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[tadpoled]

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[tadpoled]

[Tav holds a hand to his chest as he continues to lean against Gale, breathing in short gasps. He'd rather Gale not let him go, so he's clinging with his injured arm.

Withers seems to be speaking directly to him, though so he turns ever so slightly.]

But there is a new part of you that hath grown during thy travels. That part, Bhaal could not extinguish and so instead of destroying thee, he hath made thee anew.

[Tav shakes his head, confused.] Does that mean it's gone? The Urge?

[waterdhavianwizard]

I'm here. I've got you.

[Gale murmurs against Tav's hair, cradling him close, barely moving enough to look to Withers again with a hint of bewilderment.]

He... you're... you're you. Who you've worked so hard to be. You've done so much for so many in such a short time, my love. You deserve a second chance.

[Withers, as if in acknowledgement,] The heart of a savior hath overshadowed the heart of a murderer. Thou has vanquished thine urge.

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[Tav's world suddenly goes quiet. Wither's words fade into white noise and Gale's as well. For a moment, all Tav can hear is the beat of his own heart in his ears. He's defeated the Urge? He's finally outwitted Bhaal? He can breathe and not worry about the night to come? It all seems so impossible after dealing with violent thoughts and urges for months now.

Tav's breathing slows as he stares blankly, in shock, at the news he's been given.

However, this does not stop Withers,] This intervention, the reclamation of thy soul is beyond mine ordinary remit. But thou art extraordinary, and so are these times. Today, thou art born anew.

[waterdhavianwizard]

I am so proud of you.

[There are probably more questions to ask -- about Withers, about what's happened, about Tav's startling return from death. But Gale can think of very little but Tav, breathing in his arms, body slowly warming as they hold each other.]

I have never met anyone half as extraordinary as you. [Gale tips Tav's face towards his for just a moment, searching it before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

He climbs to his feet, finally, Astarion helping both of them to stand when Gale wobbles slightly.]

Go forth, and greet the bloodless dawn, child of none. As it was, so it is again -- a hero has risen from a legacy of death.

[And, with no further fuss, he vanishes in a smoky haze, leaving Gale bewildered as Astarion mutters, hopefully he's escorted himself back to camp if you want to get any actual answers.]

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[The kiss to Tav's forehead is what breaks the elf from his shock. He blinks and finds Gale so close, wounded but practically wrapped around him. Astarion helps them to their feet and Tav realizes that Gale is still wounded, or is that his blood? He's not sure what to be certain of, except that he is somehow free of the Urge.]

Elfsong. [Tav murmurs, too thoroughly exhausted to think of anywhere else. Camp currently holds too many bad memories: the bloody letter, unable to find Gale in the morning.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

Of course.

[Gale keeps an arm around Tav as Astarion helps them both trudge back through the sewers through town, leading them through less-occupied alleyways and looping paths back to the Inn as they manage to avoid the silent intensity of the Steel Watch and more rambunctious Fists.

Gale does his best to keep the party's fussing over Tav to a minimum when they arrive, at least til Shadowheart deals with both of their injuries. Gale keeps close all the while, one of Tav's hands clasped tight in his. He ducks his head to brush his lips to Tav's ear, quiet as Astarion gives the others a very abbreviated rundown of what little he pieced together of Orin's demise. Shadowheart politely ignores their conversation, though she does give Tav's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, her hands glowing with magic.]

Do you want to... you have a lot to share with everyone, my dear. Do you want to talk now, or rest for a bit?

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[Tav leans heavily on Gale the entire way out of the sewers, still a little wide-eyed as shock continues to fill the space where adrenaline propped him up. Once back at the Inn, his exhaustion and shock has only worsened. Everything becomes a blur until Gale asks him a question and Tav has something to focus on.

He's not sure he can remember all the details at the moment, not while his brain feels so fuzzy.]

I... I don't know.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale frowns thoughtfully, giving Tav a long look before glancing out at their gathered companions — all looking restless and anxious, their eyes darting over to Tav often in their conversations.

Fair enough, with all that’s happened. But exhausting to experience.

When Shadowheart gives them a relatively clean bill of physical health, all their cuts and slashes mended, their bruises and everything else at least softened into dull aches, exhaustion finally settles deep in Gale’s bones.]

I think we ought to clean up and rest a bit, before anything else.

