#Seraphina Hellwhisper

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

the real quest reward for ‘save the artist’ is NOT that bugged ass painting. the real reward is gothic lighting that is perfect for smooching gale

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter 1

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav

Synopsis: Seraphina has spent the last 2 years trying to wield her wild magic as life keeps trying to knock her down. After being infected on the nautiloid, she's been presented with her biggest problem and greatest adventure so far. Through the trials of trying to save herself and the city she calls home, she makes new friends, falls in love, and begins to finally understand what it means to trust in luck and her lady Tymora. Already posted this to ao3 and I'm re-learning Tumblr after years away, so it's time to put this here! Notes: It's my first time publishing my writing on the internet in almost a decade, but the BG3 brainrot is real and has demanded it.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Includes dialogue directly from BG3. ______________________________________________________________ Chapter 1: Friendly Competition

The gentle hum of the river. The quiet crackling of the nearby fire. The subtle rustling of the leaves as the wind gently blew.

Seraphina leaned into the ambiance around her in camp as she kneeled in the sand on the riverbank and did her nightly prayer to Tymora, her Lady Luck pendant clutched tightly between her hands. Her faith in Tymora had, admittedly, started to waver in the last few years, but the latest state-of-affairs that Seraphina had been thrust into truly made her feel as if the entire foundation that she had been raised on was crumbling.

Just three tendays ago, Seraphina had set out from her parents’ home in Baldur’s Gate for yet another contract with plenty of blessings and well wishes from her family — in fact, an overabundance of them since the last time she left home, she ended up in Avernus. A tenday ago, she had stopped in the city of Yartar for supplies when the nautiloid appeared above the city and began abducting people off of the streets. Now, every plan she had for her life had seemingly evaporated with the death sentence of a mind flayer tadpole in her skull. Her magic and her goddess couldn’t save her, or perhaps Tymora refused to intervene.

The tiefling wanted more than anything to turn tail and run back to the warmth of her family while she still had time left. But that wasn’t what a Hellwhisper was supposed to do. None of her siblings had ever abandoned one of their adventures, no matter how perilous it became.

But none of them had ever encountered a mind flayer or been infected with a tadpole, Seraphina thought bitterly.

Seraphina wasn’t quite sure what to make of the situation she had found herself in, much less of the people who had, for better or worse, become her traveling companions: the gith, the fellow tiefling who had fought on the frontlines of the Blood War, the mysterious cleric, the righteous warlock, the flirtatious pale elf that had recently revealed he was actually a vampire, and the gods damned egoistical wizard of all people.

Seraphina had encountered her fair share of wizards on her adventures and wasn’t a huge fan of them. They all thought they were better than Seraphina, a natural-born sorcerer. Gale honestly didn’t seem too different as he carefully and pointedly distinguished himself from Seraphina when it came to conversations about magic around camp. She had to fully bite her tongue to keep from snapping at him when he made a remark about her wild magic after fighting the goblins at the gate of the Emerald Grove, when mid-battle a wild magic surge enlarged everyone around Seraphina.

They have no idea who I used to be, Seraphina thought as she closed her eyes for longer, clasped her hands tighter, and prayed harder. My Lady Tymora, this trial has to be over now, surely? Have I not shown my perseverance and dedication in the face of the most bizarre odds and chances? Is this wild magic truly the best way to serve you, even now with a tadpole in my head?

Selfishly, a new reason she wanted her old magic back was to prove herself to Gale. Unfortunately, he had taken up a lot of her headspace since their first meeting.

“Hello! I’m Gale of Waterdeep,” The newly appeared man shook Seraphina’s hand as she looked, befuddled, from him to the portal in the rock that she had just pulled him from.

“Apologies, I’m usually better at this,” Gale scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

“At introductions?” Seraphina joked, brushing dirt from her robes that had appeared after she and Gale fell to the ground.

“At magic,” He smiled. She felt her heart skip a beat.  

“Well, I’m Seraphina…of Baldur’s Gate. Pleasure to meet you, Gale of Waterdeep,” She awkwardly replied. If she was telling the truth, she felt every usually charismatic bone in her body turn to mush as she took in the tall, handsome man standing in front of her. And she could feel the very essence of magic flowing around him? What a catch.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” came a voice from behind Seraphina. She whipped her head around and saw Gale approaching with two quarterstaffs in hand.

“I was just finishing up,” she smiled.

“Praying for Tymora to send an overdue stroke of good luck our way, I hope,” Gale grinned.

“Fortune favors the bold, Gale. Lady Luck will help us find this Halsin and return him to his Grove, curing our tadpoles along the way. She’s never failed me before,” Seraphina replied as she rose to her feet and walked over to him, putting her Tymoran necklace back around her neck.

“Have you followed Tymora your whole life?” Gale asked.

“Yes. As my sisters and brothers did before me, as did my parents, grandparents, and their parents before them. We were all raised in the same temple to service Our Smiling Lady,” Seraphina said excitedly. “But I imagine you’re not here to listen to me babble on about my goddess. Is there something I can help you with?”

“I could listen to you talk for hours, Seraphina, but yes, there was something,” Gale replied, blissfully unaware that he was making Seraphina blush furiously with such a simple statement. “With your natural gift of magic and less of a talent for a blade, I was hoping that you might be in the mood to help me with a small task,” Gale grinned.

“And what would that be?”

“Would you be amenable to a little friendly sparring to cap off our night?”

Seraphina laughed. “I would be, but I’ll have you know my weapon of preference is a glaive.” She thought sadly of her favorite glaive that had slipped from her holster as she sprinted to try and escape the tentacles of the nautiloid. It had been a gift from someone she would rather forget, so maybe it wasn’t too much of a loss.

Gale turned and led Seraphina closer to an empty patch of land near the campfire.

“I will have to keep my eyes peeled for a glaive then, my dear sorcerer,” Gale continued. Seraphina felt her face grow hot and she tried to ignore it as he handed her one of the quarterstaffs.

Seraphina braced herself firmly on her feet, the quarterstaff diagonal to her body, and carefully lowered herself into a defensive stance. “Give me all you’ve got,” she curved her hands, beckoning him.

Gale started with a swing directly at Seraphina’s legs, which Seraphina smoothly dodged, dragging her feet along the dirt in a simple arch. She immediately retraced that arch and, with a thwack, hit Gale on the back before spinning and resuming her defensive stance a few feet behind him.

“I said ‘give me all you’ve got,’ wizard,” Seraphina teased. Gale winced as he stood and turned to face her. “I take it you don’t have too much combat experience?”

Gale chuckled. “Wizards have towers for a reason,” he replied, carefully dodging a direct answer as well as a swing from Seraphina. “I assume this isn’t your first perilous adventure?”

“Far from it. I’ve used magic and a blade or two to fight pirates,”

Gale swung and Seraphina blocked with her quarterstaff, immediately pushing back and swinging at his ankles. He jumped over it.

“Hags,” Seraphina curved her body in a crescent shape to avoid his next attack.

Seraphina swung upwards, knocking Gale’s staff out of his hands, and placing the butt of the staff against his chest. “And I was fighting for my life in Avernus not too long before the nautiloid,” Seraphina finished.

She was crouching down and looking up at him. They were both breathing heavily, having already been exhausted from today’s events of defeating the Harpies at the Grove. Gale looked down at her and Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat as she took in his features, illuminated by the campfire. The gray hairs that blended in almost seamlessly with his long, thick brown hair. The orange of the fire made his brown eyes look like they were blazing.

With Gale’s slightly lifted eyebrows and intense gaze, she could detect a swirl of emotions in his eyes. Admiration. A little fear?

“You like to live dangerously,” Gale said breathlessly.

“High risk, high reward,” Seraphina laughed.

She felt a singular bead of sweat drip down her neck and chest, disappearing behind the laces of her nightshirt, and she watched as Gale’s eyes followed it. Seraphina suddenly felt like her entire body was itching as she shifted. Gale’s eyes snapped up to meet hers and he instantly flushed , taking a step back and ending the moment that truthfully only lasted mere seconds. She turned, picked up his staff, and thrust it into his hands.

“Again. I want you to knock me down or disarm me before we finish,” She smirked.

It took 30 minutes and several tries, but as Seraphina’s eyelids grew heavier, finally, Gale did it. With a firm sweep to the back of her calves, she tumbled to the dirt and, as she fell, Gale knocked the staff from her hands. He mimicked her earlier movements, pressing the end of his staff against her chest.

“Mragreshem,” She playfully cursed at him as he chuckled.

“Mission accomplished,” Gale proudly smirked. Seraphina nodded, panting. He reached out a hand to help her up. She took it and as he helped her up, she swayed backward.

Gale’s hand pressed against her lower back to steady her, and she leaned forward, Seraphina’s hands landing on his chest. With how close he was, she inhaled his intoxicating scent of parchment, books, and sandalwood. Her eyes caught his and he smiled at her when, suddenly, the markings on his chest, neck, and face began to glow a dull purple.

Just as quickly as he caught her, he stepped away, still smiling, but he looked like he was in pain, his eyes squinting as if he was holding back a wince. The glowing ceased. Seraphina’s eyes widened as she realized there was something magical in Gale’s chest.

“Gale, are you alright?” Seraphina stepped forward, a hand outstretched and Gale subtly leaned away.  

“Perfectly fine. I believe I have kept both of us from sleep quite long enough. Thank you for helping me get a little bit sharper in my staff handling,” He smiled.

“You’re welcome. Good night, Gale,” She returned his smile. Gale nodded curtly and Seraphina could’ve sworn he nearly ran into his tent. She was no stranger to rendering people speechless, but Gale seemed positively terrified of her.

She stood there for a moment, processing before she turned to head to her own tent.

What if he’s not usually attracted to tieflings? Does he act nice with me and the other tieflings at the Emerald Grove just to turn around and call us foulbloods behind our back? Seraphina thought.

As she was about to enter her tent, she noticed Astarion out of the corner of her eye. He waved her over and Seraphina crossed the camp to stand before him.

“I thought the wizard might keep you occupied all night. You know, I’ve been thinking about you.” Astarion grinned. “And that delicious moment we shared the other night.” Seraphina felt her stomach flip. She had butterflies around Astarion, and she couldn’t quite tell if it was exclusively because of his flirtatious way of speaking, or the fact that he reminded her of someone she shouldn’t still allow to be occupying her thoughts.

“The moment you bit me?” She asked.

Astarion nodded. “The very same. I’ve had this condition for two centuries, but truth be told?” He broke their eye contact and fiddled with his fingers. He took a deep breath. “You were my first.”

“What an esteemed honor. I hope my blood was satisfying,” She smiled.

“You were delectable. And now I just can’t help but wonder how the others taste.”

Seraphina dramatically gasped and clutched at her heart. “You’re looking at other necks? I’m hurt,” She pouted.

Astarion, for how prickly he was at first, was truly quite silly beneath it all. It only endeared Seraphina more.

“Don’t worry, there’s enough of me to go around. I’m a man of tremendous appetites,” Astarion smoothly replied. The way that he looked at her from under his lashes made her feel like lightning was coursing just underneath her skin. As she held his gaze, Astarion’s eyes began to shift from their beautiful crimson to the bright blue ones that haunted her dreams. She blinked a few times to push the image away.

“In the spirit of theoretical questions - if you had to take a bite from one of our companions, who would it be?” Astarion mused.

 “Ah, I love pondering hypotheticals with you in the dead of night,” Seraphina laughed, recalling when he asked how she would like to be killed. “Gale, no question.”

“A refined palate, but such an underwhelming answer coming from you, darling,”

“And what makes you say that?”

“I took you for someone who likes to take risks, live dangerously.”

“Would Lae’zel have been a more acceptable answer? Or you?”

Astarion smirked at her. “Darling, don’t expose all your lustful desires at once. Let’s try to leave room for a little suspense,” he winked.

Seraphina grinned wickedly. She hadn’t had fun like this in so long.

“Silly me. The buildup is the best part,” she whispered flirtatiously.

“If you think the buildup is the best, wait until you experience the conclusion I have in mind,” Astarion quipped. “But it’s late. I’d better go find something I can sink my teeth into. Sweet dreams,” Astarion brushed the back of his hand down Seraphina’s arm as he turned and headed into the woods.

“Good hunting!” She called out after him.

Sleep came easy. She knew that she couldn’t allow herself to develop feelings for anyone or get attached, not with the tadpole threatening all of their lives.

But wasn’t that all the more reason to have a little fun?

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

"And longer if I can"

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Seraphina Hellwhisper, the Lucky Sorcerer, and Gale Dekarios, the Wizard of Waterdeep

(aka 2 idiots in love who think their death is worth the favor of their goddesses) Check out my fic for these two.

Full size and still kinda incomplete version under the cut.

Baldur's Gate 3 inspired me to start writing again, so I wanted to see if the inspo carried over to art! I haven't picked up my pencil to draw in ages, and when I finally did, I decided to also start with a brand new program that I haven't ever used before, so this drawing nearly ended me lol. I gave up on certain aspects like Seraphina's armor (pls don't even mention her hair omg), so that pattern is literally just a screenshot from the game. I'm still figuring out my art style so we'll see what sticks!

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

“Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips

We should just kiss

Like real people do”

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

“Each day, you rise with me

Know that I would gladly be

the Icarus to your certainty

Oh, my sunlight, sunlight, sunlight”

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter 3

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav x Astarion Ancunín

Chapter Synopsis: Seraphina is healing her broken heart in a completely healthy manner. Chapter One. Chapter Two.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Chapter Three: Moving On

“You do know how to make a damn good breakfast!”

Karlach.

“Well, thank you, Karlach! My mother would be glad to hear it.”

Gale.

“Send along our thanks to your mother, Gale. Good meals are hard to come by on the road.”

Wyll.

Seraphina was trekking back to camp from washing up in the river that morning when the voices of her companions reached her ears. Karlach had only joined them three days ago and having another exceptionally positive individual – especially another tiefling – lifted Seraphina’s spirits. 

A new companion, a balmy morning, and the mouthwatering scent of breakfast. She was convinced it was going to be a good day. Maybe good enough to find a solution to this tadpole in her head.

“Hey, soldier!” Karlach greeted. 

“Good morning!” Seraphina chirped. 

“What’s the plan for the day?” Karlach asked. 

Gale smiled sweetly at Seraphina as he handed her a plate of sausage links, potatoes, and tomatoes. 

“We have two main options. We need to investigate the rest of the village, which shouldn’t take long and it’s also on the way to Auntie Ethel’s house, or we can head towards the goblin camp,” Seraphina replied. She reached into her pocket and fished out her coin. 

“Is that your lucky coin or something?” Karlach inquired around a mouthful of food. 

“You haven’t seen our dear leader’s morning ritual yet?” Astarion asked as he sauntered over from his tent. He winked at Seraphina as he walked past her and settled across the fire from her.

“Heads for the goblin camp. Tails for the village and Auntie Ethel,” Seraphina said, taking a bite of potatoes before flipping her coin. The coin shot up, slightly past her head, and she caught it with her palm. “Tails it is!”

“Chk. You are wasting precious time and leaving our fate up to the chance outcome of a coin flip. We should be making our way to a creche,” Lae’zel interjected.

“We haven’t had any symptoms so far, Lae’zel, and we don’t know how far away this creche is. Auntie Ethel has offered to help us and, if she can’t, at least we’ll be going to get the druid soon,” Seraphina smiled at Lae’zel, whose scowl was unwavering. “I promise we’ll head there.”

“So, what’s this little tradition of yours?” Karlach asked, smoothly changing the topic back.

“I worship Tymora, Lady Luck. Tymorans lean into luck and chance at every opportunity. The greater the risk, the greater the reward from the Smiling Lady,” Seraphina replied. 

“Do you consider the tadpole a reward?” Shadowheart asked pointedly. 

Seraphina bit her tongue to prevent herself from saying what she wanted to say, something along the lines of asking Shadowheart if she considered turning into a mind flayer and losing her soul a welcome loss in the name of Shar. She and Shadowheart had made some progress in…diplomacy. It was difficult traveling with someone who worshipped a goddess who Tymora did not like. Seraphina could feel the Bright Lady’s discontent occasionally when she and Shadowheart shared a moment that erred on the side of friendly. 

“Unfortunate things happen to anyone, regardless of who they worship. That’s why we’re going to go see what Auntie Ethel can do to help us,” Seraphina replied evenly.

As the topic of breakfast chatter changed, Seraphina started going over her list in her head of what they needed for the day. After she finished eating, she hurried over to her tent, scooping some empty potion bottles and quickly beginning to craft.

She had crafted three healing potions when a pouch suddenly dropped in front of her. She looked up to see Astarion standing over her, his arms crossed with his signature smirk.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“I picked up a few ingredients for you while I was hunting last night. I would’ve given them to you earlier, but there were more pressing matters when I saw you last night,” Astarion replied. 

“Oh!” Seraphina said, opening the pouch to see several bunches of balsam, rogue’s morsel, and wispweed. “Thank you, Astarion. That’s very sweet of you.”

He crouched down so that he was eye level with her.

“Not nearly as sweet as your blood tastes, darling. Your blood has made me curious if all of you tastes as enticing,” he murmured. Heat blossomed on her cheeks as she averted her gaze back to her mortar and pestle, but Astarion put a finger under her chin and, with the lightest pressure, lifted her face to continue looking at him.

“You know, Seraphina, I’ve been thinking –”

“Are we prepared to venture forth today?”

They both looked up to see Gale had approached, his hands clasped behind his back. Seraphina saw a flash of annoyance cross Astarion’s face as he opened his mouth to speak, but she jumped to her feet.

“Yes! Let’s go,” she smiled, putting the new potions, alchemy tools, and the new pouch from Astarion into her bag. 

“Astarion, I hope you won’t mind me borrowing Seraphina’s attention for a few moments,” Gale said.

Astarion scowled. “I assure you that I do mind since we were already having a discussion before you interrupted.”

“We will be together all day. There’s plenty of time to chat with both of you,” Seraphina interjected as Karlach walked over. The group started their walk out of camp and began heading in the direction of the blighted village.

“I apologize for the intrusion,” Gale murmured as Astarion and Karlach trailed ahead. “I suppose it’s quite rude to demand your attention as frequently as I have.”

“I’ll tell you a secret,” Seraphina said, gesturing for Gale to lean in closer. 

“You’re my favorite person here. You can take up as much of my time as you wish,” she whispered, brushing her hand along his shoulder.

Gale gave a short chuckle, his face reddening as he stood up straight again. “Don’t tell me that. I may never leave your side,” he replied.

“And I wouldn’t mind that at all. Now, was something on your mind?” Part of her hoped that he would finally tell her why he needed to ‘consume’ magical items. She wasn’t a fan of the complaints and grumbling from everyone else over the loss of powerful gear.

“Right! If it’s not too bothersome for you to recall it, I was quite interested in hearing your story of what you witnessed when Elturel was pulled into Avernus.”

“Oh! Well, I guess to begin, my presence as a Tymoran priestess was requested to assist some Hellriders with an investigation they were doing into some recent disappearances.”

* * *

Seraphina flopped onto a rock, chugging a healing potion, as she winced and breathed through the pain from her wounds. She, Astarion, Gale, and Karlach had just killed Gandrel, a monster hunter who was searching for Astarion. Seraphina was usually the first to suggest the peaceful or least aggressive route in any conflict, but when Astarion smirked at her and said, “We should do something about this threat,” she knew that he was, unfortunately, correct. 

She had sighed as she replied, “All right, kill him if you must.” Karlach was less than happy about the choice, but Seraphina knew they couldn’t risk having a monster hunter lurking so close to their camp, not when Astarion was so valuable to their team. Taking a life wasn’t something that Seraphina did lightly. She could only pray that protecting Astarion was the right decision. 

As Karlach and Gale went off to survey the rest of the swamp and ensure that Gandrel was alone, Astarion walked over and stood in front of her. 

“Darling, I was thinking about you before we bumped into that filth,” Astarion said. He gestured at the rock. “May I?” 

Seraphina looked at the rock, which truthfully was only fit for one person. She nodded and scooted over, her left leg hanging off. Astarion sat, so close that the sides of their bodies pressed together. She turned to look at him, slightly tilting her head back to avoid catching him with her ram horns. 

“And pray tell, what were you thinking about in relation to me?” She replied as she began applying her healing magic on the scratches and wounds on his legs. She could feel his eyes staring at her as she worked.

“Remembering our time together, the things we’ve shared – and I don’t just mean that lovely neck of yours,” Astarion admitted. Seraphina shivered as she felt a finger graze her neck, passing over the bite marks where Astarion had fed from just last night. The finger continued moving up until Astarion softly grabbed her chin and turned her to look at him. She felt like her whole body was ablaze as she looked into his red eyes.

“I’m growing to like the whole package, honestly. And you clearly like me too, so…” Astarion murmured, a smirk on his face. He seemed absolutely smug at her wide-eyed expression.  

“A lady never tells,” She replied coyly, attempting to gain some power back in this conversation.

“You don’t have to say a thing,” Astarion’s hand moved from her chin to cradling the back of her head. “I already know how you feel.” He looked at her lips and his gaze flicked back to her eyes. He slowly leaned forward, and Seraphina felt like she was being pulled on a string, closer and closer, until his soft, pink lips were pressed against her red-painted ones. 

The kiss was surprisingly tender until she felt Astarion’s fingers tangle into her hair and pull, simultaneously pressing her even closer. She gasped and Astarion took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth, carefully stroking her tongue with his own. Seraphina could feel the butterflies in her belly when she finally remembered that she had hands, and she gripped his shirt. She pressed her thighs together as she felt arousal surge through her. When was the last time she had kissed someone? As quickly as the moment started, it ended as he pulled away, his hand trailing down her neck, shoulder, and arm. His smirk returned. 

“We could take an evening to ourselves. Get away from camp – get some privacy,” He murmured seductively. “I know somewhere quiet. Somewhere intimate. Somewhere we can…indulge in each other.”

“You’re lucky that I trust you, but I can’t lie that this all sounds mildly suspicious,” She laughed breathlessly. The kiss hadn’t even lasted that long, but she felt like Astarion had sucked all the oxygen from her lungs as easily as he sucked her blood. 

“On my honor,” Astarion started, his other hand creeping down to grip her thigh. “The only thing on my mind is depraved, carnal lust.” 

“Sounds like a good time to me,” She replied. She could hear Karlach’s roaring laughter and Gale’s measured footsteps growing nearer. 

“Once we can get away, I promise you a night you’ll never forget,” Astarion purred, squeezing her thigh once, before rising to his feet. Seraphina slowly stood with him as Karlach and Gale appeared below.

“Oi! We’ve got an appointment with Auntie Ethel, you slowpokes!” Karlach yelled. 

“Lead on, my friend!” Astarion hopped down to join them as Seraphina trailed behind, her lips tingling as she tried to throw water on the inferno that was raging between her legs.

Astarion and Karlach walked on, but Gale waited for Seraphina, sweetly smiling at her as she joined him on the path towards the teahouse. She almost felt guilty for what had just occurred with Astarion, but she quickly buried it. If Gale was taking his time with courting her – if that’s even what was happening between them – what was the issue with her indulging in the very direct attention that Astarion was offering? 

