Teresa of the Faint Smile, Adventures of a Stringy Bosmer Options

[Glargg]

For some reason my eyes are tearing up. It must be the winter dryness. Yeah, that's it...

Beautifully done.

[RainbowVeins]

Yaaaaaaaaaay!

Amazingly well-done! I found myself tearing up along with Teresa then grinning as Tadrose finally came full-circle. Good for them, they both deserve this. I'll be looking forward to seeing what's next for our newest couple. Keep it up

[liliandra nadiar]

Well, I was right in who asked the title and who it was to, though wrong on how. Still something I can live with. I'm guessing Teresa's still assuming Tadrose's daughter is dead and/or still in Morrowind, something I don't think our favorite Dunmer smith is going to correct anytime soon.

Still 'Yays' all around for T&T, shockingly, Persuader wasn't even needed! I bet next few days around the Guildhall will be interesting between the girls finding their places around each other and rest of the personalities undoubtedly making comments before Pappy slaps them silly(er).

[Jacki Dice]

Finally.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[SubRosa]

D.Foxy: Sing it Louie Armstrong! Teresa is no James Bond though! It may sound funny, but I never even though of that song when I wrote those lines for Teresa.


Acadian: After all this time, Teresa finally did come through. With a little help from her friends, as always. That scene was a pure joy to write.


Grits: The lockpicking thought was something that just flitted into my brain as I was writing it. I am glad I am not the only one who got a faint smile from it. But what is this? If she is not careful, Teresa might get a new nickname soon!


King Coin: Absolutely. Tadrose was about to go for good. Although not from the city. She cannot do that with her daughter living in Bravil. The Emperor's last words (and no, not argh! ) have always been Teresa's guiding star. Like the man himself, they are what has prompted her to change her life. It was so fitting for her to use them here, when Tadrose was so unsure of herself.


Olen: You are right, I bet those words that the Emperor told Teresa were probably told to him some day, and so on. Perhaps even going all the way back to Tiber Septim himself?

I am glad that Tadrose's feelings have been evident to so many people in not only that segment, but these last two chapters. It was important for me that she not seem like some cold and distant object, a trophy for Teresa to win, but rather be a living, breathing, and emotionally-scarred person.


McBadgere: Well, I wouldn't want to terrify your wife. But that is the reaction I was hoping for from people when they read this.


Glargg: Must be those onions you were peeling when you read it.


RainbowVeins: That last episode was quite a rollercoaster ride was it not? But it is very satisfying to see them together at last, after so much time spent dancing around one another.


liliandra nadiar: I knew you would get the asker and askee of the title right. You are also correct that Tadrose has done nothing to change Teresa's assumption that her daughter is dead. Like you, I do not see that changing any time. Teresa may be her lover, but Sere is her daughter, and children always come first.


Jacki Dice: It sure is about time isn't it? Now if we can only get Lilitu hooked up with someone nice...


All: No update this time. I have not started work on the next chapter yet. I am wrestling with a decision of who's pov to write it from. It will either be Teresa's, or from a new character's, but I am not sure which would be the most worthwhile. The advantage of the new character's pov is that it would give us a look at the Bravil FG from an outsider's perspective, someone going into it with no preconceptions or attachments. The disadvantage is that the new character has no ties to Teresa at all. In the past my alternate pov characters have always illuminated something about Teresa herself, or have been indirectly driven by her. So I have to wrestle with the decision. Needless to say, it will be a while before there is more TF.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jan 18 2012, 09:21 PM

[Acadian]

Thanks for letting us know your plans. I wish you the best as you work on the coming episodes. Know that we will be patiently waiting for more Teresa goodness.

[McBadgere]

*Pouts*...

*Goes over there to sulk*...

*Attempts to learn patience...And to play Patience...*...

[mALX]

URK !!


We can't lose our beloved Teresa for long !!! We're invested in her life, her thoughts and feelings; care and want to know what is happening to her, what she is going through.

Small slips into another point of view can be acceptable, but will it conflict with Teresa's story or enhance it? Does it further her storyline or break the immersion of it?

