#anyway...i will get to dms later. for some godforsaken reason i am so worn to the bone lately.

[recitedemise]

I'm unloading a bit, but with how common comments denying Gale's abuse are, I couldn't help but wonder how much of the blatant rejection of Gale's experiences are due in part to his age.

He is an established adult. He's in his 30s and he isn't a child anymore. Despite Mystra being obviously older (as an entity as opposed to this specific 'reincarnation'), she presents herself as within Gale's age range and can easily be seen as a twinge younger. These two things could come together and present to you this image that Gale was the one who held the power in their dynamic.

But? It isn't even physically that much of an age gap if there's any worth mentioning at all. He may be a man, but then so what? Are men not capable of being abused? And is an established man at that not capable of being abused?

It's such an ugly unspoken bias people who make these comments are refusing to acknowledge. No one can rightfully fathom how a goddess can be powerless before a mere mortal, but thinking a grown man HAS to be the one in control beside his partner who is a woman, who may be younger? That's easier.

And truthfully, coming out of a deeply toxic and abusive relationship myself as the older partner (my then late 20s to their mid 20s where I was gaslit consistently, shamed constantly, relentlessly had my beliefs and intentions decided for me, had my discomfort/worries/disapproval/voice dismissed during sex just to name a SPARSE few), I can't help but to rile even harder seeing how a subset of the community treats Gale's story.

Abuse victims aren't a one size fits all. Gale doesn't have to fit anyone's mold.