#talvini

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"I was thinking of taking a...pilgrimage, if you will. A sabbatical. To the Telvanni Peninsula," Talvini said over dinner.

"Is that so?" Milia asked with a raised eyebrow. She knew her partner well enough to know there was more to it that Talvini was just waiting to share. "What sort of pilgrimage-sabbatical?"

"Oh, you know. Check out the libraries on the peninsula, see my ancestors in Necrom, investigate the whispers that might be related to a Daedric contract I got myself roped into that deals with the fate of the world, that sort of thing."

What excites your character? What do they enjoy doing? What motivates them?

:D I'll answer for Talvini.

Tal is really into her research. She pretty much has her choice of what projects to pursue, so she only studies things that interest her. She'll find some topic that excites her, and pretty much hyperfixate on it until it stops being exciting or until some new topic comes up, and maybe put it on hold until some later date when she can come back and start hyperfixating on it again.

Llevura arrived at Tel Galen and triggered the alarm rune at the door to alert the tower's mage-lord to her presence.

"It's Llevura," she called up the tower's shaft once she was inside.

"Oh, how nice! Come in!" Talvini called down to her.

She cast a levitation spell and floated up to the next level to meet her friend.

"Would you like some coffee?" Talvini asked. "I have a pot that's just about ready."

"That sounds lovely."

She sat down at the table while Talvini poured two mugs of coffee. Knowing Talvini, it was likely more than "just about ready." She had a tendency to forget about coffee she had brewing while she worked on her projects. It was sure to be nice and strong—and, thankfully, kept hot with magic.

"So, what brings you all the way to Vvardenfell?"

"Would you mind casting a rune?" Llevura asked. It was a phrase uttered between them enough that she knew Talvini would know what she meant: a rune to block any divine onlookers from perceiving potentially dangerous conversations. As soon as the request left her mouth, however, she realized how futile it would be. Still, it was a source of tenuous comfort, and so she let Talvini cast it anyway.

@the-greymarch​ Hi thank you! :D

(prompt source)

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A familiar smell greeted Milia when she opened the door to her home after returning from work. Familiar, but...unexpected. Talvini stood over some pots on the stove, with the hint of a smile that looked like she was up to something.

"Whatcha making?" Milia asked, crossing over to the kitchen area.

"Oh, just some nix and ash yam stew." The smile looked like it was getting hard to contain.

Milia tilted her head. She had mentioned recently that that was her favorite meal, but it was just a passing comment. Had Tal really remembered?

"I didn't know how you liked it, so I popped to Balmora to talk to your parents and ended up grabbing some of the spice blend that they said you liked and couldn't get anywhere else. Then I hopped to the Farmers and Laborers Hall in St. Olms, because I know they have some of the best meat and produce on Vvardenfell—Vivec made sure you weren't on patrol in the area while I was there—and then I came home and set to cooking, and it's been stewing all day. The saltrice is just about ready, too."

Her expression had morphed into one of focus as she scooped some saltrice into two bowls, and then topped each with a helping of stew.

"I hope it turned out okay; I don't often make stews."

"It smells amazing," Milia said.

The smile returned. She picked up the bowls to bring them to the table.

"Hey, set those down for a second?"

As soon as the bowls were safely back on the counter, Milia threw her arms around Tal and pulled her into a tight hug.

@nostalgic-breton-girl​ Hi thank you!

(prompt source)

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4E 2

Talvini lit a candle and brought it to the Waiting Door on the upper level of Tel Galen. She set it on the shelf that held Milia's effects: her staff, her cuirass, her lute, her favorite mug. She pulled up a chair and sat down, and spent a few moments in quiet meditation, preparing herself to speak.

"Hey Mils," she said when she was ready. "I got to see Ildari today. She just got back from the Second Era—did the whole thing in one day, from our end. So, no more need to hide and watch over her from afar.

"She asked about you. Honestly, I don't think she fully expected either of us to be alive when she got back, so she seemed pleasantly surprised that I was still around, but still saddened to learn that you're gone. I told her I'd take her to the Llothri tomb in Necrom sometime—she should get a chance to see all of her ancestors; she has some catching up to do—but I also attuned her to this tower, so she can get past the cloak and come see you at the Waiting Door whenever she wants.

