[ it's quite funny. especially when gale gets more flustered about it all.
Cute. ]
Unfortunately, I'm somewhat lacking in dating experience outside of picking up unfortunates in bars. Which, I will add, I don't expect you to find something bar adjacent and get picked up.
Just... date things. Publicly, most likely. [ he looks like he's thinking about it. ] Whatever you are and aren't comfortable with.
Oh, my. I don’t intend to sound that way, I only want to. Erm. Make sure you sure you achieve what it is you are attempting to achieve?
[ he gets slightly more flustered at the cute thought!!! ]
Well, you and I both in those circumstances, most of my dating life was with a goddess who did not often choose corporeal form on the Material Plane, and the rest— I am slightly out of practice. That’s all. We will have to rather figure that out as we go, then.
[ but the whole unfortunates thing does sort of remind him. ]
Is there anything you. Um. Are not comfortable with?
I think not over-thinking it might be the first step.
[ they're going to be in a loop if they're not careful because gale getting flustered is rather funny. ]
Colour me surprised that the goddess of magic itself didn't bother to take you out somewhere nice from time to time. [ well, they're on the same rusty level when it comes to dating then. that's either a good thing or a bad thing. ] Luckily for the two of us, we appear to be in the same area as some kind of carnival. That might not be a bad place to start and shake off the rust with.
[ ah. ]
Well I'm not asking you to go as far as to sleep with me, Gale. [ not something that could really be done publicly. ] But if it helps -- if I were uncomfortable with the idea of physical contact with you, I wouldn't have asked for you help.
[ he can probably hear gale’s thoughts start going do not overthink it do not overthink it and then go into a bunch of !!!!! at the comment about sleeping together. but honestly he just laughs, a little awkward but not horribly so. ]
Not something that can exactly be done publicly, or at least without a very different discussion. [ but alright. that actual follow up assurance makes him feel better. ] Then with that I suppose we are dating … ?
[ he really can just hear gale do the equivalent of a nervous dog scream from here, yeah. he can see the gears starting to smoke. ]
Yes, I would imagine that's something to be shelved. [ don't joke about exhibitionism in our good christian 12 kisses game. ]
If that's the case, then I'm demanding a look around this board walk. And maybe a discussion about something that doesn't involve stabbing yourself for stabilisation purposes?
[ look, he thinks it will be shockingly easy to do this, because dating astarion is probably not that different from being astarion's friend? leading him off down the boardwalk. ]
How about this: Would you rather go back and tell your past self one piece of advice, or ask your future self one question?
Hmm. I could easily do both — maybe tell past me to leave that bloody law well alone and not get myself on the slippery slope to vampirism? That might’ve been a exciting change in my life.
[ who would he even be? what a thought. ] And you? Any words of wisdom for Gale of the future, or the past? [ said a little dryly, given there’s one very obvious elephant in the room there. ]
If you want to challenge yourself: something other than “not getting yourself entangled with the Orb.”
No orb talk at all! [ he can do that challenge! in fact his thoughts even spark a little I am incredibly sick of thinking about the Orb. so there's that. ]
I would, ah, maybe ... [ no, not that one. rude to bring up past relationships on a date. he clears his throat. ] Go back and tell myself to take Rashemi instead of Calishite. I think I would have enjoyed the lectures more.
[ fair. the orb has been a constant for a quite a while now.
he’ll listen — but this is the one week that shifting topics isn’t as easy it might’ve usually been. ]
Gale, I can literally hear your thoughts right now. I’m not going to be offended if you want to bring up Mystra. [ on the contrary. give him the gossip. ]
[ he looks mildly uncomfortable that he can't exactly turn off his thoughts. it's something he's trained very hard to be able to protect himself from and now they are just. out there! but it's fine. ]
I would not have gotten involved with Mystra, had I the wisdom of my older self.
[ oh, it’s not as though astarion is enamoured with the idea of people getting to peak into his head but at this point he’s half becoming conditioned to the fact this place doesn’t want him to have his peace, privacy or comfort in the slightest.
he’s not sure how he feels about getting used to that. ]
… The unfortunate side effect of youth is we do a great many things we wish we could undo. If we’re lucky, we survive them and they become a nice little tale for when you’re around the campfire with the good wine.
