspense with gallows humor and a wry new approach to our old fears. Each bite-sized scare sets out to make you chuckle, shiver or glance furtively over your shoulder. Maybe all three. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20230711-10 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/e5a67058/podcast/rss

Tales From the Janitor New Audio Drama! Tales from the Janitor - An urban legend series where the listener is taken through ghost stories, science fiction adventures and creepy unexplained events in history. A series of short stories covering elements of crime, horror, drama and comedy. A series about people of different backgrounds committing murders, suicides, rituals, and other events caused by the unknown and where ordinary people find themselves in extraordinarily situations. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231017-01 RSS: https://media.rss.com/tales-from-the-janitor/feed.xml

Small Town D&D New Audio RPG! Small Town D&D is a Dungeons and Dragons podcast if, instead of slaying dragons and saving the world, the heroes decided to stay home and deal with small town problems like election fraud and overdevelopment. Listen in as the quiet town of Chester’s Chair is radically reshaped by the (foolish) actions of the players. The smaller the stakes, the bigger the consequences! Arcs are short and plots move quickly in this game where actually almost nothing happens. We really think you can jump in at any episode. Featuring 20+ years of combined improv comedy and D&D experience in cast members Chelsea Lee, David Dillon, Dewey Cassady, and Dungeon Master Alex Wolfson. New episodes every Tuesday. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231017-02 RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/small-town-dd

Dickey Newton New Audio Drama! 12-year-old Dickey Newton is not your average nerd; he’s also a paranormal detective, superhero, wizard, vampire-hunter, and much, much more. Join Dickey on his marshmallow fluff-fueled adventures in 1980s Jupiter Springs, California and beyond. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231017-03 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/dickeynewton/feed.xml

Mortuus Est: Origins New Audio Drama! Thirty years before the events of Mortuus Est: Legacy, Nico and Lawrence, alongside Hera Marroquin Silva, are working as part of Operation: Zeus, a covert paramilitary unit led by the Tactical Defense Department (TDD). Everything changes when a mission goes awry. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231016-01 RSS: https://media.rss.com/mortuusestorigins/feed.xml

League of Wonder New Audio Book! The greatest heroes of the fiction have assembled to save the world. Only this time… they’re animals. In the late days of the Victorian era, Kip, an adorable Yorkshire terrier, is thrust into adventure when his girl, Dorothy Gale, and a magical slipper go missing. Desperate to find her, Kip teams up a rag-tag group of animal heroes that include the suave White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, the brilliant and eccentric Toad from Wind and the Willows, the persnickety Cricket from Pinocchio and the Darling’s protective St. Bernard, Lulu, from Peter Pan. Together, they will uncover a plot that threatens London and the mysterious figure who is scheming to wreak vengeance on all of mankind. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20230918-04 RSS: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/leagueofwonder

Blerd Mind Production New Audio Drama! People die and there is nothing that you can do about it. Or is there? Naomi and Nyah are two Necromancers who are in a very taboo business, waking the dead. Some people get to say goodbye to loved ones. The Wake sisters just want to see that they can make people get these last wishes accomplished. Spirit Hunters known as Purists have a different outlook on these things. The dead should stay dead and they will do whatever it takes to put an end to the Wake sisters' business. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231017-04 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/ea600dac/podcast/rss

The Dispossessed New Audio Drama! Evil lived at 18 Hope Street. Then the bulldozers came. Where was evil to go? Laney Kasten, 16, along with her younger brother and mother, are forced to move out of their rented house as the neighborhood they once called home is rapidly gentrifying and they are being priced out. Now, until they can find a new safe place to call home, she has to live in their car on Hope Street near the town park where all the unhoused have taken up residence. But Laney is not the only one who has recently been made homeless…. a house on Hope Street which was inhabited by a malevolent entity was torn down to make room for a new mansion. But destroying the house doesn’t destroy the spirit… and it is now taking its wrath out on the unhoused residents of Hope Street. A Haunted House story without the house. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231016-02 RSS: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/thedispossessed

#audio fiction #fiction podcast

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idontunderstandwhydoyouneedmyurl · 6 months

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Its late and I can't sleep so have some fun facts about my tav

Her name is Katrice Taventridus Elwoyzorwyn (el-wuh-zor-win), she's a half wood elf wizard (nobility background) and as of the events of bg3 she's 55 years old. Her magical ability strength lies in elemental magic, namely fire ice and lightning. Her alignment is neutral good because she believes more in doing what is right rather than what is lawful, but only if she won't get caught

She grew up in Baldur's Gate in a very affluent family, she went to a magical academy and graduated at the top of her class in an effort to impress her parents (spoiler: it didn't work)

After Katrice graduated she tried to join her father's magical item importation business. He told her that not only did he not want her to join, but that if she did it would tarnish the reputation as an elven business because she was actually half human and an affair child

She decided (to prove to her dad herself that she could in fact do whatever she put her mind to, surprise biracial affair child or no, so she got herself a basic adventuring pack and set off for adventure. She then got zapped up by the nauteloid ship literally before she made it out of the main city gate

She's part of a playthru that I did multi-player with my wife who played a tiefling ranger (criminal background) named Valmaia, and we consider that our "canon" run. Katrice and Val butted heads a lot at the beginning but by the end of the game are good friends

She's 5'6", weighs about a hundred pounds soaking wet, and the only reason her STR is 10 is because I refuse to go lower on any stat at all ever

Katrice hoards scrolls and potions because "you never know!!" But because her potion bag gets heavy, she pawns it off on Astarion to carry.

