Lady Alia, I thought you might like to know the remembrance pool has survived the flames, if not the smoke. I doubt I can take credit for its protection, but I’m glad for it all the same, and I’ve temporarily rehoused the vials for safekeeping.
I’ll sort the ash with a spot of spellwork, as soon as I’m able.
To me, the Weave is all magic and, indeed, all creation. One needn’t be a wizard, or even a hedge mage, to sense it, though few can distinguish the gossamer threads which surround us, let alone pluck them to sound the loveliest chords.
But I AM honest, and I see what is there in truth. If all creation is gossamer threads, then some must needs be spidersilk and others glorious tapestry.
I believe I know which you are. I can feel it, just here
[and there's a little tug, a strumming of careful fingers around where gale sits or stands or lounges across the manor, delicate as a harpist.]
[ in answer to that tug, he reaches back, touch gentle through the fabric of reality that separates them. it's easy enough to hone in on alia's unique signature: a solar flare in the expanse of space. how wonderful, to meet another incorporeally after months spent grounded on this plane. ]
You surprise and delight at every turn, Alia. I'll not allow you to deny that.
[ with her abilities, her tender incisiveness. what part of a lowly wizard could possibly seem a glorious tapestry to one near godhood? ]
[it sends a little shiver of delight through alia's very soul, to connect to another this way. her heart is a careful, wounded thing, the flare of her spirit somewhat dimmed these days -- but it rises to meet gale with all the bright vigor of a newly-born star, dancing around him, shedding stardust and sand and spice.]
You have found me reduced, I fear. These summer days are not so sweet as the ones when I arrived. I hope I do not disappoint.
Just this afternoon? I may be greedy and beg it again and again.
[ he laughs aloud, joy made manifest. it’s been a difficult time for him, too, with his powers stripped from him repeatedly — the worst case scenario, he thought, until his memories and astarion both were taken in june.
he’s witnessed her darkened spirit, to be sure, with less time spent at the shop (less time spent giggling and amusing herself than when they first became close). ]
We’re all reduced sometimes, Lady Alia. I myself lack the capacity I once had for feats that would surprise even your Muad'Dib.
But I’m capable of entertaining you at your leisure, for the most part. I could even conjure your Arrakis for you, if you wish it.
[though she's across the campsite, bundled into her blankets in the tent she shares with ash, alia feels she can nearly hear his laughter -- a bright, bold thing, a flash of morning sun across a grey sky. it makes her smile again, twice in one day -- such a concept.]
Once held can be held again, if you would wish it. If you possess determination, I cannot imagine any would stop you, Gale. Do you wish to be as you were?
Could you? I would like to show you it. The palace, the sietch, the sands. Shai-hulud. You must promise not to fear, though. Fear is the mind-killer.
[ alia invokes the question that plagues him near nightly do you wish to be as you were? do you wish to be more? he thinks, perhaps, that she would advise him against ascension, with how she warmed when they played at normality. then again, he isn’t sure she would wish to be unexceptional if given a choice. ]
Perhaps a touch less egotistical.
[ Anyway — ]
If you share it with me first, I can make it for you. And I’ve a remarkable ability to be curious when I ought to be fearful, besides.
[there is a pause before the answer, a pause that could speak of nearly anything -- alia lets it pass, though, gently bemused by how gale chooses to respond, the gentle and glib and self-deprecating way. he has a courtly air, and not solely in a jesterly way -- he deflects, he obfuscates, he veils. she admires that.]
I could share with you now, but I would like to watch your face as you feel and see and smell Arrakis. I will not allow anything fearful to touch you, do not fret. It is my home, therefore it's teeth shall be gentle and it's embrace soft, when I show it to my friends.
[ The way she describes it — wild and utterly alive — reminds him of Faerûn’s coast. Whole Gale himself had a tame upbringing, he misses the adventures of the road — and the challenges of being Chosen. ]
Then I shall wait to visit at your side and experience your home as you know it best. An honour in true!
I imagine we’ll have the remains of the remembrance pool to ourselves, for the effort.
[homesickness, longing, nostalgia -- it feels like waves crashing, in gale, like saltsprayed air, like caladan. alia thinks of leto, imagines careful hands and broad shoulders and a tender heart.]
A remembrance at the remembrance pool. I think it will be happy to play host for us. Perhaps it will be reminded of it's kin on Arrakis, if I show it what it's cousins did for the Fremen, all these eons.
Those are the people of Arrakis, the trueborn nation. Myself and Paul are of Caladan and House Atreides, foster children of Dune. I could not show you Caladan from my own mind, though - I never left the planet.
Worlds within worlds. I am grateful for all I can learn of them — and you, daughter of Dune.
[ foster child or otherwise, she has no home but Arrakis — but Paul, who has forsaken her. ]
I can show you my tower in Waterdeep, the bustling streets of Baldur’s Gate, even the bioluminescent wonder of the Underdark. Then you’ll have left your planet thrice over.