Yes, well, I agree and I do very much hope one day we can all sit around and laugh at the mistakes of youth: being turned into a vampire and a very long, very bad relationship with a goddess.
[ this is terrible first (fake) date conversation, but Astarion is asking so. he will answer. ]
My entire life until that point had been nothing but the study of magic, its workings and its miracles. Before I could even walk, I was immersed in the Weave.
It was - and still is - the most beautiful thing I have ever known. Perhaps looking back upon it, it was always true that it was her creation I loved, though at that time it was difficult to separate her from the Weave itself. When I was in her presence, I could only think of that love. But what a mortal feels as love is not the same as what a god conceives of love, though as a very young man, I could not tell the difference.
[ they jumped from first (fake) date conversation to the things you talk about months to a year in. speed run. ]
…
I imagine a god wouldn’t understand an imbalance either, when they sit ahead of everyone else out there other than their own peers.
[ well, he’s made his thoughts on gods and mystra in particular clear enough more than enough times. but it makes sense that separating the goddess of magic herself from her own creation would be… difficult. especially for someone so starry eyed for the entire concept, weave and maker and all. ]
Still, it’s quite a thing to love something that much. The Weave, not her. I remember you talking about it not long after you joined up with us.
I am hardly the first young wizard to fall in with her, and I will hardly be the last.
[ just sayin' someone's got habits. anyway they have been hanging out for weeks? are they gonna go back to pretending they don't know all sorts of weird shit about each other. ]
I do. I have to admit, I find myself more than a little adrift without it here.
They’re not known for changing the habits of an immortal lifetime.
[ there’s only so many times he can go “have I mentioned lately I think the gods suck?” without getting a tired “yes astarion” in response. ]
Like being without a limb? [ he only has the small amounts of magic he knows just from being born elven and what’s afforded to him when he puts on a specific piece of equipment. ] I don’t have much reference to it, other than the little you showed me
[ leading him towards ... one of those booths where you throw the darts at balloons. all the potential in the world to lose an eye! astarion might like it? ]
They have these sorts of fairs all the time in Waterdeep - food stalls and carnival games and such, vendors hawking their wares, various substances to be imbibed.
[ we rewrite the week so they’re found dead on the boardwalk from carnival games on monday. ]
The closest I remember was one in Baldur’s Gate that… I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going to. Especially with someone from the Absolute in their ranks.
Seems as though the opportunity to eat too much and lose at overpriced games is a universal one. [ he is squinting at the booth now, checking out the targets and how difficult it would be to pop these balloons in the first place. ]
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[ it's quite funny. especially when gale gets more flustered about it all.
Cute. ]
Unfortunately, I'm somewhat lacking in dating experience outside of picking up unfortunates in bars. Which, I will add, I don't expect you to find something bar adjacent and get picked up.
Just... date things. Publicly, most likely. [ he looks like he's thinking about it. ] Whatever you are and aren't comfortable with.
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[ he gets slightly more flustered at the cute thought!!! ]
Well, you and I both in those circumstances, most of my dating life was with a goddess who did not often choose corporeal form on the Material Plane, and the rest— I am slightly out of practice. That’s all. We will have to rather figure that out as we go, then.
[ but the whole unfortunates thing does sort of remind him. ]
Is there anything you. Um. Are not comfortable with?
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[ they're going to be in a loop if they're not careful because gale getting flustered is rather funny. ]
Colour me surprised that the goddess of magic itself didn't bother to take you out somewhere nice from time to time. [ well, they're on the same rusty level when it comes to dating then. that's either a good thing or a bad thing. ] Luckily for the two of us, we appear to be in the same area as some kind of carnival. That might not be a bad place to start and shake off the rust with.
[ ah. ]
Well I'm not asking you to go as far as to sleep with me, Gale. [ not something that could really be done publicly. ] But if it helps -- if I were uncomfortable with the idea of physical contact with you, I wouldn't have asked for you help.
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Not something that can exactly be done publicly, or at least without a very different discussion. [ but alright. that actual follow up assurance makes him feel better. ] Then with that I suppose we are dating … ?
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Yes, I would imagine that's something to be shelved. [ don't joke about exhibitionism in our good christian 12 kisses game. ]
If that's the case, then I'm demanding a look around this board walk. And maybe a discussion about something that doesn't involve stabbing yourself for stabilisation purposes?