She felt like she deserved to languish in the attention and desire of someone else after what happened with Vadan. In the last few days, she’d been able to think about him without feeling a pain in her chest. Moving on was possible. She could see the light. She needed to keep pushing through this fog. 

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter 9.5

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav x Astarion Ancunín

Chapter Synopsis: Astarion has a nice, simple plan and Seraphina's kindness is introducing an unexpected complication.

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Four and a Half. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine.

Read on ao3.

Word Count: 4.7k

Notes: We're so back. Took a little break and I'm back to yapping about these 3 idiots. Here's a chapter from Astarion's POV.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Chapter Nine and a Half: Carry Me Slowly, My Sunlight

Astarion’s chest ached.

But he hadn’t been injured. 

He felt like he couldn’t breathe.

Even though he had no need to breathe anymore.

He laid on his side staring at the source of his pain. She was asleep next to him. He watched as her chest, covered in devilish ridges and his own bite marks, gently rose and fell. His eyes followed up to her slender neck, the left side covered in a deep red tattoo of a rose with a new scar from the assassination attempt stretching over the art. He felt a surge of anger and pride as he remembered ending the life of two of the assassins sent to kill her.

Her sharp jawline, her plump and thick lips that were always painted a deep crimson, her wide nose, her sharp cheekbones, the freckles that scattered across her red skin like stars, the scar that stretched from under her right eye to the bridge of her nose and the other barely visible scar on her lower lip, and the jewelry that carefully decorated her eyebrow, nose, and pointed ears. 

Astarion’s eyes followed the curve of her horns, ending in points that he dodged easily when he bent down to bite or kiss her neck because, at this point, he knew her body and could navigate it with his eyes closed. The silky-smooth texture of her thick black and red hair was familiar to Astarion. He loved tangling his fingers in it, whether it was while pressing her lips against his in a bloody kiss after feeding from her, while Seraphina took his hard length into her mouth, or as he was thrusting into her. As he took in her form, Astarion felt the sharp pang of that ache in his chest again. Looking at her felt like looking into the sun – bright, gorgeous, overwhelming, and yet he still wanted to bask in her glow.

Seraphina was a beautiful, painful, all-too-kind problem.

When he saw her the first time, he was trapped in a pod on the nautiloid ship and had only seen the back of her head. When he saw her for the second time, walking through the ship wreckage with a half-elf and a human in tow, he faked being in danger and she actually fell for it. When he drew a dagger on her to try and get answers out of her about what she and the mind flayers had done to him, she didn’t turn to anger.

“Whoa! No need to pull out any knives!” The tiefling said with a laugh, as if having a dagger pressed to her throat was a regular occurrence for her.

“If you use that dagger, I will have to incinerate you,” said the human she had walked over with.

“And risk burning your friend? I doubt it,” Astarion hissed. In that moment as he turned to speak to the man, the tiefling rolled away from him. 

“Put the knife away and maybe we can help each other,” the tiefling said, holding up her hands as if she was trying to calm a wild animal.

She was surprisingly patient and forgiving. She even asked him to join the ragtag group of survivors that she was collecting like coins. Astarion wasn’t special on that front – moments later Seraphina accepted a hostile gith into their ranks. Seraphina had a naïve optimism to her that made her all too trusting which Astarion considered could be quite useful aspects of her personality.

It was only days later that Astarion realized he needed to be special to Seraphina for the sake of his survival. When hunger came to him, along with the desire to see if he could disobey Cazador’s rules, Astarion crept over to Seraphina’s tent to feed. When she woke up, she wasn’t mad or fearful. A bit annoyed on account of him attempting to bite without her permission, but surprisingly understanding.

“I’ve kept much more dangerous company,” she said with a shrug.

Astarion chose not to question her on that. How was it possible for him to care about that when Seraphina was now lying back down and presenting her beautiful neck to him? When he bit her, his senses were flooded. Her saccharine scent of vanilla and an undercurrent of citrus. The taste of her blood was intoxicating. Cazador kept him from this? Seraphina’s blood tasted sweeter than any wine, filled with the sharp, fiery tang of her magic. Astarion let her blood coat his tongue like honey, and he would’ve gulped until she was drained dry until she stopped him.

All it took was one drop of Seraphina’s lifeblood to make Astarion nearly feral for her. He had to force himself to focus on the words she said when she stood next to him, her scent drawing him closer. He knew right away when she had been injured in battle and, in a flash, he was by her side. There was the instance when, while wandering near an abandoned crypt, raiders attacked their party. They were swiftly dealt with, mostly because Astarion could smell Seraphina’s delicious blood from across the courtyard. His eyes focused in on the slash that ran across her forearm as he walked over to her.

“Nice work,” Seraphina panted to him as she dug through the pockets of one of the bodies.

“I’d say the same to you, but you’ve had a bit of a spill, darling,” Astarion helped her to her feet and grabbed her arm. “I hope you won’t mind my distaste for waste.”

Seraphina opened her mouth to reply and quickly shut it as Astarion lifted her arm to his lips and licked the wound, groaning in satisfaction at the incredibly tantalizing taste of her. He watched her eyes widen and, in her blood, he could taste it – Seraphina’s arousal. And that was when the idea came to him. There were a few things that were quite certain. She was the leader of their group, chose who joined or stayed, and spoke for them as they navigated this disgusting wilderness. She was foolish and went out of her way to help others, including willingly offering her blood to him. And she was attracted to him, or at least the idea of him as a vampire. 

Seducing Seraphina would be easy. As Astarion mulled over his plan, a memory of a specific night, buried within his memories of thousands of other nights, came to the front of his mind. This little adventure wasn’t his first time seeing Seraphina. He had seen her before – dozens of times possibly – in the bars and taverns of Baldur’s Gate. He had nearly approached her quite a few times, but she was never alone. She was always in a huge group, someone handsome or beautiful with an arm around her shoulders or a hand attached to her hip. 

“Have you always kept your hair short, Seraphina?” Astarion asked.

“No. I actually used to let it grow pretty long. Ugh, a few years ago I had these horrible bangs for a while. I can’t believe anyone let me walk around like that,” Seraphina laughed. He remembered those bangs.

It had to have been nearly three years ago. There was the one time when she had separated from the rest of her group, no one hanging off her, in the Blushing Mermaid. She sauntered over to the bar, her raven black hair bouncing against the middle of her back, the sway of her hips drawing the stare of several others. He wasn’t going to let a pretty thing like her be taken home by anyone else in here, especially not Petras. Astarion cleared his throat and approached the bar. She was trying to catch the attention of the bartender, but she was short and couldn’t be seen behind the crowd.

“I hope you aren’t paying for your own drinks tonight,” he said, sliding in next to her. The tiefling turned and looked up at him. She looked open and curious at first, but with an eyebrow raise and a smirk, she immediately became flirtatious.

“I have been so far unless someone plans on changing that,” she replied. 

“How does a bottle of Fire Wine sound?”

“Hmm…I’d prefer a Suzailian Sweet,” she noted. Astarion hummed in agreement.

“Exquisite taste, my dear,” Astarion smiled as he pushed his way towards the bar. He reached his hand out for her and, as she took it, he pulled her through the crowd and close to him. He placed his gold on the counter and waited.

“Is this home for you or are you just passing through and enjoying the city’s bustling nightlife?”

“You have to ask if Baldur’s Gate is my home? Gods, my accent really must be changing,” she laughed.

Astarion pushed the coin over to the bartender and requested the Suzailian.

“What is your name, dear?” he asked, turning back to her with his well-rehearsed seductive expression.

“Maybe I’ll tell you after we finish this bottle,” she said.

“That bottle better get here quickly then,” Astarion took her hand again and he kept her gaze as he kissed the back of her hand, the contact lasting just a second too long. “Well met, stranger.”

The bottle arrived and Astarion picked it up along with two goblets.

“Grab my arm, darling. Don’t want you getting lost in this crowd,” Astarion whispered. The tiefling bit her lip and gently grabbed the crook of Astarion’s arm. He led them away from the main rooms and over to one of the smaller, less crowded rooms of the tavern. The less witnesses, the better. 

Astarion didn’t expect to spend longer than an hour seducing the tiefling. He would do the basic pleasantries, eventually pivoting to overt flirtation as he and his target drank a bottle of wine, before following through on getting them to follow him to their death in Szarr Palace. However, this woman wasn’t following the script.

The bottle was now empty, and the woman took the last sip of her goblet. Astarion’s eyes fell to the drops of wine that lingered on her plush red lips. He stood and walked over to her chair, slotting himself between her legs. 

“May I have a taste?” he murmured. She nodded. 

Astarion lifted her chin, and he gingerly licked her bottom lip before kissing her. She sighed and his tongue entered, licking and stroking, tasting all the wine they had shared. Her hands gripped his shoulders as Astarion’s hands fell to her hips, squeezing the thick flesh. He pulled her closer, making her release an adorable squeak into his mouth as their hips met. 

She pulled away with a gasp.

“Surely you don’t want to just stay here all night. I’m going to a party later and I can’t think of better company,” he purred, one of his hands moving to stroke her thigh.

“Mhmm. And what about after the party?”

“We can indulge in each other ‘til the sun rises,” Astarion smirked. He heard her heart skip a beat and she gasped as he dipped his head to her neck, his lips gliding up her neck. She smelled delicious, this beautiful forbidden fruit.

A halfling turned the corner and marched into the room.

“Seraphina! You have got to stop running off like that. We’re heading out,” she said. The woman, Seraphina, nodded at the halfling, who gave Astarion a quick, analytical look before walking away.

Seraphina turned to Astarion and shrugged. 

“I wish I could, but duty calls,” she smiled. “Sorry she spoiled the fun of my name reveal.” She stood from her chair, slipping away from him. 

Astarion quickly grabbed her hand. 

“Come on now. What could be more exciting than drinking and dancing the night away at a castle?”

Astarion could see it in her bright amber eyes. He saw that glimmer in the eyes of everyone he brought back – the allure of partying with high society, free flowing food and wine. It was usually when that glint appeared that he knew he had been successful for the night. And then it was gone.

“You could always join me. I think my night may be a bit more interesting,” she replied.

“And what will your night include?”

She gave him a dazzling grin and he could hear her heart begin to beat faster as she replied.

“Adventure.”

Astarion couldn’t hide the sneer that crossed his face and the tiefling frowned.

“Maybe I’ll see you again sometime,” she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Have a fun night, stranger.”

Then she was gone. Astarion cursed under his breath. He took a shy half-elven boy back to Cazador’s palace instead. If Seraphina had any memory of that night, she didn’t mention it. If anything, she seemed to not remember him at all. But he had nearly seduced her once and he was determined to do it again. This time, it wasn’t for Cazador. It was for him and his safety.

Astarion decided to start planting the seeds when he could get Seraphina alone. The night that Astarion was determined to approach her, the wizard took up most of her time. He watched from the shadows as they sparred, patiently waiting for their awkward flirtation to end for the night. Gale was obviously taken with the tiefling, though he didn’t have the guts to follow through on bedding her, but Seraphina also seemed interested, which was a minor complication, but Astarion could work with it. The wizard made himself absent and Astarion pounced.

As expected, it took little work on his part. Seraphina melted under his flirtation and attention. He followed his usual scripts and waded through his revulsion when he led her into that clearing to sleep with her. All Astarion needed to do now was ensure he remained a priority over the rest of their party members – something that was easier said than done. Seraphina searched for infernal iron for Karlach, comforted Wyll as he adjusted to his new devilish appearance, tried to decipher and make peace with Shadowheart, learned as much as she could about githyanki culture to better connect with Lae’zel, and, most annoyingly, desperately scouted for magical items for Gale.

Seraphina’s growing bond with Gale was becoming bothersome. Today, Astarion struggled to hide his irritation as, while they infiltrated the goblin camp, the wizard and the sorcerer couldn’t seem to shut up.

Astarion stuck his tools into the lock of the metal door, and he groaned as he heard Seraphina giggle at something Gale shouted up to her from the floor below. 

“Sera, darling,” Astarion said over his shoulder. “A bit of guidance from Lady Luck, if you don’t mind?”

“Oh. Of course,” Seraphina stepped closer and waved two fingers over Astarion. “May Tymora’s luck twist your way.”

A blue aura surrounded Astarion as he picked the lock with a quiet click. He opened the door and approached the treasure chests before Seraphina suddenly grabbed his arm.

“Ah, ah. You know the rules,” she narrowed her eyes with a smirk and pointed her finger at Astarion.

“Darling, I opened the door for us. Surely, I get to pick what I want from the treasures that I gave us access to,” Astarion pouted and slightly tilted his head down to flutter his lashes at her. Seraphina’s lips twisted as she tried to hide her smile.

“Fine, but you need to bring me anything magical, in case it’s something that Gale can use.”

Astarion scoffed.

“We’re sacrificing perfectly good equipment for him,” he sniffed, opening a chest and pocketing a pouch of gold. “I don’t see any benefit to it.”

“I sacrifice my blood for you,” Seraphina replied. “What benefit does that have?”

Astarion stiffened before he relaxed and turned on the charm. He walked to Seraphina and lowered his lips to her ear.

“Keep me around and I will make every minute of bloodlessness worth your while,” he whispered.

As quickly as she fell for his advances, Seraphina also pushed back in unexpected ways. After she read the infernal scars on his back, it made sense to sleep with her again. She had given him something, so naturally Astarion owed her something. But she refused to bite.

“We both know you want something, so let me give it to you. Now, shall we go somewhere more private than this beach?”

“Maybe I just wanted to talk to you.”

Astarion laughed right away. The concept was so silly to him. He pressed another kiss to her neck before he lifted his head to look at her and the sincerity in Seraphina’s gaze made his skin crawl.

“You would rather talk?” he asked. His smile wilted. “Do you need to be enticed out to that clearing with me, darling? Surely, I haven’t fallen out of your favor.”

“No, you haven’t.” Seraphina replied as she gently played with his hair, her fingers leaving a trail of warmth everywhere she touched. It felt…nice. Pulling away from her and spending hours simply talking about pieces of their past, the books they enjoyed, and humorous hypotheticals all felt just as nice as it did foreign and unsettling. 

At some point, Seraphina simply stared up at the disappearing stars. As the night began to turn to dusk, the thought wandered into Astarion’s mind that he should mention they’ve met before. But that was risky. She would poke and prod, curious thing that she was, asking questions that he didn’t want to answer, and his responses could spoil his entire plan. 

Astarion was committed to his plan. That’s what he told himself when panic made his limbs move faster than his brain as he carried Seraphina’s burnt, limp body to Withers after their confrontation with the githyanki. He needed his protector alive. That’s all it was. He also needed her powerful which meant he had to ensure that Gale’s preposterous talk about ending her trial didn’t actually change Seraphina’s mind.

“Why would you ever turn down the opportunity to have such incredible power at your command? Don’t listen to him,” Astarion scoffed. “He’s already experienced what it’s like to be a Chosen. He shouldn’t keep that from you, but what else can be expected of a wizard?”

It was power that could be incredibly beneficial to Astarion. Having the Chosen of the goddess of luck and good fortune on his side almost sounded too good to be true. He wasn’t about to let the wizard squander that for him. 

But then the Black Fingers attacked. Seraphina hardly left Gale’s side in the days after. She was so focused on Gale that she hardly reacted when Lae’zel returned, having tracked them down after she failed to find the creche. She greeted the gith, told her to set up her things and they could pretend as if nothing happened, and she returned to Gale’s tent without another word.

Her odd behavior extended past Seraphina’s new protectiveness over Gale. Something was clearly wrong with Seraphina. Whatever it was, it was making her reckless and uncoordinated. Astarion had started going out of his way to keep her alive. He couldn’t afford to lose the person meant to protect him. That was how he justified the fear that gripped his heart whenever he saw a blow coming straight for the sorcerer.

Astarion didn’t know what it was yet, but things started making sense when they were in Grymforge. Among the lava, Seraphina shook like a leaf. Her eyes were as big and wide as a shield. She stumbled over her words and seemed terrified, as if she expected a being to emerge from the depths.

Astarion watched as Gale grabbed Seraphina’s hand and pulled her away from the rest of the party. He placed his hands on her shoulders and whatever words they exchanged seemed to calm her nerves. Astarion wasn’t fond of that development. Before the events of the last few days and Gale’s near-death experience, he had thought that Gale had securely been knocked off as a potential threat to his standing within Seraphina’s eyes, but the wizard’s monologues appeared to be keeping their leader in one piece, which was more than Astarion was capable of.

So he let his mind wander to put together the pieces. Lava and fire appeared to trigger these freezes of hers. She utilized her magic sparingly, leaning on a quarterstaff and cantrips. Seraphina had been burned alive after her wild magic surge when they were fighting the githyanki. She didn’t talk about her life in the tendays and months before the nautiloid. Most of her recollections were from at least a year ago. 

Hmm. Seraphina was particularly fierce about ensuring the safety of the tiefling refugees in the Grove. She always seemed to shut down when Karlach spoke of her time in Avernus. It felt like Astarion had all the pieces almost perfectly aligned, but he needed Seraphina to push them into place.

That night, Astarion sought her out. Seraphina kneeled on the outskirts of camp in the middle of a small enclave. She was lit up by the glow of the native mushrooms, casting her back in purple, green, and yellow light. As he kneeled next to her, he saw that her eyes were closed. Her hands were clasped and Astarion knew she was clutching her Tymoran coin. Being able to see her face in the strange light, he was taken aback by how stunning she was. But he wanted answers and he didn’t need to be distracted.

He didn’t waste time.

“When we were all on that mind flayer ship, it went into Avernus,” Astarion said. “That wasn’t your first time there, was it?”

A beat.

She slowly opened her eyes, but her gaze remained straight, gazing out into the darkness.

“No,” Seraphina replied.

“When was the first time?” he asked.

She breathed in slowly through her nose and she slightly parted her lips to exhale.

“Not too long before I met you.”

“What happened?”

Seraphina laughed, but there was no humor in it. It was hollow and bitter. Completely unlike her. It unsettled Astarion.

“I was doing one of my – what do you call them? – hero acts,” she said.

“Yes, you find it impossible to resist those.”

“No. I can’t. I had plenty of chances to go home. Or start a new life entirely. I didn’t. I didn’t and then it was too late to turn around.”

Astarion looked down and saw that her hands were clutched around her coin so tightly that she was slightly shaking. Astarion lifted his hand and placed it over hers, squeezing. It happened so quickly that he surprised himself, but it felt…necessary to comfort her.

Once again, his mind ruminated over all his memories that he’d made with her in the last few tendays. Were there any other hints? What was she doing in Avernus? 

Seraphina turned her head and, as her eyes met his, Astarion felt as if the rest of the world had disappeared.

“Can I show you something?” she asked.

Astarion nodded. He felt her tadpole open up to him. He accepted.

And then he saw it. Seraphina was on horseback, traveling with a rather odd-looking group of adventurers and a few children. They were approaching a large city. The sun was shining brightly. No…there were two suns. Seraphina had laughed at something when, suddenly, one of the beautiful, golden suns turned an inescapable, terrifying black. It became a void.

Astarion could feel the way that the hairs on Seraphina’s neck stood up in the moment, how her tail stiffened, and her heart raced. Then, the beautiful city that the void was now suspended over, began to lift. The entire city, ripped straight from the ground. A shiver of cold dread went down Astarion’s spine as the town was yanked into the void, disappearing.

Astarion blinked and he was back in front of Seraphina.

“You saw Elturel get dragged to the hells,” Astarion said breathlessly. It was dumb to state the obvious, but he was aghast.

“Yes,” Seraphina said. Tears streamed down her face as her eyes glazed over, as if she was recalling more memories. “And I helped bring it back to the Material Plane with those people you saw. It…it was the scariest experience of my life. I shouldn’t have survived any of it. I thought that would be enough for Tymora to end my trial. It wasn’t.”

Astarion stayed quiet.

“I went home for a little while afterwards, but it felt odd being back in the city after everything. So I took another job. I can’t even remember what it was now, but all I know is that it put me back on the road, back in chaos again. I was in Yartar for that contract when the nautiloid grabbed me.”

Seraphina ceased clutching her coin and let it rest in the palm of her hand, staring at it. Her face twisted in frustration and sadness before she pocketed it with one hand, her other one holding Astarion’s.

“Even now, after all this, nothing I’ve done, nothing that I’ve risked or lost has been enough for Tymora,” she continued. “It seems she would like to see I and the people around me dead before she is satisfied.”

“You know, why rely on that power when there’s a cult right within our grasp?” Astarion asked. “Don’t limit yourself to what Tymora offers you.”

Seraphina laughed again, warmth returning to her voice.

“I’ll take control of a cult the same day that you stop enjoying murder,” she teased.

“We can’t bring the world to heel without a little killing, my sweet,” Astarion countered. “And don’t pretend as if you don’t enjoy it. I see that giddy look you get in your eyes when you know a situation is about to turn hostile.”

Seraphina smirked and turned her head to try to hide it only for Astarion to gently grab her chin and turn her to look back at him.

“My little hero. Determined to save everyone except for herself,” he mused, leaning in closer to her. “Champions like yourself deserve something every once in a while, no?”  

When Astarion led her to his tent, he kissed Seraphina until she was breathless. She pulled away, giggling, and Astarion couldn’t help his smile as he pressed his lips to her neck. Admittedly, he had started to enjoy that element of his plan – kissing her. There was something about the way that she smiled into almost every kiss. How soft her touch was as she caressed his cheek or carded her fingers through his hair. But he had to offer her more than kissing to keep her allyship.

As she moaned and writhed beneath him, she held his gaze, their breaths nearly in sync while he rocked into her. Seraphina’s orange eyes were lust-blown, pleading, and affectionate, and then playful as she giggled, pressing a kiss to his cheek. And he smiled, happy, as he captured her lips with his, and then he suddenly felt horrible. Astarion pulled away and dipped his face to her neck. The typical disgust from using his body like this was to be expected, but this feeling was different. 

That feeling sat inside him as she came undone beneath him, crying his name, and afterwards as they laid next to each other. She sweetly blinked up at him and asked if he was hungry. He relished in the sweetness of her blood and her character, her generosity, and her accepting nature. She didn’t deserve this. She deserved better than this ruse.

Seraphina was a beautiful, painful, all-too-kind problem.

Astarion caught himself staring at her again as their party stood in the dark, rumbling elevator that was taking them to the Shadow-cursed Lands. She must’ve felt his eyes on her because she turned. She smiled at him and Astarion once again felt like he was staring into the blinding light of the sun. He was almost thankful that she went back to talking to Gale immediately after, but almost just as quickly Astarion wanted to shove Gale out of the way so that he had her attention instead.

This was stupid and reckless. He could feel his plan crumbling as he fretted to try and hold it together, but it was all falling apart, slipping through his fingers like sand. The dread had to go away. It would go away. The guilt would go away. These…feelings would go away.

Surely.

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter 2

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav

Chapter Synopsis: Seraphina is catching feelings for the wizard and the vampire, oops.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Includes dialogue directly from BG3.

