๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
corporeity) wrote2024-11-12 12:45 pm
corporeity) wrote2024-11-12 12:45 pm
Entry tags:
INBOX
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME
@WATERDEEP
text ๐ฎ audio ๐ฎ video
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME
@WATERDEEP
text ๐ฎ audio ๐ฎ video
๐ฅ๐งโโ๏ธ๐ฅ
๐๐๐ฅ๐งโโ๏ธ
(Thatโs Karlachโs formidable right hook, to speak nothing of her left.)
๐๐๐ฅ๐งโโ๏ธ
(Thatโs Karlachโs formidable right hook, to speak nothing of her left.)
[ A familiar helplessness overtakes him, at the sight of Astarionโs uncharacteristically open (and therefore vulnerable) features. Whyever did he stand up, if he was only going to add to his companionโs unease and then bloody stand there, unable to do anything more? Theyโre suspended for a moment longer before Astarion stomps his foot, and Gale cards his offending hand back through his hair, skimming off the top of the surface tension โ then trying and failing not to look touched by the answering reassurance, unasked for. Truer for it, when Gale has begged praise from others since he first started casting.
You remember me, and I remember you. Recalled from their first conversation, an axiom-like rhythm to it that sticks in his mind. A comfort, for its reciprocity. ]
Come now, surely your roguish talents are better served putting stones in his pockets.
[ A sly, half-smile, hesitant in the offering, as he resists the urge to ask where it is Astarion goes, when he looks elsewhere. Better to make oneself worth paying attention to here. ]
Would you like to see the wards Iโm setting? [ Already doubling back to the safety of his desk, rearranging his papers to find the sigils in question and sliding them out of his messy notes on everything from ki to their twisting timelines. ] Tilanus, Orin, anyone entering without our leave will find themselves in for a nasty surprise. A changeling can fool the human โ or elven โ eye, but not [ he raps his knuckles against the wood. ] the arcane.
You remember me, and I remember you. Recalled from their first conversation, an axiom-like rhythm to it that sticks in his mind. A comfort, for its reciprocity. ]
Come now, surely your roguish talents are better served putting stones in his pockets.
[ A sly, half-smile, hesitant in the offering, as he resists the urge to ask where it is Astarion goes, when he looks elsewhere. Better to make oneself worth paying attention to here. ]
Would you like to see the wards Iโm setting? [ Already doubling back to the safety of his desk, rearranging his papers to find the sigils in question and sliding them out of his messy notes on everything from ki to their twisting timelines. ] Tilanus, Orin, anyone entering without our leave will find themselves in for a nasty surprise. A changeling can fool the human โ or elven โ eye, but not [ he raps his knuckles against the wood. ] the arcane.
Aftereffects? How frightful.
Iโm glad to hear you say as much, when I think there are those who have been here longer that would advise otherwise. Itโs my intent to investigate the enchantments powering the manor, but Iโve made little headway as yet.
Iโm glad to hear you say as much, when I think there are those who have been here longer that would advise otherwise. Itโs my intent to investigate the enchantments powering the manor, but Iโve made little headway as yet.
[ gale already has a fondness for the fox and hounds, when it has the same feeling as the dockside taverns in waterdeep. a tad more real than the shimmering finery of the manor itself. before joining tilanus, gale stops by the fire to give the pubโs wolfhound, harry, his requisite scritches โ and a treat, magicked out of thin air. the only tell of his injury is how slowly he bends and rises, careful of the stitching. ]
Tilanus. [ a neutral greeting, as he takes his seat. both astarion and orin have shaded in his portrait of tilanus since they last spoke, but much of the details of his true person remain smudgy. gale adjusts the collar of his emerald, knit jumper, and wonders if tilanus prefers a red or if he simply knows that gale does. ]
Tip top shape, as you can see. [ in reference to himself. ] How are you keeping?
Tilanus. [ a neutral greeting, as he takes his seat. both astarion and orin have shaded in his portrait of tilanus since they last spoke, but much of the details of his true person remain smudgy. gale adjusts the collar of his emerald, knit jumper, and wonders if tilanus prefers a red or if he simply knows that gale does. ]
Tip top shape, as you can see. [ in reference to himself. ] How are you keeping?
Similar to the ones that Iโm told are โdecking the hallsโ, hm?
[ fairy lights twisted around the bannisters, etc. ]
[ fairy lights twisted around the bannisters, etc. ]
[ victory!!! ]
It certainly has his eyes โ and irritable visage.
What about Withers?
๐๐ฉป
It certainly has his eyes โ and irritable visage.
What about Withers?
