#wip: quest 2 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jynxeddraca · 2 months ago

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WIP Wednesday (on a Thursday)

I wasn't tagged or anything but I saw a few floating around and decided that I wanted to share an older WIP from my BG3 fanfic 'A Most Unexpected Adventure' [link] that won't properly be posted for a good while because the scene is set in Act 2 of the game, and I'm still getting through Act 1. This is what happens when I write things out of chronological order and as I get motivation.

Bit of a long read so I'm going to post it under a read-more. Quick summary is Team Tadpole runs into Arabella, is convinced to let her stay in camp, and then meet Gerringothe Thorm - where Tav indulges in her curiosity with fatal consequences:

Run into Arabella

Someone was crying. Tav ducked out of sight, afraid it was something like Oliver. “Do you see anyone?” She whispered quietly.

“Not yet.” Astarion responded, equally quiet as he slid a dagger from its sheath.

Carefully, with the Karlach and Gale following closely, Tav crept forwards looking for the source of the crying. Through the greenish haze, a figure slowly materialized. A figure that was familiar. “Arabella?” Tav asked hesitantly, hand hovering uncertainly over her sword.

Arabella turned around and the fearful, mournful expression turned hopeful. Until two shadows rose up reaching for her.

“Run!” Tav yelled jumping to attack.

“Twist ‘em up!” Arabella hissed as she turned and what looked like thick vines shot up and held the shadows tight.

“Huh?” Tav breathed, freezing and staring at the now entrapped shadows.

“It is you!” Astarion exclaimed happily. “Our little idol thief.”

“Looks like she’s learned a thing or two.” Karlach said. “Cool.”

Glancing at the shadows writhing in thorny, glowing vines, Tav took a moment to accept that the kid had just spared them a decidedly not-fun fight before turning back towards Arabella and resheathing her sword. “You alright?”

Arabella nodded, panting. “Sorry. Knocks the wind right out of me.”

Kneeling down so she was more on level with her, Tav carefully checked her over for injuries. “Quite the powerful spell – bet there’s a great story behind you learning it.” Tav said, surprised that even without a torch, she seemed entirely untouched by the curse lingering to the world.

“Yeah.” Arabella said with a wide grin, catching her breath. “That druid idol I took? It changed me.”

“Changed?” Tav asked.

“Uh-huh! I can do all sorts of stuff now, not just the vines.” Arabella said sounding somewhere between anxious and excited. “I think real hard and say some loud words and then it happens. Mostly.”

“Fascinating.” Gale said stroking his beard. “It could be possible the idol has awakened latent sorcerer abilities in her. If I recall correctly, tieflings are rather prone to inherent magic – tell me Arabella, when you use your newfound abilities does the result match up with your intent?”

“I – um, well when it works?” She said uncertainly, fidgeting. “Like now, I wanted the vines to stop them, and they did.”

Gale nodded. “Generally speaking, nothing unexpected happens?”

Arabella perked up. “Oh! You mean like wild magic? No, doesn’t seem to be that. Grump Wiz already helped me figure that much out.”

Hiding her snort with a cough while Karlach didn’t even try to hide her laugh, Tav was willing to bet all her coin that Arabella was talking about Rolan. “Well, I’m glad. Normally tales involving stolen artifacts are tragedies.” Tav said, absently straightening the younger girl’s kerchief around her neck once she had a lid on her amusement. “You seemed to have bucked that trend.”

“Tragedies? Them’s the sad ones, right?” Arabella asked, watching as Tav nodded. “I hope not. Especially since mum and pops – after Zevlor – when he…”

Smoothing down Arabella’s hair as her voice hitched, Tav already had a feeling where this was leading, and wiped tears that began to leave clean trails on the girl’s dirty cheeks. “Oh, duzzdy aly-,”

“Perhaps,” Astarion interjected. “–we should get away from the entrapped shadows first, then learn what happened.”

Tav started to give him a cross retort when she realized that the vines holding the ever more enraged shadows couldn’t hold forever. “Right,” She said faintly, scooping Arabella up with only a faint protest on her part. “We’re not far from camp, just across the river. We’ll head back and keep searching once we get you somewhere safe.”

Despite the fact that she was nine, and was more than capable of walking, Arabella let Tav carry her, sniffling and quietly crying into armor – seeking some measure of comfort as they picked their way carefully through the twisted landscape that used to be a town. By the time the river was crossed, and the camp came into view, most of the tears had tapered off.

“Why do you have a child?” Lae’zel asked curiously as they walked up.

Astarion laughed. “You remember Arabella, yes? The idol thief from the grove?”

“She was out in the curse.” Gale said before pinning Astarion with a dry look. “And I think bringing up the poor girl’s criminal history is in poor taste-,”

Shadowheart quickly grabbed her medicine bag. “How badly has it affected her?” She said over Gale and Astarion starting to fuss at each other.

“Kid’s tough, and has a few new tricks.” Karlach said. “She’s untouched, well – at least by the curse.”

“Lady of Darkness, she must have had a good torch with her.”

Tav sat Arabella down on a log they had been using as a bench. “No torch, must be the powers from the idol.” She said tugging a handkerchief out of a pouch. “Here, blow.”

Arabella cleared her nose into the cloth.

“By the gods.” Wyll breathed. “It’s a miracle she survived being out in that curse.”

“Poor dear, it must have been harrowing.” Volo said, fingers tapping his chin as he looked from the swirling darkness around them back to the little girl. Suddenly, the worried tapping changed to stroking his beard with an intrigued hum. “Not many come back with that kind of tale.” He murmured before hurrying quickly to his tent, ignoring Wyll’s annoyed look.

