[ It wouldn't be the first time faith has betrayed Gale; Armand sees it bright and clear in his mind, the loss that feels like a burning hole in his chest, water rushing in to fill it as they wade deeper into the lake together. But that water will never soothe the fire inside of him, the destruction started long ago by other hands. Even if they sink into the mud, Armand thinks it will smoulder there, warming the icy water, Mystra's wicked little pearl.

He looks into Gale's eyes as he walk-swims backwards towards the middle of the lake, leading him on over the slippery weeds and rocks, into the cold sticky mud that slopes suddenly away into the depths. Fish dart around them; bright eyes watch them from the shadows. Armand ignores it all. His attention is fixed on his poor lonesome boy, his hollow love. ]

Shhh. [ He murmurs softly, soothingly, moving in closer to touch Gale's face with his wet hands. Stroking his cheeks with his thumbs, mingling the salt of his tears with the green water of the lake. ] Shh, my love, it's okay. It's okay to be afraid. It's okay, I'm here now. We're together. It's okay. I will always be here, with you. I won't leave you. I promise.

[ He means it, or at least he believes he means it, with every part of his body and soul. The hunger in him is great and terrible, filling him, becoming harder to bear the closer he becomes to finally ending it. His grip tightens on Gale's shoulder, one hand stroking the wizard's hair. So close, he's so close to it now, the thing he wants most in the world, the thing he has always wanted. An end to his loneliness.

Shark's eyes slide closed across two sets of eyelids as he leans in to kiss Gale, a searing kiss with a mouth full of teeth -- and in a sharp ripple of his body, throws himself backwards, arms locked around Gale to pull him down, down, down. ]