text stringlengths 0 41.4k |
|---|
Blurg’s skin tingled with pleasure to hear Omeluum set it out so clearly, but the thought of it being forced to carry out such acts was a distressing one, even if it was many years in the past. |
-Do not worry, I find it easier to dismiss such memories now. Our work is an excellent aid.- |
Blurg hummed under his breath, worries slightly assuaged. |
-And you yourself are a... hm. An even better distraction, yes.- |
-Well, this doesn’t mean you get to blame me for not getting your research finished.- Blurg pressed a sleepy kiss to Omeluum’s tentacles, nuzzling his nose against them. -But I am glad to hear that.- |
His fingers strayed to the marks at Omeluum’s arm and wrist, brow creasing. -I wish this had not happened to you.- His mindvoice was quiet, lulled by the drowsiness of extreme pleasure and overstimulation. |
-There is one singular positive outcome.- |
-Oh? I suppose now that our surface-dwelling friend will have put the fear into them, so it will not happen again.- |
Omeluum’s arm slid around Blurg, big hand resting on the swell of his arse in a fashion he could almost describe as possessive. -It served as the catalyst we both seem to have needed to begin our experimentation in earnest.- |
-Oh! Mmm, I like that.- Blurg burrowed his face into Omeluum’s tentacles as they stroked his hair and down his back. -This does not feel as strange as I imagined it would. It feels... hm, natural.- |
-For myself, too.- Omeluum’s hips twitched, and it sighed happily in Blurg’s mind. -Do not fall asleep, Blurg. We must test the hypothesis, remember?- |
-There is always another day, my friend.- He smiled into its tentacles, warmth suffusing him. |
-Hmm, many other days.- |
"So, this Nettie was no luck, we have a missing druid out there taken by Goblins, and who very well may be our last hope of getting the wee ones out of our head, and to top it off: we have a devil on the loose?" |
Gale always had a way with words, and the one time he should have minced them, he didn't. The day's recap had stung and burned like a hot poker on one's flesh. It was a reminder of how far they had come but had little to show for it. Seeing as how quickly he had soured the mood around the campfire, he opted to say nothing else, returning to the dinner preparations instead. He knew when it was best to shut up, and this was certainly it. |
Lae'zel naturally added into the conversation, displeased as she could ever be. "This Halsin isn't our only cure, but if you all insist on wasting time saving the druid, be my guest. Come morning, I will scout for my kin, and find the creché we seek. Then we shall have our cure." |
Tav let out a heavy sigh. Shadowheart was prepared to rebut against the gith, but one quick dirty look from the sorceress, along with the words "don't even start" mouthed silently quickly stopped anything being said. The cleric was certainly not about to risk angering their "leader" after she got caught with a blade at the githyanki's throat not even two nights ago. And not especially after seeing her clock the human Aradin unconscious in one swing of her fist. |
"If that's what you need to do Lae'zel, then do it. Come morning, this Blade of Frontiers will be joining us. If we help him find this devil, he'll join us, and Hells know we could use him. He has a good reputation, and if we run into trouble, he can probably pull some strings with his name." Tav went to grab her mug of what she could only hope was ale, having found an odd alcoholic liquid stored in a barrel not far from the abandoned ruins. She'd try and lift the mug, before promptly dropping it, a sharp intense pain throbbing in her hand. |
Tav grabbed onto her aching wrist, her breath coming out in a slight hiss. "Gods above..." She groaned. |
Shadowheart motioned for the sorceress to give her her aching hand, and uttered an incantation, her hands giving off a soft glow, as she attempted to mend the ache. "That's what happens when you use your fists when you're not used to it. Now just hold still a moment longer." Shadowheart chided the elf. |
"It was funny though. He had a good few inches on her, and yet she still managed to knock him unconscious in one swing." Astarion chimed in, letting out a haughty chuckle after. |
Tav glanced at the elf for a moment, taking in his appearance. Something was off about him. Were his cheeks always this hollow? And he looks like he was damn near ready to collapse at any moment. She reached over, to put a hand on his forehead, which he promptly scooted away from the second he noticed her going to touch him. |
"What are you doing?!" His voice broke out, clearly in a moment of panic. He had lurched back so far he actually fell back on his rear, off his seat. |
Tav withdrew her hand, even scooting away from him just a little. She was visibly confused, and concerned. "You look like you're not doing well, Astarion. You're paler than normal, and that's saying something considering your already pallid complexion. Are you alright?" There was something wrong with him, that much she knew, but it was no sickness she was privy to. She had just barely got to touch his skin, and it felt cold. Ice cold, like that of a corpse. And when he yelled, she noticed what she thought were sharp teeth hiding behind his lips. She began to wonder if perhaps there was more to him than she thought. |
