[ during the LOOMING phase, tara will look between them and then choose to hop off of gale's lap, making herself briefly scarce. gale just blinks up at him owlishly - frowning slightly and looking increasingly worried the longer the silence goes on, brow knitting.
then when he finally speaks, it's surprise and then-- ]
[ HELP. they again.......... stand there hover over gale for a long moment in silence, sort of wringing their hands awkwardly. TARA REALLY RAN AWAY AND LEFT THEM TO FLOUNDER?!?!? ]
Anyway.
[ ANYWAY! moving on. the 90s girl karsus book drops suddenly right down on top of gale. ]
Clearly, I am not a cleric, so there is nothing I can do for your injuries.
[ gale just continues to sit there like with an open mouth like a dumbass and glowing from his mark for about half the length of the silence before he finally tries to find some words again, trying to stumble something out before they move on. ]
Essek, I--
[ AND THEN THE BOOK DROPS ON HIM. IT IS NOT A SMALL BOOK. he winces really hard because everything still hurts even if he's got all his blood where it's supposed to be now. ]
If it's all the same to you, I rather liked what you said, so I'd prefer not to forget it?
[ he has a HEALTHY AND ROBUST 14. he got in the swamp and everything so he might have a whole 5 hp now.
and good. taking the hand, running his thumb across the back of it and settling back down a bit in the face of the panic. ]
Again, I am sorry. I will do my very upmost to not scare you like that again. And I meant what I said. I have a partner and a wish now, so what remains is to think of the details of the request.
[ thank god for the mask since now they are both confused and embarrassed. but at least the settling brings some relief. thank you, idiot wizard.
just gonna........ well, i guess they have to sit to keep holding gale's hand like some kind of bedside end of life comforter. (gale is dying.) ]
I don't think you really had a choice in the matter, you fool, but that doesn't mean it didn't worry me anyway. [ who the fck would they talk to about magic then? ] Have you already used it?
[ gale is dying (real) (not clickbait). they could have let go but they are the one making the embarrassing choice to keep holding. (because gale is dying.)
shaking his head. ]
No. I am at a bit of a crossroads with it - partially because I don't want to accidentally talk my way into committing to one without knowing the exact wording that will get me into trouble.
[ gale is dying, and they are now sitting here beside him holding his hand like it's the most typical thing in the world. they are stubborn and refuse to be the first one to let go during this week of the alpha.
also, gale is the one who wanted it anyway!!! ]
Spoken like someone who has had experience with a devil. [ your wording. ] ...You should use it before anything unexpected happens.
gale looks confused as to why his tits are being stared at before he glances down and then looks less confused. also, still glowing. ]
It's on the list of possible options!
[ he is animatedly talking with his free hand, by the way. essek can hold onto the injured one. ]
First: specifically my life, though that would restore me with both the problem of the Orb within me and the Absolute still threatening the Sword Coast.
Second: I could rid myself of the orb itself. The last moment I specifically recall is, erm. Stabbing myself with the dagger that would destablize the orb. I imagine it would be mildly uncomfortable, but if the orb were gone ... Somewhat embarrassing but certainly survivable. Shadowheart is a perfectly adept Cleric, I wouldn't be down for long.
Third: Rid myself of the tadpole. Be done with that portion of the threat once and for all, and prevent Ceremorphosis from ruining my figure and figure out the life solution a slightly different way.
Or I could wish for control of the Crown, allowing me use of the Orb itself. [ he shoots them a look like he's well aware of essek's opinion on the Crown of Karsus. ] Besides if Laudna is allowed to keep her Delilah, why do I have to get rid of my Orb? I understand the hesitations, but it's a fool who discards all of his possible moves upon the board before evaluating them with the sincerity they deserve.
