inklongdry | reverie ✶ inbox

[ her tail gives a curious little flicker ] Is this so? Fascinating... So you gave yourself name of Arthur, as this felt right to you. What if one such viera feels their identity changes once more, later in life?

It felt right yes, and my step-family is hyuran — what you would call human. I took my stepfather's surname, and chose a given name to match.

As to your question... well, I suppose they simply change their name again. We're a long lived people, and no one stays the same forever.

Hm. [ no one stays the same forever. ] I like you that you are now. I will like you that you will be in fifty years.

[ Fifty years is such a painfully short time in the lifespan of a viera, but this doesn't seem to be the time or place to bring it up. ]

And I, you, my sweet sky.

[ and fifty years is about as far ahead as she can look at all. tieflings live longer than humans, but not by enough for it to make a difference on the scale Arthur means.

she hunches forward and wraps her arms around him from behind, tightly ]

I will make sure I am still around to see it.

[ Again, he angles his head to try and get a look at her. His own hands come to rest on her arms. ]

You had better be.

[ not possible! not with her face pressed into his neck ]

Some things are worth their effort.

[ Ah, well. He reaches up to toy with her hair. ]

Sprezzatura... 'tis my hope that when we're free of this place, I might still be able to see you. Somehow. Someway.

[ the sentiment is warm, but "when this is over" is such a raw, frayed edge that she all but stops breathing for a moment. it's coming. like waking from a dream. the horror and the love both worlds away.

when she next takes breath, it's heavy. ]

I will find you again. Believe that.

[ He feels the way she stills against him, and his hand over her arm gives a squeeze. He knows. Oh, does he know. ]

I do believe it. And don't think for a moment that I won't be looking for you in turn.

You don't get to live without me again. Alright? Only for little while.

Only for a little while.

[ He gives a little hum. ]

There are many things I wish to show you. Places I would love for you to see.

[ she has things she has to do at home. now she has to survive them, too. that was always the plan, but now there are people who will know if she fails to deliver.

she slowly straightens up, only to press her cheek against the hair at the back of his head ]

Tell me...

The libraries, Sprezzatura. The things I could show you... rows and rows of books, shelves lining the walls, stacked stories upon stories high. You could spend your life within those walls and not come close to cracking open every tome.

Oh... I would love that. [ her sigh is wistful, achy ] I always meant to visit Candlekeep. It is like what you describe.

Is it? Well, then mayhap we can see it, too.

[ "we"... she heaves another heavy sigh, kisses his crown ]

I have been disallowed to most libraries on Sword Coast. But it will not be forever.

[ she'll do whatever it takes. ]

Ah. In that case, I hope to see the day they reopen their doors to you.

[ A considering little pause. ]

Gubal's doors are not technically open to anyone anymore, but that hasn't stopped me in the past.

[ What's a little breaking and entering when there are books involved? ]

And you can get away with this? How?

I get away with it by not getting caught. I'm not the first adventurer to have broken into the place. I doubt I'll be the last.

[ she lets out a laugh which ruffles his hair, then straightens at last and lowers her hands to his shoulders. ]

I do not believe you would find Candlekeep so easy.

Mm. [ Leans into her touch. ] And why is that?

Because it is library-fortress and protected absolutely. Its rules and wards are countless... And it is guarded by armed monks, and you must have written permission to enter its Inner Ward, and you may only remain for tenday at one time. There is even great mythal, which is ... hm. Imagine persistent magical field, so incandescently powerful it permanently alters Weave and how it functions.

[ and so, of course, she is so hungry to see it herself. ]

I do not think even you could break in unnoticed.

By the Twelve. I'm no master thief by a wide, wide margin. Something like that is well beyond my skill.

[ A beat. ]

But gods, if I'm not intrigued.

One day I will see it with my own eyes.

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