Either will work better than this mess. [Tav gives a gentle smirk and a gesture down toward his torn, dusty, and now quite bloody collection of rags.] I'm afraid I don't remember the incantation for mend.
[He thinks he did, once. Helped to keep tents in shape, or boots from falling into disrepair, but all of that is lost to whatever happened to him in the underground. Maybe some day, he'll get everything back, but for now he freezes as Gale begins to undress.
He drinks in those broad shoulders and another memory pops into his head: one of a bed in the forest beneath the canopy of streaming stars, Gale climbing toward him with those same broad shoulders and...
No, he has to stop the sweet memory before...
Tav tastes the tang of metal on his tongue and knows he's having a nosebleed. He presses his dirty shirt beneath his nostrils and figures well, since he's already bleeding, he might as well allow himself to stare and allow the memories to continue.
The brush of Gale's lips on his. The confession that seeing Tav in battle sends his heart racing. The sight of Gale's tower in Waterdeep before telling him Tav only want Gale as Gale and nothing more.
And then the memories slow with the bleeding and Tav can hardly believe that such an incredible man could want him. For what Tav remembers, he's a bit of an idiot. He lost an eye, accidentally set off gods knows how many alarms, eats an alarming number of strange mushrooms and other flora, adopts any animal that might come near him, and yet? Gale seems to still care for him, perhaps even love him.]
[ He's unwrapping the layers of his robe, setting them aside to wash and then crouching to dig through his bags -- loose hair falling forward into his face as he searches. ]
We can freshen up your clothing tomorrow, and I'm quite sure I can help with anything that needs mending.
[ Either by needle and thread, or the touch of magic. A simple mending spell is not beneath the Wizard of Waterdeep. He pauses, a loose white shirt in hand, then pushes to his feet. ]
Now I am aware this colour may well be inviting dis--
[ He turns, and takes in the sight of Tav both staring and also bleeding again, into his current shirt no less. ]
On second thoughts, let's skip the white. Are you...?
[ A silly question, given how much he's bled already, but as long as it isn't gushing this time? ]
[Tav must tear his gaze away to step the surge of memories and the bleeding that accompanies them. There's something so intimately familiar that he can't shake the sight of Gale like this.]
I was... [Tav goes a deep shade of red, the colour splashing across his cheeks and inching up his ears.] I was remembering a few intimate moments.
[His skin feels hot, his throat tight, but he can't blame that on the torture.] Perhaps purple? Or blue?
[The crimson staining Tav's cheeks remain, but as he pulls his shirt away from his nose, it seems both the tide of memories and blood have stemmed for now, allowing him a sigh of relief. He tosses the bloodied and dusty shirt toward the corner as he accepts the deep purple shirt to tug on over his freckled and scarred body.
Another sigh. Much better and cleaner than what he'd previously been wearing. As for his pants, he supposes those should stay for now, or else risk another rush of memories and blood. Tav climbs up into bed, gaze focused on Gale, watching for how close might be too close. It's odd to be re-establishing boundaries like this when he knows there are previous feelings.
For now, he settles mostly near one side of the bed, to give Gale as much space as he might need, or until he's beckoned closer.]
[ Gale finishes getting himself comfortable, fussing around putting things away and splashing water over his face and neck.
Once he can delay no longer, he slips under the sheets.
Dark eyes meet Tav's, thoughtful. He doesn't know what is... best here. Tav's memories are still fractured, and even if he remembers him that isn't an invitation to do whatever he wants.
More than that, there's the risk of jolting new memories. Of causing more blood to stream from his face, when they've only just managed to get it to stop (again).
He studies the other man's face, thinking, then slowly reaches out to tuck strands of hair back out of his face. ]
Get some rest.
[ If he can. Gale supposes as exhausted as he may feel, Tav's mind may be racing over everything that happened. ]
[I'll be here. Tav can't remember if Gale has promised this before, but his chest warms regardless. He tucks the blankets around his sore and chafed body, watching Gale as he reaches over for him and brushes his shorn hair behind his ear.
It's nice, familiar even, and while he still needs to slow his mind down in order to sleep, he feels safe beside Gale. No one will kidnap him, no one will torture him, no voices will beckon him.
At least not until he's starting to drift off.
Just as his eyelids start to droop, there's a voice that calls on him from somewhere deep within. No. No, he's not going. Looking over to Gale, Tav sees he's asleep, but he's not sure he can face this alone. So, sorry Gale, but Tav shakes him quite violently by the shoulders.]
