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Rowyn glared at the wide-eyed man. "Val, that is not what you said it would do."
"I didn't think this would happen!"
Fortunately for the frantic sailor's heart, the two men that had been blasted off their feet were now regaining consciousness. The haunting would have been merciless if his horrendous first attempt at alteration magic had been the final straw for the seasoned warriors.
What was supposed to happen was a replication of a spell Marin had used since childhood. Something to pass the time and eventually impress his husband while they waited for the other half of their group to return. A chance to dip his toes into the one school of magic he just couldn't quite wrap his head around. Val had watched his partner cast the simple spell a thousand times before.
No, he didn't need an explanation.
No, he didn't need to see Rowyn cast it first.
No, he evidently did not know what he was doing.
"If that was an alteration spell, then I'm an Argonian."
Val glared at Rowyn as the other two began coming to their senses. Taliesin raised his hands to cover his face and let out an unusually long growling sound.
Gore, on the other hand, sat up slowly with no shortage of dramatic sound effects. "Oh Gods Serano, what in Oblivion was all of-"
Taliesin shot up as both of the men went white as snow.
"Hey! That's me!"
Gore's jaw dropped as Taliesin continued glaring at him.
"Give me back!"
An incredulous look spread across Gore's face as he crossed his arms and glared at the mer. "And just how in Oblivion am I meant to do that?"
"Augh, I don't know." 'Taliesin' sunk his head into his hands. "Gods, this feels weird. Val!?"
The man in question was still trying to find his jaw from the ground. "This… uh… this wasn't supposed to happen."
Taliesin, who Val was now certain was actually Gore, glared up at him. "I fuckin' hope it wasn't. Now fix it."
Taliesin shook Gore's head frantically. "Nooo no no, that is exactly how this happened in the first place."
Val raised his hands with wide eyes and nodded. "I'm with him. I have no idea what happened."
Gore flopped back onto the ground with another frustrated groan. "Fine. We'll wait for Marin."
Taliesin let out an offended huff as he watched his body smack against the dirt. "Be careful with that!"
Gore scoffed and spoke in a very close imitation of Taliesin's accent. "Oh I'm sorry, should I get this ancient relic back to the museum?"
Taliesin glared at him. "That was uncalled for."
Rowyn managed a mildly amused smile while Val tried to gauge how likely he was to lose an eye if he laughed. Both Dunmer looked more shell-shocked from the whole ordeal than either of the afflicted parties.
"Lighten up, Tal." Gore shook Taliesin's head. "They'll be back soon, and then we'll be back too."
Taliesin stalked off to the rocky ledge muttering something about it being not soon enough under his breath.
While they waited for the more useful Mr. Serano, Rowyn and Val attempted to pool their combined rudimentary magical knowledge in an attempt to understand what in Oblivion had just happened. After patiently humoring them for a few minutes, Gore stood and informed them both that any further magical experimentation would result in Val being rearranged in much less amusing ways than his own predicament.
Rowyn shook his head while the sailor tried to decide just how serious Gore was. "Sorry, blood. Marin'll be back soon."
Gore sighed. "Not soon enough."
He left them to their discussion and walked over to where Taliesin was sitting on the rocky ledge in his body, overlooking the valley.
~
Taliesin heard a very familiar voice call out softly behind him.
"Thanks for uh. Not… telling anyone."
Taliesin turned to see his own face avoiding his gaze.
He knew that expression.
The one that stared at him in the mirror after too many furious cries falling on numb ears. The one that considered anything just to make things stop. The one that wished desperately for something, anything that would just make things feel right.
But there was more there. A fear, one that he didn't recognize.
His voice was as sincere as he could make it. "My friend, there is nothing to tell."
The corner of Gore's mouth ticked upward without reaching his eyes.
He pinched his lips in. This was personal, of course. But being in someone else's skin was already far more personal than imaginable.
"I… don't mean to be presumptuous. But if you should ever…" he inhaled deeply, "wish for a change, I could give you recommendations for some excellent flesh sculptors."
Gore furrowed his brows in confusion as Taliesin continued. "Only a few thousand gold, I should expect. Though, I will admit that I've only ever been told the cost by women, but I can't imagine it would be much different."
Gore blinked, followed by an expression akin to a child told of a wondrous gift not yet given.
"What do you mean?" His voice was far too even for someone truly asking that question.
"I mean…" Taliesin took another deep breath. "If you are uncomfortable in your own skin, I will do everything I can to help you. And I can, if it is something you'd be interested in."
"Hey you two! Marin's back!"
The once long-awaited words fell on deaf ears as the most beautiful smile spread across Gore's face. His nod was nearly imperceptible.
"Y-yeah, I-"
"Gore? Tal?"
Gore looked behind himself briefly and raised an arm in acknowledgment. He turned back and offered Taliesin a hand as he stood.
"I mean it, my friend."
Gore cleared his throat with a hopeful smile. "In, uh, in Skyrim?"
"Yes, believe it or not. But…" He made a sour face. "You… won't like where we have to go."
"One, you're the picky one. Ro and I'll go anywhere." Gore raised an eyebrow as they walked back to the waiting arch-mage. "Two, you don't have to go anywhere, I do."
"True and true." Taliesin sighed. "Nonetheless, I shall accompany you. Gods only know what you two would do unsupervised."