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Fair enough! It’s not great romantic conversation.
[ offering an arm? gentlemanly :) ]
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[ romance. the big mystery.
still, good start. he will tuck his arm around gale's. ]
But it's as good a start to a conversation as any. [ IS IT THOUGH. ]
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How about this: Would you rather go back and tell your past self one piece of advice, or ask your future self one question?
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oh. that’s a question. ]
Hmm. I could easily do both — maybe tell past me to leave that bloody law well alone and not get myself on the slippery slope to vampirism? That might’ve been a exciting change in my life.
[ who would he even be? what a thought. ] And you? Any words of wisdom for Gale of the future, or the past? [ said a little dryly, given there’s one very obvious elephant in the room there. ]
If you want to challenge yourself: something other than “not getting yourself entangled with the Orb.”
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No orb talk at all! [ he can do that challenge! in fact his thoughts even spark a little I am incredibly sick of thinking about the Orb. so there's that. ]
I would, ah, maybe ... [ no, not that one. rude to bring up past relationships on a date. he clears his throat. ] Go back and tell myself to take Rashemi instead of Calishite. I think I would have enjoyed the lectures more.
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he’ll listen — but this is the one week that shifting topics isn’t as easy it might’ve usually been. ]
Gale, I can literally hear your thoughts right now. I’m not going to be offended if you want to bring up Mystra. [ on the contrary. give him the gossip. ]
But— Rashemi? Languages?
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I would not have gotten involved with Mystra, had I the wisdom of my older self.
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he’s not sure how he feels about getting used to that. ]
… The unfortunate side effect of youth is we do a great many things we wish we could undo. If we’re lucky, we survive them and they become a nice little tale for when you’re around the campfire with the good wine.
[ if not? well. usually you’re dead. ]
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Yes, well, I agree and I do very much hope one day we can all sit around and laugh at the mistakes of youth: being turned into a vampire and a very long, very bad relationship with a goddess.
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[ some are more quirky than others. ]
...
[ ... ]
Why did you go along with it? Simply just the... awe of it all?
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My entire life until that point had been nothing but the study of magic, its workings and its miracles. Before I could even walk, I was immersed in the Weave.
It was - and still is - the most beautiful thing I have ever known. Perhaps looking back upon it, it was always true that it was her creation I loved, though at that time it was difficult to separate her from the Weave itself. When I was in her presence, I could only think of that love. But what a mortal feels as love is not the same as what a god conceives of love, though as a very young man, I could not tell the difference.
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…
I imagine a god wouldn’t understand an imbalance either, when they sit ahead of everyone else out there other than their own peers.
[ well, he’s made his thoughts on gods and mystra in particular clear enough more than enough times. but it makes sense that separating the goddess of magic herself from her own creation would be… difficult. especially for someone so starry eyed for the entire concept, weave and maker and all. ]
Still, it’s quite a thing to love something that much. The Weave, not her. I remember you talking about it not long after you joined up with us.
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[ just sayin' someone's got habits. anyway they have been hanging out for weeks? are they gonna go back to pretending they don't know all sorts of weird shit about each other. ]
I do. I have to admit, I find myself more than a little adrift without it here.
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[ there’s only so many times he can go “have I mentioned lately I think the gods suck?” without getting a tired “yes astarion” in response. ]
Like being without a limb? [ he only has the small amounts of magic he knows just from being born elven and what’s afforded to him when he puts on a specific piece of equipment. ] I don’t have much reference to it, other than the little you showed me
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A missing limb is an obstacle one can overcome - with magic. [ lol ] I would be more than happy to show you more when possible!
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… Hmm. I wouldn’t mind. You were certainly a good teacher.
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I know.
Now, do you know how to play any of these games?
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What a surprise.
[ MISTER SMUG SMUGFACE. ]
Hmmm. Something with aim would probably do. Popping or hitting something from a distance?
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They have these sorts of fairs all the time in Waterdeep - food stalls and carnival games and such, vendors hawking their wares, various substances to be imbibed.
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The closest I remember was one in Baldur’s Gate that… I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going to. Especially with someone from the Absolute in their ranks.
Seems as though the opportunity to eat too much and lose at overpriced games is a universal one. [ he is squinting at the booth now, checking out the targets and how difficult it would be to pop these balloons in the first place. ]
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