162 posts
Latest Posts by opuspace - Page 5
Thinking about Halsin coping with the stress of the city through sex with Tav, trying to soothe his ravaged nerves by burying his nose into their neck until their scent drives out the unwelcome reminders of death in the streets, of unwashed bodies and pollution toxins in the air. Thinking about him seeking comfort in their warmth, of wanting them clasped around his arousal until he and they are mindlessly driving each through another orgasm, his hands splintering and cracking the edges of the wooden table holding Tav's weight because nothing of this artificial world can withstand his strength. How the patches of greenery and trees make his longing worse because it reminds him of the world he wants to share with Tav, to hold them close so they can hear the birdsong that's not here in this crowded hell and feel the moonlight he would have summoned to bathe them both in at night. Halsin holding Tav a bit more tightly, a bit longer than they usually would have, deciding that one more dive, one more taste of his dazed lover's body will give him the peace he needs to endure another day until their mission is done. And all the while, Tav is unaware of the comfort he's taking into their presence, seeing them as an unspoken dream he has no right to ask for, his selfish need for them manifesting as desperate passion each night.
Don't know how many times it's already been covered, but I had been recently listening to Minsc talk about himself and I had realized something that makes me unable to ever laugh or be mean to him (not that I ever was inclined to in the first place).
Minsc wasn't born a himbo. He's brain damaged.
His mention about how he used to be a serious berserker, absorbed in the "gazing of his navel" before he met Boo and having his head split open was the start of when he was able to understand that hamster is heartwarming and all, but maybe it's having witnessed over a decade of my mother struggle with concussions and the headaches, the deafening tinnitus, and the memory issues that came from the injury that makes me feel horror. Minsc has even admitted that the headache was the price of justice not always being gentle.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this. He's clearly happy and has friends and Boo to look out for him, but he always brings up reminders of old neuropsychology case studies I've listened to about people like Phineas Gage who was a railroad worker who was using a tamping rod until the gunpowder punched the tamping rod through his frontal lobe and changed his personality from a quiet, serious, reliable worker to an impulsive one that frequently got into fights.
The upside at least in BG3 is that Minsc doesn't seem to be still suffering headaches and since he seems happy with his lot in life and he's functional enough with Boo, there's not much else to do about it nor do I think Minsc would ever want pity for where he is in life.
Just a bit of fridge logic I hope is just overthinking.
"The resources used to write Halsin could have been used to write more for Wyll!"
No. They literally could not. Wyll and Halsin were assigned to entirely different writers. If Halsin had never been made a companion, Wyll would have the exact same amount of content he does now. If anyone would have ended up with more content in the hypothetical alternate universe where Halsin wasn't a companion, it would have been Shadowheart, who shares the same writer as Halsin.
Criticize the lack of content for Wyll, because it deserves to be, but stop trying to make it sound like Wyll's storyline was scrapped in favor of the Gay Bear Sex Fund.
Oh goodie, it's that time of day again: Another person posting in the Hal tag about how he shouldn't be a companion. I see the fuckery from the Larian fourms is making its way here.
Hal has nothing to do with W/ll not getting enough content. Hal has nothing to do with Minthy not getting enough content. Hal has nothing to do with [insert inane complaint here].
Creative works are not quantitative. If Larian hadn't made Hal a companion, that does not mean another companion would have gotten more content. There are TEAMS of people working in game development: It's not one single group all churning out the elements to make a game.
It is not 2 - 1 = 1. That's not how it works. Larian keeping Hal as an NPC would not mean they'd have had more time for other things. They would have spent the same amount of time on the same content regardless.
I like W/ll. I think he got shafted. But can we not turn this into a silly fan war? Can everyone just enjoy the fucking game without shitting on other fans?
Hal fans are not the reason W/ll has less content than other companions. Hal existing in the game is not the reason W/ll has less content than other companions.
JFC just let us like him in peace.
my three girlfriends.
And yes, they smoke weed.
Lrb, I would also argue that Larian expected us to romance Halsin as a joke, what with how late in the game the romance occurs and how much emphasis the marketing put on the bear scene.
*Me trying to write fanfic*: Tralalalala, plot, plot, plot, write cohesive script, double check character perso-
*HORNY THOUGHTS*
Me: .....Damn it, what was the point I was trying to make?