Grits has had this happen a couple times, and she has made a short story and posted it on its own thread - chapters that gave us insights into other characters without taking time in the story away from (Teresa) - would doing that be a solution?

Just as long as Teresa isn't lost in the shuffle, your readers will follow you wherever you take (us).

<3

[Grits]

Thank you for letting us know! Much anxious clicking has been avoided. (No update? No update? Still no update?! )

How exciting to think of seeing T & T and the rest of the guild through neutral eyes. Bringing the two of them together seems like a natural place for a shift in the story, if you want to go in that direction. Whatever you decide to do, I will be ready to read it!

[Jacki Dice]

-sniff, sniff-

I have that problem too whenever I want to switch from Wrothken to Lilitu to whoever else needs to be seen. In fact that's one reason why Wrothken has been so neglected. So I'll be waiting... patiently... maybe rereading some chapters to get my Teresa fix.

Or if you did open a new thread, I'll be there quicker than Lilitu to a new pastry shop!

And this is for Teresa and Tadrose ♥

[Olen]

I'm sure it will be good when it comes though. Until then I'll just have to wait.

This is really very good though, so I'll just take this opertunity to say thanks for sharing!

[mALX]

Urk !!

[Andrea]

Although many fans here are saddened to see no new chapter, I am ELATED!

Not because I do not like your story, oh NO, but because it gives me a lil' more time to catch up!

Great story, and I love your use of Simplicia, and the whole girl-on-girl thoughts with Nerussa AND the GENIUS idea of the ring which leaves Teresas clothes waterproof!

As you can tell I'm still far behind, but I'm working on it

[Lady Saga]

It's slow (actually dead) at my job today, and I'm TOTALLY enjoying the early read. Teresa just found herself in the prison. There's a lot to read, and forgive me if I don't wind up having the time to read it all, but it's good, SubRosa...it's realllll good!

Teresa snorted to herself. She had never set foot outside the Imperial City, let alone frolicked in any woodland. This guy was a complete idiot, she thought, there was no sense even trying to talk to him

This rocks!

Instead she pushed her lean frame against the iron bars, and found them to be as unrelenting as she had expected them to be. Pressing her head against the door, she craned her neck from one side to another in an attempt to peek down the hallway. Yet nothing but empty stone corridor stretched off to the left, and an equally empty stone stair lead up and out of sight to the right.

I've found myself doing this with several characters! Trying to get a better look...trying to peer my head (in 1st person) thru the bars! Depending on the character, I'll sometimes try to throw a fireball at that annoying dark elf (doesn't work) beating on the bars, or going off to a far corner to get bummed out and what not.

Teresa followed more slowly. She felt for the magicka within her, and concentrated on the symbol of her Flare spell. Not for the first time, she thanked the magician who had taught it to her. Until now she had only used it on mud crabs. She hoped she would not need it for anything else…

Sorry I keep quoting your story...can't help it! i'm feeling generous today. But I just love this bit. I'm also always trying to think of little ways the game can be explained like this.

Sorry...I'll stop quoting now....

"Nonsense!" the Emperor declared. Teresa would swear that his voice could level mountains.

..or command starships...lol. Sorry....

This post has been edited by Lady Saga: Apr 12 2012, 07:18 PM

[Doommeister]

*head hits brick wall repeatedly* I hate romance...I hate romance...I hate romance...

Subrosa... coming from a guy who hates romance, that was so damn good.

Keep it up, and feel free to take your time.

[SubRosa]

After a long wait, Teresa returns. I would like to thank everyone for all of their kind words in her absence. They give me more than a faint smile.

For those new to the TF, I know going through the entire thing is a monstrous chore. I am mulling over creating a cliffnotes version to help new readers get up to speed. But even if I encapsulate each chapter into a single paragraph, that will leave me with over 40 paragraphs in recap. Hence my mullage.