"Could he...? No, that can’t be right. He can walk in sunlight just fine. Perhaps the lack of sleep is making me see things. Though, I’ll keep an eye on him." |
He stood from where he sat, after his sudden jump from his seat. Brushing off his clothing and sorting himself out, he cleared his throat. "I'm fine, just not feeling quite myself this evening. I'm sorry to pass on dinner, Gale, but I do think I'll retire early tonight." |
"Wait, before you go." Tav quickly stopped the gentleman before he could leave the campfire. Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out a myriad of vials and pouches, before pulling out a small bottle with an odd violet liquid inside. She'd hold it out in her hand, offering it to him. "This is a potion that helps reduce fevers and pain; if you take some, I recommend adding just a couple drops to something to drink, since it doesn't taste very good. But it works well, and I’m not just saying that because I brewed it." |
Not wanting to be rude, or rather draw suspicion, Astarion took the vial offered to him. When he drew closer, a delectable scent filled his nose and lungs; sweet, rich, so decadent it felt like a sin just to smell it. He peered at her arm, noticing a touch of blood on the sleeve of her tunic; it was still fresh. His gaze was drawn to it, and he could feel it tempting him further, wanting to sink his teeth right into her arm. |
She noticed him staring, clearing her throat. "Astarion?" |
"Hm?" Her voice managed to bring him back, thankfully right on time. If she didn't, who knows what he might have done. "Right, sorry, I lost my focus there for a moment. But darling, you're bleeding. Shouldn't you be taking care of that?" |
Tav looked at her arm, flinching at the sight. "By the Gods, not again." She'd groan in frustration, setting the vial down for Astarion to take when he was ready, Gale all but dropped everything to rush to her aid, a flurry of questions leaving him as to how she hurt herself so, and more importantly, why she didn’t treat it properly. "Alright Gale, I'm not dying, spare me the questions and lecture. But take that vial and go rest, Astarion; you should be better in the morning." |
Those words couldn't have been said better if he asked; he had to get out of there quickly, leaving Tav and the others to their business. From the entrance of his tent, he saw Gale and Shadowheart look at her arm; the wound itself was barely a scratch, but where it was was what led to the excessive bleeding. He could hear bits of what was said, all he could piece together told him she had scratched herself badly while picking herbs. He knew there were gnolls in the area, and they were just as bloodthirsty as he was, if not worse. |
Astarion closed the flap to his tent, looking over the bottle that the sorceress had given him. "This sort of thing won't work." He'd sigh, flopping onto his bedroll, and practically burying his head into his pillows. "Just have to wait until they're all asleep, and hope I can find something..." Until then, he laid there, holding his stomach, as the scent of her blood from earlier filled his mind. He couldn't get over it, nor his hunger, and how strong the pain from his lack of nourishment ravaged his belly. |
"Just a couple hours... you can do this. You've had worse. Hells know you'll be happy with just a plagued rat...’ |
Rest wouldn't come for him, not yet; all he could feel the next four hours was a strong pain in his belly, his throat raw and sore, desperate for sustenance. He peered at the slight crack at the bottom of the flap of his tent. Only a dim light broke through, a sign that the campfire was dying out. No one had fed it, which meant one thing; everyone else was asleep, and so, he could sneak out to hunt. Gingerly he'd open the flap, using a light touch so as to not alert anyone. Hells knew with his tent so close to the gith's, she'd surely wake at the sound of it. The plan was simple; sneak out, hopefully find a large enough wild animal with enough blood in it to fill his belly, and then get back before anyone awoke. There was one large hitch in it, however; the smell of the sorceress's blood that seemed to lure him in like a siren's song. Her tent was considerably far from the others, but her scent was so strong it was if he was right outside her tent. |
"Right, she mentioned keeping her distance because she worked during the night... is she awake, perhaps?' |
One soft footstep after the other, he took strides closer and closer to her tent. The flap of it was hanging half-open, letting some of the cool night air enter. From where he stood, he could see her bedroll, some blankets, and even her long raven hair bound in a tight braid lay off to the side. He stopped, listening for any strange sounds or the sound of clinking glass or metal from her tools; nothing, not a sound besides soft breaths, and the occasional slurred murmur. She was fast asleep, an unusual thing for him to see from an elf; but with the tadpole and her little accident earlier, perhaps actual rest is what she needed. |
The closer he moved in, the stronger the scent became, and the stronger his hunger pains grew. He was becoming desperate, his bloodlust overcoming his senses. When he reached the tent, he slinked in through the opening, and there she was; barely anything covered her delicate flesh, save for a short pair of trousers and a sleeveless top that just went down to her navel. Perfect for a quick bite, perhaps if she slept soundly enough, she’d never know. He knew this was a bad idea, but he didn’t care. |