Tavs I've made so far:
Luth
It felt like tasting a forest for her, when she kissed Halsin. Greenery and wood in her minds eye, the cooled touch of a breeze, the warmth of the sun in his arms. Everywhere, surrounding her, she could not hide from it nor did she want to. He was there, fully present for her like the peace of early morning after a night of war. She does not need to prove herself anymore. He is here and he sees her struggle and he will not leave her to face it alone.
It feels like relief from a long fight, the blessed mindlessness of sleep and the sweet leisure of a spring day.
Just be.
Nothing further be needed than the connection between them.
Hemera
She was not given to flights of fancy, she thought. But the gentle delight of that twirl and Wyll's smile sent promises she thought long broken.
"It's ok," His movements told her, "It's ok to dream and believe again."
"Utter foolishness." She said to herself. It's a doomed fool's fancy before they'll hit the cobblestones, bloody and broken.
And yet
Yet he stands before her, defiant in the face of the fate that his patron would have forced onto him. He's free and proud, unbroken in his honor. Through it all, he's just as kind as he started when they first met.
Maybe it's ok to hope.
To add to the rest of the list:
-Gale is surprisingly self aware for the most part on the stereotypes of wizard ambition causing their own ruin. He actively tried to tamp it down by looking for some small, but useful bit of the Weave to restore to Mystra. Sure it didn't go like he had hoped, but he was at least thinking about the impact of his actions and doing it in service of his goddess rather than personal power (at least until Act 3).
-Halsin isn't the slender, distant, spiritual, chaste stereotype of an elf. He's big, he's brawny, hairy and sexual without losing any of the kindness and serious devotion to his personal goals.
-Lae'zel is more academic than she's given credit for and more considerate than people would expect. She's harsh in her words, but her actions repeatedly show a patience and willingness to cooperate that we wouldn't expect from a race that has a reputation for stab first, question the corpse later.
-Minthara loathes Lolth, but doesn't worship Vhaeraun. She's a Paladin, a class that isn't something you hear of in Drow cities and she doesn't hate surface races the way Lolth Sworn Drow are expected to.
I love how Larian decided most of the companions in Baldur's Gate 3 will defy the stereotypes of their class and/or race.
● Shadowheart is a cleric, but not your typical peace, light, and love cleric. She worships the Goddess of Darkness, and is not looking to treat every stranger with kindess.
● Wyll is a Warlock, who are typically manipulative, deceptive and very edgy. Yet, he is the nicest man you will ever meet, helps everyone in need, and will begin to walk the thinnest line between his morals and doing his patron's bidding.
● Astarion, while he certainly does harbor typical rogue traits (stealing and sneaky) and vampire traits (haughty and bloodthirsty), he throws out enough quips, roasts, flirts, and one liners that could put every bard in a 100 mile radius to shame, and with a body count to supercede them. Even if most of it is an act, it's even more bard-like that he puts a performance on.
● Karlach is the big buff tiefling barbarian. She could have been 100% rage and stupidity, but decided to be 50% wholesomeness and love, and possibly the most caring companion on your journey.
And then there's Gale and Lae'zel...We love them for being the most stereotypical wizard and githyanki that ever did <3
Halsin strikes me as one of those workaholics who get antsy after about an hour of sitting down even if he had been doing hard labor since early morning.
Tav: Halsin. Halsin! Don't you dare.
Halsin: It will be just a moment, my heart.
Tav: Last time you said that, you were there for over an hour!
Halsin: But the scavengers will go after the dried meats if I don't take them down.
Tav: I swear, I will sit on you to get you to relax.
Halsin: Do what you must, my love.
*Halsin stands up and casually walks off with Tav clinging to his back like it's nothing*
Tav: 😐 *Clings for dear life*
Carrying across a threshold or getting ready to chuck? Place your bets here, people!
I've come to describing it as: What we need to find out if we'd want sex with someone is what others complain of as "friendzoning" (aka You must be this friend zoned to have a chance to go on this demisexual ride). Which is NOT an endorsement of being friends in hopes of getting sex. No one owes anyone sex. No one should be friends with an ulterior motive. But it's hard to describe demisexuality without finding an anchor point to something we live with in society. And all too frequently, I've experienced how swiftly friends stop being friends when sex is confirmed to be off the table. Friendly greetings turn cold, plans become empty promises, and laughter becomes silence when you're not interested in sex. How do people find anyone willing to do that attractive enough to fuck?
