threats are the dullest of blades to martin. each syllable, each note, no more unique than the last. some were clever——some were foolish but he sees more than such things. in the grand symphony of countless universes, he sees them as a single note. what could once dazzle &. amaze does nothing for him. the faintest hint of hunger taunts his sense of interest, but it doesn't rise. only the dull ... empty feeling lingers in its stead. what's a monster to a beast? what's living another day to dying tomorrow? striking her down now ... that's the best pity he'll be able to provide.
he peers at her with features slack in contemplation. dispatching her before returning to fillory——to his rightful kingdom——that's the right choice. it's logical. it's reasonable. turning this pitiful rock to a sea of molten ash and dust would've been no small part compassion. boring on the surface, yet monsters lurk, yet monsters hide. rather strange ... so much more different than other worlds. at first, it intrigues him. beast that don the skin of mere man but they're far too human. far too full of love, compassion, and hate to even be compared to a real monster ... a real beast. he sees it. he smells it. vulnerability clad it biting words. wit in place of sincerity.
hands fold themselves behind his back after straightening fitted suit. he steps closer——his gait light yet empty. it's a dance. a two step meant for one that brings him closer, closer to her. steps carry him towards the tangles of contradiction she holds, to the life she clings to yet resents. does she feel pain with every breath? does she feel pain from being alive? how cruel, the world can be. how wicked his smile must seem, polite yet cruel. through his gaze, he sees a terrarium. a world of glass, broken and shattered. the gods have long since abandoned it to rot and fade away. to vanish with a stifled scream.
"does it ... ever get tiring to pretend to be so strong?" a pause for a laugh, detached like a heavy note. "don't get me wrong, you've got it down pat, dear girl. fooling yourself, well, that's the real magic, isn't it?"
[ .⠀.⠀. ] ❛ I did warn you not to trust me. ❜ , @amcssing (martin chatwin) said.
His words stung, more than she liked to admit — each syllable was a spiked jab, directly aimed at the wall of solidarity and calculated distance she'd built around her very being, the very wall he had somehow, impossibly, already managed to breach.
Sayuri wasn't one to trust easily. Life had taught her that vulnerability was a liability, a weakness to be exploited, and her every interaction was usually marked with the safe distance she maintained. Martin, however, had managed to instill the slightest sliver of hope within her for a powerful alliance that defied the odds — a hope that was now being declared foolish, stupid, an utter embarrassment.
A wave of heat flared up within the ghoula, a mixture of shame, raw fury, and the creeping realization that slowly settled into her consciousness, heavy and consuming. For once, she had allowed herself a hint of belief, and he had taken that vulnerability and twisted it into a weapon. The intensity of her emotions was enough to make her clench her fists at her sides, her knuckles bone-white beneath taut skin — her expressions, however, masked her irritation with feigned amusement. A smirk, sharp and brittle, crept onto her lips that didn't quite reach her eyes, her pride forcing her to maintain composure, to not grant him the satisfaction of seeing the boiling turmoil his words had caused within. Fine. If this was how he wanted to play it, she would play along.
❛ Noted, ❜ she brought out, the sound somewhat strained as it passed through her gritted teeth. ❛ Now, ❜ she continued, her smirk hardening into a predatory curve, a dangerous glint finally flickering in her eyes, ❛ let’s see how much you enjoy having me as your enemy. ❜
random dialogue prompts , accepting !
BALDURS GATE 3 PARTY BANTER PROMPTS LIST.
all of the following prompts are taken from party banter between the companions in larian studios' baldurs gate 3 (2023). there should be no spoilers! also, a disproportionate amount of these are from astarion and karlach. i'm not sorry.
I am enjoying our walks together, aren't you, [ name ]?
You'll be as depraved as the rest of us in no time.
Friend of yours?
Were you always so sneaky?
If there's hope for me there's hope for anyone.
How are we not there yet? My feet are killing me.
This is what I get for trying to strike up conversation.
We're not going to have trouble, are we?
If we continue this way, we may get too close for comfort.
Don't get too comfortable. We shouldn't overstay our welcome in such a place.
Do you have pet names for each other yet?
[ name ]! Was that a joke?
You know what - that is not the easiest of questions for me to answer.
