#so aerie's like “sleep well!” and then we're just standing there

[blackjackkent]

Arrival at Amkethran!

This general location is the Calishite desert, so I believe this is something of a return home for Rasaad, since I think he was originally Calishite before the business in Athkatla.

All Caden knows is it's hot as hell - and he's been to hell, so he should know. He's tired of being hot. He feels like he hasn't stopped sweating since they killed Irenicus.

Luckily, he has a new lovetalk from Aerie to distract him!

:( OK, not a very cheerful one.

(This was a bit of an odd one actually, and I wasn't thrilled with the dialogue options I was given for Caden. But here we go.)

They stop for a rest a little outside of the village, curled up by the fire as the desert temperatures plunge with the disappearance of the sun. Aerie is nestled into Caden's side and stirs restlessly, her pale eyes tracking aimless paths along the night sky.

Caden wants to reassure her...but the truth is that the weight of everything that happened in Saradush is starting to come home to him too. So many dead, so much destruction. And some of it, inescapably, because of him and his presence, even if he did not strike the blows himself.

So his voice is a little hollow, full of weary exhaustion.

She shifts, turning her head to look up at him, and then frowns and rolls over so she can press her palm against his cheek.

How can he explain it? He feels no kinship with these other people and yet they are dead because they are like him, because Yaga-Shura flattened a city in search of him. And the rest of the world thinks he is a monster capable of such devastation himself. He shakes his head uncertainly and speaks, trying to sound as steady as he can.

Perhaps she mistakes that careful control for apathy, because she sits up on one elbow and looks at him with sincere concern.

He feels a sudden flare of frustration that he hates himself for; he knows she means well with her concern, but he cannot find the words to speak of those deaths in a way that is sufficient. He does not know how.

Please, my love...please let it go. Please let me sleep. You know I am not capable of such cruelty, of not caring what became of them...but I can't...

I can't...

He tries to look away from her, to curl into himself, but she grabs his face in both her hands and forces him to look into her eyes. And he sees the fear there - the fear not of him and what he can do, but of what will be left of them when they have survived this neverending sea of brutality.

My love, if I let myself feel everything that has happened since Athkatla...I will fall apart. And then we are all doomed.

He swallows, forces himself to smile and presses his fingertips to her lips. Perhaps she is right. She doesn't know the depths of what he is feeling - not yet, not until he can figure out how to speak of it - but she is right that he must focus on what is good, what is right, what is him, lest he lose himself altogether, and lose her as well.

She searches his expression for a moment, and then seems to relax a little and nods. Shifting, she pulls his arms around her and settles back into their bedroll, her body curled into the curve of his side. And he closes his eyes and tries to put out of his mind everything but the reality of the moment, her warmth and the slow rise and fall of her breath, the subtle thump of her heart.

But neither of them - none of them in that camp - sleep soundly that night. All of them, in their dreams, see the flames rising from Saradush's walls and wonder what lies ahead.

#bjk plays baldur's gate 2 #caden of candlekeep #this was a strange one lol #the game clearly meant it to come after a sleep but it triggered when we arrived in the new city instead #so aerie's like “sleep well!” and then we're just standing there #oh well

[simply-wlw-kpopstan]

29. The parents

Ryujin is right you should just ask her about it. it's been long enough to have this conversation right? Maybe you should just leave it and let jimin set the pace. she probably told them you're a friend anyways. You took a deep breath before walking out of the bedroom and joined the others in the kitchen.

"there you are! My parents are almost here and we still need to-" jimin was walking around like a mad man and winter was laughing at the scene while she sat on the counter eating something ning was preparing.

"jimin calm down before you freak the poor girl out." aeri said.

"right, sorry. Can you bring this outside?" jimin passed you a plate with some snacks, " Just place it on the table in front of the couch."

"I will if you remember to breath." you smiled making her let out a chuckle. "why are you so riled up? Are your parents that bad?"

"No, not at all. It's just been a long time since I introduced someone new and... It's nothing, forget about it." she shook her head and waved you off.

The five of you sat down once everything was set up, just staring out at the ocean in silence and jimin layed her head on your shoulder, "they'll love you. I don't know if that was what's bothering you this morning but they'll like you. I know they will."

You wanted to respond to her words but got cut off by a unknown female voice, "where are my girls?!"

"we're outside mrs. Yu !" aeri yelled and jumped up from her seat to go and greet jimin's parents.

"it'll be okay. I promise." jimin spoke softly before standing up and pulling you with her. The second you approached the door she let's go of your hand and creates some distance between the two of you.

"there's my baby!" her mother smiled with her arms wide open, " come here and let me look at you."

Winter, ning and aeri are holding back their laughter as jimin gets pulled in her mother's embrace. Your eyes drift to the man standing behind them and that's when you noticed him staring at you. Shit. What if her father hates you? If looks could kill, you'd probably be 6 feet under by now.

"you must be the new friend jimin told us about." his voice filled the room and everyone looks at you. Jimin pulls back from her mom and walks over to you.

"I'm y/n. It's very nice to meet you both." you try to hide the fact that you're feeling super anxious but judging by the looks of the girls you know you failed.

"forgive me for asking but how long have you known eachother? It's not like jimin to invite new people over." her mother spoke up.

Are they testing you? Or are they trying to tell you they don't want you here?

"actually we're project partners for one of our shared subjects." winter quickly intervened, " y/n's a music major like me. we've known eachother for a year but since the project we've gotten closer to eachother."

"I see." her mom said as she stared at you, "well let's go outside and get to know one another, I'm looking forward to your stories of this semester."

After an hour of talking, eating the snacks and secret glances with jimin, you decided to clear the table of the empty plates. "can I get anyone anything?" you offered but everybody shook their head and thanked you.

As soon as you're out of sight you took a deep breath and relaxed. Jimin's parents were nice people and you shouldn't be this anxious but the fact that you're keeping a secret from them is eating at you. Would they still like you if they found out you've been seeing their daughter? What if they found out Parker hit her because she was sleeping with you? That would definitely make them like you less-

”Hey,” jimin’s voice startled you as you rinsed off a plate, luckily it didn't break when it hit the sink, "sorry. Are you okay? You seem... I don't know, you're not your usual self. "

"I’m okay," you gave her a tiny smile, "I think I'm just tired. The effect of worrying about meeting your parents are probably kicking in and stuff" it slipped out before you noticed.

"so you were worried about that." she muttered to herself, "I guess we've both been stressed today." She looked behind her before walking closer and hugging you from behind.

"is this a good idea? Your parents can walk in any second." you looked at her as she layed her head on your shoulder.

"there's nothing wrong with hugging a friend," she turns you around and pins you against the counter, "it's a whole different thing if they'd walk in on us kissing." her gaze falls to your lips for a few seconds.

"jimin don't." you carefully pushed her away, "what will happen if they were to walk in? What would you tell them?" you crossed your arms and leaned back against the counter.

"they didn't. Why are you acting like this?"

"nevermind, you should go back. I'm going to lay down for a little while" you try to walk past her but she quickly grabs your hand.

"You're just going to avoid this?"

"they're your parents jimin, they're here for you and the girls."you pull your hand out of her grip and leave her in the kitchen.

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#aespa smau #karina smau #yu jimin x reader