Sex without attachment is far more prevalent I think than society is willing to acknowledge. Otherwise, we wouldn't have jokes about sex on the third date, the shame of friendzoning, the "expiration date" theme as we age, or the dreaded "frigid" label. There'd never be emphasis of "If you liked it, ya shoulda put a ring on it", "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" And all sorts of "fun" colloquialisms that imply that the temptation of sex is present without the urge to commit to a relationship. Because, why caution others in acquiring commitment first if it's in our nature to only want sex when there are emotional bonds?
Ironically, I think we ought to be de-stigmatizing casual sex and instead be emphasizing consent, safety for health and generally not being a douche to your partners. I get the sense that this sex shaming causes a kind of sociopathic treatment of each other if we're not doing it for the "right" reasons (insert disclaimer about appropriate age being needed to discuss this topic), because it doesn't take long before I'm hearing a tone of disrespect towards anyone who likes casual sex as though they're unworthy of marriage material.
demisexuality can be so hard to explain because it’s misconstrued as you just wanting to trust the other person before you have sex with them. and I get why the misconception happens. But demisexuality differs in that there isn’t sexual attraction at all before that bond forms.
I think what people have difficulty with is the idea that there are people out there who aren’t experiencing sexual attraction at all until a certain point, if ever, because we’re taught that sex, libido, and sexual attraction are all the same, both in and out of queer spaces.
And when you’re learning about asexuality and demisexuality, you may learn that people have romantic and aesthetic attraction separately from sexual attraction, and that sexual and romantic attraction aren’t necessarily intertwined, and that may challenge your worldview on sex.
But “I trust you enough to have sex with you” isn’t the same as “I’m not sexually attracted to anyone but you, and the reason I’m sexually attracted to you now after we’ve established this close bond is literally because of the bond of trust we’ve been able to form”.
It’s easy to see how those can get conflated. On the surface, if you’re unfamiliar with asexuality, they may sound the same. But it’s important to acknowledge the difference between “no sex until I trust you” and “no sexual attraction unless I trust you and maybe not even then”.
Demisexuality is housed under the asexuality spectrum. It’s part of the gray area between being allosexual and asexual. It’s part of why the definition for asexuality includes “little to no sexual attraction”. It’s a mostly asexual experience with an asterisk.
While being demisexual may have impacts on a persons sexual activity, even demisexuals have a varied relationship to the act of participating in sex. Libido and sexual attraction are not always intertwined either, which can make telling the difference tricky.
I think of sexual attraction as libido that has a compass. Since I rarely ever experience sexual attraction, but do have libido, it’s noticeable for me when that libido actually has a direction to go, rather than being a floating, nebulous, independent thing.
Remember, not everyone is demisexual. There’s a difference between waiting to have sex and not having sexual attraction at all until a certain point. This also inherently ties demisexuality to romantic attraction and relationships, and not all demisexuals are alloromantic.
But if you read what demisexuality is and think “everyone is like that” or “that’s just being a woman”, you either 1) are demisexual 2) don’t understand what it is or 3) both. And it’s okay to not know. Just as long as you’re willing to try to learn.
I'll never get tired of seeing Halsin included in this cutscene. It was....not a fun discovery back in the older versions seeing him missing. I figured I'd at least settle for Tav exploring this tower without anyone on the team if Halsin wasn't showing up, but the game auto selected 2 random teammates instead 😑.
It's often the little things like that, that can enhance a game for me.
Reach
Female Tav x Halsin
(Just a personal headcanon for one of my Tavs)
The Imp patagium laid on the highest shelf, just a few inches out of her reach if she went on tiptoe. Normally, not a terrible inconvenience if she floated a bit, but with the lambent flames cooking the suspensions and the steam of the sublimates, she was reluctant to risk an accidental brush with her robes. She tried approaching from the side, but the distance just felt longer. She tried placing a knee on the edge of the stone slab used as an alchemical workspace, but the shelf was behind the arrangement of vials and flames and stinging steam.
"Let me, my heart." One long, broad arm reached above her head to pluck the small vial. Looking upwards, she could see the smile on his face.
"I could have gotten that."
"Indeed you could." Wrapping one arm around her waist, Halsin laid a gentle kiss on her head. "But I figured this was easier for you."
Luth could feel herself relaxing into his embrace, swaying with him as they often did during their moments alone.
"Thank you. Really." She turned around, smiling as she reached up to take the patagium from him.
He kept it out of her grasp.
Puzzled, she extended her arm, all the while looking at his broadly grinning face that never changed. He inched it further from her hand. Dawning comprehension revealed the mischievousness in his smile as he leaned a bit further back.
