Tilora hummed along with the music box she had wound up and let play as she undid her hair before bed.
"Do you dance?" she asked her girlfriend with a glance over her shoulder.
"Not...typically," Llevura said. She, too, had taken her hair out of its usual braid and put on an oversized shirt in preparation for sleeping.
Tilora turned around to face her and leaned back against the dresser. "Why not?"
"Not really the type, I suppose," she said. "At least, I'm not usually seen as the type, so I never really got into it."
"What if I wanted to dance with you?"
Llevura smiled softly. "I wouldn't object."
Arms around each other, they began to sway to the gentle beat of the music box. Tilora led her partner around the room, twirling along a meandering path that she made up as they went. Llevura wished she could rest her head against Tilora's shoulder, but being the taller one, she settled for focusing on the feeling of their chests pressed together. When the music began to slow, Tilora let go of all but Llevura's hand and stepped up onto the bed, followed by Llevura, and they let themselves fall backwards onto the mattress as the final notes rang out.
Llevura turned her head toward her girlfriend beside her and kissed her on the nose.
I thought the Sanctifier title would be cool to have for Tilora someday, since it’s one of the closest things to a “priestly” title, but I didn’t think it was realistic yet.
And then today, Tilora—who has been level 50 since Tuesday, got orbs on Thursday, and is only rank 7 in Undaunted (but we love that Toughness)—healed vet Unhallowed Grave hard mode, mostly on a whim. My first toon to ever clear the hard mode. So that’s neat.
[Intro story for Tilora (with some of Llevura’s POV). Harold, they’re lesbians.]
Tilora could sense the atmosphere of the Mournhold Temple before she even went inside. She had been here a handful of times before, but it always filled her with a new sense of awe. The energy...it felt safe, welcoming. Divine, really. Sure, the temple in Selfora where she had previously served as a priest for decades had its own sense of healing comfort to it, but this was different. The proximity to one of the living gods had a profound effect on the space. She hoped she would never get used to it.
When she went inside, there was a Hand of Almalexia near the door who gave her a small nod. She assumed this was the one she had been instructed to meet.
"Greetings, sera Hand. Are you Llevura?"
"I am," the Hand said. "How can I help you, sera?"
"Ah, wonderful! I'm Tilora Uvanil, the new priest from Selfora. I was told to ask you for a tour of the temple," she said. "I was also asked to tell you that Lady Almalexia would like you to take your helmet off. I can't say I know exactly why, but it's not my place to question a god."
She thought she heard some sort of exhale—a sigh? a laugh?—before Hand Llevura removed her helmet, but she followed the instructions without argument.
By the Three, she's pretty, Tilora caught herself thinking, but she quickly centered her thoughts. She would need to keep all of her focus on this tour if she was going to settle into her new position easily.
"Pleasure to meet you, Tilora," Llevura said. "I'd be happy to show you around. Shall we?"
Tilora managed to keep her attention on the tour, though she noticed in passing that this Hand also seemed like pleasant company. She hadn't been sure what to expect from the Hands of Almalexia, particularly whether they would have a superior attitude toward mere priests who served all three gods less directly. But this Hand, at least, seemed happy to help a new arrival, and showed no signs of disdain. She hoped the rest were like her.
At the end of the tour, they came to Almalexia's cloister. After confirming that she was alone and willing to see them, Llevura ushered her in to meet with their god in person. The air of divine power that she had been feeling grew even more concentrated as they approached her.
"Welcome, Tilora," Almalexia said in her reverberating voice that Tilora assumed she would be hearing much more of at her new posting. "We are so happy to have you in Mournhold."
"Thank you, muthsera. I am honored to be here, serving in your presence and in your holy city."
"And I see you've followed my directions to seek out Llevura."
"Oh, yes, Hand Llevura has been very helpful. I already feel welcome here."
"I am so glad to hear it." There was a hint of...something in Almalexia's eyes that she had not noticed in the few times she had encountered her before. Was it amusement? Even mischief? But before she could get distracted by wondering, Almalexia continued. "You should speak with my archcanon for duties. Perhaps Llevura can walk you to her office. But first, I must speak with my Hand in private. Would you give us a moment?"
