#Gale Dekarios: act 1

[championsofthegate]

@skyheld asked: let's get you up on your feet. /ameridan to gale

One day, Gale was going to stop getting knocked out by whatever they happened to be fighting. Today was not that day, however.

He let out a small groan, blinking up at Ameridan. How had he... ah, redcap, right. Gale pushed himself into a sitting position, taking stock of his injuries.

"Nasty creatures, recaps," he murmured to know one in particular, before focusing on Ameridan again. "Is everyone else alright?"

[ithinkthiswasabadidea]

my first play through and also trying to keep everyone from becoming their worst selves is going well why do you ask

[liorlen]

gale origin playthru from astarion’s pov or smth like that

[championsofthegate]

Gale did very much like it when Gwen got feisty. Even if it was at Astarion for interrupting them.

And then the way she pulled him in for another kiss. Oh, Gale was going to be thinking about that later, he was sure about that. He leaned into her eagerly, pouting as she pulled away again. Gods, he could stand here and kiss her all night.

But of course, someone would probably interupt them again.

"Perhaps you're right," he agreed with a sigh. "We'll have to find somewhere more... private next time." He leaned down to kiss her again, letting it linger. Just for a moment.

"Alright. Before someone else comes up the stairs, then."

"I thought we were supposed to be nosing around the tower," Astarion countered. "Not nosing around each other. Although...You two do look quite cozy."

Gwenifar didn't step back from Gale's hold on her, feeling annoyance bubbling up. First Durante, now Astarion. It was so difficult to get a few moments to steal away with Gale and he had said...

Oh.

And she had almost said...

Oh.

She felt a renewed heat to her cheeks and shook her head. They needed to focus on the task at hand and continue on to get to the towers. Once there was a cure found, then she could sort all of this out.

"Go get the others, Astarion, we'll head back to camp," Gwenifar snapped.

"Why should I—"

"Just go!" She ordered, getting an eye roll from him and a disgruntled 'fine' as he descended the stairs.

Gwenifar turned to Gale, looking at him. She wanted to say it, she wanted to so badly. Instead, her hand moved to the back of his neck, pulling him down for a quick, but heated kiss. She hoped it would convey everything to him.

"We should get going," she said softly. "Before someone else decides to walk in."

[dr-demi-bee]

Gale's act 1 romance is just so good. The more I think about Gale the more I like it. It shows off so many parts of his character - how integral magic is to him, his love of teaching, his smugness, his appreciation for your friendship... But also his vulnerability. Before you picture something more - he looks pleased. Happy to share a moment with you as friends. (During the party he even expresses hoping that he can consider you a true friend. A self-professed rarity for him.)

At the same time he's making this face though, he moves closer to you. Whether he would acknowledge it or not, Gale clearly does seek out that intimacy.

His earnest surprise after pulls at my heart strings. He genuinely wanted to find a safe way to connect. He had no expectations of you returning his feelings (hence, embarrassment - at being perceived, or at not considering your feelings, perhaps.).

Followed by a resigned shoulder slump and a face of desperate yearning... 🥺 It's almost the same pouty face he gives you when he confesses he loves you.

Then, genuine thrill - elation - at the very idea of it! Gale has a firm grip on what he shares with us here - he's still an archmage level wizard (even nerfed), and that's a skill he would have. (It's probably why we don't ever accidentally connect tadpoles with Gale). He chooses after his initial surprise to share a feeling of not just joy but a joy with pride and optimism. He turns *towards* you - communicating not just elation but desire in his expression.

But he immediately follows this with an 'oh shit, stop thinking about it' look and a long shake of the head to clear the thought(s) away 😭 (Because trepidation here isn't about kissing you - it's about the orb.)

But he's quick to reassure you - not just because he knows you wouldn't be able to hide your thoughts from him (not an option - even picturing nothing carries a feeling with it) . "But it is a pleasant image, to be sure." And then he hits you with a confirmation of his desire and approval. "Most pleasant, in fact. Most welcome."

He hadn't considered it a possibility, but gods be damned, you've given him the first burst of hope and confidence he's had in a while. The first time in months he's felt wanted. His posture straightens with the confidence boost. He turns fully to you and clearly wants to bask in the moment - to connect with you.