She doesn't trust the dream visitor (who looks like her birth mom) and refuses to eat more tadpoles or to use the illithid power at all. Valmaia meanwhile is eating the tadpoles like candy. Modern day pickle giver vs pickle eater tbh

Katrice and Wyll end up falling in love over the course of the game, because they ran in similar social circles growing up. Because Katrice is twice Wyll's age, they never actually met, but they likely would've been childhood friends.

In my personal solo playthru with Katrice, I had her romance Astarion in a "I can fix him but maybe he'll corrupt me a little" kind of way, a "on my gods my parents would be SO disappointed in me for bringing home such a charlatan. Isnt that exciting" rebellion kind of way. (I'm now romancing him with my dark urge which is a whole other flavor of emotionally delicious)

Im playing with the idea of her birth mom (who went missing shortly after Katrice was born) having been one of Cazador's victims just for a little extra gut punch

She had to talk down shadowheart from killing the nightsong, astarion from committing mass murder so he can suntan, gale from trying to become a God, like that one meme of a guy struggling and tangled with three babies on leashes

After the events of bg3 Katrice is well funded as both a professional adventurer and recognized as a hero of the city, so she's able to buy a controlling interest in her father's company.

She also buys Cazador's mansion (since he's not using it anymore) and turns it into a tavern/inn that employs several of the vampire spawn that Astarion freed. They work and in exchange are given room and board and a safe blood supply from local butchers and donors. Astarion refuses to stay there but thinks the idea is hilarious.

Wyll, Valmaia, and Karlach went to Avernus to live in the House of Hope while they look more into a cure for Karlach. Katrice doesn't enjoy the long distance relationship thing but once she and Rolan set up a portal to the House of Hope from the top of Ramazith’s tower, its a little easier to go back and forth.

My wife and I are playing a 2 person DND style game where we're continuing this thread and are doing an Icewind Dale based story together, just rolling dice for how the plot goes. I'm insanely excited to keep going (and if anyone asks me about it ill just straight up share my campaign notes i love it)

#my text #katrice Elwoyzorwyn #bg3 #bg3 spoilers #bg3 oc #bg3 pc #bg3 tav

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fromanothersystem · 2 years

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How my DM shattered my mind to pieces over a single weekend

So my DM wanted to do a murder mystery one-shot with the party from our campaign that has been running for almost two years. Since these characters as well as us as players know each other very well, she deemed it a good idea to invite a few other friends to mix up the group some more.

On the first night we all got introduced and our characters first got to see and explore the mansion. We got introduced to the lady of the house (a peacock-like aarakocra) as well as to some of the staff. Our weapons had been taken and stored somewhere and there was some anti-magic dome going on, so we were only able to cast cantrips.

With the night falling we were escorted to our respectful rooms and then began the next day of our DnD weekend.

Over the course of the afternoon, the DM would call each person separately outside, and ask us what we had been doing in the mansion the previous night. We got a timetable and were able to investigate several rooms (of course while trying to be stealthy and not by noticed by the staff or other players). When a player ran into another player, these people were invited outside and had the chance to interact.

At the end of this night, the huge chandelier in the ballroom crashed down and everyone got out to investigate. Only to notice that the lady of the house was missing. We split up in teams and eventually found the lady's body in the archive room (Mind you, my and my friend's characters had been here earlier that night, but rolled so shit on investigation that we hadn't seen her).

Time to throw around suspicions! Rather quickly our own party stuck together and were trying to figure out the secret passage ways and how the hell one of our daggers was with the body (it wasn't us I promise).

We weren't getting much clues from the other characters and some things just didn't seem to add up. This went on for the rest of the night, until my paladin tried to cast a spell outside and it worked. We had discerned there was illusion magic on the body, so we dragged it outside and I cast dispel magic.

Low and behold, it wasn't the lady's body. It was the body of someone our party knew as 'The Jester'. This annoying demigod had crossed our path some times and we had just started to take a liking to them. Before that last part, we had commisioned their assasination by a assassin we particulary hate. Hoping that the assassin would be killed by The Jester in the process.

After this revelation, said assassin revealed himself and told us this was his way of letting us know the job was complete.

Turns out, the other characters involved in this whole murder mystery were ACTORS. They were a traveling band of actors, acting out murder mysterys for nobles.

The friends invited by my DM were roleplaying actors, playing as characters. THEY WERE IN THIS PLOT FOR OVER A YEAR. They even helped design the mansion and already had some background info of our party's characters.

Someone played the murderer yes (this someone was a changeling btw) but they knew it was all fake.

Unbeknownst to the actor characters, their fake body was replaced by an actual body by the assassin.

After the revelation of the assassin, he poofed away. I have included my artistic impression of our reactions as a party, since this unfortunately wasn't filmed.

Needless to say me and my friends were in a complete daze while the others explained everything.

Also noteworthy of mention is the revenge plot that one of my friends is already planning.

I think our characters aren't the only ones with trust issues anymore.

#please someone i just need to rant about this #my dm is a fucking genius #dnd story #dnd #dnd experience #dnd one shot #dungeons and dragons #murder mystery #inspired by creepypasta

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chaoticstupiddm · 1 year

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Random thought, but writing a story and prepping for DnD is similar in a sense, that one has to create a world with story elements. But once you are done with the hooks, and the player sit down, it's basically out of your hands.

The other difference is, that when you are writing only for yourself or just the internet, you do it whenever you feel like it. If you have a game scheduled, you better do the prep, or you'll have to do a lot of improv later. And there is nothing wrong with that, if you are comfortable with it, but it's not always easy to put together a big murder mansion on the spot.

What I'm trying to say is, prep doesn't always come easy, but at least it can put you in a good headspace for the next session. Also, don't force it too much, if you don't want to suck out all the joy from the game.