"Maybe if I'm quick... she won't notice." |
He held his breath, kneeling down, crawling to her side as his hands went to either side of her. As he was looking down at her, he was momentarily distracted taking in the sight of her face up close. He never had the opportunity to look at her so closely, with so little distractions. When it wasn't covered in blood or dirt, she was far more beautiful than he thought. He quickly dismissed the thought from his head, this wasn’t the time to pine over her like a lovelorn youth. |
"Please just stay asleep... it will only be this one time. Then never again." |
He drew in closer, if he didn't know any better, he could swear his heart was racing in his chest. The anticipation, the desire to sink his teeth into her supple throat, and drink her delectable blood was too much. He was so close to being able to feed on his first thinking creature. So close, fangs just barely making contact with her skin, until she roused from her deep sleep. Her sharp gaze, her fear, it stopped him dead in his tracks, only having enough time to let a single word out. |
"Shit." It was all he could say in the moment, but what shocked him more was she didn't seem to scream, didn't go for a weapon, but she certainly scrambled to wherever she could in a panic. Her face was dripping in a cold sweat, breathing amped up, she was like cornered prey. And it certainly wasn't helping in his bloodlust. |
"No no, please it's not what you think!" Her panic was contagious; cornered prey was dangerous, and his mistake caused him to corner the worst kind, the one that was afraid, and unpredictable. And to make it worse, he knew she could end him right there if she wanted to, no stake necessary. "I swear. I wasn't going to hurt you!" |
"How can a vampire walk in the sun? How can you go through rivers and enter my tent without invitation?" Her questions came out rushed, as she demanded answers; but he wondered, how long had she suspected him? Or did she simply take a stab in the dark? Though he should have known better; her occupation and skills in alchemy would have led her to coming across vampires in her tomes, or even, in her field. |
"I-I don't know. You know as much as I do. But please..." he lowered his voice, trying to ease the situation as best as he could. "Just... calm down. I promise you, I'm no threat to you. I just need blood." |
"And you sought to attack me in my sleep?! How am I to trust you when you were planning on killing me!" |
"I wasn't going to kill you, now would you please keep your voice down, I would much rather not have someone in camp stake me." He tried to keep his own voice low; if she kept it up, no doubt she'd wake the others, and he'd have no chance of surviving the night. He already knew very well he had no friends among them, and she was his only hope of survival. |
She furrowed her brow at him, he could see sparks begin to flare at her fingertips; he was not winning the debate here, she was prepared to strike if he took a wrong step. "If you weren’t here to kill me, then what? Turn me into one of your obedient spawn?" |
Her words caught him off guard; did she truly believe he was a vampire lord? Or was there a simple case of misinformation? Either way, there was little time to explain; his life was on the line, she was on edge and afraid. If he could at least ease her woes, he had a chance. |
"Darling, if I wanted to hurt or kill you, I would have done it thrice over by now." He took a deep breath. "It’s true, I am a vampire, but I am no lord or master of my kind; I am a spawn myself. I am pleading with you, just let me explain, I promise, all will be clear if you simply humor me." |
Tav peered at him, suspicious; all of this was too much for her to believe, but he had a point. Vampire spawn or no, he had every ability to cut her down at any point. The pair had been alone numerous times, and besides their first meeting, he had never intentionally hurt her. And while she hated to admit it, there was a forming attachment there, a small one, but it existed nonetheless. The sparks in her hand began to fade away, her gaze softening, as well as her voice. |
"Alright. Explain yourself." Her voice was commanding, firm, but it was far more preferable to her fearful screams. But behind her voice, he could still sense that hint of fear. "Be quick about it." |
This wasn’t going to be easy; not everything to him was easy to talk about, and he didn’t wish to explain his entire history to someone who was a complete stranger to him still. He took a deep breath, mulling over his next words carefully, for they could be his last if she deemed it. |
"Now before I go on, I really mean it when I say I didn’t mean to hurt you; I had a lapse of judgment. Not to make things strange, but... when I smelled your blood earlier on your arm, it roused my hunger. The only thing more dangerous than a vampire is a starving vampire. Since the crash, I’ve only fed on animals; boars, deer, kobolds, whatever I could find." |
Tav folded her arms across her chest; slowly, she seemed to relax. His story was starting to work, she was believing his words, for now at least. He could almost feel a slight relief wash over him. |
