#especially because Gale lets slip those extremely heartfelt words that elude to something more

[jacqcrisis]

Can I talk about Gale in my bg3 playthrough? I'm gunna talk about Gale in my playthrough.

My read on Gale during his time following Ronan around is that he's pining to all hell. Mega pining. Pining so hard it SUCKS.

At the start, its all fun and trying not to die with the cleric who is quiet and stoic and gruff. They gather their little band of merry men and women, and its clear there's a more calculating, pragmatic side to Ronan in the way he talks his way out of issues. There's a softer side to him as well in how he is generally willing to help those in need and in how he acts when the day is done, his care, eagerness to listen, curiosity, and healing touch hard to miss even under the usual cold and arrogant air he has about him.

They become fast friends, Ronan defers to him the most when coming up with a plan or when needing a different point of view, and Gale enjoys the whole of him. There's a lot of him to enjoy. Aesthetically. He's rather fetching for a dragonborn in his face and his form and the rumble of a voice cannot be understated.

But Gale wouldn't. No, he's still got Mystra to win back. He's not looking for anything else with a goddess' favor is on the line. He's not ready to give that up-

And then the magic lessons happen. And he's flattered, really, truly, that Ronan would conjure up such...creative images of them together. And then show them to Gale. How very bold of him.

As flattered as he is and how those fantasies stick with him, Gale still wouldn't. He can appreciate from a distance. Enjoy his new friendship but he wouldn't...

Would he? Ronan's so... nice under the impatient, grumpy facade and he's saved Gale from some rather sticky situations, held his hand as he healed grievous wounds, hugged him in their victories. He's a dedicated ally and friend and one could imagine it would not change as a lover. Maybe when Gale is ready, maybe if he can't get Mystra back, maybe he could, perhaps-

Oh. Astarion got there first. It's a crushing blow to his confidence, further compounded when at the party, Ronan's spending it with the vampire as well. Not like it could've happened between them anyways, that Ronan would have wanted anything between them considering the orb and...everything.

He has to make peace with that. Accept that. It's fine, of course. Better a friend had than nothing at all and what a friend he's found in Ronan with is easy affection and his enthusiastic praise and his trust and his loyalty and how when Gale learns of Mystra's plan to have him sacrifice himself, Ronan is immediately and unwaveringly stubbornly certain there's another way, has to be another way, 'I'll not see you go this way'-

And he still thinks about the magic lessons. And enjoys the way Ronan listens to him. Laughs with him. Embraces him. Holds him, lingers around him at times. And the way he still looks at him at others.

Gale also sees how he looks at Astarion. How they keep getting closer, and closer until finally something changes and they're truly together. And he's touching Astarion more and their spending nights sleeping together and Ronan is so open with his adoration and Gale

He could've had that. Should have had all of that. Why didn't he take it when he could've, when he still had a chance? Why did he blow it off, wait too long only for it to pass him by?

For what? To win back favor with a goddess that wants him dead? Why was he chasing dreams of so much more than him when something real that was right there? When he could have had the adoration and the loyalty and the passion and the love of someone right in front of him?

It haunts him. Gale's happy for his friends and dedicated to their cause, but by the gods, does he regret. Up until the final fight and the celebration after and the parting of ways and even six months later when he sees Ronan again and hugs him like he might die if he doesn't.

Ronan holds him, squeezes him tight, unfathomably warm and strong around him as he whispers in Gale's ear that he missed him. And every dulled ache, every ember burning low flares back up as they part and Ronan gives him that soft, glowing smile and maybe he has ulterior motives when he invites his old friend back to his tower for a night of dinner and talking.