It became a nightly ritual of sorts. Every night, just as Seraphina was finishing her prayer, Gale would approach her. Whether it was to spar again or to simply talk about books, the events of the day, or to exchange stories about their homes, Seraphina started to expect Gale’s company to finish off her night. 

“You have several brothers and sisters? Ah. I guess that confirms my suspicions.”

Seraphina quirked an eyebrow. “What suspicions?”

Gale gazed out to the water and cleared his throat before turning to look into her orange eyes. “A little over a year ago, back home in Waterdeep, I had a few drinks with a set of tiefling twins at a tavern. They mentioned Tymora quite a few times as they regaled their tale of slaying fiends in Dis. I believe their names were – ”

Seraphina felt warmth fill her chest. “You met my older brothers, Kyakos and Mavus.” Seraphina distinctly remembered exactly what adventure would’ve contained the Waterdeep stop for her brothers. 

They came back reeking of the Hells and with several treasures to share, including one they specifically picked up in Waterdeep to give to Seraphina for her approaching special day. The gold locket, engraved with a cursive ‘H’ on one side and the Hellwhisper family crest on the other, hung at the end of a long necklace, the chain nearly reaching her waist. They said it would be another reminder of who she is, no matter where she goes or who she shares her life with.

She frowned as she thought of how much she missed them and her entire family.

Gale grinned. “So, you are a Hellwhisper. A descendant of the infamous Zephyrus?”

She hesitated for a moment. So far, everyone had only exchanged their first names. Sharing her last name felt oddly intimate within this group. But she had nothing to hide.

“Yes, I am. We’ve been storm sorcerers and servants of Tymora for generations, but I guess you already learned that from whatever book you read about Zephyrus in,” Seraphina stated proudly, tilting up her chin. Being a Hellwhisper wasn’t something that she was ashamed of, but the family name could certainly cause a stir in some groups of people, namely the staunch Tymorans that had exiled her family for the assumptions they made about the actions of her ancestor, the first Hellwhisper. 

Nevertheless, she carried the name with pride. As she gazed up at Gale through her bangs, she saw a flicker of mischief in his eyes.

“Except for you, I take it,” Gale replied. Seraphina blinked at him. “With your wild magic.” She instantly wilted. 

“Um, yes and no. It’s a long story.”

“One you are not obligated to tell, but I do quite enjoy talking with you,” Gale said. “Though I can tell it’s a sensitive subject for you. I understand how hard it can be to discuss a condition that you may feel less than proud of. But I hope you know that you can talk to me about anything that your heart desires.”

Seraphina looked at him carefully. His big, brown eyes were welcoming, and he seemed genuinely interested in knowing more about her story. He had trusted her with the nature of his need to consume magical items. She might as well throw him a bone in return.

“It’s…it’s a condition that I should be happy to have,” Seraphina murmured. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the coin of Tymora that she always kept on her and began to idly play with it between her hands as she spoke. “I wasn’t always like this.”

Gale nodded, urging her to continue. 

She sighed. “I was born a storm sorcerer. I was…normal my entire life until I received my trial from Tymora. She changed my magic. All of the priests at the temple I grew up in and my parents told me that it would test my faith in Tymora, my faith in luck, and proving that I’m unafraid to take risks. To receive a Trial from Tymora is an honor and rare. To pass it, is to become her Chosen. But, it’s been hell. I’ve been like this for two years and I don’t know what to do to prove myself to Tymora and end this test of hers. I used to know, understand, and control magic like it was one of my own limbs. Now…I’m tired of constantly being afraid of blowing up.”

Seraphina’s voice cracked and she cleared her throat, pushing back the tears that threatened to escape. She felt a hand, firm and warm, settle on her shoulder. She turned and saw Gale looking at her with pity and sympathy. 

“It may sound ridiculous, but I can understand more than you think,” Gale responded. “Though, being a goddess’s Chosen comes with just as many drawbacks as it does blessings. For what it’s worth, I think you are handling all of this with extreme courage. Your fear has never been apparent in any of the conflicts we have encountered so far. At least, not to me. You’re the personification of bravery.” 

Seraphina swooned, positive that blush would be flowering across her cheeks if it wasn’t for her red skin.

“Well, thank you. I do still have faith in Tymora. And in myself and the magic that flows through me. It may be less under my control now, but luck has to be on my side,” Seraphina flipped the coin she held. 

“I think I had quite the stroke of good luck to have ended up by your side in this wild quest,” Gale laughed. Seraphina giggled in return and as their laughs died down, she became all too aware that Gale’s hand had drifted from her shoulder to her upper back, tickling the tips of her black and red hair. She drank in the gentleness of his face, the delicate curve of his lips and the wrinkles that surrounded his soft eyes.

She wondered if Gale would still taste of the firewire they had indulged in with dinner that night. 

Seraphina snapped out of it and realized she was staring at Gale’s lips. She looked up at him and realized he was looking at hers as well. Just as a flood of courage came over her and she started lean closer, Gale sat back, pulling his hand away suddenly as if he’d been shocked.

“We should get some rest,” Gale said, standing up. “I wish you a good night.” He smiled and began heading to his tent.

“Good night,” Seraphina sweetly replied.

She sat there for a moment before rising and beginning to head to her own tent. 

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid, she thought. She wanted to smack herself in the face. But she had to smoothly recover because she knew who was going to approach her soon. It was as she was getting ready to go to bed that Astarion always appeared with a seductive gaze and honeyed words to ask to bite her. 

Every time, she said yes.

Seraphina came back to reality and turned around, expecting to see Gale. She frowned as she saw that he wasn’t there. She pocketed her coin, saying another quick prayer to Tymora. She stood and walked towards the campfire, only to find Gale standing outside his tent. He was gazing at an illusion of a woman floating in his hand.

Seraphina walked closer and she hated the familiar tinge of jealousy she felt in the pit of her stomach. She wished that it was her face Gale was looking so intensely at, as if she was his central focus. But, as she continued looking, she realized two things – who the woman was, and that his look of reverence was too familiar for her to desire it. 

“That’s the deity you wizards adore. Mystra, right?” Seraphina said. Gale jumped and the illusion vanished as Seraphina came around to stand in front of him.

“Oh! My, you startled me. I…I was miles away,” Gale blushed. 

“I know that look,” Seraphina squinted at him. “You were praying to your goddess, weren’t you? I feel like an ass for interrupting with how respectful you’ve always been of my private time.” 

“Not praying. Not quite. I was just…practicing an incantation,” Gale responded. He was positively squirming. 

“No, there’s more to it than that,” Seraphina shook her head. “I know devotion when I see it.”  She had seen it on the faces of her family as they prayed to Tymora. She knew she probably had the same face whenever she gazed upon the pendant of her Lady Luck. 

Gale chuckled bitterly. “What can I say? She’s…she’s Mystra,” he said his goddess’ name with such loyalty, the awe and adoration absolutely dripped from his words. 

“Mystra is all magic. And as far as I’m concerned, she is all creation.” 

Seraphina shook her head again, laughing. Oh, wizards she thought.

“How narrow-minded. There are other gods, Gale, and magic goes far, far beyond Mystra,” She replied. Magic was not something she connected to a goddess. Magic simply was. It was in her blood and was expected of a Hellwhisper. It existed in the world and in people and was truly beautiful. She had obviously poked a nerve as Gale snapped back. 

“Pish posh. One might as well deny one’s mother’s womb as the cradle of life. You just don’t understand,” Gale rolled his eyes before his face softened again, his eyes returning to her gaze as if he was checking to see if he had offended her.

“Of course. I, a simple sorcerer, have no appreciation for the art of magic because I didn’t have to spend years studying it to understand it. Educate me, Gale,” She hoped that he would see that she was merely teasing, and her heart lifted seeing the small smile cross Gale’s face.

“Seraphina, I’d be happy to teach you some of the finer details of magic. I’ve been in touch with the Weave for as long as I can remember. It’s like music, poetry, physical beauty all rolled into one and given expression through the senses. I assume it’s the same for you?” Gale asked. 

Seraphina chuckled. “It’s less ‘music and poetry’, and more ‘I hope I don’t blow up’ as of late. But magic is interwoven within my very being. It comes to me as naturally as breathing. I worship it almost as much as I worship the Lady Who Smiles. I don’t know who I would be without it.” 

“Perhaps we could reach into the Weave and experience what it feels like together, as one. Or maybe a sorcerer like yourself has already had this experience countless times,” Gale offered. Seraphina tilted her head. 

“What do you mean?” She asked.

Gale smirked. “Let me show you.”

“By all means,” she smiled back. 

“Then follow my lead,” Gale circled her, and she bit her lip as he walked over and stood right next to her. She felt small standing this close to him as he towered over her. His scent of parchment, books, and sandalwood overtook her senses and she had to shake her hands to ground herself. 

As Gale walked her through the steps of what he had planned, Seraphina prayed that she wouldn’t have a surge of wild magic in the middle of such a nice moment. 

Suddenly, they were surrounded by familiar purple strands – the Weave. 

“You did it! You’re channeling the Weave. How does it feel?” Gale turned to her, his excitement evident in his grin. 

“Incredible! Though of course, I could have managed it by myself,” she elbowed him.  “You’re hard to please, aren’t you?” Gale chuckled. 

“Are you desperate to please me, Gale?” she whispered, raising an eyebrow. 

“It’s started to become a priority of mine,” Gale smiled at her, and he leaned closer. Their hands brushed and Seraphina resisted the urge to take his hand in hers. 

He was so close. All it would take was one step forward, standing on her toes with her chin tilted up, and she could close the rest of the distance between them. She pictured what it would be like to kiss him – tender and chaste. She would cup his ridiculously perfect face in her hands and deepen the kiss, opening her mouth to him. He would grab her hips and press their bodies together, his tongue swirling against hers as the Weave continued to glow around them. 

What would it be like to connect with someone, another spellcaster, within the Weave like this? Surely, ethereal and otherworldly. Seraphina was desperate for the explosive nature of that kiss, finally releasing all the tension that had been building up over the time they’d been traveling together. By Tymora she was desperate for any kind of contact with Gale. She couldn’t bear any more of the fleeting touches to her back, the grazes against her hand. 

She softly gasped as she realized that Gale could see everything that she was imagining, could feel the desire for him that had been occupying more and more of her thoughts lately. 

No, she definitely hadn’t done this Weave trick before. 

Gale’s smile fell. “I…I didn’t think…” 

Seraphina’s fingers grasped onto her trousers, preparing herself for rejection. She could feel his embarrassment, his surprise, and then…joy. 

“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting…” Gale blushed profusely, and his eyes darted everywhere before looking back into her orange ones. “But it is a pleasant image to be sure!”  He relaxed as he continued, his voice dropping an octave. “Most pleasant, in fact. Most welcome.” 

Seraphina opened her mouth to speak, when suddenly the Weave around them evaporated. It was like a curtain had been lifted and they were no longer in their little slice of Heaven or each other’s emotions and thoughts, but back in this dirty camp, on this cold night, with a parasite hurtling them towards certain doom. 

Gale smiled at her. “Good night, Seraphina. I enjoyed sharing a moment of magic with you.” 

“G-good night, Gale,” Seraphina stammered. She clumsily made her way back to her tent, unable to feel her legs. It felt like all her blood had rushed to her head. She collapsed onto her bedroll.

Her mind was swirling. She hadn’t felt like this in so long, not since her early days of falling in love with the damned man who shattered her heart last summer. 

Vadan. 

Seraphina knew that it was past time for her to start mending her heart back together. The first step was to stop being afraid of even thinking of his name. The Seraphina from before Vadan would’ve already bedded a person or two in the party. That Seraphina would probably be flabbergasted that she hadn’t already slept with Astarion or Gale. 

Then again, that old version of herself would also be shocked that she was both traveling with and becoming almost friendly with a follower of Shar, one of Tymora’s divine enemies. That old Seraphina hadn’t seen Elturel be ripped from the ground of Toril and straight into Avernus. 

She had experienced raw attraction and crushes in the year since then, but no one had truly stirred her heart until now. Her growing crush on Astarion was easier to confront with his bold flirting, but Gale was an altogether different beast. A timid beast, but one she was eager to tame. 

She didn’t have time to ponder that thought more because there was a soft tapping at her tent flap. 

“Seraphina! I need your help!” Astarion hissed in a quiet tone, sounding frantic.

“Come in,” Seraphina sat up, suddenly alert instead of sleepy. 

Astarion stepped into her tent as she re-lit a few candles with flames from her fingers. She turned and gasped, frozen completely as adrenaline rushing through her at the sight of how much blood Astarion was covered in. There was a huge cut in his white shirt that revealed a wide, gaping gash across his chest. 

“If you can’t handle this, I will go wake Shadowheart, but I really need some help,” Astarion grunted as he collapsed onto his back. Seraphina came to her senses and rushed to his side, placing her hands just above his wound. 

“Te curo,” she chanted, a blue aura beginning to radiate from her hands. Astarion sighed in relief. 

“What happened?” Seraphina asked, moving her hands slowly from side to side as the magic continued to heal him.

“I was hunting a bear, which typically isn’t that big of a problem. This one just happened to be a cub. Its mother wasn’t very pleased when she caught me,” Astarion winced. “Lucky for me, my favorite cleric is awake.” 

Seraphina looked up from observing his wound to see him smiling at her. Even with blood covering his teeth and scattered throughout his hair, he was still devilishly good-looking.

“Your favorite cleric would appreciate it if you would communicate your hunger instead of running off to hunt bears,” she remarked.

“Are you just dying to hear me tell you how much I want you?” Astarion murmured. 

“I’d rather not lose our best archer and source of comedy,” Seraphina replied. She pulled her hands away as the wound finally sealed itself. “So did you get your fill?”

Astarion glanced at his chest and pulled himself into a seated position, pulling off the rest of his shirt and pressing it into a ball. “I’m not famished anymore, but I wouldn’t say no to dessert, darling,” he quirked an eyebrow at her. 

She rolled her eyes as she laid down on her bedroll, her chin high and her head tilted to the keep her horns out of the way. Astarion crawled towards her, placing both of his hands on either side of her head, and sliding his thigh between her legs. He pressed himself closer to her and, as his thigh pushed into the apex of her thighs, she felt heat begin to spread through her body. Her legs twitched and Astarion smirked as he finally leaned down and bit into her neck. 

Seraphina winced as icy pain shot out from where his fangs pierced her. Astarion shifted, one hand coming to hold the back of her head, and the other gripping her thigh. A soft gasp left her lips as she felt him grip her leg harder, digging his fingertips in. She could feel each gulp of her blood leaving her body and entering Astarion’s body. Seraphina reached up, placing her hands on the backs of Astarion’s shoulders and pulling him closer.

The roof of the tent began to blur in her vision, and she heard Astarion moan, the vibrations making her body hum and shake as he began to grind against her leg.

“That’s enough,” she breathed. Astarion fangs left her neck and he gasped, but he didn’t pull away. He licked the wounds, lapping up the small trickles of blood. She moaned as she felt his lips press against the bite mark.

One kiss. 

His lips ghost along her neck, moving up. 

A second kiss. 

Astarion leaned back, rising onto his knees. Seraphina bit back another moan as she watched him lick more blood off his now flushed and pink lips.

“Delicious as always, darling,” he purred. 

“I try,” she gasped as she attempted to sit up. Astarion pressed his fingertips to her chest and lightly pushed her back down.

“Get your beauty sleep,” he smirked as he picked up the tatters of his shirt. 

As quickly as he entered, Astarion slipped out of her tent and into the night. In the quiet aftermath, Seraphina could only hear the pounding of her heart and her own heavy breathing. With a wave of her hand, she attempted to send a gust of wind towards the lit candles. While the wind left her fingertips, she felt the all too familiar static of a wild magic surge flow through her body as vines exploded under her body, taking over the entire right side of her tent. 

Seraphina groaned and flopped her head back onto her bedroll. 

At least it wasn’t a mephit she thought as she finally lulled to sleep.

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter 13

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav

Chapter Synopsis: As Seraphina starts on the path towards peace with how things ended with Astarion, Gale requests her company for a private conversation.

18+ | MDNI

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Four and a Half. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine. Chapter Nine and a Half. Chapter Ten. Chapter Eleven. Chapter Twelve.

Read on ao3.

Word Count: 4.3k

Notes: I meditated on this chapter for way too long trying to perfect it. But here it is! I'm getting a clearer idea for the path of this fic and think it will conclude with Chapter 16 (possibly) so that I can move on to getting out some of the one shots and shorter pieces I have brewing in my mind.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Chapter Thirteen: Put Your Sweet Lips On My Lips

Seraphina wasn’t sure how much time passed as she and Astarion talked, but eventually the chatter around the fire outside had died down, leaving just the sounds of their conversation to fill the silence at camp. He helped her finish her bottle of wine as they crafted enough potions and elixirs to fill an entire backpack. She was almost sad to see the vampire rise to leave.

“Sweet dreams, my friend,” Astarion smiled, and he exited the tent. Almost as soon as he was gone, she heard his voice again.

“What in the nine hells?” the vampire exclaimed.

“Astarion?” Seraphina called out, panicked, as she dipped her head through the flaps. She jumped as she looked up. Before her and Astarion stood…Gale, but not quite Gale. A magical projection of the wizard smiled at her, an aura of purple light surrounding the image.

“Hello! I am here on behalf of Gale of Waterdeep. He has a message that is designated exclusively for the ears of Seraphina Hellwhisper,” the projection said. Seraphina held back a laugh at the warped imitation of Gale’s voice.

“He really must stop letting these things wander around without warning any of us,” Astarion grumbled. “Well, enjoy your night, darling.” He turned and headed towards his tent.

“Goodnight, Astarion,” she said as she fully came out of her own tent and got to her feet. She turned to the projection. “My ears alone are present,” she said.

“Gale of Waterdeep wishes to extend you an invitation for a private conversation in a more suitable locale,” the projection replied with an air of playfulness.

Seraphina laughed.

“Alright then. Show me the way to this ‘more suitable locale,’” she smirked.

“Gladly! Simply follow yonder path and soon you will find him,” the projection said, gesturing into the woods surrounding their camp. As the image’s hand moved, a line of small, floating purple lights appeared, disappearing into the trees. She smiled and began to follow the path, the lights vanishing as she passed them. She tried to ignore the fact that she could feel Astarion’s gaze on her back as she walked away.

It would take time for things to feel normal between them. Just as it would take time for the feelings she had for Astarion to fully dissipate. Those thoughts were for later. She  was far too excited for whatever the wizard had planned.

Her body hummed in anticipation as the trees became less dense, the path leading to a clearing. She gasped as she took in how well-lit the clearing was, almost as if she wasn’t in the shadow-cursed lands at all. Seraphina looked up and she grinned at the aurora borealis hanging the sky, streaks of indigo, emerald, yellow, and blue replacing the all-consuming darkness that she had become used to in the last few tendays.

She looked across the clearing and there was Gale, sitting on a purple blanket with fireflies dancing around him. She watched in awe as more colors and stars appeared as his fingers carefully pulled at the Weave to construct the illusion above them. She walked over to him, and Gale’s head turned. He smiled gently at her as she sat next to him, close enough for their arms to touch. He was beautiful under this light, the purple and gold hues of the sky dancing in his deep brown eyes.

“You never cease to amaze me,” she said.

“I aim to please,” Gale smirked. He looked up and she did the same. “I do love this time of night. There’s an almost reverent silence that accompanies the peak of darkness, when you’d almost believe the dawn will never break,” the wizard mused, his voice breathy. “The cradle of eternity. The timelessness of lovers.”

Seraphina looked back at Gale, who was still gazing at the brilliant ribbons of light. She could see that the lines of his face seemed deeper, the bags under his eyes more prominent.

“You seem…more philosophical than usual. Did you need to get away from the curse for a while?”

“Oh, the curse is still present. It is simply concealed. Not a trick I can repeat often, but tonight is different.” Gale looked at Seraphina and the emotion in his gaze made her stomach flip.

As he opened his mouth to speak, dread washed over her as she felt what was coming next.

“This could very well be my last night alive. I wanted it to be under a canopy of beauty and wonder…and with company to match,” Gale said gently, smiling at her, as if he was attempting to banish the sadness that was beginning to grip her heart.

“I doubt that I can compare to a sight like this but thank you for inviting me here, Gale,” she replied.

For a few moments, they said nothing and simply gazed at the stars together. Anxiety crept up Seraphina’s spine like spiders. What were the right words to say to a man who was so resolute? She looked over at him and her heart skipped a beat.

“Is dying at Mystra’s command truly what you want, Gale?” Seraphina whispered.

“There are few things that are certain in this world, but death is one of them. Unlike death, Mystra’s forgiveness is not assured. I know Tymora may not be one to lean into punishments as swiftly as other gods, but surely you understand that. If you knew the end was near, would you not want to ensure it had meaning? When it means saving your soul from wandering the Fugue Plane for eons and you are redeemed in the eyes of the one you serve?”

“Gale…” Seraphina murmured. She gulped and clenched her fists. She was a hypocrite, and she knew it.

“I can understand. That is the consequence if I reject Tymora’s trial. But…but Tymora has never demanded that I die to serve her.”

“But you have been prepared to die for her. And you have,” Gale replied. “And what I witnessed…”

He paused and gulped, shutting his eyes. Suddenly, she felt the walls of Gale’s mind collapse as their tadpoles connected. She bit her tongue as she saw her own body burning through Gale’s eyes as they fought against the githyanki. Fear – the fear that Gale felt in that moment – coursed through her. Then, the connection snapped.

He looked up and met her eyes.

“Your faith has persisted. Your dedication shows in your fearlessness as we fight for our lives every day. Gods, not even just in the midst of battle. You dance between life and death any time you cast magic to heal one of us,” Gale continued. “I’m not like you. I’m terrified. Even with that fear, there is no point in running from the inevitable. Better to meet it, on my own terms.”

“Nothing is inevitable. Not when we face it together, Gale,” Seraphina said, reaching out and grabbing his hand. “You don’t have to die…not for a goddess who has treated you so horribly and now demands your death.”

Gale squeezed her hand. His thumb swept down across her fingers, over her long, curved claws.

“One moment with you could sate me for a lifetime and prise the fear from my heart. I’m so very glad you came to share this with me.”

“I want nothing more than to be by your side, Gale.”

The wizard said nothing, surprisingly speechless for once. Seraphina watched as his eyes darted around them, as if he was grasping for words to say. But she spoke first.

“Gale, there’s something you should know,” the tiefling said slowly. “When I said that Vadan left me without saying anything, that wasn’t…the whole truth. Vadan and I had been arguing for some time before the wedding. He…” she coughed and cleared her throat. 

“Take your time. I’m here,” Gale encouraged.

“My wild magic surges had hurt him before – nearly killed him once – and he didn’t want us to start our life together with such a huge danger lurking over us. He didn’t want to die and…he didn’t want me to die either. Though, in truth, I don’t think his ego would’ve allowed for a wife that surpassed him in any way,” she continued.