“Great, Volo’s interest is piqued.” Karlach grumbled. “Not it.”

“What do you mean, ‘not it’?” Wyll asked.

“I’m not baby-sitting him this time to make sure he’s not being a pest.” Karlach explained.

Astarion’s head whipped around. “Not it as well.”

“Gods.” Wyll muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Lae’zel hummed and turned towards Tav. “I believe I must rescind my opinion that your people are weak. If a child can survive this, then I clearly was mistaken.”

Tav turned and shot her an unamused look. “Thank you.” She said dryly before turning back towards Arabella.

“You are welcome.”

Arabella gave a soft, giggle at the expression that passed over Tav’s face.

“Wyll, do you happen to recall if we have any leftovers from this morning I can warm up?” Gale called. “I’m sure the poor girl could use a hot meal after – erm, everything.”

At Gale’s words, a loud gurgle rose up from the girl’s stomach and she wrapped her arms around her middle, face darkening. “That does sound good.”

“Then let’s get you something to eat.” Tav said gently. “Then we can talk.”

There was – to Tav’s relief – a healthy portion of food from that morning that Arabella was quick to scarf down. Chewing the inside of her lip, Tav wondered if the way she shoveled food was because she learned to do so somewhere between Avernus and being a refugee – or if she’d gone without for a few days.

“You’re going to chew yourself to blood if you keep that up.” Astarion said quietly. “And that’s my job.”

“Maybe later.” Tav murmured absently, not truly absorbing what he said and fully ignoring the huff of annoyance he gave. Instead, she watched as Gale took Arabella’s cleaned plate and a spare blanket was pulled around her shoulders.

“For road food, that was pretty good.” Arabella said.

Gale beamed. “All in the spices. So long as you have them, you can make just about anything taste good.”

“Helps we aren’t in Avernus anymore either.” Karlach laughed earning a grin from the girl. “Now, how’d you end up all the way on the wrong side of town?”

Tav’s ear pricked and Volo rapidly began to scratch out something in his notebook.

“I was looking for mum and pops.” Arabella said after a moment, once she gave Volo an unimpressed look. “There was an ambush – Zevlor…Zevlor went all funny. He told everyone to give up. Kept saying everything was fine even – even when they started hurting Asharak…” As she talked her lip began to quiver.

Without thought Tav started to move to comfort Arabella until Astarion caught her around the waist, keeping her sitting on the log they were sharing.

“Let her finish, then go be a mother hen.” He murmured, cutting off any protests before they could be voiced.

“I didn’t look, but I could hear-.” Arabella shook her head and shuddered. “I don’t know what happened. Suddenly everyone was screaming or fighting, mister Rolan sent a bunch of goblins flying, then mum yelled ‘run!’, so we ran. I could hear ‘em running behind me – until I couldn’t.” Arabella said, staring into the fire before taking a deep breath and roughly wiping her face with the blanket. “Still can’t find them – but I bet you can.” Hopeful, tear bright eyes lifted towards Tav. “You’ll help me, I just know it!”

“Of course I will.” Tav said – sending up a silent prayer that she wasn’t going to have to come back and tell the poor girl she was an orphan.

A wide, relieved grin broke out on her face. “Thanks miss. I knew you’d help me again!”

Astarion’s hand released her, and he leaned to rest his elbows on his knees. “It’s what she does. Now I suppose you’ll be wanting to get back to your friends – they’re all safe and sound at an inn very appropriately called ‘Last Light’.”

Tav turned to give him a curious look that Astarion immediately waved off.

The bright grin faded, and Arabella pulled the blanket around herself tighter. “I don’t suppose I can stay here?” She asked, drawing Tav’s gaze again.

“It’s awful dangerous out here, really no place for a child.” Gale said as Wyll nodded. “Besides, like Astarion said – wouldn’t you rather be near your friends?”

Arabella shook her head before shooting Tav a pleading look. “Please, just until you find mum and pops. I won’t be any trouble I swear it!”

“Gale’s right, it’s incredibly dangerous out here-,” Tav said slowly, watching desperation creep into Arabella’s eyes.

“But you saw what I can do! I can help around camp too!”

Withers gave a hum of interest that drew everyone’s attention, even though he didn’t say anything more.

“See, he – um, Bone Man is okay with it.” Arabella said stumbling as she realized she didn’t know Withers’ name.

“I –,” Tav hesitated. “We don’t have a spare tent duzzdy aly.”

“If you aren’t opposed to giving up yours for a while, you can share mine.” Astarion said casually. “We spend the night together often enough.”

Arabella pulled a face momentarily at Astarion that stated clearly, she knew what that meant – making Tav hide an embarrassed flush behind her hand – before turning her eyes on Tav once more and giving the bard her best puppy eyes. “See, a tent! I swear I won’t be any trouble!”

Karlach laughed. “She has you there soldier.”

Tav sighed into her hand. “Okay,”

“Yes! You’re the best. Thank you, hero-lady!” Arabella said jumping up.

“Hero-lady?” Astarion repeated quietly.

“But,” Tav said firmly and watched as Arabella sat back down, deflating. “If camp gets compromised, or we’re moving camp and something happens – I want you to stick close to one of us. Shadowheart especially.”

“Why me?” Shadowheart asked curiously. “Nothing against you, Arabella-,”

“Because you can make that ring of radiant…bird things.” Tav said and was met with a dry blink.