"You're almost there," One step, then two before he had already led her away from the alchemy bench and had sat down on a nearby slab. Every time her fingertips grazed the glass, he'd swap hands with it.
"How-" She let out a huff of laughter. "-how are you so tall?!"
Frustration had her gripping his forearm with both hands, hands that still could not encircle his arm completely, pulling herself further up until she finally snatched the elusive ingredient with a triumphant cry.
"Aha!"
"Very well done, my heart."
His grin had never faded and she had now realized, that he had maneuvered her so that she'd be draped all over him. Only the clothing they wore separated them from fully feeling the length of each other's bodies. From his vantage, he had the satisfaction of watching his beloved's face flush redder and redder, mere inches from his.
"You planned this."
"Mm-hmm." Thick fingers had already slid under her embroidered robes, rubbing circles on bare skin. "Whatever should be done about that now?"
"You-" Luth could not even pretend to be mad, not with growing evidence of his interest beneath where her legs were straddling him. "This is why we're behind on our potion stock."
"By all means, don't let me stop you, my love."
Luth had to laugh. "You are dangerous."
His chuckle joined hers as the vial of patagium fell to the ground.
During a fight with Lorroakan, an allied Deva got shoved over the railing. To my surprise, he didn't die but landed on a level below....which I did not know existed as an actual accessible level. It was there I discovered that there was another level below it that can only be accessed by a Weave button according to the placards in front of them. Getting there revealed a unique robe that resembles a beige copy of Elminster's robes and a Legendary Draconic staff:
Just wanted to say that you're one of the few Halsin-centric blogs I'm never nervous about browsing. No bad takes. No major discourse. And based on the posts you've liked from me, I can probably say that we're in agreement about a lot of Halsin things!
Anyway, have a good day!
That's a huge relief to hear. Thank you. Truly.
I won't say I'm not biased in a lot of things, but I'd like to think I at least make the effort to try make sure what I say can be confirmed. On the other hand, it's probably not a great sign if we're seeing more bad takes than accurate ones. 😬
In light of the latest Discourse, I wanted to point out this as-yet unimplemented dialogue I datamined.
"Friendship is no consolation trophy."
That is the one thing you will never hear an incel, nice guy, etc say. It is the attitude of someone with a healthy sense of boundaries and respect for others.
I'm actually super surprised to see that there are people who don't like Halsin. I guess I've found myself in the right circles because I've never seen anything but love for him!
Ok, so I've been trying to gather my thoughts on this, because it's not a fun topic to discuss. But some of the most insane takes I have seen has been like this:
While others are pointing out how insane it sounds and getting call out posts for it as though they have had no good reason to talk about it:
It's gotten bad enough that Dave Jones, Halsin's voice actor, is being quoted by people saying he should be put on a list:
Dave is a voice actor. A goddamn voice actor. He doesn't have control over how Halsin is written nor is he endorsing any creepy behavior. This is a serious accusation to make and honestly, why are Halsin haters following the voice actor of a character they hate?!
People are entitled to their feelings and they have a right to feel safe, but that does not give them the right to falsely accuse real people for things that did not happen.
This is fictional work. Fictional characters who are written out with a set plan in mind. We know Halsin's intent from start to finish and it's never changed like other, more controversial characters are intended like:
Halsin: I understand, and I will cherish our relationship.
Minthara: I already know your mind. I will know your body, one way or another.
This is not a condemnation of Minthara. She's intended to be difficult and bossy, because she had to be in the cutthroat world of the Underdark. This is, however, intended to be a comparison of the double standards I've been seeing from fans and wish would be applied fairly and civilly. I would deeply dislike being deceived if I was a new player trying out this game and found out I had been misled so badly on different characters. I've already felt aggravation finding out fans pushed a popular headcanon over what's actually in the game in other games.
*Halsin kissing Tav while holding them so tightly that not one mote of light could come between them, kissing them so deeply that there is no room for thought, only sensation of his scent, the calluses on his hands, the firmness of his body, the heat emanating from him. Every touch he gives is to bring them closer until it feels like they'll be consumed by his passion before it ends.*
Halsin: *smiling* Was there something you wanted, my heart?
Tav: 😶
Halsin: ....my heart?
Tav: .......I think I forgot my name.