“He begged me to end my trial every day leading up to our wedding. The morning of our wedding, he asked me again. I said no. When he left the house that morning, I…I thought he would still come to the temple like a fool. He left the city with his family and, a tenday later, I received a letter from him apologizing for everything and swearing that, when and if I ceased being a wild mage, he would return to me for us to build the life we planned.”

“Seraphina…”

“That’s why I snapped at you when you suggested that I stop the trial. I was…taken back to those conversations and I took out my anger on you. That wasn’t right. I should’ve given you a chance to speak,” Seraphina said.

“I forgive you. I wouldn’t expect many people to have experience with being a Chosen. It is a deeply aspirational position. It’s the highest form of worship, at least for the most ambitious among the devout,” Gale replied.

“But is it worth it when the one you worship requests something monstrous of you? I’ve died twice now because of a wild magic surge. I’ve almost killed you. I don’t want to risk the lives of the people I love or my own,” Seraphina’s voice cracked, but she continued, strengthened by Gale’s touch and his intense, adoring gaze.

“I won’t do it, not for my family’s pride or for Tymora. I want to live,” she whispered. “I…I wish that you felt the same way. That you saw the value in your life that exists separate from Mystra, magic, or any of this chaos.”

“I want to live, Seraphina. If there is a way – any way – to save all that’s grown dear to me, I want to seize it,” Gale declared with conviction. “I know that…this,” his other hand gestured towards the sky. 

“This is all unreal, but I created it for you. You have given me so much to care about. You barged into my life and have destroyed almost everything I thought to be true. Seraphina, surely you must know that you’re…that you’re very special to me,” Gale murmured, his wide eyes vulnerable as his voice wavered.

Looking into his eyes, she felt that anything was possible with him by her side. She needed him to feel the same way, to possess the same utter confidence in defiance of all the odds before them that he could live. That they could both live on their own terms and not the ones the gods decided for them.

“I’m in love with you,” Gale whispered.

Gods.

“I’m in love with you too,” Seraphina murmured. Her hands went to his jaw, his beard tickling her palms. Gale leaned into her touch, briefly closing his eyes, before opening them again. His soft gaze hardened with resolve and determination. And he leaned in closer. When their lips touched, it was tender. Chaste. Loving. A bit clumsy and awkward. 

It was nothing like any of the kisses Seraphina had been fantasizing about for weeks, but it was real. And it was perfect.

For a moment, nothing else mattered. She was with him, and they could finally be freed of the restraints that had been present since they met. They could be here in this moment, together, under the stars and pretend that there was no cult, there were no tadpoles, and there was no imminent threat of death for either of them.

Gale sighed as his hands grabbed her waist, squeezing and pulling her closer. He pulled away, but not too far, settling his forehead against Seraphina’s. They opened their eyes and they both smiled before giggling.

“You’re out of practice,” she teased, one hand wandering into his hair, her fingers carding through his brown and gray locks.

“A fair assessment,” Gale chuckled. “I wish we had more time to practice together.”

Seraphina opened her mouth to speak.

“I must ask you something. It is a question that I have never felt that I was allowed to ask on account of our dire circumstances. But I want to know that your whole heart is here with me and if it’s not –”

“It is. I promise you that.”

He smiled at that, but then concern came to his face again.

“And what of Astarion? You two are…or were close. If that’s still true, I won’t ask you to be here. I fear that you are the only thing keeping his darkest urges at bay and I won’t destroy that or ask you to do so for this one night with me.”

She sighed.

“Astarion…he broke my heart. Whatever there was between us, it’s gone and I’m not quite sure if it was ever real. All that’s left now is friendship. I can’t be his keeper,” she said. “But this? Us? This is real. My heart is yours, Gale.” She kissed him again, a low moan from Gale making her heart flutter, before she leaned back.

Gale smiled at her as he rose to his feet, reaching out and pulling Seraphina to stand with him.

“You’ve already indulged me by coming here and sharing your company with me, but there is so much more I want to share with you, to show you,” he said wistfully, one hand clutching hers as his other one caressed her cheek.

“Show me,” she replied breathlessly.

“How about the perfect night in Waterdeep?”

Suddenly, a flash of white surrounded the two casters as the world around them began to shift, the blinding white shifting into a gentle purple haze. Seraphina smiled, ever impressed by Gale’s mastery of illusory magic, as the fog began to dissipate, revealing a grand library before her very eyes. The scent of parchment, sea salt, and sandalwood flooded her senses as she took a step forward only to be met with the soft creaks of wooden floors instead of the crunch of grass. 

“The scene is this: you and I stand in the room that is the center of my universe,” Gale said, walking through the magnificent space. “The sculptures, the paintings, the walls enlivened with the spines of a thousand books.” 

Seraphina walked over to one of the bookshelves, letting her fingers glide across some of those spines. There were almost more books here than in the temple back home. She smiled as she felt Gale’s eyes on her, and she turned to meet his gaze. He held his hand out to her, and she took it, pleased at the warmth that instantly flowed from him to her.

Gale smiled as he gestured with his other hand to the oak doors on the opposite side of the room. “And as we look out beyond the arches that lead to the terrace, we see the weary sun take its daily dive into the sea.”

The doors suddenly opened, and the cleric gasped as the most stunning view she’d ever seen appeared before her – beyond the balcony was a gorgeous bay, illuminated by the orange and yellow rays of the setting sun. Ships filled the harbor, sailing into dock and departing out over the horizon. Gale squeezed her hand before releasing it, striding over to stand at the railing, and he looked so natural washed in the sun’s light. The golden-brown tan of his skin made sense to her now.

“Gale…this is incredible,” Seraphina gasped, her mouth agape and eyes wide.

“Yes,” he grinned. “The city that you have only ever ‘passed by,’ a mistake that you should remedy with haste.”

“I can’t let a view like this slip past again,” she replied. Seraphina went over to the bench and sat, admiring Gale’s gentle smile as he looked out over the balcony.

“Gale,” she called out and he immediately turned to her. She patted the empty seat next to her and he quickly came over and joined her.

“My favorite spot. Many times, evening turned to night and back to daybreak once more while I sat here, lost in words.”

“Up all night reading? I had no idea I was in the company of such a rebellious spirit.”

“Allow me to live dangerously while I still can.”

She glanced over the balcony and into the library again before looking at him again.

“This is truly your home, Gale?” 

“Yes,” he said smugly. In their time together, she had developed an appreciation for his ego. It was earned. Through it though, she could see the sadness and longing in his eyes as he looked over his balcony and the beautiful scenery of the harbor of Waterdeep.

“I know that you haven’t visited Waterdeep, but I hope you do someday. I only wish that fate had been forgiving enough to allow me to show it to you,” Gale frowned.

“You still could, Gale,” Seraphina said. 

“Let’s not dwell on what can’t be,” the wizard shook his head. “Tell me about your home.”

Seraphina hesitated. She decided to allow him to change the subject.

“My parents’ house was cramped, but it was full of love. My parents had their room and then there were two rooms for the kids to split. I didn’t have my own room until I was fourteen. It got annoying sometimes, but I spent most of my time at the temple anyway. And then I left when I was sixteen. I’ve been on the road since then,” she said. She pursed her lips and picked at a thread on her pants.

“I make my way back to the Gate to see my family there when I can, but those visits are few and far between. My old room is for my nieces and nephews now. I don’t…have a space like this,” Seraphina murmured sadly, gesturing towards Gale’s library and balcony.

Gale looked out towards the water again. His hand clutched Seraphina’s, their fingers intertwined. For a moment, there was just the peaceful sounds of the waves, the calls of the seagulls, and the gentle wind. What would it be like to call a place like this home? 

The thought was…strange. The idea of a home was strange. The idea that she could convince Gale not to sacrifice himself seemed preposterous. But what if she could? What if she could and they could survive this crisis and come back to this tower together? To leave behind the worries of the world each day and come back to this slice of paradise together?

They would have to be lucky. It was through luck alone that they hadn’t already turned into mind flayers. They could get lucky again. She believed it. She had to or otherwise she would turn to despair.

“You deserve a place of peace,” he finally whispered. “My tower is yours. For you to return to if you ever tire of the road.”

Seraphina’s eyebrows furrowed.

“What are you saying?”

“The dead have no use for towers,” Gale replied firmly. “If you want it, after I destroy the Absolute tomorrow and myself with it, let this be your home. I’ll use a sending stone before we depart to collect the Nightsong to ensure that Tara knows my wishes.”

Tears welled up in the tiefling’s eyes.

“I won’t go to Waterdeep without you. You’ll be there with me. Please, promise you’ll be with me.”

With a frown, Gale turned to look at her again.

“I cannot promise you that, love,” he murmured. He reached for a book on the nearby table and placed it down on the bench between them. “What I can promise you is an unforgettable night, here with me now.”

Seraphina let out a sob and Gale’s hands flew up to cradle her face.

“Seraphina,” he said gently. He kissed her deeply and Seraphina held back a whimper tasting her own tears. His thumbs stroked her cheeks, wiping away her tears as she leaned into him. Gale pulled away and caressed her face with the back of his hand.

“Let us have tonight. Please,” Gale pleaded.

She gazed into his brown eyes. The gorgeous eyes that she searched for when she needed peace, that she needed to see to verify the safety of the person they belonged to as they battled their enemies, that lit up with pride any time he made her laugh or when he successfully said a few words to her in infernal, that sparked a fire within her when she felt their gaze travel over her lips and hips. The eyes that looked at her now with longing, devotion, and pure affection.

She would give him anything he asked for when he looked at her like that.

“Alright,” she sniffled. 

Gale smiled gently and he put his hand on top of the book.

“This one is The Art of the Night. It describes in vivid detail the first thousand nights of a newlywed king and queen,” Gale murmured. “They turned everything they did into an art. The art of conversation. The art of taste. The art of the body. I say we take a page from their book.”

“I think you may be the only person I’ve met who has tried to seduce me with a book,” Seraphina laughed, drying what remained of her tears.

“Then forget the book. We can be blank slates on blank sheets,” Gale whispered, his voice husky and low. “Shedding our past loves and hurts so that we can be delightfully new together. How does that sound?” 

Seraphina made a show of looking around the balcony and then into the library.

“Mmm. Sounds like a good time, but I don’t see a bed for us,” she hummed. “Unless you’d prefer for us to stay right here…”

She leaned down to sink to her knees in front of him when Gale gently grabbed her wrist.

“The stars will be our bed,” he replied. Seraphina’s eyebrow quirked. “Trust me.”

“You’ve already sent us somewhere beautiful, Gale,” she murmured as he opened the book. “There’s no need to impress me further. Please, let me taste you.”

He began to flick through the book, opening it to a section that showed an outline of a hand on each page, surrounded by texts and diagrams.

“I want to bond with you the way that gods do, intertwining our spirits in visions of the Weave. Why confine ourselves to the pleasures of mortal flesh? It is but one stitch in a vast tapestry,” Gale explained. “Let me show you more. If I only get one night in your company like this, let me give you an incredible memory.”

“Then show me everything.”

“Follow my lead,” he smirked. 

He placed his hand on top of one of the pages and, as it began to glow the faintest blue, Seraphina followed suit on the opposite one. Right away she tasted it – sweet rosewater – and felt it – her eyes closing as her soul was gently pulled away, away, away. When she opened her eyes again, she was no longer inside her own body. She looked down at her new, nude form and Gale – in his own astral form – smiled at her as his hand took hers.

Waterdeep melted away, replaced by the beauty of the vast expanse of space within the Weave. In every direction, there were hundreds of stars and galaxies. Seraphina gasped as Gale’s hands began to stroke up and down her sides, every sensation intensified, as he touched her soul.

“Gale,” she moaned as he pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her cheek, sending shivers to her core and through her entire body, before kissing her. He groaned as her hands caressed his shoulders, passed over his neck, and wandered into his hair.

Seraphina pulled away, leaning down to press her lips to his chest, in the middle of the orb marking. His moan reverberated through her form, and she wanted to hear it again and again. 

Gale cradled her face, pulling her back up to him to kiss her again. As she melted into him, she could hear his voice in her mind.

“When you wake, it will be back at our camp, back in our small, dirty, bloody patch of existence. But stay with me now.”

She let out a whimper as more hands began to touch her and move through her – on her waist, her back, her breasts, over her tail.

“There are endless worlds out there. Countless ways to declare love. Infinite ways to express it.”

Fullness unlike anything she had ever felt forced another moan from her as their pelvises intersected.

“Too much for one night…but we shall try.”

Seraphina could feel her very being becoming completely undone only to be rewoven with strands of Gale’s essence braided throughout her. She could feel her soul bonding with his, playing, laughing, and loving in the joyous sea of stars that was their bed tonight. All she felt was ecstasy and Gale’s tender adoration as their astral hands touched each other, their new forms converging and intersecting as their pleasure overwhelmed them.

Loving Gale was like magic for Seraphina – it came naturally, it was easy, it was where she felt at home, it was in her bones, and she didn’t know how not to do it. What they had was sacred and she would protect it with her life. Her future was murky, and death lurked around the corner, but she knew that she wanted Gale in however much life she had left.

To do that, she knew what she had to do. But that was for later. For now, she stayed there among the stars with Gale, allowing waves of euphoria to wash over her again and again at her wizard’s gentle touch. There, among the stars, where they felt alive and real with each other.

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter Fourteen

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav

Chapter Synopsis: It's time to take the fight to Ketheric Thorm. The battle at Moonrise leaves Seraphina with as much joy as it does despair.

18+ | MDNI

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Four and a Half. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine. Chapter Nine and a Half. Chapter Ten. Chapter Eleven. Chapter Twelve. Chapter Thirteen.

Read on ao3.

Word Count: 5.7k

Notes: Oops, I took a hiatus. Shout out to anyone who endures this long ass chapter! I also can now safely say this fic will definitely not end on Chapter 16. But it also can't end on an odd number because that would irk me lol.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Chapter Fourteen: Condemn the World

“Someone please blast the one casting this spell!”

Seraphina could barely make out Shadowheart’s shout over the yells and screams that filled the room. She coughed and winced as she rapidly blinked her eyes, struggling to see through the cloud of darkness that was cloaking her in cold and forcing acid into her lungs. She yelped as she bumped into someone who quickly grabbed her arm.

“Love, is that you?”

“Gale, follow me.”

With Gale clinging to her, Seraphina forced her way out of the blackness, her vision clearing. The assault on Moonrise had become a chaotic bloodbath. The bodies of Absolutists and Harpers littered the floor. Arrows rained down from the rafters. The stench of blood was overwhelming, and the air was full of steam from ice magic and raging fires. 

The glory of battle made Seraphina’s blood run hot.

“Tormentum!” She yelled, launching magical projectiles at the absolutist concentrating on the Hunger of Hadar cloud. A ray of frost from Gale quickly killed the warlock.

A roar came from behind her, and in a blur, a blonde elf sprinted past her, bringing down his warhammer on a cultist. Seraphina liked seeing Vadan in action again. He was a formidable warrior, if not slightly reckless – just like he was being right that moment.

Seraphina let out a choking sound as she leapt forward and used her shield to bash a cultist that was sprinting towards Vadan. The barbarian spun around and crushed the person’s skull.

“You still don’t pay attention to your right flank,” she huffed.

“Everybody keeps a cleric around for a reason,” Vadan smirked. His playful expression suddenly dropped. “Duck!”

Seraphina dropped to her knees and Vadan swung his hammer at the enemy behind her. At that same moment, she sent a witch bolt towards a paladin emerging from the central room of the Tower.

“It’s nice to see you don’t hate me,” he said, yanking her to her feet. “Still saving my hide after all this time.”

“Don’t get it twisted. I resent most things about you,” Seraphina replied. She shut her mouth immediately. Either the heat of battle, with the risk of annihilation, had made her bluntly honest or Astarion’s sharp tongue had rubbed off on her.

She zapped the paladin again and her eyes scanned the room. She relaxed as she saw that Gale was fine and skillfully freezing a few Absolutists to death.

“Just be smart,” Seraphina said quickly. Without hearing his reply, she sprinted away towards Wyll, touching his shoulder with a murmur to heal some of his wounds as he blasted at two archers on the rafters. As one was sent flying to the ground, the other dodged an eldritch blast, shooting an arrow down. Seraphina grunted as the arrow grazed her, slicing through her armor.

As she looked up, prepared to summon a spiritual weapon to maim the man, the shadows behind him shifted. Astarion leapt from the darkness, lodging his dagger in the archer’s throat. His body tumbled down, a sickening crunch ringing out as he met the stone floor.

“Harpers! We have them on the back foot. Push forward!” Jaheira shouted. The Harpers responded with a thunderous yell and, like a wave, began to close in, forcing the cultists to retreat into the main room of the Towers.

Leading the charge was Vadan. As she watched him rush forward, her skin quivered. Her chest tightened. Time seemed to slow down. An Absolutist had suddenly turned, now facing Vadan, and he was raising his sword. Slowly, ever so slowly, Seraphina could see the divine magic beginning to imbue his weapon. She forced air into her lungs as she lifted her hand and pointed at the paladin. 

Bend his luck she commanded, calling out to the Weave and Tymora.

She felt the Weave twist under her control. There was a slight flash on the sword. But then it lit up fully with a blinding white light. And the paladin swung. Bile rose up in her throat as she watched the smite come down onto Vadan. As his chest caved in, a cry escaped Seraphina. But he still stood.

She blinked and time was normal again as Vadan stumbled back, raising his hammer, but the paladin swung again. With the second smite, Vadan’s body crumbled to the ground. As soon as he fell, Karlach swung her axe up, slicing through the paladin’s jaw and face, killing him.

“Vadan!” Seraphina yelped. As she fell to her knees next to him, she croaked another pained sound. His eyes were wide, but unseeing. His breastplate was destroyed, and she could see into his inner chest cavity.

“No. No. No no no,” she chanted as she pulled out a healing potion. She could feel and vaguely hear the soldiers and her own party rushing past her. The fight seemed to vanish for a moment as she focused in on Vadan’s body in front of her. Her breathing quickened as sobs shook her body. 

“Come, cub,” Jaheira’s voice drifted in and out of Seraphina’s ears. “There is a battle to be fought yet.”

“We can’t leave him here. We have to help him.”

“He is gone. He will not rise again.”

“Then I must pray for his soul,” Seraphina choked out.

“You will die if you stay here,” the druid insisted. “Battle is not the time for mourning the fallen, lest we join them. Come. We must finish this.”

The sorcerer looked up, taking in the carnage around her, and looked back down at Vadan’s body in front of her. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hands to his chest.

“Lady Luck, I commend this brave soul to your care. Vadan bravely embraced risk and faced the unknown,” she murmured quickly. “Though the dice have fallen and his journey here has ended, I trust your favor and the winds of fortune to carry Vadan to your side, where he may bask in your eternal light.”

She cursed herself for forgetting the full prayer, but…there was no time. Jaheira yanked on her arm again and Seraphina looked back once more before her feet carried her up the stairs, after her companions, and towards the roof of Moonrise. 

Numbness was all she felt as they battled Ketheric Thorm. Even as they whittled him down with the great help of Dame Aylin, it didn’t feel like they were winning. It felt like Beshaba herself had intervened when the General disappeared with the aasimar. 

Seraphina gazed down into the amalgamation of flesh and tendons that extended down, down, down into the tower, a menacing pinkish glow emanating out of the abyss. If any of them had any hope of survival, there was only one path forward. There was no choice.

She had jumped headfirst into the Hells to challenge an archdevil. This would be no different. A Hellwhisper didn’t run from danger. She didn’t run from it. Not from the danger that threatened her life, the life of her friends, and all the Sword Coast. Not from the evil that had taken Vadan’s life.

She turned back to her party and dropped to her knees, shaking several potion bottles of out her pack.

“Drink one of these. All of you. We’re going in after him now.”

x x x

“Oh hells,” Seraphina muttered. She clutched her lucky coin and recited a prayer to Tymora. If she was even still listening.

“I’m starting to realize it is a horrible idea to keep following you around,” Astarion chimed in.

“If you all had helped me locate a crèche, perhaps we wouldn’t be here,” Lae’zel whispered.

“Can you all shut your traps? That’s Gortash up there!” Karlach hissed.

Even as their party bickered and tried to determine the best strategy, there was one voice Seraphina didn’t hear. She turned, searching for her love, and her body went cold as she found him standing off to the side, his face painted with distress as he clutched his chest.

“Look at that crown,” Gale murmured. “It radiates with power unlike anything I’ve ever seen. To have it…to hold…if only I could…”

“Gale?” Seraphina approached him, placing a hand on his arm.

He shook his head, not looking at her.

“This is it. I must do as Mystra commands.”

Seraphina’s eyes widened as fear coursed through her. No. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.

“Gale, no. You can’t do this. You’ll kill all of us!”

“What choice do I have? This isn’t just about Mystra or myself; whole worlds hang in the balance.”

Seraphina grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down closer to her. She wasn’t going to let him die. They weren’t going to die today. They couldn’t.

“Forget all of that. Listen to me: You can choose me. You can choose us, and we’ll find a way to end this together,” she pleaded.

“And if we don’t?”

“Then we’ll fail and die together, but at least we did it on our own terms. At least it was a choice we made, not one that was demanded of us by the gods. But we’ll try. We will.”

Gale squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his forehead against Seraphina’s, his jaw clenched. Tears welled in her eyes.

“Please. Please, Gale. I love you. I love you enough to keep living and keep trying.”

“I love you too,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “More than myself. More than Mystra.”

He leaned back, lifting a hand to cup her face, his thumb caressing her cheekbone.

“You’ve shown me so much already,” Gale said. “I’ll trust you. Even if I condemn the world, I choose you,” Gale said. She grabbed his hand that held her face and squeezed it.

“Then let’s do the impossible,” she whispered.

x x x

Though they had done exactly that, it didn’t feel right.

Even as all her companions stood around her, alive and well, if not battered and bruised, something felt off. They had returned to camp, drinking and laughing and their victory, while bodies sapped of their warmth and souls, including Vadan’s, laid under freshly dug mounds of dirt.

She sat away from the celebrations, gazing off into the darkness near the river. She filled her goblet again, the bottle that she’d snuck away for herself nearing its end. She thought of Vadan’s doting parents, his goofy and adorable little sister, and his twin. Oh, gods, his twin. She wondered if Almar felt it when Vadan’s soul left this plane.

She’d buried comrades before, but never someone that she had thought she would be with until her last day. Someone that a part of her still loved, even after everything. He’d died and her luck hadn’t been enough to save him. Did she even have any luck at all? Beshaba’s offer crept at the edges of her mind.

And then Gale’s chuckle reached her ears. He wasn’t dead. He hadn’t blown himself and their entire party up at the command of a cruel goddess. He chose to believe in Seraphina and the hope that they could find another way. That counted for something. 

Seraphina let out a shaky breath and wiped the tears from her face.

“Drinking by yourself is hardly a proper way to enjoy a victory.”

The tiefling jumped as the High Harper sat down next to her.

“I needed time alone,” Seraphina replied.

“Your wizard is waiting for you. Even if you’re not there, he makes up for it with how much he goes on and onabout you,” the druid laughed.