Given your own nature, are you really the one to judge?
You can read?!
I'm surprised - I expected you to turn your back once you got what you wanted.
I wouldn't know a flirtation if you whacked me alongside the head with it.
Why stay somewhere safe and comfortable when we could be in mortal peril?
Can't say I love what they've done with the place.
I'm learning to enjoy the taste of chaos. Count me in.
At least you didn't tell me to 'be myself'.
You have so much to learn. Repeat after me: honey muffin, sweetie pie, sugarplum.
Nice to be in a crowd of normal people for once.
So [ name ], how is your sad, hopeless pining going?
You seemed a million miles away just then.
I fear I've been rather hasty to judge you, [ name ].
Ready to enter the belly of the beast?
Step one of starting a conversation: think before you speak.
I hear your relationship has taken on a new aspect recently…
All right, just keep it down. We're conspicuous enough without your hyena call.
Not one for roughing it, I see.
Why not have a little fun?
You're right, of course. Forgive me.
My money's on you, [ name ].
The echoes - listen! They're coming from three directions!
Want me to carry you?
Feeling at home?
Treat them right, or you'll have me to answer to.
Oh, darling, would you?
No doubt they found me too intimidating.
A girl could get used to this.
Now I don't know what to believe.
Well - yes, it was a joke.
I know that, too. It just wasn't funny.
And here I thought I rubbed you the wrong way.
Man, it's good to be home. First round on who?
Oh, I wouldn't actually leave. After all, where would you be without me?
You've quite the knack for finding the bright side of things, haven't you?
Well what would impress you, then?
Let's just stop this conversation right here, shall we?
Must've been an awful day for the people who lived here
You've clearly thought this through a great deal. I'm impressed and appalled in equal measure.
Sure, but think of the stories you'll be able to tell.
I never was scared of the shadows.
I know you're not really as heartless as all that.
I judged you wrongly. I'm sorry.
Are you charging for this sage advice, or is sticking your nose into my business just a hobby?
Pragmatism, thy name is [ name ].
That's ironic, coming from you.
We're either very clever or very lucky.
You do not need luck to survive, [ name ]. Not when you have me.
That will make getting word to my mother rather tricky.
Stop gawking at the decor. This place is dangerous.
I can't tell if you're joking.
So, what's it like caring for someone other than yourself, [ name ]?
You think I'm beautiful?
I feel it too. Here if you need a pick-me-up.
Yet another thing we have in common. We're two peas in a pod.
Is it so unbelievable that they would simply like me?
Use your words.
You gonna catch me if I eat a brick?
[ name ], I've heard you talking in your sleep.
Let's never speak of this again.
You can take a day off once in a while, [ name ]
Hey! Something bit me.
Cheer up. It might be all downhill from here.
I love a nice secret hideaway, don't you?
Think the bar is open?
thane’s hair is grey but it wasn’t always that color; it’d started to change once he’d received his curse. it used to simply be black, messy and rather unkempt before they’d started to mellow out. it’s never really bothered him, not that it would have, he thinks it makes him look a wiser beyond his years which isn’t something that would hurt his reputation. a few dark strands of his original hair still linger but most are tangled within the presence of grey.
during his reign, he only married once but had many different consorts with the intentions of producing an heir to the throne. his interest in performing the act wasn’t high but they’d do so out of duty. thane treated them well, as equals, with the privileges a queen would have. granting them luxuries as if they’d been crowned themselves despite not being married to them. some of his lovers had greater chemistry with him than others which meant his favorites might’ve been apparent from time to time. thane’s interest in his children's lives was bare minimum until they were old enough to involve themselves in politics or things pertaining to the kingdom.
his gift curse numbs away pain and hostility, those lacking food would not suffer nor those that happened to succumb from a disease. in a sense, as a king, he was with everyone when they suffered hardships whether they were aware of the fact or otherwise. however, the feelings his people could experience ended up being rather limited because of him leaving them in rather dull states when not experience happiness or excitement. aware of this fact, they’d make sure to interact with them in the form of parties or gatherings which would happen more often than not during the week. something to make sure everyone was fed or taken care of in some regard.