Gortash fans are saying this?! Gortash fans?! Fans of a guy:
-Who violated Karlach's bodily autonomy
-Sold Karlach into slavery
-Who experimented on people
-Streamlined the interrogation of people's brains in a jar by using an elven woman's head to voice their thoughts in that Mindflayer pit. One of those brains was a child's by the way.
-Ran a dictatorship through the Steel Watch with innocent civilian brains running them
-Whose own fans admit that part of Gortash's appeal is his "rapey" look?!
And they have the gall to act self righteous about nonexistent creepy behavior from a character?!
I fucking HATE the Facebook girlies sometimes.
Ripped this from the comments of a post in a Gortash simp group that was talking about which of them smelled better/worse
The amount of people who think he's creepy TRULY confuses me. Like where do you get this from, who hurt you????
He's an autistic man who loves animals and nature and has a soft spot for orphaned children????? If you romance him, he is the most loving, comforting, and supportive character in the game and is ALL ABOUT CONSENT????? And you think he's A CREEPY PREDATOR????
Ok, so I came across one post that said that you can turn Mizora into stone as it doesn't count as damage against her (and I won't accidentally trigger Wyll into attacking even though he's technically free of his pact to her).
She has to fail 3 saving throws for this to work but my goodness, it is satisfying after she tried to kill Wyll's father and refused to leave camp when I told her to leave. No more stirring up trouble, no more taunting Wyll, no more spying on us.
Ok, so I've been giggling like a loon for the past hour at the thought of a Paladin decked out in full wartime armor, with fury in their heart and the wrath of heaven in their eyes, declaring in a voice that will command the heathens and sinners to listen:
"GET READY FOR MY ALMIGHTY SMITE-Y!"
Bonus points if they're smacking a wooden paddle in one hand while shouting that.
Surviving this mission for Halsin fans is our Trial by Fire for him.
*Hoards every smokepowder and firewine barrel for this very fight.*
My exact reaction when this happened
Generally, it depends. Luth's been taught that it's usually a bad idea to show something got to her so going quiet is her default response until she can decide what to do with the offender. Some generic asshole looking for a response? Dismiss and ignore as the companions and her have more pressing matters to deal with. Can't ignore it? 18 Charisma makes for some effective threats and warnings.
Threatening their lives however? She'll burn several sorcery slots to make a point. Good luck dodging 3 ice storms.
Tav Question
How does your Tav express their anger?
Ok, so I've never been able to get out of my head the thought of companions who have to tie Durge up every night as a safety precaution while whoever Durge romanced gives them an affectionate kiss at night on the forehead before saying goodnight.
Because then it means any bandit who is dumb enough to try to attack them will get to see not only the companions armed but one particular tied up person in their camp fish flopping out of their bedroll while shouting, "Let me up! I can help!"
While said companions are saying, "No! You're not allowed to disembowel like last time!"
*Sees work*
*Grabs fanfic work and runs, hugging it to chest*
This is awesome!
Would it be alright to request what Halsin would think of a sorceress Tav? There's custom dialogue lines from him if Tav is a Druid, so I've always wondered what he'd say and think related to her class specifically.
The Druid’s Sorceress
Fem!Reader x Halsin
Masterlist
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
A/N - Here’s a few bite sized sorceress blurbs :) <3
Word count - 2K
Warnings - Fluff, lots of game spoilers, slight rewriting of plot points
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
“I’m lucky to have met you, Sorceress.”
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
~Tiefling Party~
Halsin couldn’t keep his eyes off of you for most of the evening. At first, he tried to convince himself that he was only drawn to you because of how you saved him. But Halsin knew, behind that thought, was a desperation to get to know you. To spend even a second more with your magnetic aura.
When you finally danced over to talk to Halsin, he could’ve sworn his heart jumped into his throat.
“Enjoying the party, Druid?” You asked, your words slightly tipsy from the various flavors of wine being passed around the party.
Halsin chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. “I am indeed. Are you also enjoying the party…” Halsin paused, realizing he had no idea what the Hero of the Grove’s speciality lied in.
“Sorceress.” You offered, throwing Halsin a charming smile. “I’m a Sorceress.”
Halsin smiled back, happy he had just another piece of your personality known to him. “Like The Blade. Wyll, was it?”
You scoffed, swishing the wine in your chalice, “He’s a warlock. And between you and me, I’m much better.”
Halsin laughed warmly, nodding his head. “I know not who is better, but I know you yourself are quite impressive.”
“I’m not the only one.” You replied, appreciatively.
