#alright it's almost 3am as i'm finishing this time to zzz

[mercymaker]

it's a little past 2am so of course I'm going absolutely insane thinking of the wildest little concepts and stories

having @andauril mention the mal multiverse made me think about our many long conversations with @tadpole-apocalypse about parallel universes and all the AUs merging and ways different versions of characters from those worlds interacting with each other.

and now I can't stop thinking about the scenario where mal's astarion ends up landing in parallel world some time after above the vaulted sky. and one of his initial instincts is to find mal in that world. he deludes himself in saying that it's only for a moment. just to see her again. to hear her voice for a moment. if she even exists here.

and she does. although, this mal was never taken by the absolute. she never had the tadpole. she never met anyone from the party, instead remaining deep in the woods and only occasionally wandering outside of the forest out of necessity and curiosity.

this mal only looks like his mal. but she is not her. this is a'sherra's mal.

yet, in that moment, it doesn't matter to him. it's her! it's maleane. alive and breathing and feisty, yes, but she's far from a memory or a ghost or an illusion. she's so real, that in his panic to coax her to his side, to get close to her, astarion lies. and he knows just enough about mal's history to know how to pull at her strings. how to get her to listen, no matter how reluctantly.

the spawn tells her that there's a drow party in the area, looking for someone. he knows that she'd both fear it and also be tempted to seek vengeance. that she would need help. something he could offer.

and, although suspicious at first, mal senses that this strange man, this beautiful stranger, sees something in her. something that makes him sound a little frantic. a little desperate. something that could be used to her advantage.

and so, she decides to use him. for protection. for sacrifice. in case she needs to save herself.

and this reluctant alliance goes on. slowly shifts into something else. part of him realizes just how bad of an idea this is. what a dangerous game he's playing. but there's also that stupid hope lodged somewhere between his ribs like a shard of glass.

she's not his mal. she's not the same. but.. maybe she could be? they'd fallen in love once, under more dire circumstances. maybe they can do so again?

and maleane senses his thoughts, his feelings. she sees the hints of longing. the subtle cracks of heartbreak, streaked across his features. the way he looks at her. the way he wants to get close.

so she allows him, slowly, closer. not because she's reciprocating any of his feelings, but because she wants to lure him close to make him talk. fool him into believing she's slowly growing fond of him so he tells her everything.

and that's how they end up in her bed. he knows it's her first time and so, does everything to make it a pleasant experience for her, getting an opportunity to 'fix' what happened in their original timeline.

and through their many conversations and shared kisses, through what could only appear as bonding, maleane realizes that he lied to her. it's not an obvious 'in your face' confession, but just enough of a hint to sow doubt.

and where his maleane would pause and reassess the situation, allowing him to argue his case and for the truth to come out. this is not that mal. this is ashe's daughter.

and so, that very night, mal lures him into her bed, offering soft touches and kisses in return for his whispers. and once his attention slips for a moment, once he starts losing himself inside her... she jams a wooden stake deep into his chest, blood flooding their bed in an instant.

no, this is not his maleane. and his lies are not met with a confession of her own, like before. this woman is cold and calculated and without the capacity to truly trust anyone. it's a shame that he realized that way too late.