[huff. her tail goes back and forth. it's okay to be emotionally honest!! "we know karlach" i'm sad "we know karlach"]
... Thanks. [she says, nudging him with her elbow.] I'm glad you're here. You and fangs both. I miss the others, but it's good to have people I care about with me, wherever the fuck we landed.
[ he goes oof because his bones are made of glass. ]
While I admit I was rather surprised to see any of you, I agree it's good to have company for ... whatever this is. As ominous as it may be. I'd really much rather not be alone.
[ okay honestly, he is not good at holding in secrets and there is something of a relief to get to say it, even if its only been a day or so. he's never been very good at hiding his intentions, all things considered. he rubs at his chest, as if it hurts. ]
It means that I do not know what it means, Karlach. I am not currently so much fine Netherese mist, I still feel the orb within me, and neither of you seem to remember the same events as I.
okay well her instinct is that she wants to punch him real bad. she doesn't! because he would in fact become netherese mist for real if she did, but she immediately does grab his wrist and... well, the best way to describe it is she flares up. there's little licks of flame in her hair, her chest glows real bright. she doesn't burn, and it won't hurt him, but she's uncomfortable to hold onto.]
What the fuck. That doesn't make any sense, you haven't done, as far as I remember! We're in the Gate, we just got done smearing Gortash across the floor and were on our way to Orin, yeah? You didn't.
if it helps or hurts, he does shrink from this. he doesn't try and pull his hand back or anything, but he appears appropriately ashamed. he does look as if he's in pain, just a touch, but probably not from the wrist. ]
At the moment, I-- thought it was the right thing to do. It was the only way. I teleported you away.
[she's like, genuinely upset, she's so sad. she doesn't let go, because she kind of wants him to be ashamed, or at least like... get that she hates this.]
And nobody stopped you? We should've stopped you. [she is maybe a little teary.] Teleport be damned!
[ he is honestly quite taken aback that she is reacting this strong and with that much sadness about it? perhaps it was just his assumption that he would not be missed quite this much. ]
Well, I'd hardly be a wizard worth my salt if I couldn't spellcast faster than someone can take a swing, could I? [ A JOKE TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD? it is not working. ] I don't-- As I said. I don't know why I'm here, intact and breathing.
she doesn't, but - she looks Unhappy at the joke. it is not working!!]
... You're gonna stay that way. You've got so much to live for. You've got to take advantage of it, you can't just throw yourself away. Don't be fucking stupid.
[she brings her free hand up to rub at her eye, and then:]
Gale, I don't... [a beat. she hesitates. shakes her head.] Nevermind. Gods. We'll fix it.
[ there is a bit of doubt that crosses his face when she says the part about having so much to live for, because he is not entirely certain he agrees, but he doesn't want to begin the argument right now. it isn't as if he threw himself away. it was a trade. a reasonable one. a single life for the entire sword coast, and the consideration of forgiveness from the one he had been so desperate to forgive him.
it's just that it's a much harder decision to sit with when you were already terrified of it. he isn't sure he necessarily appreciates being here, un-Netherese Misted, and with a working mind to turn the decision over and over in his head. ]
Karlach ... what is there to fix? The issue has been solved, one way or another. The Sword Coast is safe.
[well, the thing about it is that she is not giving him a choice. she's not allowed to live, so he has to. and he doesn't get that now, he doesn't know it, but she's going to get him there, even if he kicks and screams the whole way.]
No. [she says, angrily.] We're not sacrificing you for the whole Sword Coast. I can't think of a single person who wants that. And no, she doesn't count. Her asking you to do that at all, with the fucking carrot --
You remember Mayrina, Gale? The girl the hag kidnapped.
[ does she think she is not going to live too? funny joke! funny joke. girl we literally have your heart and it will be forcibly shoved into your chest. ]
Yes, I remember Mayrina.
[ is he about to be compared to her because she was quite rude. ]
You remember how Ethel promised her she'd get her husband back, and the result was her husband's shambling corpse? That's what Mystra's offered you. You don't want to hear it, I know, but that's all it is. Forgiveness from a god is a shambling corpse. Technically, you got what you wanted, but it's all wrong and it hurts way worse.
[maybe she is comparing him a little to mayrina]
... I told you this. I swear I did. But I guess we're not the same Karlachs and Gales and Astarions.
Mayrina was an innocent seeking absolution from a cruel monster, and she had done nothing to deserve that treatment. I-- cannot pretend I am blameless. To accept no responsibility.
