#'do i look okay' gwynnie i would kill all of the six for u what the fuck do u mean

[the-desert-beast]

Maelgwyn has spent around 2 decades trying to fulfill what he perceived as his role, printed onto him directly from his legendary mythos. He spent most of that time trying to meet unreasonable masculine standards, expectations that were not comfortable to him.

Y'see Gwynnie doesn't realize this until hes much older; What he wanted the entire time was to be someone's favorite, their house-spouse pretty much. All he's ever yearned for is domestic bliss. It's been that simple the entire time,

Yet circumstance remained to complicate things, Maelgwyn has never been good at deciphering his own emotions- He drowns them out, ignores them, tamps them down, tells himself that he's fine until he meets the inevitable breakdown, only to repair himself and do it all again in a few months time. Atleast that's how it worked out for a decade or so of his life. Far too long. depression and burnout ruined him along with his moodswings, and the episodes. He wouldn't have been having such an awful time if only he knew how to lean on others, if he'd only known sooner how to value himself. Truth is he still doesn't care that much about himself in isolation, but the looming thought "I don't want to make him worry" helps him care for himself, he skips meals rarely, if ever and remembers basic self care, forcing himself to brush his teeth, make the bed, wash his face, if not for himself then for his starlight. (he is much better about it present day in isolation as well but yknow. he is a Pair Do Not Separate person regardless of this aspect.)

Once he finally does get some peace of mind and the ability to leave all the unwanted gender roles, expectations and just, everything that restricted and suffocated him personally about his legend, He finally asks himself what he wants.

He discovers that it's to be beautiful sometimes, to be called "my wife" and called beautiful and pretty by the love of his life, to have the freedom to act sweet, and gentle, and vulnerable again, after all these years. Maelgwyn lives with a mask on in public and for most of his decades alive. His one wish is to be able to take that mask off with the ones he loves most, to be himself and treated no differently. Treated exactly as he is; maelgwyn, rather than the desert beast.

bBY YOU ARE MY ANGGGEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Maelgwyn likes to look femme for dates with his starlight, but he still gets nervous about not being good enough, along with the shame of Being PerceivedTM. It leads her to doubt herself and how much his partner loves him despite their history together. She's gotten better about it! This is a depiction of one of the rare moments when it resurfaces. (also not pictured is his spouse off screen, probably thinking to themself "oh we're going to be late for our reservation.")