“Spirit guardians?” Shadowheart asked.

“Yes, that.” Tav said and Arabella giggled at her.

Shadowheart hummed. “And Gale can make a wall of fire.”

“Indeed I can, I see the logic of sending her to Shadowheart – but I normally attack from range and can perform quite the variety of protective spells.” Gale pointed out.

Tav bit her lip as Astarion unhelpfully turned and grinned widely, clearly amused to see what she was going to say. “Yes, and it’s very effective – but, and no offense Gale, our enemies do seem to try to take you out first.”

Gale opened his mouth as though about to explain something, realized what she said, and halfway deflated. “Ah, I see. Now that you mention it, I am often targeted.”

“Sorry.” Tav said. “If that wasn’t the case-,”

“No, no. I fully understand. No offense is taken.” Gale said with a nod.

Wyll chuckled. “Worst case scenario, one of us takes Arabella to safety at Last Light. Tav, you tend to move the quickest-,”

“Not me.” Tav said, shaking her head and looking down. “I – I don’t have a good track record getting kids to safety.”

“Correct, you died the last time.” Lae’zel said casually shifting the egg in her care closer to the fire for warmth as Karlach choked on the swig of water she had taken. “But this is now.”

The scratching of Volo’s quill paused before beginning again at a furious pace.

Wyll let out a low whistle. “Wow. I don’t think that was a necessary reminder.”

“Died?” Arabella asked faintly and Tav glared at Lae’zel.

“Bit harsh, don’t you think?” Shadowheart asked.

Lae’zel looked up, saw the looks she was getting, and scowled. “You have learned since then. Anyone in this camp would be able to protect this child – you included.” She said, annoyance coloring her words as she jabbed a finger at Tav. “Listen to the words I speak and not what your ears wish to hear kainyank.”

Tav’s glare softened, despite the insult tossed at her. “Then thank you, I appreciate that.”

“You should.” Lae’zel grumbled gingerly rotating the egg.

Arabella stared, eyes shifting from the egg, to Tav, to Lae’zel and back to Tav again. “I’m sorry – you died? Are you a zombie that just…isn’t gross?”

“Hmm, that could be possible.” Volo said absently before resuming scribbling down whatever outlandish things the conversation had inspired in him.

Astarion gave a laugh and patted Tav on the shoulder. “Have fun.” He said before standing up and ignoring her groan of annoyance.

---

“You were oddly accommodating earlier.” Tav said conversationally as they walked down what used to have been a street, Karlach and Gale trailing behind. “If I didn’t know better, I would say you have a soft spot for Arabella.”

“How dare you.” Astarion said, though his tone was anything but offended.

Tav shot him a sidelong look and took a moment to decide if she really wanted to ask what was on her mind. “Then why offer to let me stay in your tent while she’s in camp?”

Astarion raised a brow at her. “Are you complaining?” Came the response that was equal parts flirtatious and cautious.

“No.” Tav said, wondering if they would ever get to a point where he answered more questions than he deflected with his own questions. “Far from it, but you’ve never shown concern for any of those kids before. So I’m – admittedly – a little curious.”

“Even though her powers are new, they could be very useful if something were to slip into camp while we’re asleep.” Astarion said tilting his torch so he could read a rotting road sign a little better.

Letting out an offended scoff, Tav shook her head and put several paces between them before resuming her normal gait.

“Hm, that looks like a conversation best kept some distance from.” Gale’s voice seeped through the air and Tav rolled her eyes skywards.

It didn’t take but a couple of long strides for Astarion to catch back up with Tav. “You asked, darling.” He said tersely.

“She’s a child.” Tav retorted.

“Who is stuck in the middle of a town cursed to eternal, lethal, Sharran darkness just like the rest of us.” Astarion shot back. “And unlike those at Last Light, we don’t have a Selûne cleric or a small army keeping our camp safe.”

His words made her stomach knot, and she rubbed the back of her neck. “Maybe letting her stay in camp is a bad-,”

“You saw how uncomfortable she got when you suggested it.” Astarion interrupted. “And if Rolan has opinions on it, then my guess is these powers didn’t wait until now to manifest and haven’t been looked upon favorably.”

Tav pursed her lips, the worry in Arabella’s eyes hadn’t escaped her notice before – it still didn’t make her decision to let her stay in camp sit any more comfortably.

“Besides, if you want to think of purely her wellbeing – Rolan is the only wizard around – besides Gale – that could possibly help her control her newfound abilities and – remind me, darling, what has our Elturian friend been doing since staying at the inn?” The question was followed by him touching his fingers to his ear and leaning towards Tav slightly.

A violent urge to smack him bubbled up, was considered, and ultimately repressed. “He’s been drinking.” Tav finally sighed.

“So much so, that he appears to have cleaned the inn out of Arabellan Dry, no less.”

Tav scowled at the laugh in his voice.

“Ugh, you’ve certainly lost your humor all of a sudden. I thought you enjoyed the company of the little ragamuffin.” Astarion half whined.

“I do enjoy her company.” Tav said pausing and trying to recall if anything looked familiar. “But it was hard enough when Mirkon-,” The words died on her tongue, and she had to take a slow, deep breath to will the sudden nausea down.

“Uh-huh. Your ill mood isn’t entirely about Arabella, is it?” Astarion ventured after a long moment, laugh fading from his voice.

Tav exhaled through her nose. “It was bad enough having to tell everyone about Mirkon – who went on his own into danger. If something happens to Arabella because I let her stay in camp knowing how dangerous it is out here…” She shook her head and scanned the cursed area.

