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[This text comes in the middle of the night out of the blue from yours truly. Taryon would most likely view it in the morning, but until then:]

In every glance, my heart takes flight,
Your presence fills my thoughts day and night.
A crush that blooms with every passing hour,
Your essence holds me under its power.
I can't resist your captivating gaze,
Lost in a trance, mesmerized by your ways.
Forever longing, hoping you'll see,
This love that's grown, consumed within me.

[Yes, it's a poem. Saelfen is...in a mood. A lovey-dovey mood. Forgive him.]

Edited 2024-09-04 23:45 (UTC)

[This morning text almost murders Taryon. This is an original poem? For him? This truly is love.

He clutches the crystal to his chest and rolls around in his bed a few times. If only he had someone to hug (that isn't Doty) with a warm body. If only he could reach into the crystal and hug this wonderful man.

He isn't a poet himself - he loves writing long, detailed prose, but songs are different from stories. A bard he is not, but he must respond with something of equal caliber, else Saelfen might find someone more charming. Good thing he has some existing writting works that he can use as inspiration.]

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:

where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

[He drops the crystal on the bed and jumps off to go through his morning routine. Anything to get his mind off of wondering how Saelfen will react, though his pounding heart is fighting to keep it in his thoughts.]

[Mornings are the bane of Saelfen's life. He always preferred the dead of night over the brightness of the day. Even though it's been a few years since he last lived in the Underdark, he craves the solace that only darkness can provide. Nonetheless, he awakens from his sleep with a loud yawn.

He briefly stretches his arms over his head before glancing down at the glowing crystal beside his pillow. It dawns on him that someone left him a message—someone other than BB, of course. He peers down into the crystal to read it, and instantly he feels his face grow hot.]

Damn him!

[He can feel his ears burning from embarrassment. When Saelfen wrote that little poem for Taryon, he had no idea what to expect, but he didn't expect Tary's response to be so moving. He rushes to work on a response, his eyes wide with glee despite the agonizing gnashing of his teeth.]

You are the sun, and I am the moon.

You hide behind a world of reason,
A world you’ve given life to,
A reason you’ve brought to light,

You are the sun, and I am the moon.

With your celestial shine, I can glow,
But in the shadow of your reasons, I retire from being whole,
Part by part each night, showing more or less my face,

You are the sun, and I am the moon.

In the sky I will chase until the end of time,
I will fill what you have left in shadow,
I will reign as queen in your absence,
Keeping order and guidance in your darkened kingdom,

You are the sun, and I am the moon,

And I'm helplessly in love with you.

[Taryon finishes his morning routine and heads downstairs for breakfast. Over a bowl of porridge, he checks the crystal once more and, alas, another poem has come back to him.]

Sun and moon imagery? Shit, he's really good at this...

[But he mentioned being a queen...well, that gives him ideas.]

Just like the moon is bright
You become what is of light.
You came to show me to love right
These are moments I will always write.

Just like the moon you rule with ease
Bringing me freedom, love and peace
And a heart with emotions that never cease.
I love how we love and also tease.

Just like the moon the white ruler and Queen
I will love you and be your King
I swear by the finger with the ring
My love has just my heart for you to sing.

[By the time the poem is complete, he's heading out to the bakery for work with a light heart. He hopes he'll run into Saelfen on the way. Or perhaps he's with Blake, planning the enchanted walls? What if they don't see each other all day and he's stuck at the shop with his mind in another timeline?]

[After a long, luxurious bath, Saelfen decides to eat some buttered toast with fresh wild berry jam before looking at the crystal. He knew Taryon would respond sooner or later; he simply preferred later. He doesn't read the message right away, preferring to enjoy his breakfast in peace first. When he does, Saelfen almost chokes on his tea.]

T-That irritating nerd!

[He's blushing. Saelfen knows he's blushing and despises it. Saelfen decides he needs some fresh air and gets dressed to go into town. He needs a moment to gather his thoughts before responding mindlessly, like a lovestruck fool. He's angry, flustered, and swooning all at once, and he hates it.

Or does he? Saelfen constantly lies to himself. He has no ill will toward Taryon. On the contrary, he's utterly smitten with the pretentious inventor.]

If I see him, I'm going to strangle him.

[That's an empty threat at best. He grumbles while idly roaming around town.]

