#gale dekarios the mortal man that you are

[emmavakarian-theirin]

Friendly reminder from Gale

HOW TO TRIGGER:

(Thank you to @chordialy for confirming!)

Condition: Must have already had his weave lesson, teiflings saved.

Dialogue options in order:

> Sounds, er, fun?

> She must be very smart, to have done all that.

> What if she doesn't like me?

> She sounds great. But I was hoping I meant more to you than an animal companion.

- I'm flattered. Is your good opinion so hard to come by?

[messiahzzz]

personalitydatabase is a trainwreck, we been knew. one of the most hilarious things i have seen lately tho is people actually voting gale as SP dominant

[cower-before-power]

As Mortals Do

Pairing: Gale X Fem Reader

Summary: As much as you enjoy being with Gale in the Weave, you love being with him just as he is more- aka All The Ways Mystra Missed Out

Warnings: Implied sex, very light grinding, mentions of oral (both on Gale and reader), I guess a smattering of angst?? But mostly soppy romantic, sexy fluff. MINORS STAY AWAY!

Word Count: approx 1300

A/N: I haven't written anything for ages but I'm obsessed with BG3 and Gale, just had a little idea and decided to jot it down. I hate hate hate Mystra, Gale deserves all the love and adoration just as he is, and this is me giving it to him haha. I'm not a Weave sex expert, nor do I know for sure if Gale and Mystra did it outside the Weave, but this is my fic and I'll do what I want!

Mystra is a fool, you think.

It’s not a new thought. You often find your mind turning to the goddess, and the depths of her raging stupidity. How she cast aside a man so full of love and devotion, a man whose heart bled worship and loyalty, a man who gives and gives and gives. A man like Gale Dekarios deserves to be loved as much as he loves, to be held near and never let go of.

Her loss is your gain, you think to yourself smugly, as you lay on your lover’s chest, the two of you basking in the sweet afterglow of your lovemaking. Gale is all yours now. His mind yours to delight in, his body yours to lose yourself in, his heart yours to cherish as the precious thing that it is.

You do not intend to replicate her mistakes.

“I can hear the gears in your brain turning, love,” Gale’s rich voice rumbles softly under your ear. “Spare a thought?”

You prop yourself up on an elbow, allowing yourself to drink deep of his satisfied visage before you answer. Gale is truly a vision after you’ve wrung pleasure from him, eyes aglow and face flushed, happiness exuding from every pore. You keep the image tucked close to your heart, a special treasure for you and you alone to revel in.

“I was just reflecting on the folly of your previous lover, darling. As I often do.”

Mystra’s name no longer brings pain to his dark eyes. Instead, he quirks a brow, no doubt curious as to the train of your thoughts.

“Oh? And in what way do you find fault in her this time?”

You brush your fingers along his cheek, his forehead, the slope of his nose. His skin is warm and slick with sweat. “I couldn’t help but think how foolish of her to never have you like this, in this mortal plane. She missed out greatly.”

Gale catches the hand tracing his face, bringing it to his mouth to kiss each of your fingertips. A shiver of delight skitters up your spine.

“How do you figure that?” He asks, lips moving to press more kisses to your palm, your wrist. You want to melt into his gentle devotion, but you have a point you wish to make. Gently, you prise your hand from his grasp, settling it over his beating heart.

You grin down at him. “Don’t mistake me, sex in the Weave is incredible. Every time you take me in there, I’m drowned in ecstasy. Our very souls meeting, entwining like that? It’s not something I ever thought I’d experience, and I’m thrilled I get to. With you.”

Gale smiles at that. “I’m glad to show you those delights, my love.”

“But,” you lean forward and press your lips to his quickly, gently. “as pleasurable as the Weave is, it skips a lot of my favourite parts.”

Gale’s mouth opens, no doubt to inquire what you mean, but you silence him with a firmer press of your lips.

“Your ethereal paramour did not have many glorious experiences, darling,” your breath mingles with his as your lips brush teasingly. “She did not get to feel the smoothness of your lips the graze of your beard against her skin as you kiss her. Or how it bites deliciously against her sensitive inner thighs.”

You nip his bottom lip softly, relishing in the hitch of his breath and the flutter of his lashes.

“She did not smell your scent, sandalwood and mulled wine and bound leather, and how it mixes with the musk of sex and passion into an elixir I wish I could bathe in.” To drive your point, you lower your face to rest in the crook of his neck, inhaling a generous lungful of said aroma. It sends a visible shudder right through you, and you feel yourself already wanting for your wizard again.

Your tongue sneaks out to lave a long stripe up the side of his neck. and the soft groan that tears from Gale’s throat makes your whole being positively ache with need.

“She did not taste your sweat, the salty tang of your spend. She did not feel the wonderful heaviness of you on her tongue, the little twitch right before you spill. Or see the way you look so thoroughly and splendidly debauched after I’m done with you.”

You climb atop him, hands braced on his chest as he grips your hips harshly. Gods above, he is a truly beautiful sight. You think you are the luckiest woman in all Faerun, to have such a man beneath you.

“She did not get to feel how warm you are inside her, how delicious it feels to be flooded with your seed. How connecting in that base, physical manner can feel just as wonderful as a merging of souls.”

To emphasize your words, you grind your hips against his, mewling softly at the feel of him growing between your thighs. Gale himself is practically panting, his sweet brown eyes nearly swallowed by dark lust, his own hips rutting up into yours mindlessly as he hangs on your every word.

You lean over him, chest to chest, face to face. Close as close can be, just the way you always want to be.

“She missed out on so much you have to offer,” you whisper, “and I’m not sorry for her. I’m greedy, all of this-intimacy, unconditional love, an equal partnership-with you is mine and mine alone.”

Gale snaps then, leaning up to capture your mouth in a voracious kiss. You sigh and sag into him, letting him devour your mouth as his hands wander the expanse of your naked skin. His kiss excites, his touch inflames, your bodies melt together like they were made to be entwined.

You firmly believe they were.

Lips meet, tongues dance, sighs and groans mingle in the soft moonlight. You soft whimpers of delight however, are soon abruptly turned into a squeal as he flips you under him. “Gale!”

Your wizard simply smiles down at you in awe and reverence. You think his eyes might be glassed with unshed tears. “My love, your words….I would ask if you truly mean them, but you’ve been quite the persistent one in making me believe my own worth.”

You return his smile. “I am annoying in that way, aren’t I?”

“Doggedly so,” Gale teases, kissing your nose as it scrunches up at his jesting. “But, I appreciate it. More than even my verbose vocabulary can explain, if you can believe that.”

You giggle. “My wizard of words? Unable to explain something? I certainly cannot believe it.”

Gale’s smile turns salacious. “No matter. I’m learning the benefit of expressing myself physically when words fail me.” He shifts, hard as steel against you, and a moan strangles itself in your throat. “Now, my love, my light, my darling precious gem, shall I express my feelings on your lovely speech with my body? Allow you to enjoy all the things you just praised so eloquently?"

He shifts again, and you cant your hips upwards with a whine, desperation seeping into your pores. You want to have him, again and again again, unending, unyielding. You feel like you might go mad if you don't.

Gale’s reciprocation of your hunger shines down upon you like the sun. “Let me indulge in you, sweetheart,” he croons lowly, “let me bring you to the heights of pleasure. In all the corporeal ways that mortals do.”

Your heart cracks open, joy overflowing. There is no greater bliss. He is bliss, in all that he is and all that he gives to you.

“Yes, please,” you murmur, as Gale presses in and consumes you whole. “As mortals do.”

[meow-meowism]

BG3 male companions and doing your hair

I had this idea stuck in my head for ages, and I finally have the willpower to write them! I wrote this with a GN! Tav with long hair in mind but if enough people like this I will write for Tavs who have short hair!!!! Also do not worry I will write for the fem companions soon!!! If you find any mistakes pls let me know this is my first non-request post 🥲🥲🥲 (No pronouns other than you)

Gale Dekarios

Gale doesn't know how he got lucky enough to meet you. Whenever he is reminded that his adoration, his devotion, his love for you is reciprocated he feels like the orb in his chest might just blow up from the rush of emotion that hits him. When you ask him to help wash and braid your hair he has to fight the urge to crush you in his embrace, settling instead on a eager yes. He met you by the side of the river close to camp and was met with the sight of you already half submerged in the water, turning to look at him at the sound of his approaching footsteps.

"And here I was starting to think I was being stood up." You teased, turning back to focus again on working some knots in your hair.

"Perish the thought! As if I would ever break a promise to my Polaris." Gale begins to remove his clothes, stepping into the water and immediately reaching out to help you with the knots.

The two of you sat in silence as you both worked to untangle the knots gently from your hair, and once that was done you took turns washing each others hair and bodies (with surprisingly little heated touches). Once you're both dry and clothed back on land you tug him to your tent where you sit down and begin to work oils into your hair, Once you are done you beckon him to sit behind you. He eagerly sits, giddily taking the band you hand him as he gathers your hair.

"Now my love, forgive me if there any imperfections in the braid I'm afraid I haven't had the joy of braiding anyone's hair before. And do tell me if I pull anything!"

After that you two sit in comfortable silence as he slowly and meticulously braids the sections of your hair together, with only a couple sharp intakes of breath and winces. Once he finishes tying the band to the end of your hair he is quick to project an image of you so you can see the braid properly.

"Oh Gale it's wonderful! Are you sure you haven't done this before?" You question as you turn your head from side to side, admiring the braid before turning around to look at the man behind you.

"I assure you, you are my first. In more ways than one." He says as he dismisses the image, raising a hand to your cheek as he places a kiss to your forehead.

Any other time you would take this as an innuendo, but you can feel how innocent the statement is. Knowing that he means such things as giving him the love he pours out back to him, seeing him as the wonderful man he is and not just Mystras chosen, adoring him as Gale Dekarios. You smile sweetly as you press a soft kiss to his cheek, and then his lips.

You'll have to try braiding his hair sometime.

Wyll Ravengard

Wyll thinks that if he could do it all over again, change not his path in life but who had set him on it, he would choose you. If he couldn't have you as a mortal, he would have you as his patron. He would sign the worst contract, everything weighed in your favor, if it meant being able to spend even a moment in your presence. But you are mortal, and you are here with him and he will never take that for granted. When you ask him to help wash and braid your hair he has to stop himself from falling to his knees in worship, opting instead for taking your hand and laying a kiss upon it as a form of agreeance. When he meets you by the river near the camp and finds you already in the water carefully detangling the knots in your hair he is quick to remove his clothes and come to assist.

"Come now my love, I know you have a hard time with the ones in back. Please, allow me." He says softly as his hands join yours in attempting to untangle a particularly stubborn knot.

Working it out of your hair is slow work, but once it is gone he is free to help you wash your hair and vice versa. Throughout the simple and welcomed task of washing yourselves he is always sure to leave a chaste kiss to your cheeks or your lips, never seeking for more than to convey how you make his heart sing. Once you both have washed away all the sweat and blood you make your way to your clothes on dry land, wringing the water out of your hair gently. Wyll grabs your hand and guides you to his tent where he pulls out a small bag of oils, setting them out for you to choose from.

"These are ones I use myself, so I can guarantee that they are only the best." Wyll provides as explanation, moving behind you to begin splitting your hair into sections to make applying the oil easier.

"Wyll, my love, you don't have to-" "I know I don't have to, but I want to. Indulge me and let me be your prince, please?" He says lovingly, placing a kiss to the space between your shoulder blades.

You cannot help but huff fondly and let a small alright fall from your lips as you lift a lavender oil and hand it to him before turning back around. He smiles at your choice.

"Lavender? Good to know we have similar tastes then. Tell me if anything hurts alright?" Wyll then begins to braid your hair, murmuring soft questions and stories to you as he carefully but efficiently works. Through it all you feel him braiding a trinket or two into your hair. Once he's done he hands you a small mirror and picks up one of his own, angling it just right so you could see the beautiful braids and the golden bands he had managed to weave into the strands.

"Oh Wyll...it's beautiful, all of it. Thank you for this, truly." You carefully set the mirror to the side, placing an adoring kiss to his lips as you wrap your arms around his neck.

"Of course, anything for the one I adore." He murmurs this lovingly into your hair, wrapping you up in his arms as he lays you both down on his bedroll.

