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dracolichbitch · 4 hours
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The person I reblogged this from is awesome as fuck.
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dracolichbitch · 4 hours
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The person I reblogged this from is awesome as fuck.
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dracolichbitch · 10 hours
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I've always wondered about why only Myrkul and Bane were involved with stealing the tablets of fate out of the Three.
Did they just not invite Bhaal (who was listed as serving Bane at the time, so possibly Bane just took his support for granted or didn't see any point asking "an inferior".)
Or did Bhaal - unlike Myrkul - have the sense to go "Bane this plan is suicidal, you don't plan for shit, and I'm not running around after you trying to keep the backup plan together when Ao gets pissed at us. Also I'm busy planning hook ups and orgies with my followers rn, fuck off." It helps that Bhaal knew his prophesised death was coming up, so if Bane did come at him with this plan Bhaal would possibly be able to identify it as the potential cause of his death and go "nope". (And then Bane makes a mental note to kill all Bhaal's assassins someday, because he's petty.)
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dracolichbitch · 1 day
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sharing an umbrella in the rain, or a coat/blanket in the cold for anyone you want
Okay I'll be real, I totally lost that prompt list somehow?
Anyway, I think you'll like this one! <3 It was a lot of fun to work on~ no editing, today we kill perfectionism. But WOW no major warnings AND a non-angsty ending! great work Tat you're doing amazing sweetie
also tagging @arnaerr @blackmetalsnake @devilbrakers @wingedknightrose @theladygrim @nuwanders @skyrim-forever @dirty-bosmer @chennnington @fruk-choosing-a-username @neloths-tea @ray-elgatodormido @youthroad
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The week-long drought ended as abruptly as it had squeezed its scorching fingers around County Cheydinhal. From mountains of seething gray clouds came the cloudburst–merciless torrents of rain that tore leaves from branches and vines and petals from stems, chasing the hardiest horse, heifer, and hound into the cover of whatever pasture shed or copse would admit them. Caught in town, people, dogs, cats, and the odd chicken scurried into pubs, bakeries and eateries, and craftsmen’s shops, into the great chapel or under strangers’ front porches, squinting at the sky and shaking their heads, wringing out sodden hats and mourning the ruin of new town clothes. Tatiana had lingered under the domed roof of the graveyard shrine when the barrage came. Watched them scatter like cockroaches, only for total strangers to sweep each other into shelter, some unconscious, knee-jerk instinct to help rather than harm. It puzzled her. Then stung like sand ground into raw wounds. Would she be the lonely retch, the battle-craving savage, she was today if one stranger had treated her with such altruistic concern? Maybe some had. but she couldn’t recall them as she sat at the old stone table, chipping at a gouge in its edge with her broken fingernail.
A gust of wind splattered rain over her back. She didn’t so much as flinch. What were a few damp shirts or undergarments? It had been raining for most of her life.
After what seemed an eternity, the storm’s bluster ebbed into the slow, but steady soak that made farmers, frogs, and fishermen smile. The wind died and left only the soothing hissssss of the rain through the trees. The more hurried or indifferent of the townspeople donned hoods and hats resumed their errands, jogging where they’d have ambled before. She’d have to do the same before long.
The smell of good earth and fresh grass intensified as the rain tempered the midsummer heat. Even here at the feet of the great cathedral to Arkay, hints of savory meat and vegetables wafted through the air. Her stomach growled and cramped in on itself. The thought of sinking her teeth into a roast chicken or beef haunch made her mouth water, but the pubs and eateries would be clotted with patrons, now especially, and gritting her teeth through the laughter and nauseating camaraderie of the Sanctuary was almost enough to spoil her appetite. Almost.
No, she could and would wait until the others had supped and retired to their beds or evening amusements. Warmly and often, Ocheeva, Vicente, and the others opened their arms to her as the Family’s newest blade. The asked how her jobs went. Offered insight as well as sought hers. Congratulated her with genuine smiles when he returned from a successful job. Invited her to train with them, play cards, and don plainclothes to get drinks or treats in town. They laughed with her—not at her. And never once had she walked into a room and sensed that they’d been spinning stories about her. Mocking her. M’raaj-Dar alone had bristled at her arrival, but Gogran and Teinaava described him as, “a perpetually surly tomcat who’s always climbing into barrels of water,” so she avoided him when possible.  