“It’s not that bad.”

Turning to look at him, Tav crooked an eyebrow at him. “We have the entire githyanki population after us – minus Lae’zel and the egg, a cult infested with tadpoles, and I have a feeling we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s lurking out here.” A new thought hit her, and her gaze drifted away from him. “Gods, if her parents are alive, how would I even begin to explain myself to them if something happens?”

Astarion was silent for a long moment, and when he did speak up – his tone was surprisingly serious. “Tav, nowhere in this town is actually safe. Not in our camp nor at the inn. Arabella has the choice to stay in the small, dangerous camp that moves locations regularly and is constantly on alert – or stay at the larger, still dangerous inn that the mind flayer cult is very aware of where it is and has already tried to – very nearly successfully, need I remind you – kidnap the sole reason it’s safe to begin with.”

Surprisingly, his words soothed some part of her that refused to let go of the worry that had been needling itself into her mind.

“As for that boy, no one blames you for his death – well, no one except you, apparently.” He tacked on absently, scratching his ear. “What’s the point in torturing yourself over it when a horrible death could happen to us at any moment? Better yet, why torture yourself when the brain worm cult will do it for you if we get caught?”

Tav made a face, pressing her lips flat and blinking towards the darkness for a moment. “You’re a terrible pessimist, but somehow I feel better.”

Astarion started to smile smugly at her until he absorbed the entire sentence. “Hey!”

“So if you two are done with – whatever.” Karlach called. “I don’t think we came this way before. This bridge is new.”

Tav absently patted Astarion on his arm as she moved past him towards where Karlach and Gale were.

“Seems to be a tollhouse this way. Probably can loop back around towards where we found Arabella if we push on.” Gale said.

“A tollhouse?” Astarion said, interest lighting up his voice. “Good, let’s hope the people who abandoned it left their valuables lying around.”

Tav raised an eyebrow at him as they continued across the bridge. Before she could comment, the torch he carried was snuffed out and the air chilled even further.

“What? With that pixie’s blessing, we don’t have to worry about the curse – we can peruse, find something to fund our way back to the city. Or maybe just find a few nice, little trinkets to help lighten the memories of this shit hole.” Astarion said with a laugh and Tav had to press her lips together to keep the amusement from showing on her face.

Ahead of them, Karlach lurched sharply. “Whoa! Almost slipped there.”

“You wouldn't be the first, I'd wager.” Gale said, tapping a foot along where the stone of the bridge turned into the wooden floor of the tollhouse. “It's been some time since these walkways felt the carpenter's hammer.”

Karlach turned and shot him a grin. “You gonna catch me if I eat a brick?”

“With my reflexes? I'd catch you before you so much as stubbed a toe.” Gale returned.

Astarion gave a short laugh. “I’d pay money to see that.”

“Wait, someone’s here.” Karlach hissed, waving her hand at them.

They all paused, ears pricked as heavy footsteps made the floorboards above them creak and groan. Interspersed with every few steps, a sound like coins being dropped followed.

Tav spotted a place where the floorboards didn’t meet each other like they should and carefully crept towards it, leaning and tilting to try to get a better look. Something moved above her head. While she didn’t get a good look at who or what it was, she did spy a flash of metal and several coins hit the floor, bouncing and falling the ground in front of her. Blinking, she reached down and picked up a few of them, flipping them back and forth in her palm.

“Is that thing dropping gold coins?” Karlach asked faintly.

“Oh I like where this is going, let’s kill it.” Astarion suggested gleefully.

Gale hummed and angled to see through the floor boards as well. “Could be a very effective trap for any would-be treasure hunters.”

Tav nodded, and carefully moved through the building, watching the upper floor until she slipped around a corner and nearly leapt backwards as a skull that appeared to be engulfed in vivid blue-green smoke turned towards her.

“Report to the toll master. Pay the toll.” It said curtly before looking away again.

They were all silent for a long moment before Astarion let out a soft, musing ‘huh’ at the skull. At which point it turned around, tilted slightly at them before speaking once more.

“No payment. No passage.”

“Of course.” Tav said faintly. “On our way, um…toll master?” She asked, pointing up at the floorboards above them.

The skull nodded as curtly as it’s words and promptly ignored them.

Karlach gave a faint hum. “Yeah, that’s not creepy at all.” She whispered sarcastically.

“It’s hovering over a pile of gold.” Astarion said, leaning around Tav to get a better look.

The skull immediately snapped it’s attention to him.

“Which is clearly the toll master’s.” Astarion said quickly. “Probably just waiting to be earmarked appropriately.”

The skull stared for a long moment, but eventually turned away from them again.

Gale nodded to the other side of the floor. “There’s another one.”

Unable to resist the curiosity bubbling up in her, Tav walked with slightly less stealth than before to the new skull. “Hello?”

It swiveled around to focus on her. “You should leave now.” It said mournfully. “I should have left when I still could.”

“Hey, same voice.” Karlach said turning to look back at the other skull.

“Why were you here?” Tav asked gently.

“So many ships came, so many ships left. And I remained.” It said, without regard to the question, voice barely above a whisper.

A hand touched Tav’s shoulder. Looking towards the owner, Astarion quietly cleared his throat and nodded towards another pile of gold near the skull.

Noticing the motion, Gale stroked his beard. “Clearly, they take collecting tolls here very seriously.” He mused. “But so far, it seems we are not unwelcomed.”

“So many ships.” The skull continued. “Why did I stay?”