#writing #dnd #prep #i'm rambling instead of doing prep #should i take my own advice and not force it last minute?#nope

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emmikay · 2 years

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Things my dnd party has done: Blown nearly all our resources to purchase the haunted murder mansion we had previously investigated as a new homebase, justifying this on the very shaky grounds that we’re totally doing the city a favour, because now they don’t have to inform other potential buyers that it was in fact a murder house, as well as a vampire’s previous hideout.

Also, I feel I should preface that this purchase was several arcs in the making, including dropping not so subtle hints immediately after slaying the aforementioned vampire about potential rewards, an extremely lucky pull from the deck of many things, greatly increasing the party’s wealth, and using the favoured offered to us by the king of the dwarves after slaying a dragon for him to ask him to write us a letter of recommendation on our merit as property owners.

But it finally worked, and we spent the entirety of our last session planning out our new floor plan, and claiming rooms!

(also also we decided to adopt a mimic that would have been in one of the rooms we didn’t properly explore when we were vampire hunting. we unanimously decided to name it Charlie the Chair)

#dnd #dungeons and dragons #dnd campaign #i love this game so fucking much #my player made the strategic move to claim a room that doesn't share a wall with any other party member #also the dm gave me permission to plan traps for my room #and the party asked me to think of traps to put in our newly declared library/ war room #(where charlie the chair is going to reside)

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ardisfoxxart · 2 years

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My PC killed another PC

The thing with dnd beyond is, you can see all the characters in the group, so if you want to surprise them with something you gotta be real sneaky about it. I'm a forever DM and when I got my chance to be a player in a friend's campaign, my DM brain kicked into gear and I started planning a series of fun surprises for my character that the group would learn as the group got to know each other.

My group of friends knows me, they know that I've never liked kenku because they're a bit gimmicky, so for a new campaign I thought I would surprise them by playing one. I'm one of those DMs who does a lot of voices, and so I made a list of personalities the character would quote when speaking; I put work into it. I wrote the backstory, discussed with the DM, and I was actually feeling pretty excited about this kenku.

Until one of the players jumped on dnd beyond and saw my character sitting there in the campaign page and said in our Discord, "Oh wow, ArdisFoxx is playing a kenku?? Amazing!" I thought, well shit. I was banking on surprising the group and now the whole thing had been spoiled. It wouldn't have the same payoff now, for me or for them.

My thoughts immediately began to pivot.

Years of DMing had trained me how to deal with changes in the narrative. When players do shit you don't expect, you improvise. Adapt. Overcome. So I decided on a new surprise.

The group had been trudging through the sublevels of Death House, a horrifying dungeon in the depths of a cursed Barovian mansion. The group heard wailing from somewhere within, and crept forward, edging their way into an underground jail. They moved past the corpses of prisoners who had been tortured to death, through the blood-soaked hallways of broken stone and dirt. They entered a cell where two creatures had been chained to a wall - a woman, and a kenku. They discussed among themselves whether they should release the prisoners - but it was the sort of good natured debate players do when they know the stranger before them is their friends character. It's the kind of discussion that gets peppered with knowing smiles and laughter whenever someone jokes, "They could be dangerous, just leave them". Everyone at the table knows that they will release the prisoners. They're just roleplaying a little, letting the scene breathe, but they know what's coming.

Except that they didn't.

I had discussed with the DM, my desire to make a bait and switch. I'd introduce a new character - a gritty noir detective hot on the trail of an insane kenku thief and murderer. The DM was on board - another player didn't like their dragonborn they had made and wanted to switch too, so together we concocted a plan to pull a fast one on the group.

So there they were, in the pits of this killer dungeon, in a gothic horror setting, smiling with relief as they made ready to release the prisoners that were sure to be great allies in their fight to escape this place where Literally Everything Was Terrible and Trying to Kill Them. The dragonborn picked the lock, released my kenku from his manacles, and the DM looked at me expectantly. "What does Zesi do?" To the total surprise of the other 5 players, I immediately attacked the dragonborn with my cursed dagger, striking with advantage. I hit the sorcerer and made a show of rolling damage, to which the player declared had dropped him to 0hp. The DM declared him dead instantly, with the kenku pulling his soul into a cursed dagger.

On the very next turn the DM described a silver haired man in a long brown trench coat dashing into the room. The group embodied all of their bewilderment as the DM looked to me again, asking, "What does Neph do?"

TL;DR: Forever DM joins his players in another campaign as a player, only to use their meta knowledge against them and continue fucking with them

Bonus: Here's that same silver haired detective which I doodled earlier this month. His homunculus is a 2-foot tall gargoyle named Smoliath (90s kids know), and his Guidance spell is magic cigarettes!

#dnd #dungeons and dragons #rpg #ttprg #curseofstrahd #dndstory

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controlledchaosetc · 2 years

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If you still want someone to talk dnd with, I am more that happy to listen to anything dnd

Hello!!! I could talk about dnd all day if you let me XD

Because I didn't elaborate, I'll tell you the story of:

The Graveyard Shift

Arc 1: Murder Mansion

It starts with 9 people being invited to a dinner party by the noble, Valdis Doyle. Of the 12 people there, 3 are the most important (as they are the PCs)

Yikes

played by @dufflebagwitch

a changeling who works at the circus

lil reckless attention seeker

currently disguised as a small-time noble

Azule Vinara

played by @ingredients-for-brain-soup

a fortuneteller/medium that works in liltis, the town where the mansion is located

has been occasionally flirting with Valdis

secretly a fraud, a changeling, and a necromancer

Todd Thompson

played by @ingredients-for-brain-soup 's partner

slightly sleazy and dick-ish business-man

currently selling well-made brooms as a scam, saying they're flying brooms

actually started as an NPC before a player joined and used him as his character!