"But between the goblins, and even the tieflings in the grove, the area has been ransacked of suitable prey for me. I haven’t had a decent meal in days, Hells, not since the crash if we’re being exact, and I just feel so weak." His voice softened, his expression twisting as the pain stabbed into his belly once again, only reverting back once it had subsided, for now. "If I just had a little blood, I could think clearer, fight better. Even if it’s just this one time, I only need a small amount, I swear." |
Before she could even respond, the familiar headache she felt when she first met him returned, and the same feeling was happening to him as well. Their minds had connected, and in it, she saw a vision of the man before him, locked in chains, standing in a pool of blood that dripped from his back and down his body, a voice in the dark commanding him to feed. Expecting a slender neck, instead his fangs sank into the twisted body of a gnarled black rat. The visions lasted a mere moment before it faded to the worm, the headache disappearing soon after. |
The way she looked at him changed instantly, and he noticed it; her look of anger faded, and she now looked at him with a sort of sadness, and shock that he had never seen anyone give him. "He tortured you. You didn’t choose to become a spawn, didn’t you?" |
He swallowed the lump that seemed to form in his throat, choking down any hesitance he was starting to feel. "Yes, and no. Details of how I was turned aside, vampire lords aren’t known for their kindness, especially to their spawn, their "children’. Let’s just say disobedience was not met with a simple slap on the wrist." |
The more he began to explain himself, she could feel a twinge in her heart; a sort of pity, but something beyond that. Compassion, perhaps. She began to see him less like a starving monster, and more as a person who was just as scared as she was; there were plenty of things left unanswered still. Right now, knowing exactly who he was, at least as far as his condition was, was of the utmost importance. There would be no doubt that the others would want him gone if they knew of his condition, and if it came to that, she’d need to know everything she could to protect him from the rest of the camp. |
She’d purse her lips, peering at him inquisitively. "Have you ever killed anyone before?" |
An odd question, quite out of the blue. Even he couldn't understand why, but as confused as he was, he had no choice but to answer. "Not a soul, at the very least, not for food. The only kills I carried out that you haven’t seen me do were on -his- orders, or in self-defense." |
She peered at him, listening and watching for any hints of lying anywhere in his response. Nothing stood out, not even a single twitch or voice crack. She took a deep breath, mulling her next question. "Are you able to control yourself when feeding? Would you be able to stop before killing your prey, no matter how hungry you are?" |
Her questions were sounding more and more odd the longer it continued. But if answering a couple specific questions kept the stake out of his ribs, he'd gladly take the risk. "I'm... I'm not sure." |
"I need a solid answer, Astarion." She pressed the point further home. She couldn’t afford maybes, not with him. |
He wasn't expecting her to be so difficult, but anyone would be worried in her shoes. Part of him couldn't blame her, but he feared deep down where this inquisition was going. "I don't know because I've never fed on thinking creatures before. My old master forbade any of his spawn from feeding on them; I've only fed on beasts, or whatever vile vermin or bugs he gave me." |
Strangely enough, that was the answer that seemed to catch her off-guard; not killing anyone was one thing, but to never have fed on a humanoid? The more she saw or heard of his master, the more she began to see how he was far crueler than most masters; were they all like this to their spawn? Or was it just him. Then again, the only vampires she knew of besides in books were slain and left to turn to ash in the sun, their victims drained dry of their blood, leaving their story in the ashes with their killer. |
"And you're absolutely certain of that?" An idea was brewing in her mind, but she wouldn't be able to go through with it without understanding the man before her as a vampire, not as a normal person. |
Astarion shook his head. "None. I swear. I never even touched the goblins we’ve slain at the grove. It was too risky, and truth be told, I think I’d rather eat a plagued rat than a goblin. Foul creatures..." |
This was a bad idea; she knew the sort of risk she was taking with this, but there was no choice. He was too big of an asset to lose; she needed him, dangerous creature or not. She took a deep breath, moving her braid and any straggling strands of hair to one side of her neck. |
"Here. It's not ideal, but you need blood; you can feed on me, but not more than what you need." She spoke clearly, but with a false confidence; Astarion could feel the fear and nervousness behind it all. Part of him wondered if perhaps she was setting him up. |
"Really? I mean..." Her offer was the biggest shock of the evening; understandably, no one really trusted vampires. And people who weren’t vampires only offered their necks for one reason, in his experience: to become one themselves. He should have been elated, but he couldn’t help but wonder what game she was playing at. "Don't get me wrong, darling, the offer is very much appreciated. But why?" |
