[On Tav's end, the headache continues to grow, multiplying in pressure until suddenly it's gone. Like a puff of smoke, it simply disappears and Tav can only hope it means what he thinks. When Gale and Astarion return and Astarion indicates a cost for the silence, Tav's stomach drops into free fall. His head whips to Gale, paling.]
[Gale shoots Astarion an annoyed look, which seems to roll off him without issue.
Gale drops back into the chair next to Tav, reaching for his hand and tangling their fingers together.]
Nothing as dramatic as it sounds out of Astarion’s mouth. [He does look a little hesitant though, looking at Tav but not quite meeting his eyes.] He asked after the crown.
I suppose if I get my hands on it once, I can get my hands on it twice. If its reunion with Mystra is delayed — well, my situation is the same as it has been.
[He kisses the back of Tav’s hand.] He is also willing to give us the hammer in exchange, should we go that route. And you’ll be safer here now.
Gale. [Tav can't believe Gale has done this for them. What a cost, risking his own life for the benefit of Tav and the rest of the party. The offer of the hammer as well as the silence is so, so deeply tempting and Tav feels his insides squirm. They could always do more legwork to find another away, but it seems the deal has already been made.]
It did go quiet. [Tav bites his lip.] We'll steal it back, I promise. We won't leave you with the orb.
[Gale kisses Tav’s hand again, holding it tight, his voice quiet.]
I love you. And I am far more concerned for your safety than her happiness. It’s in her best interest to keep me hale and hearty so she knows where — [He taps his scar.] This is. We’ll figure something out.
At the very least I think we now have far more options available to us, and a place to discuss which one to pursue.
[Tav is so soft for hand kisses that he melts in his seat a little bit, despite the company. He quietly vows to go into the Hells to recover the crown, no matter what. Tav sucks in a breath before nodding, keeping his and Gale's fingers knitted together as he begins the conversation about their options.]
We can choose to accept the orphic hammer, especially since the deal is already made, and free Orpheus. Or we can align ourselves with the Emperor in the fight, trusting that he wants the best for us.
Both require a great deal of trust in beings we don't know very well, so no decision will be made without everyone consenting to our choice.
[Gale holds Tav's hands in both of his, clasped tight in his lap. There's something strangely freeing about making an agreement with Raphael, ill-advised as it may be. Whatever his internal angst about the crown and Mystra, at least now the weight of that decision has been stripped away to a degree.
Not to mention Tav's safety.]
Lae'zel has made quite a case for freeing Orpheus -- and, personally, I am not especially inclined to align with the Emperor. He's made himself useful to us only as far as our goals have been aligned, and I imagine that if he thinks that's no longer true he won't hesitate to leave us all for dead.
[Gale runs this thumb over the back of Tav's hand, glancing at him briefly.] That's partly why we had to relocate, after all.
[Tav continues to keep squeezing Gale's hand, reminding him that they're both safe for now. Deals have been made, but now they have another decision to make. He listens to Gale and nods along. It's an excellent argument, but Tav still wants the input of the entire team.
He looks to the rest of the group, worry on his face. If they can't come to an agreement, they may have to ask for more time.]
I don't want anyone to have to fight against their conscience. I would like to call for a vote then.
I must admit I find myself troubled to learn of his relationship with Duke Stelmane… it’s hard not to wonder if he didn’t have something to do with her ill health, or if that’s what would lie ahead for us. [Wyll furrows his brow.] Orpheus.
Orpheus. [Astarion sighs and waves a hand dismissively.] Not that either of them are especially good options.
Fair enough. [Gale looks to Tav, expression still pensive.] We’re in agreement it seems, my dear.
[And there it is. An agreement of how to move forward. With a path set, Tav thought he would have been more reassured, but as he looks over to Gale, he can't help the urge to want to lock themselves in their room at the Elfsong and ignore all the other goings on as long as they can.
But he knows they can't do that. Not with the Netherbrain in Baldur's Gate. Not with the tadpoles still squirming around in their brains.]
Alright, we'll retrieve the Orphic Hammer and then confront the Emperor. He will already have his guard up after a silence so long, we will need to be prepared as soon as it drops.
If you have other business in the city, I would take care of it quickly. [Gale glances at Tav, grim determination in his eyes.] I imagine we have a bit of time to get ourselves in order, but I think once you're prepared to leave, my dear, we'll have to move quickly -- he seems more interested in you than the rest of us.
[To what end, Gale would prefer not to consider. He strokes his thumb over the back of Tav's hand again, trying to hide his anxiety - though they're all likely feeling it, at this point.] Do you have a moment, though?
[Tav nods and the party begins to disperse to make preparations. leaving Gale and Tav to speak in relative privacy. Tav gives Gale’s hand a squeeze, looking over at him with a touch of worry.]
If this is about the orb, I won’t hear it. I’m not sacrificing you.
