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[sterngaze]

I love me some gen threads, especially funny or drama-filled ones, but I am also shamelessly here for shipping AUs. The general Liem-shipping vibe is "I want more than this, but I shouldn't & they can't possibly want me back," so if you're into that, I've got what you need. His default setting is very D&D-like high fantasy, but I'm comfortable playing him in modern fantasy settings as well. Pretty much any prompt can also accommodate Liem being a full vampire instead of a dhampir, if that's your thing. Prompts for inspiration: • Arranged Marriage: Liem's shady vampire family has arranged his marriage to you, but he seems a rather reluctant fiance. • Bodyguard Shipping: It's Liem's duty to keep you safe and out of trouble, possibly despite your best efforts. • Companion to Royalty: Reclusive vampire king Liem and YOU! Are you a gift from a local power? Sacrifice from the townsfolk? Or did you just stumble up the road to his castle during a storm? • Enemies to Lovers: Maybe Liem is a foreign agent trying to sabotage your country or organization. Or maybe you're rebelling against the current regime and he's trying to take you in. • Fake Dating/Fake Married: A relationship is your cover story while you're travelling for some secret reason. Gotta keep up appearances. • Hunter & Hunted: Are you a hunter trying to track Liem down? Or a snack that proved more than he bargained for? • Hurt (Comfort Optional): Whether he's hurt, sick, drugged, or just upset, two things remain constant: Liem needs help, and he doesn't want to accept it. But maybe you don't want to fix him anyway; maybe you want to make him worse. • Living a Lie: Whether you're undercover on a mission, or you lied to cover something up and now you have to commit, you're stuck playing a role until you accomplish some secret objective — or until you can shake off your nosy company. • Loss of Control: For whatever reason, one of you is struggling not to go berserk — or perhaps has already failed. If it's Liem, can you help him come back to himself, or are you the one pushing him over the edge? • Out of the Frying Pan: The classic "tried to help someone in trouble, ended up with a new and possibly worse problem" situation. But at least you're in it together! • Priest/Celibacy: Default here is that Liem is the priest, but it could go the other way. Smutty, or just laden with UST? You decide. • Texting: Stupid TFLN-style text threads, my beloved... • Random Scenario: For if none of the above tickle your fancy. contact. Sporelett | info. Link | permissions. Link

CODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[sterngaze]

Is a grumpy wizard the same as a temperamental castle? Perhaps in some ways. Liem raises an eyebrow, and thinks that he might be fortunate not to have enough personal experience to say for sure.

“See that you do,” Liem says, inclining his head with a hint of what might be humour and might be relief. He's used to people in his domain doing as he instructs, but the living in particular sometimes let their curiosity get the better of them. “Come; I'll show you the rest of the wing.”

There's plenty in this area of the castle alone to keep most guests busy; though many of the rooms are windowless, they are well-furnished with games, comforts, and novelties. Parlours, music rooms, and gathering halls provide a place for courtiers to mingle and gossip. The libraries and trophy halls are rich with books and relics of all kinds. Finally Liem shows his new consort to her rooms, which are up a flight of stairs and, somewhat uniquely, are actually possessed of windows. He bids her good day there and leaves her in the hands of the rooms' attendants to settle in.

It's some time later when they next have a moment together. The King keeps himself busy, often shut inside his office or hearing grievances in his throne room, but at night, between his other duties, he does sometimes take the opportunity to walk the gardens. Usually he takes an aide on such walks, to attend his work in the pleasant atmosphere of the night-blooming flowers—but not always. On this night he's come by himself to wander the flowers and the statuary and gently-spilling fountains, seemingly lost in thought.

[leetle]

The more of the castle Jester sees, the more she feels at ease. She won't be alone, here; she'll have attendants to play games with, eat with and talk with. And best of all: her quarters have windows. It makes her a little less lonely for the view of the sea she'd had from her bedroom at the Lavish Chateau. Once she's alone, she spends a long time laying in the middle of her bed with only her own breathing and the soft shifting of organza from her gown to keep her company.

The next few days pass in a blur. She spends much of her time unpacking her many trunks; her attendants help her hang up all her gowns, and fold her linens, and set up her art easel and painting supplies by the window. Slowly, she begins to venture out into the hallways, exploring each room on her own and doing her best to stay out of mischief. Her pet weasel, Sprinkle, accompanies her most everywhere, tucked into her clothing or draped around her neck and under her hair like a furry little scarf. She leaves him in her rooms at mealtimes, though, since most people don't enjoy having a small furry animal at the table, and her Mama had made her promise not to be a nuisance.

Tonight, though, she brings him out for a bit of fresh air, tucked into her elbow with a fine leash of silver filigree attached to his collar and her wrist. Once she reaches the gardens, wrapped in a cloak of deep blue with starry silver embroidery, she lets Sprinkle down to the ground so he can scurry ahead of her and sniff around excitedly. It doesn't occur to her that anyone else might be out at this late hour, despite all signs pointing to that being likely.

She trips along the path, trying her best to keep Sprinkle from destroying any flowers by trampling them, and draws up short when she turns and sees a figure a little ways ahead of her. Even turned away from her, she knows who he is without a second glance. She panics for a moment; should she leave? Pretend she never saw him? Surely he's heard her by now, don't vampires have really good hearing? Might as well lean into it.