[ Unlike other members of their party, Gale is not a light sleeper.
Back in the comforting embrace of Waterdeep he had the luxury of a private space (Tara aside), of soft sheets, of the ability to sleep in. Out on the wilds of the Sword Coast he had, admittedly, become familiar with more relaxed accommodation and the perils of poor weather. Still: given a room and a soft bed, Gale will sleep despite noise and light level variation. He's slowly squirmed closer, too, unconsciously moving into Tav's space so they can press together for warmth.
Someone shaking him awake, however, is something even he cannot ignore. ]
What? What do --
[ He rouses slowly, trying to focus on Tav's words through the fog. Hearing... the voice? But hadn't -- hadn't it stopped?
Adrenaline floods through him suddenly, Brown eyes snap open and fix onto Tav's face. Understanding slowly filters through, ]
You -- hang on.
[ He begins struggling to get up and out of bed, to go digging for rope. ]
[Tav deeply appreciates Gale waking and going to find rope as Tav climbs to his exhausted feet, putting distance between them. Bhaal's deep voice rattles around in his skull and Tav, too, thought they were past this. He tries to dig into his memory, if they killed Bhaal or if he'd simply been scooped up and brought to the surface.
For once, the voice doesn't urge him to kill, it simply wishes for him to return to the underground cave, to reclaim his birthright. And there's something about its pull that has Tav unlatching the window and preparing to climb out.]
[Tav is easily dragged away, considering how weak he still is from the torture. He half-collapses in Gale’s arms, but that does nothing to stop Tav’s fight.]
He is calling for his Chosen.
[Tav should really know that Bhaal’s Chosen had once been him, yes, until Orin scrambled his brains the first time and shut him inside one of those coffins. Now that Orin was dead, that left only Tav to do Bhaal’s bidding.
Which was not a good thing, especially not without a good chunk of his memories.]
[ Still? Bhaal hasn't been deterred then, by their meddling.
Gale grits his teeth, trying to hold Tav back still. He is not terribly strong himself, so any amount of resistance is a challenge. ]
I don't doubt he is, but we're not playing his games. You stay here with me, will you? Come on, please, there's a nice warm bed calling your name just as loud. It may not have the same grandeur as Bhaal's temple but I can promise you, it is an entirely preferable experience.
[ Tav continues to reach for the window with a weak, scrabbling motion, but Gale is just strong enough to hold him backto pass a wisdom save. For a moment all efforts to escape cease and Tav blinks in Gale’s grasp.]
Hold me tight. I don’t want to go back.
[Nevermind how comforting and warm Gale’s body is against him. Tav isn’t against more of that.]
[ As soon as Tav stops scrabbling, Gale reaches for the window and shuts it -- casts an arcane lock on it as he drags the man back away. ]
You're not going anywhere, not if I have any say in the matter. Come on, deep breaths, I'm with you.
[ Not that breathing helps much, but focus does.
This is... troublesome, however. If Bhaal is still trying to call Tav, then there's more on the to do list than just trying to restore his memories. They need to address that as well, to somehow free him of the god's hold.
[Tav squirms in Gale’s arms for a moment or two more before he focused on the prompted breathing. Inhale, exhale. Gale is here, holding him. Inhale, exhale. He can’t get out, Bhaal won’t have him this night.
Inhale, exhale.]
Thank you. [Tav murmurs as the sweat drains down his temple.
The voice rises again, claws behind his eyes and tears into his chest.]
I’m not going back. [He says again, more resolutely.]
[Tav nods, curling tight into Gale on the bed. Inhale. Exhale. The voice continues to call, to return to the underground, to be his Chosen.
Or suffer the consequences.
Tav buries his face in Gale’s shoulder, feeling a familiar comfort there even as his body twitches and contorts against the urge to listen to his father.]
[My love. Tav knows those words, that tone. Memories surge forward: pecks in camp, laughter by the fire, hushed conversations out in the woods under the stars. Blood trickles down from his nose, but Tav pushes the memories to continue, filling the gaps where Gale exists.
He wipes the blood from his lips and leans in, attempting to slot his mouth against Gale’s.]
I’m remembering you. [Tav smiles fondly, bringing up one hand to cover Gale’s. He relishes the newly-roughened skin, from the soft hands of a scholar to the hardened calluses of an adventurer. He remembers magicking shadow-cursed thorns out of these hands or watching them twist and turn when casting spells. More blood trickles down from Tav’s nose, but he doesn’t stop it.]
