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When they return from Wyrm’s Rock, Tav, Shadowheart, and Wyll are exhausted to their cores. It was tough putting an end to the city’s tyrant, and there will be repercussions for days and weeks to come. The tremors rattling the city and their minds on the way back have not helped, and the three of them disperse to tend wounds and rest.
Karlach sits on the edge of her bed at Elfsong, still dressed in bloodied armor, massaging a knot of tension out of her hand in the sunlight, gauntlets sitting besides her. She got back not long ago, after crying and screaming at the sky and all that good stuff, and isn’t really sure what to do – she sort of expected the others to be back sooner, and hopes they haven’t met trouble on the road. She’s chewed on a lot this afternoon, though, and intently works at her hand, giving her something to concentrate on apart from thought. But she perks up as she hears the doors open, standing as she sees Tav come in ahead of the others, holding the door for them. Tav trots on up to her as the others disperse.
“Hey Soldier, you’re back.” Karlach says with a shy sort of warmth.
“Hey Soul.” Tav hesitates slightly, “I’ve been a little worried, are you alright?”
“Hah, yeah, despite my best efforts to flop over and give up, Karlach just won’t let me. I’ll tell you more about it later. Did I miss anything important?”
“Not really. But I missed you.”
“I missed you… too.” She says, earnestly “You know I wouldn’t have bothered falling in love with you if I knew saying goodbye would be so… hard.” It’s clear she’s been thinking about a lot.
But Tav can’t help answering anything but honestly – there’s levity in her tone, trying to be cheerful “You wouldn’t have had any choice. I would have pursued you to the ends of Faerûn.”
Karlach easily takes the setup, chuckling “I probably would’ve exploded somewhere around Scornubel, so at least your trip home would have been short!” She sighs though, still trying to work through things, and Tav gives her time and room to speak “I’m trying to stay here, now, alive, while I still can. But it’s like my mind is whittled down to the black hole that should’ve been our future.” She’s looking down, somewhat anxiously avoiding Tav, unsure of how this will go. The tip of her tail twitches anxiously as she keeps it just above the floor.
Tav has to gather her thoughts and sighs too, lacing her fingers together in thought “We still have a future. Maybe… a shorter one than most, but that doesn’t make it less beautiful.” For all this is difficult, she doesn’t regret a single moment in this journey, and especially with Karlach, there’s no one like her to Tav.
That gets to Karlach a bit, and she has to choke back some tears she didn’t know she had remaining “Wow. Gods – you’re so right” her breath wavers but she keeps herself together. “And we are beautiful, aren’t we. This is – it’s everything. Ugh, I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be sad.” She rolls her eyes at herself “I mean… I do. But not TOO sad.”
Tav huffs out a quiet laugh, but can’t avoid what’s on her mind “Karlach, would you consider going back to Avernus? Just for a while, to buy yourself more time. I’d go with you. I’d go with you, I promise.” It’s her turn to be hard up to hide tears, slipping her hand in to Karlach’s and squeezing it tight.
Karlach squeezes her hand in return with tight emphasis “No. I can’t. I’d rather die here, in Faerûn, my HOME, than live in service to a devil.”
It is hard for her, but Tav does her best “I understand. I just… wish there were another… way.”
“So do I. I’ve done the calculus a hundred times – there’s no permutation I can find that doesn’t end up with me dead or wishing for death. This is it. This is all we have. Each other, and the moments we have left. S-speaking of which. There’s something I wanted to ask you.” She tightens her lips in a flick of a grimace, but breathes it out “Will you… stay, with me. When it’s time. For me to go. I think I could do anything if you’re there. Even die.” Her posture stiffens, this is something she’s struggling to ask, wanting reassurance but not daring to hope for much.
For Tav though, the answer is as easy as anything, no matter how harsh, painful or ugly, she wouldn’t be anywhere else, her practice and her nature have her well prepared for confronting death “Of course, love, of course.”
“Thank you.” Her whole body relaxes into her more usual, eagerness, the fear of asking so little but so much of a thing just releasing tension she didn’t know she was carrying all afternoon. “Now! Enough tragedy” Karlach says, dropping Tav’s hand and clapping hers together, “And our schedule is packed with important heroics, isn’t it? Plus if I cry any more I’m going to run out of tears and start leaking motor oil. Thanks for everything, darling. I love you. A lot.”
