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[tadpoled]

“Ah, this is Tav. Kindly leave your message.”

voice ; text ; action;

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[tadpoled]

[Tav nods, fighting the urge to bury his hands in his hair. He would love to fo out into the wilderness, experience nature to the fullest, but there is no way he can do that safely.

Instead he must be shackled like the monster he is.] Whatever it takes to keep others safe.

[cozen]

That's the spirit.

[ Having acquired a safe distance from the appetite-ruining talk about gore and missing eyes, now, he resumes eating his stew. ]

[tadpoled]

[Tav nods with an inconsequential,] Mm.

[As he purposely leaves our the part that he’ll be summarily executed if he hurts anyone, night or day.]

Do you live in the Gallows? Or have you moved away?

[cozen]

[ Bastien cants his head to one side while he chews and swallows, trying to decide whether this question is related to murder or just an attempt to talk about something cheerier.

Either way: ]

I live in the city. I was in the Gallows until a few months ago, because—well, it's free. And my— [ he decides, after a beat, to spare Tav the Orlesian term ] —my companion, he was the head of the Diplomacy Division, and he had to be here. The Division Heads have rooms connected to their offices so they can always be summoned at a moment's notice. But he stepped down, so we have some freedom now.

The Gallows isn't so bad, though. I mean, it's bad—it was a slave prison, you know? It was built to oppress. But it's come a long way. They removed the tormented slave statues from the courtyard, and we've widened the windows and installed the glowlights in the corridors. With some more color and greenery I think it could start to be pleasant.

And, [ important enough to be said twice, ] it's free.

[tadpoled]

[There’s some relief in Bastien’s words; hopefully he’ll never have to see Tav at his most murderous if he’s moved away from the Gallows.]

And the beds are so comfortable.

[A soft smile.]

That life sounds like a dream.

[cozen]

[ At the beds comment, Bastien laughs.

At the next— ]

What, living in Lowtown?

[tadpoled]

Having the freedom to live wherever you like. With whomever you like.

[He still remembers that dreamwalk with Gale so clearly: the illusion of his room in Waterdeep, the golden folds of a sunset cast over a gently rocking sea.

Gods does he miss Gale.]

But I would rather not hurt anyone than run free.

[cozen]

[ Bastien nods, his burgeoning cheer no longer burgeoning and instead fading back into a concerned, almost pouty frown. ]

I am sorry that you have to choose.

[tadpoled]

[Tav tries to shrug off the sad direction of theis conversation.]

I can go almost anywhere during the daytime. Should I grab some herbs for you and your companion?

[cozen]

Sure,

[ slightly brighter. ]

You might have to label them for me, though. I know elfroot, and I know lavender, and I know blood lotus, and that is about it.

[tadpoled]

Got it. I'm learning Thedas's herbs as well, so labeling yours will be good practice for me.

[Looking not unlike a dog with a bone to have a project.]