As the party gets under way, dinner served and a toast is had... leading to Valdis being poisoned and dying. The clocks all set to 11, the doors and windows can't be opened or broken, and a note is found on his body saying that the rest will die if they can't figure out who the killer is an escape.

This leads to Shenanigans, people are dying, suspicions are thrown, weird explainable shit occurs. Cullen, a man who was cheating on his wife to try to feel some freedom in a controlling marriage, cries over his wife's body saying that he'll never get to apologize to her. Fral, a gibbering mouther that had somehow gained some consciousness and form, is found dead having tired to not turn back into the monster they once were. Natharia, a depowered marilith working as a guard in the town with her dwarven husband, is replaced by some kind of mirror copy who attempts to have Azule replaced as well, but not before Yikes putting a stop to it and knocking the copy out for the real Natharia to claw out of the mirror, blooded and bruised as all damage also transferred to her. Each body would disappear if left alone, with no trace that a murder had even occurred.

Reflections are becoming dangerous, and as the group begins to realize that none of them could be the culprit, the house itself begins to shift. Doors no longer lead to where they once did, rooms seem to shift around, and hedge mazes threaten to swallow those who enter. They realize that whoever is doing this is using the house itself to kill people, seemingly having total control of the environment and toying with them. Even though it was their second day in the house, the outside remained night.

Finally, after solving a puzzle left on the notes on each of the bodies, they managed to get to the front door and see daylight for the first time, the door wouldn't open. There was still one more place they had to go: the basement. Walking down, they found a large, empty dirt room with the side walls covered with 2 large curtains, and a writing desk at the end with 2 blankets covering lumps on the floor. The body of Valdis sat writing, before stopping and turning to speak to the group.

He rose up into the air and revealed the reanimated bodies of those who've died, and the fight began. Putting the bodies to rest and continuing to attack Valdis, his skin slowly began to fall away, revealing a gaunt, sickly greenish-white woman with 6 white eyes and razor-like teeth. She congratulated the party, and told them they had 10 seconds to leave as she dropped the 2 large curtains, revealing 2 large mirrors with infinitely many recursive reflections. As she counted, hundreds of mirror copies of the party streamed out of the mirrors. While the group ran outside, the woman's bottom half changed into a 15 foot long centipede body, and she chased them cackling.

Thankfully, the 8 survivors made it outside, the 3 PCs alive and maybe not well. The mansion burned behind them while the guard who were waiting outside rushed to help the victims.

Arc 2: Terror Town

With the group having escaped, they are taken in by the Liltis guard for questioning to figure out what the fuck happened. Apparently, when Natharia's husband (who was supposed to be at the party but was going to be late because of work) approached the mansion, the door couldn't be opened, all the lights were off, and when he tried, the windows wouldn't break.

Yikes and Azule had become closer through the incident, and, in the mansion, had revealed himself to be a changeling. Azule implied that she was a changeling, but nothing solid. However, outside the mansion, Yikes dropped his form because in his day to day life, he was actually an open changeling.

They gave their story to the guard, who were surprised but with everyone giving almost the exact same story, they knew this wasn't just an odd house fire. However, they put everyone involved under town arrest through magical anklets that would keep them in the borders just in case they need to interview them again for vital information. Everyone, especially Yikes, HATED this, but there wasn't anything they could do... except Natharia who had been thoroughly traumatized and, using her station with the guard, was able to leave town immediately.

Yikes, Azule, and Todd decided to stick together after the fact to keep themselves safe and try to figure out what the thing they faced in the mansion was. Yikes also introduced the rest of the party to the Eclipse, the circus he works at. There are MANY NPCs at the Eclipse so I won't get into all of them here XD

Not much happened as it was mainly the PCs decompressing. However, they did have to deal with Azule's house being broken into and saving her two employees. They also went back to the mansion and discovered Valdis' journal and letters in the writing desk. It implied that he may have been possessed by the entity before the party even happened, as well as giving a clue in the form of a letter sent by Relvath Rosepike, the architect who apparently designed Valdis' mansion in the first place.

Also, they met an adventuring party whose members were all foils to the PCs (as all the PCs are basically NPC roles and I thought it would be funny to make an actual adventuring party to match them). This is a small thing, but they will be recurring.

The arc ended with the party joining the Eclipse (along with two of the NPCs from the mansion), and heading to the next town.

Arc 3: Wedding Woes

The party headed to the town of Tegizen for a brief pitstop as the circus had to restock. While there, Jago, a footman for the ruling noble, approached and asked if they could rent out Yikes' services as a changeling stripper for a bachelor party. There was a political wedding happening the next day between Eleri Furossi, the daughter of Tegizen's ruling noble, and Osmo “Ossy” Lasako, the son of another province's ruling noble.

However, during the bachelor party, Osmo wondered out drunk and ended up going missing. Jago came back and requested that Yikes disguise himself as Osmo until he is found, and that the rest of the party needs to look for him because the guards are too busy guarding the wedding to look.

Yikes was stressed the entire time, but after admitting what was going on immediately to Eleri, she helped him out and delayed the wedding temporarily. Azule and Todd discovered that he had been last seen at a tavern, and then rode out of town. Following the tracks, they discovered he had been kidnapped by a clan of goblins. They, SHOCKINGLY, negotiated that they would help with the hostage trade to make sure the goblins got the 10,000 gold they wanted. And it WORKED. The goblins got their 10,000 gold, the party got Osmo back, Yikes didn't get blamed for the entire situation as trying to replace Osmo, and everything seemed to be ok...