the whole reason he was given the ability to numb and withhold the pain of others was to change him from being a savage. fighting, in all forms, had seemed to be his only interest from birth with rather lethal results. under the burden of those around him, feeling the same pain he’d sought to inflict on someone in some form changed him from a fighter to a pacifist since killing someone would be akin to killing himself. thane prefers to talk things out and avoid conflicts.
inodal is a kingdom that is bordered by a vast sea, finding its trade in fishing and other seas based opportunities. he loves the ocean and tends to visit places that are bordered by water. it reminds him of home, allowing him a chance to feel connected to it. oddly enough though, thane can’t swim to save his life and almost drowned when lost at sea during a brief skirmish.
some metas for brad / overhaul information ;
001. the abelli family has deep ties to magic; it's their breath, it's their blood, it's their life. it consumes their actions and mystifies their thoughts; they are a family of wanderers, explorers, and adventurers. their house flits between the material plane and countless others, an ever-changing locale. the multiverse itself a countless sea for them to explore—— for better or worse. their house is a grand treasure for things they collect.
002. bradley, like ancestors before him, have delved into countless unknowns with sorcery. braved the depths of forbidden knowledge, unraveled the elements, looked upon its treasures with greedy eyes. such exposure, such dredging into the arcane, has changed him. magic seeps from his veins; it replaces blood——flesh shed for a mystical body. he is magic. a shell of arcane power shaped as a man with all the volatility of the sorcery.
003. those deep ties to magic give deep insight to its workings. access to secrets is not meant for common sorcerers; it's the result of going too far in pursuing something not meant for mortal hands. power, surely, yet not without drawbacks. a dulled sense of taste, a numb sense of feeling, a lack of emotion towards life's small wonders. a need to seek even more grandiose things. it loosens the mind, it taints the sense of reason, it's having thoughts scattered between one plane and the next at all times.
004. brad sits somewhere on the chaotic spectrum. sometimes good, sometimes evil, never against trickery or deceit. all his schemes are a means to an end, a step towards another grand adventurer. despite lacking physical sensation in some regards, his emotions are present. prone to changes based on mood, quick to reflect external circumstances, dangerous at times. he's the life of the party until he's not.
i need to start moving thane's lore over here for sure he's one of my most developed ocs to me tbh. greek epic coded fun times.
eyes flit from battered pirate to swift-footed protector; a kind air about them—— a charming one, actually. dealing with treachery on the high seas wasn't how brad intended to spend his day; a small cruise to ease the minute sense of homesickness quickly became another adventure. [...] not that you'll find him complaining; between homesickness and boredom, they'll happily take the homesickness &. disregard everything else. ever present grin rests on lips, delight sailing through chocolate brown hues, a light with a sea of curiosity. ( one thing to the next, without fail. )
❛ i know, ❜ acknowledgment comes quick, proud. ❛ not too bad yourself. charmed with words and skilled in a fight—— quite multifaceted. i like people like that. ❜ they'll never turn down praise, no small amount, due to a healthy ego. ( even if it's far rarer for them to give in kind. ) / still, this man did impress him. those purple flames were interesting ! far more interesting than vanquishing such trite foes. this trip might still have some life in it yet, a chance to become his own carnival of viareggio. just down a few floats, but maybe not entertainers.
❛ last minute addition, yeah, sure. ❜ a bit more like a stowaway, with good reason. nothing the crew seems quick to bring up after being saved. ❛ helps i've tangled with pirates before. plenty of experience dealing with them. ❜ &. rifling through their treasures, naturally. ❛ but, life and death battle aside, it's so much more fun to share the stage with someone else. i've been alone for some time, you see. ❜ floating in a space of uncertainty, exciting for the first year—— not so much the second, third, and so on. offers hand in greeting, ❛ bradley, call me brad. the pleasure is yours. ❜
@amcssing (bradley) liked a starter call! (main verse)
"Well fought, my friend!"
Purple flames subside in the wake of a hard-won victory, and Brant lands back on the unsteady wooden surface of the merchant ship, directly in front of the unexpected ally who had been among (but presumably not affiliated with) the merchants who'd hired him.
"These islands have been infested with pirates as of late. I daresay we're lucky you were onboard, otherwise this ship might have found itself in hot water, haha!" He glances around, taking quick stock of the situation. Aside from himself, only Tina and Battier have left Lario to come aboard the smaller ship, checking its crew for potential injuries.