[It’s mostly for Tav, but the rest of them quiet for a moment before Astarion gently shoos them off so they don’t ruin the ambience any further with all the bile they’re sporting, to which Gale musters a mostly fond roll of his eyes.

Gale stands, steadier on his feet, and gently guides Tav upstairs to their private room.]

Why don’t we start with a bath first, and we can go from there. Will that be alright? I… [He trails off, pausing just inside their room, and turns to look at Tav again for a moment, his voice quiet as he brushes his fingers over Tav’s cheek. His voice trembles just slightly when he speaks again.]

I was terrified I’d never see you again. It would reassure me a little, to take care of you for a bit.

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[Tav remains quiet in his thoughts, still unsure how or if he truly is cured. How he looked into the Fugue Plane and was pulled back at the last moment.

He allows himself to be guided upstairs and into their room. He blinks when Gale touches his face. Oh, right, they’re back at the Elfsong.

Taking a look at the blood stuck to both of them.] Bath should be nice.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale brushes his lips to Tav’s forehead, and guides him to sit at the foot of the bed while Gale sets himself to preparing the bath.

Soon enough there’s water warming in the tub, towels set nearby, and Gale carefully helps Tav undress, his touch perfunctory and quick but gentle all the same.]

In you get. [Gale guides him into the water, shucking his own ruined robe before sliding in after with a strained sigh.] Is this alright? Once we… rinse the worst of it off, I’ll refresh the water and we can have a bit of a soak.

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[Only after he’s helped into the tub does Tav seem to start coming back into awareness. He looks around for a moment or two, assessing where he’s at, before returning his gaze to Gale.

For the first time since dying, he sees Gale, truly sees him alive and well and quietly begins to sob.] ‘m sorry.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale's eyes start to well as Tav sobs. He swallows hard, doing his best to steady himself as he gently starts to rinse Tav off.]

My dear, you have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I'm sorry I allowed myself to be fooled by that wretched creature.

[He sighs, taking one of Tav's hands in his own so and lifting it to his lips before pressing Tav's palm to his cheek.]

You saved me. You defied Bhaal and... [His breath catches, and he tugs Tav into his arms.] Gods, Tav, if I'd lost you I don't know what I would have done.

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[Tav leans into Gale’s shoulder as his tears continue. He should have woken up earlier or never slept at all, he should have secured the camp better, anything to ensure Gale’s safety.

He didn’t, though, and Gale suffered for it.

Gale lifts one if Tav’s hands and Tav sits up enough to look at Gale, his bloodied face streaked with tears.]

She— she said she would kill you wearing my face. She tortured you, Gale.

[waterdhavianwizard]

Tav. [Gale reaches for a cloth and wets it, gently wiping Tav's face clean.] I am -- keenly aware, my dear.

I don't mean to be glib. I would gladly suffer the worst pains of the orb a thousand times over than sooner experience a fraction of what it was to be trapped with her ever again.

But I also watched you die. I watched... I saw Bhaal drain the blood from your veins. Felt your body go frigid in my arms. Had it not been for Mystra letting Elminster stabilize the orb, I am quite certain in that moment I might have wiped out the Gate and the Netherbrain with it.

[Gale tips Tav's head back gently, eyes dark and somber.] I doubt I'll ever forget Orin, but it does not overshadow how desperately lucky I feel to have you in my arms right now.

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[Tav looks up at Gale, into his face, for possibly the first time since Bhaal attempted to end his life. His brows knit as Gale talks and cleans and Tav feels like the desperately lucky one to have Gale here with him.]

I cannot believe I subjected you to that. [To watching him die. Of course, he assumed Bhaal would kill him for rejecting his 'gift,' but he adrenaline from defeating Orin had driven the direct choice to die.

He'd been so tired of always worrying if he would kill someone, possibly Gale, in camp again, especially after Gale had been kidnapped. He's felt balanced on a knife edge for so long that the choice was natural.]

I'm sorry.

[waterdhavianwizard]

You subjected me to nothing. Orin did, as did Bhaal, in service of subjecting you to just as much suffering. To punish you for pursuing another path.

[He tugs Tav closer, rearranging them in the bath so Tav is settled between Gale's legs, back to his chest. He nudges him forward just slightly to wash Tav's back, his other hand tracing the patterns of freckles he's grown so fond of following.]