Remembering you blocks out the voice.
[Tav can barely hear the echoes if he focuses on Gale, if he’s centered on those brown eyes.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
always a delight!
Date: 2023-11-11 01:17 pm (UTC)[He thinks he did, once. Helped to keep tents in shape, or boots from falling into disrepair, but all of that is lost to whatever happened to him in the underground. Maybe some day, he'll get everything back, but for now he freezes as Gale begins to undress.
He drinks in those broad shoulders and another memory pops into his head: one of a bed in the forest beneath the canopy of streaming stars, Gale climbing toward him with those same broad shoulders and...
No, he has to stop the sweet memory before...
Tav tastes the tang of metal on his tongue and knows he's having a nosebleed. He presses his dirty shirt beneath his nostrils and figures well, since he's already bleeding, he might as well allow himself to stare and allow the memories to continue.
The brush of Gale's lips on his. The confession that seeing Tav in battle sends his heart racing. The sight of Gale's tower in Waterdeep before telling him Tav only want Gale as Gale and nothing more.
And then the memories slow with the bleeding and Tav can hardly believe that such an incredible man could want him. For what Tav remembers, he's a bit of an idiot. He lost an eye, accidentally set off gods knows how many alarms, eats an alarming number of strange mushrooms and other flora, adopts any animal that might come near him, and yet? Gale seems to still care for him, perhaps even love him.]
I Emerge from my blanket cave periodically
Date: 2023-11-11 04:53 pm (UTC)[ He's unwrapping the layers of his robe, setting them aside to wash and then crouching to dig through his bags -- loose hair falling forward into his face as he searches. ]
We can freshen up your clothing tomorrow, and I'm quite sure I can help with anything that needs mending.
[ Either by needle and thread, or the touch of magic. A simple mending spell is not beneath the Wizard of Waterdeep. He pauses, a loose white shirt in hand, then pushes to his feet. ]
Now I am aware this colour may well be inviting dis--
[ He turns, and takes in the sight of Tav both staring and also bleeding again, into his current shirt no less. ]
On second thoughts, let's skip the white. Are you...?
[ A silly question, given how much he's bled already, but as long as it isn't gushing this time? ]
<3
Date: 2023-11-11 05:54 pm (UTC)I was... [Tav goes a deep shade of red, the colour splashing across his cheeks and inching up his ears.] I was remembering a few intimate moments.
[His skin feels hot, his throat tight, but he can't blame that on the torture.] Perhaps purple? Or blue?
no subject
Date: 2023-11-20 02:36 am (UTC)Well.
That...
He clears his throat, turning to stash the white shirt and pick something else. ]
It just so happens I have plenty of purple and blue, by chance. Here, try this.
[ The shirt he turns back with is a deep, dark purple. It's a simple enough design, nothing fancy, but it's only for sleeping. That should be fine. ]
Are you, uh, still...
[ He waves a hand to his nose. Is he still bleeding? Should he fetch something else first, leave the shirt until later? ]
no subject
Date: 2023-11-20 02:43 am (UTC)Another sigh. Much better and cleaner than what he'd previously been wearing. As for his pants, he supposes those should stay for now, or else risk another rush of memories and blood. Tav climbs up into bed, gaze focused on Gale, watching for how close might be too close. It's odd to be re-establishing boundaries like this when he knows there are previous feelings.
For now, he settles mostly near one side of the bed, to give Gale as much space as he might need, or until he's beckoned closer.]
Slaps hand over the date and timestamp
Date: 2023-12-06 11:25 pm (UTC)Once he can delay no longer, he slips under the sheets.
Dark eyes meet Tav's, thoughtful. He doesn't know what is... best here. Tav's memories are still fractured, and even if he remembers him that isn't an invitation to do whatever he wants.
More than that, there's the risk of jolting new memories. Of causing more blood to stream from his face, when they've only just managed to get it to stop (again).
He studies the other man's face, thinking, then slowly reaches out to tuck strands of hair back out of his face. ]
Get some rest.
[ If he can. Gale supposes as exhausted as he may feel, Tav's mind may be racing over everything that happened. ]
I'll be here.
[ He can promise that, at least. ]
just happy to hear back from you!! <3
Date: 2023-12-07 03:21 am (UTC)It's nice, familiar even, and while he still needs to slow his mind down in order to sleep, he feels safe beside Gale. No one will kidnap him, no one will torture him, no voices will beckon him.
At least not until he's starting to drift off.