Perhaps you could ask him to let you braid his hair next time.

Astarion Ancunin

Astarion was still getting used to being touched with no ulterior motive. You were always careful to keep your touches in chaste areas, even asking before touching anywhere in general, and it took him a while to become comfortable with it but he was getting better at asking to initiate simple things like holding hands or cuddling. He knew he adored you, no matter how afraid he was to admit that to anyone, and was grateful that you were patient. So when you approached looking shy, quietly asking if he would help wash and braid your hair, how could he say no to you?

When he made his way to the river near camp, he found you already in the water.

"Already naked an in the water, darling? Without me? I'm hurt." He pouted, the playfulness in his tone evident. He chuckled a little as he watched you practically jump out of the water.

"Astarion! I'm already cold don't scare me like that!" You huffed, turning back to face the water as you untangled the knots from your hair.

He laughed at that, beginning to undress and climb into the water with you. He had brought his own basket of oils and soaps (because he wanted to make sure everyone knew it was him who had helped you) and set it on a rock nearby.

You tilted your head towards, but you didn't fully turn around. Your voice was small, yet sincere when you spoke.

"Astarion...you know you don't have to do this right? Don't feel as if you have to." You had paused in untangling the knots to give him your full attention.

Astarions heart swelled, knowing that even when he was practically in the water next you you still made sure he knew he had an out. He moved closer, placing a soft chaste kiss to your shoulder.

"I know my sweet, don't worry your pretty little head over it. I know that if I asked to leave you wouldn't think twice on encouraging me to do so, which is why I want to stay" he turned you around gently to place another kiss to your lips, "now lets get these knots out of your hair. Frankly my dear I am appalled at just how many there are." He teased before grabbing a soap from his basket and getting to work.

It was quiet work after that, relaxing into his touch as he worked the soap through your knots and gently untangled them. He smiled at you and gave you another kiss when you asked him if it was alright to wash his hair in turn. Once the both of you had cleaned up and gotten yourselves dry, he practically dragged you to his tent so he could begin working the oils through your hair.

"Astarion, isn't this your signature scent?" You teased, recognizing his motive with a swell of your heart.

"Of course it is darling, everyone should know that you keep fine company." He replied quickly, but you could hear the warmth hidden in the layers.

You closed your eyes as he worked the oils in, and then began sectioning your hair into smaller braids to form one big one. You felt him braiding in smaller things but you couldn't quite figure out what. With the tying of the band around the end, he handed you a mirror and held one of his own so you could see.

"Oh Astarion, it's like an art piece!" You exclaim joyfully, taking in the sight of the bands and flowers made from gold woven into your hair.

"Please darling, the trinkets pale in comparison to you." He sets his mirror down and carefully, as if you'll say no, wraps his arms around your waist.

You turn in his hold, jostling his hands a bit before they can settle back around your waist as you lay gentle kisses to his cheeks.

Hopefully next time you can find some trinkets for his hair.

[dekariosclan]

Choices

Tav, remembering the first time they came upon a corrupted portal, and chose to free a wizard from it.

Tav, remembering how the wizard said, “Hello! I’m Gale of Waterdeep,” with such warmth and affection, such a sweet smile, that they were powerless to choose anything other than to have him join the party.

Tav, remembering the weeks after, of Gale slowly opening up to them. Of Gale offering approval on Tav’s toughest choices, even when others in the team were critical. Of Gale offering his hand when he was at his most vulnerable, to show Tav the horrors inside of him. Of Gale offering to help Tav conjure the Weave, to show them the beauty inside of him, too.

Tav, remembering the first time Gale confessed his love for them, when he conjured illusions of the night sky; an aurora borealis; a recreation of his home in Waterdeep; and a breathtaking view of Waterdeep itself.

Tav, remembering how Gale then offered a choice: to make love amongst the stars as the Gods do, or to make love in the ‘old ways,’ on a four-poster bed amidst the sound of their own hurried breaths and low murmurs of lust.

Tav, remembering how Gale chose to do all of that for someone whom he’d only just fallen for, and how he’d implied that it was not his best effort, saying: “If things were different, if we were home, I’d have taken the time to do things properly. To say it all better. But time is short.”

That was then.

Now, the Absolute has been defeated, and Tav and Gale are finally able to choose their own fate: Return to Waterdeep? Stay in Baldur’s Gate and rebuild? Go off adventuring? In the end, the choice they make hardly seems to matter—so long as they’re together.

Gale’s orb is either removed by Mystra or quieted by his own contentment. He is eager to become Tav’s husband. He loves Tav more than he’s ever loved anyone, mortal or immortal. He is happier than he has ever been in his entire life.

And now, on their wedding night, Tav remembers his words from their first night together; remembers that now he does have the time to do things properly…and wonders what he will choose to do with that time.

He chooses to be overflowing with joy, to start. Every declaration of love whispered in Tav’s ear ends with ‘don’t you agree, Mister Dekarios?’/‘what do you think, Missus Dekarios?’ or Gale simply lifting Tav’s hand to his lips for a kiss. Reveling in the sight of his ring on Tav’s finger.

As he leads Tav to the bedroom door, there are rose petals scattered on the ground leading up to it. But when Gale ‘My-Grand-Gestures-of-Romance-Can-Never-Be-Grand-Enough’ Dekarios opens the door, it’s not to reveal a bed covered in roses; instead it’s a whole field of roses, with a clear path to the bed in the center. Tav can see the sun setting in the most beautiful sky they have ever seen, casting a romantic peach-hued light over everything. There’s a picnic spread with food and wine and cheese and so many dessert options it puts their wedding catering to shame. There’s a lake that Tav already knows will be the perfect temperature for skinny dipping. And of course, next to the bed—one so luxurious the previous four-poster bed seems forgettable—there’s a pile of books. Many are collections of romantic poetry, but there’s other, more intriguing titles as well. Titles about pleasure and positions and astral lovemaking. It’s so incredible it’s almost too much for Tav to take in.

But most wonderful of all is just Gale standing in front of Tav, his eyes radiating love as he holds their hand. “Well, my dear?” He asks softly. “Where do you want to start?” He waves a hand at the scene in front of them. “Choose,” he encourages them with a smile.

And Tav, in awe of this man, his creativity, his talents and his unmatched heart, fully intends to sample everything he’s done—but the very first thing they choose to do is wrap their arms around him, claim his mouth in a hungry kiss, and pull him to the ground right there. Bed be damned.

Gale’s laughter against Tav’s lips, as he returns their kiss with his own matching fervor, lets Tav know they chose correctly.

On all counts.

[clericofgale]

Spoilers for Patch 5 and the whole game.

I posted my thoughts about the new ending Gale got in patch 5 on Reddit first, but I might as well post it here with some revisions. I'll say it, I love the god Gale ending. But it is NOT his good ending to me. Before I would never have pursued it, but now it is tantalizing to say the least. I'm into it though Gale the mortal is still my preference.

"Gale Dekarios cuts a poor figure next to the wizarding prowess of 'Gale of Waterdeep. You like so many things about me I'd have sooner discarded…"

By ascending Gale, you are killing Gale Dekarios. The nerd that hits on you in front of everyone while you're covered in zombie blood, procced to infodump an entire tangent to complement you, and yet somehow stick the landing to hit you with the most romantic poetry you've ever heard. A sensitive man who wears his emotions on his sleeve and wants to make the world a more beautiful place. An artist of the weave and a poet. The owner of the most overbearing tressym in the world. The moment the spell was complete, Gale Dekarios died and Gale the divine was born.

Even then, why is god Gale now so enticing to me unlike ascended Astarion? Because he loves you. He wants you by his side as an equal. It's actually sweet and romantic, just like all of Gale's romance is. I'm nothing if not a sucker for a romance.

"Follow my Lead" "Show me more. Show me it all." "I want you to seize the crown and make us a new world"

BeMyGod is the name in the data file for the boat scene where Gale asks you if you'll be with him when he seizes the crown. I know file names can be arbitrary, but if you agree to his proposal, you really are asking Gale to be your god. It's so easy to say yes. You're in the stars, Gale says I want to show you so much more, but it's not worth it without you. All you need to do is say yes. You're angry at Mystra who demanded so much of Gale, caused him such suffering and won't lift a finger to help. So You say yes. You love him. He loves you.

When Gale ascends, even in 6 months he is a different entity. The devs indicate: "His posture/demeanor here should feel slightly more aloof/detached than the regular Gale - he's been immortal for six months, his ego is as powerful as his magic. The real Gale's insecurities still lurk beneath his godlike confidence, as does his love for the player, but this is clearly a Gale setting out on a darker path."

The Gale here is a twisted version of the one we loved. His flaws are worse, he good traits have mostly disappeared. Namely his kindness and tolerance to deprecating humor. He no longer tolerates any perceived slight or jab. He doesn't let go of his bitterness towards Mystra. His ego is large yet fragile. You saw a glimpse of it at the ritual circle scene if you succeed in upstaging him in magic. Now it's only gotten worse. Yes even his insecurity. If you rejected him after accepting the proposal, Gale says this.

Tav: No, I think it's the end. What happened to the man I once loved? Gale: He's the god he deserves to be. I achieved everything we hoped I would, and still I'm not good enough for you?

He's also lonelier than ever. His last 6 months were in isolation, with nobody he could trust while dealing with the crown and celestial politics. Immortals don't really have friends. They have allies and lovers. He stops talking to his mother who was so dear to him. He develops a spell to polymorph people into Tara, his oldest friend who rejects him after ascension. He then develops a spell that summons Shadowdark ale and forces people to dance and be happy, just like the vignette he told you about the Yawning Portal. The third spell is Power word: Ruin. he's finally back to speaking death into being with a single word, just like he used to.

Gale wanted to be a god to make a better world, but now he's a neutral god answering prayers from any alignment. He doesn't care if they are Thayan wizards aiming for lichdom or unscrupulous Amnian merchants. Ambition is a neutral idea. Ambition also drives healers to develop a cure. For adventurers to slay monsters.

What's the most noticeable remaining good trait in Gale? Gale still loves you. He's much nicer to you if romanced. He refuses to be with you if you don't go with him because he doesn't want to hurt you. He admires your good heart if you want to honor the pact with Raphael. He calls you my love just like before. He will fulfill the promise sealed that night in the astral sea. All you have to do is say yes. And the ascension cinematic is a callback to the romance scenes from before.

"Follow my lead. Close your eyes. I have so much more to show you."

And you know what. I'll go with you. Even if we will eventually lose both our humanity in our folly, and dreams become nightmares. Even if I'll come to regret that night when I said yes to the mortal you, I don't want you to be lonely. Where ever you go, I'll go. You'll always have me. And I'll always have you.

As God Gale would say… "A toast then, to our myriad ambitions. May we each get what we deserve."

[keldae]

Musings

Gale couldn't remember the last time he had slept with someone – spending his time asleep wrapped in a lover's arms had been before Mystra. He hadn't ever needed to sleep when he was with his goddess in her realm, and she would never have come to the mortal planes to spend an entire night with him. So sharing his bedroll now was… unusual.

Not a bad type of unusual, he admitted to himself. But still unusual. And it was even more unusual that he hadn't had relations with his bed partner yet – that hadn't ever been a situation he'd found himself in, during the years before Mystra.

But then, with the orb in his chest… having sex was out of the question.

Unable to shut his mind off, he propped his head up on his pillow, looking down at the half-Elf who had stolen his blankets, and was trying to steal his heart. Devi was dead to the world, squished tightly against Gale's side, coppery hair loose around her head. Gale smiled fondly down at the little half-Elf, watching as a few strands of her hair moved with every slow breath past her parted lips. 

What are you seeing in your dreams tonight, Devi? he thought, gazing down at the thief. Hopefully her dreams were pleasant tonight. He didn't think she'd had a bad nightmare since they'd started sleeping together in the Underdark – he definitely had had pleasant dreams while sharing his tent and bedroll with her. Are you in Baldur's Gate, thriving as a little thief? Or are you thinking of the halfling and the dwarves from the book we read tonight? She had seemed to enjoy the story he had read to her.

