Work Text:
‘Free books.’
A perfectly vague title that Gale knew, from experience, likely meant a mess of trashy romance novels and mass market paperbacks. It did make his heart ache, just a touch; they deserved to be read and loved and treasured, not thrown out as if they were worthless. Despite knowing that these likely weren’t going to fit with his carefully curated collection, he clicked on the listing anyway… just out of curiosity.
The image that loaded in surprised him. Rather than a couple dozen books laid out on the carpet, as he was used to on Craigslist, the books were still neatly organized and shelved on an elegant, old bookcase. There were half a dozen shelves, though Gale could see two equally-packed bookcases on either side of the one photographed; it almost reminded him of his own library. He glanced at the location on the listing, and wasn’t surprised to see that it was in the Upper City.
He raised a brow, suddenly intrigued. Clearly whoever owned these books cared for them, though whoever was trying to get rid of them hadn’t even bothered to make sure that the names of the books were legible in the photo. Still, Gale zoomed in on the slightly-grainy cell phone photo as much as he could, scanning the titles to see if there was anything to justify the drive up there.
They were mostly medical texts, Gale quickly noticed. A few obscure reference books were thrown in the mix, a handful of history books, even law books. They looked old , but seemed to be in exceptional condition. Gale sighed, almost wistfully; it was a lovely collection, but nothing that would justify both the drive and the inevitable chaos of having to sort them into his own library.
That was until an unmarked tome caught his eye. It seemed to be bound in pale leather, and although the spine was adorned with some beautifully intricate designs, there was no title or author listed, no way of discerning what this tome actually contained… for the average person. Gale, however, gasped when he realized what it was.
He’d never seen it in person, only an old photograph or two. The Necromancy of Thay . It was, supposedly, an account of the practice of necromancy in the ancient nation of Thay. A book hundreds of years old, and there it was, sitting on a shelf in a grainy cell phone photo, on a free Craigslist listing . It couldn’t be. It simply couldn’t. That would be… impossible.
Gale simply gaped at the screen, equal parts horror and fascination and panic. If it was the Necromancy of Thay- which was unlikely, considering its rarity, Gale reasoned- he couldn’t just sit by and let it end up in the hands of somebody who didn’t value its historical significance. Before he could second guess himself, he was shooting off a text to the number listed on the post.
‘Good afternoon! I saw your collection of books listed on Craigslist. Would they happen to still be available? ’
Gale anxiously tapped his foot, awaiting a response. To his relief, three dots appeared only moments later, before a text came through.
‘yes. first come, first serve only.’
Gale’s heart leapt.
‘Fantastic! I could be there in 20 minutes, if that would be acceptable! ’
In response, Gale simply received a map pin; an old manor in the Upper City. He responded with a simple ‘Thank you! Be there soon! :-) ’, which went unacknowledged. He quickly got to his feet, quickly throwing on his blazer and grabbing his keys.
“Tara! I need to make a quick trip to the Upper City. I saw a Craigslist listing that I need to check out,” he explained to a dozing calico tressym. “I shouldn’t be gone long!”
He received a disinterested “mrrp” in response. He couldn’t help but stop and smile lovingly at his beloved companion, before hurrying out to his car and beginning his trip.
The drive was blissfully uneventful. Unfortunately, that gave him time to panic. What were the odds that he would find the Necromancy of Thay like this? How is such a thing even possible? It couldn’t be the real thing. It simply couldn’t, he told himself. No, the more likely scenario is that it’s a fake, a dummy meant to lure poor, unsuspecting academics like himself into a stranger's home to be robbed and/or murdered. Yes, Gale thought to himself, that is far more likely.
But if it was real…
Gale shook his head. He couldn’t get his hopes up. It was too absurd a prospect.
Two minutes ahead of schedule, he pulled into the driveway indicated by the stranger he texted. The manor looked ancient, with dark stonework and tall, slightly overgrown greenery. The lawn was also in a state of overgrowth, the grass tall and interspersed with weeds and wildflowers. He shut off his engine, staring up at the imposing building before him. He was definitely going to be murdered, he decided. He pulled out his phone, and fired off a quick text to Wyll.
‘Good afternoon, Wyll! I am meeting with a stranger from Craigslist at their home in the Upper City, ostensibly to acquire a priceless tome. Here is my exact location. If you do not hear from me in an hour, please call the police. Thank you! :-)’
He sent along a map pin as well, before tucking his phone into his pocket and stepping out of the car. He hurried up the front steps, trying not to look too eager, in case anyone was watching, and knocked sharply on the elegantly carved front door. A few moments passed. Then, the door swung open.
