hotel caelum: inbox

[netherese]

gale of waterdeep

weavewizard

---

ABOUT ME

Wizard, scholar and wine enthusiast. Occasional poet, when the mood takes me.

NOTE

Any messages for Tara will be dutifully delivered!

Message @weavewizard

Comments

un: steinbeck

[recluserose]

[With little to no fanfare, this question drops:]

Did you like "Puss in Boots?"

[netherese]

[He is far, far too delighted to see that username come up in his DMs.]

I did, thank you very much! I shared it with Tara afterwards, as you suggested. She very proudly remarked that only a cat could be so clever.

[recluserose]

Good. I'm glad she approves.

[how do I continue a conversation I started]

Did you sleep well after?

[nailed it]

[netherese]

[Well, that's a question he feels he ought to answer very cautiously.]

As a matter of fact, I did. I think you had the right idea, ending the night with fairy tales after all that stimulating discussion. The whole evening was a great success.

[There, if he includes that bit, it's enough of a buffer, isn't it?]

[recluserose]

[It's a good thing this conversation is over text because Amelia feels her face turn red and she has to take a good minute or two before responding.]

Sorry, I should clarify my question.

I meant to ask if you slept well after we left the library since you weren't in a comfortable position when we were there.

[Phrasing.]

sometime late november!!!

[ohthehumanities]

[HELLO MR. NERD WIZARD. Today Kaveh has ventured to your floor!! Specifically, he's digging around through the books--Mehrak floats behind him, holding a small stack of them in the glowing green light it projects, while Kaveh tucks a few more into his arms. Currently, he's muttering to himself as he looks between two different books, brow furrowed.]

Maybe one or two...

IT'S TIME FOR NERD FRIENDS

[netherese]

[Gale has become quite comfortable on this floor, despite the rather spooky atmosphere— it makes it rather unique among libraries, he thinks— and has grown accustomed to browsing the shelves for new offerings. There's more between this and the 'standard' library than any mortal could read in a lifetime, he's certain, but that doesn't mean he isn't going to try.

Today, however, when he heads out into the corridor to peruse, it seems he's not the only one with that in mind. It's Mehrak that catches his attention first— a familiar, perhaps?— but he offers a smile as he proceeds to interject.]

Looking for anything in particular? Perhaps I can be of assistance.

hehehe

[ohthehumanities]

[Fortunately, Kaveh is not so caught up in his browsing that he's completely oblivious to Gale's presence, which spares him from jumping violently and knocking over piles of books; he only turns when Gale speaks, though, greeting him with a smile and a nod as Mehrak beeps cheerfully.]

Oh--sorry, I hope I'm not in your way. I was just trying to make up my mind, since I don't want to squirrel away too many of these at once.

[Unlike SOME PEOPLE (Alhaitham) who just have SHELVES AND SHELVES OF BOOKS (Alhaitham)]

I was looking for something for leisure--if it's good enough, I thought I'd recommend it to Amelia in the future. [Book club!! He knows she already has a list, but he likes to help.]

[netherese]

Not in the least— you've nothing to apologize for! I'm always glad to see someone new has found their way to our little corner of the hotel. It has a certain charm, don't you think?

[Dark, spooky ambiance and all. It gives the place character.]

I'm sure you'll find something that suits your needs here. Of course, you know Ms. Steinbeck— I do remember seeing you during book club, but I don't believe we had the chance to speak directly. Your points were quite well-argued. It's Kaveh, isn't it?

[ohthehumanities]

[CHARM...... it's not really Kaveh's vibe, honestly, but he doesn't want to be rude, so he smiles.]

It certainly has its own unique sense of character. That's one of my favorite parts about this place--the extent to which each floor is so different. [That much is wholly true.

He looks briefly surprised that Gale remembers him--it takes a second, but then recognition dawns on his face, and he thumps the books he's holding against his palm.]

Ah, yes! Gale, wasn't it? I remember now--you and Sumina talked about character growth for that second discussion topic, if I recall. [Right, right. It's all coming back to him now.

...

...

Wait, wasn't this also the guy who...] You hated Darcy, didn't you?

🎁 December 25th

[airdnd]

[ On Christmas Day, an impeccably wrapped present is delivered to Gale’s suite with a note: ]

Dear Gale,

In the spirit of celebrating these winter holidays at the hotel, I hope you enjoy this present. I’ve found this to be a little more low-key than our standard quill, and while it lacks that certain dramatic flair that I suspect wizards might enjoy, it is rather easy to bring around and keep in one’s pouch or pocket.

Best wishes,
SH.

P.S. I will be checking out for a few days to tend to matters at home. If you’ve need of me, please feel free to leave any messages with the front desk.

[ Inside is a fountain pen. ]

[netherese]

[This is now his favored pen from here on out! He will be relying on it in his research, and Sumina will see him out and about and writing in his journal with it on the daily. 💖]

action

[recluserose]

[It didn't feel right to beckon the new year separately and quietly so Amelia took it upon herself to suggest to Gale that they greet it together. Normally around this time, the witch would pay her respects to the supernatural creatures that lived in Blackgale and then end the night with friends by the lakeside. Every other odd year, she might do something different such as going to a glamorous party with Berna or at a seedy and colorful bar with Michael and Adam.