But the others? She didn’t know how to handle their hospitality. A tiny, bruised part of her was starved for such companionship. Acceptance. Family. The rest of her, as jaded and spiked as her daedra-hunting armor, shrank away with a dagger in hand and cautioned her in growing too familiar with others. It was not a question of if they would turn on her, but when. She gritted her teeth, stare unfocused through the mist creeping through the graveyard and the streets beyond. If her own flesh and blood would betray her, frame and jail and abandon her, a string of killers bound by blood, coin, and religious fanaticism surely would, too.
~ you don’t need them. or anyone else ~
Umbra’s uncanny parody of her voice slithered through her mind, as insidious and persuasive.
Want isn’t need, she thought, and the half-truth she told herself next tasted as bitter as ever. I don’t need anyone. But I want a friend.
A dull ache budded behind her eyes. Pushing and pressuring. Punishing. ~ that sod you killed at the oak and crosier just wanted a few drinks and company for bed and it got him a drugged stupor and a red red smile ~
Pain stabbed through her finger, snapped focus back to her vision and her thoughts from the ever-deepening bog in her head. In her picking at the gouge, the edge of her broken nail had snapped off. Blood welled up like a ruby pearl, then spilled into an ugly crescent around her fingertip. Heaving a sigh, she flicked it aside. Off the battlefield and killing floor, Umbra haunted her with or without company. Twisted her wants and hurts and regrets into a knife and held it to her own neck. It was sharpest here and in the Sanctuary, where all she’d truly wanted these last miserable years sat before her on a silver platter with her hands chained behind her back. The thought clenched her throat.
She pushed back from the table and tossed her hood up. She’d die before she willingly cast Umbra and all its wicked magics aside. A little misery was a worthy price for power. A little walk and a damp cloak would shake the sentimentality from her heart. She’d barely taken three steps from the table when a singsong voice snagged her like a fishhook.
“Tatiana! Oh, gods, there you are! You’ll catch your death out in this mess.” A creak of the cemetery gate and the splashing of boots later, and none other than Antoinetta Marie ducked into the shrine. “Supper’s on, you know. I was worried something had happened.”
Tatiana looked over her shoulder, a forbidden and pleasant warmth stirring in her belly as she watched the petite Breton spin water from and then close her oilskin umbrella. Of everyone in the Family, Marie most sought her out and invited her to training, games, meals, and town-walks. After months with the family, Tatiana began to fear the possibility that against all odds, Marie actually liked her.
~ no, she’s jealous lucien started training you. she just wants to know how best to steal his favor from you ~
Shut. Up. Tatiana painted on her best smile and gestured to the rain pouring off the shrine’s roof.“I just needed some air and got caught in all this.”
Marie nodded in understanding, her expression turning soft and somber. Just loud enough to be heard over the rain drumming overhead, she asked, “Are you alright?”
“It’s fine, nothing new,” Tatiana hedged. “But surely you didn’t come out just to find me. You hate the rain.”
Giggling, Marie waved that off. “Hate’s such a strong word, sister. After sleeping on the streets for a few years, you get used to the rain or start to dislike it. I’d much rather be dry and warm than wet and cold, thanks. But you looked rather, shall we say…forlorn this afternoon. Then poof! Gone as quick as an imp. And without your clothes and effects. When you didn’t come to dinner, I worried something had happened.”
An awkward silence wedged between them—or at least, awkward for Tatiana. Marie was a smiling sun no cloud could shade. Tatiana shifted her weight between her feet and marveled at how radiant she was even while dripping rivers in the afternoon’s deepening gloom. She still didn’t know whether to think Marie was unfairly beautiful or that she’d somehow managed to cast a charm spell over her from afar. A little taller than Tatiana was, and softer in mouth and eye, and slimmer, too. Tatiana had been with women before but not found them to her taste. But…cold and lonely enough, with someone she trusted? Maybe she’d…
Averting her eyes a moment, she swallowed hard, mouth dry as charred meat, and rubbed the side of her neck. Well. It would be a good trap. Marie knew her appetites. Then again, so did half the bloody empire, after a particularly chatty brothel worker regaled some minstrel with detailed accounts of their romps together. She still considered cutting out his tongue for that.
“That’s…very sweet, Marie. Really. Unnecessary, but sweet. Thank you.” The last two words stumbled out awkwardly.
But still, Marie wasn’t fazed. By Sithis, nothing seemed to faze her. Envy and admiration warred in Tatiana at that. “No need to thank me, sister. I’d be rather sad if you got killed, that’s all. Though I do fancy myself fairly good at getting revenge. If you’ve ever a need for that sort of thing.” Marie’s sky-blue eyes flicked over her, lingering on her heavily chewed lips, searching for answers to questions unasked, fears and uneasiness unspoken. She found them quick as lightning. Lucien would’ve been proud. “Why don’t we grab a spot of dinner somewhere quieter? Telaendril is playing her pipes and Gogran is, well, he was singing ballads when I left. And no, he cannot stay on key. He loves his Warhammer, but I think his obvious tone deafness is an even nastier weapon.”