Devi shifted slightly, rolling onto her side, facing Gale. Before he was quite aware of it, he was reaching to gently brush the loose strands of hair out of her face, tucking the locks behind one delicately pointed ear. His thumb touched her lips, slowly tracing the outline of her mouth. For a moment, he felt an unspeakable yearning for the woman sleeping beside him. If her thoughts during their lesson in the Weave were any indication, she wanted to kiss Gale, despite his affliction – and gods knew he desperately wanted to give her that kiss. He wanted to know what it would feel like to press his lips against hers, to let his tongue meet her own, to taste her mouth and breathe in her exhales as he fulfilled the vision she had shared with him of a kiss…

He closed his eyes, trying to force his mind away from the dangerous thoughts of kissing the woman with him. He'd spent the last year struggling to stabilise the orb – he couldn't risk his mental discipline failing him now. If he killed them all because of letting himself think too much, too enthusiastically, of kissing a beautiful girl… He wanted to groan in frustration.

Except that would have woken Devi up. He settled for silently scolding himself instead. Get a grip, Dekarios!

Besides, Devi wouldn't – couldn't – truly love a broken man like Gale was. He was older than she was, by quite a few years – and in trying to keep up with her youthful half-Elven exuberance, he definitely felt every tenday of his age in comparison to her. And he was irreparably broken, only a shadow of the man and wizard he had been a year and a half ago. He was the reject of a goddess, damned by his own foolishness, and doomed to meet an explosive end alone. 

In comparison, Devi was young, and full of life and fire and optimism. She had had a poor start in life – any child born poor in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate had a disadvantage. But she was smart, and stubborn, and if she was given the correct support, she could exceed any expectations for a girl born as a poor urchin. Maybe, Gale thought, he could leave a note leaving his wealth to her after he met his unavoidable end? Or he could just give her the key to his tower in Waterdeep before he inevitably had to leave the party to die somewhere safer. If she could cure her tadpole, maybe she could live on, somewhere safer than Baldur's Gate. And it would be a good use for the money and wealth he had, rather than leaving it all to rot. It wasn’t like Tara would really be able to use it, after all.

But he digressed. Devi was too young for him to pursue romantically, too vibrant, too lively to tie herself to a damned man. In another life, if they had ever even crossed paths, they would never have given each other a second thought (unless Devi had identified him as a pickpocketing target… which, Gale knew she would have targeted him in a heartbeat.). Even if he hadn't been damned, they were in entirely different social circles. Imagine the scandal, if he were to return to Waterdeep with an uneducated, uncouth, younger Baldurian thief, and one who could swear like a well-educated mercenary at that, as his lover! 

Gale grinned for a moment, imagining the reactions of some of his more class-conscious peers. His amusement faded with a sigh as he looked back down at Devi. You don't deserve as grim a fate as tying yourself to me would give you, he thought. You're too alive and hopeful to bind yourself to a broken, damned man. In another life, one where he wasn't a walking explosive, he might have still taken her to bed, trying to perhaps prove that being this much older than her just meant he was more experienced with pleasing a lover. And he was pretty certain he had pleased Mystra when he was the goddess’s lover – he could have wowed Devi with his command of the Weave in bed. He had already impressed her with their magic lesson after the tiefling party, and that had been tame! What he could have done behind a sound dampening ward to blow her away and make her cry out his name in bliss, over and over again…

Speaking of blowing away, he firmly turned his thoughts away from the idea of bedding Devi, thinking about spell incantations instead. The orb rumbled in his chest, but remained calm for the moment as his heart settled back down.

With another sigh, he stroked Devi's hair back from her face again. Where will your mind take you tonight? Will you dream of me? You really shouldn't – I'm a dead man walking. You deserve better than a broken heart. Although, wasn't he bold, to think that Devi might care for him the way he did her? What could he possibly offer her besides his knowledge of the arcane? He was doomed twice over – once from the illithid tadpole, and once from his own idiocy. She at least still had a chance at a normal life once she was cured of the tadpole. 

Tomorrow, he decided, he would start trying to distance himself from her. It would hurt her in the short term, and it would be agony for him, but it was for the best. She deserved better than to develop affections for a man who had nothing before him but an explosive death. Maybe he could subtly point her in the direction of Wyll – the warlock, despite his devilish appearance, was a good man. He was certainly a better man than the wizard who had tried to advance himself beyond mortal limitations to impress a goddess – and even with Wyll’s pact to a devil, he had a hope for a future beyond a destructive death alone. And he was younger, and handsome, and full of life and vigour, and could crack a joke to make even Devi groan while she was laughing…

Gods, this was already breaking Gale's heart.

But Devi would be happy with Wyll. Or maybe Shadowheart, if Wyll didn’t strike her fancy – the two half-Elves seemed to have a close connection already. Even if Shadowheart was a Sharran, Devi didn't seem to think less of her for it. Or Karlach, as boisterous and friendly as she was, would be a good match for the feisty little thief.

None of them were a depressed middle-aged wizard who had already exceeded his potential and his usefulness to Faerûn. 

Gale sighed yet again and started to roll away from Devi onto his side, trying to get some sleep. In the morning he would talk to Devi, and see if the thief would be receptive to the idea of spending her nights apart from him. Certainly, she would be upset at first – Gale fully expected to get slapped. But she had to see the logic eventually, right? She was more than smart enough, even if she was uneducated –

At his side, Devi softly moaned in protest of his movements. Her hand reached up, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down on his back again. Before Gale could do anything, the little half-Elf wrapped her arm around his stomach and settled her head on his chest, squirming until she was comfortable. Once she was satisfied with her human pillow, she sighed and draped her leg over his before she fell fully back to sleep, peacefully lost in her dreams.

Shit. This was not doing a damn thing to help Gale reconcile himself to letting go of her. She felt so damn good beside him, warm and snuggly, tucked under his arm where she belonged. How in the Nine Hells was he supposed to separate himself from her when she did things like this to him? His heart twisted in his chest at how serenely innocent she looked. She trusted him enough to sleep with him, even with the orb in his chest that could kill them all in an instant. Hells, she was sleeping on him now, only inches from the ugly markings he bore!

And she didn't seem to be bothered by that in the slightest.

“Why do you do this to me?” Gale whispered to the woman at his side. Giving up, he wrapped his arm around her, holding her closer to him. Was it his imagination, or did a little smile flicker over her lips as she felt him embrace her? He inwardly groaned – there was no way he could force himself to let go of her, or make her let go of him, when she so effortlessly held his heart in her hands. He was dooming her, every night that he slept with her, every time he read a book for her, every time he gave her a kind word or a smile or a gentle touch.

She would never let go of him in the way she needed to, in order to save herself from him and his grim fate. And Gale knew she would only call him a “self-destructive hopeless idiot”, or something similar, and cling tighter to him if he tried to talk to her about this and make her see sense.

Was she wrong, though?

Frustrated, Gale closed his eyes again and tried to will himself to sleep. Perhaps in the morning, he could think of a way to gently turn Devi from him and to a partner who actually had a future. It would break his heart, but it was better than dragging her down with him.

But maybe he could allow himself one more night of holding Devi against his heart and wishing he could safely confess his love for her. He sighed, forcing himself to resist the urge to kiss her hair, or her forehead, or those perfect lips. If he started kissing her even innocently right now, he knew he wouldn't be able to stop, not until the orb ended him. But gods, he wished he could… He could have died happy while kissing her, but it wasn't worth the risk he posed to everyone else in a ten-mile radius. Nobody else deserved to die while he indulged himself in kissing the woman he wanted – especially not the woman in question.

He sighed, shifting as much as he dared until he was comfortable under Devi. His other hand came up to slowly card his fingers through her loose hair, a soothing motion that made her contentedly hum in her sleep. Dammit, Devi, he thought, you make it too easy for me to love you.

That thought made him blink his eyes open again. Was this…? He thought for a moment, then sighed. Yes – this was love he felt for the woman in his arms. This was adoration, and devotion, and more than a bit of strongly-denied lust. He wanted her in every way possible – emotionally, and in spirit, and yes, physically too. 

But he wanted her safe and happy, even more than he wanted her with him. If you really love her, then you have to let her go, he tried to tell himself. Doesn't she deserve better than to be with you? Wyll would make her happy.

But what if she doesn't want Wyll? What if–

He firmly shut down the little voice in his mind before it could make the suggestion that maybe the woman in his arms wanted him. Nobody with any sense would want the older, broken, damned man that he was.

Then again, just that day, Astarion had been very enthusiastic in telling Devi that she had no sense, or self-preservation instincts, whatsoever…

Shut up. He scowled, then tugged the blankets up a little higher over himself and Devi. Just go to sleep. With any luck, Devi will see the truth herself without any prodding. And if she doesn't… it will hurt, but it will save her in the long term to break from her.

He sighed, then settled in to sleep, savouring what he was determined would be his last night holding the woman he loved.

—

Only a couple of hours later, Gale awoke to the sound of a whimper. He opened his eyes, frowning into the darkness of his tent until he heard a stifled sob from the half-Elf in his arms. He mumbled the incantation for a light cantrip, looking at Devi with anxiety spiking in his chest.

She didn't appear to be hurt. But her brow was furrowed as if she was in pain, and she was shaking. “Stop…” she whispered, flinching from something only she could see. “Please…”

Worried, Gale gently shook her shoulder. “Devi,” he lowly said, softly calling her name. “You're dreaming. You need to wake up.”

Devi didn't seem to hear him. She flinched again as though she'd been struck. “No,” she begged whoever was tormenting her. “You're hurting me!”

Gale shook her again, fear making the motion a little harder. “Devi,” he spoke her name again, a little louder. “Wake up, darling. I have you – you're safe. Wake up.”

His words didn't seem to be getting through. Devi whimpered again, her fingers tightening in Gale's shirt. “Please… help me… stop!” Her next words made Gale's heart twist in his chest. “No! Not Gale! Please!”

“Shhhh.” Gale shook her again and pressed his lips to her hair. “It's all right, darling. You're safe. Wake up now.” He lowered his lips to her ear as she whimpered again. “Wake up, Devi. You're safe… you're safe. I promise. Wake up. Wake up!”

Devi's twitching and flinching finally slowed, then stopped as Gale kept kissing her hair and whispering soothing reassurances to her. He finally felt her clutch his shirt a little tighter as she turned her head up to him. “Gale?” she whispered, her voice tiny and broken.

“I'm here,” Gale murmured, relief washing through his veins. “I have you. You're safe – it was just a dream, dear one. You're perfectly safe.”

“Oh, gods.” Still shaking, Devi buried her face in the crook of Gale's neck, clinging to him. “You were… you were…”

“Shhh,” Gale whispered. “I'm here.” He took her hand, guiding it to rest over his beating heart so she could feel his pulse. “I’m here. You’re all right – and so am I. Just breathe.” He heard a little sob from the woman he was holding, and felt his heart break for her. “Shhh. Breathe with me, Devi. Can you feel me breathing?” He waited until she nodded into his neck. “That’s my girl. Breathe with me, darling.” He focused on taking slow, calming breaths to make his chest move enough for her to easily feel him. For the first few breaths, Devi couldn’t quite match his slow breathing – stifled sobs made her body jerk unevenly under his arm. But as the minutes passed, she seemed to find his rhythm with breathing, her inhales slowly coming to match his as she calmed down from her nightmare. 

“Thank you,” she finally mumbled, slowly pulling her face out of his neck. There was a suspicious wetness on her cheeks that told Gale she’d been crying into his skin; indeed, he could feel her tears on him. “I’m sorry–”

“You’ve nothing to be sorry for,” Gale murmured, stroking his thumb over her cheekbone. He offered her a small, reassuring smile. “Would you like to talk about it?”

Devi started to shake her head, then hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of the blanket. “I… told you how my father’s a gods-damned bastard that not even the hells want?” she asked, her voice low and quiet. 

Gale nodded. “You’ve told me he’s a terrible person and you plan on dancing on his grave when he dies,” he softly answered. “Or using his grave for a latrine. Perhaps both.”