This is going to be a very different year.

After dressing in a white sweater and jeans, Amelia makes her way over to Gale's room. One hand has a basket that contains two bottles: one a festive champagne and the other, a fizzy non-alcoholic apple cider. There is something about the latter that makes her think of home and how her students would gift her bottles of cider before winter break. It's something she wants to share with Gale.

(And hidden beneath, a small treat for Tara. Gotta pay her proper respects.)

Knock, knock! It's ya girl]

[netherese]

[Gale never needs any persuading when it comes to spending time together, and he was more than happy to add on to Amelia's suggestion by offering to host for the evening— it was an easy excuse to put the small kitchen he had in the partial replica of his tower to good use, and it's been so long since he's had the opportunity to host anyone that he finds himself quite excited to do so now. Tara, of course, was also thrilled to know they would be having company, and when the knock comes at the door, she looks up from the spot where she's been curled up in front of the fireplace, wings folded, eager to greet their guest.

He doesn't keep Amelia waiting long; a few moments after she knocks, the door opens to reveal him wearing a warm, inviting smile in addition to a sweater and pair of trousers that are decidedly not robes, but somewhat emulate the style of the outfit she'd helped him put together some days earlier.]

Amelia! Please, please, come in—

[He steps back, gesturing to usher her in. Though she's been there before, the circumstances were quite different.]

[recluserose]

Evening Gale, Tara.

[After nodding her greetings to Tara, she blinks in surprise at Gale's outfit.]

Oh. Getting comfortable with modern fashion, are we?

[He's really taken to this style, hasn't he? Stepping inside, she holds up her basket.]

I didn't come empty-handed. But not just for us... Does Tara like fish or does she have a specific taste in treats?

[netherese]

[His smile turns just the slightest bit bashful at her observation, but he can't help but be pleased that she'd noticed— and while he might not be certain of what would be considered fashionable in her world and time, he had found the combination he'd settled on aesthetically pleasing, so he could only hope others would feel so, as well.]

I thought I might try something, yes. I don't believe I'll be giving up my robes entirely anytime soon, but these are rather comfortable. I thought to draw inspiration from what you found for me and thought these might be suitable.

["He spent an hour agonizing over what to wear," Tara informs her cheerfully, getting up from her spot in front of the fire to stretch and spread her wings before trotting over and looking up at the visiting witch with fondness. "Good evening, Ms. Steinbeck! It is a pleasure, as always. I, for the record, am very fond of fish. How sweet of you to think of me!"

Gale lets out a good-natured huff as he shakes his head at Tara's interjection, reaching out to gingerly take Amelia's basket from her so that he can set it down somewhere.]

Very kind of you; thank you, on both counts. We'll have plenty to eat to go along with these, as well. It seems only right to ring in the start of a new year with good food, good drink, and good company.

@recluserose | action

[netherese]

[Gale cannot remember the last time he slept so well, without interruption from the orb's stirring, or without any of his worries regarding the many unsolved problems he found himself faced with manifesting themselves as nightmares. It was a welcome change, one of many reasons he was grateful Amelia had accepted his invitation, though as reasons went, it was further down the list than one might think.

Morning comes, as it always does, sunlight filtering in through the tall, open windows that look out over that conjured replica of Waterdeep, the curtains stirring thanks to the gentle breeze blowing in off the harbor. He rubs at one of his eyes with the heel of his hand as they slowly creak open, then stifles a yawn as he turns his head towards the window— judging by the angle of the light, which he has of course ensured is accurate despite the fact that the scenery outside is nothing more than an illusion, it's a bit later in the morning than he would normally rise, though given their late night and the occasion, he supposes that shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

He smiles as bits and pieces of the previous evening return to him unbidden, and despite the rather significant step they had taken, it's the kisses and resolutions they'd shared on the balcony and those blissful, almost pleasantly numb moments before sleep that immediately come to mind. He shifts carefully, moving onto his side to face the woman in bed beside him, one arm still curled beneath her waist. It seems a terrible shame to disturb her while she sleeps, and so he remains uncharacteristically silent, though he cannot help but to reach out and lightly trace the curve of her shoulder with his finger, trailing down the length of her arm.]

1/2

[recluserose]

[She was dreaming.

She dreamed of walking through a garden of roses. They were all turned towards the girl, vivid and scarlet as if they were looking at her. Above, the sky was impossibly blue and the rays of the sun made the blooms glow like red jewels floating on a sea of green leaves. There was no end in sight.

The leaves rustled beneath her bare feet. An invisible breeze passed by and through her hair and a storm of petals flew past. She squinted and covered her eyes with one arm. When they were all gone and the girl uncovered her eyes, she saw him, squatting down, stroking one of the roses. His spring yellow-green hair cascaded over his shoulders and down his back.

She walked up to him, her heart racing.

He looked up to see who was walking towards him and smiled.

They talked. She didn't remember what about exactly. At some point, another breeze passed through. It smelled of the salt and the sea. He looked towards the horizon and when he spoke again, she finally heard his voice.

"I think it's the ocean."