"Of course, muthsera." She bowed low and left the cloister to wait outside.
---
Llevura tried to avoid eye contact with her god for as long as possible while Tilora was on her way out of the room, though she could feel Almalexia's gaze drilling into her the whole time. She knew exactly what Almalexia wanted to talk to her about, of course, and somehow that made things all the more awkward.
"So?" Almalexia asked as soon as the door closed behind them. What was previously a hint was now a full scheming smile. "What do you think?"
Though she knew it was a dangerous game, Llevura was not about to give in quite so easily.
"I trust your judgment, muthsera," she said. "I am sure she will make a fine addition to the Temple."
"Oh, don't pretend I can't see right through you—just like I saw your little eyeroll when Tilora asked you to take your helmet off," Almalexia said. "You think she's cute."
"I...do," Llevura admitted. She could feel her face burning already. This was going well. "Did you really bring her here for me?"
"I brought her here for a number of reasons. Don't presume to know a god's motives, my dear Hand." She wagged a finger with a stern look that Llevura hoped was at least mostly joking, but it faded quickly. "But yes. I set Tilora on your path just as I set you on hers. I told you I would find you a girlfriend, didn't I?"
"You did; I know. This just feels almost like cheating, having my god do all the work."
Almalexia shrugged. "Think of it as matchmaking. If you'd like, I could fill her in so that you're on the same page."
Llevura considered it, but shook her head. "Not yet, please. I'd rather have this evolve as organically as possible for now."
"As you wish," Almalexia said. "Well, you'd better get back to our new priest. And when you go out tonight, consider wearing a shirt that shows off your muscles. Tilora likes strong women."
"I'm sorry, when we—?"
"Dismissed. Enjoy your evening, my Hand!"
---
That expression Tilora had caught stayed on her mind as she waited outside the cloister for Llevura to return. She wondered what she was supposed to take from it, if anything. She also thought she noticed Llevura shift as if uncomfortable when Tilora had acknowledged her help. It was much too early to tell with any certainty, but could it be that her initial impression of Llevura—that she was pretty, nice, and the type of person whose company she might enjoy—was mutual? It might be worth getting to know her better. She had been searching, after all, albeit passively. If nothing else, she could come out of it with a new friend in an unfamiliar place.
Llevura emerged from her private discussion with Almalexia, and they made simple conversation on the walk to the archcanon's office. When they arrived, Tilora turned to Llevura once more.
"Thank you for your help today, Hand Llevura. Before we part ways, I was wondering one last thing: Where can one get a meal around here?"
"There are a number of places, depending on what you're looking for," Llevura said. "A popular one is the Flaming Nix, down by the Mourner's Plaza."
"The Flaming Nix...I haven't heard of it. If you're not busy, do you think you'd like to show me when we're off for the evening? We could get dinner. I'll buy."
Llevura looked just surprised enough to make Tilora worry that she had completely misread the situation. She was about to quickly add in something about it just being a way to show her appreciation for the warm welcome, but Llevura replied before she could get there.
"That sounds great. I look forward to it. See you tonight, Tilora."
This is a joke and also not very serious. It’s also like 16+. (It involves a euphemism for boobs.)]
Llevura stood atop the steps to the Tribunal Temple in Mournhold, dressed in her civilian clothes. Her friend Milia had been doing some adventuring that had brought her to the area, and so she had decided to stop by at the end of the day. They spent some time catching up while Llevura waited for her girlfriend to finish her own duties for the day.
"Doing anything fun tonight?" Milia asked.
"Actually, yes," Llevura said. "I have plans with Tilora this evening."
"Ooh, date night?" Milia said. "Gonna get a fancy dinner? Snuggle? See those Tilorbas?"
Llevura raised an eyebrow. "'Tilorbas?' Is that supposed to be in reference to my girlfriend's breasts?"
Milia looked like she had amused herself more than anyone, and was barely holding in a giggle.