๐๐ฉป
[ he straightens when gale enters, and smiles. his eyes flick quickly over him, despite already having been assured he was alright. if orin had truly wanted to do him harm, he wouldn't be walking. tilanus knows that. he also thinks there would've been a good deal more spectacle around it, if that was what she wanted.
he'll allow himself to be relieved.
he gestures to the seat across from him. ]
I'm glad to see it. Thank you, for meeting with me. I'm well, I suppose.
[ aside from being frustrated by this unintended break from his actual life. talking to gale makes it all feel a little more normal, even though this one is not truly the friend he'd gotten to know.
he puts his hand on the wine bottle. ]
I got this in the hope you'd feel like sharing, but I'll get you something else if you prefer. They appear to have everything.
he'll allow himself to be relieved.
he gestures to the seat across from him. ]
I'm glad to see it. Thank you, for meeting with me. I'm well, I suppose.
[ aside from being frustrated by this unintended break from his actual life. talking to gale makes it all feel a little more normal, even though this one is not truly the friend he'd gotten to know.
he puts his hand on the wine bottle. ]
I got this in the hope you'd feel like sharing, but I'll get you something else if you prefer. They appear to have everything.
[ A laugh aloud, this time. ]
Your skill in emojis is proven, Astarion. I bow to your superior artistry. ๐โโ๏ธ
Your skill in emojis is proven, Astarion. I bow to your superior artistry. ๐โโ๏ธ
[ there it is, the instinctive ease one feels with the familiar, written in the set of tilanusโ shoulders and mouth. the kind gale shares with astarion alone now, all else foreign to him in this world.
itโs a cruel thing, gale thinks, for the gods to make them strangers. he nods, quick in his assent, and gestures for tilanus to pour. ]
Itโs no Waterdhavian red, [ more light teasing than genuine criticism. ] but Iโm sure itโll do. They do like to keep us sated, in this place.
[ lulling them into complacency, he assumes. a wry smile. ]
Wherever do we begin, I wonder.
itโs a cruel thing, gale thinks, for the gods to make them strangers. he nods, quick in his assent, and gestures for tilanus to pour. ]
Itโs no Waterdhavian red, [ more light teasing than genuine criticism. ] but Iโm sure itโll do. They do like to keep us sated, in this place.
[ lulling them into complacency, he assumes. a wry smile. ]
Wherever do we begin, I wonder.
[ he opens the wine to pour for them both. ]
I've had worse, [ he says, thinking of the old bottles scattered around the shadow cursed lands, covered in dust and snatched up to feed the camp in a pinch.
he's still not really sure how this will go. it should be easier, he thinks. it's simpler talking to people who are strangers to him. ]
Well, if we are to start at the beginning, that was not long ago for me. I told you I woke on the Nautiloid remembering nothing but my name. Perhaps I should ask, what would you like to know? If I can tell you, I will.
I've had worse, [ he says, thinking of the old bottles scattered around the shadow cursed lands, covered in dust and snatched up to feed the camp in a pinch.
he's still not really sure how this will go. it should be easier, he thinks. it's simpler talking to people who are strangers to him. ]
Well, if we are to start at the beginning, that was not long ago for me. I told you I woke on the Nautiloid remembering nothing but my name. Perhaps I should ask, what would you like to know? If I can tell you, I will.
[ The sound of laughter begets a smile, and a quick glance in the direction of the open door, though Astarion doesn't move โ nor really make any other indication of his own reaction. ]
I've had time to practice, but I'll accept the flattery nevertheless. ๐
Use this new power wisely, my dear.
I've had time to practice, but I'll accept the flattery nevertheless. ๐
Use this new power wisely, my dear.
[ my dear โ the usual affections, surely. ]
I shall wield it as carefully as any arcane wonder. ๐
Thank you for thinking of me.
I shall wield it as carefully as any arcane wonder. ๐
Thank you for thinking of me.
[ Upon Christmas Eve, a set of three gifts of varying sizes โ all wrapped neatly in brown paper and twine โ finds its way to Gale's door.
โ One reveals itself to be a copy of Vestalus Pentaghast's Duties of the Prelate of the Grand Necropolis.There's also a note, written in careful, almost cartoonishly neat script: ]
โ Another is The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.
โ And the last, smaller than the others, contains a pencil and cap.
Dear Gale,
In the spirit of the season โ somewhat similar to what I am familiar with as Wintersend, though I expect the term will mean little to all else here โ I thought I might share one volume relevant to my particular school of magic (and my [arguably former] line of work), as well as one I found on some more distant part of this world's history that I found quite compelling. Perhaps books make for a rather dry gift, but I thought, based on our correspondence thus far, that you wouldn't find such a thing objectionable.