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last chapter found Teresa back in Bravil, feeling depressed and angry after Tadrose's rejection. Taking the advice of Ancondil, she made one more attempt to get through to the vice commander. She succeeded. Teresa learned that Tadrose had once had a daughter by the heir to a rival House, and believes that Tadrose's own family killed the infant. Tadrose admitted that Teresa had changed her life, and taught her to live again. In the end, she declared her love for Teresa.


Chapter 43.1 – Hand of Fire

28th Suns Dusk - 3rd Evening Star, 3E433

Teresa rinsed her hands in the water basin near her alchemical table, then wiped them dry with the towel hanging down its front. She looked down at the blue and pink vials of liquid that filled the small side-table beside the main working area. Upon it were arrayed enough antidotes, night eye, and shock resistance potions for a small army.

She wondered why on Nirn Pappy had wanted her to brew so many of those particular potions? Clearly something was afoot. He did not give her special orders for potions every day. Nor had he ever instructed everyone to give their armor to Tadrose for a special inspection - as he had in the morning.

They must have a big contract, Teresa mused, and an especially dangerous one at that.

She expected that Pappy would spill the beans at dinner. He had insisted that everyone be there in their best. At least they would get a good meal before learning what they would be up against. Teresa wondered if this was how it had been before Bruma? She bit her lip. Surely there would be no more battles like that in Cyrodiil, now that the Oblivion Crisis was over? Unless Pappy had news about Summerset Isle that no one else yet possessed…

The forester stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her. The corridor was much smaller than those in the two floors below. The only other doors led to a storeroom across from the workshop, and Pappy's combined office and bedroom at the end of the hall.

Teresa knew that the guild commander would not be there however. He would be down in the kitchen making dinner. She bit her lip once more, and hoped that he would remember to make something without meat. Otherwise she would end up having bread again, like the first time she had eaten dinner at the guild.

Teresa walked through the short hall to the stairs that crisscrossed their way down to the foyer on the ground floor. She only made her way to the second story of the guild hall however, and went to her room. She paused as the sound of heavy footsteps and clattering metal came to her ears, and looked back to the stair.

Rising from the first floor was Morghak. The orc was clad in a simple tunic and leather pants. Slung over her shoulder was a bag that clanked with every step she took. Teresa imagined that her armor must have been inside, and that the Orisimer had just picked it up from Tadrose. The corners of Morghak's mouth turned down ever so slightly as her eyes met Teresa's. She nodded to the wood elf, but said nothing as she marched past her down the hall. Teresa turned back to her room and stepped inside.

Teresa was not surprised at the cool reception. Not anymore at least. Ever since she and Tadrose had made their relationship clear to the rest of the guild, Morghak had barely said more than two words to either of them. Teresa supposed that sapphic relationships were not common in Orsinium, or at least not publically acknowledged. Granted, that was little different from Cyrodiil.

Yet the other guild members did not seem perturbed. Ancondil was his usual amiable self. He had better be, considering how he had prompted her to pursue Tadrose! Likewise with Pappy. Valerius was no different either. That was no surprise, given how they had first met at the Wawnet Inn…

Chance was nothing but smiles, and she had even overheard him thanking Ancondil for talking to her about Tadrose. Teresa still had no idea why the Redguard would say that. Vincent and Tavian even joked about wanting to watch her and Tadrose when they were in bed together! Storm-Tail was his usual silent, expressionless self. Even for an Argonian, he gave little clue as to what he was feeling. That could mean something, or nothing at all.

Teresa shrugged, and glanced at the empty arming rack beside the doorway. Tadrose had Aldariel down in the armory, checking it along with everyone else's gear. Teresa knew that nothing was wrong with her armor of course. She watered it every day after all, and had even moved the rack so that the miran-talurn armor would catch the late morning sun from her window.

Crossing the small room, she went to her dresser and began rummaging through the folded clothing within. Drawing forth the emerald gown she had bought her second day in Bravil, she held the soft velvet up against her frame. She frowned when she saw her image in the mirror of her washbasin however. The dress was cut low in the chest. Low enough that the scars on her shoulder would be plain to all. So too would be the marred flesh left behind by the city guard arrow that had found its way into her breast. She could never wear a dress like that again.

