ic; salt inbox

[lightandjoy]

—

09:45

ONLINE: HALSIN

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note: this inbox is a choose not to warn experience and may contain nsfw threads

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delivery ❖ post-nye

[wines]

[ The day after New Year's, Halsin will find a small but lovely arrangement of sunflowers, lavender, and bee balm on his side of their shared bathroom, tied off with a dark green velvet bow and accompanied by a hand-penned, lightly perfumed note: ]

For your thoughtful breakfast delivery, and your exceptionally clever hands and tongue. Among other things.

Yours,
Dorian

[lightandjoy]

[ Wherever he happens to be, Dorian might spot a small house mouse scurrying towards him with a little roll of paper in it's mouth. If he lets it approach, it will leave the note and scurry off. Unrolled, the note reads, in tiny letters: ]

My sweet Dorian,

Thank you for the beautiful flowers (though they would be far more beautiful still growing in the earth). Dinner later?

Your Halsin

[wines]

[ Late afternoon, next to a small potted lavender plant left either in Halsin's sunlit window (if his room is unlocked) or at his sink in the bathroom, ]

Halsin,

Please don't send any more mouse couriers, unless you'd like me to die of a heart attack before dinner.

I'll see you then.

Yours,
Dorian

[lightandjoy]

[ This time, the note arrives secured to a velvet ribbon tied around the neck of a long haired grey and white cat. The cat trots straight to Dorian and leaps up onto the table in front of him, careless of any papers or books he might be browsing through. It sits down and looks at him expectantly, waiting for its message to be read. ]

Dorian,

The lavender is beautiful. I will always be reminded of you when I breathe its scent. I'm sorry that my mouse friend scared you, hopefully this will be easier on your nerves. He especially likes being scratched behind his ears.

Yours in anticipation,
Halsin

[wines]

[ Dorian doesn't mind the smaller libraries he's found here, if he's honest; easier to tuck into a nook and read undisturbed. As accustomed as he is to the constant comings and goings back at Skyhold, a bustle of activity and people around him at all times, he does like his peace and quiet.

Still, after the mouse, he's not entirely surprised when a cat approaches him, this time. He unfurls the note, releases a soft huff of breath through his nose as he sits back in his chair and holds it to his chest a moment, absently scratching the cat behind his ears. I will always be reminded of you. Unbelievable.

Tempting to respond again, but they'll see each other soon enough, and Dorian does like to keep men wanting more.

As he scritches lightly under the cat's chin, ]

Don't you dare tell your friend about the pining look on my face as I read his note. I like to maintain a certain reputation.

nts get cat icons

[lightandjoy]

[ Purring, the cat leans into Dorian's touch, chasing his fingers with his head. He doesn't appear to understand the words, but he stands up to move closer, tail high, seeking more petting as he climbs into Dorian's lap and puts his front paws on the mage's chest. ]

text, un: dom

[wicka]

[ Maybe this is completely out of nowhere, or maybe Dom stumbled into this conversation, ]

Can u actually turn into a wolf?

[lightandjoy]

[ Please forgive Halsin while he takes ten minutes to type out a single text. ]

It is one of the forms I can take, yes.

Halsin

[wicka]

[ Listen he gets it— ]

U can control it?
And all the other forms u take?

[lightandjoy]

To some degree. There are moments when my wild forms are closer to the surface, and I find their instincts hard to ignore. I have been known to turn into a bear at inopportune times.

Halsin

[wicka]

Does it have anything to do with the moon?

[lightandjoy]

Not always. Although I do feel the moon's pull, when she rides high and full through the sky. I admit it is a little more difficult to control myself at those times. But I can change whenever I need to. It is a learned skill, a spell. I have been practicing it perhaps a little too often.

Halsin

[wicka]

Do you hurt people when you transform?

[lightandjoy]

[ A hard question. ]

Sometimes, if I have to, in order to defend my home. But I don't enjoy doing it. But if you're asking if I have control over the forms I take, then the answer is yes, for the most part.

[wicka]

Yeah I was wondering about the control part
What are u defending ur home from?

[lightandjoy]

Those who would do harm to nature and to our grove.

Forgive me, but your questions have made me curious. Do you have reason to worry about control?

[wicka]

Yea I guess
I was just wondering if it was like being a werewolf

[lightandjoy]

[ Ah. ]

No, as far as I understand it, werewolves have less control over their condition, save for the few who have been taken into the shelter of the Moonmaiden. I've heard they can change at will.

[wicka]

Really? That's possible?
Can u tell me more about the Moonmaiden?

[lightandjoy]

She is a goddess. Selune, also known as the Lady of Silver. Her wolf-cursed children are known to be kissed by Selune, though only a few worship her. She is said to be beautiful, and wherever she goes there is always the light of the moon to keep the darkness at bay.