[Saelfen is not at the bakery. It's extremely reasonable, but it feels like the biggest betrayal of Taryon's life. Doty walks into the back, prepared to help sort the breads, with no wistful heart to slow him down.

The first hour passes without incident. Villagers come, villagers go. Rifts open outside the window. He hears the chattering and humming of the Skeksis. It's nothing worth nothing at this rate.

And yet, Saelfen has gifted him with two poems this morning. How is he supposed to move in any direction other than a deeper romance? They're practically soulmates at this point. Sadly, the world hasn't turned into a fairy land celebrating this, and the shop is as mundane as ever.]

I think we need to do something together today, Doty. Write a note: bring extra cakes for our date. [The automaton pauses his work and scribbles this down in a small notebook.] This has to lead to some big milestone. Maybe he's planning something for tonight?

[No, Saelfen isn't at the bakery. However, the idea of stopping by did cross his mind more than once. He wants to see Taryon. However, every time he approached the bakery, he would hear that sweet poem in his ear and nearly pass out from embarrassment.

This is ridiculous. The poor elf barely knows how to act as he obsessively reads Taryon's earlier poems.]

This is madness! [He shouts, eliciting a few sideways glances in his direction. Saelfen lets out a deep sigh as he abandons his attempt to visit the bakery and returns home with barely any of his weekly shopping done. He can't concentrate like this when he's so...so...bothered!.

Yes, that is the word. He is bothered. Maybe another nice soak in the would help, or perhaps reviewing his notes on the strange fauna of this world? Or maybe a long luxurious nap? Saelfen desperately needs a distraction.

Hell, he's almost willing to continue with his pet project at their shared workshop. Anything to keep him distracted from the sweet little poems Taryon sent him earlier.]

[The days passes at the bakery. Gelflings in search for a sense of normalcy buy bread. Dreamers seeking a reward for handling an emergency stay for a pastry. Dough is prepared, Taryon checks their stocks, and he leaves the building in the afternoon at the end of his shift.

Perhaps Saelfen is busy with something else. The town has gotten dangerous, and he might have been caught up in another incident. Taryon do hopes that the windmill remains a solid defense in times of danger. Will their tools and supplies left behind remain if another army of the past attacks? The locks should be light enough for Saelfen to manage if he's alone when he's attacked.

Taryon turns onto the main road towards his castle. He should do some research on the walls they are constructing for the training hall, maybe get some infusion done over the next few hours. All that's missing is a parter to chat with.]

Doty, take this down: after reaching a family's dinner plans, I returned home to resume my research into building an impenetrable foundation for a military base. My comrades were relying on me, and I would not fail them.

End paragraph. [Doty finishes the dictated narration, then returns the quill to his installed pocket.]

I guess I'll have to see the fruits of this morning's labor later.

[Mentioning a missing partner, a message suddenly comes via crystal. Saelfen has been distant in recent days, not on purpose, but nonetheless. However, this marks the end of his abrupt disappearance.]

Taryon,

Is everything well? I have been meaning to talk to you, but I have been very busy, for lack of a better word. The village is still in disarray, and the odd fractures are widening.

Where are you now? I miss your company, and Miss Belladonna has just informed me that she has assigned me a task to complete. I was thinking we could complete this task together, especially since I was able to regain a portion of my abilities.

However, I cannot claim to be fully recovered. It appears that Vaeros is determined to keep my abilities limited. It is rather embarrassing.

Nonetheless, I will await your response.

Best wishes,
Saelfen.

[At first, Taryon believes this is another poem, and he waits until he's crossed the threshold of his house so he can absorb the emotions of the writing and collapse against the wall clutching his heart.

Upon opening the message, he finds nothing of the sort. Saelfen writes to him as if they weren't just exchanging love confessions a few hours earlier. It's true that Blake reached out to both of them for her project, but he's never really thought of it as a way to get close to his...boyfriend? Is that a term he can use? Whatever. Saelfen needs his help.]

Saelfen,

You have the most excellent of timing! I was just about to grab my blueprints when I received you message. I was hoping that I could have a second pair of eyes look over my work, since Doty isn't the best at spotting errors in my runes, and infusing takes quite an investment of time, I would greatly appreciate your company.

Don't you worry about your stolen powers. With my hands and your brain, we can accomplish this task.