Devi made a little sound that Gale thought was trying to be a laugh, a laugh mingled with a sob. “He deserves it. He and his friends, they…” She took a shaky breath, not looking at Gale’s face. “They were hurting me, and then they… they decided to hurt you when you appeared in the dream — I think you were trying to save me? But they… gods, the things they did…” 

“Shhh.” Gale pulled Devi’s face back into the crook of his neck; she went to him willingly, clinging to him. “We’re both all right – there’s nothing to be afraid of in this tent.” Except the orb, and the tadpoles, and the threat of the Absolute, and the small-but-still-present risk that Mystra would simply spontaneously detonate the orb in Gale’s chest to kill him and everyone around him – Gale shook his head. “We’re safe here. Nobody can hurt you when I’m here to protect you.” 

“They hurt you,” Devi mumbled. “They were hurting you, and they were going to kill you, and–”

“Shhh. It was just a bad dream, darling. I’m entirely unhurt, and so are you.” Gale hesitated for a moment, then chuckled. “And you can tell your subconscious that I don’t fear a thief and his henchmen. I might be outnumbered, but I would make them regret facing me before falling.”

Devi trembled again in his arms. “You couldn’t fight,” she whispered, quiet enough that Gale almost couldn’t hear her. “You… you were trying to save me. If you had fought them… they would have hurt me more.”

Apparently Devi’s subconscious knew Gale well enough to know that this was a truth about him. If that nightmare had been reality… Gale knew he would have stopped fighting the instant it became clear that his resistance would have endangered the woman he loved. “Shhh,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “It was just a dream. Your father can’t hurt either of us here.” 

He felt Devi slowly nod, but she still clung to him, shaking like a leaf. He suspected that she was probably too scared to easily go back to sleep. With a grunt, he reached out for the book they had been reading earlier that evening – or rather, that he had been reading to her. Nudging the lights to where he could more easily see the pages, he opened the book back where they had left off. “Shall I try to get your mind back onto a more soothing subject?” he asked. At her hesitant nod, he kissed her hair again, then started quietly reading the next chapter. The halfling and dwarves had been caught by ogres, and were being argued over by said ogres who couldn’t decide how to cook them properly. It was one of Gale’s favourite scenes in the book, and Devi seemed to be entranced by the story normally. Indeed, she seemed to calm down as he read to her, shifting from having her face buried in his neck, to resting her cheek on his shoulder. 

As Gale came to the end of the chapter, he looked down to see Devi’s eyes closed and her lips slightly parted again, her breathing soft and slow. He wasn’t sure when she had fallen asleep again, but he was grateful that she had found rest. Careful to not disturb her, he replaced the bookmark in the pages, then set the book back down and extinguished the lights over their heads. Devi grunted as he slowly rested on the pillow again, then snuggled up as closely as she could to him.

Gale sighed softly, running his hand over her hair soothingly. Apparently this was the gods’ way of foiling his plan to break apart from Devi before anything could begin with them. Who else was going to cuddle the little half-Elf after her nightmares? Who else would read to her to get her mind off her fear again? Try as Gale might, he couldn’t imagine Devi snuggling up so closely to Wyll, or Shadowheart, or Karlach, or any of their other friends in the party. For some reason, she had chosen Gale, doomed and damned as he was.

Guilt and hope surged in equal amounts in his heart – guilt because he was dragging Devi down with him, and hope because maybe he wasn’t quite as broken and useless as he believed himself to be. Maybe Devi saw something in him that he couldn’t see or acknowledge himself.

It would have been easier if she didn’t see anything in him, he thought. 

He yawned and let himself cuddle Devi closely, doing his best to make sure she felt protected and safe in his arms. “No harm will come to you if I can help it,” he promised her in a whisper. “You are safe with me.” Closing his eyes, he rested his cheek on her hair and let himself fall back asleep, praying that Devi’s dreams for the rest of the night (and his, he supposed) would be peaceful.

If you dream of me again, dear one… dream of the happiness that I can’t give you in reality. Please don’t dream of either of us suffering for the other, he thought before sleep reclaimed him.

[darkurgetrash]

Gods' Damned Gale Dekarios!

Hi all! After reading this amazing post by @gale-dekarios, I couldn't help but write this silly, goofy one-shot. Please enjoy!|[Read on AO3]

Rating: General Audiences Wordcount: 4,576 Summary:

Opulentus is Waterdeep's most renowned wizard—a charming, handsome prodigy whose charisma commands respect. But when his long-time nemesis, Gale of Waterdeep, returns after years of disgrace, everything Opulentus holds dear is threatened. Gale, once stripped of his magic for defying Mystra, has somehow become the hero of Baldur's Gate, returning with a beautiful fiancée, newfound fame, and an air of humility that leaves Opulentus seething. Now, there is only one question on Opulentus' highly intellectual mind... What is Gods' Damned 'Gale Dekarios' up to?!

Requested Tags: @onlyfangz @kwrite1776 @dont-try-pesticide

Opulentus had always considered himself quite the ladies' man. It was hard not to, after all, when you were the most renowned, most wealthy, and most handsome wizard in all of Waterdeep. From child prodigy to a fellow at Blackstaff Academy, the very same institution where he'd studied since he was just a bright-eyed boy, there was no greater catch in the city. He was a legend in his own right, with a knack for charm and a wit that could melt even the hardest of hearts.

Tonight would be no different, he decided, as he twizzled his luscious, dapper moustache between his fingers, his gaze roaming across the rambunctious regulars of The Quaffing Quaggoth before landing on what might have been the most beautiful woman he'd ever layed eyes on. She stood out even in the crowded tavern, her presence like a breath of fresh air amid the rowdy patrons.

She was a half-elf by the looks of things, with soulful, winged eyes and long, dark waves that cascaded down her back in a flawless display of beauty. Her warm tawny skin was radiant, her cheeks kissed by rouge and her lips a gentle shade of berry pink. Her features seemed as if sculpted by Sune herself, crafted to be the perfect match for Opulentus' own magnificence.

Opulentus couldn't help but smile. Here was a challenge worth his considerable talents. He adjusted his shirt collar and straightened his posture, making sure his charms were in full effect.

Then, with an air of unrivalled confidence, he took a step forward, ready to make an impression. The wizard's reputation preceded him, but he knew that his charm would have to do the rest. After all, beauty like hers deserved nothing less than the best Waterdeep had to offer. And that, of course, was Opulentus himself!

“Oh, barkeep!” he called, suave and cool, as he stood beside her at the bar. As expected, she turned her head at his magnanimous presence. “A glass of your finest wine, please. For myself and…” He glanced at her with a wry, flirtatious smile. “This goddess among mere mortals.”

The woman raised her eyebrow at him, an amused smile curving her lips. She was probably thanking the gods for her good fortune, Opulentus thought, to be noticed by him—the most successful man this side of the Sword Coast.

“That’s quite alright,” she replied, her lilted voice sending shivers down his spine. “I have plenty of coin for my own drink.”

“Ah, but m’lady,” he said, mirroring her expression, “one so beautiful should not have to spend her own coin, no matter how much of it she may have.” 

He let his gaze sweep down her frame, noting her graceful yet slightly athletic build and the freckles dotting her collarbones. Could this be the woman he'd finally settle down with?

“I’m afraid to tell you that I’m quite taken,” she said, holding up a hand to stop the bartender as he moved to pass her the glass of wine.

“‘Taken’ is but a small obstacle, my dear,” he scoffed, running his fingers through his hair, making sure to flex his biceps as he did so. “I assume you know who I am?”

“Not at all,” she replied, her unimpressed tone making it clear how devoutly she was playing hard-to-get. By the gods, this woman was practically throwing herself at his feet!

“Ah, but then you must have travelled far! For I am the greatest wizard on the Sword Coast, a celebrity in my own right. My name is—”

“Elminster’s Beard – Gary? Gary Johnson?”

At the mention of his given name, one he'd long repressed, a chill ran through him. Not only because of the rude interruption but because it was a voice he knew all too well. His long-time nemesis, a rival to end all rivals.

“Gale of Waterdeep.” He snarled, turning to see the man standing behind him. The sight was enough to make his skin crawl—Gale, with his quickly greying long hair tied back in a bun, and his annoyingly perfect face wearing that insufferably charming smile. How could it be genuine after the embarrassment he'd suffered two years ago?

Indeed, when Gale of Waterdeep—the one man who had always outshone him, ever since their days as juniors at Blackstaff Academy—had proven himself a foolish, arrogant wizard, when he'd dared to betray Mystra, and was subsequently stripped of his magic, Opulentus had rejoiced. It was the happiest day of his life! Finally, he was the best! 

Yet here was Gale again, voice bright, skin radiant, with that same smile that made Opulentus grind his teeth. How could he be so joyful, so confident, after everything that happened? It was inconceivable – nay, impossible!

But he wouldn’t let such a disruption ruin his game. The man was a cad, a poor excuse of a wizard, and he would not let him take this chance from him.

He forced a charismatic smile to return to his face, as if the mere sight of Gale didn’t have him already quaking with envy, and patted the man firmly on his tall shoulder.

“Ah, my old friend!” He cheered through gritted teeth, “How have you been? Though you are quite mistaken, my name is Opulentus. Gary Johnson was my…” He paused, trying to conjure up an excuse. “...my brother! Ah, but that little fallout with Mystra must have rattled your brains some, hmm chum?”

“You always were so very humorous!” Gale replied, his laughter sounding so genuine that Opulentus could do nothing but blink in response. “And ‘rattle my brains’ it did, I’m afraid. Though, I’m sure you’ll be happy to know, I am quite returned to my old self – though certainly with many improvements!” 

Gale skirted around him so that his hand lay on the beautiful woman’s shoulder – so bold! So brazen! However, as he did, she looked up at him with the largest, most adoring eyes that Opulentus couldn’t help but blush… Ah, but in rage! Was this some twisted nightmare?!

“Opulentus, this is my betrothed, Tav. Does she not put the stars to shame?” Gale said oh so sweet and softly that Opulentus’ skin prickled. “Tav, this is… Opulentus. He and I trained at Blackstaff together as young men.”

“Nice to meet you, Opulentus.” She said, her tone equally as amused as before, though there was something softer in it, touched by tenderness. By gods, she was smitten with Gale of Waterdeep of all people! What lies must this man have wrought to have captured such a goddess’ heart so fully? For the second time no less?!

“Charmed,” he replied, sharply, but with as much false delight as could possibly be mustered, given the circumstances. 

But ah…! Was this not the perfect opportunity to make this poor girl aware of the man’s true nature? It would be cruel to keep her in the dark, surely this is why fate brought her to him! He’d rescue her, a beauty from a beast, and in the process, woo her. But that was his destiny. He was sure of it. 

“Tav, you say? And how did you meet?” He snarled. “Last I heard, Gale, you had secluded yourself to your tower in disgrace! Nought but a tressum to keep you company.”

“You are right, old friend,” The man nodded, seemingly… unbothered. “It is much too long a story, but the short of it is that — in a world of infinite possibilities — fate somehow brought the two of us together… Under the threat of ceremorphosis, no less!” He chuckled. “I’d have never thought I’d be thanking a mind flayer for my good fortune, but I suppose stranger things have happened.”

To say Opulentus was confused would be beyond obvious. Who was this man in front of him, so non-combatively taking such blows? Completely humbled yet talking of strange and potentially grave matters as if they were nothing? Something was surely amiss.

“Ah — then Tav, you must have saved this poor soul, I assume? My old friend, you see, had been stripped of his magic after defying his ex-lover, the goddess Mystra herself! I’m sure he must have been quite the burden to you.”

“Oh no, we saved each other in more ways than can be imagined.” She said lovingly, as giddy as could be as she lay a slender hand on Gale’s chest, he beaming at her, the heat between them unavoidable. Opulentus was beginning to feel angry. But no — he shouldn’t lose his cool. After all, he was the successful one! The powerful one! The one with… credentials! He’d finally beaten Gale of Waterdeep!

“You’re too modest, my love,” Gale said. “But, ah, we should be heading off. Wouldn’t want to keep mother waiting.” He wrapped his arm around Tav’s waist as she stood, floating to her feet like some ethereal being. “Let us meet again, soon, Opulentus. I’m sure my love would be most regaled by our schoolboy days – how competitive we both were!”

Opulentus’ smile fell flat. How dare this man pretend that the competition didn’t remain? Wasn’t he now flaunting his beautiful betrothed right in his face?!