Brant doubts anyone suffered that strong of an injury. While the fight itself hadn't been easy, it had been almost entirely handled by the Troupe and the merchant ship's guest. The Pirates weren't lucky enough to leave unscathed, a scenario which Brant really does solemnly regret—he's been able to call himself many things, but a callous killer has never been one of them.
He exhales a short breath, minor motes of tension leaving his shoulders as he eases more firmly into the role of the helpful guide he's being paid to be.
"You must have been a last-minute addition to this lovely crew, I presume?" Brant asks, gesturing vaguely towards where most of the shipmen have gathered. He catches Tina's eye and nods once, as though telling her to carry on with what she's doing, before looking back towards his real point of interest. "I doubt they'd have hired such a high-scale escort if they knew they had someone so capable aboard."
did she sigh? maybe at his response ( or her own lack of clarity. ) sometimes, words were more dangerous than back alley thugs and supervillains. comparing them to her skills in combat — well, her litany of ways to express herself was deeply lacking. all too often, she knew, that she came off as vague or obtuse. it's better at home, though, better with people who speak in action over words: that really spoke cass. still, there's a problem, and batkids... are pretty good at coming up with a solution.
❛ very. ❜ she surmised — in the dark, the faintest smile plays on her lips. scaling the walls would've been easier, springing between the towering brick walls. could've done it in her sleep, too; it's her first instinct, actually. but, she freezes. civilian, right. thus, her plan changes. luckily, there's a fire escape nearby. better than nothing for getting them off the streets ( and away from the thugs that'd come looking for their buddies. ) it's gotham; nobody goes anywhere alone. jerking her chin towards the ladder, she reaches for it — rising on her tiptoes, although doomed to fall short. ❛ mind giving me a boost, er, ... ❜ right, she never asked his name.
Yusuke thought the Japanese underworld was ripe with dangers, the West really had arguments to share. While most crimes were organized in Japan, Gotham demonstrated exactly what chaos meant. However, lucky for him he’s even found himself a partner in crime on this night to aid him in the fighting. Ha, his mother would never believe him when he tells her he’s gotten into a little scrap and he wasn’t the one who caused it. Once she extended her hand he realized once again that this isn’t Japan and so Yusuke responds in kind by shaking her hand, holding her firmly.
━━ ❝ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧. ❞ Not because he felt she has a good grip of her own, but just the way she moved..like she’s accustomed in taking down the local thugs and if that was the case he was beginning to feel sorry for them. “Up..” He then looks up, the only thing he’s able to see beyond the opposing walls that make this alley was the cold starless night. “Don’t exactly see an elevator t’ get up there.”
just some cass metas so i can figure things out ;
001. Cassandra learned body language before language. It became the first and only thing she could understand. Since taking up the mantle of b//atgirl, she's undergoes/undergone speech therapy to improve her speech. Despite being able to speak, she speaks more so with clear intent or prefers fewer words. When she speaks in a longer form, it's with feelings behind them or meaning.
002. I believe this sits as canon for most bat//family members, but Cass teaches self-defense techniques to the women of G//otham on a volunteer basis. Giving them the means to defend themselves from the city's mean streets, she's thrilled to put her skills to use for more than crimefighting. To give her bloodied legacy a far better meaning alongside serving as b//atgirl.
003. Strong silent type. Most problems are internalized, although some are expressed through reckless behaviors in the field. A strong sense of guilt sits inside her from past actions, along with the sting of failure that comes from the past. She throws herself into the field in a way to make up and bury those feelings more often than not. A bit hard to get a read on if you don't know her very well.
004. It's almost impossible to lie to Cass. Reading body language and additional training made her a walking lie detector. The tiniest shift of weight, the subtle twitch of an eye, a quirk of lips tend to be more than enough for her to read people. She doesn't think fondly of liars, especially when they're close to her. On the same note, because her social skills are developing gradually, her mouth reacts faster than her mind to family matters. Reading the members of the b//atfamily, unfortunately, happens all too often. She worries for them; she blurts out what they're trying to hide, sometimes leading to more friction between them.
005. A strong craving for fast food, not necessarily the fondest of sweets.