"Faryn was there too. It was nice to see her; she doesn't often visit now that she lives in the Imperial City, but I told her Ildari would want to see her, and she came right over. She was immediately taken with Dreveni, if a bit surprised to learn that she was a grandmother of a four-year-old." She laughed. "And, gods, you should have seen the look on her face when Ildari told her who the father was. I think she was about as shocked as I was when I first learned."

She passed her hand over the candle's flame, close enough to keep herself grounded, but high enough that the warmth did not bother her too much.

"It's strange to see Ildari grow up so fast. I know we knew her back then, but it was so long ago. I spent the past few years watching her stumble through her prophecies and try to find her place in the world, and then suddenly she's a whole adult with a few more prophecies under her belt and a daughter. I know they say time flies, but I don't think they're accounting for time travel. Eight years in a few hours is really something."

A few more seconds passed while she considered whether she had anything else to say, or if she should release her wife's spirit's attention from the mortal world.

"I wish you could have seen them again."

The lobby of the Mournhold Temple was a chaotic sight in the hours before the Argonians would reach the city. A jumble of people flowed in and out, crowding the Hands of Almalexia and High Ordinators who were handing out supplies for those who planned to evacuate, and arming those who planned to stay. Amid the chaos, Talvini caught the eye of one of the Hands, an old friend named Llevura, and motioned her aside. Llevura finished supplying the mer she was talking to and then came over to meet her.

"We'll be leaving once we've helped open portals for everyone else who plans to evacuate," Talvini said.

"Good to hear," Llevura said. "Do you need any supplies?"

"No, we have what we need. When are you leaving?"

"Me?" Llevura seemed surprised at the question. "I'm staying."

"To do what? Die?"

"If it comes to that."

"It will."

"Then, so be it. It is my duty to Almalexia to defend her holy city with my dying breath, if I must."

"Almalexia is gone," Talvini said quietly.

"And yet I still owe her this much," Llevura said. "What's your point?"

"You owe it to Almalexia to die when thousands are in need of aid?" she asked. "You think the Healing Mother wishes for you to die on principle when you could instead live and help those who need it?"

Llevura hesitated. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. But my place is in Mournhold. Let me do this one last thing for my Lady."

Talvini folded her arms across her chest. "No. I will let you do many more things for your Lady. You can come with us and continue to aid in the relief efforts. You can share the Healing Mother's Mercy with those who are suffering. You won't be able to do that if you're dead."

Llevura sighed. "I don't want to die, Tal. I would love to keep helping the relief efforts. But it would be wrong for me to leave."

Talvini's hand floated up to her chin, as it did when she was deep in contemplation. She had a couple more cards to play, but they were harsh ones. Was it really the time to play them? But if not now, when?

"Llevura, my friend, you know I don't blame you for Milia's death. But the fact remains that she did save your life at the cost of her own, and I think I have the right to leverage that. If you die senselessly, you will be wasting my wife's sacrifice, and I will not have that. I would ask you to honor her by evacuating the city and joining us in the relief efforts. If you would not do that out of respect for Milia, then I will drag you through the portal myself. You may have muscle, but I doubt even you could resist one of my paralysis spells."

That seemed to shift Llevura's perspective.

"Right," she said softly after a moment. "I wasn't thinking of Milia's sacrifice, but you're right. I do owe it to her—and to you—to live and continue to do good. I'm not exactly going to be happy to leave Mournhold to be destroyed, and I'm not even certain it's the right choice, but I will come with you."

Talvini finally cracked a smile and threw her arms around Llevura.

I was tagged by @alxxiiswrites​! I’ve been kinda slumpy lately but I finally started writing something (even if it’s not super serious) so here’s a snippet:

Milia folded her arms. "Careful, Hand. Rivalries aside, when you disrespect the Buoyant Armigers, you're disrespecting Vivec hirself."

"I have no disrespect for the Armigers, and certainly none for Vivec. All I'm saying is that when one needs real muscle, one wouldn't exactly call on a poet," she said. "I mean, let's be honest. Any of us could take on any of you in a fight."

Milia raised an eyebrow and reached for her staff. "Is that a hill you want to die on?"

Talvini cringed. There was no way this would end well. She considered intervening, but no—not yet. It would be better to let them blow off their steam for now and throw up a ward if things were to get ugly.

"If I were wrong, sure—but I'm not," Llevura said. "But if you're intent on putting my words to the test, then let's take this out to the training yard and duel. To the death."

Milia's grip on her staff loosened. "To the death?"

"What, out of soul gems? Don't worry; I've got plenty."