"A pleasure, Gale of Waterdeep," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Likewise, and please, it’s Gale Dekarios now. So long!”

And with that, the wizard and the beauty disappeared from the bar, leaving Opulentus scowling, a stem of wine in hand that he didn’t even bloody like. Ah - blows to it all! This wasn’t over, not by a long shot. Gale might think he had won some grand prize with his new love, but what did he know? After all, this Tav clearly had poor taste in men, seeing as she had chosen the most disgraced wizard in Waterdeep. Quite, she would not have been worth his time – a firebolt dodged, if ever Opulentus saw one.

Gale ‘Dekarios’, hmm. A plain name quite befitting a fallen rival.

Opulentus took a swig of his wine, grimacing at the taste. Who needed love and relationships? He had success, prestige, and all the respect that came with being the best wizard on the Sword Coast, a fellow of Blackstaff Academy. Let Gale keep his pretty bride-to-be; it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. What truly mattered was respect. And Opulentus had plenty of it.

With a self-affirming nod, Opulentus downed his wine and stormed out of The Quaffing Quaggoth – nearly tripping over his own feet as he did so.

“Quiet down, class, quiet down!” Opulentus urged as he entered the lecture hall, his voice echoing off the stone walls. Normally, his students were quick to settle when he gave the command – his reputation as a strict yet brilliant professor preceded him – but today was different. The usual murmurs and whispers had escalated into a cacophony of excited chatter, much to his irritation.

"Class, quiet down!" he called again, this time with more authority. He banged his staff on the podium, which usually silenced the rowdy students, but today it had little effect. His patience was thinning, and he could feel the heat rising to his cheeks. What could possibly be so interesting that it overshadowed his entrance?

He focused on some of the students seated near the front, leaning in slightly to catch snippets of their conversation. It didn’t take long for him to piece together the cause of the commotion.

“Did you hear? The new Professor of Illusions is one of the saviours of Baldur’s Gate!!”

“YES! And oh my gods, and he’s sooo handsome!”

“-- And his partner! My bisexual awakening for real for real.”

“Seriously, such babygirl energy.”

“The biggest, I’m literally rattling the bars on my enclosure right now—”

Opulentus’ eyebrow twitched. So that was it—some new hotshot had taken the role of "celebrity professor," drawing all the attention away from him! Well, he certainly wasn't about to let some flashy hero usurp his position as the academy’s most respected instructor, even if they did have an impressive title.

Of course, he too had heard of the situation over in Baldur’s Gate – it had become international news at this point, the talk of every tavern. A Netherbrain had threatened the city only to be destroyed by a group of adventurers, and in several of the higher Wizarding circles, it had even been rumoured to have ties to Karsus, though that seemed preposterous, nothing more than illicit tales.

He cleared his throat and raised his voice authoritatively.

"I'm sure you're all quite excited to meet your new instructor, but in the meantime, you're in my class! Let's show a little respect, shall we?" The students quieted a bit, though he could still see their eyes darting back and forth with whispered gossip, like they couldn't wait to get out of his lecture and hear more about the new professor.

This would require a more forceful approach. He banged his staff once more, harder this time, and then leaned forward with a stern look that he reserved for such occasions. 

“You’re here to learn the advanced arts of Transmutation, not to gossip about other professors. Now, open your texts to page seventy-three, and let's begin–”

“ – Sorry to interrupt, old friend!”

Opulentus’ blood turned cold. Gods. Not him… anyone but him.

The lecture hall erupted once more in excited chatter as Gods’ Damned Gale of Waterdeep – ah, Gale Dekarios, suddenly waltzed into the room, his genial hand raised in greeting as he moved with effortless grace. The wizard wore immaculate scholarly robes, each step radiating an air of self-assured charisma that made Opulentus seethe. The students were captivated, and his annoyance grew with every whisper.

He had been the one to save Baldur’s Gate?! Infeasible! Absurd! The man must have shared some resemblance to one of the heroes and caused rumours to spiral, as they so often did in academic institutions. It could not be!

He clenched his jaw, trying to regain his composure as Gale approached closer, his smile as wide as ever, his demeanour exuding easy charm. Opulentus straightened, preparing to speak with the man quietly, without drawing more attention.

“I hope I’m not inconveniencing you at all, my astute colleague,” Gale said, “but I wondered if I may be so bold as to join your lecture? I believe it would be most beneficial to observe your teaching style with these particular students before taking them on myself, next period.”

Opulentus could feel rage boiling like a frog in a pot deep within his chest, so intensely that he was certain it was affecting his cholesterol levels. But what choice did he have? It was, as the saying goes: ‘Keep your enemies close, and your… friends closer?’ Wait, was that right? It didn’t seem right. Bah, alas. It didn’t matter.

"Of course," Opulentus said, forcing his tone to stay light and welcoming. "I’d be delighted to have you sit in. I'm sure you'll find my teaching style quite... instructive." He added a slight edge to his last word, just enough to hint that he was in control here, not the intruding, fraudulent Gale Dekarios.

Gale grinned broadly. 

"Thank you, Opulentus! I look forward to learning from your vast experience."

Opulentus gestured to a chair in the corner of the room, a clear signal that this was as far as Gale would be allowed to intrude. 

"Feel free to take a seat over there. I was just about to begin our discussion on advanced transmutation techniques. I'm sure you'll find it enlightening."

Gale nodded with a smile and made his way to the designated spot, his presence drawing the attention of several students who whispered and pointed in his direction. Opulentus took a deep breath, reminding himself that he was the one in charge here. Gale could observe, but he would not disrupt the lecture. Not if he had anything to say about it.

He turned back to the class, raising his voice to regain their focus. 

"Alright, everyone, let's get back to our discussion. Please open your texts to page seventy-three, and let's dive into the finer points of matter fabrication…" 

Throughout the lecture, he couldn't help but glance at Gale out of the corner of his eye, watching for any signs of further interference. But Gale just sat there, smiling and nodding, as if he were the most obedient student in the room.

Oh, how he hated him. Stupid, handsome, charming Gale Dekarios! This had to be another ploy, some underhanded scheme. The Gale he knew would have been all interruptions, eager to be the centre of attention. Yet, the man in his classroom was playing the role of humble observer—graceful, courteous, infuriatingly well-mannered.

Opulentus clenched his fists beneath the podium, his knuckles white with frustration. What had happened to the brash, reckless Gale he knew? This new version was even more unbearable. And the students! They were enchanted by him, their eyes constantly flicking over to where he sat, hoping to catch his eye.

But Opulentus refused to let Gale's presence diminish him. He'd worked too hard, earned too much respect to let one exiled wizard, no matter how charming, take that from him. So Gale had a pretty wife and the adoration of students. Big deal! Opulentus still had the accolades, the titles, the power that came with his position. He was still the respected professor, the one with connections to the most powerful wizards in Waterdeep.

He was the Opulentus! He'd won their rivalry!

Yet, as his eyes kept darting toward his new colleague, an unsettling feeling began to creep in. Was it… admiration? No, it couldn't be. Respect? Even more absurd. Gale was a has-been, a disgraced wizard who had defied Mystra herself, the goddess of magic. To admire him would be laughable.

And yet... there was something about Gale's unshakable confidence, his genuine warmth with the students, that gnawed at Opulentus's sense of superiority. It was as if Gale had found a different kind of power, one that didn't rely on accolades or titles. 

And it was maddening.

“Please, I thank you all for your kind welcomes, but I can hardly take so much credit!”

“Mr Dekarios, no need to be so modest! What you did was quite spectacular – if you don’t mind me saying so! From disgraced wizard to the chosen of Mystra, and with power even more potent than before!”

“You flatter me, but please, call me Gale.”

Gods! Even in the staff room, there was no relief from this man! Opulentus sat in the corner, sulking over a mug of black coffee, glaring at Gale over the rim of his glasses. The wizard was surrounded by colleagues who fawned over him, eager to hear his tales and bask in the glow of his newfound glory. Turns out – as inconceivable as it was – Gale Dekarios had been a saviour of Baldur’s Gate. Along with his betrothed, Tav, who was apparently a scholar in her own right, a sorcerer local to that city.

Opulentus took a long, bitter sip of his coffee, feeling the heat scorch his tongue but doing little to warm his mood. Why was everyone so taken with Gale all of a sudden? The man had been a pariah not long ago, a laughing stock among wizards. Yet now, here he was, the hero of Baldur's Gate, Mystra's chosen, and the most popular professor at the academy.

Gods. He couldn't stand the way everyone treated Gale like a celebrity, as if his past failures had never happened. It was as if Opulentus' years of hard work, his dedication to his craft, meant nothing compared to Gale's apparent underdog comeback. It wasn't fair!

But as he sat there, scowling into his coffee, a realisation struck him. It wasn't just the attention that bothered him—it was the fact that Gale didn't seem to care about any of it. He wasn't seeking adoration or approval; he was just... there, enjoying the company of others, sharing stories, and spreading good cheer.

And looking ever-so dashing as he did so…

…Bah! But it was all for show! It must be! Yet, try as he might, Opulentus could not make sense of it. He closed his eyes and pictured a grand conspiracy board with strings and thumbtacks, connecting all the dots of Gale's previous manipulations and betrayals. Surely there was a pattern here, some thread that would explain how Gale had orchestrated his miraculous comeback, how he had once again stolen the spotlight from under Opulentus' nose.

But no matter how hard he tried, the lines remained tangled, the connections fuzzy, and the dots... incongruent. It just didn’t make sense.

Well, fine!  If Gale wanted to play the role of the humble hero, so be it. Opulentus would play the role of the brilliant, stoic professor—the one with real power and authority. 

He loudly cleared his throat.

"Ah, Gale, quite the story! I'm surprised you're not writing books by now with all these tales. Although, I suppose it's easier to entertain people with fancy retellings than to actually do any real work, isn't it?"

The other staff members turned to Opulentus, a few of them raising their eyebrows at the unexpected jab. Gale, however, didn't seem fazed. He… chuckled!

"Well, storytelling is an art, after all.” He smiled. “But you're right, Opulentus—nothing beats the hard work and dedication that would go into writing novels, as I’m aware you have done time and time again. I guess that's why I have so much respect for you and your teachings! You’ve always been one to work tirelessly, never settling for less, be it in your writings or in the classroom."

Opulentus blinked, thoroughly surprised at the unexpected compliment. It surged something warm inside him, a friendly caress to his ego, and he found himself… blushing.

The other staff members nodded in agreement with Gale's words, a few of them even smiling at Opulentus with a newfound appreciation. It only made him more flustered—this wasn’t the reaction he'd intended at all!

He cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure, but the warmth spread across his face and down his neck betrayed him. He’d tried to undermine Gale, only to end up complimented himself. Gods, it was baffling! But he couldn't backpedal now, not in front of the other professors.

"Yes, well," he managed to stammer, "dedication is key, as you well know. But let’s get back to work, shall we? We've got students to inspire and knowledge to impart." He tried to sound authoritative, but the quiver in his voice betrayed him even further.

“Absolutely!” Gale nodded with a grin that seemed annoyingly sincere, as if he were truly delighted by Opulentus’s words. “And thank you, as ever, for such riveting conversation, old friend. Let us catch up later, hm?” Gale said, giving Opulentus a friendly pat on the shoulder before leaving the staff room with a confident stride.

Opulentus watched him go, feeling the sting of defeat as his colleagues exchanged bemused glances and hushed whispers. He sat in the ensuing silence for a few minutes, gripping his mug, trying to push thoughts of Gale from his mind, but his introspection stirred, unrelenting and unquenchable.

No! No, he would not be defeated!

Resolutely, he slammed his mug down with a loud clatter and stormed out of the staff room, his mind racing with indignation. Damn it all, enough was enough! In just two days, Gale had swooped in, stealing the spotlight and proving himself to be Opulentus’ better once again. He wouldn't stand for it—not this time.

Turning the corner at the end of the long hall, his eyes fell on his rival across the hallway, the wizard speaking to a couple of students with his usual charm, the perfect picture of humility and enthusiasm. Opulentus cleared his throat loudly, causing Gale to turn toward him with that infuriatingly warm smile. The students glanced at Opulentus, then quickly scurried away, clearly sensing the tension.