[in the singing touch of mind against mind, alia's presence grows warm, affectionate, arms slung gracelessly and fond around gale's neck, cheek pillowed on his shoulder.]
All of it. I want to see it all, please.
[destined princess, spoiled duke's daughter, alia does not mind her manners most times, but -- for gale she will.]
Show me all your best beloved places, and I shall show you mine.
[ his arm wraps around her waist in turn, knuckles running up and down her sides. affectionate and easy. he thinks, maybe, this is what it would have been like if he had a sister — if he hadn’t been so lonely throughout his childhood, with only a goddess' whispers for company. ]
You have a deal, my dear. And we’ve a wonderful afternoon ahead of us.
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✉️ — @waterdeep
I thought you might like to know the remembrance pool has survived the flames, if not the smoke. I doubt I can take credit for its protection, but I’m glad for it all the same, and I’ve temporarily rehoused the vials for safekeeping.
I’ll sort the ash with a spot of spellwork, as soon as I’m able.
[ spell slots amiright ]
no subject
Thank you, Gale of Waterdeep. Your kindness does you more credit than you know.
I should like to see your spellwork, if you'd permit it. Even if it were just a spot.
no subject
Of course.
I do wonder if you’ll experience the way the Weave shifts around us, with your abilities. What an an exciting thing to consider.
no subject
What a lovely term for your power. Or does it refer to the greater threads of power that bind us all?
Either way, I'm sure I'll find any display you offer magnificent.
no subject
That’s most kind of you to say, Alia.
To me, the Weave is all magic and, indeed, all creation. One needn’t be a wizard, or even a hedge mage, to sense it, though few can distinguish the gossamer threads which surround us, let alone pluck them to sound the loveliest chords.
no subject
But I AM honest, and I see what is there in truth. If all creation is gossamer threads, then some must needs be spidersilk and others glorious tapestry.
I believe I know which you are. I can feel it, just here
[and there's a little tug, a strumming of careful fingers around where gale sits or stands or lounges across the manor, delicate as a harpist.]
Tapestry. Just so.
no subject
[ in answer to that tug, he reaches back, touch gentle through the fabric of reality that separates them. it's easy enough to hone in on alia's unique signature: a solar flare in the expanse of space. how wonderful, to meet another incorporeally after months spent grounded on this plane. ]
You surprise and delight at every turn, Alia. I'll not allow you to deny that.
[ with her abilities, her tender incisiveness. what part of a lowly wizard could possibly seem a glorious tapestry to one near godhood? ]
Shall I play your magician this afternoon?
no subject
You have found me reduced, I fear.
These summer days are not so sweet as the ones when I arrived.
I hope I do not disappoint.
Just this afternoon?
I may be greedy and beg it again and again.
no subject
he’s witnessed her darkened spirit, to be sure, with less time spent at the shop (less time spent giggling and amusing herself than when they first became close). ]
We’re all reduced sometimes, Lady Alia.
I myself lack the capacity I once had for feats that would surprise even your Muad'Dib.
But I’m capable of entertaining you at your leisure, for the most part. I could even conjure your Arrakis for you, if you wish it.
no subject
Once held can be held again, if you would wish it.
If you possess determination, I cannot imagine any would stop you, Gale. Do you wish to be as you were?
Could you? I would like to show you it. The palace, the sietch, the sands. Shai-hulud.
You must promise not to fear, though. Fear is the mind-killer.
no subject
Perhaps a touch less egotistical.
[ Anyway — ]
If you share it with me first, I can make it for you.
And I’ve a remarkable ability to be curious when I ought to be fearful, besides.
no subject
I could share with you now, but I would like to watch your face as you feel and see and smell Arrakis.
I will not allow anything fearful to touch you, do not fret. It is my home, therefore it's teeth shall be gentle and it's embrace soft, when I show it to my friends.
no subject
Then I shall wait to visit at your side and experience your home as you know it best. An honour in true!
I imagine we’ll have the remains of the remembrance pool to ourselves, for the effort.
no subject
A remembrance at the remembrance pool. I think it will be happy to play host for us. Perhaps it will be reminded of it's kin on Arrakis, if I show it what it's cousins did for the Fremen, all these eons.
Those are the people of Arrakis, the trueborn nation. Myself and Paul are of Caladan and House Atreides, foster children of Dune. I could not show you Caladan from my own mind, though - I never left the planet.
no subject
[ foster child or otherwise, she has no home but Arrakis — but Paul, who has forsaken her. ]
I can show you my tower in Waterdeep, the bustling streets of Baldur’s Gate, even the bioluminescent wonder of the Underdark. Then you’ll have left your planet thrice over.
no subject
All of it. I want to see it all, please.
[destined princess, spoiled duke's daughter, alia does not mind her manners most times, but -- for gale she will.]
Show me all your best beloved places, and I shall show you mine.
no subject
You have a deal, my dear.
And we’ve a wonderful afternoon ahead of us.