[ he looks very, very tired. ]
No, I don't believe we are. Strange, isn't it? To consider that we are the same, yet entirely separate. As if we are copies of the same book written in different hands.
[she uses his hand that she is still holding onto to punch himself in the tiddy. stop that.]
You don't deserve to die because you made one mistake. End of story.
[insistently. a pause.]
Anyway. None of that matters. Maybe you're not Gale from my book, but you're still Gale, and you're still part of our ragtag team of dipshits, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
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... Thanks. [she says, nudging him with her elbow.] I'm glad you're here. You and fangs both. I miss the others, but it's good to have people I care about with me, wherever the fuck we landed.
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While I admit I was rather surprised to see any of you, I agree it's good to have company for ... whatever this is. As ominous as it may be. I'd really much rather not be alone.
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Magic's still not back? And the tadpoles are scary quiet, but I don't feel... slimy.
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[ he sort of does a magic gesture like he has to prove somehow it's not back, but it might be more nervous fidgeting than anything. ]
I'd like to posit that perhaps time is stopped somewhere in this place. Thus, the process of Ceremorphosis is not progressing.
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That'd track. You think they're still up in there, though?
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That I don't know. One simply has to assume yes. It couldn't be that simple, could it?
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[ quickly, and with some conviction. And then he opens his mouth as if he's going to say something else. And then closes it? weird. ]
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at him]
Yeah? You got something to say? [you're not getting away with that]
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Only that I agree with you entirely ... ?
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[ lol. ]
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What's that mean?
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It means that I do not know what it means, Karlach. I am not currently so much fine Netherese mist, I still feel the orb within me, and neither of you seem to remember the same events as I.
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okay well her instinct is that she wants to punch him real bad. she doesn't! because he would in fact become netherese mist for real if she did, but she immediately does grab his wrist and... well, the best way to describe it is she flares up. there's little licks of flame in her hair, her chest glows real bright. she doesn't burn, and it won't hurt him, but she's uncomfortable to hold onto.]
What the fuck. That doesn't make any sense, you haven't done, as far as I remember! We're in the Gate, we just got done smearing Gortash across the floor and were on our way to Orin, yeah? You didn't.
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if it helps or hurts, he does shrink from this. he doesn't try and pull his hand back or anything, but he appears appropriately ashamed. he does look as if he's in pain, just a touch, but probably not from the wrist. ]
At the moment, I-- thought it was the right thing to do. It was the only way. I teleported you away.
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And nobody stopped you? We should've stopped you. [she is maybe a little teary.] Teleport be damned!
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Well, I'd hardly be a wizard worth my salt if I couldn't spellcast faster than someone can take a swing, could I? [ A JOKE TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD? it is not working. ] I don't-- As I said. I don't know why I'm here, intact and breathing.
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she doesn't, but - she looks Unhappy at the joke. it is not working!!]
... You're gonna stay that way. You've got so much to live for. You've got to take advantage of it, you can't just throw yourself away. Don't be fucking stupid.
[she brings her free hand up to rub at her eye, and then:]
Gale, I don't... [a beat. she hesitates. shakes her head.] Nevermind. Gods. We'll fix it.
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it's just that it's a much harder decision to sit with when you were already terrified of it. he isn't sure he necessarily appreciates being here, un-Netherese Misted, and with a working mind to turn the decision over and over in his head. ]
Karlach ... what is there to fix? The issue has been solved, one way or another. The Sword Coast is safe.
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No. [she says, angrily.] We're not sacrificing you for the whole Sword Coast. I can't think of a single person who wants that. And no, she doesn't count. Her asking you to do that at all, with the fucking carrot --
You remember Mayrina, Gale? The girl the hag kidnapped.
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Yes, I remember Mayrina.
[ is he about to be compared to her because she was quite rude. ]
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You remember how Ethel promised her she'd get her husband back, and the result was her husband's shambling corpse? That's what Mystra's offered you. You don't want to hear it, I know, but that's all it is. Forgiveness from a god is a shambling corpse. Technically, you got what you wanted, but it's all wrong and it hurts way worse.
[maybe she is comparing him a little to mayrina]
... I told you this. I swear I did. But I guess we're not the same Karlachs and Gales and Astarions.
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[ he looks very, very tired. ]
No, I don't believe we are. Strange, isn't it? To consider that we are the same, yet entirely separate. As if we are copies of the same book written in different hands.
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You don't deserve to die because you made one mistake. End of story.
[insistently. a pause.]
Anyway. None of that matters. Maybe you're not Gale from my book, but you're still Gale, and you're still part of our ragtag team of dipshits, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
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