Sparing a pitying look towards the skull, Tav cautiously looked towards the upper floor. “There’s more of them upstairs, I don’t know how many though.”

“I don’t like this.” Karlach said shifting her weight back and forth absently. “Feels like a trap.”

Footsteps passed above their heads again. “Perhaps only a trap to anyone foolish enough to take what is so brazenly on display.” Gale mused quietly, eyes following the shadow that filtered through the gaps in the floor.

Following Gale’s gaze, Tav nodded. Everything else in the ruined town had made it clear very quickly if it were going to try to kill them or not – but the creatures in this tollhouse seemed docile. There were soft mutterings that grew and ebbed, but nothing that spoke of any particular danger.

“You should leave – while you can.” The skull murmured. “Like I should have.”

“Can we please move away from this one?” Astarion hissed.

Giving a nod, Tav slowly stepped out from under the intact portion of wood above her head. Scanning the area, she almost missed the stairs that had been broken by one of the cursed trees growing through it. Hesitating for only a moment, she made her way to them and ignored the hiss from Astarion.

Despite his obvious disagreement, Astarion did join her and the other two as they moved to the second floor, another skull muttering snidely about sentimental objects. “This is a terrible idea.” He bit out quietly.

Tav slowly, carefully made her way towards the toll master, watching for any signs that they were about to turn hostile.

It was a woman, Tav realized after a moment when the toll master let out a rather manic-sounding muttering. Or at least, she mused, had a similar, feminine voice as the skulls that hovered near the piles of gold. Light was faint in this part of town, but Tav’s dark vision allowed her to see that this master reflected what little of it from every part of her – as though made of metal herself.

‘Are they a golem?’ Tav wondered watching as the toll master paused, sniffing the air.

“Perhaps we should-,”

The toll master whirled and lunged towards them, crouching as she landed and bellowed. “WHAT DO YOU BRING?”

Tav jumped back with a startled yelp, and then her mouth moved faster than her brain. “Ballads, sonnets, jigs – the list is endless really.” Spilled forth with a laugh and Tav quickly held her fist against her lips to make herself shut up as all three of her companions turned to give her incredulous looks.

“Shut it.” Tav hissed.

“Didn’t say a word.” Gale murmured placatingly.

“I REQUIRE GOLD!”

“Oh,” Tav said glancing around the tollhouse. “I see.” She added before tossing the creature one of the gold pieces she had picked up from the floor earlier.

As she did so, in an effort to at least see with some color, she activated the locket around her neck sending motes of light to fly around the room. With morbid fascination, she watched the toll collector snatch the gold piece mid air. As the toll master stared at the coin in her palm, it began to smoke before being shoved into her metal face – sparkling, golden steam rising as the hand was pulled away.

The four of them stood, staring at the collector in silent shock.

“AGAIN!”

Tav abruptly realized the collector’s mouth wasn’t moving as though she was yelling past the gold surrounding her head.

“Again?” Astarion asked, horrified. “No, we should not give it gold for nothing in return.”

A sigh emanated from the golden person. “YOU MAY PASS THE RIVER. BUT FIRST YOU MUST PAY.”

“Mmm, you think she’d stop yelling if we pay?” Karlach mused, rubbing the side of her head.

Tav studied the shiny carapace in front of her, taking note of the intricate details of the clothing – looking more like someone had been dunked in gold rather than molded from it. “Were you the toll collector – before the curse?”

“By the gods, you don’t think that used to be a person, do you?” Gale asked softly.

“I COLLECT THE GOLD. THE GOLD SO YOU MAY PASS.” Came the impatient response.

“Yes, yes, we got that much. Gods, do you have to say it so loudly?” Astarion grumbled.

Tav ignored him. “I already tossed you gold.”

“ANOTHER!”

“How much is the toll?” Tav asked, keeping the remaining coins in her hand hidden, though she fidgeted with them absently.

“ALL THAT YOU HAVE.” Came the bellowed response, sounding pleased at the question.

“You had better not.” Astarion hissed softly while Gale shushed him.

Tilting her head, tail flicking in curiosity, Tav took a moment to look around the building. Its century long abandonment had not been kind, the fact it was still standing felt akin to a miracle to her. Finally looking back at the tollhouse collector, she canted her head the other way, the twitching of her tail making a soft ‘bap’ sound as the spade of it contacted the floor.

“Why stay here? It’s rotting and falling apart.” Tav asked and the creature paused, almost recoiling at the question. “Why not take your gold and be free?”

Astarion uttered something under his breath.

“Actually, now I’m kinda curious too.” Karlach said.

“THE GOLD IS NOT FOR ME. THE GOLD IS FOR THE TOLL. I COLLECT THE TOLL. I COLLECT THE GOLD.” The tollhouse collector explained somehow louder and more exasperated than before.

Another look around the building and this time, the collector followed Tav’s gaze. “Says who?” She asked, mostly out of genuine curiosity, partially just to see what this line of questioning would lead. Turning back to the collector she held her arms out to drive home her point. “I don’t see anyone else here to oversee you.”

One could almost see the collector’s mind churning at this new information, making her shift and look around furtively. “GOLD…GOLD! GOLD! NO! No. I pay it back.”

“Oh, how generous of her.” Gale said sounding surprised. “Glad you talked some sense into-,”

The collector flared white hot before them, a smell of ozone and something metallic slammed into their noses followed by a loud pop echoing through the building along side a haunting, lingering, pained scream. The collector – whatever she had been, was now a crumpled heap on the floor.