Halsin didn’t miss the way the sorceress’s cheeks flushed slightly. He bit back his words, afraid he would come on too strong. He hadn’t known you for long, and well… he couldn’t bring himself to allow the kind of distraction you had become. Not yet at least.
“So tell me about the Shadowlands.” You questioned, taking a step forward to hear the Druid over the music better.
Halsin only offered a thin smile, trying his best not to convey how those words twisted in his chest. “You needn’t worry about those things until morning. Go. Enjoy your party, hero.”
Halsin was thankful that you took his advice, leaving with a genuine smile. He would’ve talked to you all evening if circumstances were different. Would’ve invited you to sit with him under the stars, somewhere more quiet.
He couldn’t though. Not while the knowledge of how nature rotted on the journey’s path. Something he should’ve tried to fix much much earlier.
No, getting to know the Sorceress would have to wait.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
~Dancing Lights~
The camp was quieter than usual that night. The fight with Oliver was difficult, the fights along the way making the end battle even more so. Once you all finally made it back to camp, most went to their tent to lick their wounds.
You, however, trudged your way towards Halsin’s tent.
Halsin was whittling away quietly, hoping the movements would lessen his stress. Thaniel lay further in the tent, still completely unconscious. It was almost as if Thaniel was in a deep peaceful sleep, resting upon Halsin’s bedroll. He wanted to go with you to find Thaniel’s other half, but he couldn’t tear himself from the boy.
Halsin startled when you cleared your throat, too entrenched in his thoughts to hear your approach.
He dropped his whittling looking up to you hopefully. “Did you find it? Will Thaniel be whole?”
You sighed and plopped down next to him, picking up his unfinished wooden duck. You rubbed the shavings off idly, your voice weary when you spoke, “Yes, I found him.” Your eyebrows furrowed together. “Oliver said he’d come back to Thaniel. I’m never playing hide and seek again.”
“Oliver?” Halsin started.
Before he could continue, there was a stir in the corner of Halsin’s tent. Halsin’s hand shot over to grip yours as he stared at the bundle, his eyes wide.
Your own eyes widened as you saw a small boy sit up off of the furs, yawning and rubbing his eyes sleepily.
Thaniel's other half, whom you had only heard stories of before, now sat before you both. His small horns sat delicately on his forehead, and his eyes sparkled with mischief as he blinked away the remnants of sleep.
Halsin's grip on your hand tightened, a mix of awe and disbelief etched across his face. "Is this... Is this truly him?" You whispered, your voice barely audible.
Halsin nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yes. This is Thaniel wholly put together, In the flesh."
The young horned boy blinked up at both of you and tilted his head curiously. "Who are you?" he asked towards you, his voice melodic and excited as he pointed.
You giggled softly, giving the boy a shy smile. “I’m a friend of Halsin’s. I helped him save you.”
“She’s a sorceress. Quite a good one.” Halsin added proudly.
Your cheeks heated slightly, not sure how to take the compliment.
Thaniel narrowed his eyes suspiciously, “A sorceress, hmm? Cast something then!”
You couldn’t help but laugh again at the childish pout the boy gave you. Who could say no to that face? You took a breath and whispered the incantation, circling your finger in the air to cast ‘Dancing lights’.
Beautiful blue orbs blipped into existence, shining gentle light over everything below it.
Thaniel's eyes widened in wonder as he watched the dancing lights float around the tent. His excitement was infectious, and soon both you and Halsin found yourselves smiling at the sight.
But as the lights swirled and twirled, something peculiar happened. They began to take on different shapes—a miniature dragon, a cascading waterfall, a blooming flower. The lights had a life of their own, responding to Thaniel's imagination and bringing his fantasies to life.
Thaniel clapped his hands in delight, his laughter filling the tent. "This is incredible! Can we make them do more?"
You nodded slightly, in awe of how the boy could manipulate someone else’s spell so easily.
“He acts as if he’s never seen magic before. Even though he can use it in such an incredible way.” You murmured, turning to Halsin.
Halsin’s chest filled with warmth when your eyes met his, “Maybe he hasn’t seen magic from one so beautiful.”
Your cheeks blushed brilliant red, your eyes unable to break away from the man.
Thaniel‘s voice cut through, making the two of you look towards him and realize the dancing light’s had completely disappeared.
“Miss Halsin’s-pretty-sorceress?” He asked, tinged with sarcasm, “Can you bring the lights back?
