It had certainly been an interesting few months. Tav moved into the Emperor’s lair, which is what she called it, and as predicted, all her previous companions moved on. The rooms upstairs in the tavern were rented once more by regular customers. She had to admit that it was convenient to live down here. Not simply because there was always wine within reach at the end of a hard day dealing with varying shades of bullshit across the city. There was an easy access tunnel below to the sewers, so she could travel unseen easily and come and go as she pleased. It took a while to get used to wielding her words more than her quarterstaff to make people see reason, but the Emperor was right. She was perfect to step into Duke Staleman’s old position. People either idolised or feared her enough to do as they were told. For the most part. And when they didn’t? It was nice to be able to send agents to either investigate why, or enforce their orders. Not that she wasn’t above rolling up her sleeves and shattering a few skulls with plumes of magic. 

On this particular evening, she was regaling Balduran about the smuggler’s den she snuck up on like a regular rogue before dispatching them all in one go. 

“You should have seen me. I was like a cat, shuffling on all fours above them all.” She grinned, her hands in the wooden bucket she was washing her laundry in. Tav sat on a stool and worked ash out of her favourite robe. “I whistled to get them all to look up, and then BOOM!” She thrust her hands up, sending suds out from the bucket and cackling as one landed on Balduran’s shoulder. “Fire ball! Roasted smugglers, anyone?” She was still high from the battle. Reinforcements came in droves, and she had a firefight with several of them before a certain dark figure leapt down from the rooftops and unleashed a mighty mind blast on them. Balduran then proceeded to take her hand and run with her to the nearest sewer access hole to get her off the street. 

Yet he didn’t chastise her. He knew how combat excited her. Tav could indulge in her bloodlust when she could justify it. Those smugglers were selling drugs that ruined lives. Her conscience was clear, and her kill count was high. The Emperor only intervened because she was outnumbered. Despite having witnessed the entire thing from the rooftops in his black hooded robe, and experiencing it in her mind the moment he held her hand, he indulged her vivid retelling. “It was hilarious! Extra crispy bad guys!” 

It was about time the infestation was cleared from our docks. He felt her anticipation, and the smile on her face appeared long before he finished walking to her. I had hoped the security guards would locate the smuggler’s operation and carry out a raid, but they were taking far too long. The intel gathered was good, and it was the right call to go in with a small team. I had thought you would have taken some backup with you, but regardless? He stood over her and reached down to cup her cheek. Her eyes shut at the contact, and he pushed into her mind so she could feel how pleased he was with her. Another excellent job well done, Tav. Many will sleep easier tonight now that there are fewer drugs on the streets. 

The beauty of being an Ilithid, and having earned Tav’s trust enough to have free access to her mind, was knowing her better than she knew herself. More than even the tadpole had allowed him to know her. Once you know what makes a person tick, you can apply the right leverage and make them dance to whatever tune you wish to play. The thing Tav wanted the most wasn’t power, glory, battle, or even wine. It was affection. To be valued as a person, not just as a killing machine. It was a desire that took root before she lost her memories, but it was a keystone for the person she is now. Post-tadpole Tav, as she called it. It was why she fell so hard for Astarion. He made her feel treasured. But, of course? Balduran had no intention of following in the Vampire’s footsteps. He was going to surpass and possess every inch of Tav, and never let her go. Astarion was a fool to have done so, and Balduran was no fool. A superior being like him should have the most superior specimen as his partner in all things. He knew that was Tav, and would make her believe that with enough time. He had a clear plan for how to achieve this goal. First, he would fill her with encouragement and praise, so she craved his affection. Once she acted on that craving, he would bombard her senses with delightful passion. Her body would melt with ecstasy in his hands, and she would then welcome him deep within her. First her body, then her mind, until even her soul offered itself to him. Total domination of this lovely creature would be his and his alone. As it should have always been. 

“You’re just happy there will be no paper work to forge.” She sniggered cheekily as she leaned into his touch. “You can spend more time reading your dusty books now instead. Oh, Bal! That reminds me.” Tav swung her tail over to point at her burlap sack to her right. “I found another of those poetry books you like so much.”

Truly? Of course they knew that, but it took the fun out of her acquisition when she didn’t get to surprise him with it. I look forward to reading it. He didn’t avert his eyes from hers, or cease caressing her cheek. He was careful not to catch her with his nails, having taken to filing them down to prevent her from shying from his touch. Over the months she had started living with him and working together, he’d made good progress towards his goal of possessing her. He assured her that he used male pronouns, as he did before he became an Ilithid. She even called him Bal, which she thought was a cute pet name for him. He saw it as another stepping stone towards his victory. Especially since he allowed her to believe that he needed to lay beside her to suppress her nightmares. She’d been sleeping in his bed since the first night, having not corrected that assumption. Holding her was pleasant, as was wandering in her mind each night. Perhaps I’ll use it to put you to sleep again tonight? 

“Yeah. Poetry does that to me.” Tav snorted and rung out her robe over the soapy bucket. “Have you eaten tonight?” He chuckled and stroked his thumb across her cheekbone. He had, since they were interrogating a cut throat earlier today and he wasn’t in the cage area anymore…

Yes, but don’t worry. He leaned down so she could smell his breath as he spoke close to her face. I have thoroughly cleared my palate. Vanilla and honey, tonight. Since you said that garlic was too strong on your tongue last time. Her face turned darker blue and she shoved at his chest playfully. 

“Alright, Mr. comedian. I’m tired, and my pain in the ass boss has me going to a meeting with the merchant’s guild in the morning. I’m going to bed.” Tav declared. She’d already stripped down to her underwear and planned to drop onto the bed and pass out as she was. Balduran had other ideas and took hold of her biceps gently in both hands. 

I’m your partner, not your boss. I do, however, insist on you bathing before joining me in bed. You are covered in ash and blood. He moved her to step into the same soapy bucket she’d been washing her clothes in, and she grumbled at being coddled. 

“I’m tired, Bal.” 

That’s alright. I’ll help you bathe so you can get to bed quickly.