audience: astarion

[mygod]

Comments

[unconsecuted]

[Resigned sigh.]

...Alright. We are still...

[The way it takes SO LONG for him to say it.]

...friends?

[haematocritical]

[ call him when they outlive their wizards they can revisit the topic ]

As you say, darling. Friends.

[unconsecuted]

[NOT THEM SHACKING UP TOGETHER AFTER CALEB BREAKS UP WITH HIM AND THEN BOTH WIZARDS PASS AWAY that's so funny]

Alright.

[He will accept it even though it does make him embarrassed because he's stupid.]

[haematocritical]

[ THEY LIVE LIKE 800 YEARS THEY HAVE TIME. also help, their wizards. ]

… [ he’s adorable. aaaa. ]

Also, is Gale still reading through that book on Karsus?

[unconsecuted]

[Sometimes your wizards are human, you guess.]

...

[The question startled him a bit. His mouth hang opens slightly as he tries to figure out what to say.]

I told him a while back to leave the book be, but... I think he still was researching it anyway.

I... offered to look over it with him after... your trial so I could keep an eye on what he was doing with it, but also give him a distraction from your loss.

[haematocritical]

[ SOMETIMES THEY ARE JUST SOFT AND HUMAN ]

… My apologies, talking about him reminded me.

[ well. that’s good at least. that someone was keeping a critical eye on it. ]

Maybe I’ll send him a letter telling him to knock it off. As long as he’s not planning on implementing it or using it for some bizarre reason — he and Karsus have not had the smoothest of relationships.

[unconsecuted]

It's alright.

[For once, Essek offers a... tiny, but awkwardly uncertain if he is doing it right, smile of reassurance. There and gone again.]

I've heard a little. We had a little chat about it. I don't know how much of my words he took to heart, as hypocritical as I am, but back when he was considering utilizing the orb after unlocking its secrets, I tried to dissuade him.

[haematocritical]

[ … he sighs. ]

Well, that’s… good to know. [ there’s no orb to utilise, at least. still. ] I’ll have to figure out a way to tell him no in the interim.

[ karsus is powerful, but his theories and magical writings seem to have only contributed to destruction. ]

[unconsecuted]

[All of them sweatily managing to get him to give up this fucking stupid ass orb of death and destruction.]

I'll keep an eye on his studies with the book. I am a wizard, so... I can't say I disagree with his thirst for what secrets it holds, but... I think he could use some moderation.

I won't let him go too far with idiotic ideas. You can chastise him in the meantime. [...] I think his... desire for you will overrule whatever obsession the book once had hold of his mind.

[haematocritical]

[ just a group of people spray bottling gale like he’s a naughty cat for weeks on end like No. Stop That. ]

There’s reading up on interesting new things, darling. And then there’s whatever happens with Karsus when you’re an ambitious and knowledge hungry mage. [ … ] Perhaps it won’t matter to him as much now his opinion on Mystra has shifted somewhat.

[ it’s good to hear he does have someone keeping an eye on what gale is doing with that bloody book, now he and karlach are over here. ] … I. [ ah. ] I’m not necessarily sure about that. But he might listen if I tell him I’d rather he didn’t risk everything he bloody went through to get rid of the orb for five minutes of Karsus related fame.

[unconsecuted]

Sometimes, you simply enjoy unraveling magical secrets.

[Look. He has a bias. A giant bias. It took a lot of development to happen to get him to even scold Gale about the damn book.]

He listens to reason when you pose it to him. His decisions with the arcane may be poor, but he isn't unreasonable in other areas. He wouldn't risk you for something like that.

[haematocritical]

Perhaps one by someone a little less power hungry and known for destroying their own kingdom, perhaps?

[ just a slight suggestion. ]

…

[ that’s such an insistent statement, he’s almost a little embarrassed by it. maybe essek’s right. or maybe gale will unlock something that makes whatever he could have (has?) with astarion pale in comparison. ]

I suppose we shall see. I trust him to do what’s best for him, ultimately. [ there’s a layer to that, but he would like it if what’s best for gale… well. involved him. at the end of the day. ]

[unconsecuted]

[His brows twitch ever so slightly together, and his eyes shift hastily elsewhere. His mouth works quietly, and he swallows down something before the regal neutrality comes back.]

...I'm sure he will.

[haematocritical]

[ looks at him. ]

[unconsecuted]

[ ?

Looks back.]

...What?

[haematocritical]

You looked like you wanted to say something.

[unconsecuted]

[He hesitates, then shakes his head.]

No. I'm fine.

[haematocritical]

[ binch. ]

… If you say so, darling.

[ a sigh. ]

I suppose we’ll just have to force our way to a good ending, and then perhaps we can both hide that book from him before we leave.

[unconsecuted]

[A taste of Astarion's own medicine!!!

The tension in his jaw and shoulders relax a little, though.]

...I will take it, if you want. I am still bias as a wizard.

[haematocritical]

Are you interested in the writings of Karsus, despite everything you’ve heard and seen?

[unconsecuted]

[STOP. Clears his throat.]

It seems a waste to at least not have it for research, even if I shooed Gale from it. Besides... I feel it is a fair trade.

He can give me the book for the personal Dunamancy spell I taught him which is much better in my opinion.

[haematocritical]

[ blinks. ]

Dunamancy?

[unconsecuted]

Yes. Dunamancy is the school of magic I've spent my life studying. It deals with probability, time, and gravity.

[This explains so much about this stupid, gay bastard's everything.]

[haematocritical]

[ imagining gale with power of probability, time and gravity and goes through a whole motion of ‘oh dear’ to ‘interesting’. ]

That explains the floating then.

[unconsecuted]

[Listen. It's edgy and sexy, and Astarion will understand when Gale gets the Weave access back.]

Well... in a way. It is simply something... I got stuck doing.