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Astarion ([personal profile] pale_elf) wrote2022-12-07 09:05 pm

Closed to @divinestrike

[It had been few weeks of travel since they left the Grove behind and Astarion spent most of his time fighting and preparing for the Shadow Curse and all that it seemed to involve. The original goal was to travel through the underdark after dealing with the Myconids, the durgears and all that nice stuff. He even found himself deeply amused by the little tower exploration and how one of the robot guardians just... hugged one of his companions. Whoever build them had to be a true, lonely loser. A spectator here, a dwarf saved from mushrooms there, the area was secured with Nere dead and... it turned out the elevator was stuck. Days worth of work- WASTED! Katlach had been lucky in getting a new armor from the forge, but all Astarion got was a laughing amulet that refuses to get off him.

After some discussion, traveling on the surface seemed like the best possible option, even if the mountain opass was guarded by Lae'Zel's people and they seemed rather hostile and dangerous. A daring escape from a killing githyanki machine, an encounter with Elminster and many other problems later they were finally on the right road fortheir destination.

And Astarion's Anxiety was only growing the closer they got to Baldur's Gate. Not only now they traveled with a druid, someone who probably saw him as an insult to natural order, but as soon as they passed whatever awaited them in the Tower... he would be within reach of Cazador once more. Needless to say, his need to reaffirm himself as a valuable team member kept increasing the more they traveled.

It was with absolute delight that he recognized some familiar roads during one of his hunting trips, and for once he didn't even mildly protest when the good souls in his group stopped on their tracks to help some villagers in danger. No. He gathered some valuable things, threw in his bag some other things he looted during his journey and proceeded toward Candlekeep. He could remember Cazador talking about lovely crypts right under the old fort and an old entry that allowed to pass through some cracks between the walls. He left the camp at night with the excuse of food, set down his trap, and waited.

The sun was already setting on the horizon and the group's tents had already been set down when he finally approached his prey. How many days had it been since he last tried to flirt with the Cleric of Selune? Probably too many. He smirked, leaned against the tent like he had a real support and tilted his head to the side, trying to give himself a mischievous but also... almost affectionate expression.</small>]

Well, good evening, darling. It's been far too long from the last time we had a private chat, wouldn't you agree?
divinestrike: (pic#16769092)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-11 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[If she had been a different kind of person, she suspected she could have watched him for hours without tiring. Not that he would have felt much the same, of course. He really was the one carrying them here, which, as... a cleric, that was not supposed to be how it was meant to go. That was to say, her behaviour was downright shameful, though she suspected he wouldn't have agreed. Keeping her safe was likely somewhat paramount, it seemed, though she had never wanted that kind of importance placed upon her.

She really only ever wanted to be some insignificant priestess who travelled the continent, helped people along the way who were in need, and went about her business with giving up little more than her name.

How things had turned so rapidly.

When he tossed aside the last body, she found herself eyeing the doorway intently, wondering if that was the last of them. How many had there been, again? It was so difficult to tell with the remaining viscera that littered the ground. Astarion looked as though he'd seen better days, despite the idea that his features had largely remained unchanged. If anything, he simply looked tired. Or whatever an elf's equivalent was.

She took a moment more to assess and slowly—carefully—moved from her hiding spot, though when she heard what he had to say, she paused. Weren't they here to go chasing after food for him?]


I'm sorry, what?

[At what point had this been a date?

Although it really wasn't the time to get into all of that and she knew that, so she decided not to address it any further. Remaining painfully still, she tried to focus on what she could hear, if there were any additional approaching footsteps. Maybe they were lucky and that was the end of them.

Wouldn't that be nice.]
divinestrike: (#16769109)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-11 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't...

[Well. She didn't think he should go on his own, but he seemed fairly intent on what he was doing. When he offered his cape, she spent some moments simply eyeing it before she begrudgingly accepted. His explanation was perfectly logical as well. It wasn't that it was personal. It's that he was doing what was best for all of them in the long run. And if he could find a way out, then it'd be easier for them to make their way back up and out.

It'd also give her the time to more properly look over herself and see what she could do to tend to her own injuries. As she shifted, she offered him a nod.]