A very pale, very attractive, elf was staring at him. He looked to be roughly Gale’s age, which he knew meant he must be far, far older. He had sharp features, a head of curly, silvery-white hair, and tired, unsettlingly crimson eyes.
A vampire, Gale quickly realized. He’d never met one himself, considering their rarity in this day and age, but he certainly knew of them. Wyll’s fiancée, Karlach, was supposedly even friends with one whom she affectionately referred to as Fangs. Well, Gale was never one to judge based on affliction, even if he was fairly confident that this man was going to murder him, so he grinned and held his hand out, offering a handshake.
“Hello!” Gale said brightly. The elf looked down at the offered hand with thinly veiled contempt. He did not take it. “I’m Gale. Gale Dekarios. From… Craigslist?” He ignored the slight, dropping his hand without fuss.
“Ah,” the elf looked him up and down, appraising him. “Of course. Come.” The elf motioned vaguely for him to follow, disappearing back inside without even bothering to make sure that Gale was following. He did follow, of course, gingerly closing the heavy door behind him before hurrying to catch up with his host.
“Sorry, didn’t catch your name,” Gale said politely, just a few steps behind him. He heard the elf exhale sharply, hesitating a moment before responding.
“Astarion,” he said simply, continuing to lead Gale deeper into the manor.
“Well, Astarion, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Gale said sincerely. Astarion said nothing. Gale glanced around as they walked, their footsteps echoing throughout the house, and was struck by how… empty it was. A few pieces of furniture were scattered around haphazardly, the walls were completely bare, rugs rolled up and tossed aside... Gale wondered if Astarion was actually living here, or merely responsible for getting rid of what was left.
After a few moments, they reached another elegantly carved pair of doors, which Astarion opened unceremoniously. They stepped inside.
It was a study, seemingly untouched, unlike the rest of the house. Gale could see at least a dozen tall bookcases, built into the walls, each one packed with books. A large, undoubtedly expensive desk made of the same dark wood as the shelving sat toward one end of the room, with the opposing wall boasting a few tall windows. The heavy curtains were pulled aside, showing off the view of a courtyard in a similar state of disarray as the front yard.
“Oh my,” Gale murmured, looking around. It wasn’t as good as his own study, of course… but he could still appreciate a good library.
“Take what you want,” Astarion said, with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I need it all gone as quickly as possible.”
“Right!” Gale nodded, looking around. “Actually, there was one specific book in your photo that caught my eye… could you point me toward the bookcase from the listing?” he asked, almost sheepishly, as though he was afraid of drawing too much attention to his goal. He heard Astarion exhale sharply once more, and caught just a glimpse of the elf rolling his eyes.
“It’s this one, I think,” he muttered, directing Gale toward one of the bookshelves near the door, “but I do hope you plan on taking more than one. Otherwise, this was a complete waste of time for us both.”
“Ah, I- er…” Gale rubbed the back of his neck. “It was just the one, yes, if I’m being honest.” He pointedly did not look at Astarion’s reaction to this, and instead began scanning the shelves. He found his target within seconds. He couldn’t help but notice how his hand trembled as he reached out and carefully slid the tome from its place. It was heavy, far heavier than he would’ve expected, and his heart pounded in his ears as he took in the familiar cover. He slowly turned the cover and leafed through the pages, his heart racing faster and faster with each passing moment.
“Incredible…” he murmured, fighting back a giggle of pure joy. It was real. It was the Necromancy of Thay. “It’s… I can’t believe this…” He chanced a look up at Astarion.
The elf was eyeing him oddly, something between a glare and curiosity.
“What is it?” Astarion said, suspicion clear in his tone.
“It’s… well, it’s an extremely old tome, regarding the practice of necromancy in the old nation of Thay,” he explained. “I’m going to pay you for this. Obviously. It’s… it’s extremely valuable, but I will pay you for it.”
Astarion looked between him and the book for a few long moments.
“Give it to me,” he said finally, holding out his hand. Gale’s heart sank. He should’ve expected this. This book could easily raise six, possibly seven figures at auction. Gale could pay handsomely for it, but he couldn’t match its true value. Unwittingly performing a perfect impression of a kicked puppy, Gale handed the tome to Astarion.
“I can give you the names of some very trustworthy appraisers in-” Gale began, somberly, but was cut off.
“I’m going to burn it,” Astarion said with a smirk, the first approximation of joy Gale had seen on him since his arrival.