Tav recoiled, jumping back once again and this time into Astarion who caught her around the shoulders, both of them staring, mouths ajar at the golden body lying before them.

After a long moment, a cackle filled the air from Karlach. “Ye gods! You talked her death!” She wheezed, bending over to put her hands on her knees as she continued to sound like a hyena.

“I didn’t mean to.” Tav said faintly, blinking rapidly at the collector. “I just – I just...”

“Gale, would that count as having a silvered tongue – or should we upgrade Tav as having a golden one?" Astarion asked with a laugh.

“It’s not funny!” Tav said pulling away from him, half-hysterical while gesturing at the body. “She’s dead! I killed her! With – with words.”

“Yes, darling, I was there and I’m rather impressed.” Astarion said putting a hand on his face and amusedly watching Tav as she wrapped her mind around what had just happened. “I had no idea you had it in you.”

Gale cleared his throat. “Clearly, a hundred years of thinking of nothing but collecting gold withered her mind away until she couldn’t fathom anything beyond such things.” He said stepping towards the body and prodding it with his staff with a metallic clink. “If there was ever a mind in there that could comprehend such things to begin with.”

“No. Absolutely not.” Tav said latching onto the thought tightly. “That has to be a golem, or – or an automaton. I refuse to believe I could talk an actual person to death.”

Astarion chuckled and walked over as well, beginning to rifle through the many pouches that adorned the collector’s waist. “Why? That could be such a useful skill to have.” As he spoke, he pulled a golden mace from a holster, examining it before setting it aside.

Tav stared at him for a moment before pressing her palms together and tapping her fingertips against her chin. “People cannot be simply talked to death. If they could, more people would do it.”

Karlach took a deep, breath though she was still faintly chuckling and giggling. “Yeah, normal people maybe. I don’t think she counts though.”

“I don’t think this toll master is an automata.” Gale mused using his staff to move an arm. “The movement is too life like to be machine.”

“Golem, then.” Tav said. “I’ve heard they can be made of all sorts of things, and are not known for have terribly complex minds.”

“Wrong again dear.” Astarion said unfurling a scroll. “A trade visa, outlining a Gerringothe Thorm as the tollhouse master approving safe passage to Baldur’s Gate. Unsigned though, a shame.”

Tav made a softly, strangled noise that spurred a fresh laugh from Karlach. “Doesn’t mean that’s her.” Tav mumbled.

“Eh, she kinda had the same voice as the skulls – oh, and they popped too.” Karlach said as she turned about.

A quick glance around confirmed that all the skulls had fallen to the floor, inanimate as a skull should be.

“Ooo, a key,” Astarion said teasingly, wiggling it at Tav and grinning. “I wonder which door this opens?”

“You’re not gonna drop this are you?” Tav asked and his grin only widened.

It opened the tollhouse master’s office, it turned out. Within that office was a bust of none other than the tollhouse master herself: Gerringothe Thorm – a perfect match to the face of the golden body upstairs.

“Well, looks like Gale was right – her mind simply rotted away like the rest of this place.” Astarion laughed as Tav started to cross her arms but changed plans halfway to tap a fingernail against her teeth while tucking her other arm against her middle.

“Eh, don’t fret over it soldier. Shit happens.” Karlach said, patting her on the shoulder.

Astarion nodded and glanced between the bust and Tav again. “You must try that on someone who’s a little more…there upstairs.”

“I will not!” Tav said firmly, scowling at him.

Karlach coughed to hide another laugh. “I think you’ve teased her enough for one day fangs.”

“I didn’t even try to kill her! I just asked her why she stayed.” Tav muttered darkly, glaring at the bust like if she did so hard enough, her irritation would convey to whatever afterlife the woman ended up in.

“For the gold, clearly.” Astarion chuckled. “Which is now free for the taking.”

Gale scoffed. “I don’t think we should focus on picking up random bits of coin.”

“Why not?” Tav asked turning towards him, “It shouldn’t take long, and gods know we will need it to buy food by the time we get out of this awful place.”

Karlach nodded. “Might be a few bits and bobs we could use floating around here too – never know.”

“I suppose I can’t argue that.” Gale said reluctantly.

“And of course, finder’s keepers.” Astarion added, rubbing his hands together.

Tav rolled her eyes. “No, we all agreed at the goblin camp to split finds like this evenly with everyone.”

“Ugh, of course you have to be noble about it.” Astarion groaned.

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honorary-fool · 2 years ago

Text

Mortal Treatment || Whumptober 2023 Day 2

No. 2: “I’ll call out your name, but you won’t call back.”

Thermometer | Delirium | “They don't care about you.”

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cw/tw: swearing, mention of emeto/vomit (nothing happens though), mentions of a previous character's death, blood mentions (not real),

misc notes: oc x canon, oc uses they/them & vae/vaer neopronouns, first attempt at trying to write actual delirium but I think it turned out okay ^^ ; also used a prompt by @whumpster-dumpster ; not beta read ; cross-posted on ao3 under mimikyu_nerd_69

word count: 2.2k

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Archons don’t get sick. They can't catch the flu, and are immune to stomach bugs. Common colds may as well tremble in their presence. Mortal medicine has little to no effect on their divine selves, as do the illnesses they contract and spread every once in a blue moon. Allergies are a different case, as they are not sickness, rather just reactions to things of the mortal world- Barbatos would know first hand. But a genuine illness afflicted upon one of The Seven? That would simply be unheard of!