I won't go anywhere. I'll stay right here.

[Not that she thought she was getting anywhere quickly. Even if she handled the pain, it wasn't going to completely fix it. Healing never worked like that. It only worked well enough to get them through a situation. Nights at camp were really the ones best for rest.]

I know I said this already, but I do mean it. You can't do anything reckless. Scout, find a way forward, secure it if needed, and come back. I won't know how to explain to the others if something happens to you because of me.

[It was a rare showing of her true thoughts. Her true vulnerabilities that she didn't much like the others to know about. That idea that she found them all to be her responsibility. And if something happened to any of them, it was because she hadn't been enough, that she hadn't done enough. It would have called all of her credibility into question and considering she didn't feel she had much to begin with, she didn't feel she could afford to lose any.]
divinestrike: (pic#16811307)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-12 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
["No good luck kiss?"

She loosed a breath that was very nearly amused. No. Certainly not in the precise moment. But perhaps when all was said and done... After all, Astarion had certainly gone out of his way to take care of her. She likely could have surrendered one to him. It was something worth considering, though she had never been in the habit of such things.

The rest of what he had to say was reassuring. He sounded sure of himself and it was one of the rarer times that she appreciated what she'd often interpreted as 'arrogance' coming from him. Even then, however, she'd decided relatively early on that he had every right to perceive himself in such a way.

When he told her he'd be back, she offered him a short little nod, watching him disappear into the darkness with a... strangely heavy heart. Despite knowing he could take care of himself, in the same way her nerves fluttered each time they left companions back in camp, she found herself with the very natural worry and concern. If only because she couldn't control everything that happened. Not being able to feel in control was a terrifying thing. At least with control, she could suspect what the consequences might have been. Prepare herself. When she had no such power, she couldn't even pretend that she had a plan in ready.

The stay on her own was... quiet. A little uncomfortable. The same level of discomfort she'd oft found when she was in her solitude at camp. Thinking about the path they were on, how far it would lead them, where her responsibilities lied, what would happen if she somehow didn't make it along the way, and realising she had piece things together in such a way that if such a thing did come to pass, it was paramount that the others would be able to travel seamlessly forward without her.

But those were the kinds of darker thoughts that Nepione hid beneath the surface of her seemingly unending optimism. It was so very important that she did not expose too much of that, if any. Better that they thought better things of her.

Drawing Astarion's cape around herself in an effort to keep the majority of her warm, she listened to the emptiness that made itself her most intimate companion and when she deigned that she was likely safe enough to remove herself from the debris, she carefully did so, trying to remain as light on her feet as possible. She'd need the space and relative 'comforts' to look herself over. It was likely little more than a sprain. Perhaps a muscle pulled. Abrasions at worst. Well, broken bones, really, though she suspected likely nothing so severe.

Whatever it was (something she could establish at camp later on), a simple healing alleviated the pain as she sat on the ground, bundled up in not much. She was considerably better with heat, admittedly. Cold was a challenge and to her, it was the real foe. Better that she didn't wear anything heavier. It wasn't hard to imagine the way metal seemed to absorb the cold. Her hard leathers were a wise choice on this occasion.

In time, she lost track of it. Not that she ever had it to begin with. Wondered where the position of the moon was. Longed for it in her own way. Wondered how far Astarion had gotten. But she never quite got to the part where she had cause for concern, for at some point as she waited for the return of the only friendly undead. When he did finally make his return, she had long since had her knees pulled to her chest, burying her face in her arms, his cape securely atop her. His voice, however, startled her so soundly, that she was roused just about immediately.]


Oh—

[As she took the next breaths to more better concentrate her gaze on him, Nepione stretched her arms above her head and she offered him an initial nod to answer him.]

Mhm. [She continued, waiting for her words to continue. Clearing her throat, she somewhat unsteadily made her way to her feet, though it had nothing to do with pain and everything to do with her impromptu nap.] I should be fine. A little cold, but I can endure that. I'm mostly just glad that you're safe.