Sweet, sweet Gale. She should be wrapped up in him right now, but he deserved better than to suffer her moping.

“I have a confession to make, if you can endure someone’s company at the moment,” Jaheira said. Seraphina glanced at her.

“I...I was happy for Vadan when he told me that he had found love. Admittedly, I already had my suspicions when he kept asking for the same Tymoran cleric to be given clearance to accompany him on his missions,” the half-elf chuckled. “I traveled with the one I loved. There is hardly a better feeling than fighting side-by-side and then getting to rest together when the sun sets.”

Seraphina nodded, turning to look over her shoulder at her companions. Her eyes drifted towards Gale, flushed from the wine and laughing with Karlach and Halsin. He seemed lighter, almost bouncing on his feet. They would get to rest together tonight…at some point.

“But then the reports began to pile up. The reports that the cleric was getting my Harpers, including Vadan, injured with their wild magic surges. You see, Vadan had failed to mention that little detail.”

Seraphina stared into her goblet, watching the ripples in the wine. She would never forget those adventures. She thought her and Vadan were invincible. She was so naïve. 

“But he swore that you were worth the risk. Not just for him, but for the Harpers as a whole. He said that you were resilient, powerful, and determined to vanquish evil wherever you found it. He told me that his wild love could serve us well.”

Seraphina’s stomach churned. She could hear Vadan’s voice now.

“My wild love,” he chuckled as he cut away the vines that had entangled him after she had a wild magic surge. 

“My wild love,” he murmured as he kissed her awake, sunlight streaming in through a gap in the tent.

“I believed him until the…incident in the Dessarin Valley,” Jaheira continued, bringing Seraphina back for a minute.

Seraphina immediately drained her glass, forcing her body to focus on the function of swallowing, on the warmth that that the wine was spreading through her. Focus on blinking. Focus on breathing. Anything to keep from remembering the blood on her hands.

“Are you listening, cub? Do you remember?” Jaheira asked.

The tiefling gulped.

“I wouldn’t be able to forget it,” Seraphina replied bitterly. The memories began to swim behind her lids. 

Flashes of the brutal battle in the Valley, fighting off cultists attempting to summon powerful entities from the Elemental Planes. She was there again, horror and fear piercing her heart as a wild magic surge sent out a wave of necrotic magic from her body. Harpers collapsed around her, some dead. She watched Vadan fall again in her mind’s eye, the veins in his body turning a sickly black and green as the magic nearly consumed him. The image shifted and suddenly it was his cold, dead body on the floor of Moonrise.

“Why have you come to talk to me, Jaheira?” the sorcerer said much more sharply than she intended.

“Because after you nearly wiped out an entire squadron of my Harpers, I told Vadan that you were no longer allowed to travel with us. I told him that he should leave you before you got him killed,” Jaheira took a sip of her wine. “He took his leave for the wedding and then suddenly, he came right back. Told me that I was right about you. But now, after today…”

Seraphina refilled her glass and looked over, expecting to see disgust and hatred on the druid’s face, only to see…admiration.

“After today, I see that I was wrong. I misjudged you and I could not have been more wrong. You have slain Ketheric Thorm and, without hesitation, you are marching on to slay the rest of the Chosen of the Dead Three. I…I apologize for leading Vadan away from you,” Jaheira murmured. “I feel as if I robbed you two of happiness. Maybe you wouldn’t even have a tadpole in your head if you had married. Maybe he wouldn’t have fallen today.”

Seraphina looked over to Gale again. This time, his eyes flicked up and he met her gaze. His smile grew, lopsided and silly, and he winked at her. She sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the thread that was pulling her towards him, as if she needed to by his side.

No. She did need to be by his side. They never would’ve met if Vadan hadn’t left her. If she hadn’t been in Yartar that fateful day, the mind flayer ship wouldn’t have taken her to the beach where she met the man that made her soul feel more peace and confidence than she ever thought possible. The man who needed her as much as she needed him. Everything had led to this moment.

“I appreciate the apology, Jaheira, but there really is no need. Vadan and I…our relationship served a purpose for both of us. We changed each other. We made good, bad, and ugly memories together,” Seraphina replied. “But I’m glad that he didn’t come to our wedding that day. I was angry for a long time. Hells, if you had said that to me a few months ago, I probably would’ve snapped.”

Her and Jaheira chuckled.

“But I ended up right where I needed to be,” Seraphina continued. “And I suppose Vadan did too. He was…he was a fierce warrior. A man who would give a stranger the clothes off his back. He died trying to destroy the Absolute today and we will march on in his memory.”

Jaheira lifted her goblet.

“To Vadan,” she smiled sadly.

“To Vadan,” Seraphina repeated. They both took a sip from their glasses.

“Now, let’s get you away from this gloomy shore,” Jaheira said. She stood and held down a hand to the cleric, pulling her to her unsteady feet.

“As much as you mourn tonight, you should celebrate those you have by your side,” Jaheira continued. She smiled as she shooed the younger woman away.

Seraphina blinked rapidly to try and clear her vision and made her way over to the fire. Gale smiled at her as she approached, and he set down his goblet before wordlessly and firmly grasping her waist and pulling her close to him. He hummed happily as she melted into his touch. His forwardness was a welcome surprise. She didn’t want to take the lead. She wanted him to take her hand and guide her out of the despair she was in and towards pleasure or sleep in his arms.

“I thought I was going to go mad if you stayed away any longer,” Gale whispered, his breath tickling Seraphina’s ear. His hands glided across her body, his arms now fully wrapped around her and encasing her against him. She could feel the thud of his heart against her cheek, echoing all around her.

Suddenly, Gale leaned back, shaking his head.

“Gods, I forget myself. I’m sorry. How are you doing?” he asked, his eyes no longer half-lidded and hazy, but wide with concern. He lifted one hand and brushed her bangs away from her face.

“I…I’m alright,” Seraphina murmured.

“Truly? Are you sure? If you want to talk about what happened or about Vadan, I understand. My ears are here if you have need of them.”

Seraphina nodded. Of course he was attempting to check on her, as if he wasn’t on the verge of self-destruction mere hours ago. She didn’t deserve him. She pushed herself onto her toes and pressed her forehead to his, closing her eyes.

“Thank you, Gale,” she sighed. “Maybe another night, but tonight I just want to be with you and think of nothing else.”

Gale pulled away and looked at her skeptically. As much as she adored how he cared for her, his concern wasn’t what she wanted right now. Seraphina softly grabbed his face and kissed him. His lips immediately began to move against hers, gently, like she was a glass that he was afraid of shattering.

“Hey! Get a room you two!”

Something bounced off Seraphina’s head and she separated from Gale to see a stale bread roll on the ground. Karlach had her arm raised, prepared to launch another. 

“Let them have their moment, Karlach,” Wyll laughed. “Things could’ve ended quite horribly for all of us today.”

Karlach sighed.

“Fine. Fine. At least someone is having some serious fun tonight,” she said.

“Oh, you don’t have to go to bed alone, Karlach,” Astarion commented.

“Are you offering, Fangs?”

“Ha! No, but I was going to remind you about that ‘old eye’ you said Withers was giving you.”

A tug on her waist.

Seraphina turned to Gale, who nodded towards his tent.

“Join me?” Gale asked. Though his smile was gentle and sweet, the way that his eyes darted to her lips and his grip on her waist betrayed his true desires. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a flutter between her thighs.

“Of course,” Seraphina whispered.

Without another word to the others, the two slipped away and into Gale’s tent. He immediately dispelled the darkness with a quick casting of dancing lights, the tiny orbs bouncing near the roof, casting everything in a blue glow.

Seraphina wrapped her arms around Gale’s neck and pulled him close. Gale rested his hands on her hips, his head going to the crook of her neck. She heard him inhale deeply, his nose and lips ghosting across her skin.

“How nice it is to simply be here with you,” he whispered. 

“Mmm,” Seraphina hummed. “I couldn’t agree more. You’re alive and that means the world to me.”

They stood there for a moment, their hands wandering over each other’s bodies, aimless beyond the simple goal of touching the other. Her hands carded through his walnut and silver hair, gently massaging his scalp. One of his hands rubbed up and down her torso while the other repeated the same motion down her spine. Then, the hand on her spine crept to the base of her tail and began to softly stroke the appendage.

A small squeak left Seraphina’s lips as Gale applied more pressure on the underside of her tail. She felt him smile against her skin as he fully wrapped his hand around it, his thumb now making circles over the topside.

“Someone’s been studying tiefling anatomy,” she said breathlessly, her chuckle turning into a gasp as he suddenly squeezed her tail and began to leave hot openmouthed kisses along her neck and collarbone, making her knees weak.

“I may have read up on the topic while I was teaching myself a bit of Infernal,” Gale murmured, raising his head and kissing her cheek. “One should always take the time to know and understand their lover’s body. Though now is the time for putting my knowledge to the test, hmm?”

“Yes, a bit of hands-on experimentation is in order.”

He pulled away and lifted her chin, his thumb brushing her lower lip.

“Tydd py smiz haf silz,” Gale whispered, his tongue clumsily wrapping around the harsh, guttural sounds, but Seraphina understood what he meant. It was incredibly endearing, and a shudder ran through her.

Tell me what you want.

“Yaf,” she replied. 

Gale smirked as his hand moved from her chin to her jaw and he pulled her into a kiss that was all too brief. 

“Yaf mijy py las vorv oaryjyrpary, ph wsyyz Syriemuli. Wmiz va haf silz ul zmuw papylz?”

You have me now and forevermore, my sweet Seraphina. What do you want in this moment?

Seraphina bit her lip.

“I want to feel your skin on mine, ph wsyyz aly. I want you to kiss me until you’re the only thing I can think about,” she moaned as his hands squeezed her ass, pulling her against him. He grunted as she rolled her hips against the bulge growing in his trousers.

“Then allow me to provide,” Gale pressed a kiss to Seraphina’s temple before slowly and carefully helping her down onto her back on his bedroll. She noticed his hand tremble as it glided down her thigh and she took it into her own hand, kissing each of his fingers.

“You don’t have to be nervous. We can just go to sleep if you wish,” Seraphina murmured.

“No. I want this. I want you,” Gale said quickly. His gaze darted behind her, and he cleared his throat. “It’s simply been some…some time since I’ve been with someone on this plane.” 

She smiled against his hand.

“We can go as slowly as you wish. We’ll only do what you desire,” Seraphina whispered.

Gale’s eyes found hers again and she squeezed her thighs together at his smoldering expression, his chest quickly rising and falling as he nearly panted.

“I died today and instead here I am,” Gale smiled. “With you, the most incredible person I have ever been so lucky to meet. I want to feel everything with you tonight. If you truly indulge my desires, we’ll be in this tent for a tenday.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. How was it even possible for him to believe that? Seraphina struggled to push her thoughts away as Gale’s nimble hands pulled off her clothes. Her racing thoughts halted for a minute when she removed Gale’s soft, satin purple shirt.

Her hands moved of their own volition, pressing on his chest with her claws grazing through the soft layer of hair that trailed down into his trousers, over his well-defined stomach. Gale groaned at her touch.

“Gods, look at you,” she whispered, her hands moving back up and passing over his nipples, making Gale hiss. “You’re so handsome, Gale.”

“I never expected such a compliment to be directed my way, but who am I to argue with your impeccable taste?"

Gale softly caressed her neck, his own hands traveling over her chest and torso.

“I can hardly compare to you,” he said. She squirmed under his reverent stare and touch.

“Your beauty is beyond description. I don’t believe a statue or painting could capture it all,” he continued breathlessly. She moaned as Gale’s hands continued their path, his fingers delicately gliding over the ridges that curved around the underside of her breasts.

“How could you say that about me?” she murmured. Gale’s eyes snapped up from her torso to her face, but she refused to look at him. 

“How couldn’t I?”

“The horns…my eyes…all of it. I’m the type of thing that parents talk about in stories to scare their children,” she grumbled. “I’m an omen. A monster. A devil.” He grabbed Seraphina’s chin and pulled up, forcing her to look at him.

“You could never frighten me,” he whispered. “One look from you is enough to make me shiver, but that tremble doesn’t come from fear.”

With one hand, he grabbed one of hers and guided it to the bulge in his pants. They both gasped and he rolled his hips into her palm.

“See and feel what you do to me. You are the most beautiful person I have ever met. The most gorgeous being in all the planes. No one could compare – divine, devil, or mortal,” Gale murmured. He moved her hand from his crotch and pinned it to next to her head.

“You are not an omen. Don’t you dare describe your light and goodness in such a way,” he continued, kissing her. “Your soul is capable of so much love, more than I ever thought possible or considered myself worthy of. The fact that we lay here together now and aren’t reduced to ashes is proof of that. The city of Elturel is on Toril again because of you and all that you are capable of.”

Gale kissed Seraphina’s forehead, one hand carefully stroking the area where her horns began to protrude from her head.

“I am so lucky that it was you by my side in that colony. Had it been me alone or with anyone else…” he started and then shook his head. “I should fall to my knees and thank the Smiling Lady that our paths crossed. But she has nothing to do with how amazing you are, so I will worship you instead.”

He pressed more adoring kisses to the freckles that dotted her skin as he crawled backwards, settling on his stomach as he gave her a wicked look from between her legs.

“Name your desire, my love,” Gale said. Even as he sat there, sinfully looking between her dripping cunt and her eyes, she blushed from his sweet words. 

My love.

She began to speak, and a whine escaped instead as he nipped the inside of her thigh. His tongue quickly swept over the small injury, and he proceeded to softly suck on the spot, certain to leave behind a bruise. The thought of how many love bites and bruises she would have come morning sent a shiver down her spine.

“My love, I must hear you tell me what you want,” Gale smiled up at her.

“I want your tongue on me. In me. Please,” she whimpered.

“Hold your legs, dearest,” Gale instructed, and Seraphina quickly complied, gripping the backs of her knees and pulling her legs back. Gale’s brown eyes swam with hot desire as he gazed at her cunt. He took his thumbs and parted her lips, a sigh escaping both Gale and Seraphina at the motion.

“You are perfect in every way,” he breathed, pressing his lips to the backs of her thighs, inching closer and closer to where she wanted him. Seraphina heard him utter something and, suddenly, a familiar bubble of Silence formed around them.

“I think our friends have heard more than enough,” Gale said gruffly. He looked into Seraphina’s eyes as he licked a long stripe up her folds, both letting out low moans as he began to circle around her clit.

She moaned as she fell apart beneath his tongue, allowing pleasure to wash away – or at least cover up – the pain from the day. Tears and stars alike swam in her vision as Gale continued lapping at her, his tongue swirling and sucking at her clit, two curled fingers pumping in and out of her.

“You taste divine,” Gale mumbled as he briefly pulled away from her. “The most intoxicating, sweet nectar that has ever touched my tongue.”

Time became a blur as she laid back and allowed him to devour her. The ringing in Seraphina’s ears from her rushing blood blocked out the rest of Gale’s praise as she came again and again under his touch, crying out his name.

“Gale, please. I need more,” she whimpered while he crawled his way up from between her legs, his lips and beard coated in her slick.

“I will never leave you wanting. I swear that to you.”

He quickly tossed his trousers aside and Seraphina got onto her knees, reaching for his cock, but he stopped her hand.

“I want to be inside you more than anything else in this moment,” Gale explained, kissing her. “I cannot endure another second not being completely wrapped up in you. There will be time for that later.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Seraphina said.

Gale gently pushed her back onto the bedroll and he held onto her thigh as he slid inside her. He let out a deep guttural groan as she gasped.

“Oh hells…you’re so…warm,” he moaned.

“Is this your first time lying with a tiefling?” she asked, biting her lip.

“Yes – ah – I’ve never felt anyone like you,” Gale squeezed her hips and clenched his jaw. His eyes flew open again. 

“I love you,” Gale gasped as he slowly began to move.

“I love you too,” Seraphina breathed, her hands moving from his shoulders to tangle in his hair, pulling him down and capturing his lips in a searing kiss. 

He wrapped both of his arms around her waist, simultaneously squeezing her into a tight embrace and forcing an arch into her back. At that angle, each thrust from Gale brushed against her clit, pushing whines and gasps out of Seraphina. He moaned as her wet, warm walls clenched around him, pulling him in deeper.

She dragged her claws down his back and Gale gasped, his entire body shivering as he suddenly gave a hard, deep thrust, his head dropping to her shoulder.

“Do that again. Please,” he murmured against her skin. Seraphina obliged, slightly digging in her nails and tracing down his spine, and Gale moaned as he continued to thrust into her. 

He pulled away, rubbing his hands up her torso, over her breasts, and across her arms. He intertwined their fingers and pressed her hands into the ground. Seraphina sighed happily and squeezed his hands, wrapping her legs around his waist. She whimpered as he began to thrust harder, but he didn’t quicken his pace, still pushing in and pulling out so, so slowly, as if he was memorizing every unique ridge. Each delicious, slow drag of his cock sent shockwaves from her core.

“You feel so good,” Seraphina moaned. “Please don’t hold back. Give me everything.”

Gale moaned at her words, and he started to thrust faster.

“Everything? Are you sure?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Seraphina grinned as he pulled another moan from her and his hands grabbed onto her hips.

“I don’t wear this ring because it’s pretty,” she said, tapping the ring on her right hand. “Give me everything.”

“You will have to tell me more about that enchantment later, but for now I will simply appreciate its existence,” Gale said. He rushed forward and kissed her deeply. 

They moaned desperately into each other’s mouths as they kissed and moved together, their hands and tongues constantly searching. Seraphina delighted in each sound Gale made as their collective pleasure crested, their simultaneous climax leaving them both gasping and whimpering as he filled her.

As they laid there quietly in the afterglow, Gale finally broke the peaceful silence.

“Sera, are you tired?”

Seraphina blinked up at him dreamily. 

“Not too tired to enjoy you again,” she whispered, trying to sound seductive through her hoarse voice. Gale instantly blushed.

“Oh! Well, I didn’t quite mean that,” he stammered but then he smirked. “Perhaps later. But I was hoping you might lend me your ear.”

“Any time.”

Seraphina listened intently as Gale enthusiastically lectured about the Crown of Karsus. She tried her best to pay attention to what he was saying, but she couldn’t help being distracted by the smile on his face and the brightness in his eyes.

He was alive. He was here and he was not dead on the floor of Moonrise or turned into nothing in the colony. He was talking about the future, even if it was just about getting to Baldur’s Gate and get his hands on an ancient tome. It was enough. He was enough. This moment, their sweaty bodies entangled, and their fingers intertwined, was enough.

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter Nine

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav x Astarion Ancunín

Chapter Synopsis: Unexpected foes lurk in the Underdark.

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Four and a Half. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight.

Read on ao3.

Word Count: 4.5k

Notes: I just didn't wanna shut up in this chapter apparently!

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Chapter Nine: Misfortune

Fire.

It was everywhere. All around.

The screams were blood-curdling and piercing.

There was as much blood as there was fire.

She remembered how quickly she had to make it across the field to get her downed companions, uttering healing spells as quickly as she sent a sphere of thunder at their enemies. As the only healer they had, the panic and anxiety of trying to keep everyone alive in this Hell ate her alive.

The fire kept raging, only growing larger and larger.

Destroying.

Consuming.

The heat ceased being an aura and she could feel it in her bones. She could smell her skin, hair, and armor melting. All she could hear was her own screams.

“Seraphina!”

Her eyes flew open, and she gasped for air, clutching at her own throat. In the darkness of her tent, she could make out Astarion kneeling over her. She sat up and looked all around. 

“Are you…alright?” Astarion asked. His hands awkwardly hovered around her shoulders.

“I…y-yes,” she stammered.

“Darling, I could hear your heartbeat from my tent,” he said.

“I’m fine,” Seraphina said, wrapping her arms around herself. “Thank you for coming to check on me.”

“This isn’t the first time, you know,” Astarion commented. “That I’ve heard you across camp.”

She didn’t respond. She didn’t know what to say. 

“I quite prefer it when I’m the cause of your heart racing like that,” Astarion joked. She could see the slightest wilt of his ears when she failed to smile.

“I’m sorry,” Seraphina whispered, wiping at her face that she now realized was wet with tears. “I need to go back to sleep. That’s all.”

Astarion didn’t budge, still staring at her. Her skin was already crawling from her dream, but she could feel it even more so under his scrutiny.

“I’m fine,” she insisted.

“Of course, my sweet. I’ll be in my tent if you want a distraction,” Astarion said.

He left with a nod. She didn’t want him to leave, but she also didn’t know how or if she could ask him to just lay with her and hold her. Asking Astarion to do that would mean making it clear that she had started to have deeper feelings about Astarion than their current unspoken arrangement allowed for.

He’s not interested in that, she thought.  

She didn’t go back to sleep either. Her exhaustion made her fumble through the necessary discussion the party had to have the following morning.

Seraphina knew that telling Lae’zel of her decision that the group would be traveling through the Underdark to get to Moonrise Towers wouldn’t go over well. She didn’t feel great about it either. She wasn’t one to break promises, but the incident with the patrol made it clear that going to the githyanki for a cure was far too risky.

They took another day to rest. When the morning came to pack up camp and search what remained of the goblin camp for the entrance to the Underdark, Lae’zel and her tent were gone. Seraphina and the warrior weren’t close on account of Lae’zel’s disgust at Seraphina’s ‘bleeding heart’ and Seraphina’s shock at Lae’zel’s brutal view of the world, but it still saddened the cleric to see that the warrior had actually chosen to leave their party. She had to resist the urge to snap at Shadowheart, who seemed all too pleased about the development.

After spending their morning killing the remaining goblins at the goblin camp, it was a relief to encounter the friendly myconid colony once the party arrived in the Underdark.

While Gale and Wyll traded with the hobgoblin, Karlach and Shadowheart bartered with a halfling woman. Seraphina skipped over to Astarion’s side.

“Hi there,” she grinned.

“Hello, my sweet,” he replied coolly. Seraphina frowned. His greeting lacked any levity and his lips had barely lifted at the corners.

“You seem like you’re in a bad mood. What can I do to help you have a fangtastic day?” she said, elbowing him lightly.

He rolled his eyes.

“You could try never making such a bad joke again,” he said.

“I hope this conversation isn’t draining you too much,” she smirked.

“Thank the gods you’re not a bard.”

Seraphina grunted as she lightly stomped her foot.

“You’re not being very fun today,” she pouted. “What’s going on?”

Astarion looked at her as if she had grown a second head.

“Darling, look around us,” Astarion gestured his hands around them. Seraphina did a spin, taking in the glowing mushrooms, the multicolored and intriguing myconids, and the ginormous space that was the Underdark.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said dreamily.

“I’d prefer to be basking in the sun rather than scrambling in the shadows again,” he sniffed. “And we’ve barely been here but for a few moments and you’ve already signed us up to risk our necks in the name of helping a few mushrooms.” Seraphina gnawed at her lip as she tried think of something that could cheer up the sullen vampire when Gale started walking in their direction.

He smiled and waved bashfully at Seraphina, one hand behind his back. Their friendship had been strained since their argument two days ago. Truthfully, they had barely said a word to each other.