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
~Owlbear Cub~
Scratch and Owlbear cub played loudly, running through the center of the camp. You watched on, the display a nice distraction from the long day.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the camp, you couldn't help but feel a swell of warmth in your chest. The playful antics of Scratch and the Owlbear cub had brought a much-needed respite to the weariness that had settled upon your companions.
With a contented smile, you leaned back against the rough trunk of an ancient oak tree, observing the camaraderie forming between Scratch, a stray pup you had taken under your wing, and the Owlbear cub, a gentle baby with fluffy feathers and curious eyes. Their chase carried them further into the camp, weaving through tents and scattering supplies in their wake.
Laughter echoed through the air as your weary companions watched on, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Even Astarion with his unyielding glare, couldn't suppress a chuckle at the sight of the unlikely pair's boundless energy.
As dusk began to deepen, Halsin bumbled over to sit next to you. He carried his whittling tools, starting his next project as soon as he was on the ground. The two of you had grown much closer in the past days, now comfortable enough with each other to sit together in silence. It was nice, being able to unwind after the stressful days. You didn’t feel the need to make endless conversation, content to just appreciate each others presence.
Scratch and the cub quieted in the distance for a split second before the little Owlbear squeaked in pain. Your head shot up, concern rising in you as you looked towards them.
The Owlbear rounded the corner, limping to you with a whimper. Scratch followed close behind, barking as if he was trying to get everyone’s attention.
Halsin stood up, “Give me just a moment to see to Scratch and I’ll see to the cub.”
You watched as the cub slinked over, crawling up into your lap as it let out pitiful chitters.
You gathered the creature into your arms as much as you could, cooing over the poor thing. You couldn’t see what had hurt it, only that it was favoring its back paw.
You gently examined the Owlbear cub's injured paw, careful not to cause any further pain. It seemed like a sprain, and you sighed with relief that it wasn't anything more serious. The little creature nestled closer to you, seeking comfort and reassurance.
Halsin returned with a concerned expression, crouching down beside you. "How is the cub?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.
"It's just a sprain, nothing too serious," you replied, giving the cub a gentle stroke. "I think some rest and healing magic should do the trick."
Halsin nodded, reaching out his hand to cast a spell. A small green glow started to radiate outwards before it fizzled.
“Oak Father Preserve me,” Halsin muttered. “It seems I’ve been rendered empty of mana.”
You shook your head, smiling at him. “I’m not. I can do it.”
Halsin leaned in as you cast your healing spell, a warm glow shining against the cub’s feathers
As you channeled your magic into the sprained paw, a soothing warmth enveloped the Owlbear cub. Its beady eyes stared up at you with an almost grateful expression, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of joy at being able to help your oversized baby.
The Owlbear crawled out of your arms, much more sure footed than before. It tentatively tested its weight on the healed paw, Scratch standing close by as if he felt protective of his oddly shaped little sibling. A delighted squeak emanated from the cub’s throat as it realized the pain was completely gone.
Halsin watched in awe, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "You truly have a gift," he murmured, his voice filled with reverence.
You gave him a modest smile before turning your attention back to the cub, gently nuzzling its soft feathers. It nuzzled back against your cheek affectionately, expressing its gratitude in its own adorable way. It’s funny, how quickly this cub changed from wanting to eat you to wanting to be coddled constantly.
As you continued to sit there, Halsin leaned closer, his shoulder brushing against your own.
“You’re able to do so many different kinds of magic. You’re so powerful.” He murmured.
His hand reached over to stroke the owl bear softly before it rested on your own.
“I’m lucky to have met you, Sorceress.”
You felt a warmth spread through your chest at Halsin's words, his touch sending a pleasant shiver down your spine. With a soft smile, you turned to him, your eyes meeting his. "And I am lucky to have met you too, Halsin," you whispered, your voice filled with sincerity.
The setting sun cast an ethereal glow upon the two of you, enveloping you in a moment of quiet intimacy. The world around you seemed to fade away, leaving only the gentle rustle of leaves and the beating of your hearts. It felt as if time had come to a standstill, allowing this connection between you and Halsin to flourish.
As you sat there, hand in hand, the camp around you bustled with activity once again. Companions prepared meals, shared stories, and tended to their duties. But in that small pocket of serenity beneath the ancient oak tree, it was just the two of you.
A Druid and his Sorceress.
I'm convinced that polyamory is nature's way of granting mercy to Halsin's lovers who have severely underestimated his unholy sexual stamina.