Here— [As she carefully drew his cape from her, she offered it over with the smallest curve of her mouth.] What did you find?
divinestrike: (#16769102)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-12 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Without even a chance to protest, all she could do was accept when he wrapped her right back up in his cape. She suspected that there was, as most of his actions had been, that responsibility he felt for her, though she was perfectly capable of holding her own. Even in the cold, it wasn't going to stop her. She didn't much like to be thought of as delicate and she wasn't, regardless of what her appearance said about her, but maybe it was for the best that others might have perceived her otherwise.

Taking into account what he'd asked of her, she nodded. (Less asking and more heavily-weighted... Well. It wasn't really a demand, but maybe something akin to that.) In a very quiet voice, she cast a look to the door.]
Okay. I won't say more than I have to. [Which started in that moment, drawing her arms in tight against herself. She wasn't really the subtle type and that was much of the reason she'd likely never gotten herself involved with his line of work. Astarion was so much better when it came to stealth. She was far too lacking in grace to pull anything like that off.]

[Much as she wanted to help him, she refrained, remaining in place, though taking a moment to look about. The whole misadventure had really done a number on them. Astarion looked like he'd seen better days. Her hair was a mess, errant locks of dark blue hanging every which way from the way she'd pulled it up. Her face easily smudged. It certainly looked like the two of them had at least fallen into something. Astarion had the worst of it, however.

As long as she got somewhere warmer, she couldn't have said she cared much what order anything came in. But for a man like him... Well. Astarion always enjoyed the finer things in life. Drawing her gaze back onto Astarion, she patiently waited, softly glowing eyes taking him in, in the event that he wanted her to move elsewhere or otherwise do something that wasn't a part of his original request.

She was definitely more than ready to leave. But at least they weren't leaving completely empty-handed.]
divinestrike: (#16769109)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-12 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
["I love your voice almost as much as I love mine."

Maybe it was the cold, the situation, or the entire night encompassed into those moments, but she suddenly felt very aware of herself. Of him. A soft little catch of her breath ensued and she drew her bottom lip beneath her teeth for just a moment. Just enough time to compose herself. Perhaps she could simply pass it off as though the chill had gotten the better of her. Not that his words were getting to her.

If she gave herself more than a moment or two to consider it, letting him hold her hadn't been the most awful thing. He'd done what he had out of necessity, but there was no doubting that she had felt safe in those moments. Something had very much told her that Astarion would not have let anything happen to her, regardless of whatever reason he had going on up in his head. His reasoning, after all, hardly mattered.

Would that she could allow herself to think she had some manner of value. Well, more value than she thought she had.]


Uhm. Yes. Of course.

[Lifting a hand, she lightly rubbed at the flush in her cheek, pointedly dropping her gaze, thinking she was not at all good at handling such words. She stayed where he left her and she was left with little more than her thoughts. Hopefully they'd not caused a great deal of concern for the others. If they did, she was going to have to give some kind of explanation. Even without them looking, just their appearance was worthy of clarification. How much would they believe they were simply catching Astarion's dinner for the night?

She was still thinking it when she heard the doorway open. The words that followed were... perfectly him. So stunned she was by them that it took her more than a breath to clear her throat and issue him a shake of her head.]


No. [She wasn't any good at lying anyway and there was no way she'd be able to act familiar enough with him that she could even pass that off.] I was intending just to tell them we were hunting your dinner. Which is what I told them when we left. If you're so concerned about how they perceive your appearance, let them be distracted by mine and you can go wash.

[Because she didn't care what she looked like. Mostly. Brushing her hair all over again was going to be extra time she didn't want to spend, but at least it was somewhat enjoyable. Lifting her hands, she patted herself down, still relatively tucked beneath his cape, making sure she still had everything. It seemed so. It had not been a total waste.

Still a shame that the books were of no practical condition, however.

She paused for just a moment as she eyed the sky and loosed a breath that felt as if it carried the weight of so many other things. How beautiful it looked. How nice it was to be there then, even as dishevelled as she appeared. Too bad she couldn't have stayed longer.]
Edited (tiny typo!) 2023-12-12 21:36 (UTC)
divinestrike: (#16769095)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-13 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Saying something so blatantly false only would have benefited him. Of course, that was assuming she had ever been capable of lying—which she wasn't. When he seemed willing to ease up on her, she felt only a little more at peace with the idea that he wasn't going to go bragging about exploits that clearly had not happened.