Just as his eyelids start to droop, there's a voice that calls on him from somewhere deep within. No. No, he's not going. Looking over to Gale, Tav sees he's asleep, but he's not sure he can face this alone. So, sorry Gale, but Tav shakes him quite violently by the shoulders.]
Gale, Gale. I'm hearing the voice.
I await work being over for the year in desperation
Date: 2023-12-07 09:12 am (UTC)Back in the comforting embrace of Waterdeep he had the luxury of a private space (Tara aside), of soft sheets, of the ability to sleep in. Out on the wilds of the Sword Coast he had, admittedly, become familiar with more relaxed accommodation and the perils of poor weather. Still: given a room and a soft bed, Gale will sleep despite noise and light level variation. He's slowly squirmed closer, too, unconsciously moving into Tav's space so they can press together for warmth.
Someone shaking him awake, however, is something even he cannot ignore. ]
What? What do --
[ He rouses slowly, trying to focus on Tav's words through the fog. Hearing... the voice? But hadn't -- hadn't it stopped?
Adrenaline floods through him suddenly, Brown eyes snap open and fix onto Tav's face. Understanding slowly filters through, ]
You -- hang on.
[ He begins struggling to get up and out of bed, to go digging for rope. ]
cheers you on!!
Date: 2023-12-07 10:39 am (UTC)For once, the voice doesn't urge him to kill, it simply wishes for him to return to the underground cave, to reclaim his birthright. And there's something about its pull that has Tav unlatching the window and preparing to climb out.]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-07 11:32 pm (UTC)[ Gale lurches after him, trying to drag him away so he can re-latch the window. ]
You're staying here, with me. I know you're in there, Tav! Just focus.
[ Focus on not climbing out a window, preferably. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-08 12:24 am (UTC)He is calling for his Chosen.
[Tav should really know that Bhaal’s Chosen had once been him, yes, until Orin scrambled his brains the first time and shut him inside one of those coffins. Now that Orin was dead, that left only Tav to do Bhaal’s bidding.
Which was not a good thing, especially not without a good chunk of his memories.]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-12 10:21 am (UTC)Gale grits his teeth, trying to hold Tav back still. He is not terribly strong himself, so any amount of resistance is a challenge. ]
I don't doubt he is, but we're not playing his games. You stay here with me, will you? Come on, please, there's a nice warm bed calling your name just as loud. It may not have the same grandeur as Bhaal's temple but I can promise you, it is an entirely preferable experience.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-12 01:29 pm (UTC)to pass a wisdom save. For a moment all efforts to escape cease and Tav blinks in Gale’s grasp.]Hold me tight. I don’t want to go back.
[Nevermind how comforting and warm Gale’s body is against him. Tav isn’t against more of that.]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-17 08:47 pm (UTC)You're not going anywhere, not if I have any say in the matter. Come on, deep breaths, I'm with you.
[ Not that breathing helps much, but focus does.
This is... troublesome, however. If Bhaal is still trying to call Tav, then there's more on the to do list than just trying to restore his memories. They need to address that as well, to somehow free him of the god's hold.
Easier said than done, of course. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-17 09:10 pm (UTC)Inhale, exhale.]
Thank you. [Tav murmurs as the sweat drains down his temple.
The voice rises again, claws behind his eyes and tears into his chest.]
I’m not going back. [He says again, more resolutely.]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-17 10:06 pm (UTC)[ He eases them both to sit on the edge of the bed, arms twining more comfortably around Tav. ]
We can fight this, you and I, together. We've faced worse odds, haven't we? You just stay with me, and we'll keep each other safe.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-17 10:20 pm (UTC)Or suffer the consequences.
Tav buries his face in Gale’s shoulder, feeling a familiar comfort there even as his body twitches and contorts against the urge to listen to his father.]
We have. We have.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-19 10:18 pm (UTC)No god can take you from me. Whatever fate we are to face, my love, we will do so together. I will be with you. I will not let you down, not again.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-19 10:42 pm (UTC)He wipes the blood from his lips and leans in, attempting to slot his mouth against Gale’s.]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-21 02:30 pm (UTC)Then their lips meet, and suddenly he tastes it.
Gale pulls back in surprise, wide brown eyes searching his face and one hand gently coming up to cup his cheek. ]
Are you alright?
[ Does it hurt? Is it bad? Is something else happening? ]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-21 02:47 pm (UTC)Remembering you blocks out the voice.
[Tav can barely hear the echoes if he focuses on Gale, if he’s centered on those brown eyes.]