[ well, there is relief in knowing if gale can talk THIS MUCH then gale isn't hanging on by a thread.
war switches the injured hand carefully from one to the other, and then they reach out to take gale's other waving hand and pull it down out of the air. stop that. ]
First of all, Delilah, if it is the Delilah in which I am aware, is Delilah Briarwood. She was one of the mages on the Cerberus Assembly long before I came into contact with them, and she was ousted from her position because she was practicing terrible necromancy, and necromancy is forbidden in the Empire.
So I do not know if you really want to excuse either orb or aberration when both will likely lead you two to ruin in the end. The evaluation is: sure, if you are prepared to once more find yourself in dire straights when you lose yourself to it.
[ FIRST OF ALL slaps the lucien outta this man. ]
You have a collection of friends who would most certainly assist you with whatever they are needed.
Don't worry, I know at least a good portion of the sins of Delilah.
[ i think its important here to note that in bg3 if gale dies he has a contingency astral projection that shows up to Continue To Yap At You so, unfortunately no. even the cold embrace of death will not shut gale the fuck up. nothing can.
but he does seem relatively stapled to life at least through this fine sunday. tomorrow? who is to say. both handsies are contained. ]
If I get rid of the Orb, does it take effect immediately?
[ hey, i hate that? how about don't astral project back to yap? just die. ]
Good. Then you know it's a stupid idea.
[ LOOKING AT YOU LAUDNA. freaking hells bells. anyway. guess he is supposed to be responsible for both of these hands now, wtf. whatever, holding them. looking at the injured one to idly make sure it isn't as bad as the other. ]
As far as I'm aware, it should happen immediately. But... ultimately, the choice is yours. You understand, right?
You can make the choice on your own without anyone else telling you what to do now.
[ the hand seems okay for now - daan and yuffie made sure it was wrapped in a soft splint at least so he doesn't make it worse. the other hand seems fine, a little scratched up from grappling but that's nothin' compared to smushed.
looking down at their hands, humming. ]
Thank you. You know that I value your friendship very much, yes?
[ he figures he could argue here that he thinks he knows him pretty well? they're driven, and intelligent and sharp - funny, too. they cares a great deal about their craft and has made something beautiful with it, something only a very few are able to accomplish at all, let alone to master. they're figuring out how to be a different person than maybe they had been until recently, but gale likes that new person - the only version that gale himself has met. they have always been a surprisingly good listener, and even better confidant. they pretend they don't need friends or connection despite a very obvious care for them.
which should maybe clue gale into what it is essek is doing here right now, but he's had a long day. earlier he had to kill a guy who was begging for his life and is feeling a little emotionally raw from all of that.
he pulls his hands back, appropriately shamed for fucking up and being too forward. ]
[ they draw their hands slowly back to themselves, but lift one up to hook it under the mask and lift it away from their face.
even looking very tired, essek is still quite handsome. he puts the mask in his lap and lifts the violet eyes to gale's face. ]
Even so, you know something about me almost no one else knows. And your opinion, apparently, did not change for some strange reason. I... do not mind trying... friends. If you would like.
[ the big sad baby cow eyes worked again ............. checkmate beautiful tsundere. very funny to pretend to roll up in here and be like 'you scared me' to just some dude you vaguely know i guess. held both hands of some distant acquaintance i have. ]
[ NO!!! GET THOSE BIG SAD BABY COW EYES OUTTA HERE!!! ]
Alright.
[ carefully, they remove one of their gloves - look, they're purple, it's very obvious being purple, you do not understand how much they have suffered in comparison to the other three - and this time, they slowly hold out one of their hands, palm up.
it is stupidly delicate. real rich boy mage hands here, and a few of the long fingers are capped in silver rings. ]
HIS PURPLE HANDS. his purple everything. taking the hand back then, squeezing slightly. he is not nearly so delicate, but he is practiced and precise. ]
[ throw that book in the garbage disposal with the other one.
he must release gale's paw alas so he can flick his wrist to summon a quill pen while taking the book with the other. he opens it, letting a purposeful wind blow the pages over until he gets to the next available blank page. neatly and elegantly jotting some stuff down. asmr.
once he's finished, he flicks his wrist to dispel the pen, then offers the book back to gale. one (1) resonant echo spell recipe. conjuration. the verbage needed, the somatic gestures, and the fifty gold piece worth of obsidian requirement. creates an echo of the caster. the echo can cast one spell, after which the echo disappears. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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then very suddenly: ] You scared me.
