#{ ✨ failed attempts to fly }; gale threads

[karsussfolly]

@bloodyarn sent: "Bend over." 🥰 from here

The laugh that rings through the air is giddy, full of amusement. It's such a forward request it easily catches him off-guard; Babette is only ever forward in the most charming of ways. Still, he raises an eyebrow at the hexblood, eyeing her curiously.

"And what exactly do you have in your arsenal that you think you can effectively use on me once I've done so? I think our height difference might make your labors a bit fruitless, my dear."

[karsussfolly]

from @sleetkissed       Life held many mysteries, more than ever with that worm in their heads.     The meaning of life, the future nobody could really tell  &  why oh why she decided to drag this wizard along. They were in no need for a caster   —   She herself filled that spot perfectly. Gale appeared to make himself look clever, cheeky with all his smart comments, almost bragging about being such an important figure back in Waterdeep. All very laughable, from Esteri's perspective. While her memories been swiped, there was an undeniable force that just told her how much of an influential being she was. Only in time would the sorceress have to find out what all that was about.      ❝ Wizard, have you made yourself useful  &  found more information about that tadpole   ? ❞     Voice held a cold tone, as usual, addressing him by his occupation, rather than his name. The group was about to reach the Goblin Camp while more often than anticipated bumping into people mentioning some Absolute. For someone so in love with books, it would be pathetic if Gale wasn't able to gather hints about said topic.

That sorcerer had an incessant tendency to refer to him in the most grating way possible. Under normal circumstances, Gale would find some sort of pride in being a wizard, especially in comparison to casters such as herself. That being said, he was a former archmage, and more importantly, he had a name that Esteri well knew and merely chose not to use whenever it inconvenienced her—which seemed to be always.

He snorted at her at the question. "I believe I know a great deal more about them than you do. Remind me again, how did you come to find out about the harsh truths of ceremorphosis? Ah, no need, actually, I was there."

The words were unusually cutting for him, but he wasn't beyond admitting he was tired of Esteri's constant needling and derived some sort of satisfaction from jabbing back at her, even if it was an unfair play given the state of the woman's memory. "Whether I've discovered anything more, well. It seems they might be under the influence of this... 'Absolute,' but ours have yet to force us to bow to the same command. I assume you've observed this as well, unless you've been too busy mucking around with those silly little things you call spells? I've yet to puzzle out the connection beyond that, I haven't the means to study them while they're still squirming around in our skulls."

[karsussfolly]

@bloodyarn sent: [ SOFT ] uvu [ 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 ] ― sender wraps a soft blanket around receiver’s shoulders (from here)

He's been staring into the fire for gods knows how long—at least since he finished cleaning up after supper—watching the way the flames flicker and curl in a way he didn't know could feel so... mundane. Even as the kindling crackles and sparks, there's a yearning in his chest for the way he could once change its color with ease, shape it into magnificent fantasies and amuse an audience with a tale woven in fire.

And, all things considered, with what they've been through, most simple things feel mundane. Beneath the longing for what once was, there's also a semblance of peace to be found in these moments, one that never lasts quite long enough.

Reconciling the desire for more with the tired wanting for less is a complex feeling.

He blinks a bit blearily, looking down at his shoulders as a woolen blanket is draped over them. The fire has died down, just a low light now, and everyone is settling in to rest. Glancing up, he finds it's Babette who has carefully placed the blanket around him, and a soft, affected noise escapes his throat before he can stop it. It's a shockingly sweet sentiment, one he doesn't quite know how to appropriately respond to without making a fool of himself.

"Thank you," he finally gets out, corners of his mouth twitching upwards. "I gather I was a bit lost in my thoughts. Hope I haven't missed anything exciting."

[karsussfolly]

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