My friend Gale would know more than I do about her worship. He is involved with one of her great allies, the goddess Mystra, the mother of all magic.

[wicka]

I didn't know there was a goddess for that.

[ He almost typed 'for us'. ]

He's here?

[lightandjoy]

Yes. If you like, I can point him out to you.

[wicka]

Yes
Please

text ❖ @orchid

[wines]

Here's a question I suspect I know the answer to, but I'm going to ask anyway: how would you feel about inviting a third into our bed?

[lightandjoy]

I would like nothing more than to see you lost in ecstasy in as many ways as possible. To see it at another's hands, reveling in nature's bounty, would be exquisite. Do you have someone in mind?

[wines]

There's a young man I've been seeing...Aemond, one of the numerous Targaryens in the house. I've come to care for him a great deal, in our short time here.

I think he'd benefit from your gentle touch. Though he may not know what to do with gentleness, at first.

[lightandjoy]

[ Hm. ]

I believe I've seen him around the place. He does seem troubled.

What would you be doing while I touch him gently?

[wines]

Touching him meanly, probably.

Or touching myself, while I watch the two of you together. Unless you feel like binding my hands so I can't do a thing. So many options.

[lightandjoy]

Something tells me you'd enjoy them all. This sounds like a wonderful way to spend our afternoon. Unless you'd rather wait?

[wines]

Let's see if he's amenable and venture from there.

[lightandjoy]

Very well. I will await you in our bed either way.

[ Bears require lots of naps. ]

text; un: bugs

[honorism]

Don't feed the hungry guest. The cold comes with a bite.

Stay close.

[lightandjoy]

[ It takes him a little while to come back; he's still getting used to the concept of texting and has to figure out who has messaged him. ]

My lady Helaena, are you well? Who is this guest?

[honorism]

I don't know.

Strangers who have been here for a very long time. Before us. They hunger for neither meat nor bread. [Well not the typical meat]

The bear can't help you. Please stay warm.

[lightandjoy]

[ Please hold, he's comparing notes with Dorian. ]

When you say the bear cannot help me, what do you mean?

[honorism]

[She thinks about it a moment. When the knowledge comes, it’s always fragmented. It’s sudden and in the moment it makes sense, but the words to explain never come easily or plainly. It’s impossible to explain clearly and precisely, forcing her to speak in riddles.

Most people don’t ask for explanation either. They nod and pat her hand and go about their days. It’s both relieving and nerve-wracking.]

He hibernates.

[lightandjoy]

He often wants to sleep in the cold.

[honorism]

It will be a very long sleep. Please be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you. You've been so kind to me.

text; @kpyr7.8

[suturing]

do you still want to help with the clinic?

[ he's just cold-texting people, don't mind him. he's got a missing sister he doesn't want to think about. ]

[lightandjoy]

[ His response is delayed a few days, once he can hold his phone without his cursed fingers striking sparks and scratching the glass. ]

Yes, I would like to make myself useful. If you would still have me.

covers the dates...

[suturing]

[ no stress about it, eunhyuk doesn't often check his phone either. ]

i wouldn't ask you personally if i didn't think you're worth considering. you're willing to learn medicine the old school way? no magic first?

[lightandjoy]

I'll turn away no opportunity to learn something new. But I do have some experience with non-magical medicine. As leader of the Emerald Grove, I was tasked with healing in any way I could. Sometimes it is better to rely on a few stitches than to overexert the body with magic. I have also performed studies on the dead in an effort to understand the Mind-Flayer parasite, which I understand is not a problem here, the few that remain lying dormant in this realm.

[suturing]

then it shouldn't be much work to get you updated to current medicine and first aid, then. glad to have you on board.

[ that said, seeing as he's curious about it— ]

what's a mind-flayer?

[lightandjoy]

They are illithids, dark creatures who seek to control everything and everyone they encounter. They take victims and conquer their minds to turn them into obeient thralls, then consume their brains. Their parasites are used to take hosts and turn them to their will, then transform the victim into another illithid. Before I was brought here, I had begun to find parasites that seemed inert with no signs of ceremorphosis, but granted the host certain powers. I had been studying them in hopes of finding out the plans of these beings, in order to protect the grove.

text ❖ @shadowheart

[nightsung]

Halsin. Have you met the chicken Astarion named after me?

[lightandjoy]

I have. They make a fine match. She's quite the little hunter.

[nightsung]

I wonder if Astarion has told her anything about her namesake.

Have you conversed with her at all?

[lightandjoy]

Briefly. She has a sharp wit and an obvious fondness for her master, despite all she does to hide it. A worthy creature to continue the Shadowheart name. Though I daresay she may not look as good in leather and mail.