Tav relaxes too, and simply wraps around her, cradling the back of her head as she holds her close “I love you.”
Karlach curls into her, her form already so familiar, wrapping her arms around her ribs, tucking her face in against her shoulder. She won’t cry more – that much is empty today, but still she can’t help a shiver as Tav strokes her back, settling into her. Tav pulls them both into sitting on their shared bed, Karlach, much to her surprise, in her lap.
“I’m… I think I’m alright love, I’m here, now.” Karlach tries, although it’s muffled by how tightly she’s pushed into Tav’s shoulder.
“Mmm, let me hold you anyway.”
Karlach sighs into it, shuffling to be more comfortable, rather than just clinging, resting her chin over Tav’s shoulder. “Are we going out again today?”
“I don’t think so – I’m spent.” She says, honestly. It’s only mid afternoon but the fight through Wyrm’s Rock has drained about everything she has. She needs time to recover, as do Shadowheart and Wyll (and Karlach too, honestly. She’s empty, bereft of further rage, even if she’s ready to push on.) The cleric and warlock have both just sacked out near the fire for the moment.
Karlach nods against her, and sits back on her lap, Tav watches her softly as Karlach strokes her cheek, tenderly stroking her fingers along the curve of her jaw. Tav sighs into it, shutting her eyes – it’s pure fondness, that gentle need that Karlach has to try to take her in, and she lets the attention drift over her. Tav is startled a bit out of it as Karlach goes to undo Tav’s armor, starting at the chest piece, and she shifts just a bit to make it easier for her. The Graceful Cloth doesn't have many pieces, and Tav lets Karlach undress her. It’s done with much tenderness, slow exploration that asks for nothing more – she’s doing her best but she’s melancholy now, and Tav can’t blame that.
Tav pulls on her comfortable clothes (Karlach watching her blearily) before going to help her out of her armor in return. In the process of dressing Tav has stood by their bed, while Karlach sits on the edge of it. Karlach’s armor much more complicated than Tav’s, with more parts and layers, and Tav is gentle in removing it, starting at her neck. She takes the time to reciprocate Karlach’s gentle explorations, running her hands over her neck and shoulders, along her ribs and hips, and wherever else is exposed. The screen by their bed is up enough to just give as much privacy as anyone here can get, visually shielding them from the main room.
Tav kisses her collarbone, then up along her neck, nosing in behind her ear and making a soft buzzing hum, and that alone is enough to break through Karlach’s sorrow, as she chuckles, warm and fond at it.
“Made you laugh.” Whispers Tav, against her neck.
“You do. Lots.” It’s still tinged with a melancholy weariness, but it’s genuine.
Karlach wraps her arms tight around Tav, and flops back, laying in bed with her, holding her tight. Tav shuffles a little to be comfortable, and settles on top of her, chin on her chest, arms around her neck. They lay in silence a while, Karlach occasionally squeezing Tav a little tighter or kissing her forehead, and Tav nestling against her or kissing her cheek or shoulder in return.
They are interrupted by a quiet voice nearby.
“Tav? Karlach?” Says Shadowheart from the other side of the partition. Her voice is low and cautious, but both tieflings can see her shadow through the screen from the low afternoon light through the window behind her. She’s changed into her more comfortable clothing as well.
“Yes?” Says Tav.
“Yeah?” Says Karlach.
“Should I put in an order for food for you?”
“Please.” They both say.
Shadowheart hesitates, it’s been a rough week all round, but Karlach has had it hardest today. Seems it’s her turn to have her past catch up with her.
“You can come round, Shadowheart, we’re just resting.” Says Tav, inviting her around the partition.
“Mhm.” Adds Karlach.
She slips around the partition near the window, and sits on the head of the bed, looking over her friends as they lay with each other. She’s seen how close they are, they are not shy in their affections, but there is something almost painfully tender here, Tav is wholly draped over Karlach, with Karlach’s arms wrapped around her, hands laid in the small of her back. Just the tips of their tails are limply twisted together, draped haphazardly over their legs. Karlach’s breathing lifts Tav a little with each breath, and Tav seems settled into it, face close to hers, Tav’s weight grounding Karlach. Karlach is focused on Tav, watching her with half-lidded eyes, even as Shadowheart sits with them. Tav’s eyes are lightly shut, and she looks much more her age than she often does – tired and worn from today. A shiver goes through Karlach, and she squeezes Tav tighter, who responds in turn, hugging her close. When Karlach sighs, and relaxes back again, Tav does too, shifting just a little and settling her cheek against Karlach’s shoulder.