He smiled at her encouragingly and gently asked if she was going there next. Her heart seized. But somehow she nods. She resumed walking towards the sea. Before she went any further she turned to ask if he could come with her.

But when she turned around he was gone.]

[recluserose]

[Amelia stirs when she feels a trail being made on her shoulder and down her arm. Her eyes slowly open, remaining half-lidded as her vision clears up.

Gale.

It's warm and she faintly realizes that his other arm is around her waist. She doesn't say anything at first; she just watches him even though he's much more awake than her. But before he can even speak up, she reaches up to... Well.

She's kind of pinching (softly, to be fair) a little bit of his beard.]

[netherese]

[He stills his fingers when she begins to stir, faint though it may be, watching with equal parts affection and interest as she slowly opens her eyes. This, he had quite been looking forward to, and it's only in this very moment that he realizes exactly how much. He's shared a bed before, certainly, but it had never been like this— not with someone he cared about so deeply, not with someone he truly loved. For all that he had loved Mystra, he's begun to feel that he'd been more of a pet to her than anything else— they had never been equals, of course, and she had never considered him a partner.

For ages, he had been near desperate to serve, willing to offer up everything he had for whatever his goddess might offer him, but all of that paled in comparison to what he had before him now. It was, perhaps, still new, and not without its challenges— but it was undeniably real, and he already felt far more seen after a few short months with Amelia than he ever had as Mystra's Chosen.

His smile blooms further, and he's just about to lean in to greet her with a kiss when she starts pinching his beard.

There's a long, puzzled moment of silence before he laughs, crinkling at the eyes as he so often does.]

Good morning to you, too.

[recluserose]

Nn.

[Amelia's thoughts are much more challenging to parse, especially after waking up. Contrary to popular expectations, she is not a morning person, as shown by the library experience.

She fiddles with his beard for a couple of more seconds before letting go to rub one eye.]

Morning.

[Her eyes close again. It's just... Very comfortable. She had slept well and wanted to stay in one place for a few more minutes. The moment is tender and while she is genuinely still swayed by sleep, the other part of her is concerned she doesn't have the demeanor that could express the same warmth Gale is giving to her. His laugh makes her heart beat and the sight of his upturned smile causes her face to flush.

She's happy. She'll allow herself to admit that much internally.]

I don't want to move. Do you?

Action; 3/05 Reunion

[recluserose]

I'm in the lobby. Would you like to pick me up?

[There's no other fanfare or boisterous manner in which she announces her return to Hotel Caelum. Amelia had been very clear and concise about how she wanted to check up on Blackgale, her high school, and other supernatural matters that needed her input. Additionally, this came with the approximate length of time she would be home and when she would come back.

"Two weeks, give or take. I will return."

It wasn't an exact promise, but she always had a way of saying things and 100% meaning it with little wiggle room for interpretation.

This was an unspoken promise that the Emerald Witch wasn't about to break. And thus, she sits in the hotel lobby, seated on one of the sofas, drinking a black coffee and reading a book, waiting for her beloved's reply or appearance. Either or.]

[netherese]

[In her absence, Gale had made certain to keep himself busy— it didn't take much to do so, considering he had already been deeply invested in using much of his time here at the hotel on some vitally important research regarding his situation, among other things. Other recent departures had come to weigh on him a bit, but Amelia's matter-of-fact reassurance that she only meant to handle some business back home before returning within a certain window of time kept him from worrying overmuch, even if he did find himself anticipating her return with an increasing sense of eagerness as the end of those two weeks drew nearer.

This afternoon finds him buried in his work in the small study in his room, hunched over a particularly delicate-looking old tome with his hair pulled half up to keep it from obscuring his vision and a pair of reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Even as engrossed as he is, the shift in his attention is immediate when his phone alerts him to a new message, and he reaches for it with the hope that he'll see her name displayed on the screen for the first time in weeks.

At last. He's long due for a break, and he can't think of a better reason to take one than to welcome her back.]

I'll be there in the blink of an eye. Don't you dare move.

[It turns out that he'd been quite literal in his response; he leaves his work exactly where it is and uses an extended Blink spell rather than making his way to the elevator— a few seconds after his response, he appears in the lobby with a distinct pop!, wearing a broad smile.]

Well, well— welcome back, Ms. Steinbeck. I hope all was well in Blackgale?

[Of course she's drinking coffee and reading a book, looking as though she'd never even left the place and it's a day like any other. That's exactly like her.]

[recluserose]

[He appears so suddenly, but she looks up, nonplussed.]

Gale.

[She closes her book, sets down her coffee and stands up to smooth out her skirt.]

You didn't even give me time to move. As for Blackgale, all is well. The town didn't set itself on fire during my absence which is all I could really ask for.

[netherese]

Perhaps I didn't want to give you the opportunity, just in case.

[As always, he meets her neutrality with his usual warmth and just a bit of teasing, and as she stands, he strides forward to close the distance between them.]

Very glad to hear all was as expected, just as I am glad the town can spare you a bit longer.

[Without ceremony, he puts his arms around her middle and hugs her against his chest, bringing his chin to rest atop her head.]

You were missed.