“Enjoy whatever lecture the wizard is about to give you. I think my fingers have pockets to empty,” Astarion said, his gaze focusing in on the halfling trader.

“I would prefer it if you didn’t do that,” Seraphina replied.

“Maybe I’ll find something pretty for you,” Astarion winked and stalked away. Seraphina took a deep breath to prepare herself for talking to Gale.

“Seraphina, could I show you something?” Gale asked, stepping closer. She gave him a tight-lipped smile.

“Go for it.” 

“Close your eyes.”

She arched an eyebrow.

“Humor me,” he said, the hand of his that she could see slightly trembling.

She sighed and closed her eyes. She felt the familiar warmth of Gale’s hand taking hers and he slightly lifted it. A cold metallic object entered her hand.

“Open.”

Seraphina opened her eyes and looked down to see a gorgeous, pale blue circlet in her hands. A beautiful deep purple gem sat in the middle, surrounded by smaller, pointed pieces of metal in a sunburst pattern. 

“Gale, this is beautiful,” she said breathlessly. As she turned it in her hands, she could feel the hum of lightning coursing through the headwear.

Gale exhaled with a chuckle, his face flushing red.

“It’s for you,” he grinned. “If you would like it that is. I know that you’re quite fond of lightning, even though the storm isn’t quite the crux of your magic anymore, and I believe this will pair greatly with your armor. The trader told me this was another invention of Yrre the Sparkstruck, so I immediately thought of you. Of course, I hope you don’t feel obligated to use it if it doesn’t suit your purposes or – ”

“Gale,” Seraphina laughed as she put on the circlet, letting it sit just under her horns. “I love it. Thank you.”

Gale reached up and carefully tucked away a few pieces of her hair. His fingers grazed across her brow and, as his eyes fell to hers, she felt her heart skip a beat. She could see the yearning and adoration in his eyes. She looked down at his slightly parted lips and imagined what it would be like if she could kiss him to get him to stop rambling when he was overthinking.

Gale suddenly snatched his hand away, clearing his throat as he took a half-step back. 

“I think your gear will be quite ready to overflow with lightning soon enough,” he said.

“It’s working already. I think I feel a spark between us right now,” she whispered.

Gale’s entire body seemed to relax, though his smile seemed sad.

“Yes. You’re quite right. I feel that too,” he murmured.

“I’m sorry. About what I said the other night,” she blurted. “I shouldn’t have said that to you. It was thoughtless and cruel.”

Gale paused.

“It is nice to hear your apology. Though, you weren’t exactly wrong. I, more than anyone, should be wiser about telling someone to go against the will of their god,” he said. “I simply hope you understand what all comes with being a Chosen. I…I hope that it is your own ambition and not something you seek at the behest of others.”

Seraphina felt her mouth go dry. Of course, this what she wanted. She had already lived a life dedicated to Tymora. Being her Chosen would be the greatest honor she could ever receive. It would mean the world to her family, as a Hellwhisper no less, to serve her goddess in such a way. She had to do it.

“Immortality, power beyond my wildest dreams, and it’s all in service of the Smiling Lady. Why wouldn’t it be what I want?” she asked with a nervous laugh.

Gale gave her a pitiful look.

“The gods demand more than vows when calling followers to the altar, Seraphina. I speak from experience and not from a place of doubt in you or your abilities.”

His words sounded so familiar. He deserved to know why she snapped at him the other day.

“Gale, you should know that you’re not the first person to – ”  

“Let’s scram,” Karlach suddenly appeared next to them. “I think Astarion just took that lady’s entire gold pouch.”

“Oh Gods,” Seraphina groaned. 

She would tell Gale. Soon.

x x x

Seraphina stood off at the edge of camp as everyone finished eating dinner. She stood shoulder width apart, her arms lifted. With a deep exhale, she sliced through the air. 

Nothing.

She took a step forward with her left leg, shifting her weight onto it. She lowered one arm, lifted the other, and took a deep breath. She exhaled as she quickly dragged her right foot to her left, stood up straight, and moved her arms in an upward diagonal arc.  

Nothing.

She continued practicing different motions, occasionally getting a result, but not exactly the one she wanted. Spike growth, a stray fire bolt, an acid splash. Nothing new and not what she wanted to see.

She let out a frustrated huff as she stared at the smoldering, acid-covered patch of spikes in the area she was focusing on.

“So, are you actually trying to accomplish something or are you anticipating becoming a dancer if we survive all of this?”

“Yes, Astarion. I’m practicing magic.” She glanced over her shoulder to see that Astarion had seated himself on top of a sturdy mushroom behind her.

“I thought you sorcerers had no need for that.”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Seraphina started. “To learn a new spell, Gale has to read a tome. If I want to learn a new spell, I have to practice until I find the exact movement and focus that casts the spell I want. Gale asks the Weave to do things for him, while I tell it what to do. It’s like when Lae’zel…” Seraphina’s voice faded, and she quickly shook her head. She wasn’t going to let Lae’zel’s absence weigh on her. “It’s like when Lae’zel used to practice a new fighting technique.”

“Hmm,” Astarion said thoughtfully. “So, all that innate magic transfers into…this?” he asked, gesturing at Seraphina as she continued making different, erratic movements with her arms and hands.

“If this is so stupid to you, you’re more than welcome to leave. I would focus better.”

“You look ridiculous and its quite entertaining, so this seems like fine way to spend my evening,” Astarion said with a sip from his goblet.

“Are you still upset because we’re helping the myconids?”

“Why shouldn’t I be? It’s a waste of our time, which, as I should remind you, is extremely precious on account of the cult that has put alien tadpoles in our heads.”

She turned to face him, putting her hands on her hips. 

“We help people because we can, and we should. It’s horrifying how selfish you can be.”

“Looking after yourself keeps you alive.”

“Connecting with the beings and world around you keeps you alive.”

“I haven’t had much time for that the last two hundred years in case you’ve forgotten.”

“Astarion – ” 

“No one helped me any time when Cazador decided that a fun way to spend the night was torturing me. The oh-so-brave Hellwhisper family has been going on their adventures, being heroes, spreading the good word of Lady Luck, for how many centuries now? Three?”

Seraphina stepped forward, reaching out for him, but Astarion stood and took a step back. He continued speaking.

“I probably saw quite a few of your ancestors when I had to find victims for Cazador. None of them ever took the time to investigate the gothic estate in the Lower City that people disappear into,” 

“If I’d known what I know now years ago, I would’ve killed Cazador the first chance I had.”

“You naïve, silly thing. You actually think you stand a chance against Cazador.”

Seraphina nodded her head without pause.

“Of course,” she started. 

At the same time as she said her next words, Astarion mockingly mouthed the same ones.

“Luck is on my side.”

“Of course. Hells, you’re almost as bad as Wyll,” he said with a scoff, rolling his eyes.

“Astarion, I can’t change the past. What I can do is help you kill Cazador and figure out your future.”

He paused. He stared at her with the same apprehension of a starving animal being offered food.

“Help me kill Cazador?”

“I mean, that’s why you’re reading that book, right? You want to kill him. And I’ll help you. I’ll go with you to the city to kill him. I swear that before my goddess, on my life,” Seraphina continued. She could feel her heartbeat pulsing in her ears. She meant every word and she was desperate for him to believe her. 

Astarion stared at her for a moment longer.

“You don’t have to believe me, but I’ve, uh, I’ve handled quite worse,” Seraphina said. She hadn’t told him yet but, in truth, the prospect of a vampire lord was much less daunting after her experience a few months ago.

“You’re…sweet,” he replied. “Have fun with your magic. I’ll be searching for a meal.”

“Thanks. Be careful,” Seraphina replied. Astarion walked away from camp, disappearing into the darkness beyond the illuminated mushrooms. This wasn’t the last time they would have this conversation, so she was fine with him leaving.

Someone cleared their throat.

“I hope this seat isn’t taken,” Gale said shyly, gesturing at the now empty mushroom. She wasn’t sure whether it was Gale’s blush, his endearing smile, or his eyes that looked at her as if she was the best thing he’d ever seen, but Gale’s very presence gave her butterflies. 

“It’s open if you can be less of a nuisance than my last audience,” she teased.

“I swear to be the most respectful spectator,” Gale smiled as he sat on the mushroom.

Seraphina turned back to her work area. Anxiety made her hands shake. Gods, she didn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of him. She took another deep breath and closed her eyes, holding her hands together in front of her. She repeated her process, creating plant growth on top of the spike growth, healed herself and Gale, summoned a magma mephit that Gale swiftly eliminated, but still not a result she wanted. 

“Seraphina, I hope it’s not rude for me to ask you a question,” Gale spoke up. “I haven’t witnessed a sorcerer practice magic before, so my curiosity is quite peaked.”

“Ask away,” she said as gently as possible, trying to mask her growing frustration.

“Is there a certain result you are hoping for?” he asked.

“Yes. I used to be able to call lightning to any place I desired. Before my trial, I mean. I think I can do it again if I keep trying.”

“Would you be amenable to assistance?”

“You are a good teacher. I would be,” she said as she brought her hands back together.

She heard Gale stand, followed by the crunch of the ground, before she felt the warmth of his body as he stopped next to her. Her breath caught in her lungs.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed. His tone, authoritative and direct, sent a hot shiver down her spine that settled in her core.

Seraphina closed her eyes, choosing to lean into Gale’s voice rather than make a snarky comment about how she already does that.

“Listen to the world around you.”

Wyll was calling to Scratch, praising the dog as they played fetch. Karlach and Shadowheart were asking Halsin dozens of questions, all three seated round the campfire. There were creaks and bangs and other sounds that echoed around the chasm they had set up camp, but other than that, nothing. 

“Do you remember what it felt like to connect with a tempest?” Gale asked.

Seraphina opened her mouth to answer.

“Don’t speak,” Gale said.

She closed her mouth immediately and tried to ignore how heated her body was becoming listening to him. She could remember. How could she forget? Harnessing the power of a howling gale at her fingers was what she knew best. She used to command lightning and control the weather around her. She was born to manipulate the storm. She could never forget it. 

“Connect to it. Call to it.”

The sharp shock of lightning connecting with her as she forced it to strike. The pleasant relationship as it traveled through her fingertips. She could almost feel it even though it was far away from where she was in the Underdark. She could feel that hum just beneath her skin.

With a grunt, she opened her eyes, her arms flew open in a straight line, and she felt the power surge through her as a long, wide bolt of lightning left her hands in a straight line. Seraphina huffed out a laugh before beginning to fully chuckle as Gale beamed at her.

He clapped. “I take it that’s what you were hoping for?”

“Yes! Exactly!” Seraphina gushed. “Gods, that was – ” 

“Ah!”

Gale and Seraphina quickly tuned on their heels at the sound of Shadowheart’s yelp and gasps escaped from both as instinct kicked in. Three figures in black cloaks were at the campfire. Shadowheart was stumbling away, blood trailing from a gash in her arm. Another had his dagger raised above Wyll, whose hands were already sparking red with the beginning of an eldritch blast. 

“Flagra!” Shadowheart shouted, launching a guiding bolt at the cloaked person standing closer to her. Halsin wild shaped into a bear, launching himself at the person attacking Shadowheart. Karlach dodged the stab of the figure who pointed his dagger at her.

As quickly as time seemed to go faster, it suddenly slowed as Seraphina felt a hand wrap around one of her horns and yank.

“In Beshaba’s name,” hissed a voice into her ear.

As the dagger began to slice into the side of her neck, she felt an overwhelming tide of energy flow through her right along with the hot pain. She could feel it – her body calling to the storm.

The person behind her screeched, their hands falling away from her as lightning struck them.

“Detono!”

Seraphina felt the blast of thunderous force all around her, but she was unmoved. Gale’s hands clutched her arms and yanked her body forward as she struggled to move her trembling legs.

Think. She commanded herself. Seraphina straightened and looked at the figure that had been thrown by Gale’s thunderwave, whose cloak had fallen, revealing a bald elven man. She watched her blood drip off his dagger.

He stood, snarling, and began to run towards Seraphina and Gale. As soon as his sprint began, Seraphina prepared a sacred flame, only for an arrow to emerge from his chest, a small grunt pushed out from his lips as his body fell forward. Astarion stood a few feet away, his eyes blazing as he headed towards another man running at Shadowheart. 

A sharp pain exploded in Seraphina’s shoulder, and she screamed. She looked and saw the tip of a dagger sticking through her body. Gale launched a ray of frost as she turned, only to see the thrower of the dagger swiftly dodge the spell. 

“Tormentum!” Seraphina shouted. As the first missile shot from her fingertip, the vibration of a wild magic surge filled her bones. While her target fell over, dead, thunder rolled, blue light exploded in her vision, and she heard Gale scream. Dread came over her as she realized lightning had struck all around her.

No. No.

Not again. 

Her heart dropped as she looked for her companion.

“Gale!” Seraphina screeched. He had fallen to the ground, burns marking his skin, his hair singed, and his clothes scorched. He was still breathing, but unconscious. She quickly looked around to see if there were any more assailants. 

There was a sickening crunch as Karlach’s axe pierced the face of the man beneath her. Shadowheart stood over a body that had been mutilated with necrotic magic. Astarion was going through the pockets of a body. Wyll emerged from the shadows, covered in blood.

“Halsin?” Seraphina shouted. 

“Right here.”

Halsin appeared from the other side of his tent, dragging a body.

“This one still breathes. For now,” the druid said as he tossed the unconscious man near the campfire.

“Maybe he’ll tell us what the hells this was about,” Karlach huffed.

Seraphina had stopped paying attention after hearing Halsin calmly reply. The threat was gone, but Gale was in danger. She lowered her hands to him and then immediately snatched them back. She stared at her palms.

“Shadowheart! Help!” Seraphina screamed. 

Shadowheart staggered over.

“Gods! What happened?” Shadowheart asked, blue magic emanating from her hands as she began to heal Gale’s wounds. “Are you out of spells?”

Seraphina shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter. Please, just take care of him. I’ll…I’ll go get some scrolls,” she hauled herself up and she tried to run, but the world spun around her, and she collapsed to the ground. She did this. Her magic did this to him.

Tymora allowed this to happen.

No, she thought. This was Beshaba’s doing.

Her body shook as she tried to stand. Her blood had been running cold, her fingers and feet numb, her mind reeling, ever since the man whispered in her ear. But none of that mattered right now. If Gale died…

Gods, she didn’t want to think of it. The first time he died, days after they met, it had been scary, but that was before Gale dared to enthrall her and make her hang on every word he said. It felt nothing like this. This was a terror that threatened to make her heart stop.

Seraphina yanked her bag of scrolls out of her tent, emptying all the contents onto the ground. She frantically searched for the scroll of restoration. She didn’t cease when she felt cold hands grasp her shoulders.

“Seraphina, you’re bleeding horribly,” Astarion said.

“I’ll live,” she replied, blinking to try and clear her quickly blurring vision. 

“Here, you fool,” Astarion pushed a healing potion into Seraphina’s hands and snatched up a scroll, sprinting over to Shadowheart and Gale. As the tiefling looked down, she could see that the entire left side of her shirt was soaked with her own blood. She reached up and felt the gaping wound that nearly sliced her throat open.

Oh. That’s why she was lightheaded.

Seraphina uncorked the bottle and drained it. As she got to her feet again, ready to return to Gale’s side, she saw Halsin standing over the unconscious man, rope in his hand. Seraphina’s stomach turned as she recognized the black antlers tattooed on his head.

I truly am a risk to all of them.

“My lady, guide my hand,” she uttered to herself.

x x x

As Shadowheart expended all her healing spells on Gale, Seraphina kneeled next to him, clutching his hand between hers. She muttered prayers over and over. With each one, instead of her spirits becoming bolstered and hopeful, she felt herself sinking further and further into an abyss. 

“Seraphina,” Shadowheart said, placing a hand on the tiefling’s shoulder. “All we can do is let him rest now. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Seraphina asked quickly. Shadowheart pursed her lips.

“He’s stabilized.”

Seraphina looked back at Gale, and she choked back a sob at the slowly disappearing burn on his face.

“Seraphina, you need to talk to the others. We have to discuss this. I know you care for him, but sitting here won’t help us prepare if another attack is imminent,” Shadowheart urged.

“I know,” Seraphina murmured. She pressed a long kiss to the back of Gale’s hand, slowly lowering it to his side. She squeezed his hand, and she considered telling Shadowheart to just leave, but she couldn’t. She would be back. 

Both the clerics slipped out of Gale’s tent. Halsin and Wyll sat around the fire. Astarion was kneeled in front of the man that Halsin tied up, staring at the tattoos on his head.

“Wyll, with all your infernal knowledge, do you have any idea who would get this monstrosity as a tattoo?” Astarion asked.

“I’ve never seen it before,” Wyll admitted. “But perhaps someone else has.” Astarion turned and his face softened as his eyes met Seraphina’s. But he wasn’t the only one staring at her. The pressure of everyone’s gaze made her want to disappear.

Seraphina swallowed.

“He…they’re assassins of the Black Fingers,” she said.

“Black Fingers?” Wyll asked. “What in the hells is that?”

“The Black Fingers are assassins that serve Beshaba, the goddess of misfortune. Lady Luck’s divine enemy,” Seraphina replied.

She sighed and clenched her fists.

“They came to kill me – ” 

“More will come.”

Everyone’s head spun to look at the awake assassin. He tilted his head back to glare at Seraphina.

“All Tymora’s Chosen will fall. Everyone who is trying to become her Chosen will fall. Every worshipper will fall,” he spat. “Every single one a sacrifice in the Maid of Misfortune’s name.”

Astarion suddenly slipped out his dagger, held back the man’s head by his scalp, and slit his throat. Seraphina watched as blood gurgled from his lips and spilled from the deep cut. She could hear everyone arguing over whether it would’ve been more advantageous to leave the man alive. But none of their voices mattered.

The ‘gift’ from Seraphina’s goddess had once again nearly claimed the life of someone dear to her. Assassins threatened her life and the life of her companions. The trial was always going to be a test of luck, a gamble. Seraphina knew that and she still went all in. She took her losses and kept betting anyway, determined to prove her trust in her own luck in this game of chance.

But now, and not for the first time, Seraphina wasn’t so sure if she wanted to keep playing.

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

“I’m trying to focus on the positives. Can you do that with me?” he whispered.

Seraphina grabbed the sides of Gale’s robes, pulling him closer. His other hand rubbed small circles on her arm, grounding her to this moment with him. He lowered his head as she rose to her toes, their foreheads resting against each other. She closed her eyes and they stood, breathing each other in. As friends do.

“Yes. I can focus on the positives,” she whispered.

Excerpt from Chapter 10 of Like Real People Do, my fic about my Tav/DnD character, Seraphina, and her love stories with Gale and Astarion

Revising parts of Seraphina's design as I figure out my art style but man, art is becoming fun again. depression will really rob of you of everything, but I'm taking parts back.

also can you tell I didn't give a fuck about drawing that design on Gale's collar 😭

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter Eleven

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav x Astarion Ancunín

Chapter Synopsis: Seraphina stumbles in her faith while events at Moonrise Towers lead Astarion to finally get something off his chest.

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Four and a Half. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine. Chapter Nine and a Half. Chapter Ten.

Read on ao3.

Word Count: 5.3k

Notes: Time to make way for the angst.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

Chapter Eleven: Tell me where your love lies

Tell me where your love lies Waste the day and spend the night Underneath the sunrise Show me where your love lies

Seraphina was silent as Astarion exchanged words with Vadan. The words, harsh and insulting from Astarion and passive-aggressive from Vadan, floated in and out of her ears. Astarion took her hand and led her into the inn. If he was speaking to her, she didn’t process any of it. She was underwater – everything was muffled and murky. He didn’t lead her back to the table where their companions were now playing a card game with a few Harpers. Instead, Astarion walked her upstairs.

The vampire pulled a brass key from his pocket and unlocked a room. He shut the door behind Seraphina and, with two quick fire bolts, Astarion lit candles in the room. It was when his hands settled on her hips and pushed her against the door that some of the fog lifted.

“I’m not too fond of another elf taking you away like that,” Astarion whispered, pressing his body against hers. 

“Astarion, I have to get back downstairs – ” 

“Hush,” he continued. Astarion leaned forward and kissed Seraphina hungrily. Her body responded. She allowed him to kiss and nip down her jaw and neck, his hands working at the clips holding her armor together. She tangled her fingers in his hair, desperate to hold on to something. His fangs grazed her neck before they pressed lightly in one spot and he paused, asking permission. She nodded and she waited for the expected pain, but none came, as Astarion instead slowly grazed his fangs down her neck.

“You don’t seem to be that present,” Astarion whispered, one hand squeezing her ass and the other holding her jaw. “Is your former lover on your mind?”

“I didn’t take you for the jealous type, Astarion.”

“What is there to be jealous of? A barbaric oaf who thought he could just waltz up for a hug after how he left you?” Astarion scoffed. “Or the wizard who thinks asking if you’ve read any naughty books is adequate seduction?”

“You have incredibly stiff competition. Don’t act so sure,” she replied, forcing a smile.

“And yet you’re right here with me, beautiful,” he grinned, kissing her again before lowering his lips back to her neck. “May I?”

Seraphina nodded. When she felt the pain of his bite, she returned to her thoughts, grateful she didn’t have to continue faking happiness for just a few moments.

What did she truly want for her life? It seemed ridiculous to think about when death or transformation into a mind flayer hung over her head, but only entertaining the possibility of survival was keeping her sane. Her current path had led to her to the hells and put her at risk of becoming a mind flayer. If she had acquiesced to Vadan’s request to end her trial and stop adventuring, right now she would be comfortable in a home with a warm hearth, blissfully unaware of the Absolute until her husband arrived home with stories of his recent conflicts.

If she survived this and passed her trial, she would spend most of her time on the road, risking her life, fulfilling Tymora’s divine commands for centuries. If she survived and ended her trial…what would that life, a life exiled from her family and her temple, look like? All she really knew about herself was that she liked traveling and helping people. It would be a life without designated purpose or direction. A real life where she made her own decisions and chased her own whims. She’d be alive.

It could be a life where she wasn’t at risk of death all the time. A life where lovers didn’t run because it was dangerous to love her. In the time since Vadan, she had fumbled through flings and people who were seemingly incapable of loving or entirely unwilling to love her. She obviously had no idea what she was doing, as Vadan had often told her when they traveled together. He knew what was best for her. She had no idea what her purpose was.

Maybe she should leave this room and go back to Vadan. Apologize and reconcile their relationship. She could end her trial. After confronting the cult at Moonrise, the tadpole would be gone if she was lucky, and they could go to the Gate and be married. She didn’t know what she wanted, and he had everything planned out. It would be wiser to follow Vadan rather than continue fumbling through the fog as she had in pursuit of some destiny that had been planned for her long before she was born. 

She’d been a foolish puppet, blind to every possibility that wasn’t the future Tymora, her family, and her temple decided for her, and now death was her only reward.

A snap.

“Seraphina.”