But most of the archons still have their gnosis in their possession, and without the chess-like pieces they are much weaker, both in terms of their power and general vulnerability. No one had thought to inform the anemo archon of this information, especially after his gnosis was taken rather painfully by The Fair Lady.

At first Venti thought of the symptoms as merely his feline allergy rearing its head again. After all, he had been in the city earlier in the day- stray cats roaming the streets were a common sight in Mondstadt (and they seemed to really like him, furry bastards).

Surely that would explain the fatigue and the headache and blurry vision and puffy eyes and a particularly persistent case of the sniffles.. right?

Venti made it to the Whispering Woods without blacking out or injury. With a less-than-graceful 'oomph', he dropped to the grass, and his lyre tumbled to the grass beside him with a low thump. He attempted to sit up and lean against the tree close by, but a lack of energy and faint body aches made it rather difficult. Okay, that's fine, it could be worse- he could've been in the middle of nowhere in Liyue with Geovishaps after him in such a state.

The bard closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to steady himself before he attempted again to sit up. This time it was a lot more successful, but still left him achy and fatigued. He leaned back against the rough bark, closing his eyes again to try and drown out the pounding headache at the back of his skull. It felt like someone was whacking him over the head with a flat end of a claymore. At least it was dark outside, so the sun wouldn't bother him like it did earlier in the day.

There were no monsters in sight, so maybe it wouldn't hurt to doze off for a bit...

~=+=~

Venti wasn't sure when he came to consciousness again, but he definitely knew the surroundings looked vastly different from before.

He attempted to bolt, fearing he'd been kidnapped, only to fall off of something..fuzzy? and tumble face-first onto the floor. Everything felt like it was spinning, so it was hard to tell where exactly he was, which only added to how horrible he physically felt.

Chills seeped into his bones, sending shivers down his spine and a cold sweat down his neck. Lights burned overhead, leaving him slightly overwhelmed by the heat and brightness. The headache remained, and as far as he could tell, it either stayed the same or worsened since he blacked out. Everything hurt all over, both from the fall and pre-existing body aches, and his limbs felt like jelly beneath him. He groaned, trying to hide from the light and in his arm instead.

"Taking that as the cue you've finally woken up.." Venti heard a familiar voice call, followed by footsteps.

A head of teal hair poked their head into the room, immediately finding him on the floor with a sad smile. Of course his partner found him. At least it was someone he trusted to not have ill intent.

"Oh, you poor dear... you're in a worse state than I found you last night," Carmen cooed, approaching before kneeling on the floor next to Venti. "I'm glad I found you when I did... are you okay?"

"Mmh..."

Seems he had little energy to speak as well. Lovely.

"Shit..," Carmen murmured as they reached forward, cupping his cheek in their hand as they slightly lifted his head up. "That's strange, your braids seem a little duller than usual... Hold still for me for a moment, I need to test somethin'.."

Vae leaned to press a gentle kiss to the other's forehead, pulling away after a few seconds. Their expression, initially one of mild worry, shifted to one of concern, almost fear.

"You're burning up, lovebug... I thought it was a hangover, but you didn’t smell like wine, an’ I fear this might be worse," they attempted to joke, despite the worry lacing vaer tone. "Hopefully it’s nothing more than just a bad cold. I'm gonna try to get you back on my bed, okay?"

Now that they said it, that does sound right..part of him wondered why vae didn’t bring him to his own room, but maybe they panicked..rightfully so, but still.

Venti gave a weak nod, before returning his head to the cold floor beneath him. He lazily watched them as they stared with narrowed eyes for a few moments in silent contemplation. Carmen had carried him around multiple times, too many to count, but he's always been upright or standing prior to.. not exactly ill and flat on his stomach on the floor.

After minutes of struggling through various attempts, Carmen finally had him sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning against their body for support. Once up there, they started to remove most of his layers in an attempt to cool him down a little bit. One hand gingerly undid the bow securing his cape while the other reached to grab the fallen beret off the floor. He managed to kick off his loafers himself, and vae moved behind him to loosen the laces on his corset. They even undid his braids, setting the hair elastics on the bedside table and carding their fingers through the sections to loosen the braids. Every garment removed was carefully set aside to fold up later, and by the time they finished, all he was left in was his shirt, shorts, and tights.

Afterwards, they gently pushed him to lay down, almost pulling the blanket over him before deciding against it.

“Is this helping? Do you feel a bit cooler yet?”

Venti whined in response, curling up on his side.

They sighed, gently placing their hand on his head and scratching at his scalp. A sad smile formed on their lips as they watched him lean into their touch almost instantly, like magnetic attraction.

"If you're gonna be okay being alone for a few minutes, I'm gonna grab a few things from the kitchen, okay?"

Carmen tried to hide their laugh at the pout their partner had, glazed-over puppy eyes staring at them under dark hair. It’d be cute if he wasn’t sick..

"I'll be quick, I promise.. you don't feel like you're gonna throw up, right?"

They felt him shake his head from under their palm, vaer hand moving with him.

"Then you'll be okay for five minutes, sweet pea.."

They leaned over to gently place a kiss on the flushed tip of his nose, removing their hand from his head before leaving for the door.

Venti watched them leave, staring off into space. Maybe the heat was getting to be too much, but he didn’t have the energy to use his anemo abilities to cool himself off.

So, he just stared at the dark brown door, which then became staring at the darker brown floor, and then nothing at all as his vision blurred. Why was it so hard to focus, was this normal? It couldn’t be, but why was it so difficult to keep his eyes focused- did it really take that much energy?

He sniffled quietly, rubbing at his eyes- maybe that would help?