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then when he finally speaks, it's surprise and then-- ]
Oh.
[ like he's just fucking realized something. ]
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Anyway.
[ ANYWAY! moving on. the 90s girl karsus book drops suddenly right down on top of gale. ]
Clearly, I am not a cleric, so there is nothing I can do for your injuries.
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Essek, I--
[ AND THEN THE BOOK DROPS ON HIM. IT IS NOT A SMALL BOOK. he winces really hard because everything still hurts even if he's got all his blood where it's supposed to be now. ]
Ow. Was that really necessary?!
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[ they glance a bit to the side almost as if they are considering maybe fleeing. this is awkward and can be attempted again at a later date. ]
...Sorry. I... [ there really is no way to recover from this. ] You did scare me.
But... I remember what you said.
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holding out a hand? and very sincerely:]
I am sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.
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they regard the hand a moment. ]
Nevermind it. Forget I said anything.
[ but they take the hand hesitantly. ]
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[ he has a HEALTHY AND ROBUST 14. he got in the swamp and everything so he might have a whole 5 hp now.
and good. taking the hand, running his thumb across the back of it and settling back down a bit in the face of the panic. ]
Again, I am sorry. I will do my very upmost to not scare you like that again. And I meant what I said. I have a partner and a wish now, so what remains is to think of the details of the request.
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just gonna........ well, i guess they have to sit to keep holding gale's hand like some kind of bedside end of life comforter. (gale is dying.) ]
I don't think you really had a choice in the matter, you fool, but that doesn't mean it didn't worry me anyway. [ who the fck would they talk to about magic then? ] Have you already used it?
Your wish.
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shaking his head. ]
No. I am at a bit of a crossroads with it - partially because I don't want to accidentally talk my way into committing to one without knowing the exact wording that will get me into trouble.
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also, gale is the one who wanted it anyway!!! ]
Spoken like someone who has had experience with a devil. [ your wording. ] ...You should use it before anything unexpected happens.
[ LOOKING AT
THE ORB
well, they have mask on but they're looking. ]
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gale looks confused as to why his tits are being stared at before he glances down and then looks less confused. also, still glowing. ]
It's on the list of possible options!
[ he is animatedly talking with his free hand, by the way. essek can hold onto the injured one. ]
First: specifically my life, though that would restore me with both the problem of the Orb within me and the Absolute still threatening the Sword Coast.
Second: I could rid myself of the orb itself. The last moment I specifically recall is, erm. Stabbing myself with the dagger that would destablize the orb. I imagine it would be mildly uncomfortable, but if the orb were gone ... Somewhat embarrassing but certainly survivable. Shadowheart is a perfectly adept Cleric, I wouldn't be down for long.
Third: Rid myself of the tadpole. Be done with that portion of the threat once and for all, and prevent Ceremorphosis from ruining my figure and figure out the life solution a slightly different way.
Or I could wish for control of the Crown, allowing me use of the Orb itself. [ he shoots them a look like he's well aware of essek's opinion on the Crown of Karsus. ] Besides if Laudna is allowed to keep her Delilah, why do I have to get rid of my Orb? I understand the hesitations, but it's a fool who discards all of his possible moves upon the board before evaluating them with the sincerity they deserve.
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war switches the injured hand carefully from one to the other, and then they reach out to take gale's other waving hand and pull it down out of the air. stop that. ]
First of all, Delilah, if it is the Delilah in which I am aware, is Delilah Briarwood. She was one of the mages on the Cerberus Assembly long before I came into contact with them, and she was ousted from her position because she was practicing terrible necromancy, and necromancy is forbidden in the Empire.