Seraphina’s eyes focused on Astarion’s hand in front of her face as he snapped again. Their armor was scattered on the ground, the vampire having nearly completely disrobed her while she got lost in her thoughts. She couldn’t make out his expression. He seemed just as irritated as he seemed concerned, her blood staining his lips. He had become impossible to read lately. Had she ever been able to read him? As she looked into his crimson eyes, sadness hit her in a wave, and Seraphina frowned. Astarion was just another soul that she had attempted to flood with kindness and sympathy, hoping that he would love her, when the reality was that he only wanted her body. He only wanted her body while she was desperately holding out her heart.

And then there was Gale. Gale who was charming, erudite, compassionate, and supportive. When she looked at her life, there was no one like him in its archive until she stopped at that unstable sigil near the nautiloid. She felt a sense of peace and confidence with him that she had previously only associated with her faith in Tymora. Gale had become important to her in a way that few other traveling companions had before. How lucky the world was to have him, and yet he was resolute in doing what was necessary to gain his goddess’ forgiveness, which meant his death was imminent.

“You don’t want this,” Astarion said, furrowing his eyebrows.

“I…I…” she stammered. She gulped. “Can you just hold me?”

Astarion froze for a moment. She watched his eyes dart to look at the door behind her, as if he wanted to run. His eyes flicked back to her, and a silence stretched on. Seraphina held her breath. Were they finally going to say it? Was he going to call whatever this was between them something and declare that he wanted her for more than her blood and stolen moments in their tents or in the forest? Or was he afraid of this? Was he afraid of her too?

“Come lay down, darling,” he murmured, squeezing her waist. No. They weren’t going to talk about it. She silently followed him over to the bed. The mattress was barely big enough for both of them, creaky, and slightly damp. Astarion rested his head against the pillows and awkwardly held open his arms. She laid on top of him, pressing her forehead against his bare chest and wrapping her arms around his stiff torso. She felt his arms slowly wrap around her.

She breathed in his scent of bergamot and brandy, the smell that had soothed her heart over the last few weeks. After a few minutes, she felt Astarion relax beneath her, his hands beginning to rub over her back and arm. She hummed, some of her dread ebbing away. She would’ve liked to stay like this forever.

“What’s on your mind, love?” Astarion asked.

“Do you care?” Seraphina replied.

“Strangely, yes.”

“I fucked up everything in my life in order to end up here.”

“You’re just now realizing that? You’re not special for that,” Astarion responded. “Darling, something went wrong for every single one of us in our little band of freaks.”

“What’s your plan after this?”

Astarion’s hands paused, stopping on Seraphina’s lower back and wrist.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

She shifted, resting her chin on his chest to look at him. He was genuinely baffled.

“What’s your plan after we destroy the Absolute and we’re free?” Seraphina asked.

“You may be free after we get these parasites out, but I won’t. I’ll only be free if I kill Cazador,” Astarion replied, his nose crinkling when he said the vampire lord’s name.

“And I’m going to help you do that. But what comes next? What do you want?”

Astarion’s mouth opened and closed again. His lips twitched.

“I…I haven’t ever been able to consider that,” he murmured.

Seraphina’s heart broke for him. She removed one of her hands from around him and gently pushed a few hairs behind his ear. His eyes closed briefly.

“I hope we’ll all have time to figure out what we want after this,” she whispered. 

“Hmm. You truly are a little optimistic fool, aren’t you?” Astarion hummed as he guided Seraphina’s cheek to his chest.

“One of us has to be,” she replied.

“Well, I am hopeful for something…”

“Go on.”

“But it may require some help from a devil.”

x x x

Raphael happened to be right downstairs. Seraphina tried to shake away memories of the last time a devil took a worrying amount of interest in the party that she traveled with while Astarion laid out his request for a deal. After a talk, where Raphael seemed far too eager to find a method of payment, Seraphina parted ways with Astarion, resuming her duties as the leader of the party. She paid the innkeeper for dinner for her people, accompanied Karlach to get her second upgrade from the smith Dammon, led Halsin to an unconscious man named Art, traded to get potions and new equipment for everyone, and finally sat down for a drink with Jaheira. 

Seraphina wasn’t pleased with being drugged with a truth herb when she had intended to be honest with the High Harper, but she understood the druid’s actions. Seraphina took the party with her to meet the cleric Isobel and receive the blessing that would protect them from the harsh land and any sense of calm was immediately shattered.

The attempted abduction of Isobel by Absolutists made it clear that the party had to infiltrate Moonrise immediately. After briefly meeting the infamous Ketheric Thorm, they all scouted out the tower, taking notes about the floorplan and guard posts and formations.

“Oh gods,” Astarion gagged, gaping at a strange doorway that was filled with a purple-pink fleshy membrane. “All of them deserve a grisly death for this alone.”

“Well, with the offal on the walls and the ghoulish lighting, I think they’ve certainly achieved the macabre ambience they were going for,” Gale added.

“I bet you won’t stick your hand in it,” Karlach snickered.

“You’re more than welcome to do the honors of such a task, my friend,” Astarion replied.

“Is anyone putting down gold for touching it?” Seraphina said mischievously as she reached out towards a closed door. 

“Can you not see that this monstrosity resembles the flesh on the ghaik ship? Don’t touch it,” Lae’zel hissed.

“It’s bad enough to have the one tadpole,” Shadowheart grumbled.

“Or in Astarion’s case…five,” Wyll commented.

“Still alive and tentacle free. Any of you are welcome to try it the next time we split open a True Soul’s skull,” Astarion replied.

As most of her companions wandered into the kitchen, Seraphina continued through the door next to her, carefully peeking her head through. It was yet another dimly lit room, but this one vaguely smelled of herbs, blood, and smoke. At tables against the wall stood a drow woman with braids across the side of her head. The tables were covered in various bottles, pieces of parchment, and alchemy tools.

The drow’s head whipped up at the sound of the door opening and she grinned, waving in Seraphina. As she stepped in, she heard a light flurry of steps and felt a pinch on her backside. She looked only to see Astarion behind her.

“Hey!” she squeaked, swatting his hand.

“It’s dangerous to wander off by yourself,” he shrugged with a smirk.

They both walked over closer to the drow.

“Araj Oblodra, trader in blood and the sanguineous arts. It is a pleasure to stand before a True Soul. And your pale companion,” Araj smiled deviously at Astarion, who recoiled. “I’d like to offer my services, if you’re willing?”

“Why are you interested in my pale friend?” Seraphina asked.

“Please,” Araj scoffed. “You think someone in my line of work wouldn’t recognize a vampire spawn when they see one? I assume he belongs to you?”

Seraphina looked at her with disgust.

“Your assumption would be wrong. Astarion is his own person.”

“I’m sure he really believes that. How utterly adorable,” Araj laughed mockingly before fixing her condescending gaze on Astarion.

“Astarion, I’ve dreamt of being bitten by a vampire since I was a young girl. I’ve longed to dance on the edge between life and death. I’ll even compensate you – a potion of legendary power that forever increases the strength of the one who consumes it.”

“I will have to decline,” Astarion replied right away.

“Excuse me? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you’re squandering it.”

“I gave you my answer,” Astarion growled, his fists clenched.

“Can’t you talk some sense into your obstinate charge?” Araj turned to Seraphina.

“He said no, so the matter can be dropped. I think we’ll be going now,” Seraphina said evenly, glaring at the drow. She and Astarion swiftly exited the room. Anger remained on Astarion’s face, his eyebrows furrowed, his nose crinkled, and his mouth twisted into a scowl.

“Are you alright?” Seraphina asked. “I think we have enough info that we can head out – ”

“Why wouldn’t I be fine?” Astarion snapped.

Seraphina blinked. 

“A-after what just happened, I was just trying to make sure you felt okay,” she stammered. She straightened and looked him in the eye before she whispered. “I’m not your enemy, Astarion.”

Astarion’s face softened and then he immediately frowned. 

“I’m fine,” he murmured. “I’ll see you later, darling.”

Astarion walked away and Seraphina considered going after him, but it was obvious he needed his space. She wandered out towards the front room, her short stature making it easy for her to weave through the crowd of brainwashed fanatics.

“Praise the Absolute,” a few cultists said as she walked past.

A cold shiver trailed its way down Seraphina’s spine and fear settled in her bones as one of the men, wearing a dark cloak with the hood flipped up, continued smiling directly at her. He stood near a table with various equipment, potions, and weapons.

Alright, he’s just eager to make a sale she thought. She walked over to him, pulling out her pouch of gold as she touched the fabric of a robe.

“You might want to hide that little pendant of yours.”

Seraphina looked up from the robe in bewilderment. This close to him, she could see what he hid under his hood – black antlers peeked out from the very edges of the fabric. Rage began to flow in her veins.

“Your vile goddess won’t be able to protect you from being struck down at my hand,” Seraphina hissed, lightning sparking at her fingers as she prepared to shock the man.

“That wouldn’t be a very smart move, Tymoran. At least not before you hear the message I bring.”

Gods dammit. The less attention they drew while in the lair of the Absolute, the better. She lowered her hand, and she tucked her Tymoran necklace under her armor.

“I have no interest – ” 

“You intend to kill the General, yes?” the man cut her off.

Seraphina clenched her jaw. Both of their eyes quickly darted around the room, scanning. No one seemed to be paying attention to them.

“The only person listening is your lover. The vampire, yes?” the man said. Seraphina gulped. Her skin crawled knowing that the Black Fingers probably knew quite a lot about her party. She chose to ignore the comment as she watched, out of the corner of her eye, said vampire idly walking nearby in her orbit.

“Why do my intentions matter to Beshaba?”

“The Absolute is a threat that she intends to see eliminated. You seem like an asset in that endeavor.”

“Get to the point.”

“Your goddess continues to test you even while you risk your neck to defeat a cult that could destroy Faerûn. Why continue trusting in Tymora’s fickle luck when you, as a bringer of misfortune, could ensure the ensure the end of this crisis?”

Seraphina gawked at him.

“Beshaba is a fool if she thinks I would follow her,” she spat.

“Accept Beshaba’s boon and you will be able to save yourself. Or her misfortune can befall you and someone else will take your place.”

“No,” Seraphina hissed.

“My ship departs for Baldur’s Gate in 17 hours. I will be at the docks if you see reason,” the man said. 

Seraphina quickly walked away, her legs unstable and her entire body coated in sweat. She tried to even her breathing as her surroundings blurred around her. In the distance, she could see the deep purple of Gale’s robes. She stumbled closer and grasped his arm.

“Seraphina?” Gale said. Concern washed over his face, and he grabbed her upper arms, helping her to stand. Shadowheart turned and her eyes widened at Seraphina.

“Gods, what happened to you?” she asked.

“Could you try and give the others a little encouragement to get back to the inn faster? We’ll be right behind you,” Gale said to Shadowheart.

The half-elf looked to Seraphina, who nodded.

“Alright. But I don’t want to lose sight of either of you,” Shadowheart replied. She walked towards the front of the group. “You know, I overheard the innkeeper say he might cut dinner off early tonight.”

“What? No way he’d actually do that!” Karlach said.

“Then let’s pick up the pace a little, shall we?” Shadowheart said.

As the others began to walk a bit faster, exiting the doors of Moonrise, Seraphina saw Astarion, towards the back of the group, staring at her. His crimson eyes were as big as dinner plates. His eyes flicked towards Gale, but the wizard’s gaze was focused on the tiefling. Something crossed Astarion’s face, a slight frown pulling at the edges of his lips, but Seraphina didn’t have time to decipher it before the vampire whipped around and caught up with the others. She would endure his questioning about what he overheard later.

“Take a deep breath in,” Gale said softly. Seraphina complied.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

“Hold it.”

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

“Exhale for me.”

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Seraphina could feel her heart slowly reducing its thunderous beating. Gale grabbed her hand and squeezed.

“Tell me. What do you see?”

At first, she looked at her surroundings and looking at the darkness, only slightly dispelled by the silvery protective aura that surrounded their bodies, only made the void in her stomach become larger and more consuming. She turned to look at Gale instead. His gentle smile. The lines that surrounded his attractive face. His gray hairs, signs of stress more than they were aging. His gorgeous, welcoming eyes.

“The biggest, brownest, most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen,” Seraphina gushed.

Gale chuckled.

“Most beautiful? I can only assume that you haven’t looked in a mirror in quite some time,” he replied, smiling before his face became serious. “What happened? Did that trader say something to you?”

She looked ahead towards their party. Did she want to burden him with this?

“He…he was a member of the Black Fingers.”

Gale’s face twisted in anger, and he opened his mouth to speak.

“We can’t go do anything to him. Not in front of all those cultists,” she said quickly.

“Did he threaten you?”

“No,” she replied. “He had a message from Beshaba.”

x x x

“Make your move.”

“I will if you could hold your tongue for just a moment.”

“I thought you were supposed to win tonight, Gale.”

“Yes, and I will. You are surely wise enough to understand that victory takes time.”

“Mhmm. Your steps towards victory just seem to be making you sweat.”

“I think you are more likely to be the cause of that.”

“Seraphina? Do you have a moment?”

The tiefling and the wizard looked up from the game of lanceboard that they were playing cross-legged on the ground in front of Gale’s tent. Astarion stood over them, his fingers tapping on his leg. Gale gave her a small smile, though she could see the disappointment in his eyes.

“I think I have a long moment while Gale figures out how he’s going to save this game,” Seraphina grinned. “I’ll be back,” she said to Gale, standing.

Gale nodded at her as she followed Astarion into his tent. He wasn’t moving with his typical swagger and confidence. He seemed stiff and wilted as he kneeled and gestured for her to do the same. She sat and looked at him expectantly.

“I want to thank you,” Astarion said. Seraphina quirked an eyebrow.

“You’re welcome?” Seraphina replied quizzically. 

“For what you said while I was in front of that vile drow. I spent two hundred years using my body to lure pretty things back for my Master. You could have asked me to throw myself at her, what I wanted be damned. But you didn’t. And I’m grateful.”

“Are you getting sentimental on me?” Seraphina smirked.

“Oh, don’t look at me at like that. I’m as surprised as you are,” Astarion laughed. “It’s just…it would have been so easy to bite her. To just go along with what I was being told to do. A moment of disgust to force myself through. And then I could have carried on, just like before.”

Seraphina shook her head.

“Your life is your own, Astarion. You make your own decisions now.”

“The entire reason for my existence was to seduce anything with a pulse. And every instinct I have tells me that nothing’s changed,” Astarion frowned. “That I’m still just a means to an end. You made me see I never stopped thinking like I was still his slave, even in freedom. But I’m more than that. More than a thing to be used.”

Seraphina twisted her lips as she considered Astarion’s words. 

“If you feel that way about sex, why sleep with me? Did you think you’d get something from it?”

Astarion paused. He lifted one hand and gently grabbed the back of Seraphina’s neck, pulling her into a kiss. Even with the familiarity of his mouth, this kiss felt…different. His tongue moved slowly, greedily, as if he was trying to memorize how her mouth felt. His fingers wandered into her hair and pulled, tilting her head back and making her open up more for him. Seraphina’s hands went to Astarion’s shoulders, gripping and dragging him closer. His passion made all the breath leave her body.

She felt ready to say it. She wanted to tell him the words that had danced on the edge of her tongue for the last few days. I love you. Despite and because of everything, I love you. He pulled away and she thought he was ready too. A goofy smile made her lips curve up.

Astarion smiled back at her, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Gods, you’re beautiful,” he breathed.

“All that nearly distracted me from what I asked you,” she replied.

Astarion’s tongue darted out to lick his lips and Seraphina felt his hand tremble on her neck.

“I slept with you because I needed protection. People don’t trust vampires – perhaps understandably – so I needed to get someone on my side. And seducing you was easy, frankly,” Astarion said, huffing out a laugh with a gentle smile. “Imagine how stupid I felt when I started to genuinely feel something for you.”

Seraphina’s smile dropped. 

“Trust me, I was not happy about it. You were a complication in my plan that I didn’t see coming. And yet…” Astarion continued. Seraphina’s blood pumped violently in her ears. Astarion’s hand went from her neck to her cheek, and she snatched away from his touch.

She pored over her memories from the moment she met the vampire. The first night after the nautiloid when she offered to continue traveling together and he told her he didn’t want her to run off from him. The subtle and overt flirting that started in private and that soon bled over to often happening in front of the others in their party. All the times he’d held her and kissed her. His rare, but tooth-achingly sweet words of affection that made her insides warm and her heart flutter. All of it a farce.

“Astarion…you were manipulating me while I was — Is this conversation just another part of your plan?” Seraphina’s voice cracked.

Astarion’s face crumpled.

“It may have started with dishonest intentions, but that’s not what it is now. That’s not how it has been for some time,” Astarion replied, his tone urgent. “I didn’t want to, but I care for you now, and I want you to know the truth. You deserve that.”

“Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

Astarion hesitated, his eyes flickering to the corner of the tent. His gaze returned to her.

“We…have met before,” Astarion started. “One night a few years ago in the Blushing Mermaid.”

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed, searching her brain for the memory. No. Surely, she would remember meeting him. Surely. And yet…

There it was – a foggy half-forgotten memory. In her mind’s eye, among the many drunken nights she had spent at the Blushing Mermaid, there was that one night with the handsome, white-haired stranger that split a bottle of Suzailian Sweet with her. The stranger whose hot kisses and honeyed words nearly led her away from her companions that night. Rose, her halfling companion, had asked about him and Seraphina remembered saying he was a good kisser, but it was weird how cold his skin was.

Astarion would’ve only been in that tavern trying to seduce her for one reason.

“You were going to take me back to him,” she murmured.

“Yes.”

Bile rose up in Seraphina’s throat. 

“What is this between us to you now if not something dishonest? What do you want now?” Seraphina demanded.

“I…I’m not sure. I have no idea what I’m doing,” Astarion said, his voice cracked, and her anger dulled for a fraction of second as Astarion’s sudden vulnerability struck her.

“I want us…to be something real,” he whispered. Her entire body burned. She felt violently ill as she looked at the man that she had desired to share her soul with. Maybe she still did have that desire. But how could he be trusted? 

“I…I don’t know if I can forgive you,” she uttered, her chest tight, her breathing short as if she was wearing thousands of pounds of armor. 

“Seraphina – ”

“Gods, I fell in love with you,” she sobbed, her entire body shaking. “Whatever this was is over.”

“I – yes, alright. I can understand,” Astarion replied, deflating instantly, his red eyes glistening. “Perhaps that’s for the best for both of us. If you want me to leave camp – ”

“No,” she said quickly. “I…I’m sorry. I…I have to go,” she choked out. Seraphina ran from Astarion’s tent as if she was fleeing a fire.

Why am I apologizing? What do I even have to apologize for?

As she made a beeline towards her own tent, Wyll stood over Gale’s shoulder, offering his lanceboard advice.

“Seraphina, glad that you could return to our – ” Gale’s smile dropped when he saw Seraphina’s face up close. “Are you alright?”

“We need to get some rest. We have a long walk to get to the mausoleum,” she said shortly, zooming past the two men to dive into her tent. As soon as she entered, it was as if the gate flew open. Her tears flowed and her cries racked her body. She blubbered through a scroll of silence before curling into a ball, her knees tucked to her chest. She sobbed and screamed until her head ached and her throat was raw. She was almost glad that Astarion didn’t fight her on her decision. If he had, her resolve might’ve disintegrated to ash. 

Seraphina couldn’t deny that she wanted a real relationship with Astarion. She thought all those sweet moments like that first night in the forest, their late-night conversations, the first time he kissed her – she thought all of it was building towards something beautiful. But now, looking at the beginning, it all felt…tainted.

But what if she went back and told him everything that her heart had yearned to say for weeks? What if she said ‘yes’ to a real relationship with him? Astarion had spent two hundred horrible years not knowing what it felt like to be loved. She wanted to give that to him and experience the true, genuine Astarion. Seraphina’s stomach flipped. She didn’t know if she would ever forget how Astarion had deceived her for so long. 

And then one thought snuck in unbidden: Gale would never do this to me. He had made his feelings clear at that party after they defended the Grove. He was honest…at least she thought he was. She had also thought Astarion was being honest like the fool that she was. 

She cried until her face and eyes stung and she felt weak. Hours later, she crawled out of her tent and looked around the camp, silent and dark. Without thinking, her feet carried her to the purple tent that had flickers of candlelight peeking out between the flaps.

“Gale?” she whispered with a frail voice.

“Come in!”

She stepped inside, carefully dodging a pile of books that had fallen over into the entrance. Gale lounged against a pile of pillows, a brown, well-used book in his hand. His welcoming gaze made her want to throw herself at him so he could hold her all night.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your reading,” the tiefling whispered, her tail twitching as it tried to wrap around her leg.

“Oh, there’s no need to apologize. You are far more interesting than the journals of this Balthazar fellow,” Gale said.

Seraphina quirked an eyebrow,

“I doubt that,” she smirked, trying to let her mood shift. “I’m curious myself what he’s been up to.”

“I would’ve asked you to join, but it seemed like you needed to be alone,” he replied.

Gale examined her face, his narrowed eyes very briefly darting down to the puffy bite marks on her neck, and his nostrils flared as his eyebrows furrowed.

“Did Astarion hurt you?” he asked. 

Seraphina sighed, her breath shaking. 

“It’s complicated,” she responded. “Yes, but it’s nothing that can’t be remedied.”

Gale frowned, but he gave her a sad, knowing look.

“It is quite upsetting to witness someone break a heart like yours,” he murmured.

Seraphina thought of Mystra.

“I feel the same way about you,” she said, crawling further into the tent to sit next to him. “And then for that same person to demand something horrific of you…it is a shame indeed.”

“Let’s not discuss that for now. How about we start from the beginning?” Gale flipped to the start of the journal.

Seraphina sighed. She leaned her head against Gale’s shoulder, and she let his rumbling voice, vibrating from his chest and through her own body, lull her into tranquility. In the back of her mind, she thought of the assassin who was waiting at the docks. Even considering the offer that his goddess extended was blasphemy. Serving Beshaba would be an upheaval of everything that she had been taught and believed in her entire life. And yet the safety of being able to direct misfortune upon her enemies, and away from herself and the people she loved, called to her.

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

Like Real People Do, Chapter 10

Gale Dekarios x Named! Tav x Astarion Ancunín

Chapter Synopsis: A familiar face reappears in the Shadow-cursed Lands and Seraphina has a long overdue discussion.

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Four and a Half. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine. Chapter Nine and a Half.

Read on ao3.

Word Count: 4.8k

Notes: Ooof okay so this was one was getting pretty long and had to be split into two chapters, so Chapter 11 will be coming pretty soon. I really appreciate the support this fic has gotten so far :) Thank you to the folks that have been reading about my lil lucky sorcerer.

Learn more about my Tav, Seraphina.

"I had a thought, dear However scary About that night The bugs and the dirt Why were you digging? What did you bury Before those hands pulled me From the earth?"

Chapter Ten: What Did You Bury?

Seraphina wanted to create a storm.