I will have Doty prepare us some tea for your arrival. I hope you won't mind Earl Grey.

Warm Regards,

Taryon Darrington

[Saelfen was just packing his belongings for the job when he received the message. While he had not expected Taryon to respond so quickly, he couldn't help but sigh with relief. He reads the message with a small smile, his blue eyes beaming with delight. He isn't used to people seeking his presence. It feels nice.

With haste, he answers in return.]

Taryon,

It would be an honor to be your second pair of eyes. I certainly don't mind the idea of us working together on this endeavor, especially since I intend to repay you for those lovely poems.

Nonetheless, I'll come meet you, and Earl Grey is fine by me. To be honest, I'm not particularly picky about tea as long as it tastes good.

I will see you soon.

Best Regards,
Saelfen

[Repay? Maybe he shouldn't have written that, but it's too late. Saelfen already sent the message and he's halfway out the door.]

Oh, boy. [His body tingles with renewed vigor. Saelfen will spend the afternoon and possibly evening with him, and there's some sort of promise of "repayment" that is unspecified but is directly correlated with the love poems. Is it a kiss? Taryon hopes it's a kiss. Those are always the best rewards.

Well, money is also great, and so are physical gifts, but a special allowance can be made here.

The water has boiled, and the tea is seeping before Taryon returns to his workshop. An extra chair has been brought in, and work for all other projects are cleared off of the tables. Notes are arranged tastefully over the desk.]

Doty, wait at the front and let Saelfen in.

[And now, the doorman is in position. Should he light a candle and make this more romantic?] No, that's too much. [He decides to sit down and thumb through his existing notes instead.]

[It could be a kiss, depending on Saelfen's mood. He's very affectionate today, especially after not seeing Taryon for a while. Those love poems are still fresh in his memory and deep in his heart. While the prospect of working with Taryon on this group project excites him the most, he can't help but want to be in Taryon's presence.

This marks the first time they'll get a chance to spend the day together, nevertheless the evening. That is why Saelfen doesn't waste any time meeting Taryon and Doty at the workshop. He gently taps his knuckles against the door and waits for Doty to open it.

The moment the automaton opens the door, Saelfen walks right in with a delightful smile on his lips.]

So this is the face of my beloved poet?

[He's teasing of course.]

Edited 2024-09-18 02:16 (UTC)

Tary.

[Doty steps to the side to allow Saelfen to enter. His left arm is folded before his chest, as a well-paid doorman would, as his other hand is held out towards the hallway.]

Tary! [This is directed up the stairs: he's calling for Taryon.

The artificer's footsteps are heard overhead before they appear at the top of the staircase, then descend. When he is halfway down, he turns to the front door and grins. He hopes his face isn't noticeably redder.]

Hello! Welcome to our humble home. Come in, come in. [He waves Saelfen closer.]

Oh, Doty! [Saelfen laughs as he realizes Doty has arrived to greet him. He gives the automaton a playful wink. He's just overjoyed to see Taryon again, especially those flirty poems. However, he must maintain appearances. He can't let Taryon know how happy he is for fear of being embarrassed.

That is why Saelfen comes to a sudden halt and takes a moment to clear his throat. He needs to calm the fluttering butterflies in his chest. He is Saelfen, the Silver Spider, not a lovesick maiden.]

Ah, thank you for inviting.

[He smiles at Taryon before giving him a rather polite bow for the sake of appearances. However, he quickly makes his way over towards the blond with such glee written across his face.]

You're home is quite beautiful, a far cry from my little treehouse.

[There's that cool-headed drow, no doubt full of poise and confidence as he presented himself in his poems, and Taryon must match his level of self-control. No sudden clasping of hands, no shy smiles and certainly not twiddling of thumbs. This isn't their first dance at the wedding. This is just a normal date. Guys don't turn into lovesick idiots after their first romantic outing.]

It's a castle. There's nothing more impressive than something that should have taken years to built without magic. But I'm certain your home has its rustic charms. After you.

[He bows and holds his hands aside to guide this esteemed guest towards the workshop.]

Dory, get the tea set ready. [The automaton turns silently and marches upstairs, as any obedient butler would.]

Thank you.