That and the crown, I suppose. [Gale lifts Tav's hand, pressing it to his cheek and holding it there.] I'm sorry I didn't talk to you first, about the crown. I just...
I didn't see a safer path forward. If the price of protecting you is keeping this magic in me a while longer, it's worth it. As for the orb...
[He sighs, kissing Tav's palm.] I love you. I don't... I'm not asking you to let me do anything. I don't want to. But if I had the choice between using the orb and watching you die, I don't -- I don't know how I could -- [Gale falters, eyes a little damp.] I love you. I would prefer to look forward to what we might have after all of this, together.
We’ll find a way to steal it back from Raphael. I promise.
[But Gale continues and Tav’s heart quietly breaks. His fingers caress Gale’s cheek, worry written into every inch of his face.]
No, I cannot allow it. Gale. I will not lose you when there are other options! I only wish to think of our future, together. [Tav’s eyes begin to sting.] I love you too much to allow you to detonate yourself. Please Gale.
I'm not eager to put myself in a position to make the worst possible choice, my love. [Gale brushes a thumb across the high point of Tav's cheek as his eyes start to well, his own brow furrowed.] I can think of no circumstance where I would ever be eager to leave your side, even for a moment.
[He tugs Tav into his arms -- there's no shortage of people sharing chairs in Sharess' Caress, but even if they were still at Elfsong Gale doesn't seem as if he'd be bothered.]
I love you desperately, Tav. More than I ever thought I might be able to love anyone. [He tucks his face in the curve of Tav's shoulder, voice quiet.] We'll spend a tenday here when this is over. The finest room they have, and we'll hide ourselves away from it all until we decide what we want to do next.
[Tav’s eyes well up as Gale pulls him in close. No this can’t be the last time they embrace like this. The promise of a tenday, just the two of them, hidden away is a promise Tav intends to keep.]
I’m holding you to that promise, love. If you break it, I will never forgive you.
You have my word. [Gale lifts his head, carding a hand through Tav's hair and drawing him in for a tender kiss.] I love you desperately, my dear. We will survive this together, and I look forward to many, many conversations about what comes next for us.
[The single kiss is not enough for Tav, not after talk of the orb. He meets Gale’s lips not once but twice, thrice, as many times as Gale will allow him.
Only after that will Tav allow them to start to disentangle.]
[And then the bubble silence disappears as quickly as it was granted. The Emperor is on Tav as soon as the silence ends, with dozens of questions. Tav reaches over to steady himself on Gale.]
We need to pick up the ha—
[Accusations of betrayal pile on top of the questions and Tav starts to get dizzy.] Hammer. Need to get the hammer.
[Gale wraps an arm around Tav's waist, holding him close to help keep him upright as they retreat to Raphael to fetch the hammer.
Gale signs his agreement to exchange it for the crown with a nervous flourish, grimacing at the whiff of sulfur that lingers in the air when Raphael disappears with it with a laugh.
Gale hefts it, kissing Tav's forehead and grimacing at how clammy he is.]
I'm sure the others are downstairs by now -- I don't suppose I can convince you to stay here while we find the Netherbrain.
[Tav hates watching Gale potentially signing away his future. There should be other options, but this is all they have before them. His eyes blur over at the sight of the hammer, as the Emperor, too, knows what having the hammer means.
Now they need a way into the prism, to free Orpheus, to shed the influence of the Emperor.
The kiss to his forehead causes Tav to blink back into the here and now. At the mention of the Netherbrain, Tav shakes his head.]
We've gone this far together, Gale. I don't intend to abandon you now.
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Date: 2024-08-31 10:40 am (UTC)What did it cost?
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Date: 2024-08-31 11:29 am (UTC)Gale drops back into the chair next to Tav, reaching for his hand and tangling their fingers together.]
Nothing as dramatic as it sounds out of Astarion’s mouth. [He does look a little hesitant though, looking at Tav but not quite meeting his eyes.] He asked after the crown.
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Date: 2024-08-31 11:34 am (UTC)But you need to get the crown to Mystra.
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Date: 2024-08-31 11:39 am (UTC)[He kisses the back of Tav’s hand.] He is also willing to give us the hammer in exchange, should we go that route. And you’ll be safer here now.
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Date: 2024-08-31 11:47 am (UTC)It did go quiet. [Tav bites his lip.] We'll steal it back, I promise. We won't leave you with the orb.
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Date: 2024-08-31 11:54 am (UTC)I love you. And I am far more concerned for your safety than her happiness. It’s in her best interest to keep me hale and hearty so she knows where — [He taps his scar.] This is. We’ll figure something out.
At the very least I think we now have far more options available to us, and a place to discuss which one to pursue.
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Date: 2024-08-31 12:04 pm (UTC)We can choose to accept the orphic hammer, especially since the deal is already made, and free Orpheus. Or we can align ourselves with the Emperor in the fight, trusting that he wants the best for us.