Before, it was often her way of quelling her hottest of rages. A concentrated storm over the water or over a small patch of land. It soothed her to harness the power of a hurricane, the steady flow of immense power, all of it bending to her will. It helped her feel in control and ‘in control’ was what Seraphina desperately needed to feel in this moment. 

The aged wizard in front of her wasn’t responsible for the source of her anger, but his arrival and the dreadful message he had to deliver were making Seraphina spiral into despair. In the journey so far, there had been no luck finding a solution for the viciously hungry orb inside of Gale and now there was one presenting itself, but it was no cure. This solution was not one that gave Gale more time, freedom, or his life back. It promised only destruction and oblivion.

“And to you,” the wizard said, turning to Seraphina. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if he could feel the wrath radiating from her. “I commit into care Gale himself. I count on you to shepherd him well on this strangest of journeys.”

She had a million things she wanted to say. She wished desperately that she had some modicum of control or power to be able to heal Gale and she was close to cursing the gods. As much as the anger sat with her, so too did the feeling of submission. This wasn’t Elminster’s request. It wasn’t him asking Gale to sacrifice himself to destroy the Absolute. It was not a demand from a foe that they could strike down. It was from Mystra. This was a divine command.

What would she want Gale to say if Tymora had given her such a ghastly quest?

“We’ll find another way,” Seraphina responded.

“Or some other fortune altogether,” Gale murmured.

An eerie quiet hung over the camp as the elder wizard left. Seraphina stuck by Gale’s side, the two silently preparing dinner. They both kneeled at a tree stump next to the hearth, slicing vegetables, as a broth gently boiled over the campfire. Seraphina was praying in her mind, over and over, waiting for Gale to speak.

I have faith in our path and in our own luck. By your light and grace, Smiling Lady, we will find another way. A blessing of your luck will save Gale’s life.

“I’d have hoped to introduce you to Elminster in less dire circumstances, but those are hard to come by these days,” Gale said, finally breaking the silence.

Seraphina halted cutting a potato and looked up at him. He was staring at the carrots he was dicing. She gulped, going back to her task.

“He didn’t seem much a friend, showing up and demanding you kill yourself,” she said coolly. “It’s not a demand he wanted to make of me. As Mystra’s Chosen, he had no choice but to deliver her message, however much it pained him to do so,” Gale replied, turning and dropping the carrots into the pot.

Seraphina took a deep breath as she handed him the potatoes, her hands trembling. Words couldn’t quite make their way from her brain to her lips. She kept sending them back up to be revised, trying to grasp at the feelings she needed to articulate.

“For Mystra to have sent him…the severity of her bidding could not be clearer. Or weigh more heavily on me,” Gale continued. “Time seems so infinite when you are young…a month is an age, a year is a lifetime. It is a strange feeling, to realize how little of it one might have left.”

Seraphina froze as she dropped in the onions and stared at him bewilderment while he only met her with a rather calm expression. “You’re seriously considering what Elminster said?” she asked.

“Of course – he offered the clearest solution to our problem. All I have to do is find the right place and time, close my eyes, and let go. Then the slate will be clean, wrongs will be righted, the Absolute will be gone…and I along with it,” Gale said matter-of-factly.

Seraphina huffed a nervous laugh. “There’s surely another way. You don’t have to go through with this. There isn’t only one path.”

“If there was another, I’m sure the goddess of magic and the greatest wizard who ever lived would have identified it, but alas…only one solution is offered.”

“Your goddess offers only one solution. I think that you are far too eager to believe her,” Seraphina replied. “Is she always so demanding?”

“I doubt she’s asked many of her followers to blow themselves up. That’s a fate she’s bequeathed exclusively to me. She wouldn’t ask such a thing if it weren’t our only means of survival. However much she’s annoyed at me.”

“Please stop insisting that your death is our only way to destroy this plot. It’s not. I refuse to believe it.”

“Seraphina, the truth is, I was living on borrowed time already. Consuming those items would only have kept the orb sated for so long. If anything, I feel more at peace than I have in months. At least now I know my death will have purpose. It won’t be a distant ‘bang’ in the footnotes of history.”

“You’re not blowing yourself up, Gale. I won’t let you,” Seraphina declared as she stood. Gale rose and stood in front of her. She looked down at her feet.

“Let’s save such certainty for the moment such a decision is upon us. You may feel differently, once we know what we’re truly up against. But all that remains ahead of us for now. The Heart of the Absolute must be discovered before I can stop its beating.”

She rubbed her sweaty hands on her pants.

“I can’t believe you’re talking like this,” she uttered.

“Let’s be optimists, eh?” Gale put his hand on Seraphina’s shoulder. His hand moved from her shoulder to the nape of her neck, his fingers gathering in her hair. Softly, as if she were made of glass, he made her head tilt back, her orange eyes filled with tears as she took in his face. He was close enough that she could see the flames of the fire flickering in his deep brown eyes. Pink dusted across his cheeks as a gentle smile graced his lips.

“I’m trying to focus on the positives. Can you do that with me?” he whispered.

Seraphina grabbed the sides of Gale’s robes, pulling him closer. His other hand rubbed small circles on her arm, grounding her to this moment with him. He lowered his head as she rose to her toes, their foreheads resting against each other. She closed her eyes and they stood, breathing each other in. As friends do.

Slowly, Seraphina blocked out everything else. The bubbling of the cauldron. The taunting between Astarion and Wyll as they played lanceboard. The sharp clangs of Lae’zel and Karlach sparring. Soft chatter from Halsin and Shadowheart and the grinding sounds of their mortar and pestle sets as they created potions. 

All of it vanished until all that remained was the sound of her and Gale’s synchronized, deep breaths, and the overwhelming certainty that she was falling in love with a man that was determined to die. It hit her that this was truly the closest they had gotten physically in the time they’d known each other. They were close to crossing the line and permanently changing the rhythm of the careful tango they’d been dancing for weeks. And then she heard the melodic, boisterous laugh of a pale elf. Astarion’s smile entered her mind’s eye and her heart tore in two. She urged the image to leave, suppressed the thought of the inevitable choice she would have to make, and thought only of Gale, her friend, the incredible man that deserved to live. That deserved to believe on his own that he deserved to live.

We have defied death before. We can defy these odds too, she thought.

“Yes. I can focus on the positives,” she whispered.

Seraphina allowed optimism and trust in luck to guide her through the night. She laughed and joked over dinner. She challenged Karlach and Wyll to some Talis games with drinking penalties. She allowed her spirit to feel immense joy because she was positive that Gale was not going to die. Not at her hands or at Mystra’s command.

x x x

“Flagra!” Seraphina shouted.

The guiding bolt flew from her fingertips, eviscerating the shadow being in front of her. She hastily waved her torch, searching for more. The Shadow-cursed Lands was giving their party quite the welcoming. 

The cold, menacing environment of the shadows had everyone on edge – expect for Shadowheart, who was quite at home in the darkness. Their anticipation was quickly justified when, while mid-conversation with a group of Harpers they crossed paths with, the shadows attacked.

Wyll, with one torch in hand, used his other to blast a shadow off the nearby cliffside. Astarion’s arrows eliminated two of the beings. Karlach and Lae’zel were a blur of swinging blades as they huddled close to the light from Shadowheart’s spirit guardians. Seraphina stumbled backwards, bumping into Gale. The two carefully shuffled back-to-back as their heads pivoted, checking for more enemies.

“I hope I can trust you to watch my back,” Gale said with a laugh as he launched an ice knife at an approaching shadow.

“Always,” Seraphina winked as she cast a few magic missiles. She turned to see Gale staring at her. He smiled at her as he seemed to come back to himself and their present predicament, turning to throw a chromatic orb of fire. Her breath caught in her lungs as she watched Gale become illuminated by the flames, his rugged features and blazing eyes making her face hot. 

A group of shadows closed in on Karlach, Lae’zel, and Shadowheart. Seraphina quickly ran over. 

“Ardē!” Seraphina yelled. 

As quickly as the fireball left her hand, she felt the surge and her bones began to shrink. She yelped again, only for it come out as a meow. Frantically, Seraphina looked around to see that Lae’zel and Karlach had both been turned into dogs while Shadowheart was also a cat.

“Your leader is a wild mage?” Harper Lassandra commented, swinging her torch at a shadow. Shadowheart meowed as she ran to hide under Wyll’s feet. Karlach and Lae’zel barked incessantly, Lae’zel taking a swipe at Seraphina. Seraphina hissed in response.

“Gods, Seraphina, right now?” Astarion shouted, exasperated. 

“Just hit them out of it for bloody sake!” Wyll retorted.

Gale sprinted over, a pained expression on his face as he raised his quarterstaff. “Forgive me for this,” he said, swinging at her. 

She let out a squeak as the staff hit her back, the polymorph effect ending and sending her back to her natural form. As Seraphina stood, it seemed the dust was settling. Harper Lassandra marked the location of a ‘safe place’ on their map and the Harpers hurried on while the party trailed after them.

Gale slowed his gait, keeping pace with Seraphina, and he turned to her with a heated gaze that made Seraphina’s knees weak. His eyes seemed to glow, even in the gloom that surrounded them.

“It’s quite thrilling, to fight off such grim creatures as this region throws at us. Especially being at your side,” Gale said breathlessly. “I once read a book that explained in some detail the effect a brush with danger has on one’s desire for…other forms of stimulation. Have you ever read anything on that subject?”

Seraphina grinned. What a sweet, silly man. She became more smitten with him each day.

“Read it? I could’ve written the thing,” she laughed.

“I believe you,” Gale continued. “You never look so beautiful as at the end of a stirring battle, your cheeks flushed, gaze bright…you’re quite irresistible.” 

She wanted him with such fervor that her swirling thoughts would make a servant of Loviatar blush.

“I wish I had said it to you first. You look so…dominant and confident when you’re using the Weave to strike someone or something down,” she murmured seductively. Gale chuckled as he blushed.

“Perhaps it’s just the thrill of our near undead experience talking. But standing at your side through such darkness and disrepair, it only makes me want you more.”

Seraphina halted in her tracks and Gale stopped too. She walked closer to him, Gale’s half-lidded eyes staring at her lips. She looked out of the corner of her eye to see that the group had continued walking.

“And what are two people who want each other so desperately supposed to do with all their pent-up emotions?” she whispered. Gale carefully leaned forward, and their noses brushed, the brief contact igniting more arousal in her. He suddenly squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw, slowly straightening his back as he took a step away.

“This is neither the time nor place to indulge such feelings, Seraphina. We must be patient and push all such thoughts aside. For now,” Gale sighed. “Let’s get to this ‘safe haven’ so that our…passion doesn’t lead to our untimely demise at the hands of the shadows. Lead the way.”

Seraphina nodded, pushing down her lust. They quickly picked up their pace and caught up with the others. She wasn’t going to let Gale brush this conversation off though.

x x x

Seraphina had hoped that she would be pinned beneath Gale tonight, but instead she was being held in place by magical vines, several fighters at the ready behind the druid threatening her life.

“Tymora, save me,” she whispered. 

“A pathetic deception – I know who you really worship, True Soul,” the druid, called Jaheira by the Harpers, spat. 

“Stop!” a small voice cried out. 

Mol, a tiefling child, appeared next to Jaheira. Seraphina sighed in relief, happiness filling her. The refugees were okay.

“What are you doing?” Mol yelled. “She’s the one who saved us!”

“She’s the one who protected the Emerald Grove?” Jaheira asked.

“Seraphina?” 

Seraphina felt her heart stop and any joy she felt vanished. The world was spinning incredibly quickly, or time had completely stopped. At that moment, she couldn’t tell what was happening, but she was certain that she wanted all of this to be a dream, some sick, forced hallucination from the Absolute. She looked past Jaheira and she prayed that she was wrong and that her ears had deceived her, but she knew what the reality was. He was here.

Behind Jaheira stood another Harper. An elf with ivory skin and bright blue eyes. His long, ash blonde hair was swept behind his pointed ears. His face hadn’t changed, except maybe that was a new scar on his jaw and his cheek was bruised. The elf was bulky and tall, his shoulders wide with his leather armor stretching over his muscular figure. A Tymoran pendant hung round his neck. He looked as shocked as she did. 

Seraphina would’ve preferred for the vines to put her out of her misery.

“You know this one, Vadan?” Jaheira said, turning to him. 

“Yes. Rather well. You can trust her,” Vadan stepped closer. Jaheira looked at him, back at Mol, who eagerly nodded, and she willed the vines away.

“Very well. Settle in, then come join me for a drink,” Jaheira instructed.

As everyone except Vadan and her party made themselves scarce, Seraphina remembered that she had thought on this moment for ages. What she would say to him. How she would say it. If she would say anything.

Vadan opened his arms and smiled meekly. “A hug for old times’ sake?” He asked.

Seraphina couldn’t move her feet. She knew her companions stood behind her, waiting to follow her lead. Astarion looked Vadan up and down with a scowl on his face. Gale looked back and forth between Seraphina and Vadan, barely concealing his apprehension and irritation.

Seraphina tried to keep her voice level. “Hello,” She stammered awkwardly. Vadan still had his arms open. 

“I think that we all just need a moment to rest after the chaos of the past few hours,” Gale interjected, stepping forward and placing a hand on the small of Seraphina’s back. 

“Oh, I can show you all – ” Vadan’s arms dropped.

“We’ll fetch you if we need anything,” Astarion interrupted, stepping in between him and Seraphina. 

Vadan looked at Seraphina, back to the wizard and the vampire, before his eyes returned to her. He nodded curtly and turned on his heels.

“Say the word and I’ll make that hunk’s handsome face unhandsome,” Karlach said.

“Darling, are you quite sure that Tymora is your goddess? It seems like she quite enjoys leaving you high and dry with a good dash of bad luck,” Astarion commented.

“Chk. You should’ve gutted him on sight,” Lae’zel huffed. 

“Tell me what you need, and I will see that it is done,” Gale murmured into her ear. 

Seraphina turned back and smiled brightly at her party.

“We’re finally somewhere safe. Why don’t we get a bottle of wine and cool our nerves?” she asked, dodging everyone’s remarks.

“Please. A glass would do wonders right about now,” Wyll said.

The group stumbled into Last Light Inn and huddled at a table while Seraphina acquired two bottles of spiced wine from the innkeeper. She glanced over and saw Vadan at a table on the other side of the room, playing a game of Three Dragon Ante with a few other Harpers. He looked up and their eyes met. He smiled nervously and she turned away, trying to focus on Gale’s lecture on shadow magic. Unfortunately, his words were not enough to drown out the fact that Vadan had stood up from his game and was now walking over to their table.

Seraphina took a huge gulp of wine as the distance between them lessened. As her heart pounded, she became convinced that it would burst. Astarion suddenly turned his eyes on her, an eyebrow raised.

Of course he knows, she thought. And then Vadan was standing before their table. Seraphina nearly laughed as she saw her companions glare at him.

“Seraphina, could I have a word?” Vadan asked.

“Can’t you see we’re busy?” Astarion snarled. 

“Astarion, cool it,” Seraphina snapped. Astarion gawked at her, seeming both embarrassed and offended at her scolding. She didn’t expect it to come out of her mouth either. She stood, draining her goblet.

“Make it quick,” Seraphina said. She followed Vadan out to the docks, and he gestured for her to sit sat on a crate. They both settled down and Seraphina waited for him to speak first.

“It’s good to see you,” Vadan started. He looked her up and down and Seraphina suddenly became self-conscious about every aspect of her appearance. She probably smelled horrible, and her armor was covered in viscera. The last time he’d seen her, she was well-fed, bathing regularly, and donning comfortable, pretty attire that accentuated her curves. Though Vadan had seen her both ways and declared that he found her beautiful regardless of everything else.

“I wish I could say the same,” Seraphina replied flatly. “Though it is certainly a surprise. Last I heard, you had taken a Cormyrian wife.”

This was a partial lie. She and the party she’d been traveling with just before the nautiloid had settled for the evening outside of Evereska when a group of Harpers passed by their camp. A few of them were good companions of Vadan’s and, though they seemed reluctant to pass on the news, told her that Vadan had become swept up in a romance with the daughter or niece of a Cormyrean noble. 

Vadan laughed bitterly. “There was someone, briefly, but Faena and I weren’t a good match. Things ended quite bitterly.”

“Seems that keeps happening to you.”

“It’s hard to find a better match when you’ve already met the soul that completes yours. I told her that I needed to find you.” Vadan said wistfully. He looked at her so tenderly that Seraphina had to turn to count the number of planks beneath her feet. 

“How did you end up out here? And infected with a mind flayer tadpole?” Vadan asked.

“Am I to assume that you suddenly care about me now?” Seraphina asked. She looked up at him. She wanted him to see the rage in her eyes. 

“I’ve always cared for you, Seraphina, and you know that. I regret every morning that I’ve woken up without you as my wife,” Vadan replied. He reached out and cupped her cheek and she didn’t stop him. Seraphina wanted to nuzzle his hand and for him to kiss her cheeks and forehead and nose before he kissed her lips as he used to before, but she wasn’t going to give him more than this.

“Well, if you must know, they are my…friends. We were all abducted by a nautiloid ship. We’re heading to Moonrise Towers to finally purge ourselves of these things in our heads,” Seraphina replied. Vadan’s eyes widened in horror. His other hand went up to her face and Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat. His thumb rubbed her cheek.

“This never should’ve happened. Wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t…if things happened differently between us. I’m so sorry, my flower,” Vadan murmured. 

“You’re too close, Vadan,” Seraphina choked out. She snatched her face away from his touch. 

“You know that I didn’t want to leave you, Seraphina. I feared for my life and yours. I’ve thought of you every day, wished that you were waiting at home for me.”

Her lip curled in disgust as his choice of words. It wasn’t just his language, but the fact that he had always wanted a demure wife.

“You doubted the Smiling Lady and me,” she spat.

“Perhaps I just selfishly wanted you and I to stay alive so that we could live our life together. Perhaps I wanted my wife and I to grow old together,” he replied, an edge in his tone to match hers. He straightened up and shook his head, his voice softening. “But how I handled things was foolish. Tell me, is your trial over? Are you her Chosen yet? Last I heard, it wasn’t.”

“No, it’s not. But what do you mean by ‘last you heard’?”

“I…I was in Baldur’s Gate not too long ago. I went by your home. Your family wasn’t exactly happy to see me, but they told me that…that you had just come back from Avernus. I asked them about your magic, and they told me that you were still a wild mage. Turns out, I had just missed you by a few days.”

“And what business do you have going to my home?” she asked sharply.

Vadan’s eyebrows lifted as he smiled sadly.

“I wanted to see you, Sera. I told you – I left Faena because it was impossible to forget you. I couldn’t move on from the hurt I caused you,” he whispered. Seraphina scoffed and crossed her arms. He sighed.

“Which one of them has stolen your heart away, eh? It’s hard to tell between the pale fellow and the wizard. They both seem hellbent on taking my head,” Vadan chuckled. 

Both of them, Seraphina thought. She wanted to rub in Vadan’s face that she had two handsome men vying for her affections, but the truth was that she had no idea what to make of her situations with Gale and Astarion.

Seraphina hadn’t answered yet, so Vadan kept going. “It’s not my business. But I want you to know that I’ve missed you. You’re not a mind flayer yet, so I take that as a good sign. If we survive all this, I…I hope that we find time to talk.”

“What is there to discuss? All that you’re interested in talking about so far is your own pain. You know nothing of the pain, embarrassment, and anguish I faced. You lied to me that morning instead of facing me and declaring the truth.”

“Tell me what I must do to make up for what I did, and I will follow through. Tell me, so that I can make you my wife when we cure you and leave this cursed land.”

She stared at him. For a moment, all she could hear was the muffled sounds of the Inn and the sloshing of the waves.

“You’re serious?” she breathed.

“We will get this tadpole out of you. If Tymora doesn’t think that saving a city from the Hells was worthy enough, then forget the trial. And then, we can get that townhouse we always talked about near Heapside Strand.”

Her heart thumped wildly against her chest. They had discussed the life they wanted together ceaselessly. Their home would partially operate as a Harper safehouse, Vadan continuing to travel and work as a spy while Seraphina worked at The Lady’s Hall in the Upper City. When the time was right, they would grow their family. 

Her stomach flipped. That kind of calm wasn’t in the cards for her. She wasn’t even sure that it was what she wanted. She honestly hadn’t given much thought to what she wanted for her life after her trial was over. Vadan came along and painted their future in his vision, and it seemed pretty enough, but it still wasn’t a future she chose. Then the cryptic warnings from Gale crept into her mind. She wouldn’t exactly be able to choose what kind of life she wanted after becoming Tymora’s Chosen.

“I can see through you, you know,” she replied. He blinked at her in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re a coward who couldn’t handle his wife surpassing him.”

Vadan recoiled.

“What in the Hells would make you think that?”

“You aspire to be a High Harper. You want to go off on your adventures and come home to a wife who doesn’t leave the city because she knows her place,” Seraphina snapped.

“I only wanted to protect you. You shouldn’t have ended up in Avernus or in the middle of this shadow curse. Is it so unreasonable that I would’ve liked for my wife to be kept from danger?” Vadan barked.

Seraphina’s blood boiled beneath her skin as she clenched her fists.

“Danger is where I thrive. I thought you knew that. I thought you respected that.”

“Seraphina, if you wanted for anything else, I would not stop you. You’ve had your family and that damned temple in your ear for far too long. They’ve convinced you that your life is a worthy sacrifice in the pursuit of some so-called redemption,” Vadan replied. “You want to have children and a permanent place to come home to at the end of the day, and I promise you that day will never come when you walk as Tymora’s Chosen and must spend your life fighting a holy war against Beshaba. You don’t even know if your storm sorcery will be restored after this! You could be a wild mage forever.”

“Hellwhispers refuse to be shamed anymore. My family name will said with reverence in every Tymoran temple in Faerûn and – ” Seraphina started before suddenly stopping. She shook her head and jumped to her feet. “There is little purpose to another repeat of the same argument. There is no future between us, and I do not owe you my time.”

She moved to walk away, her eyes burning as she held back her tears, her feet itching to be as far away from Vadan as possible. 

“You do not need to be Tymora’s Chosen for that. You are a hero, Seraphina. You’ve already transformed the Hellwhisper reputation,” Vadan whispered. She halted in her tracks. She slowly turned to look at him.

“You deserve to be content. You deserve the future that you want. I may not have been worth giving up the honor of being our lady’s Chosen, but I hope that, one day, someone is. Or maybe there’s someone who makes the sacrifice of being a Chosen worth it. And, well, either way, Faerûn is deeply lucky to have you as a force of good,” Vadan smiled, but his lower lip wobbled.

“Vadan…” she whispered.

“Seraphina, darling.” Astarion.

He meandered over from the stairs and Seraphina’s legs carried her to meet him halfway. She wanted him to whisk her away from this hell. She wanted to flee as far as she could. But it didn’t matter how far she went or where – she couldn’t escape the nugget of truth in Vadan’s words. The truth that had been haunting her and that was becoming as inescapable as the shadows in this cursed land.

[owlseeyoulaterpal]

i saw other people’s cute versions of this so naturally here is seraphina and gale 🥺

2 absolute idiots in love

picrew