"Alright, Gale," Opulentus said, his voice dripping with forced civility. "What's your plan? What are you after? Don't think I don't know what you're up to!"

Gale raised an eyebrow, his smile fading slightly. 

"Plan? What do you mean?" he asked, genuine-seeming confusion in his tone.

"Don't play innocent!” Opulentus replied, crossing his arms. “You return to Waterdeep and your first call of action is to show me up! Bah – waltzing around and acting all friendly and humble, like a changed man, but I know you. You just want to steal the spotlight, steal my thunder as you always have done! But for what? What is your reasoning, old ‘friend’?”

Gale paused for a moment, his expression softening as he looked at Opulentus. There almost seemed to be a look of pity behind his eyes and such a sympathetic gaze turned his stomach to knots. He almost couldn’t bear to maintain eye contact.

"No, Opulentus, that's not it at all," Gale said at last, calmly. "Though… You are right, in a sense. I was once an arrogant man, the perfect picture of a wizard full of hubris, and it only led me to ruin… as you well know.”

Opulentus shifted on his feet awkwardly, annoyed at himself for losing his composure. Yet, this was good. This meant that this ‘new Gale Dekarios’ would finally reveal himself.

“But I have changed. The journey I went on, the people I met, it showed me a different path – one I could have scarcely foreseen. I used to be obsessed with power and recognition, and I made a lot of mistakes because of it. I hurt a lot of people, including you.”

The man’s big brown eyes turned softer still, cute like a calf, guilty as could be. It struck a chord in Opulentus’ stone heart – but no… no, this… Was this true? Was Gale… apologising?

“...I would not be so careless again. I hope you can accept my most sincere apologies, and that we can perhaps forge a comradery going forward, perhaps even a friendship. You know… I’ve always respected you, Opulentus. I think we could learn a lot from each other.”

Gale offered his hand, palm open, inviting Opulentus to grasp it. Opulentus found himself gulping.

“What do you say? Shall we start over?”

Opulentus was taken aback. He’d expected denial, excuses, maybe even a fight, but an apology? And such a sincere one? It threw him off balance. He searched Gale's eyes, expecting to find some hint of deception, but there was none. Just honesty and remorse. He felt his anger waver – but no, could it be true?! Could Gale of Waterdeep really have changed? It was difficult to accept, but the warmth in his voice, the genuine regret in his eyes, seemed too real to ignore.

And so, Opulentus thrust his hand forward, grasping Gale's with a firm grip and giving it a hearty shake. Was it peculiar to say that it made his heart… flutter?!

“Alright, Gale,” he said slowly, keeping his expression neutral, though he was sure his confusion and fluster was evident. “We can start over. But don't think this makes us friends. Not yet. I’m still watching you.”

Gale nodded, a faint smile on his lips. 

“Understood. Though, I hope you’ll forgive me for saying that I’m hopeful!”

Opulentus smiled back at him, releasing his hand with annoying reluctance. He cleared his throat.

“Depends,” He said, swallowing down that strange and unfamiliar feeling entangling inside of him. “...Does your wife-to-be have a sister?”

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Jealous

Seeing his lady attract so much attention got Gale going in more ways than one. NSFW. Based on this post.

On the outside, Gale Dekarios was charming. Smiling. Happy. Polite. On the inside, however, he was seething. He and Ramona had decided to head downstairs to get some light refreshment when he noticed several people leering at her and now one man was speaking with her at the bar.

He’s close.

Dangerously close.

Don’t you dare touch her.

She likes it when I touch her. Only me.

I am her lover. I am her future husband…hopefully. I am her god…well, in bed. Don’t worry, Selune---you’re very much her favorite deity!

Gale stared at young tiefling flirting with her. He was tall, muscular, and had incredibly menacing horns. He’s got a handsome face as well---square jaw, a perfectly proportional nose, and striking eyes. And what a head of hair!

Everything I’m not.

No. No. She wants me. She chose me. Even when Astarion was throwing himself at her left and right, she still chose me.

He decided he had had enough and made his way to Ramona.

My beautiful girl. Perfect in every way. So damn oblivious. A trap could bite her and then detonate, and she’d still be looking for it. Gale casually walked up to her and the young man, hearing the last part of their conversation.

“—the bluebonnets are nice this time of year. Maybe we could go and see them if you want?” he asked, smiling warmly.

Ramona, however, was nodding politely, and her expression completely neutral. She lit up when she saw Gale approach, turning her head to greet him with a kiss. A chaste one. I’m not some lout wanting to show everyone who leered at her to whom she belongs. No, I will show her that in private. “Oh, sorry---my partner’s arrived. Hope you have a good rest of your evening, saer.”

The look on the young man’s face was pure disappointment. He bowed. “You as well, my lady.”

When he was out of earshot, Ramona sighed and placed her hand over her heart. “Oh thank fuck you arrived, love. I was desperately trying to think of ways for me to stop talking to him while still waiting here for our food.” She beamed at him, and Gale felt her tail wrap around his hips. Good gods, the things she does to me.

“Dearest, I very well could not have left you here to suffer inane conversation. What kind of gentleman would I be if I did?” He draped his arm around her broad shoulders, his fingers daring to go just the slightest, no one will see bit under her top to play with a bra strap.

Her cheeks flushed a deep red. “Well, you could’ve…I don’t know…let me suffer?” She glanced up at him and giggled as his index finger traced a circle with the strap in the middle. “No, you’re far too good of a man for that. A very naughty, good man.”

That’s it. I need to get her upstairs. Now. He turned to the bartender and flashed a grin. “My dear man, could the food we ordered be brought to the second room in the suites upstairs?” Gale smiled to himself as he caught her raising an eyebrow, placing several good pieces on the counter. Not to worry---the countess can always send more gold.

“Aye, sure. No problem.”

With a nod, he took her hand and led her towards the stairs. As they walked up, she laughed breathlessly. “Gale love, what on earth has gotten into you?”

“I’ll explain in one moment, my beauty.” They entered the suite common room and then made a beeline for their room, closing and locking the door behind him. Gale could feel the sweat dripping from his brow as he touched his earring, the glamour disappearing.

“Love—”

His lips crashed against hers in an instant, and his arms wrapped around her soft, thick waist. When he broke the kiss, he began to paw at her top. “Do you know how many people were staring at you? Watching you? Leering at you?” he growled. “All of them looking at your every curve, your pretty eyes, your heaving cleavage…and that young so-and-so, thinking he could charm you? Ha!” Once she was down to her smalls, he practically ripped his robes off. “What fools these mortals be---thinking they could compete with me for your affections?” You chose me. You want me. Out of all the people in the world, all of our companions…you chose me. And most days I still cannot believe it. “You’ve shown me time and time again one fundamental truth, my love. Do you know what it is?” He reached behind her and unclasped her bra with ease, freeing her large and extremely soft breasts from their confines.

Her bright blue eyes never left him as she watched him help her with her clothes and then remove his. “N-no?” she whispered; her eyes wide.

Gale cupped a breast and leaned against one of her short black horns. “That I am yours, and you, in turn, are all mine.” This pair of underwear is already tight enough and falling apart, so I suppose… His other hand reached for an existing tear in his underwear and tore them off, finally liberating my cock. Gods take me, she does things to me. “My love, my sweetest lady, my dearest one, I need you. I need you right now.” Backing her up towards the foot of the bed, he kissed her again. The kiss was sloppy and passionate, not his usual controlled, chivalrous ones he shared with her in public.

As she hit the bed, she fell backwards and let out an amused cry. “Gods Gale, were there really that many people looking at me?!” She panted in disbelief and removed her panties, tossing them on the floor. I’ll put them in the dirty clothes pile later. Everything should be organized, my dear! She moved up the length of the bed, her tail swishing all the while. “I didn’t think anyone was—”

“By Elminster’s beard, of course there were!” He sighed as he crawled to her. Stopping to line himself with her glistening cunt (fucking hells, she is so wet), Gale put his weight on his hairy forearms, nearly pressing onto her. “My love, you are alluring to anyone with eyes! And I suppose, everyone without eyes when they hear you speak! So many eyes on you—ah!” He exhaled sharply as he entered her, and she moaned wantonly. Sing for me, my angel. I want to hear it all…hear how you’re mine… “But all I could think was how you. Are. Mine.” Punctuating each word with a thrust, his rhythm became faster every second. Mine. Yours. All mine. All yours. Forever. Always.

The claws on one of her hands threaded through his silky hair as the other lightly dragged along his back. “Gale…please…”

“Too much?” He panted and hung his head to glance at her face. “If it is, I—”

She shook her head, her expression as light and bright as could be. “More, love. More…please…”

Whatever the lady desires, so it shall be done! Thrusting harder, he tugged at her plump lower lip and moaned. “You are…so beautiful…one day…you’ll see…will do anything…to have you see…what I see…”

“And you?” she asked as she reached where they were joined. Good girl. Such a good girl. “Will you see yourself as I see you, my handsome wizard?” Ramona moaned again, her cheeks now bright red. “Gale…so close, love…”

He quickly pressed a kiss to her lips. “So am I, my sweet…ah, tell me, darling…tell me I’m yours…”

“You’re mine!” she cried, her climax hitting her hard. “You’re all mine…my Gale…”

Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he nearly screamed as he released several torrents of seed into her. He rolled off her, panting heavily. “Thank you for indulging me, sweetness. You truly are the most wonderful woman in all the realms.”

Minding her horns (she’s always so careful not to nick me with her horns and claws), she curled into his soft side, head resting on his plush hairy chest and her tail swishing happily. “And you are the most wonderful man.”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Ramona quickly rose from bed and grabbed her black silk robe. As soon as we “moved into” the Elfsong Tavern, she grabbed that very sexy robe and returned saying she “needed” it. Well, it turns out I need it too because godsdamn, she looks incredible wearing it. “Hi, thank you so much! Here you go.” She took the tray of food and handed the waiter a handful of gold before she closed the door. She didn’t tie it well enough because there it goes! Dinner and a show---who’s better than me? His mouth salivated at the sight of her jiggling belly and swaying hips more so than the charcuterie plate he ordered.

A long night ahead, I think. Perhaps I should give into my less than gentlemanly tendencies more often…

[shadowhearts-wife]

Just For Tonight

Gale X fem!tav

Summary: Just as Gale's relationship with Mystra, the Mother of Magic, goes down in flames, he seeks comfort from another. Just a one time event with no strings attached. |TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE EVENTS OF BALDUR'S GATE 3!|

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 4,277

Tags: F/M, Baldur's Gate (Video Games), Dungeons & Dragons (Roleplaying Game), Gale/Tav (Baldur's Gate), Gale (Baldur's Gate)/Original Character(s), Gale (Baldur's Gate)/Original Female Character(s), Gale (Baldur's Gate), Tav (Baldur's Gate), Female Tav (Baldur's Gate) - Character, Bryony Maelyl, Bryony Dekarios, Mystra (Mention Only), Tara (Mention Only), Smut, Emotional Sex, One Night Stands, Dungeons & Dragons Character Backstory, Backstory, Friends to Lovers, friends to lovers to strangers, Named Tav (Baldur's Gate), Baldur's Gate 3, Gale Needs a Hug (Baldur's Gate), Gale is emotionally going through it, he is guilty over this, and this girl isn't even a mystra worshipper, Hook-Up, but they catch feelings, Pre-Canon, Oral Sex

A/N: This is my tav's personal background with Gale, as in my and my fiancée's little universe, Bryony is not the hero of Baldur's Gate! She actually doesn't become part of their story until act 3! I hope you enjoy this little story of their past together!

AO3 version can be found here!

She told him to stop wasting his time with her. To stop wasting his time with a goddess after all this time. Surely there would be a mortal out there who would love the companies of the chosen of Mystra—surely someone who would be lucky to have Gale as a lover.

Those were the words Gale had been told by his beloved goddess, anyway… How could Mystra want to end things with him? Had he done something wrong? Was he not a good enough partner? She hadn’t even known of his plans to help restore her final piece of the weave for her—should he have done such a thing sooner in hopes that Mystra would have wanted to continue things with him for longer?