Her anxiety and fear was only growing as time passed; she could feel her heart race wildly in her chest. "Like it or not, we're in this situation together. We both benefit from this arrangement; you need blood, but this comes at a price." |
"Of course there's a price..." the dreaded thought passed through his mind. |
She looked him straight in the eye, steadfast and standing firm. "I will give you blood whenever you require it, but in exchange, you help protect me and those in this camp, like you have been. Also cannot feed on the blood of innocents without their consent; you're free to feed on anyone we're bound to kill anyways. Bandits, goblins, whatever hostile creatures we come across." |
He pondered the offer; it really was a generous one, considering the circumstances. He wondered if she truly did benefit from this arrangement. All he had witnessed of her suggested she was more than capable of protecting herself. But he was certainly still interested in hearing this to the end. |
"So you're telling me you'll let me bite into that pretty little neck of yours if I just keep you safe? I do that already, darling. It’s not really a negotiation." |
She rolled her eyes. "Call me a greenhorn negotiator then; but this way, you have no need to worry about food, or a repeat of whatever happened tonight. But one more thing: in the future, all I ask is that you give me a warning of when you need to feed, so I can properly prepare. Now, do we have an agreement? Or would you rather chance feeding on those we’re going to kill anyways, and the beasts of the forests." |
Astarion folded his arms across his chest, seeming to think the deal over for a while, attempting to ignore the pain in his stomach from hunger. In truth, he was waiting to see if perhaps her fear would kick in, and make her back out. A fair number of minutes would pass, and there was no protest. Whether she knew it or not, she had him quite on the ropes; feed, or potentially go mad from hunger. |
"Alright, you have a deal. I'll protect you in exchange for your blood, and I’ll be sure to ask, or wait for you to invite me for a nibble. Now if you don't mind..." He'd approach her, bringing his hand to her neck, just barely touching it as his thumb ran ever so lightly along her pulse point. "I’ve been controlling myself this entire time, and I cannot keep still, seeing as I have possibly the finest blood I’ve ever smelled in front of me. If I may?" |
Already she felt like she was going to regret this arrangement, but at the very least, she felt he'd at least keep his promise if it meant he had a steady food source. "How should we do this? I'm not exactly well-versed in how vampires feed. At least, ones that don’t intend to kill their victims." |
Astarion took a couple steps back, motioning to the bedroll she originally laid upon. "It will be easier if you lay down; you know that losing blood spells trouble with dizziness, or so I hope, considering your occupation. Last I checked, falling and hitting your head doesn’t feel very good." |
There was no way in Hells she wouldn’t be nervous at the prospect. In the back of her mind, she questioned why she was willing to defend a vampire of all creatures, knowing how devious and power-hungry they could be. But there was something about him, something he had that she had never seen in other vampires. She was very much aware how good a liar he was, but this wasn't something anyone could simply fake. Maybe part of her wanted to believe there was some good in there that just remained buried under centuries of torment and abuse. She’d also be deluding herself if she didn’t admit, at least in silence, that she did do it to possibly grow their bond, and get closer to him. |
There was no point in delaying things any longer. Thankfully she was already dressed in smallclothes she didn't care if they got dirty or not. And Gods knew that blood stains on clothing wasn't going to be a strange occurrence in this camp. She moved to the bedroll, laying down on her back, neck clear and ready for him. |
"So, seeing as this is both our firsts for this kind of thing, are you preferring something gentle?" He took her form as she lay in the bedroll. How in the hells no one in camp has laid a hand on her was beyond him. "Or, are you the type to like it a little painful? I can do either, darling." His words almost came out like a seductive purr; it was hard to tell if he was just teasing her or trying to help her relax with his usual jokes. |
"Astarion, I can assure you I am not doing this for physical pleasure, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t make it sound so crass." Tav cleared her throat, glancing away momentarily, and from the corner of her eye, she saw him crawl closer to her, one of her legs ending up between his. Before she knew it, he hovered above her body, and she could feel her face flush and heat up, even her ears began to dip ever so slightly from her embarrassment. "Be gentle, please. If you can manage." She’d murmur her request, avoiding eye contact with him as much as she could. |
Her little physical quirks didn't go amiss, as Astarion let out a soft chuckle. "I was merely jesting earlier; I'll be gentle, I promise. Now just relax, I’ll try to make it quick and painless." His voice was soft and dare she believe, showed care and concern. His crass jokes aside, he seemed to make a genuine effort to make this comfortable for her. |
