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: 2024-09-05 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.
no subject
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.