Until Osmo revealed that he had left because he had seen Aleksis, the person he was secretly dating for years, at the tavern he left from. (This whole marriage was literally just a political move btw. Eleri and Osmo were friendly to each other, but Osmo was taken, and Eleri was a lesbian). They had agreed to run away from the town about a week ago, but she never showed up, and Osmo got a letter from her explaining that she had left back for her town and that she didn't want to get him in trouble. The party agreed to get Aleksis back.

The issue was Aleksis couldn't remember anything. She had been at the tavern for a week with major memory loss, not remembering who or where she was, and this would reset every time she went back to her room upstairs.

Todd and Yikes tried to have Aleksis leave the tavern with them, but after exiting, she disappeared and reappeared at the top of the stairs. They went into her room and saw days of untouched food and glasses of water sitting there, as well as there being no bags suggesting she was still staying there. (Btw, custom lore: Ghosts, very rarely, can still remain corporeal as long as they didn't realize they were dead). Putting two and two together, they told her to not worry, and they will be back soon.

The next morning, the party uncovers where she was murdered, and got into a fight with local drug dealers that had hidden her body underneath the drugs they were growing in some abandoned ruins. Yikes went down but thankfully didn't die. They uncovered Aleksis' body, cast Gentle Repose to make sure a cleric could cast Raise Dead on her, and went to the tavern to put Aleksis' soul to rest so she could be revived. They again met the foil adventuring party, and the paladin of Kelemvor advised them how to help put a ghost to rest gently. It was emotional, but Aleksis was successfully put to the rest, and Eleri volunteered to take her body to Liltis where there was a cleric to revive her.

The party left to catch up with the circus who had left earlier that morning.

Arc 4: Architect Anarchy (Current)

After a 3 week timeskip, the party and circus arrived in the town of Pidehold, the home of Rosepike, the architect that built Valdis' house.

However, upon visiting Rosepike's home, they discover a member of the guard named Sorovar investigating it. Apparently, he's been missing for 3-4 weeks, his house is under lockdown, and there's the faint smell of rot leaking into the main hall. And because Rosepike really liked puzzles and was a bit a little freak, his house was locked down by arcane and physical puzzles that are almost impossible to solve without knowing what objects to touch/use. Also, the guard needs to get back half of the blueprint of the house, suspected to have been stolen by a member of The Shade (the largest thieves' guild in the kingdom), and the important document listing all of the puzzles in the mansion and their corresponding objects (but not the solutions as only Rosepike knew them apparently).

So, to prove themselves to the guard, the party killed some gnolls. Todd also needed a de-stresser after seeing that his father's wizarding shop had become a franchise, had expanded to Pidehold, and was being run by a horrible (affectionate) woman named Olympia.

The party also introduced themselves to the Shade and agreed to let them have all of the valuables in the house as they only needed whatever knowledge he had on what happened in Valdis' mansion.

They also discovered from a friend of Rosepike that before he disappeared, he had mentioned that he knew something that was bigger than him, and that it could get her in trouble if he told her. Which is concerning...

However, all of this was thrown off track when a member of the guard named Chase introduced themselves, saying they were helping with the Rosepike investigation. Chase isn't what they say they are, however, as they are the newest PC Husk in disguise!

Husk

played by @sleepyforestbeast

tricksy fey changeling (even moreso than yikes, and yes this is the third changeling)

likes to expose noble and mercantile corruption through humiliation and assassination

i literally don't know how we got this to work, we're all on EST, they're in Australia, it's a 10 hour time difference but it just PERFECTLY lined up, and im so glad it did!

Chase IMMEDIATELY threw a wrench into things by admitting to Yikes they were a changeling, running away, and then Yikes got arrested after casting Suggestion on a member of the guard. One interrogation, multiple lies, and a 250 fine for Yikes and 2 weeks with no pay for Chase, Yikes got out.

Chase eventually revealed to the rest of the party they were a changeling to get their trust, and then revealed that they were the one to have stolen the puzzle document. Together, they investigated Jonetvot, someone associated with Rosepike and rumored to be helping with various financial crimes and worker abuses. After stealing damning documentation and tricking him into admitting that he had ties to Valdis where he was the one that helped him get a guide to travel to the other continent for a trip he needed to take, the party went to go celebrate their successes at a bar.

This is where it goes off the rails again as Yikes recognizes someone talking to the foil party who kidnapped him and stole a bit of his skin before he escaped. Long story short, it was just her identical triplet, but she would be joining the foil party.

And that brings us to now! Husk had an emotional scene with Yikes, and Yikes pretended to be Chase to turn in the evidence against Jonetvot with some tomfoolery ensuing, but that's the condensed tale of the Graveyard Shift so far!!!!

#the graveyard shift #murder mansion dnd #yikes dnd #azule dnd #todd dnd #husk dnd #dnd 5e #dnd campaign #dnd sto #dnd dm #dnd #d&d #long post #oh boy this took fuckin forever to type up

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pumpkinupsidedowncake · 4 days

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Hey you're 100% right about Malevolent being ttrpg related btw. It was based off the writer's Call of Cthulhu campaign and takes place in the same universe with a handful of common characters. Also, Patreon members have a perk where we get to vote on Arthur's decisions a couple times per episode. This mechanic used to be more in-depth (with perception rolls, skill trees, and a sanity mechanic) but that was dropped pretty early on because it interfered with storytelling

Yes, but like it goes beyond just the origin and the dice roll sounds in the first episodes and the audience collaboration and all that. The way the plot beats shake out feels like they could have just happened in the Call of Cthulhu system. (I haven’t played it, so my knowledge comes from when I was researching how to run it and also indirectly from playing other ttrpgs. Mostly DnD 5e, unfortunately for my esoteric street cred.)