But then the Weave evaporates. Whatever the reason may be, Gale didn't do it. He didn't expect it. Clearly. He posture collapses and he whimpers like it physically hurt.

The narration makes it clear how jarring the connection ending feels to us (cold and lonesome) - how must it feel for poor Gale? He hasn't had such a strong connection with someone in ages. Who knows how long since it was with another mortal (if ever)? We know from later stages of his romance and from communication with Gale that physical touch is an integral part of his expression of love and connection. And with the orb he can't have it. The loss of intimacy and connection here hurts.

"How easily things slip away from us." How easily they are lost. Anyway go hug your wizard.

[heph]

Food - Bringing us Together

[stephart09]

POV: you forgot to cast mage armor and now the wizard is down

[championsofthegate]

Ah, a vampire spawn would be different from a true vampire. Gale wasn't sure if that would account for all the differences, of course, but it was as good an explanation as any, for the moment.

He smiled warmly at her, reaching out to take her hands in his, clasping them gently. "Of course, Aurelia. You're the same person you've been, after all. I just know more about you. And I'm honored, you shared this with me."

Truly, he was glad she trusted him enough to share this, something that could potentially get her in a lot of trouble with people. "Just one thing. If you're looking for a blood donation, you'll want to look elsewhere. I can't imagine my blood tastes very good, given the circumstances."

She asked the question, she should have known that she would get an answer. The description he gave certainly sounded like most of the vampires she knew, so it wasn't that he was wrong... it was simply that she wished it weren't true. Though with that said...

"I'm a vampire, yes... but more of a spawn, than a true vampire. Perhaps that is why," because in her time under Cazador's rule, she had done some pretty awful things, things that she wouldn't be telling Gale about any time soon

"But thank you... truly. It means a lot that you're so open minded about this..." she trails off drawing her hands to her chest, cradling one hand in the other. "I'm glad I told you."

[championsofthegate]

@proelio-procusi asked: trust me on this one. you don't wanna know. - from Weylyn for Gale

"You don't know me very well at all, do you, Weylyn?" Gale asked in amusement. True, they had only recently met, but Gale would have thought the aasimar would have figured some things out about him.

"I have a penchant for curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, my dear friend. So please, enlighten me. I absolutely must know."

[mossy-rossy]

Behold! Ultra mega vampire seduction tricked honed for over 200 years!

(Its super effective)

[saturdaysky]

you lose sight of it, somehow, when you consort with gods: how fragile mortals are, and how precious.

[gale of waterdeep & my pc, mayhew of nowhere in particular]

[crocodiller]

played so much bg3, now drawing so much bg3

[whoopsitsloobis]

There's 2 types of people in the world...

[mayhasopinions]

freaks /affectionate

[tomurakii]

I like bloodweave. Okay. But I DON'T like the version of them in fanfic where Astarion is a dick and Gale is like. Whining and pleading for him to be emotionally vulnerable (or just. Nice to him) prior to the relationship being established. Because that is just not accurate. Gale needs the player to express interest in him during his weave-teaching scene before he even considers hitting on them properly. Gale is entirely resigned to his fate and needs someone else to pull him away from it. Gale only starts being sweet and romantic and devoted after you accept his love confession and give him hope for the future. Gale says fuck all and then slinks away to cry privately if you break up with him.

Like he isn't chasing after people lmao. He isn't dropping to his knees and crying about anything much less this dickhead he met a week ago. He is overwhelmingly passive about literally everything personal to him up to and including his own death (provided there are no casualties/there is a good reason) until after the player expresses that they care about him. Astarion is not doing that in any of these fics.

Like Gale is friendly and a dork and doesn't wanna get murdered but he fully has a suicide plan. He thought the artefacts would help him survive but he didn't believe he'd ever truly live again. If Gale confessed and Astarion said/did like one (1) mean thing afterward Gale's romance is closed off forever. He's wandering into the forest to cry. He's killing himself immediately. His fragile ego and self worth can't take it. You have to understand that when we joke about him being pathetic it's not bc he's like. Sopping wet and chasing people down and begging for a scrap of attention. It's because he craves affection but would literally rather die than ask or even hope for it until someone else forces that hope back into his serotonin-deficient tadpole brain.