So I do not know if you really want to excuse either orb or aberration when both will likely lead you two to ruin in the end. The evaluation is: sure, if you are prepared to once more find yourself in dire straights when you lose yourself to it.
[ FIRST OF ALL slaps the lucien outta this man. ]
You have a collection of friends who would most certainly assist you with whatever they are needed.
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[ i think its important here to note that in bg3 if gale dies he has a contingency astral projection that shows up to Continue To Yap At You so, unfortunately no. even the cold embrace of death will not shut gale the fuck up. nothing can.
but he does seem relatively stapled to life at least through this fine sunday. tomorrow? who is to say. both handsies are contained. ]
If I get rid of the Orb, does it take effect immediately?
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Good. Then you know it's a stupid idea.
[ LOOKING AT YOU LAUDNA. freaking hells bells. anyway. guess he is supposed to be responsible for both of these hands now, wtf. whatever, holding them. looking at the injured one to idly make sure it isn't as bad as the other. ]
As far as I'm aware, it should happen immediately. But... ultimately, the choice is yours. You understand, right?
You can make the choice on your own without anyone else telling you what to do now.
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[ the hand seems okay for now - daan and yuffie made sure it was wrapped in a soft splint at least so he doesn't make it worse. the other hand seems fine, a little scratched up from grappling but that's nothin' compared to smushed.
looking down at their hands, humming. ]
Thank you. You know that I value your friendship very much, yes?
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You barely know anything about me outside of what little I have told you to be calling me a friend.
And I could have been lying about most of it.
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[ he figures he could argue here that he thinks he knows him pretty well? they're driven, and intelligent and sharp - funny, too. they cares a great deal about their craft and has made something beautiful with it, something only a very few are able to accomplish at all, let alone to master. they're figuring out how to be a different person than maybe they had been until recently, but gale likes that new person - the only version that gale himself has met. they have always been a surprisingly good listener, and even better confidant. they pretend they don't need friends or connection despite a very obvious care for them.
which should maybe clue gale into what it is essek is doing here right now, but he's had a long day. earlier he had to kill a guy who was begging for his life and is feeling a little emotionally raw from all of that.
he pulls his hands back, appropriately shamed for fucking up and being too forward. ]
My apologies. I overstepped.
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even looking very tired, essek is still quite handsome. he puts the mask in his lap and lifts the violet eyes to gale's face. ]
Even so, you know something about me almost no one else knows. And your opinion, apparently, did not change for some strange reason. I... do not mind trying... friends. If you would like.
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I would be very glad for it.
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Alright.
[ carefully, they remove one of their gloves - look, they're purple, it's very obvious being purple, you do not understand how much they have suffered in comparison to the other three - and this time, they slowly hold out one of their hands, palm up.
it is stupidly delicate. real rich boy mage hands here, and a few of the long fingers are capped in silver rings. ]
Friends. I like that.
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HIS PURPLE HANDS. his purple everything. taking the hand back then, squeezing slightly. he is not nearly so delicate, but he is practiced and precise. ]
Good. Me too.
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Give me your book.
[ a haughty glance at the karsus one. ]
Not that one. Yours.
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[ glancing at the karsus one as well, before digging around for his journal - offering it over. ]
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he must release gale's paw alas so he can flick his wrist to summon a quill pen while taking the book with the other. he opens it, letting a purposeful wind blow the pages over until he gets to the next available blank page. neatly and elegantly jotting some stuff down. asmr.
once he's finished, he flicks his wrist to dispel the pen, then offers the book back to gale. one (1) resonant echo spell recipe. conjuration. the verbage needed, the somatic gestures, and the fifty gold piece worth of obsidian requirement. creates an echo of the caster. the echo can cast one spell, after which the echo disappears. ]
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