Teresa sighed, and stuffed the gown to the bottom of the drawer. She continued searching the dresser and armoire beside it, but everything seemed too casual, like the leather pants and linen tunics she usually wore. Or it revealed too many of her flaws, like her velvet dress. She had more clothing then she had ever seen in her life. Yet she had nothing to wear!

Finally, she took out a plain white chemise. It was far from her best, but at least she could pull up the shoulders. That should cover the worst of the scars. A tan skirt followed, and finally she drew on a light brown bodice and laced it up her chest. She stared in the mirror afterward and bit her lip. The scars were still there.

She sighed and sat on her bed. There was nothing she could do. The deep gouges in her flesh were there, and everyone would see them.

With the fingers of one hand, she undid her bodice and threw it on the floor. The chemise and skirt followed a moment later. Wearing nothing but her loincloth and the green velvet spirit bag that hung from her neck, she stared at her naked body in the mirror. It was lean, hard, and scarred. Even her hands were callused from the constant use of her bow. She was a far cry from the soft and feminine ideal that women were supposed to live up to.

But Tadrose did not seem to mind. If anything, the vice-commander was even more muscular and scarred then Teresa was herself. She was even further from the soft and curvy fantasy that women were supposed to be. Yet no woman had ever set her on fire like Tadrose. Not even Nerussa.

Teresa strode back to the dresser, and yanked out the green velvet gown. She was going to be in her best, and she damned well did not care what anyone thought about it!

Screenshot

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 10 2012, 01:12 AM

[Jacki Dice]

New chapter!! I generally don't check Chorrol first thing in the morning, but something told me to do so today

This was a great write It's nice to see the guild members (most of them, anyway) reacting well to Teresa and Tadrose. I bet they saw it coming a long time ago!

[Acadian]

Woven within this delightful interlude was a masterful summary that fully accounted for the delay since Teresa’s last episode.

We were gently brought fully back up on the relationship between T&T with the added bonus of providing her guild mates' reactions. You spent an extra moment or two with Morghak – a good call since she is a bit newer to TF. I enjoyed the review of her wonderful and unique armor and its plant-like requirements. You reminded us that although Teresa is hardened and scarred, she is still full of self-doubts that include those about her appearance. And finally, Teresa reminds us that she is made of pretty determined stuff as she pulled on that beautiful green gown for (hopefully) a meatless dinner-a- la-Pappay.

It is so wonderful to have our stringy redhead back! And we are all waiting to learn what this big, dangerous contract for her guild is!

’She had more clothing then she had ever seen in her life. Yet she had nothing to wear!’
Yup. Teresa is all gurl!!!

[McBadgere]

You spent an extra moment or two with Morghak – a good call since she is a bit newer to TF.

Not as new as some of us reading it though... ...

*Does dance of joy*...YAY!!!... ...< Dance of joy...Honest!...

She's baaack!!... ...

Excellent stuff...

Wonder what is afoot within the guild house presently?...Yes...

Speaking as a man whose woman is constantly (and completely unnecessarily) bringing herself down about her appearance, I thought Teresa's unhappyness at the end was very true to life...

Vincent and Tavian even joked about wanting to watch her and Tadrose when they were in bed together!

Ah men of all worlds, when confronted with lesbians... ...

Love it!!...Missed it!!...So glad it's back!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily with a tear of joy in his eye*...

[Grits]

Yay, Teresa is back!

She looked down at the blue and pink vials of liquid that filled the small side-table beside the main working area. Upon it were arrayed enough antidotes, night eye, and shock resistance potions for a small army.

Hmm, all I can come up with is a cave full of spider daedra. I wonder what these are for.

It was great to get a mention of each guild member in the context of how they have reacted to T&T’s relationship. It reminded me who everyone is and also filled in the social climate both within the guild and in the greater TF.

I was happy to see Teresa comparing her own physique favorably to that of her beloved Tadrose. I suspect that her idea of the feminine ideal is another misguided inheritance from former prostitute Simplicia. It was great to see Teresa moving toward embracing her own standard of beauty.