Gale sighed, walking along the magic archive’s halls feeling like a man scorned. He had to have known Mystra would want to end things eventually… She was an all-powerful being, the mother of magic itself! And who was he but just a wizard from Waterdeep? A mere mortal within the hands of a woman who would always overshadow and outshine him. He would spend all of his time trying to impress her, trying to live as the gods do, and despite reaching the status of her chosen he just couldn’t.

While Mystra wasn’t the first of his lovers, and he now figured she surely wouldn’t be the last… this was the one time he wanted to do something besides love properly. He wanted to find the comfort of someone even if just temporarily, even if just for a night. It was something so uncharacteristic of him, and yet… he longed to sit in someone’s arms after embracing passions that could be shared between them.

As he walked through the halls of Waterdeep’s magic archive, surrounded by tomes and textbooks he had tried using to cheer himself up from the heartbreak he suffered just days ago, he saw just the person he would approach for such a thing; Bryony Maelyl. She was a drow sorceress who had traveled to Waterdeep from her native city of Baldur’s Gate just to pursue studies in the art of magic.

The two had been friends by his standards. They’d worked together in pursuit of learning, they’d studied together, and they’d even gone and gotten tea together in their time off.

She was such a kind, beautiful, shy soul. One who would go out of her way to speak with Gale and express the ways she was inspired by the wizard. Though their magic came from two very different places inside, one learned and harnessed throughout life and one present from the first breath, she thought his magic was just as beautiful as hers. She thought Gale was just as beautiful as his magic. Bryony really liked Gale, and that was no secret.

She had always been respectful of his relationship with Mystra, of course. She had never overstepped her bounds or said anything to Gale directly about how she felt… but it was very obvious.

The thoughts Gale was having were impure, impulsive, and wrong. They were oh so wrong as he studied the sorceress and came up beside her as she read through a tome peacefully. He shouldn’t be playing with anyone’s heart like this… but perhaps if he made it clear this would be just a one-time thing then no harm would be done.

Bryony was far too invested in the book she had set on the table in front of her, not even realizing the wizard’s gaze was on her. In fact, she didn’t realize his presence until a pair of hands playfully slid the book away from her, enough for Gale to gaze down at it with those dreamy brown eyes of his.

“What is it we’re reading today?” Gale asked, a teasing tone behind his voice, glancing from the words on the page and into Bryony’s red eyes for only a moment. Looking into anyone’s eyes too long made Gale nervous, even if they were a lover of any sort. “The essence of life when working with necromancy, is it?”

Bryony smiled up at him, a slightly embarrassed blush on her face only from being bothered while deep in research–especially since the topic of her interest lately was spells involving necromancy, even if it was a kind of magic she would never once delve into. She couldn’t imagine reanimating corpses or speaking with the dead personally, but it was always so interesting to look into. “It’s a very interesting read. I personally hope I’ll never need to use any of these skills, but the more knowledge I have on spells, the better.”

“Oh, I surely agree. The more knowledge we have as controllers of the weave, the better.” Gale slid the book back in her direction before taking a seat beside her. “Now, while I always encourage research, the passion of increasing our knowledge… I actually wanted to ask you something.

This piqued Bryony’s interest, what would he be asking her? Would it be a question on magic? Concerns about his testy tressym back at home? She took the book in her hands and put a piece of loose parchment inside in order to keep her place without damaging the book, shutting it to show he had her full attention. While she didn’t say a word, her expression showed she was expecting him to continue.

Gale picked up on this very quickly, clearing his throat. “I… uhm… I wanted to know if… perhaps you would accompany me this evening. In my tower. Just… just us two.” He asked just as awkwardly as he felt getting these words out of his mouth. It had been years since he had asked anyone for their time in this way… and typically he had already been courting them when asking this question, not just asking it out of the blue.

As her face turned a deep, embarrassed shade of red at the implications behind his statement, a conclusion she could very easily jump to by the embarrassment present on Gale’s own face, Bryony looked around a bit before finding the words she wanted to say. “I… I would never disrespect Mystra like that, as I know you two are… involved.”

“We… aren’t. Not anymore. Mystra and I are over, and if it’s forever or for the time being… I don’t know. But I just ask this one night of you. I know how you feel, and while I can’t promise myself to anyone long term, I…” His words trailed off as the guilt started to set in. All of his morals were screaming at him to stop, to take it back, to turn away now and just go home. Maybe he just needed to spend a night alone, reading books of his own rather than using a mix of someone’s own feelings and his own desperation as a distraction.

Bryony was quiet for uncomfortably long, trying to ponder this in her head. He was asking her for tonight, and tonight only… but perhaps that would have worked better for her, anyways. She wouldn’t be living here in Waterdeep forever, she would be going back to Baldur’s Gate when her studies finished in mere months from now. What was the harm in having a little fun…? She hadn’t done anything like this since she was a teen, a young adult by human’s standards even.

Before Gale could speak again, before he could try and take it back, she very gently covered his opening mouth with a finger. “Just tonight,” She repeated that part to him, “For just tonight, I’m yours.” Bryony’s voice was quiet. Her gaze didn’t leave his, their eyes locking for what may have been the longest gaze Gale had ever held in his life as he nodded his head slowly.

“Okay.” Gale slowly and quietly said the word as there was already a tension building between them, as if something in the air around them had shifted completely. He was still nodding before he shifted to take her hands in his. “Okay, let’s go.” His words still came out in a low and quiet voice as he stood and pulled her up with him.

Leaving the book the sorceress had once been reading abandoned on the table, the two of them left rather hurriedly. This was something Gale couldn’t believe she would agree with, but his guilt and shame towards the situation faded quickly as they walked through the streets of Waterdeep and arrived rather quickly to his tower.

There was no time wasted between the wizard unlocking the front door and letting the pair in–locking it once again behind them, of course–and heading up to his bedroom.

The tressym sleeping on her favorite pile of books didn’t even have time to wake up and process that he had arrived back, much less had a woman she had seen maybe once or twice for genuine study sessions. She watched with a tired gaze as they passed through the living area and up the stairs to his own room–and that was when Tara knew this was absolutely none of her business. And at this moment, perhaps she would be better off leaving and looking for pigeons as the setting sun hung over the city…

Once in his bedchambers, Gale didn’t expect for Bryony to make the first move as she nudged him to lean against the back of the door and pulled on his robe’s collar to bring him closer to her own height in order to kiss him. It took a beat for Gale to put his arms around her and return this kiss. Perhaps the two of them were now longing to feel the closeness of another… he couldn’t remember Bryony ever having a recent relationship, just her talking of lovers of the past.

This kiss fueled by desperation and loneliness lasted quite a while as the two grew more comfortable, the pair breaking apart for short breaths and then going back at it once getting enough air to stay alive. Gale’s hands tangled in her head full of white curls as he turned around, beginning to walk forward in order to push Bryony towards the bed, and eventually pushing her carefully down onto it with the first proper breaking of their kisses.

As Gale panted in an attempt to regain his breath and watched Bryony shift to lay properly on the bed, he took off his signature purple robe that laid over his clothing and let it fall to the floor before climbing onto the bed himself.

He laid over Bryony as she put her hands on his face, which allowed her to feel the unshaven stubble growing in. She admired his handsome face before they could kiss again, her hands moving up into his hair that had been ever so slightly growing out. “You’re breathtaking…” she gently said, playing with the deep brown strands with greys sprinkled about it.

Gale brushed back some of the curls that had been framing Bryony’s face, admiring her as well. How had he never realized her beauty like this prior to now? Was he truly so entranced by Mystra that he was missing a soul such as Bryony in this vast world? “Not as breathtaking as you… and I have to say, I’m quite liking seeing you in such a position…” He spoke these words before leaning in and kissing her once again, this time his hands working at removing her robe of red.

Bryony felt as if each and every kiss between them held an unmistakable spark of passion, stoking the fire of lust between them. She let him guide her as his hands pulled the front of her robe open, his hand snaking around her waist in order to roll over and have Bryony on top of him so he could push her robe off fully and toss it to the floor.

Just as Gale wore a basic outfit underneath, so did Bryony–and while the more layers the pair wore the harder it would be to move things along… It was almost like a game. The painstakingly long, teasing process of having to remove each and every article of clothing was just going to make this evening an even longer process, especially as the clothes Bryony wore weren’t the only thing beneath her robe.

It was safe to say that Gale got distracted as he pulled away from this kiss, his eyes catching on a pendant Bryony had worn. He carefully picked up the round carving of metal, one he could only presume to be silver, and held it up. He was met with the mark of the goddess Selûne. Gale hadn’t known why he just assumed that all magic users were followers of Mystra, and it was relatively uncommon for anyone of a drow family to follow the Moonmaiden’s teachings.

“Selûne,” Bryony said, just in case he didn’t recognize the symbol… although, who wouldn’t recognize the mark of Selûne? “It might be odd, especially with my dedication to magic–but she’s the goddess that always guided me through life–the one who made me feel safe and seen.” She instantly started to defend herself, but was reassuringly quieted by a soft kiss being pressed to her lips.

“I think it’s a beautiful necklace, one very fitting for the Lady of Silver. I think you should wear it where everyone can see your admiration for your goddess.” Gale ran his finger over the carving before carefully set it down, clearly able to tell it must have been very important to Bryony.

It was only a moment before Bryony took it off herself to set it carefully on Gale’s side table, not needing it for the activities on the horizon. “I think if I showed up to the Mother’s temple with that on she would be very disappointed, as I refused to represent her through her own symbol.” She spoke of Mystra as if she was some kind of diva. Maybe she was correct. “Besides, my pendant has been with me since childhood… It was enchanted to help with my sunlight sensitivity.” She explained to him, now just sitting atop Gale with her hands on the man’s chest for a moment. While his chest was still clothed in his white shirt, this made the excitement within her grow even stronger.

Gale would have continued talking about her goddess or her experiences living as a drow outside of the Underdark forever, but the way she looked above him… perhaps this was even better than how she looked below him. His eagerness to continue had been growing very obvious by a particular spot in his trousers.

There were no more words that could be spoken as there was now a new urgency from Gale to remove as much of the clothing on Bryony’s curvy figure within the shortest amount of time possible. Bryony seemed to have a similar urgency as she reached to untie his shirt and unfasten his trousers, causing her to move off of him for the time being.

It was a blur as clothing was removed and strewn about all across the floor, surrounding Gale’s large bed on all sides.

There were so many ways they could keep this going, so many possibilities and outcomes… Gale hadn’t felt mortal pleasures in so long, spending all of his time with Mystra and making love as gods would… but here he wasn’t that man who would use his magic to make these times unforgettable… Here he was Gale Dekarios, a mortal man who knew how to treat a woman right.

After removing Bryony’s bra, after taking in the sights of this part of her uncovered, he ran a hand down her bare side. “Lay back for me, love… if you allow me I want to focus on you and your pleasure first.”

Bryony nodded slowly, shifting so she could lay her head back on the pillows as he wanted her to do. “Of course I allow you… but only if you’re sure, I don’t want you to feel as though I’m neglecting your wants…”

Gale leant in to place a careful kiss on her lips. “Lucky for you, this is something I want… and something I’ve been told I’m rather good at.” He teased her before kissing on her neck in a way that made Bryony nearly melt.

His tender kisses went all down her neck and onto her chest, making Bryony feel special. She couldn’t recall if anyone had ever taken their time to place kisses all along her body… she couldn’t recall if anyone had ever treated her this nicely. If this was how Gale treated her when she was merely just a distraction and a temporary cure for this void he felt, then she could only imagine how loved his actual partners would feel.

Feeling his lips all across her chest, each of her breasts getting equal attention from him, and then down her stomach… where he was getting closer and closer to the spot causing quite a bit of discomfort in the woman.

Gale carefully hooked his fingers on the bands of her undergarments, looking up at her. “Is this still ok?” He asked gently.

“More than ok…” Bryony tried to reassure him, nodding her head. “If it wasn’t, I promise I would tell you.”

“Good… and if anything changes don’t be afraid to tell me to stop.” He placed a gently kiss on the inside of her thigh before pulling off her undergarments, using Bryony’s help to carefully get them off her legs without either of them having to move that much.

Bryony took a breath as she felt Gale preparing himself for his next actions, gasping softly when he finally made contact with her body.