And that’s the bit I don’t know how to describe. Like, there’s a bunch of arcs that involve doing different things in different places instead of sticking to one type of story, which reminds me of when I was reading a series of DnD books and one was like “you know that guy you’ve been reading about? He’s on a boat now. I don’t know why either. Ocean time baby”

Like it isn’t that stark, there’s still a goal being pursued and the standard or subverted dynamic of Arthur and John, but if you tried to tell someone about all the interesting things that have happened in the podcast it would sound like you were describing all the crazy things that happened to your group in your ongoing game. “Like there was this guy with a gas mask and we stole his dead sister’s head, and there was this random baby we had that one time, and also we ended up in the Dreamlands and oh don’t even get me started on that, then we broke into this guy’s mansion after drinking at the murder inn and then we went to NYC and met a serial killer on the train ride over and then became tenants and released a horrifying entity and then” et cetera et cetera (that’s where I left off last).

Like other podcasts can become that way too, but they seldom feel like that when you listen to them. So much has happened in Malevolent that even though we’ve been following the same person throughout, I regularly forget all the shit that’s happened to him. It’s a different vibe than Juno Steel or Archive 81, maybe because the narrative focuses are different?

Like Archive 81 builds up a strange world with rules different to our own just out of sight to most, and each season feels different, but it’s more about the world than any one character. It’s them getting shaped by the strangeness and adapting and sometimes wishing they hadn’t and the choices offered never have a clear meaning until you’re knee deep in the consequences, maybe not even then.

Juno Steel has a clear narrative style, and that’s what I think of first: the character we’re focused on adding their thoughts and context to whatever’s happening “onscreen”, a la film noir or at least the improv game of that title. I am uncultured. The story feels constructed and clear and grounded, even though we are on Mars and impossible things are happening. (This is another one I’m not caught up on, but the focus seems to continue to be a wide range of characters and their motivations and how they interact with everyone else.)

I guess typing this all out, Malevolent feels more immediate in action and consequences. The focus is on whatever Arthur is doing. When he isn’t dealing with the world’s lore or his past, we don’t hear about it. It still shapes him and the conflict he faces, but we get less insight into it than we would if he monologued about his martyr complex or learned enough about the strange Dreamland inhabitants to establish what each of their “deals” are. We either don’t stick around long enough to, or they’re important and therefore a mystery to us, or they are murdered in cold blood. In any case it isn’t really about them because compared to Arthur, they’re NPCs. They keep us moving forward, even if we’d rather stick around and learn more.

I guess it’s the focus on Arthur and John’s planning and actions combined with the way everyone else’s motivation matters less than how it impacts them, the party/investigators/main characters. Like I’m describing it in extremes but I’m not wrong. It’s the closest you can get to being a ttrpg without actually being one, even ignoring the origins and patreon voting. Those definitely add to it, especially the patreon voting and the hints you get of it even without hearing the vote-on-this-thing prompts, but if it was just that it would be a choose-your-own-adventure type deal. Actually, I realize I don’t know enough about that type of game/narrative to definitively say that.

So basically, it feels like a ttrpg in ways that it shouldn’t necessarily just based on where it gets its lore and some plot-important background characters from, even with important choices being decided on by people on Patreon. I am pretty sure this has a different style than a choose-your-own-adventure story would, but all I can speak to is how different it feels from other fiction podcasts with big worlds and lots of characters.

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aeris1 · 9 months

Text

I was writing a summary for my dragonborn dnd character, and then it devolved into kind of writing, so here is my character’s terribly written backstory.

Akiza Lore

A queer noble who has come from a long lineage of strong noble dragonborns, after an affair with a peasant, he was caught by someone of a family interlinked with his own, denying him the ability to wave the allegations off as hearsay, and possibly dooming him to a burning at the stake for his ‘sins’.

Instead, he plotted to attempt a murder on this man, and quite possibly blame it on an enemy family member (one that he particularly despised). However, he understood he did not have the power to do this himself, so, in the middle of the night, he tested a theory. Walking into his family treasury, he glanced his eyes upon a blade that could possibly give him the power to go through with his plot.

The dagger was a stowed in a pure black sheath, a single glowing ruby, shaped much an eye was imbedded in the middle of the blade, holes cut in the sheath to reveal it, allowing it to, as his father put it, “see”. The hilt, much like any other dagger, was made of simple darkwood, with a metal pommel placed at the end as well as a hand guard much like a sword’s.

As he gripped the blade, he heard a voice unlike any other speak in his head, the voice seemingly close, yet far, quiet, yet load, feminine, yet masculine, and it asked a simple question: “Do you dare wield me? To bleed for your cause?”

He didn’t offer an answer, instead, he brought the blade to his hand, and cut it, leaving his palm above the edge to bleed upon the blade.

The voice simply laughed in complete joy. “No one has solved my riddle in a long time… very well! Then you shall be my warrior, now, go forth, rip your enemies apart with the spells I have bestowed upon you~”

He felt a surge of power within his frail body, things he would not think of ever doing, he could now do, and so, he continued his plan.

He left the treasury, silently walking, dodging through the pristine halls of the mansion, finally settling just far enough from the door. Using the wisdom gifted by the blade, he casted an ephemeral to open the door slightly, waiting there to see if his enemy was alive. After a while of waiting, he deemed him to be asleep. Silently, he sneaked into the room, staring at the man who was awake. He tricked him. Before the man could scream, Akiza suddenly spoke in a slightly loud whisper. “Silence, come here now!”

He truly did not expect it to work, thinking he was done for, but he was wrong, he quickly realised as a crimson red seeped into the man’s eyes, before he stood almost lifelessly, smiling at him like he would do to a friend.

Without much thought, Akiza sunk the dagger into his neck, and pulled it out swiftly, he collapsed to the floor with a thud. He walked to the bed and simply sat, breathing in and out as he savoured his victory, and the power he used to do it.

