“Son of a-” Tav jumped, and her fingers sparked, subconsciously getting ready for a fight. The familiar sound of a chuckle behind her temples made her close her eyes and put her hands on her hips. Fucking hilarious. How long have you been in my grapefruit listening to me? I thought the tadpole was gone? 

It is, but I am still a mind flayer. If you stand that close to me and think intently about me, it’s like sounding a horn to get my attention. Tav chewed her lips with embarrassment and shrugged. 

I didn’t know that. 

I am aware. Tav shook her head and chortled to herself. How strange it is that the Emperor’s voice in her head was a comfort. She felt his humour and a tugging sensation in her chest. Come to me, and I will begin with the aforementioned list of suggestions. That was a point. He said she was near him. She looked again at the kitchen, and her jaw dropped. 

Are you under the tavern in your old hideout?

It was my home the last time I was here in the flesh. Why should it not be my home again? Tav smiled and walked with purpose towards the kitchen door. The owner gave her a glance, nodded with recognition, and didn’t stop her. She felt relief at the sound of the pub becoming more distant as she descended to the cellar. Red or white? Tav hovered half-way towards the secret door at the back of the cellar. He sensed the confusion in her mind and chuckled. Wine. As I am to play host to you, I would like to offer you a glass. 

“Oh, sure.” She smiled and picked up the pace. “After the day I’ve had, I’ll take the bottle.” Tav sniggered and pushed the door open. She made sure to lock it behind her and took in the sight before her with wide, fiery blue eyes. The Emperor hovered down to the ground at the top of the stone steps with blue marble detailing. Behind him was a large table where, in years past, he and Duke Stalemane plotted Baldur’s Gate’s future. In his right hand was a bottle of red wine in a dusty bottle, and in his left was a large crystal glass. This was not what stopped her in her tracks, of course. It was the fact that he was wearing only a pair of black harem pants. That was it. Soft and billowing around his long legs and drawn in at his narrow waist. 

I thought you might, and I would welcome your company, if you would welcome mine? His head tipped to one side and his piercing pink eyes held her firmly in his gaze. Tav always felt like he was looking inside her when she looked into his eyes. At first that creeped her out, as she knew what a shitshow it was inside her head. Now though? It was an old comfort she sorely needed. 

“Hells yes.” The Emperor nodded and moved the bottle to begin pouring. “Ah!” Tav skidded forward with a grin and wrapped her hand around the neck of the bottle. “I said I’ll take the bottle.” He watched her intently as she took the bottle from him and took a much-needed swig. “Nice. Tastes strong and expensive. My favourite kind of alcohol.” It had a nice burn to it too, like it could cleanse away her pain. Well, if she drank enough of it, it would for a few hours at least. 

And this time, it isn’t looted from a body or a basement. She rolled her eyes and smiled at his teasing. Come and take a seat. We have much to discuss before you become inebriated. 

“We do?” Tav followed her floating companion towards the auspicious table. She raised a brow when they pulled out a chair for her, since she was no lady. Still, she sat down and took care to thread her tail through the hole in the backrest of the chair. Tav watched as the Emperor lowered to sit beside her and rested their hands together on the table. “If you tell me there is another big world-ending mother fucker we need to off; it can wait until the last one’s pulp has been rounded up and buried.” 

Nothing quite so world-ending. He moved to rest with his right forearm on the arm rest of his chair, and leaned closer to her. I simply wanted to discuss what came next. 

“Does drinking this bottle, and playing hide and seek with the murder cult for the rest of my life count towards what comes next?” She took another swig of the wine and sighed with relief. That, and figure out if I can avoid Astarion for the rest of my life. Ha. 

I can help with all of that. The Emperor lowered her bottle from her mouth and placed it on the table. She felt humour in their voice as they looked at her sour pout. Now that the Absolute is destroyed, I intend to make this city, my city, great again. Tav narrowed her fiery blue eyes on him and raised a brow. 

“And how will you do that? Said the mouse to the cat?” 

I wish to reforge the Knights of the Shield. Whatever apprehension was building inside Tav deflated happily. 

“Oh, well that sounds good.” I’ve not had a lot of nice surprises as of late. 

No, you certainly haven’t. They lifted one leg to cross gracefully over the other, and the ridges of their pink and purple fleshy torso bulked against the muscles as he flexed. Not that Tav noticed… Was he truly obnoxious tonight? 

“Who?” Tav swiped the bottle, knowing it was stupid to lie to the Emperor. He was literally speaking his thoughts into her head, after all. She was chugging away, when he reached over to slow her again. “Yes, he was. But he’s always been like that, so I shouldn’t be surprised. It was always part of his charm how…charming he is.” And how he can make you believe you’re special. 

You are special. His ‘voice’ was more stern, and he took the bottle completely away from her. Yes you are. Tav folded her arms and scoffed in her throat. 

“Not in any way that’s good. Child of Bhaal. Was going to end the world until my evil sister whisked my brain jelly, and then I nearly became a mind flayer and killed on how many occasions?” She sang dramatically. “Too many to count.” 

You defied the Murder Lord, defeated the Dead Three, and also saved all of Faerûn from a threat the likes of which it had never seen before. He hissed in her mind, frustrated at her lack of self-worth. Even now, on the day of her unparalleled victory, she just couldn’t accept that she is magnificent. He knew it the first time they spoke and showed how much potential she had. How open-minded she is, and how determined she was to defeat the Absolute. Greater still, was her battle to overcome her dark urges. In that, she was also the victor but took no time to celebrate. There was no time, before now. Balduran had hoped she would be sharing in the merriment with her companions tonight. Instead, he sensed her lost mind and couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to her. 

Or quickly changing into something more comfortable before she arrived on his doorstep. It was no mystery to the Ilithid how he felt about Tav, but she had been content to be his friend. She was allowing the Vampire to use her body and abuse her heart, and he didn’t wish to interfere. He was tempted to, of course. He was inside Astarion’s mind as much as he was inside Tav’s. He knew it wasn’t love the sanguine rogue felt towards Tav. It was the convenience of her protection and the lust for the power she could give him. The mission had to come first, so when Astarion discarded her so completely…Balduran had to resist the urge to reach out through the tadpole and crush the spawn. 

“Oh come on? I didn’t do any of that shit alone.” Tav pointed at her Ilithid companion and clicked her fingers. “If anyone deserves praise and medals for saving the city, it’s you. This-” Tav tried to unfasten the medal on the left side of her elegant dress, like she was desperate to get rid of it. Like it’s presence was a farce she couldn’t stand. She didn’t feel like a hero. She was one of many people who fought for their freedom, and she was one of the lucky ones to have survived it. Not to mention, all the evil things ‘pre-tadpole Tav’ got up to hardly painted her as a paragon of justice. “-belongs to you.” The latch was caught. “Fucking hell. Just, hang on.” 

Don’t do that. I don’t need a medal. My freedom is the only thing I wanted, and thanks to you, I have it back where it belongs. She wasn’t listening and kept fighting with the medal. He raised his hands dramatically towards her. Nestled once more in the palm of my-

She ripped off the badge. 

A long strip of white fabric from her elegant robe tore away with it. The Emperor’s pink eyes dropped to her exposed full breast and dark navy nipple. -hands.