divinestrike | Overflow / Open Post

Oh, good. Then as I decrease the number of mugs I have, I will continue to celebrate the idea of cake. That isn't made by me. And probably very good since the wizard making it is pretty good at everything else he does, so why should a cake be any different.

[Two things—
Who is she kidding, really. If she's not in a tavern, she abandons mugs and goes straight for bottles.

She's probably already started, clerical disaster she is.]

That's a very sweet compliment, I'm almost certain! How very kind of you, Nepione. I hope it shall live up to your expectations!

... though I must ask. How much have you had already? Not that I'm judging, mind you. Only wondering if I ought to remain close at hand.

I don't think my expectations are that high. Maybe just high enough to make the rest of you a little nervous. Or to find me absolutely ridiculous. Astarion certainly doesn't spare me his little witty quips about my do-good intentions.

And to answer you—not enough. Or too much. One of those.

Well, I would be lying if I said you've never made me nervous, but we've managed so far. I rather like your do-good intentions. If Astarion is criticizing them, you're usually on the right track.

You realize those answers are at odds with one another.

I think it'd be a very silly thing to be nervous in my presence. Unless you're afraid of me raining down some kind of holy penance upon those who be grand sinners.

[Said in jest, of course.]

By which I mean, I would never do anything like that with or without Our Lady of Silver's divine blessing.

That said, I've had just enough to feel very chummy with you and to make more jokes than I normally would, so take that as you will.

I'd like to believe I've mostly outgrown it. I've had enough time to get a good measure of your character by now.

It sounds as though you've had the perfect amount, in that case, no more and no less. Joking is always a good color on you.

Mostly, hm? Well, the more idiotic you see me, the more I'm sure any desire to experience nerves will rapidly vanish into nothingness.

[A wonder that she can admit that sometimes her actions are... Well. Not necessarily idiotic, but incredibly troublesome coming from someone who is considerably more well-intentioned than many others are that they have crossed or will cross paths with.]

You say that, but I could always have more. I haven't yet realised if I've said something I'll regret or not, so maybe before I reach that point, I can have just enough that I won't remember what I've said.

I confess, it's less your personage that's made me nervous in the past and more the potential for reckless decision-making, though I'm hardly one to lecture on such things— and so I shan't, but lest there was ever any doubt, you are always lovely company.

[Like recognizes like when it comes to troublesome actions. They always seem to muddle through, regardless.]

So far, I haven't read anything worth regretting, but I suppose the night is young. Still, wouldn't you rather be able to remember any lively or enlightening conversation we might have on your possible-but-improbable-nameday?

I don't think reckless decision making is how I would put it. You see it as reckless. I see it as impassioned. Necessary.

[And he's like that, too. Maybe even more so than she is, she thinks. If anyone should understand why she does things the way she does, surely it should be Gale.]

Gale, I would say any conversation from you is not only lively and enlightening, but also very worth remembering. It's what I would say that likely couldn't match that. Can't. Match that. Words aren't my area of expertise usually. Where I'd liken your tongue to gold, I would likely describe mine as iron.

Now now, it was hardly a criticism. It's something we have in common, after all. Only an occasional reason for worry, but we do what we do regardless.

[He knows himself. The ends are quite frequently worth the means. Usually.]

You give yourself too little credit. Your use of words is more than adequate. While I admit to being rather loquacious myself, it's something of an occupational hazard. Even without that same propensity for verbosity, you manage to inspire all the same.

[Loquacious. That's exactly what she was getting at. Gale and his fancy, educated speak. What does she really have to show in return? Certainly not that. He is much too kind, as ever he is in her presence. Or, has been as the days have moved forward. A wonder what helping a man out of a cliff-face will do, evidently.]

I wouldn't say that either. Sometimes I can say the right things. It's not that I don't want to. I think it's more often that I'm just too honest. Some people don't like that. And sometimes I don't use that honesty in the right time.

[Because she has too much of an 'if not now, when' mentality. And when she doesn't employ that, chances are she'll say nothing and simply hold some of those more personal feelings inside.]

[Pull a wizard from a stone and you'll have a friend for life. Scientific fact, it would seem.]

It's more than just the words themselves, you realize. It's the spirit behind them. You have an effect on people, a way of encouraging them. It's certainly done wonders for our group morale. No one is perfect, but that's still a gift not everyone possesses.

You call it a gift.

[She isn't so sure. If she thinks too hard about it, she'll admit that she winds up putting so much focus, so much care into the rest of them, that for one reason or another, she is easily able to put herself aside. But there is no denying that she gains a very great amount of joy from seeing them...

Well. Happier than they were upon initial meeting.]

It is whatever it might be. Perhaps my calling. What else could one expect of a most devoted cleric to the Moonmaiden? Love and tolerance for all, regardless of histories, regardless of what may be.

[Unconditional and foolish.]

It is a sort of kindness that not all are capable of, at the very least. As you say, quite fitting of a cleric of the Moonmaiden.

[The drinking of mead until she can't remember what's been said, he's not so sure.]

Come to think of it, when IS your nameday? It would be nice to know everyone's. There's a possibility one or two might come up while we're out and about. Seems like something to keep in mind.

Cake is still underway, regardless.

[Listen. All clerics need a vice. She has to deal with her repression somehow. Silence and drinking seems to be the way of it. Although she could probably stand to drink a little less. She can at least admit to that. She would like to be conscious enough to remember each time she says something she ought not to when imbibing. Let her recall the embarrassment, if only to learn from it.

Or endure self-punishment.]

I'm afraid I can't divulge that kind of information to you, Gale. Although it would be ideal to have that information. I'd like to celebrate for everyone.

[Nepione, that is absolutely not healthy.]

Not telling, eh? Then I suppose it's a good thing we decided to celebrate anyway, otherwise we might never have the opportunity, hmm? Seems a strange thing to be tight-lipped about, however.

Well, I like focusing on the rest of you. I'd rather do that than me. I've spent plenty of years focused on myself. No one knows me better than me. The rest of you, though... I think you're all worthy of that focus. That's where I want the attention and the celebrations to be.

That's okay, right?

Of course it's okay, but is it so terrible if we wish to give the same in turn? We're all friends here, after all. Mostly.

I'm not certain about Lae'zel, now that I say that.

[She scares him, just a little.]

[She's going to very cleverly (in her opinion) evade this whole talk about herself in favour of—]

Oh, you know. With Lae'zel, she might seem very hard on the outside, but I'm sure if she had more time just to talk and have people listen, she might appreciate that. She likes sharing things about her people. It's a good way of getting on her good side. No arguments. Just listening.

I did attempt to build a bridge by asking her about some of her people's customs. It did work, to a certain extent, but she also told me that I was as soft and ineffective as bread that had not yet been properly baked. Stung, a little.

Gale, everyone next to her is soft and ineffective as unbaked bread. You shouldn't take it personally. If you were of the Githyanki, you'd probably see things very differently too. And to be fair, she's not exactly wrong. I don't think you're weak, of course, but you're no Lae'zel either. And neither am I.

Oh, I'm hardly arguing the point. Even the kindest words sound harsh coming from her, and understandably so. It's just jarring, at times.

[He's sensitive. :c]

I think it just means you haven't spent enough time with her. I guess I was caught off guard a little in the beginning, but after I realised that she doesn't actually mean anything by it, it doesn't bother me anymore.Try not to let it get to you. You already know you're pretty great.

I'm passable these days, at the very least. I'll continue to make the effort, regardless.

Don't think I've forgotten how this conversation started, however. I'll figure out the nameday issue eventually.

No, you won't. You would never want to do anything that might upset me.

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