He moved his face right into her neck, the pulse point where her blood flowed, just begging to be freed from her pristine, supple neck. It was unbearable how even when there wasn't any blood flowing from her, he could practically smell it already. It took all his strength not to pierce his teeth into her neck and drain her dry, but he held back. |
Before baring his fangs, he lapped his tongue against her neck, slowly, letting the warmth of her skin radiate against his tongue and lips. Even her skin had tasted sweet; were all thinking creatures like this, or was it simply just her? He could feel her shudder and her breath halt at his touch, he couldn't help but grin at her reaction. A body and face made for sin but such innocent reactions; he knew it was all just her nerves, but he would relish every moment of it. Who knew if she'd show such a delectable reaction like this again. |
Astarion moved to her ear, lowering his voice to the softest whisper. "This is a gift, you know. I won't forget it. Thank you." Before she could even get a response, he sank his fangs into her neck, just in the spot where he licked, trying to make it as quick and painless as possible. The blood from the wound flooded into his starving maw, and immediately, he felt a strong warmth overtake his body. The blood that she spilled, it was more incredible than any wine he had consumed, and she tasted better than he could have ever imagined. Her muffled groan of pain was nothing in his ear, the pure euphoria and satisfaction feasting on her was enough for him to ignore anything else around him. |
Resisting the urge to wrap her arms around his body, she'd close her hands into tight fists, squeezing so hard that her nails would stab into the palms of her hands. The longer he continued, the more weak she felt, the numbness starting to set in. Before she could even get weaker, she forced her hand off the bedroll and onto his shoulder, gently trying to push him off. When he didn't respond, she'd push harder, her strained pleading for him to stop the only thing that seemed to get him to release her. |
Astarion forced himself away from her neck with a sharp groan, teeth and lips stained crimson, even trickles of blood seeped past his lips. Already he looked leagues better, his eyes brighter and more alert, he even had just the faintest hint of red on his cheeks. |
"Gods above..." He sounded like he was out of breath, those words coming out in a gasp, his excitement was obvious. The expression he showed, it was pure bliss, something she didn’t think he was even capable of showing, and it made her heart throb for a moment in her chest. |
Tav could barely keep her eyes open, let alone say a word in response, drifting in and out. Weak and unable to speak, she'd just barely lift her arm, pointing to her bag from earlier. Without some kind of help, she wouldn't last the night; Astarion peeked to where she was pointing, going right to her bag in question. He was no fool, and knew exactly what she was asking of him. |
"It's moments like this your tendency to procrastinate on putting your things away comes in handy." Sifting through the bag, he picked out a couple healing potions, grabbing the one labeled with five crosses; he had only seen her use one like this once before, on one of the injured tieflings at the grove gates. Holding it up, he'd show her the label, and she'd give a weak nod. "Good girl. Now, let's get you set up, you can't go dying on me now." |
Once he got the right bottle, he made quick work to rearrange their positions slightly. Gingerly he'd lift her upper body up just enough so he could slip behind her, and allow her head to rest on his lap. "I know this isn't ideal, darling, but just bear with it for now." He brought the bottle to his lips, using his teeth to pull the cork out, while he used his free hand to sift through his pocket, pulling out a relatively clean, embroidered handkerchief, placing it against her neck. "There we are, my dear. Now just sip slowly." |
With extreme caution, he slowly dripped the contents of the bottle into her mouth, being careful of how much he gave her. It tasted awful but a poor tasting potion was a small price to pay for quicker healing wounds, and getting rid of the ache at her neck. Once the bottle was half-empty, she brought her hand to the cloth at her neck, holding it in place so he could free up his hand. Instead of holding onto it, he moved to brush her hair out of her face. Her vision getting clearer, she glanced up at him, noticing his more gentle expression; another expression she didn’t think he was capable of making. Hells the fact that he was willing to just take care of her after was something she couldn't believe. Perhaps there really was some good there, and not just something she hoped would exist. |
Once the bottle was completely empty, Astarion set it off to the side, out of the way for both of them, and strangely, he stayed where he was. He'd bring his hand to the one that held the handkerchief, just nudging it away enough to look at the wound. "You might want to leave it there a bit longer, it's going to bleed for a bit. Unless you'd rather I clean it up." And there returned his coy smirk; even now he was ever the menace. |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.