As she followed after him at a comfortable distance, she still turned the entire situation. It was an interesting outing. Date, if one were speaking to him on it. Could it be a date if the other person didn't know that's what it was? She didn't even know where to begin with all of that.

At his assessment of self, Nepione loosed a sigh.]


I don't think you look so bad right now... A little dirty, perhaps. [A lot dirty, actually.] Nothing a bath can't fix. But given that you'll look the same, less some very small variables, my description of you would be the same.

[That was—]

I would probably just describe you as clean.
divinestrike: (pic#16811249)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-13 01:05 pm (UTC)(link)
You realise that the person who was talking about those was simply saying that you looked nice when you laughed. That's not a bad thing either. Does it really only count when someone says things that you only want to hear? I think you must know yourself so well that you don't need to have anyone else tell you what they think of your appearance.

[She shook her head at him, thinking it would have been more helpful for others to tell him if something he wore looked ridiculous on him. As someone who didn't much care about what she wore or what her appearance was, she was as equally terrible at that. She might have considered driving that point home, but somehow, she suspected that Astarion probably understood, whether he wanted to or not.

Nepione also suspected that she probably could have said all of that in a considerably nicer way. It was something that would warrant later reflection. Much like their entire night, actually.

She stood just a little more straight as she listened in the distance. Her ears couldn't compare at all to present company's, but hers weren't useless either. Better than a human's, at the very least. So caught up she was in the idea that they really had caused concern with their absence that she completely let his 'charming' comment slide right by her.

What he probably had meant was flirting with her.]


It felt like we were in there for a while. I'm not surprised. I feel guilty for making them worry. Do I think they're going to buy that we were just tracking down your dinner? Probably not. Speaking of which— [Turning her attention back onto Astarion.] —I know you said it wasn't my concern how far away from camp your dinners were taking you, but we'll be hitting the Shadow-Curse soon. You can't be doing this sort of thing out there. We don't even know really what to expect. So...

[Drawing in a deep breath, she couldn't actually believe she was going to be addressing this, but—]

When you can't find something near us to sate you, I... suppose I don't mind letting you. [A pause. A slightly uncomfortable one.] You know.
divinestrike: (pic#16811307)

[personal profile] divinestrike 2023-12-13 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, yes, of course you do.

[Who could blame him. She knew he was vain. It was possible there was more to it, as well. Perhaps he'd never thought much of himself either. Or he'd simply thought of himself only in the idea of what Cazador had put him through. She didn't ask and for all the prying she did, she wasn't going to. Astarion deserved better. He had every right to keep that part of his life to himself. Hells, if she'd been him, she would have done the same.

The little pause that ensued from her... offer, she supposed it was, was noticeable, but only in the way that it was momentary surprise. If it had been any other situation, she wouldn't have made it, but she had a difficult time believing the others in their camp would extend the same courtesy. It was a dangerous thing, letting him do that. Would he know when to stop? Couldn't she simply perish beneath his hands? It required a great deal of trust on her part to permit such a thing.

And it had been a respectful exchange for... a few breaths at least before it became what she expected was very, very normal for him. Shaking her head, she loosed a sigh, tired of... Well. Just about everything. His gratitude did not go ignored. As he turned away, her strides continued, long tail swaying behind her, her movements as if she was never injured to begin with. By the morning, she suspected she would feel a great deal better.

There was more she had to say to him, of course, but as they neared camp, those things would need to wait. Another moment that they had privacy in, she supposed. Something where others would not overhear. And she wasn't about to rush them out for that would have only ruined them. Instead, she held them close to her for the time being.]


It's nothing.

[It wasn't nothing and they both knew it, but it would be easier for her to pretend that it was. She wasn't good at lying, but she was good at pretending and that much she could be confident in.]

Let's not tarry any longer. I'll speak with the others. Go wash yourself up and get to your meditations. I daresay you've earned that at the very least.