The misfortune of lovers in dangerous times may sometimes behaving that love turned against them, but there is nothing that could make me love you any less. If what Withers said is true -- and he seems to have no reason to lie -- then I do not want to overshadow the joy of your new beginning by lingering on what we cannot change.

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[Tav settles in the new position, trying to rein in his tears. Feeling Gale's fingers move along his freckles triggers another well of tears. He came so close to never having this again.]

Gale.

[Tav's shoulders shake with the weight of his exhaustion and grief.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale tugs Tav back against him, burying his face in the curve of Tav's shoulder for a moment as he holds him tight. He tries to keep his voice light when he looks up again, but it quavers all the same.]

However am I meant to get you resting in bed, if I don't get you cleaned up first?

[He sets himself to the task with care, pausing from time to time to cradle Tav against him when tears overtake one or both of them.

Eventually they're both at least clean enough they won't ruin the sheets, and Gale slides a hand in Tav's hair, tugging his head back just slightly to kiss the corner of his mouth.]

You look much more yourself.

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Do I? [Tav asks as he shifts to better face Gale, now that they're mostly clean. The water around them is stained crimson from the blood washed off of them. Tav hates it, how it looks like Fel's blood when Bhaal emerged from the Outer Planes.

Unless Gale stops him, Tav will start to climb out of the tub, looking away from the water as much as he can.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

A good bath does wonders. [Gale nudges Tav's damp hair back from his face.] We'll have to sneak in a proper luxurious soak.

[Something a bit softer, more soothing than this grim cleanse. No matter how tender Gale tries to be, it's hard to ignore the perfunctory practicality of it: there is little sweetness in washing away such viscera. He waits for Tav to climb out and follows after, bundling Tav in a towel before he turns to deal with draining the tub.

He dumps their filthy armor in the tub once it's empty -- better to get it all out of sight and deal with it when they've had a chance to rest than to have it lurking in the corner as a grim reminder all evening, then gives his hands one last aggressive scrub in the washbasin. Maybe he'll just burn the robes.

Eventually, the room is back to some semblance of normal. Prestidigitation takes care of the last bit of mess. Hard to forget what they've been through, but at least they won't be confronted with some gruesome reminder every time they turn around.]

You should rest. [They both should, but: Gale is prone to fretting.] Is there something else you need?

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[Tav leaves Gale to do all the extra work. As soon as he has a towel wrapped around him, Tav wanders into the bedroom, stopping just short of the bed they’d made love in numerous times the last time they were here together.

He eventually sheds his towel and lets it drop to the ground as he climbs into bed.

Gale’s voice echoes from the bathroom and Tav answers in almost a whisper.] A sleep spell or potion. Please.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale feels as if he might break at Tav’s quiet voice, and when he slips back into the bedroom proper to find Tav already curled in bed, small and fragile, he falters for just a moment before climbing in after him.]

A spell. Of course, my dear.

[He settles into bed, drawing Tav into his arms again and tugging the blankets over them til they’re both ensconced, hidden away from the world and the events of the day by the quiet comfort of their room.

Gently, Gale strokes Tav’s hair, murmuring the spell loud enough for Tav to know it’s coming as Gale’s hand glows in gentle, familiar purple.]

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[Tav remains curled up in bed until Gale joins him, tucking Tav up to him. Tav desperately needs sleep and the familiar incantation is a comfort as he slowly drops off into some much needed rest.

However, before he completely falls asleep, Tav murmurs,] I love you.

[waterdhavianwizard]

I love you too, Tav. [Gale kisses the top of his head as Tav slowly dozes off, doing his best to stay awake a little longer until he’s confident Tav is properly asleep. He takes a moment to cast sending just to let Astarion they’re alright and will regroup in the morning so no one worries, then settles himself more comfortably in bed with Tav and lets himself fall asleep.]

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[For once, Tav doesn’t wrestle with nightmares or paranoia while he sleeps. No, instead he wakes up with the sun coming through the shutters, Gale tucked safely beside him. He sucks in a shaky breath before the last 48 hours since Gale was kidnapped hit Tav in the face. Stalking Orin, thinking Gale had escaped, racing after her and fighting her new form on his own. Dying while denying Bhaal and facing the Fugue Plane.

It’s still a bit too much to comprehend all at once. His heart and mind jolt awake and he goes to disentangle himself from Gale and the blankets. If asked, he’s ready with the excuse that he needs to relieve himself. Nevermind that he plans to use the privacy to try and wrap his mind around everything.]