Sitting there, he thought of his vile brother’s signature jewellery. He reached out his hand and imagined it, forming a gold and silver heart necklace, before dropping it on the body and leaving.

He quickly walked back to the treasury, promising the blade he would come back as he cleaned it and placed it on it’s pedestal, walking back to his room for a good night’s sleep.

—Next Morning—

He was there, not that he wanted to much, he shared no connection to his brother, the man was simply sick, and a fate like this was bound to happen, Akiza thought in his head, as he sat with his family on their assigned position. He watched the judgement of his sibling, as he was dragged roughly to a wooden cross and strapped to it. Despite his pleas of his innocent, it did not change the crowd’s screams and threats against him, after all, this was the man that killed one of their most honoured and favoured nobility. Akiza watched as they set a fire to the cross, observing as his brother’s body was charred and burnt into ashes, screams of suffering and hatred echoing from every direction.

After the burning, he went to his family with a proposition of becoming a detective, and wielding their family’s prized dagger to a faraway land, much to the confusion of his family, after all, was it not the laws of his family to either marry or gain a worthy high status occupation? He walked with his father and mother to the treasury wordlessly, before picking up the dagger without any issues. The pride in his parents faces were blatant. How would they feel, if they knew?

After an afternoon of celebration, he packed all he needed for the trip, and left

#oc #dnd

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thatonetransguyincanada · 1 year

Text

Character Writing Snippet:

Accident Prone

Wrote a lil snippet of a dnd character of mine that I’ve been hyper fixated on for the last few months!

Some important info:

Blaine is the main PC and hes currently working for a deadly group that runs the majority of the city’ underworld as an informant for Silas.

Silas is an up and coming powerhouse city guard who wants to take down the underworld. Hes also the son of merchant nobles.

*Trigger Warning* Blood, death, murder, panic attack, mental breakdown

I wasn't thinking just, acting on auto pilot. My body moving between buildings with practiced grace, following the all to familial path that's engraved in my bones.

I know I should be checking to see if someone is following, or being careful where I touch so I doesnt leave a bloody hand print behind. But at the moment the only thing on my mind was how otherwise calm and unaware the night was.

So many people sleeping in their beds, tucked under their warm sheets, not a clue to what had just transpired. Yet here I was, the literal walking proof of a crime committed not even 10 minutes ago.

The blood that drenches my front clings to my body. Each twist or lean has the clothing peel and drag against my skin in some horrifying painting only I know is there.

Finally, a particular moonlight coveted gaudy mansion with the towering maple tree along the left side comes into eye line. My heart beat picking up.

The crunch of foot fall becomes muffled once I reach the every so pristine lawn, for a moment wondering if anyone will notice the drops of blood in the morning.

I throw all remnants of caution to the wind and sprints at the tree, leaping off the trunk to grab a higher branch. My arms shake more with the strain of pulling myself up. I take a breath and almost choke on the lungful of cold iron. A small body slumping to the ground flashes through my mind.

“Stop…” I shake my head in a futile attempt to throw the image and following thoughts from my mind.

I just need to get inside.

Climbing a little higher, I perch on a branch almost level with the one window closest to the tree on the second floor. It's closed and there's nothing currently on the sill. Taking another deep, choking breath, I jump.

I land on the window sill with only a dull thud against the window pain. Each hand presses against either side of the wooden frame and pushes up. A creek dances in the air, but the window opens just enough for me to slip through.

The familiar scent of burnt wood, sweat, and peaches has every muscle relax, warmth from the embers of the fireplaces freezing my skin.

I take a tentative step further into the room, eyes set on the lump resting on the bed. Even from where I stand, I can see the mess of blond sprawled over the mountain of pillows.

I open my mouth to call out, but his name gets stuck in my throat. Once at his bedside I lean over and reach out, but I blink and he’s not laying there. In his place is a little elf girl with a dagger embedded in her throat, eyes that hold no life staring into my soul.

A gasping cry smashes against my lips as my hand recoils.

Something grabs the front of my shirt and yanks me forward, flipping me so I'm laying back on the bed.

A waterfall of tangled blond hair encompasses my peripheral vision while two steely blue eyes glare half lid down at me, the cool metal of some blade pressed to my neck.

“Who are-“ the half-sleep daze fades from Silas’ eyes and he pulls the dagger away. “Fucking- Blaine what are- wait are you covered in blood?!”

Silas’ half dressed figure blurs as he gets off my chest, but I still can't quite take a full breath. I lay on the bed, eyes snapping shut to stop the tears from pooling but it's no use. All I can see is that little girl staring up at me with those wide, doe-like innocent eyes. A flash of horror and fear crossing her face in the split second it took for my dagger to reach its unintended target. I can still hear her choking on the blood as it actually bubbled out around the blade.

My checks run slick as apology after apology spills out of me. Hiccups mixed with sobs hold my lungs hostage while a dagger of my own making twists and cuts up my insides.

Silas tries to speak, but I can't quite hear him over the pleas in my own head for a do over, to go back in time, to have aimed a little more to the left.

Why couldn't I have noticed sooner? Why did my arms have to react so fast? Why couldn’t I have tripped on that stupid table again? Why’d her father have to fight? Why couldn't he have just given over the money? Why’d she have to come out? Why do I-

“Blaine!”

Warm hands grab either side of my face and forcefully, but not harshly, turn my head. Thumbs run over my cheeks, trying to wipe away the rivers that’ve traced their paths over my skin. Not too soon after, something presses against my forehead and a sultry breath washes over my lips.

“Blaine.” Silas says again in a softer tone, “breathe.”

