#karlach says he's always had expensive tastes (or something like that)

[sankttealeaf]

biting the bullet and writing up the classic "we have to infiltrate this super fancy party to gain information about our enemies" fic for bg3 because we are lacking in that department.

i need my winter palace moment from dragon age inquisition. what do you mean we don't get a scene dancing with influential people and gaining dirt on everyone??

[whimsiandwild]

Come To Me: Part One

Pairing(s): Female!Durge x Gortash; Astarion x Wyll; Karlach x Shadowheart [mentioned]

Word count: 1202

Triggers: Some slightly gruesome Dark Urge thoughts from Tav but that's about it... so far.

A/N: It's Durge meeting Gortash for the first time; original I know. This is definitely going to be something I continue. Hopefully. Tagging a few moots who might wanna read.

@ixora111 @durgeteriormotives @feydstan

Tav had been pacing a hole in the dusty floor of their camp for the past hour, her companions bored of waiting.

“Darling, what’s the problem?” Astarion finally asked, gripping his friend’s shoulders to stop her in her tracks and force her to look at him. “The ceremony starts in less than a half hour.”

“I know,” she snapped, her brows furrowing in frustration as she let out a little huff. “I don’t know!”

“Very helpful,” he sighed with a roll of his eyes, taking her hand and leading her towards the city, the rest of their merry band following.

In truth, she really didn’t know what the problem was, but something was niggling at her, right at the back of her brain where her memories had deserted her. Ever since finding out that this Lord Gortash wanted them at his ceremony, she’d been antsy and on edge, filled with anticipation and almost a… a longing. It made her uncomfortable to say the least; she didn’t want to feel desperate to see someone she’d never met.

They passed through without issue once they eventually arrived at the fortress, Astarion and Wyll taking the lead on this one; the vampire always seemed to know when she was most anxious. Karlach was situated very much at the back of their little party, though the tiefling’s rage was palpable; this man would be lucky if he survived this with his head attached.

The closer they came to the dais at the front of the hall, she could clearly see Duke Ravengard, glassy eyed and unaware, and Astarion gripped the top of his partner’s arm as Wyll began to dart forward, the vampire giving a quick shake of his head before letting go; the Duke may be their mission, but there were too many witnesses right now to cause any kind of scene.

Beside the Duke, stood a tall man with dark hair and elaborate, expensively tailored clothes with his back to them, yet something stirred in Tav upon seeing him, something she couldn’t understand. And then he turned, catching her gaze, and she all but forgot how to breathe.

She watched the same recognition flicker across his face, except he was far more certain than she. He smiled as he approached them, the sight melting her insides to butter whilst simultaneously filling her with a hedonistic, terrifying desire to cut that grin into his face permanently.

Where had that come from? Yes, she’d had these strange urges ever since receiving the tadpole but never this strongly, and she was normally able to push them aside or to resist. There was something about this man… he was making her forget herself. Making her feral.

“If it isn’t my favourite assassin,” he purred as stopped before her, seemingly ignoring the rest of her little group. He did, eventually, glance at Karlach’s seething form and laugh wryly through his nose. “I must say, kitten, your taste in associates has truly deteriorated.”

“You fucking-!”

Karlach went to attack but was stopped by the tip of Tav’s dagger pressing threateningly against her throat, all three of her friends staring at her in disbelief as she stood in front of Gortash. Protecting him. Tav dropped the weapon like it had burned her. The man’s laugh bellowed around the hall as she rounded on him, her panic wild in her eyes.

“Still the obedient little attack mutt you always were,” Gortash smiled, stroking Tav’s cheek with his cold, metal fingers and causing her to jerk away.

“Who are you to me? Tell me!”

His face fell and he sighed, his hand dropping to his side as he shook his head.

“So, Orin wasn’t lying,” he frowned, gazing briefly to the floor. “Allow me to reintroduce myself. Lord Enver Gortash, soon to be Archduke of Baldur’s Gate,” He couldn’t stop himself flashing a treacherous smirk at Wyll before closing the distance between Tav and himself, bending down so his breath was hot against her ear and making her dizzy. “I’ve missed you, kitten.”

The silence that fell was unbearable as they made their way back to camp, Tav having to run to keep up with Karlach’s hasty pace.

“Karlach! Karlach, please! I’m so sorry!”

“You pulled a fucking knife on me,” she growled, the flames licking at her body threatening to engulf her, and Tav with it. “And you still don’t have a fucking answer as to why! You tried to protect him… what the fuck is going on with you, Tav?”

Before she could even attempt an answer, one she already knew she didn’t have, Karlach had stormed off, her hands balled into tight fists; Tav hoped Shadowheart would be able to calm the tiefling enough for Karlach not to accidentally damage something. Astarion threw Tav a pitying look as he and Wyll followed, neither of them really knowing what to say about the whole debacle.

Tav’s face fell and she let out a sigh of defeat as she reluctantly made her way, too, though not without sparing the fortress a final glance before she did.

Clutching the neck of the wine bottle, Tav took another hearty swig and stared into the fire flickering before her. Thing’s hadn’t gotten better after they’d returned; word spread fast around such a small camp; especially after she and Astarion had told the others of Gortash’s offer. They understood wanting to side with him until Orin was defeated, but why was Tav so convinced they should work with him? He was a monster who needed defeating; it was as simple as that.

Except, it wasn’t for Tav. She was no closer to understanding her connection to the man than she was before; she just knew she couldn’t let them kill him. Her mind wandered, visions of Gortash crying out as her dagger cut open his soft stomach, her eyes wild as she shoved a hand into the wound.

“Fuck!”

Shaking her head with a yell, she tossed the half finished bottle into the flames and put her head in her hands, gripping at her hair. What the fuck was going on? What was happening to her? Who the fuck was this man?!

A soft swoosh alerted her to a new presence and she was on her feet in an instant, the same dagger from her vivid vision clutched in her palm.

“Show yourself!”

A cloaked figure stepped forward, their hands held up to show they were no threat to Tav. Still, she didn’t let up her defensive stance. The stranger said nothing to her as he approached and lay a letter at her feet. Bowing, he was gone before she could register what had happened.

Her heart was racing, adrenaline not allowing her to let her guard down. Swallowing, she crouched, her weapon still held out in front of her, and she snatched up the letter. Flipping it, she saw it was sealed with wax, the insignia familiar to her. Taking a quick breath, she sheathed her dagger and opened the letter, curious.

Dearest Tav,

I know you have questions. Questions I am willing to answer.

Come to me, kitten.

I’ll be waiting.

Exhaling with a huff, her knees almost gave way. She couldn’t… could she?