[FILLER MORNING — WATERDEEP ALIVE]

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  1. THE TAVERN FLOOR — FLIRTATION BEGINS EARLY

  Mel sits at the window table in a sleeveless forest-green tunic, the scars on her back faintly glowing from morning warmth. She’s sketching again—this time, a ghostly outline of a woman, hair in wind.

  Melodia walks by.Freshly dressed in a soft coral corset, thigh-highs pristine, barefoot, for no reason but indulgence.

  She leans over Mel’s shoulder, hair brushing Mel’s cheek.

  “You gave her peace,” Melodia says softly.

  Mel doesn’t look up.

  “I gave her a pce to grow.”

  Melodia’s hand hovers—just for a moment—over Mel’s shoulder.

  Then she says:“You smell like root and rain.”

  Mel says nothing.

  But doesn’t move away.

  Codex 81 — Lust Layer: Stirrings registered.Axis Shift: Comfort +1 (both). Glow: low-heat proximity.Scene remains unbroken. No confessions. Just nearness.

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  2. DAKA VS. THE EGGS

  Daka kicks open the pantry.

  “WHO ATE MY EGGS?!”

  Linguini peeks out, mouth full.Risotto ducks behind the bar.

  Lorin walks by carrying two stacked ptes. Without looking:

  “You did. At midnight. While shirtless. Crying.”

  Beat.

  Daka looks around.Grabs a pear. Bites it.

  “Those were emotional eggs.”

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  3. KRUMMAR AND THE DOG (NAME PENDING)

  Krummar sits outside, polishing his shield. The white three-legged dog rests on his cloak.

  A child from the street leans in:“Is that your dog?”

  Krummar gnces at it. The dog gnces back.

  “…We’re in negotiations.”

  He tosses a dried fish. The dog doesn’t move.

  Krummar smiles.

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  4. MELODIA AT THE MARKET — A STRANGE REQUEST

  She visits Averil’s Trinkets, a little shop of mirrors, buttons, perfume vials.

  She doesn’t buy anything.

  She whispers:“Do you have something I once gave away?”

  Averil, a half-elven shopkeeper with a missing eye, replies:

  “Depends. What was it?”

  Melodia:“A promise.”

  Averil reaches beneath the counter.Returns with a tiny locket—empty.

  Melodia’s breath catches.

  She buys it for 1 silver.

  She doesn’t open it.

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  5. MEL’S SIDE QUEST: THE SEED

  She finds a shaded alley, where a drain trickles onto stone.

  She kneels.

  Remembers the moment she let go of Breya.

  She pnts the blue seed Zelra gave her.

  It hums.

  The bricks shiver. A small, strange flower opens immediately—deep violet, faintly pulsing with light.

  It has no name.

  She smiles.Just slightly.

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  6. RENAER — JUST A BIT TOO EARLY

  He shows up at the tavern carrying two coffees.

  Mel isn’t back yet.

  Daka answers the door. Shirtless.

  Renaer sighs.

  “One day I’ll get the timing right.”

  Daka takes both coffees.“Try again tomorrow.”

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  7. LORIN’S MYSTERIOUS MEETING

  Lorin leaves at midmorning.

  Dressed finely. No expnation.

  She returns hours ter. Her sleeves rolled down. Eyes unreadable.

  She pces a sealed letter in the safe.Then returns to cleaning gsses.

  Risotto whispers:

  “She’s got a secret again.”

  Linguini:“It’s not a secret. It’s Lorin.”

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  8. RANDOM VISITOR: “GLEEP”

  A small, soggy goblin in a vest arrives. Introduces himself as:

  “Gleep! Former delivery boy, current fence, future mystery.”

  He drops a box of stolen Harper badges on the table.

  Mel picks one up.

  Melodia raises an eyebrow.

  Daka says:“We’ll keep one. Just to cause problems.”

  Krummar pockets one silently.

  Gleep bows.

  “You’ll see me again when the dreams get weird.”

  Then leaves.

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  Time passes. Laughter happens. Nothing explodes.

  Yet.

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  [FINAL NIGHT — TAVERN AFTER HOURS]

  Candles low. Windows fogged. One more breath before fate resumes.

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  1. SCENE: THE FIREPLACE – INTIMATE AUTONOMY ACTIVE

  The tavern is quiet now. The tables wiped. The front door locked. Just the fire crackling, and the subtle scent of citrus and wood polish lingering in the air.

  One by one, they remain.

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  MELODIA sits on the hearth ledge, curled into her cloak, one bare thigh visible beneath tangled stockings. Her hair is slightly damp from a bath. Her voice hums a slow, romantic lulby—not for anyone, but not unwelcome.

  Her moonstone choker glows pale silver. Her eyes catch Krummar’s, and she smiles.Not flirtatious. Just… soft.

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  KRUMMAR sits in a worn armchair near her, polishing his shield in silence. The white dog lies beneath him, snoring. The firelight dances across his gray skin and silver-etched armor.

  He says, after a long silence:

  “If she’s watching… she’s proud.”

  Melodia replies:“She is. I feel it when I sing.”

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  DAKA is sprawled on the floor nearby, legs crossed, shirt half-buttoned, drinking straight from a bottle of firebrandy. His hat is perched on a mp, for no reason but aesthetic audacity.

  He points at Mel, who is sitting in a windowsill, sketching.

  “If you cry again, I’m gonna punch the moon.”

  Mel, without looking up:“That’s romantic, in a threatening way.”

  “You get me.”

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  MEL closes her journal. Sets it down. Walks over. Sits on the floor beside Daka. Her back brushes his knee. He doesn’t move.

  She says:

  “You talk too much.”

  He says:

  “You feel too much.”

  “Fair.”

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  LORIN enters quietly, dressed in a robe, hair unpinned for once. She moves like a shadow with a spine. She sets down six tiny cups. Pours tea into each.

  One for everyone.One for the empty chair.

  No one speaks.But everyone drinks.

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  THE FINAL MOMENT:

  Melodia stands. Takes her lyre. Pys three notes.

  Soft. Beautiful. Unfinished.

  Mel, beside Daka, adds:

  “We’re not done, are we?”

  Krummar:

  “We never are.”

  Lorin:

  “The letter said dawn.”

  Daka lifts his gss.

  “To the next ghost we piss off.”

  Melodia lifts hers, dreamy and perfect:

  “To the ones we won’t forget.”

  Everyone drinks.

  The fire flickers.

  The dog sighs.

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  END OF FILLER ARC — NIGHT CONCLUDES.

  The party sleeps. Waterdeep dreams.And high above… the spires of Bckstaff Tower begin to pulse with runes.

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  Next Up: Arc Two – The Bckstaff Convergence.