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[tadpoled]

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[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.

[tadpoled]

Alone? [Tav's brows furrow as he regards Gale. Of course Tav knows the Archmage Dekarios is quite capable, but they are dealing with a demon.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale lifts Tav’s hand to kiss the back of it, unbothered by the company of the rest of their companions.] I’d be much bolstered by your joining me, but I worry about your eavesdropper causing you any more harm.

[tadpoled]

[Tav can't help but melt a little at the kiss to the back of his hand, even if it feels a bit like a goodbye.] Astarion, could you go with him?

[He hates the idea of sending not only Gale but Astarion to face a demon, but Gale has a point. The Emperor is already very present in his head and giving any kind of warning after that morning's threat would only increase the possibility of retaliation.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

Truly a grim choice, whether to sit here and watch you fret or follow Gale as he moons after your absence. [Astarion stands all the same, though, giving Tav a quick squeeze on the shoulder.

Gale kisses Tav’s hand again, reluctant to let go but finally standing and giving Astarion a quick nod.]

We shouldn’t be long, my dear. We’ll come get you when we know you’ll be safe.

[tadpoled]

[Tav can’t help but smirk at Astarion’s complaint. He deeply appreciates that Astarion, too, cares a great deal for Gale. When Gale pulls away, Tav’s stomach churns. The last time Gale was out of his sight, he was being tortured by Orin. The last thing Tav wants is for harm to come to either Gale or Astarion.

Tav nods at both of them and before he can say anything, Karlach speaks up,]

We’ll keep him safe here ‘til you get back, yeah?

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale gives a little nod of thanks, and bends down for one last kiss on the cheek before Astarion shoos him off to find Raphael's quarters again.

The meeting with the devil goes about as well as can be expected. He obfuscates and taunts and holds both Cazador and the crown over Astarion and Gale's heads, and the conversation -- well, negotiation -- drags on far longer than Gale would have hoped.

By the time he returns with Astarion, Astarion's looking exceptionally churlish, and Gale's wearing an expression of somewhat placid resignation, the same sort he's worn every time Elminster's crossed his path so far.

He drops a hand to Tav's shoulder with a gentle squeeze.] Whatever conversations we need to have can be had here safely, but he can't do much outside Sharess' Caress.

[Astarion scoffs.] And ask him what that cost.