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It all started in Baldur's Gate.
Well, really, it started at Moonrise Towers; where they first met Araj Oblodra. At the time, she had been a small bump in the road. Nebulae had traded a drop of her blood for a potion, but after the drow said some rude things at Astarion's expense, they went their separate ways. That is, until they met again in the city while heading toward The Blushing Mermaid.
It all happened so quickly. They heard her before they saw her; a loud explosion drawing their attention and Nebulae, with her natural curiosity, had gone to investigate. When she saw Araj running out of a burning building, the group was quick to turn around and avoid eye contact, but not quite quick enough. Before they knew it, they were being ushered inside a smoldering room to see Araj's latest creation. Before they knew it, they were learning that the destruction around them had been the result of Araj's experimentation with Nebulae's blood. And before Nebulae knew it, she was agreeing to test it out...on herself. Really, it all happened so quickly.
Which is what Nebulae tried to explain to Minthara when the group arrived back at The Elf Song with her armor singed and Astarion laughing at her. Or rather, still laughing at her.
Minthara, clearly unimpressed, listened to the younger woman's story with crossed arms and a deepening frown.
"You expect me to believe that? That this just happened?"
Nebulae shrugged as she took off her armor. "It seemed like a good idea! If the potion could do that much damage imagine how much it could help us in battle. We need all the help we can get."
"Not at the risk of your own life!"
"Minthara, I'm flame resistant. If anyone was going to try it, it just made sense for it to be me."
"No one should have tried it! Not if it's from the Oblodra house! There is a reason why they fell. They are nothing but a disgrace, a house of fools. Something I never took you to be."
Nebulae paused in the middle of putting on her sleep shirt. "Really, Minthara?"
"What do you expect me to think? We saved your life just days ago and you go and risk it again! Do you have a death wish?"
"No!"
"Then you are a fool and keeping you alive is a fools errand."
The room went silent.
Minthara and Nebulae stared at each other. No one moved, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
It never did. Nebulae's shoulders dropped as her eyes fell before she stormed out of the room.
No one said anything. Not Astarion, not even Gale.
Minthara pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration before she too left the room. She didn't know where she was going. She didn't know where Nebulae had gone. She just needed to think.
She hadn't meant to hurt Nebulae, but the druid's impulsiveness, her thoughtless, had frustrated her. Worse, it scared her. Growing up in the Underdark, she had been raised to not trust anyone, even her own family. Especially her own family. To distrust was to survive. Betray. Connive. Outsmart, outlast. And if you couldn't outsmart someone, there was always murder. Which was why, over the course of many years, she built up her immunity to several poisons and learned to yield them as well as a blade. It made her think of how different Nebulae's upbringing was and that thought made her pause before she abruptly turned around and headed back into the Tavern.
She hadn't passed by Nebulae on her way out, so she figured she must still be nearby. Using that logic, she narrowed down the possibilities of where the tiefling could be and came to the conclusion she must be on the roof.
She followed her hunch and that's where she found Nebulae, sitting precariously on the edge of the roof, her feet dangling over the side.
Of course, Minthara thought to herself as she made her way over to her.
She cleared her throat to announce her presence and Nebulae didn't move. She just murmured, "Can we not do this right now?"
Minthara wasn't deterred. She sat down beside Nebulae, thinking about how to say what she wanted to say. Nebulae didn't even look at her so she reached out to her mind only to find a wall.
Fair enough, she thought.
"I hurt you," she started. If Nebulae was facing her she was sure the druid would be rolling her eyes.
"I am sorry."
Nebulae's face turned further away from her. That was the only indication that she was listening before her hand reached up to her face.
She's been crying.
"I did not mean to hurt you. I was...frustrated. Your upbringing is strange to me."
Nebulae let out a quiet scoff, assumably rolling her eyes again.
"Let me explain. You know I was born into the house of Baenre, the leading house of Menzoberranzan. There are many houses in Menzoberranzan, all fighting for power. My house has held power for centuries, so I knew I was destined for greatness because I was born into it. I also knew that my inherited privileges came with a cost- the bonds of fellowship and family could be broken by envy and ambition. I could not enjoy the taste of food for fear of poisoning. And I couldn't enjoy the company of lovers and friends because I feared they hid knives behind their smiles."
Nebulae listened and slowly, she turned to face Minthara as she continued with her explanation. She talked about her building up her immunity to poisons and how her own mother had tried to kill her when she came of age. She confided in Nebulae about the loss of a past lover that she had been ordered to kill. How Minthara held her in her arms and comforted her as the poison took hold.
Nebulae's anger faded as Minthara talked, transforming into sympathy and understanding. If someone in Menzoberranzan had pulled what she had earlier, odds were they'd be dead.
"I'm sorry," she finally said. "I should have been more receptive. It doesn't take a genius to see why doing what I did would scare anyone."
"I suppose it only makes sense. We are products of our environment."
With a chuckle, Nebulae agreed. "It's true. Growing up, after my family raided the rare travellers that passed through, we would try the different wines and potions they had on them. One time, one of my brothers had fire breath for a week because of one of those mystery potions."
The look Minthara gave her was somewhere between judgemental and bewildered.
"Could they not just...read the label?"
"No, that was part of the game. The labels were removed for an extra element of surprise."
After saying that, a look of realization crossed her face.
"Wow," she dropped her face into her hands. "They really did a number on my common sense."
She laughed, and Minthara smiled, shaking her head at the tiefling's epiphany.
"I'm sorry," Nebulae said again. "I'm sorry for scaring you by doing something so...reckless."
"You are reckless," Minthara responded. "And you are self-sacrificing. These are traits that would get you killed in the Underdark. Though it is something one could come to admire, if you didn't do so repeatedly. Blindly. You act as though your life is expendable when it isn't. You are irreplaceable."
Whatever Nebulae had to say died on her tongue.
"Do...do you mean that?"
"I always mean what I say, don't ever doubt that."
Before Nebulae noticed, there were tears falling from her eyes.
Minthara reached over, turning Nebulae's face toward her as she wiped away a tear.
"What's wrong? Tell me."
Nebulae shook her head as she took Minthara's hand. "Nothing. Just, no one has ever said that before. For so long, I was always the one making the sacrifices. I guess I got used to it."
Minthara's face hardened. "If others do not see your worth they are not worthy of you. Never forget that."
More tears fell as Nebulae let out a small laugh and kissed Minthara's hand.
"I don't think I realized how much I needed to hear that. I think..." She paused as she kissed Minthara's hand again.
I think I love you, she wanted to say.
Instead she settled for, "I think I need you, Minthara."
Minthara squeezed Nebulae's hand, gently grazing her thumb over her knuckles.
"I have never needed anyone," Minthara responded thoughtfully, but her face softened and she added, "But I want you."
She brought Nebulae's hand to her lips, giving her knuckles a soft kiss. "Even if you do act like a fool."
Nebulae laughed as she wiped away her tears.
I love you.
"We should probably get back down there before Astarion thinks I exploded for real."
"That reminds me, I should meet this Araj. Perhaps I can 'persuade' her into giving you a cure. I cannot have you combusting at every given opportunity."
"And if she doesn't?"
"We will have to wipe out what is left of her house. None shall be spared until you are safe."
Nebulae half-hoped she was kidding but as was stated earlier, Minthara always meant what she said.
The thought made Nebulae smile because she knew she would never have a reason to doubt Minthara again.