Both require a great deal of trust in beings we don't know very well, so no decision will be made without everyone consenting to our choice.
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Date: 2024-09-01 07:05 pm (UTC)Not to mention Tav's safety.]
Lae'zel has made quite a case for freeing Orpheus -- and, personally, I am not especially inclined to align with the Emperor. He's made himself useful to us only as far as our goals have been aligned, and I imagine that if he thinks that's no longer true he won't hesitate to leave us all for dead.
[Gale runs this thumb over the back of Tav's hand, glancing at him briefly.] That's partly why we had to relocate, after all.
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Date: 2024-09-02 01:01 am (UTC)He looks to the rest of the group, worry on his face. If they can't come to an agreement, they may have to ask for more time.]
I don't want anyone to have to fight against their conscience. I would like to call for a vote then.
Orpheus. [Lae'zel provides.]
Orpheus. [Karlach.]
Orpheus. [Shadowheart.]
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Date: 2024-09-03 05:36 am (UTC)Orpheus. [Astarion sighs and waves a hand dismissively.] Not that either of them are especially good options.
Fair enough. [Gale looks to Tav, expression still pensive.] We’re in agreement it seems, my dear.
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Date: 2024-09-03 03:53 pm (UTC)But he knows they can't do that. Not with the Netherbrain in Baldur's Gate. Not with the tadpoles still squirming around in their brains.]
Alright, we'll retrieve the Orphic Hammer and then confront the Emperor. He will already have his guard up after a silence so long, we will need to be prepared as soon as it drops.
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Date: 2024-09-05 04:29 am (UTC)[To what end, Gale would prefer not to consider. He strokes his thumb over the back of Tav's hand again, trying to hide his anxiety - though they're all likely feeling it, at this point.] Do you have a moment, though?
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Date: 2024-09-05 02:11 pm (UTC)If this is about the orb, I won’t hear it. I’m not sacrificing you.
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Date: 2024-09-05 03:00 pm (UTC)I didn't see a safer path forward. If the price of protecting you is keeping this magic in me a while longer, it's worth it. As for the orb...
[He sighs, kissing Tav's palm.] I love you. I don't... I'm not asking you to let me do anything. I don't want to. But if I had the choice between using the orb and watching you die, I don't -- I don't know how I could -- [Gale falters, eyes a little damp.] I love you. I would prefer to look forward to what we might have after all of this, together.
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Date: 2024-09-05 03:16 pm (UTC)[But Gale continues and Tav’s heart quietly breaks. His fingers caress Gale’s cheek, worry written into every inch of his face.]
No, I cannot allow it. Gale. I will not lose you when there are other options! I only wish to think of our future, together. [Tav’s eyes begin to sting.] I love you too much to allow you to detonate yourself. Please Gale.
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Date: 2024-09-05 03:24 pm (UTC)[He tugs Tav into his arms -- there's no shortage of people sharing chairs in Sharess' Caress, but even if they were still at Elfsong Gale doesn't seem as if he'd be bothered.]
I love you desperately, Tav. More than I ever thought I might be able to love anyone. [He tucks his face in the curve of Tav's shoulder, voice quiet.] We'll spend a tenday here when this is over. The finest room they have, and we'll hide ourselves away from it all until we decide what we want to do next.
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Date: 2024-09-05 04:04 pm (UTC)I’m holding you to that promise, love. If you break it, I will never forgive you.
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Date: 2024-09-05 05:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-05 06:21 pm (UTC)Only after that will Tav allow them to start to disentangle.]
We will survive this.
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Date: 2024-09-05 06:37 pm (UTC)Perhaps it’s a bit selfish to say the thought of that is what will push me through this, but it’s true all the same.
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Date: 2024-09-05 06:59 pm (UTC)Whatever it takes to get through this alive
[And then the bubble silence disappears as quickly as it was granted. The Emperor is on Tav as soon as the silence ends, with dozens of questions. Tav reaches over to steady himself on Gale.]
We need to pick up the ha—
[Accusations of betrayal pile on top of the questions and Tav starts to get dizzy.] Hammer. Need to get the hammer.
so sorry i disappeared, work!
Date: 2024-09-16 02:43 am (UTC)Gale signs his agreement to exchange it for the crown with a nervous flourish, grimacing at the whiff of sulfur that lingers in the air when Raphael disappears with it with a laugh.
Gale hefts it, kissing Tav's forehead and grimacing at how clammy he is.]
I'm sure the others are downstairs by now -- I don't suppose I can convince you to stay here while we find the Netherbrain.
All good! Life comes first!
Date: 2024-09-16 04:15 pm (UTC)Now they need a way into the prism, to free Orpheus, to shed the influence of the Emperor.
The kiss to his forehead causes Tav to blink back into the here and now. At the mention of the Netherbrain, Tav shakes his head.]
We've gone this far together, Gale. I don't intend to abandon you now.