Karlach’s hair is draped over her eye and nose, and Shadowheart, unthinking, reaches to brush it back. Karlach leans into the attention a little, and Shadowheart very gently strokes it aside. She rests her hand on Karlach’s forehead. The both of them were kind and reassuring to her after defeating Mother Superior and rescuing her parents. In that well of emotions, they offered her a rope to climb back to light. She will suffer pain for the rest of her life, but her parents live, and she can recover herself into a life after all of this. Sitting here, with Karlach and Tav, after Karlach so painfully laid out the shortness of her own lifespan today, it seems much harder to offer that kindness in return.
Sitting with them like this, Shadowheart’s mind wanders, and she is caught up in the details of people she has become so close to in just a few months time. Her touch drifts to Karlach’s good horn, curiously running her fingers over the ridges and bumps of it – and it’s infernal inscription. It’s strange to think that Tav knows almost instinctively what it says… and Karlach’s tattoos as well. All tieflings innately know infernal, and there is no secret to what they say to them. Shadowheart has never thought to ask. Maybe she will. Her own memory still feels so fragile even with her rejection of Shar, and part of her is desperate to remember her friends as they are now – warm, alive, and present. As her touch drifts off the tip of Karlach’s horn, she reaches a little further to Tav’s right horn. As she touches the base of it, Tav flinches slightly, she was closer to sleep than Karlach and it woke her a little. There are no nerves in the horn itself, but the pressure was just enough for her to notice. She is not upset at the action tough, and tips her head forward slightly if touch is what is desired. The most immediately startling thing to Shadowheart is how much colder Tav’s horn is. Of course it is, there’s no blood flow, but somehow Karlach’s being not that far off of a low body temperature didn’t surprise her. Hellfire permiates all of Karlach. Tav’s horns are smoother too, much more worn as she strokes up from the base of them. Their texture is less fine than Karlach’s, and as she is older, the pattern of their growth grows larger.
Tav’s breathing settles into a quiet whisper against Karlach’s chest, clearly asleep, although Karlach is still awake; watching, thinking. Shadhowheart shifts her touch again from Tav’s horn, to gently touching Karlach’s shoulder. The little ragged licks of flame through her vents are subdued, as is the light from her core. Ever-glowing, but right now, burning quiet and low.
“What… can I do, Karlach?” Ask Shadowheart, as just the faintest whisper.
“Oh… I’ll be alright.” There is resignation in her voice, but honesty too. She looks up to Shadowheart, and sees her utterly forlorn. “Aw come on, I’m not dead yet.” It’s a mask of cheer, but her smile still seems genuine. “I’ll be glad to have dinner. I’m grateful to have this.” She says, very gently squeezing Tav who sleeps on through it “and you, all of you – none of this would have been the same… or even possible without you all.”
“I don’t… know how you do it, Karlach. I’m still reeling from the enclave.”
Karlach looks shifts, a bit of a knot of worry on her brow “I don’t really have much choice, do I?”
Shadowheart can’t help a brief look of shock, but nods.
“No way but forward.” Karlach says with a sigh, settling in with Tav, lightly shutting her eyes.
“I’ll come get you when they bring the food up, alright?”
“Sounds good. Sounds good.” She yawns. She’s utterly spent at the moment, even if she’s trying to be awake and savor living. “Thank you, Shadowheart. Truly.”
It’s more than just thanks for the food, and it’s not really aimed at just her, and Shadowheart knows it, but she’s not feeling clever enough to say anything soothing, and simply pats Karlach on the shoulder as she gets up to get their orders in. She hears Karlach’s contented sigh and small noises of settling as she drops off napping with Tav – they’re both snoring loud enough to hear in the main area in short while. Wyll and Shadowheart both relax with it, after what they’ve been through today with the two tieflings, it’s good to know they’re resting calmly, together, as usual.
For all the world around them is falling apart, they’re together, safe and content, for now.