When he pulled his hand away, he saw a brown and white blur against the wall.

“Mhh…” he groaned, trying to move himself closer to the edge of the bed to see it. Of course, he could only get so far in his weakened state.

The blur looked..scarily reminiscent of someone. The colors were in all the right places, it had to be…

They were dead though. He saw it with his own eyes. Why were they here if they’re dead??

Too absorbed in his thoughts, he didn’t notice them come closer until pale blue eyes were staring right into his. He tensed, startled, before trying to reach out for them. His hand went right through them, and for a moment he felt the color drain from his face.

“Wh..”

They’re..they’re gone, but they’re here! But they’re gone… But they’re here…

Venti kept trying to touch them, to grab their hand, feel some sort of warmth and solidity in their form. Pale hand kept swiping at air, cutting through the image of his late best friend.

“No.. no no no no-”

His hand shook as he kept trying, until it fell limply back to the mattress, until his vision became too blurry to see them completely.

“Don’t go..come back..” he pleaded, sniffling.

The white and brown figure backed away slowly, out through the open doorway.

“Come back..”

The god’s eyes burned, and this time he rubbed at them with his sleeve. When he pulled his arm away, he saw red.

“Carmen..? Carmen..!” he choked out, clawing at the sheets, oblivious to how they left no streaks of blood. “Carmen.. ‘m bleeding..”

Venti saw the figure slowly return, kneeling at his side again.

“Why’s..why’s it back? Carmen..!”

He kept crying out for his partner, increasingly overwhelmed from the light, and the blood, and the image of his dead best friend taunting him with its presence, and-

“I’m here, sweetheart..”

In the white and brown figure’s place was his partner, looking down at him in concern. Carmen gently cupped his cheek with warm, pale hands, wiping away the tears with vaer thumb. If his eyes didn’t deceive him, he could’ve sworn they flinched.

“Shhh, it’s okay..” they cooed, “I’m here, you’re safe…”

“But..but ‘m bleeding-”

“Bleeding?”

They watched him raise his hand to show him. He didn’t understand why they took his hand in theirs almost instantly and gently squeezed it- why would they immediately touch something bloody?

“There’s no blood, sweet pea, I promise…it’s a bit wet with tears, but that’s about it..” they reassured him, letting go of his hand after a few moments.

“Oh..”

“Is that why you’re crying?”

He nodded, rubbing at his eyes again. “Mhmm… an… an’ I saw someone..”

“Oh?” Carmen tilted their head slightly. “That’s..a bit worrying. Who exactly did you see..?”

“Mhh…my, my friend..”

Thankfully, knowing of the archon’s background, it didn’t take long to figure out who he most likely meant, despite a few people fitting the description of just ‘his friend’. If it were one of the others, they’d be mentioned by name, but because this one wasn’t, then that meant…

“I see…”

It broke their heart to see him so upset, between the illness and likely resurfaced grief. Poor bastard’s had to put up with so much shit- not that they haven’t either, but there’s a difference between being an immortal god that’s been around for centuries and an immortal elf that’s been around for even less time.

They pulled away for a moment, crawling up onto their bed to sit next to the god. Vae gently turned vaer partner over onto his other side, frowning at how he winced from the movement. Seems those body aches haven’t left…

“I’m sorry it took so long to come back, by the way..I got sidetracked trying to make soup..” They eyed the tray they put on the bedside table, watching the steam rise from the radish and veggie soup bowl. “I did get the thermometer though…let’s see, just ooone second-”

Carmen reached over the god and plucked the thermometer off the tray. They pressed a button, waited for the beep, then carefully stuck it under his tongue.

“Good..it’s only for a minute, I know it’s uncomfortable..”

They held the thermometer with one hand and used the other to play with Venti’s hair in an attempt to distract him from the uncomfortable sensation. Thank goodness Fontaine made these a while ago- they couldn't imagine how people used to figure out temperatures without them.

Finally, the thermometer beeped, and they removed it to look at the number.

“Shit… 39.4. No wonder you were hallucinating your friend…”

Carmen sighed, setting the thermometer down before trying to move the god to sit up against the pillows. He let vaer do so, not having the energy to do it himself or protest other than a wince of pain, to which they mumbled an apology.

As soon as he was sorted out, they reached for the tray on the bedside table, deciding it best to maybe get some form of sustenance in his system to help combat the illness. There’s not much that can be done, given mortal medicine’s a hit or miss, but that has to work, right?

Vae was about to lift a spoonful to his mouth, when they realized he was nodding off against their shoulder. Into the bowl goes the spoon, their hand reaching up to play with his hair instead. Later then, they decided, ‘cus for now he needs all the rest he can get.

#whumptober2023 #no. 2 #lyrics #thermometer #delirium #genshin impact #original character #oc #fic #swearing cw #emeto mentions tw #death mention tw #blood cw #oc x canon #venti x oc #carmven #📝 | my writing #🎭 | og posts #whump #nameless bard #venti #sickfic #hurt/comfort #fun fact this was the inspo to finish a wip i've had for months so <33 #love me some fever tropes oml #also for fellow americans/imperial system users: 39.4 celsius is 103 fahrenheit #i used metric bc it's easier & bc technically ingame everything's in metric (ie a quest location being 20m away)#the title's all i could come up w./ at 10pm last night- cus like 'oh he's immortal but he's dealing w/ mortal problem of being sick. he's #getting the mortal treatment. ha ha ha so silly' /lh ; idk i think its funny the more i think abt it #8:52p edit: fixed a sentence

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