"I guess I'm not the only one who wanted some fresh air tonight," she calls, voice lilting playfully.

[sterngaze]

Deep night is indeed a busy time for vampires, though Liem’s court is depopulated enough that even at this time of night, finding a quiet corner is no real challenge. He goes in search of fresh air as a reprieve from his study and its reams of paperwork, dressed today in shimmering bronze and dark seafoam colours that lend his blue eyes a turquoise tint.

The sound of approaching footsteps registers in his ears considerably before he actually turns his head; the rhythm of strolling, delicate little feet does not cause him any particular nervousness, and it’s actually the subtle clink of Sprinkle’s leash that convinces him to turn away from the garden vista he was overlooking to see Jester approaching up the path.

“Good evening, Jester. Yes, I thought it was time to take a short break.”

His gaze dips to regard the long, furry creature scurrying around her feet. Unsurprisingly, no one has yet brought Sprinkle into His Majesty’s line of sight, and his eyebrows rise a little as he looks at it.

“And who is this…?”

[leetle]

The moment Liem turns, Jester drops into a curtsey, her horn jewelry tinkling right alongside the delicate leash looped through her fingers. When she rises again, she's smiling, sharp little tiefling fangs gleaming in the moonlight, and Sprinkle is held between her hands, squirming slightly. She holds the weasel up for the King's inspection.

"Sprinkle, Your Majesty. He's my weasel." The poor creature looks like he's been through it; several of his whiskers are bent or broken, and he's got a chunk missing from one ear. He also looks like he's developed something of a twitch. Carefully, Jester sets him up on her shoulder, where he clings to her cloak like he's expecting chaos to break out at any moment. "I just brought him out to enjoy your lovely gardens."

[sterngaze]

Liem leans forward slightly to take a better look at Sprinkle when Jester lifts him up to introduce them, and manages to maintain his look of polite interest even when he sees the scraggly and nervous appearance of the animal. This is not his first time being introduced to the pet of a high society lady, but this is the first time he’s seen one look quite so strung-out. He’s used to ladies’ ferrets and lap dogs and birds and bats and so on looking more glossy and pampered.

“Then I hope the gardens are to his liking—and to yours.”

He regards Sprinkle for another moment as the weasel clings to Jester’s shoulder, looking like an animal expecting to be snatched up and eaten. He doesn’t think there is any reason for a pampered pet weasel to be suddenly subject to the horrors of existence simply because of living in his castle, but after a moment of consideration, he does ask,

“How have you been settling in? Do you have everything you need?”

[leetle]

Jester doesn't seem at all fazed by Sprinkle's appearance; she reaches up absentmindedly to give the creature a little scratch beneath his chin, eliciting a contented chirrup from him. "Oh, yes, we both like them very much. I've never seen so many night-blooming flowers in one place." She pauses, before admitting, "I was going to pick some Gladiolus to put in my hair, but I didn't want to upset your gardener."

The king's inquiry beings a smile back to her face, and she nods. "It's been so lovely. My attendants make sure I'm never lonely or wanting for anything, don't worry." Jester tilts her head at him, and remembers what her Mama had said before she left home: Be attentive to his needs, my darling. That is your only job while you are with him.

"What about you, Your Highness? I'm sure you've been very busy. Is there anything I can do to make you comfortable?"

[sterngaze]

Jester's admission makes Liem raise his eyebrows in faint surprise. He'd never considered that the King's consort might ever worry about getting on the gardener's bad side. He seems briefly to mull this over before he says, “If you decide to pluck some of the blooms, no one will hear about it from me.”

She would look quite lovely with some flowers in her hair, he thinks. And when she asks him a question in return, he smiles with practised ease.

“You could walk with me,” he says, offering her his arm. He doesn't show any signs of concern about the proximity at which this might put him and the weasel. “And tell me about your home.”

[leetle]

A little flutter of something comes to life in Jester's chest. Delight, or something like it. "Thank you," she murmurs. "Your discretion is much appreciated." She's definitely going to wear some in her hair for dinner tomorrow, she decides.

The King is offering her his arm, so Jester sallies forth, easy as anything, and links her own arm through it. "I'd be delighted," she agrees, urging gently forward. "What do you want to know? Have you ever been to Nicodranas, Your Highness?"

[sterngaze]

Liem accepts her thanks with a gracious nod of his head, as solemn as if they were in a church instead of a pleasure garden.

“I have not.”

Once he has Jester’s arm in his, Liem begins taking them through the garden at a smooth, unhurried pace. He doesn’t want to rush her, lest poor Sprinkle be jostled from his perch. He’s still far from convinced of that creature’s capabilities.

“My duties often keep me from travelling, as I’m sure you can understand. What were your favourite things about living there?”

[leetle]

"That's really too bad," Jester replies, making a soft, sympathetic sound as they meander along. "I guess you're pretty tied up with things here. That's okay, though, because I've lived there my whole life, so I can tell you all about it."

She takes a moment to close her eyes, still walking, trusting Liem to keep her upright and moving in the right direction while she pictures her homeland. "It's really beautiful. It might be too sunny for you, though. The sun is shining there, like, ninety percent of the time. It's right on the sea, and at night I would lay awake and listen to the waves to fall asleep."

A sudden stab of homesickness lances through her, and she lets her eyes open again. "It's pretty great. A nice place to grow up."