#and decided not quite three months later that we'd definitely like to get married

[writingforaliens]

I have been summoned!

Lily Taverel, better known during her Blackstaff days as "Tav", met Gale roughly 15 years before the events of BG3, when the two were the equivalent of grad students. Quiet and shy at first, Lily found her first real friend in her academic rival and officemate, and, over time, she revealed to Gale many, if not all, of her secrets: her loneliness, her neglectful, abusive parents, her pain and fear of being last. She even showed him her true self: Lilyseah Mithrellas, a half-elf who kept her features carefully obscured by an enchantment. And like most autistic nerds, they overthought their relationship constantly, leaving a lot of feelings unconfessed. When they finished their studies, Lily left for her "post-doc". Though they wrote each other often, and even visited each other with regularity, they continued to rationalize themselves out of any confessions or actions. Perhaps it was fear of the way they were just so made for each other, that nothing could be that perfect, that kept them apart, perhaps it was their inability to read people, perhaps it was the fear of driving away the best thing they'd ever known.

Around four years before BG3, Gale's letters stopped being addressed to "Lily" in favor of "Tav" before ceasing entirely over the course of the next year. Despite pleading to know what she did wrong and apologies for whatever it was, she never heard back. So, for the next three years, she tried over and over and over again to stop loving him, to little success.

She locked those feelings deep, deep in her chest, hoping they would someday shrink enough to be bearable.

When she helps Shadowheart pull a person from the half-functioning portal, the last one she expects to see is Gale Dekarios, the man that both she and his mother believed dead in some godsforsaken corner of the realm. The very same man that she'd been attempting to find on his mother's behalf.

And she's pissed.

Lily's already had a trying day, and he simply walks back into her life like her heart hasn't been shattered and now stomped on. Like he doesn't owe her an explanation. But, truth be told, despite her every wish to stay angry because he should deserve it, because he should beg her forgiveness, she can't stay that angry at him for long, not when they can still predict each other's movements and thoughts. Not when he still makes her laugh. Not when he comes to her and asks if she has any enchanted items.

And especially not when he finally apologizes and explains everything to her right after.

It's a fast, easy tumble from there to where they were years ago, an even easier tumble from there to quiet confessions on the cold floor of a Sharran temple, and, despite a small breakdown when Lily is forced to confront some more of her traumas, easier yet to a proposal and a pledge to each other not a day after the death of Ketheric Thorm.

They are legally married by the magistrate of some tiny town between Reithwin and Baldur’s Gate, at the last possible minute before the office closes--much to the frustration of said magistrate--with Tara being their only witness.

It takes some convincing, but Lily eventually agrees to a celebration in Waterdeep, and Gale gets to show off his wife, the one that almost everyone expected was coming at some point and no one is actually surprised by.

A Tav who knew Gale before. A Tav who might have loved him before. Before Mystra, before the orb, before his whole world came crashing down. They know him to be precise, logical, unrivalled in his craft. Then he disappeared. But who was Tav? They might have been a colleague, that sense of satisfaction they felt after his downfall suddenly vanishing as they really look at him for the first time. An old “friend” – they got drunk together down at the Yawning Portal once, counts as a friend, right? Did something else happen? Really, they don’t remember much at all, but the way they tiptoe around each other may be enough of an answer. A former lover, cast aside over his need to please a Goddess, finding themselves face to face with him again after years, unable to deny that same old spark. Doesn’t matter – whoever Tav was, whoever they are now – Gale certainly isn’t the same. How strange it must have been for both of them to have such different views of each other compared to their other companions, who only know this version of them. So imagine Tavs reluctance when they start feeling those butterflies. Imagine Gale, who will never be the same again – who is terrified because he will never be the same again – so desperate to give Tav a glimpse of his former glory, only for them to love him the way he is.

[onlyyyariii]

The Interview

Part 1

"Let's all give a warm welcome to Ms. Liana Summers!" Jimmy says announcing me as I make my way into the stage.

I wave and smile at the audience before taking my seat.

"Boy do we have a lot to talk about!"

I smile and nod, "Thank you for inviting me. I love your show."

"Well most people do," he laughs and I let out a small giggle, "lets start with the movie you just finished up. What was it again?"

"Oh, it was a movie called Unrequited Love. I played opposite KJ Apa. He was my characters love interest."

"Remind us what the movie was about."