Surprise eased into shame, and shame into resignation and relief. Tatiana felt her shoulders slump a little, but didn’t correct them. Marie didn’t have to say she recognized her unease with, mistrust of, and paradoxical longing for people. For that, Tatiana was glad. The idea of going somewhere quieter was at once pleasant and troubling. The former won out, and she found herself nodding. Gogran singing ballads, however comical in image, would horrify every ear subjected to it. In her current frame of mind, she could stomach a crowded bar better than that.
“So…ballads?” she asked as she moved to Marie’s side.
“Ballads. Don’t ask. He’s a lovely man when he’s sober, but he’s insufferably playful when drunk. I’m only surprised he hasn’t taken up knitting!” Marie rolled her eyes and snapped the umbrella back up.
“Maybe he can knit funeral palls,” Tatiana suggested.
Marie laughed heartily, the bright sound barely dampened by the rain. “Don’t give him ideas, sister. If wine or ale’s about, we’ll be tripping over skeins of yarn.” With that, she led Tatiana down the cobbled path that wandered through the wooded graveyard, their shoulders bumping occasionally. Tatiana didn’t mind. At Marie’s side, so long without friends or free affection, without so many sets of eyes scrutinizing on her, she found herself hungry for whatever literal and figurative crumbs she could get.
Her stomach growled again. Audibly enough to make her cringe inwardly.
“Not sure we’ll find a quiet place. You should’ve seen everyone scatter. Like a hoard of cockroaches,” she said.
Marie lifted her chin and idly twirled the umbrella’s handle and sending rivulets of rain spinning around them. Pride glittered in her eyes as she leaned to Tatiana’s ear. “Family secrets. We keep a private back room at the Bridge. It’s always marked ‘booked’, so it’s there for whatever we need, when we need it. And I personally know the cook. He’ll take good care of us.”
Tatiana raised a questioning brow. “Will he?”
Marie twirled the umbrella in the other direction. “Let’s just say he’s happy to try my spice blends and extracts with certain customers when I ask.”
Warmth bloomed in Tatiana again. Spread through her chest and stomach and limbs like a mug of warm, fragrant tea. A dark smirk tugged the edge of her mouth.
Marie matched it.      
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dracolichbitch · 1 day
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"Some of [Myrkul's] worshippers are powerful undead (liches, vampires, and the like), whom he works with and champions the aims/causes of."
I'm enjoying that implication that greater undead can call up Myrkul and be like "I have an evil plan!" and Myrkul absolutely loves these evil plans and is happy to fund them. Old Lord Skull supports your dreams of becoming a dread tyrant, little vampire/lich/mummy/whatever!
Hm, I wonder if the Myrkulite reverence for the undead is something they picked up from their god? Myrkul why do you prefer the dead to the living. What was your childhood. What is your damage.
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dracolichbitch · 2 days
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Margaret Atwood, from “Eating Fire”, Selected Poems: 1965-1975
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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I just thought of redeemed!Durge run AU in which Elder Brain won (Emperor or Orpheus were not strong enough/Elder Brain grew too powerful under the influence of the crown), so the Great Design was set into motion, gods freaked out (bc no one needed Ao coming to whoop their asses), grouped together and pulled the time rug back.
Which made the entire team go back to the moment right before Ketheric's death (bc it's the last point of no return, after his death Brain gets freed from one part of the command and it just spirals from that).
Gods also pull the kind of dimensional skype call like in Pillars of Eternity. Basically gods summon the team.
Which leads to the most epic yet hilarious encounter.
Imagine: the entire team (with Isobel, Aylin, Jaheira, Halsin and Minthara, let's make it a good run) standing in front of Gods in some liminal space.
I'm thinking the Dead Three, Selune and Shar (imagine how fucked up things have to be for them to be at the same place and be civil-ish), Mystra and maybe Loviathar. Oh, and Jergal is also here.
And it's all pathos and importance of stopping the Netherbrain before the world gets destroyed (and before Ao looks down and starts whooping ass.)
But at the same time most of these gods are evil, they do not know how to work together and they hold grudges.
Shar and Selune are specially seated at the further sides from each other. Myrkul is seated between Bhaal and Bane because these two reached some new levels of hatred and so he is working as a god-shield.