"What, you don't call them that?"
"Why in Oblivion would I call them that?"
"I'll give you ten gold."
"What are you, a child?"
"A hundred, then."
Llevura folded her arms. "It's not going to happen, Milia."
"A thousand gold. Just have Tilora tell me you did it."
"A thousand gold for what?"
The door to the temple had opened while they were talking, and now Tilora joined them, leaning vaguely against Llevura, waiting for an arm to be wrapped around her. Llevura was happy to oblige.
"Something incredibly immature," she said. "No need to concern yourself."
"I asked Llev to say a simple word," Milia said, apparently having ignored her. "If she deigns to say it, tell me and I'll give you—or her—a thousand gold. Oh, and it has to be in context. She can't just say, 'The word was whatever,' and think that's good enough."
"And what's stopping me from just saying she said it so we can split the gold?" Tilora asked.
"Llev's honor."
Llevura tightened her jaw and said nothing. Her friend knew her well, unfortunately. Tilora smiled up at her, looking faintly mischievous, despite not even knowing the terms.
"One word for a thousand gold? Sounds like a bargain."
Milia looked satisfied. "I'll take my leave, then. Enjoy your date, ladies."
---
And so it happened as predicted. They went on their date, had a fancy dinner and a couple glasses of shein, went home and had a snuggle that soon escalated. When Tilora's shirt was partway off and covering her face, Llevura swallowed her pride. For a thousand gold.
"Ah, such lovely...Tilorbas."
There was a pause. Llevura's face was already burning.
"Did you just—" Tilora put her shirt back on. "Did you just call my tits 'Tilorbas?'"
She didn't look angry, luckily. Incredulous, maybe, but mostly laughing. Then it clicked.
"That was the dare?"
Llevura nodded, her face still as hot as the pit of Red Mountain.
"I'm so proud of you!"
Tilora tackled her to the bed and kissed her. Despite her embarrassment, she was happy for the kisses, and to have a girlfriend who could tolerate some silliness, even if Llevura could be a bit rigid herself.
Tilora sat back up and took her shirt off, for real this time.
"You can touch my Tilorbas, if you want."
---
The following day, Milia came by the temple again on her continued adventuring business. She caught sight of Tilora and veered in her direction.
"Anything to report?" she asked.
Tilora pointedly cast an energy orb in her direction and held out a hand.
She loves to use them to give her friends Minor Intellect and Endurance and Toughness. :) She also likes using them in healing potions and salves. And probably food. And she thinks the big tall ones are very pretty.
(Edit: Oops the question was "What are their opinions on mushrooms?")
A while ago I decided that Llevura needed a girlfriend, and had this sort of joke-idea that Almalexia decided she would find her one and generally how that would go, etc., but it wasn't that serious. Then I separately decided it was time to make a warden healer, which happened to be a fitting class/role for the character I had in mind. So then I was like, hey, two birds. Let's make her a player character.
So, Tilora Uvanil was a priest at the Tribunal Temple in Selfora. She was promoted to Mournhold due to some subtle string-pulling by Almalexia (and, of course, due to being a good priest—Almalexia wouldn't have her at her temple or as a match for one of her Hands otherwise). Llevura was aware of Almalexia's pseudo-shidduching while Tilora was not (at first), but Tilora was the one to make the first move and ask Llevura out, much to Almalexia's "I told you so."
So they end up dating. This is a bit after Llevura is done with the main quest, and they figure that's that. But eventually, because I love to cram as many Vestiges into one universe as I can, Tilora's own Hero/Prisoner nature manifests. Almalexia notices and decides to brief her and set her on her path rather than just let her walk into a trap without warning, though she doesn't give her the same huge tasks she gave Llevura. It's more like, "You have a Hero role to play. Go to Davon's Watch and speak to a hooded figure who will tell you there's an issue that could affect the fate of the world. It's a trap. You will be killed, and your soul will be taken to Coldharbour, but then you will live anyway and you will be on the path to stop the Planemeld."