"Of course, so my character her name is Daisy Smith and she's loved this boy James Porter for as long as she can remember. They're friends, super close friends but she's definitely in the friendzone. Having such strong feelings for one of her best friends puts her in a place of constant stress and jealousy. She'd never tell him how she felt because she didn't want to lose him completely. The day after James tell her," I pause looking at the audience, "about something, she starts feeling sick. Soon enough she's coughing out flower petals and feeling the effects of Hanahaki disease. Of course her parents get worried and take her to the hospital where they learn of the disease. The rest you guys are going to have to wait for."

"That sounds like such a fun role to play."

"For me it was! I love acting and when I got the call that the casting director thought I would be great for the part of course I went in and auditioned but I got cast for the part about 3 days after I auditioned. Apparently I was just what they were looking for. Then I fangirled over KJ for a little bit before actually meeting him and getting to know him. It took us three months to film the movie. KJ and I have gotten close. We FaceTime a lot and I know he's watching this so," I turn to look into the camera, "I'm watching you K man." I giggle and turn back towards Jimmy.

"You two seem very close."

"Yeah we are, it's nice to have a boy best friend again, ya know?"

"While we're on the subject, do you miss your old best friend, Grayson Dolan? A lot of people say that things got tense between you two after you and Ethan broke up."

I had to laugh, that's the only way to keep my emotions inside. That's the only way to keep myself from full out sobbing on live tv.

"Sometimes I miss them. We grew up together and they were always there for me. The thing about Ethan and I's relationship is complicated. When the three of us got popular on Vine and then YouTube, I was always shipped with them. Like the fans would want me to date Ethan or get married to Grayson. For being such close friends it didn't matter to us, we often made jokes about it. Little did anyone know Ethan and I had been dating since we were 17. I was open with the fans about the fact that I had a boyfriend. I never let them know who it was, just that he and I were together. After about three years of dating Ethan told the world that he had a girlfriend. A few months later we announced we were together. At this point we'd been together for almost four years."

"Wow that's a very long time to be dating someone. Especially when you're so young."

"Exactly. Everyone wanted us to be together until we actually came out and said we were together. At this point we were almost 21. On two previous occasions Ethan had asked me to marry him, only to take it back after a month of me wearing the ring. The second time he asked I said yes because I loved him. I truly did love him but I told him how much I wanted to marry him and have kids with him and he freaked out. I wanted kids young, I didn't want to have my first child at like 28. After he freaked out I told him we couldn't be together anymore. Not only did I compromise with him but I also pushed back what I wanted for the sake of our relationship. I couldn't keep hurting myself anymore. After we announced our break up everyone started shipping Grayson and I again. It made me think that I must've chosen the wrong twin. If I was with Grayson, we would've gotten married the first time he asked and I'd probably of had a baby by then."

"We've all heard about Grayson Dolan and his baby fever that he's had for a long time now. Do you ever see yourself getting together with him or?"

"No, I dated his twin brother. It would be too awkward. Um, after getting out of a long, serious relationship you need a break from love. A break from other people to maybe focus on yourself and see how you've grown. You need to teach yourself how to be independent again. That's exactly what I told myself I was doing when I packed up my stuff and left their house. I moved all the way to Paris. I lived there for about two years before coming back to the states."

"Had you spoken to Ethan or Grayson during those two years?"

"Grayson had messaged me quite a few times but I hadn't spoken to Ethan. I decided to pay them a visit when I moved back to LA. When I found out that Ethan was already married to another girl and she was pregnant..." I shake my head, the tears that had collected in my eyes finally falling, "I broke down. Grayson explained to me that a few days after I left Ethan had met up with Kristina Alice, who we'd know for about four years, and they hit it off and started dating. It was gut-wrenching. I had always thought he was my soulmate and to come home and find him married with a child on the way, it really hurt me. I decided to lose contact with both of the boys after that. I blocked them on social media and everything. Cut ties with their family, after I did that I realized that for the first time in my life... I was completely alone."

"How did you manage? What did you do to fix yourself?"

"I got really into my job and looking for acting opportunities. I bought myself a house and a dog. I went partying with Tana Mongeau. I really wrecked myself. Until one day I decided to get over it. Now I'm here. Happier than ever."

"Well we're all very proud of how far you've come and how you tackled your obstacles to come out the other side a better, healthier woman."

"Thank you Jimmy, I really appreciate that."

"Of course," he turns towards the camera, "stay tuned because after this we get to play some games with Liana and talk about her upcoming book, How to Love Me. Right after this break."

The camera pans towards me as I smile and wave. I do have a new boyfriend but... they don't need to know that yet.

*********

Tag list: @fangdolan @luxplsr @333dolans @blindedbythelightt @rhyrhy462