[Saelfen gives Taryon a warm smile as he walks towards the workshop. He pauses briefly at the threshold, his eyes widening in amazement as he slowly steps inside. This is Tary's world, his small home away from home. Nothing is more important to an artificer than their workshop. It's like a haven for them, a refuge from the world that constantly pollutes their minds.

He walks through the workshop with a hint of reverence in his steps, his hands folded neatly behind him. Saelfen is doing what he can to stop himself from tinkering with Taryon's things. After all, he doesn't want to be a rude guest.]

You've been busy, haven't you?

[He offers Taryon a little smirk.]

I do hope my lovely poems inspired you to do your best, handsome.

Oh, yes. I've been going through my books and notes to figure out the most efficient way to enchant all of the walls. I was thinking about laying down an arcane network along the length so that when it's time to infuse magic, it will travel more quickly down the leylines. The problem is that I worry that this will create weak spots, but I'm not certain what other technique to use besides going over the entire area bit by bit.

[His arms become animated as he walks around the workshop to collect his tools in one hand while picking up a chair for Saelfen with the other.]

They've given me something to think about while at work. The bakery, I mean, not that I dislike it, but I couldn't get to get back and do something with my hands and make use of that inspiration.

[He holds the seat before Saelfen as a gentleman would for a lady.] I think I will be further motivated now that I have a beautiful muse before me.

[Well, let's get down to business. It seems Taryon has already done his part of the homework.]

Any corners of the walls that are not covered by the leylines will be weaker than the rest of the structure. This is why I propose the possibility of doubling up on the arcane network you propose, by adding a second set of leylines going vertically across the walls to match those that I assume would be going horizontally.

[It sounds like double the work, but this way they can be certain the walls are properly fortified. The last thing they need is a brute to be able to punch a hole in the walls. Miss Belladonna would be upset with them if they botched this job.]

A beautiful muse? [He chuckles quietly as he sits down at the table.] My, my, whatever shall I do with such wonderful praise.

I certainly hope I can rouse more than just your creative spirit, Tary.

[Taryon nods with Saelfen's suggestion and draws additional lines on his plans. Perpendicular leylines cross his own, creating a grid of structural beams like magic rebar in concrete. The corner gets another line on the edge, knowing that there is where all of the stress will congregate if a massive blast hit all of the walls. The application must be precise, which is why they are two intelligent and somewhat dexterous crafters working together.

Taryon's sole reaction to Saelfen sitting beside him is a small twinkle in his eye. The focus is in his work, no matter who beautiful the company is. That is the dedication one requires when it comes to the sciences. To keep one's mind on higher matters rather than base carnal desires is the mark of a wise man...

...which Taryon is not, because the suggestion coming from his...partner in science and in romantic manners has him pause his work and fear looking the drow in the eye.] What do you mean?

[It's too easy to tell that his heart is beating faster while he reviews his drawings. There's nothing else he can add to them until he starts the actual calculations and enchantment process; all this is to stall for time until he knows that he isn't getting excited for no reason.]

I think you know what I mean.

[Saelfen responds, resting his elbows on the table and placing his hand under his chin. He's feeling very flirty. That should be obvious from the way he looks at Taryon with such anticipation. He's watching the man like a hungry hawk, his eyes narrowing slightly as he concentrates solely on Tary.]

If not, then shall I state it plainly?

[He quizzically tilts his head to the side, just waiting to see Taryon's reaction.]

Tomorrow waits for no one, as we now know after looking into the future. So; why do we wait when there is passion between us?

[Taryon continues to avoid Saelfen's eyes, but the confirmation that he is correct in his assumptions blocks his thoughts on the project from connecting. It should be obvious, than when two people get together romantically, the topic of carnal intercourse will follow. But here? Someone propositioning him in the middle of praising his work? It's too much like his fantasies to be real.

When he finally looks up, Saelfen's expression is not one of jovial rhetoric. This is a "now or never" issue - sure, they have a future, hypothetically, but he's just about asking they head upstairs to his room and...]

I...well. [He clears his throat and sets his tools on the table.] It's not like we're on a tight schedule. I suppose we can indulge in some...fun, especially since you have become enchanted by my brilliance.

[His eyes dart from his hands to the table, then back to Saelfen. He's a beautiful man, but there's a limit to what they can do in public. How daring can Taryon become knowing that no one will walk in on them? Science encourages experimentation.]

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