Soon, Tilora's and Llevura's environmental timelines begin to sync up more and they can talk about stuff (my rule is that Vestiges in the same universe Just Plain Can't talk about events that have happened for one of them and not the other) and fill in some gaps. For example, whereas Llevura assumed Tilora survived the disaster in Selfora caused by Vox, it actually hadn't happened at all from Tilora's perspective. (And when she does do the Deshaan questline, it becomes very personal.)
But yeah, Llevura tries to train Tilora in swords before she really starts adventuring, but she eventually decides to stick with Good Priest Skills like staves and restoration, and she'll throw a cliff racer at people if she has to.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Elder Scrolls, Elder Scrolls Online
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Talvini (Vestige OC)/Milia (Vestige OC), Vestige OC/Vestige OC, Female Dunmer Vestige/Female Dunmer Vestige, Vetige OC & Vestige OC, Vestige OC & Vivec, Vestige OC & Almalexia
Characters: Milia Nyrandil (Vestige OC), Talvini Llothri (Vestige OC), Llevura Ranith (Vestige OC), Tilora Uvanil (Vestige OC), Vivec, Almalexia
Additional Tags: they pass the pov by touching don't @ me, Vestige trauma, PTSD
Summary:
Milia and Llevura hand their brain cells to Talvini and decide to fight to the (temporary) death to see whose faction is cooler. Milia is reminded about her trauma around dying.
---
This started as a joke about how Llevura could outparse Milia and how that would annoy Milia (and does annoy me because Milia is supposed to be my best dps), but Milia also has Vestige Baggage that needed to be unpacked, so here we are.
[Tilora asks Llevura about the Battle of Vivec's Antlers. Neither of them wants to defy Tribunal truth.]
Tilora sat beside her girlfriend in bed. Llevura's arm was wrapped around her as they each read their own book to wind down before going to sleep. Well, Tilora was trying to read, anyway, but her thoughts kept getting in the way. Her adventures so far had been testing her in many ways, but the one that was on her mind was a recent task that had tested her understanding of Tribunal doctrine. She had always figured—quietly—that certain stories would have to be tweaked before becoming the official truth, but the scale of this one surprised her.
She tried to push the thoughts aside, but eventually gave up on focusing on her book and set it down in front of her.
"Hey, Llev?" She shifted slightly upward so that she could look at her girlfriend without craning her neck. "You were at the Battle of Vivec's Antlers, right? The one during the Akaviri invasion, I mean."
"I was. Why do you ask?"
"I was just there a couple days ago. I had to take over for another priest who had been captured by the Covenant while trying to consecrate the remains of soldiers left over from the invasion. Some of their spirits spoke to me about the course of the battle."
Llevura tensed slightly and set her own book down.
"Now, I would never say anything so untrue as to get us in trouble with the Three or the Order of Inquisition," Tilora reassured her. "But these spirits, they had an account of the battle that was blatantly untrue compared to what we know from Tribunal doctrine. It was interesting to hear a perspective so clearly tainted by the fog of battle and death. The misguided souls seemed to believe that Vivec's wave killed their allies."
"And yet we know the wave miraculously spared all but the invaders," Llevura said.
Her voice sounded as though she were reciting facts from a textbook, not like someone who was present to witness the wave. Tilora hoped she would be better at lying if it ever came up with an Ordinator of Inquisition.
"Exactly, Vivec be praised. May those poor spirits find peace among the ancestors." She scooted back down and leaned her head against her girlfriend's shoulder. After another second, she asked, "Did you lose friends that day?"
"A few," Llevura said quietly.
"I pray they find peace as well. And I'm here for you, as much as I can be."
Llevura wordlessly pulled her in close and kissed her head.
They sat in silence for several moments. Tilora began to wonder whether she should change the subject, or return to her book, or just let her sit with her thoughts, but Llevura eventually spoke.
"Almalexia knows that my memories of the battle may...diverge from what we know to be true, in some respects. And she accepts that, as long as I speak only the truth to anyone who isn't a god. But you...just be very careful. Don't get yourself in trouble."
