bakerstreet | One last chance to do right

One last chance to do right

― 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄 ( comment with your character, tag others, roll for prompts. )

one character takes a bullet meant for another
one character takes a punch meant for another
one character takes an arrow meant for another
one character takes an attack with a sword meant for another
one character drinks a poisoned drink meant for another
one character takes a spell meant for another
one character pushes another to safety, sacrificing themselves
one character stays behind to fight the enemy, allowing the other to escape
one character is too hurt to flee, so the other is forced to leave them and keep moving in order to survive
one character offers to be killed in place of another
one character offers to be taken captive in place of another
the battle is over, and right as two characters begin their celebration, they realize one character is mortally wounded
a trap doors is about to close. one character shoves another to safety in the nick of time before the door shuts forever
during a high-stakes game, one character loses on purpose in order to let another win

[ well yes he would. (x10) m/m 20+ can plot out or wing it. ]

Orym is staring down Lolth. With the new era beginning and the gods choosing to either leave or stay the Betrayer Gods had started causing problems for the world as a whole. Nani had sent her servant to handle the Spider Queen. Orym had known it was a bad idea to ask Dorian to come along but it had been so long since he'd seen his lover and he'd assumed Lolth was weak and it would be an over and done.

But it had been a trap and now Orym was standing between her and Dorian and he made a choice. "Take me," he says softly, "you've wanted a Champion right...take me and leave him...."

When Orym had asked him to come along to find the Spider Queen, he had agreed willingly, having his own score to settle. But her presence was stronger than they had anticipated, and she had managed to grab a hold of something deep and dark in him, twisting and manipulating it to her will.

He can feel the darkness pressing in around him, the skittering of too many legs echoing in his mind. He can feel her, trying to take hold of him, and he's only just barely able to resist.

And he can barely make out the words Orym says, but it cuts straight through to his heart. "N-No... Orym..." he says weakly, still struggling to hold on to what was left of him. "Y-You can't..."

Orym shakes his head hard. "No Dorian I have to," he says softly, "She's done enough to you. I won't let her take you. Not when I can do something about it." The halfling looks back at him eyes sad. "I had a feeling I wouldn't be going home ever again...I just thought that was because I'd be returning to you someday."

He looks back at the Spider Queen. "The crown was found because of me. I didn't fight getting rid of it....I should wear it now."

"N-No..." Reaching out, Dorian weakly grips Orym's arm. "W-We didn't... get rid of it because of me. I-It was... It was my fault. D-Don't throw your life away because of my mistake. Please."

Orym looks at Dorian with all seriousness. "I'm not throwing my life away if it means protecting you Dorian," he says, "I won't see another young life lost to her...it was hard enough not being there to help Opal, but it would hurt even more if she took you. I'd wonder every day where you were and who she might be trying to make you hurt...I can't...."

He swallows. "I'm stronger than you and Opal...I can resist her longer and if I can't I know you and the others will do what you can to stop me."

Kneeling beside Orym, Dorian wraps his arms around his shoulders in a desperate embrace. “Th-That’s what scares me most,” he says softly. “I-If something happens to you… I-I don’t know if I could stop you. I-I don’t want to lose you… please.”

Orym clings to Dorian trying not to weep. Morri had given him his freedom to be with Dorian and travel the world and there had been so little time before this. But Loth seemed determined to punish the Crown Keepers and Orym needed to protect those that were left.

"I can't lose you either," Orym says, "But we can't beat her back...we could barely beat the God Eater and it's just us here.....it's this or we....die...and I can't stand that option either."

Dorian takes a shuddering breath, feeling her presence pressing further into his mind. “I’d rather die with you than lose you to her,” he whispers.

And it’s incredibly selfish, he knows it is. But if he was going to lose Orym either way, at least it wouldn’t be to her.

"And I can't lose you to her," Orym says, "Because once I do...you know what she'll make you do...I can at least resist her long enough for you to get away...please Dor...let me do this."

He presses a desperate kiss to his lover's mouth. "Please let me save you one more time."

Dorian’s breath hitches softly, a distressed sound rising from his throat even as he returns the kiss.

“Come back to me,” he whispers against Orym’s lips. “Please, come back to me.”

Orym nods tears starting to spill out of his eyes. "I'll fight like the Hells I promise," he swears, "just don't let me hurt anyone....not the Hells or the Nein or the Vox Machina. Keyleth especially....do what you have to Dorian if I even make a move toward any of them,"

He kisses Dorian again. "But I'll fight as hard as I can and come back to you for good if I win."

