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[tadpoled]

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[waterdhavianwizard]

Do you need a sleep spell, my dear? [Gale strokes his fingers through Tav’s hair, brow furrowed in concern as he watches him. Part of him wants to say something — pledge he won’t let Tav get hurt, something equally devoted and brave, but it’s hard not to feel small in the face of an Illithid’s capabilities.]

I love you desperately.

[tadpoled]

No. I don't want to see him. [Tav stretches out more on Gale's lap before settling in a position that allows him to look up at Gale.]

And I love you. More than I thought myself capable.

[waterdhavianwizard]

You’ll have to rest eventually. [Gale scratches lightly at Tav’s scalp.] Maybe we can… see if our friend at Sharess’ Caress has anything that might help. [He grimaces.] Loathe as I am to further ingratiate ourselves with a devil.

Certainly a dearth of trustworthy options available to us.

[tadpoled]

Not now. [Despite his objections, Tav's eyes are drooping under the attention from Gale.] We may have to deal him, no matter what we want.

[waterdhavianwizard]

I know, I know, I just… [Gale sighs, trying not to give in to the urge to just let Tav doze off. What harm could there be in a moment or two?

But they’ve been through too much in the last few days already.] I know. It’s not as if any of this has been ideal so far.

[He smooths his hand over Tav’s hair again.] You wanted to stay awake, my dear. Don’t make me use a little shocking grasp.

[tadpoled]

[Tav nods drowsily as Gale speaks. The headache grows more painful, but the fingers in his hair help to reduce the pressure. Before he can answer, Tav begins to drop off to sleep.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale frowns as he watches Tav drift off, giving him a gentle nudge to try to stir him awake. As he drifts off, though, the Emperor calls.]

After everything, you would still consider freeing the gith? You would set yourself against me?

[tadpoled]

[Tav realizes he's standing in the Astral Plane again, staring down the Illithid who was once his savior, now turned oppressor.]

I have also kept you alive by standing against Vlaakith. We are continuing to stand against her. If you would free Orpheus peacefully, there would be no need for conflict.

[Where Tav lays in Gale's lap, he furrows his brow.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[The Emperor’s tentacles quiver in annoyance.]

I thought we were long past such naivete. If you free him, he will kill me without hesitation— and all hope of putting a stop to the Netherbrain will be lost.

I thought we had grown close. At least close enough to trust each other. But if you free him, I will not stand idly by and let it happen.

[tadpoled]

[In Gale's lap, Tav squirms as he continues to talk with the Emperor.]

There are more possibilities than one in our path forward. Orpheus is just as important a life as you.

We had grown close, but clearly that was a mistake.

[waterdhavianwizard]

Tav, dearest, wake up. Please. [Gale gives him another light shake, brow furrowed as he considers his options — probably better to ask forgiveness than permission.]

And you are clearly more foolish than I had imagined. Freeing Orpheus will lead only to ruin. They will betray you at the first opportunity. You would truly throw all this away, for some githyanki myth?

[tadpoled]

[Tav's brow furrows deeper, growing much more pained the longer he's asleep.]

It seems that we will.

[waterdhavianwizard]

For your own sake, I hope you come to the right decision. How disappointing it would be, to have to watch you die.

[And then very suddenly there’s a sharp jolt of electricity, the obnoxious zing of a very weak shocking grasp zipping along Tav’s side as Gale resorts to a more desperate measure. It’s not strong, but certainly uncomfortable.]

Please don’t let me have to do that again.

[tadpoled]

Done it once already. Came ba--

[Tav jolts awake with the electricity, eyes wide and searching for--

Gale.

Tav lets out a breath and shifts into a sitting position.]

Sorry, he wanted an audience.

[waterdhavianwizard]

I am so sorry, my dear, I just… got a bit desperate.

[Gale gives Tav a quick once over — no serious damage, though probably some discomfort a small potion or an hour or two will easily lessen.]

He’s not pleased we’re having second thoughts, I take it?

[tadpoled]

's fine. [He really just needs to refocus on Gale, on the here and now.]

Not in the slightest.

[Tav sighs and watches Gale for a moment, wondering if he should disclose how the Emperor threatened him so soon after Bhaal killed him.

Another sigh and Tav decides that Gale should know.]

He threatened to kill me.

[waterdhavianwizard]

Godsdamnit, you can barely even have a day. [Sparks of weave flicker across Gale’s fingers for a moment and he shakes his hand out, restless and anxious, before tugging Tav into his arms.]

I don’t… I don’t have an answer yet, Tav. But we will find one. I will not let him hurt you. I won’t.

[tadpoled]

[Tav nods and runs his hands over Gale's arms, now thoroughly wake after the shock.]

I'm not sure it's much of a choice any more.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale tucks his face in the curve of Tav’s neck, holding him tight.]

Whaatever it takes to keep you safe, my dear, it will be done.

[tadpoled]

May not have much choice for that either.

[Tav sighs and kisses Gale’s cheek.]

Perhaps we should get going. The sooner he is silenced the better.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale purses his lips, lost in thought as he reluctantly slips out of bed.]

We'll find a path forward. [He sighs, sliding his boots back on and digging his old robes out of his back -- they'll do til he has some time to find something more durable. A shame about the poisoner's robes, but after everything he's got very little interest in salvaging.] We have before, we can again, difficult as it may be.

[tadpoled]

[Tav climbs out after Gale and slides back into his boots. He feels a bit bare in just casual clothing, but the bathroom tub is still full of blood and he'd rather not have a flashback of his death.

He crosses the room to Gale to kiss his shoulder before proceeding to the door.]

We have to. [He tries to add some of his usual charm, but fails. If they make an enemy of the entity that seems to want to make a playground of his brain, things could get very bad very quickly.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale tangles his fingers with Tav’s as they leave — a little needy, maybe, but Gale is reluctant to let Tav too far of his sight after everything.

The walk to Sharess’ is quiet and fortunately uneventful; it’s busy even at this early hour, and Gale stakes out a small table tucked away in a corner while they await the rest of their party.]

Have to imagine he’ll be in. [Gale grouses.] He has seemed to turn up at the most opportune times.

[tadpoled]

[Tav doesn't mind the extra touch in the slightest, whether needy or not. He'd have reached out the same if Gale had not already initiated the touch. Luckily, the walk is indeed quiet and sitting in the corner with Gale brings them closer to the conversation that will possibly determine their fate. The voice of the Emperor continues to ring in his head, but Tav is focusing on Gale across from him.]

Hope so.

[As if on cue, the rest of the party starts filing in by pairs. Tav welcomes them with a weak smile.]

Thank you for coming.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Astarion scoffs a little.] Not as if we had much choice.

[Though his irritation doesn't seem directed at Tav in particular, and it's hard for Gale to take offense to any of them being in a churlish mood given the circumstances. He gives Tav's hand a small squeeze.]

Perhaps I ought to go announce us first? Just to make sure he'll actually provide some privacy for the conversation, before we wind up tricked into revealing any more than we have.