Bhaal blames Bane for Durge's fallout, Bane retorts he would have a better use for Durge than Bhaal, and anyway Durge ruined a perfectly good tyrant, look at him, he has feelings now! (Gortash looks offended.)
Selune stares at Ketheric without blinking and so is Shar (no one sees her eyes, but Ketheric FEELS her gaze). Myrkul tries his best not to bring the twins' attention his way. When it is brought, he argues what at least he gave Ketheric what he wanted and points at Isobel. Isobel is like "DID I ASK THO?"
Mystra says everything is Jergal's fault, if only he didn't give away his power to these three dipshits-
Which brings said dipshits fury over her head.
Loviathar just happy to see Durge who took her blessing oh so nicely. Bhaal demands Bane calls off his wife who is stealing Bhaal's child.
Someone asks "Why when some bullshit happens, it's always you three?" (meaning the dead three),to that Bhaal retorts what he wasn't there when Bane and Myrkul stole the Tablets of Fate from Ao and brought the entire Time of Troubles on their heads.
Myrkul says it's because no one invited him.
Selune says the Time of Troubles was REALLY fucked up and they lost Mystra.
Mystra is like: "I am literally here," to which she gets response "I liked the previous one better".
And the entire time the mortals (and Aylin with Durge) are like: ...so we're screwed, right?
And also NEITHER of the chosen can be killed bc doing that will free Netherbrain.
Karlach tells Mystra to fuck off. The entire team supports it, to Gale's bewilderment.
Jaheira stares daggers at Bhaal. Like for real tries to intimidate a god with a stare.
Orin has to be restrained bc killing her is not an option, but she will not cooperate.
Shar goes to hurt and intimidate Shadowheart in some way, to which Selune, Aylin and Isobel are like: "Literally fuck off".
Bhaal straight up tells Orin she was destined to fail bc all she was - a trial for Durge. Orin DOES NOT take it well.
Durge and Bhaal ready to kill each other because this family is MESSED UP. The team trying to hold Durge down bc "Stop, you idiot! He'll just kill you again!"
Karlach not taking it well what Gortash shouldn't be killed. Same for Jaheira and Halsin, but about Ketheric. Aylin is more reasonable about it, but deep inside she's seething.
The team snitching on Mystra to the other gods like "she told Gale to detonate netherbrain orb!"
Shar: I also liked the previous Mystra better.
Mystra: WTF this is so uncalled for
The gods: Did Shar and Selune just agree on something????
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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Bane redesign based on @sosei 's image~
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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bane has a chart in his office with each of his godly allies' names on it, and each time they do something that pleases him, he puts a gold star sticker on the chart next to their name. every time one of them accumulates five stars, he lets them pick a prize out of a box he keeps under his desk. myrkul has twenty stars, while bhaal has negative seventy (he pretends so hard that it doesn't bother him but it actually makes him so so mad)
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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dishonored is so funny like. you’re the most wanted person in the empire and you sneak into a masquerade to eliminate the host and it’s ok because you’re technically in disguise, but then there’s an option for you to sign the guestbook and you just. go ahead and sign your real actual full fucking name.
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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A few months back, I got this lovely commission from @blackmetalsnake that initially broke tumblr (which deserves a badge of honor imho lol). It’s been tattooed on my brain ever since and I knew I had to write a little something for it. With school done, I finally got some time between that and my other projects. Thank you again, Lex, and I hope I did your work justice <3
@arnaerr @blackmetalsnake @dracolichbitch @wingedknightrose @devilbrakers @skyrim-forever​ @theladygrim @fruk-choosing-a-username @chennnington @ray-elgatodormido @nuwanders @neloths-tea (idk who is okay with being tagged in smutty things, so if you aren’t or if you DO want to be tagged, please let me know!)
Fandom: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion [Lucien!Lives AU]
Characters: Lucien Lachance, Tatiana Vestalis [HoK, Silencer+Listener],
Relationships: Lucien Lachance/Tatiana Vestalis
Rating/General Warnings: Mature for blood/smut; bloodplay+knifeplay
Chapter 49 Summary:
On the first year anniversary of their blood-bonding, Tatiana and Lucien have returned to the Void-shrine to celebrate in the way they know best.
Read on AO3!
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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DurgeTash (Tatiana Vestalis + Enver Gortash) piece I did for my dear friend @lucien-lachance some time ago <3
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dracolichbitch · 3 days
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Banite Gort, anyone? 🤍
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dracolichbitch · 4 days
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dracolichbitch · 4 days
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dracolichbitch · 4 days
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forget touching grass i need to touch chest hair
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