May the new year bring us the answers we seek. Your friend,
โ Emmrich Volkarin
Edited (links ...) 2024-12-09 23:36 (UTC)
[ Astarion debates, not for an insignificant amount of time, whether or not he really wants to participate in gift-giving at all. But it's hardly as though there's much else to occupy his time, and the things he thinks of aren't all the sort that can be picked up and immediately stowed away.
Come Christmas Eve, once the festivities wind down โ once Astarion can hear Gale's steady breath on the other side of the door in their shared suite โ he steps quietly into their adjoining bathroom and places a single note card by the mirror above the sink. On it, written in Astarion's hand: ]
Come Christmas Eve, once the festivities wind down โ once Astarion can hear Gale's steady breath on the other side of the door in their shared suite โ he steps quietly into their adjoining bathroom and places a single note card by the mirror above the sink. On it, written in Astarion's hand: ]
Find me first[ Waiting for Gale in the solarium, upon the table where they'd had their lesson, wrapped in silver paper, is a capsule from the gachapon room, as well as a small pouch containing several of the coins required to use the machines therein. There's another notecard, too, this one reading: ]
In the place the sun shines
Where your lesson revealed
That reflection of mine.
Next, seek the room[ This next clue should lead Gale to the little library he's virtually taken up residence in, and upon the chair he most often sits in is a silver paper bag, and within it, wrapped in white tissue paper, is a felted figure of Tara โ or at least, of a Tressym with black-brown fur, as best an approximation as Astarion could manage given the occasional description alone. And with it, again, another notecard, another clue: ]
With the hearth you've enchanted
And seek out the seat
Upon which you're most often planted.
Third, you must look[ In the dining hall, where they usually sit for mealtimes, is a silver box containing a silver perfume bottle. Around its neck is tied a purple velvet ribbon, upon which has been embroidered, in gold thread: my hand in yours. The fragrance inside smells, even to the untrained nose, of lavender. With it, one more note: ]
In the room where we dine
Where often you find
Your chair next to mine.
And now we come[ If Gale returns to their suite, he'll find, placed upon the mat by the bathtub, a silver jewelry box containing a diamond and opal earring (the gift he considers the biggest swing, considering what the earring Gale already wears symbolizes), as well as a letter, written upon parchment rather than card stock. It's short, though its relative terseness is arguably belied by everything that's led up to it. ]
To the end of the path;
Go look in the place
Where you'd draw a hot bath.
Gale,
The riddles weren't my finest work, but I expect you enjoyed the experience of puzzling them out better than the gifts they led to. So consider the chase to be my gift to you if none of the trinkets please you.
Either way, don't get too used to it.YoursFondlyYour friend,
โ Astarion
No, I should think not. Iโve seen a few of different varieties. The tree in the small library I frequent only sports gold lights and decorations, for instance.
Surely. Getting into the holiday spirit, are we?
[ Time, thank the gods, resumes its usual flow. A breath looses itself from Astarion's ribs, forming into a half-laugh (to complement that half-smile on Gale's features) as he imagines the hypothetical outcome. A step removed from the fear that had taken him just a moment ago, he almost thinks he's reacted too harshly against the Drow, butโ he's not the type to stew in that type of regret, and besides, it's useless to take issue with a feral cat for using its claws.
(He's grateful, though he won't say as much out loud, for Gale's resetting the conversation, his seemingly ever-steady hand leading them, without much issue, into safer waters. Once, he'd have said it's a skill he's just as deft at using, butโ well, here they are.)
Step light, he crosses the room, his hands linking loosely behind his back (as though to keep them out of any further trouble) as he peers over the papers laid out over Gale's desk. Characteristically meticulous โ and not as boring to Astarion as he likes to pretend. He suspects that Gale knows as much, that the time they've spent traveling has, for better or worse, dispelled some of the illusion he typically maintains (even if it isn't born of magic). ]
And what kind of surprises have you cooked up for our would-be intruders? [ he asks, with a glance toward the door. ]
(He's grateful, though he won't say as much out loud, for Gale's resetting the conversation, his seemingly ever-steady hand leading them, without much issue, into safer waters. Once, he'd have said it's a skill he's just as deft at using, butโ well, here they are.)
Step light, he crosses the room, his hands linking loosely behind his back (as though to keep them out of any further trouble) as he peers over the papers laid out over Gale's desk. Characteristically meticulous โ and not as boring to Astarion as he likes to pretend. He suspects that Gale knows as much, that the time they've spent traveling has, for better or worse, dispelled some of the illusion he typically maintains (even if it isn't born of magic). ]
And what kind of surprises have you cooked up for our would-be intruders? [ he asks, with a glance toward the door. ]
Page 4 of 16