“Wait, what?!” Gale couldn’t mask his horror even if he had wanted to. “This- this is a priceless piece of history!”
“I am going to burn it.” Astarion repeated emphatically, still smirking, his crimson eyes boring into Gale with an unexpected intensity. He held the tome close to his chest protectively. “Unless… you can find it in your heart to take a few more of these books off my hands.” He explained innocently, playing coy and checking his nails.
“...what?” Gale gaped at him. “I-I can pay you! I have Venmo, I think, and a checkbook. I can pay you no less than five figures, right this moment-”
“I don’t care.” Astarion hissed through gritted teeth. The coquettish act was gone just as quickly as it arrived, and Gale could see the dangerous glint of sharp fangs. “I don’t want money. I want these books gone. You are going to fill your stupid little clown car with as many books as it can carry, and then, you can have this. That is my price.”
Gale stared at him in horror and confusion. It was… certainly a price. He didn’t need or particularly want any of the other books, but… why did he feel as though he was the one being taken advantage of in this situation?
“I… you’re serious.” Gale remained still for a few long moments, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. Astarion, however, walked over to the desk, sat down in the luxuriously plush-looking chair, and propped his feet up.
“I am, darling,” Astarion said with a grin, opening the tome and scanning the first page. “I should warn you, I’m the type to tear out pages once I’m finished reading them, so… hurry.” He gave a dismissive little hand-wave. Gale must’ve paled, because the elf let out a gleeful cackle upon seeing his horror-stricken face.
“Right.” Gale said simply, looking around at the bookcases. “Right, okay, books…” he muttered to himself.
~*~
Two hours later, Gale was sitting on the ground next to his car, having finally filled it as much as he safely could. The trunk, backseat, and passenger seat were all stacked high with countless books. He had texted Wyll at the 45 minute mark, explaining that he (probably) wasn’t in any danger, but he would be there a while, and would let him know when he was home. Now, the way his arms ached with exhaustion, Gale wasn’t exactly sure that it was safe for him to drive.
“You actually did it,” Gale was startled out of his thoughts by Astarion, who was smirking down at him and looking incredibly pleased. The sun was low, a faint bit of golden light filtering through the overgrown trees. It illuminated Astarion in such a way that Gale was once again struck by his beauty. Ah, beautiful yet cruel, Gale’s exhausted mind supplied, I most certainly have a type.
“I did,” Gale said, his attempt at sounding proud undermined by his groaning as he slowly got to his feet. “May I ask why you’re so keen to be rid of them?”
“You may not,” Astarion said simply, and finally, blissfully, held out the tome to Gale. He could have wept as he took it in his hands, cradling it as if it were a precious thing. He managed to restrain himself, though.
“Thank you,” Gale said emphatically. “Though… really, I need to pay you for this.”
“No.” There was a hint of warning in Astarion’s tone, something that Gale knew meant trouble if he tried to push it.
“I…” Gale sighed, shaking his head. “This… feels wrong, but thank you. Truly. You have my number, if you change your mind.”
“And you have mine,” Astarion said, looking at him expectantly.
“I do, yes…” Gale said slowly, his brow furrowed in confusion. What was he missing here?
“I’m busy this week, but available most evenings next week,” Astarion said, his voice once again taking on that coy tone from before. “So, let me know when you plan to take me out for drinks. That seems only fair, after all.”
Gale's eyes widened in realization, and he grinned.
“Oh! Yes, of course!” He cringed inwardly at how eager he sounded, but… he was eager. “Wait, that thing you said before, about ripping out pages after you’ve read them-”
“That was a joke. Obviously.” Astarion rolled his eyes. “I’m not an animal. Would that have been a deal-breaker for you, professor?” He asked, unable to hide his amusement. Gale may have blushed.
“Hm? How did you know that I’m a professor?” Gale narrowed, suddenly suspicious. Astarion simply looked him up and down: sweater vest, khakis, loafers… his blazer sat, long abandoned, on the driver’s seat of his car. Astarion clicked his tongue.
“Oh, darling…” he said simply, shaking his head.
“Right.” Gale chuckled. He was definitely blushing now. “Right, yes, well… thank you once again, and I will definitely be in touch.”
“Don’t keep me waiting,” Astarion practically purred. With that, he turned away, and headed back inside.
~*~
“You’ll never believe this, Tara,” Gale murmured into the pillow after walking into his bedroom and promptly collapsing onto his bed. Tara remained sound asleep, exactly where she’d been when he left. “I have a date!”
“Mrrp,” came the response. Typical.