Silas take in a deep, noisy breath through his nose before exhaling through his mouth.

The scent of something sweet tickles my nose.

I try to match his breathing, the sweet scent of the last thing he ate before bed almost over powering the metallic scent of blood. I'm not sure how long we remain like this, but my sobbing quiets to hiccups and I'm able to pry open my eyes.

The first thing I see is Silas. Just Silas. Forehead resting on mine and eyebrows pulling down in concerned concentration. He stares down at me, eyes intensely scanning every inch of my face right before they lighten.

“That’s it. You’re doing great, just keep breathing.” A small smile pulls at Silas’ lips.

His smile, his scent, physically feeling him, knowing he's here loosens the knot in my stomach a little. Still shaky, I place both my hands right over top of his.

“Blaine, are you physically hurt?” Silas asks, his thumbs rubbing under my eyes.

I tap a finger on his right hand.

“Do you need a physician or any healing magic?” He asks next.

I take a moment to note any pain or harsh sensations over my body and recall the fight I was in. Truthfully, everything hurts, but nothing that would be life threatening. I tap Silas’ left hand.

“Thank the celestials.” Silas’ lets out a quick exhale, muscles relaxing as he deflates. “Here I thought I’d have to drag your butt to a temple tonight.”

I know he's trying to lighten the mood, even going so far as to flash his signature grin, but it doesn't feel right to smile. Not when there's a layer of blood between us.

Silas catches on, dropping his smile. “Are… you okay Love?”

A small, tiny part of me wants to say, ‘I broke into your house covered in blood and just had a mental breakdown possibly mixed with a panic attack. What the hell do you think?’

“You don't have to tell me what happened but I won't lie that the amount if blo-“

“I killed someone.” My voice is so quiet and hoarse I almost can't understand what I just admitted to out loud.

“I-I had to collect some money that was owed a-and the guy h-he wouldn't give it up!” The tears begin to pool once more with each passing heartbeat, more damning words tumbling out my lips. “Th-things went sideways a-and he-he got his hands around my throat! I-I couldn't breathe!”

He was sitting on the couch while I stood in front of him, the fireplace at my back. He’d launched himself at me so fast, I wasn’t prepared. The elven man wasn't large by any means, but the grip he held around my neck made me think he was going to crush it like paper. I stumbled back, my hands latching onto his own to try and pry them off. My foot caught the end of some small table and we went down.

Except the pull had more momentum than either of us would have guessed as the corner of his head collided with a rougher rock embedded in the fireplace.

“W-we tripped- there was a f-fire place- he hit his head-“

He stopped moving and his grip lightened enough for me to pry his calloused fingers off of my neck. In my panic I shoved him off, blood already soaking into my clothes.

“And then he- he wasn't moving! I got his hands off but I-“

I scrambled to my feet, but that's when I heard the creaking floor board. I was told he lived alone and without a chance to think, my hand reached to my side and the dagger left my fingers seconds after.

“I didn't know! He was- h-he’s supposed to- b-but he wasn’t!”

The dagger sheathed itself within the throat of the little elven girl. She tried to scream, but the only noise that came out was some gargled choking. She started walking towards me, one hand reaching out all around to grab or hold or feel anything while the other-

“T-there was- blood! So much b-blood!”

The other hand flimsily tried to pull out the blade sticking out of her neck but she just cuts herself even more. I only panicked more, horrified at what I'd done. She began to fall and I sprang at her to catch her before she hit the ground. She gripped onto my clothes. Pulling, squeezing, letting go all the while her watering eyes frantically darting around the room. She tries to speak again but more blood just rushes out from her neck, a small dribble starting on the corner of her lip.

“I-i tried to stop it! I wanted too- but it was so deep! I- I-“ I can't breathe. I can't breathe! I-

“Love! Love you’re safe! You’re okay! You’re okay!” The hands under mine rip away and all of the sudden I'm pulled up and pressed against a warm body.

I wrap my arms around Silas, clinging to him as the little girl had tried to with me.

I wouldn’t stop crying, and Silas wouldn’t let me go. He rubs circles in my back, gently rocking us all the while telling me “It's okay.” and “You’re safe.”

We stay like this until I calm down for the second time tonight. When I'm down to sniffles and hiccups and Silas’ skin thoroughly soaked with my guilt, Silas speaks, “What happened wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes it-“ I try to say, but Silas cuts me off while tightening his hold around me.

“No. It wasn't. He attacked you, Love. As far as I'm concerned, it was a freak accident that worked out in your favour. And for that, I'm grateful.” His voice is stern, leaving little room for argument.

But he doesn't have the full story. He doesn’t understand that the man isn't the one I killed in cold blood. “But you-“

“No.” Silas unwraps an arm and gently hooks my chin so we meet each other's gaze. “Love, if something ever happened to you, I don't know what I’d do with myself. I'm sorry things turned out the way they did, but I’d rather have some strange be six feet under than you.”

The way he looks at me with those eyes. With such softness and care and love and life, none of which ive ever felt I deserved. Yet here we are. Soaked in blood and tears with the crime of murder written on my soul forever and he still can look at me as if ive done no wrong.

Exhaustion weighs and pulls my body down, so I rest my head against Silas’s shoulder. “Can I… can I stay here with you? Just for tonight?”

Silas smiles a soft, tender smile. He lays us down, the blankets, bed sheets, and blood forgotten as our own mixed body warmth keeps us from freezing. Silas gives the top of my head a kiss before just resting his head in the exact spot. “I’ll make sure nothing touches you tonight.”

I snuggle in close, pressing as much of myself as I dare against Silas with my head close to where his heart is.

And Silas’ living and beating heart is the last thing I hear before falling into a dreamless sleep.

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