“I’ll do what I can,” he replies softly. It was the best he could promise, not sure if he could ever really fight Orym. But he’d try, if only to make sure Orym had less to feel guilty about.

“And I’ll wait for you. Always.”

Oyrm does feel guilty. How can he not when Dorian makes a promise to wait for him always. The genasi is young and making a promise like that is....it's unfair. He deserves to find someone who can love him as he deserves to be loved.

"Don't...don't make a promise like that Bluebird...please. You deserve...love, you deserve the world and the chance to find them."

Orym's voice is shaking as he can feel the spiders dancing along his mind. "Wait for as long as you can, but if love finds you or you find it...take it."

The overwhelming presence is starting to recede from his mind, the sound of spider legs skittering across his brain quiet. But his breath still hitches, knowing what that means for Orym.

"Even if I do... if I ever find someone else... you'll always hold the biggest piece of my heart. You were the first person I had ever loved... and even if I find another, you will always be the truest love."

Orym manages a smile. "I'm...glad. I'm glad I was the first," he says, "meeting you changed my life in a good way. It reminded me life was worth living and it makes me feel....at peace knowing there will be someone out there who will remember me...and Opal as we were before HER, before the crown."

Dorian takes a shaky breath, feeling tears fill his eyes. "We'll find a way," he whispers softly, gently squeezing Orym's hand. "We'll find a way to bring you back... we'll fix this."

Or Dorian would die trying.

"I know you will," Orym says, "I always believed in you...no matter what you find and answer and you don't give up. It's what I love about you Dorian."

Dorian feels the tears forming in the corner of his eyes, and a few slip free as he reaches up to kiss Orym once more, while he still have the chance. "I love you too," he says against Orym's lips. "Always."

Orym isn't sure if the wetness dripping down his face is the black ichor of her influence or tears but he manages to reach up to wipe the tears away. "You need to go Dor....please before she makes me hurt you..."

Dorian can feel his heart breaking all over again. He didn't want to leave Orym, especially in his last moments of being himself before the Spider Queen claimed him. But he knows how guilty Orym would feel if he ended up hurting him.

"I'll come back for you," he whispers, slipping him one last kiss before shakily getting to his feet. "Someday."

"Someday," Orym says and struggles to his feet with the last ounce of awareness he has as himself. He walks back to stand beside Loth and bows his head. "I love you," he whispers softly.

More tears manage to slip free as Dorian watches Orym walk to the Spider Queen, his heart breaking even more even as more rage and hatred towards Lolth fills him. "I love you too," he whispers, letting the wind carry his words back to Orym.

Then, forcing himself to turn away, he uses Dimension Door to move a safe distance away - somewhere that he can still Orym, but far enough that the other wouldn't be able to try and attack him.

As the new Champion of the Spider Queen kneels to honor his new goddess the shield on his back begins to drip black ichor the ivy and leaves covered with the darkness. Dorian will smell cherry blossoms on his wind and they will strengthen him as a voice from very far away whispers to him. "All is not lost yet bard...not as long as memory is kept in the heart."

Dorian watches Orym kneeling to the Spider Queen, his heart twisting in his chest at the sight. But then a breeze drifts by, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms on the wind. The voice fills his mind, and while he's surprised at first, the words fill him with a sense of hope, as he places a hand to his heart.

"Right..." he says, not sure who he's speaking to. Maybe just himself. "I'll keep him with me, always."

He'll find a way to help Orym. He's sure of it.

Orym turns and withdraws Seedling which is now dripping ichor as well his kind eyes now filled with darkness and his normally graceful movement jerky like he has now been turned into a puppet almost as if Orym's mind is still fighting her influence The movements are hesitant but he crouches to spring at Dorian.

Seeing Orym ready to come towards him, Dorian whistles sharply, and when Coriolis appears at his side he hops onto the equine dragon, flying up into the air making sure to be out of Seedling's range.

Orym snarls and turns to attack the construct flinging black goop at it as he slashes toward it's throat and just barely misses.

Coriolis deftly dodges out of the way, gracefully flying through the air and carrying Dorian farther into the sky. Still, not wanting to hurt Orym, Dorian sends a Thunderclap in Orym's direction, just enough to try and stun him.