She whined softly as he was moving his tongue against her slowly, just trying to get a feel for her reactions. The way her body moved, the way her breath would hitch or quicken, the way her hands eventually moved into his hair and rubbed at his scalp ever so softly just to busy themselves.

This was heaven. Each and every second was heaven with this man already. He quickly found his rhythm, one that had Bryony panting and calling out his name quietly under her breath within moments. Gale was right, he sure was fantastic at what he was doing.

As Bryony’s reactions grew a bit more, as she squirmed beneath him and whimpered softly, her hands tightening in his hair, Gale could tell the feelings deep inside of her were building up rather quickly. He didn’t stop what he was doing, he just wanted to focus on making her feel good.

When she started to tremble a bit, incoherent babbles coming out of her mouth about how she liked whatever spot he was in, about how she was almost there, Gale took one of her hands that had been in his own hair and gave it a light squeeze. His other arm was wrapped around her leg, caressing her inner thigh gently.

“Gale…” she said his name, squeezing his hand in return. Just a few more pulses through her body before she shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut and crying out his name louder as all the built up tension inside felt as though it had spilled out. “Gale!” She called for him again, gasping and trying to regain her breath. She needed a moment before her body began to relax, Gale still caressing her thigh and holding her hand as he pulled his face away enough to lean his head against her leg so he could catch his own breath. He rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb, admiring her ever so much.

He had tried to push away the guilt he had earlier felt so desperately, but seeing her look down at him so lovingly, so blissfully as her face was flushed made him feel it all over again. But he was far too deep into this to turn back now.

“Did you enjoy that?” He asked her gently, wiping his mouth with his arm to dry it before moving to kiss her neck again.

“Gods above, Gale… did I enjoy that…? I adored that feeling—no one has ever made me feel that good…” Bryony was so honest in each of these words she said, tilting her head to the side so she could receive all of the neck and jaw kisses this man had for her.

Gale kissed up to the woman’s ear, playfully but carefully nibbling on it which caused Bryony to laugh softly. “There’s much more where that came from… Bryony, do I have your permission to go even further with you? Would you allow me to take you all the way?” He whispered these words so politely into her ear, as if his face wasn’t just buried deep between her legs

“Please do…” she asked with a nod of her head, her hands tangling in his hair once again. She knew it was probably a bad idea, allowing a man inside of her without thinking it through fully… but it was just tonight, she reminded herself. Just tonight. What harm could be done from one time and one time only?

With one last kiss to her jaw Gale pulled himself away for only one moment, finally discarding the undergarments that had been upon his body. It was after this when he once again laid with Bryony, looking down at her and brushing her hair back as he positioned himself properly. First pushing his lips to hers in a kiss, he pushed himself into her and used such a kiss to conceal either of the noises the couple made.

Gale didn’t yet move his body beyond this, breaking the kiss for just a moment to study her face and make sure she wasn’t feeling any abnormal discomfort from this. “Is this ok?” He asked gently.

Bryony adjusted the way her hips sat ever slightly, nodding as she returned her hands in that hair of his yet again. “Please continue…” She gave him the permission to begin moving against her, the flames between them burning hotter than ever as pleasure danced across the vision of both parties involved.

Just as Gale was skilled, Bryony seemed equally as skilled in making this enjoyable for them both. She was good at moving just the right way, caressing his face, gazing at him and leaving little kisses wherever she could at this time.

As they moved into a more steady rhythm and Gale started to moan louder, he leant his forehead against hers. His eyes were closed and his speed increased. “Oh, Bryony… heavens above… you feel so good…” these words spilled out of his mouth as he took her hands, pinning them against the mattress as he gave them a light squeeze.

Bryony wasn’t exempt from the sounds being made, her body starting to tremble as he kept going. “Don’t stop, Gale… gods… you know just how to make this so—so good!” She squeezed his hands a bit harder, especially as his movements began to grow a bit more erratic.

“I can’t… I can’t hold on much longer…” Gale’s voice began to sound strained, only taking a few more thrusts to find his release, in which he called out Bryony’s name before weakly and pathetically slumping over with his head resting against her chest.

Even in his haze, he could tell Bryony was on the brink of a second release, so he took a moment to pull out of her and reach between them in order to put his hand between her legs, making sure she found the same feeling he did.

It was just mere moments until they were both satisfied, until Gale laid back and pulled Bryony to lay on his chest instead so she could relax against him.

He placed a gentle kiss upon her head, fingers tangling in her white hair as he whispered with a tiredness in his voice. “Thank you… thank you for tonight…”

Bryony had been awake still, even if her eyes were fluttering closed. Her arms were wrapped around Gale as she never wanted to let him go now, but she knew the second the morning light hit the floor of his tower she would have to go… then they’d be nothing but friends once more. Even if she could have replied, it was easier to pretend like sleep had already overtaken her.

Gale felt a smile on his face as he allowed himself to truly relax, to let his own eyes close as they were heavy with exhaustion, and let himself fall into a deep sleep. Probably the best he had had in such a long time.

And with that sleep, morning soon approached. And after that morning? Gale and Bryony may as well have become strangers. Just days after their moments of passion, Gale had seemingly disappeared. Recluse into his tower for no one to see… for Bryony to never get a chance to say goodbye before the months flew by and it was time for her move back to Baldur’s Gate.

Bryony wouldn’t have closure on their passionate time together. In fact, she got exactly the opposite as one of the clerics back in the city confirmed her worst fear from that evening spent together. Something she wouldn’t ever be able to tell Gale at this point.

“Bryony,” the cleric started off with her name soft spokenly. “My deepest congratulations to you, my dear. You’re pregnant!”

Pregnant.

Pregnant with the child of a man who she would never see again.

[llamamamarisen92]

Gale Comes Home

To preface, Gale was in Elysium for what he thought was a day.. but he comes home to a surprise he never expected.

Time moved differently in the weave. There was no telling really how long he had actually been in Mystra's domain, waiting to return the crown to her. He couldn’t wait to get back and hold Tav in his arms once more. Putting all of this nonsense with the crown, the brain, their adventure all behind them. To enjoy the fruits of their labor as they settled into domestic bliss. When he asked Tav to marry him, it almost came as a shock when she told him she just wanted to settle into a simple quiet life. For the past six months his only context for who she was as a person was the warrior who stood fiercely before them all. 

It brought great relief that she simply wanted to settle down. But still, he couldn’t imagine it. They found the crown and moved into his… their tower in Waterdeep. When they arrived he went to the temple right away so that he could be done with all this Karsus bullshit. 

After about an hour Mystra summoned him. 

“Gale, it seems you were successful in obtaining the crown.” Cautiously smiling, trying to gauge what he would do with it. Their last meeting was tense and he had taken quite an angry tone with her before. 

“I have come to return it.” He set the crown into her outstretched hand.

“I am pleased by your decision, Gale of Waterdeep.” 

“Dekarios.. You can just call me Gale Dekarios now.” 

A twinge of displeasure crossed Mystra's face. 

“Alright. And will you take up your place as my chosen once more?” There was expectation there. It was a question, but there was expectation there. Not many refused the offer of a goddess.. Especially one he had spurned before.

“Grateful as I am for the offer,” He rung his hands nervously, “I simply want to live the ordinary life of an ordinary man. All I really want is to go home to my wife. Free of the orb of course.”

A twinge of jealousy caused Mystra’s frown to deepen. Anxiety hit Gale. What if she refused to fix the orb afterall? Tav helped him to unravel the manipulations he experienced under Mystras thumb. But still that same guilt and fear of displeasing her froze him. 

“Very well.” Mystra seemed to draw the process out, but she finally removed the orb. “Enjoy the rest of your life, Gale Dekarios.” 

He was returned to the mortal plain. It was dark out. He must have been at the temple all day. He quickly tested his magic to make sure it was still intact. Surprisingly, it seemed his old prowess was returned to him and the deep scars that gave away the orbs' presence was gone. Relief settled inside him like it never had before.

He quickly walked to his tower, not wanting to waste any time. He opened the door to his home and called out. No one answered. There were candles blazing so someone must have been present. Making his way up the stairs towards the bedroom a startling noise hit him. 

Was that… no it couldn’t be. Practically running up the stairs he followed the sound of an infant crying. Listening at the door the voice of his wife accompanied the upset child. 

“There, there. Hush now. You’re all right, it was just a bad dream.” Tav’s voice seemed strained and withdrawn. How long had he truly been in Elysium?

He opened the door causing Tav to jump. Clutching the child closer to her, causing its cries to grow stronger. Eyes wide, she just stood there staring at him. Neither of them knew what to say. Just simply watching each other from their respective corners. 

“Did.. who is.. I.” His words fell short. Where did one even begin in a situation like this. He expected smiling eyes. For Tav to come running into his arms so they could make love all night. But she stood there, a hardness in her gaze. 

“It’s been a year.” Such a simple statement. It took an effort for her to keep her voice neutral but it hitched despite her best efforts. 

Eyes settling on the infant in her arms, he noted the deep brown waives that matched his own. This was entirely out of the realm of things he expected to come home to. Truthfully, he thought the orb rendered him infertile. Although, he didn’t really put the theory to the test he supposed. The child's skin had the same midday afternoon tones as its mother. There was no doubt this was their child. 

His focus was back on his wife’s face. He read a thousand nights of grief in those beautiful amber eyes. Cautiously approaching her, he held his arms out. “May I see..” Gods, he didn’t even know if it was a boy or girl. 

“Amidel. Your son’s name is Amidel.” She whispered. 

“Amidel.” Testing the name on his tongue he gently took his son from her. It felt awkward given his experience with infants was… well none. She nervously adjusted his hand so it cradled Amidel’s head a certain way. The infant watched, staring suspiciously at the strangers face. “How old is he…” his voice faltered, not sure if he really wanted the answer. 

“Three months.” She was now sitting on a carved oak chair, facing the fireplace. His heart broke into a million pieces. The sadness so evident in her features. 

“Gale, I thought you had changed your mind. I thought…” The tears came cascading down, pent up grief lacing every word. “I thought you chose the crown. Or at the very least you chose her.” 

“My love, time moves differently in Elysium. It wasn’t my intention to be gone for so long.” 

A flash of anger propelled her off the chair as she now stood face to face with him. 

“The last time you were there it took an hour. An hour is all I had to wait for you to return after your confrontation with Mystra.” She clenched her hands into fists. “Nothing.. Not a single gods damned thing could have prepared me for this past year.” 

He tried to place his hand gently on her cheek but she turned away as if his touch burned her. Her shoulders began to shake as she quietly sobbed. She was right. It should have only taken a day at the most. Disgusted by what was clearly Mystra's last play at influence in his life. But it didn’t matter. Nothing he could say could change how much Tav must have suffered this year. To live with the idea that she might have been abandoned, pregnant with a child that may never meet his father. There was no doubt that his mother helped her, but still. It was something they should have experienced together. A moment where she needed him the most, she was left alone. 

A servant walked into the room, surprised to seem him there. “Mr. Dekarios, we didn’t expect your return.” Taking measure of the energy in the room, the servant offered to take the infant and settle him down for the night. Gale obliged, relief that Tav had some help in his absence. 

The servant left with their son and he approached his wife. His arms wrapping around her from behind. She tried to pull away but he held firm. After a time of struggling and beating at his arms she finally relaxed into him. Her silent sobs now a loud quaking release of every sorrow she felt throughout his absence. He took note of how her body was no longer battle hardened. Instead it carried the tell tale softness of one recently pregnant. He held her tighter, breathing in her mothers sent as his own cries joined the cacophony of grief. 

Turning in his arms, she laced her arms around his waist and her tears soaked through the front of his tunic. Gently he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. Cradling her close to him. She clung to him, afraid that if she let go he would disappear again. They didn’t make love. She didn’t even kiss him. They simply laid there, holding each other. Allowing the night to wash away their sorrow as they fell into a fitful slumber. 

[adaptacy]

A Found Flame {Pt.5}

Pairing: Mentor!Gale Dekarios x Apprentice!GN!Reader

(Previous Chapter) – (Next Chapter) ➔ (AO3)

A/N: Happy thanksgiving y'all!!! full chapter is up on the ao3, splitting the tumblr portion into 2 parts as per usual. :)

Word Count: 2.3k

“I struggle to see the amusement in this.” The statement is harsh, nearly spat out as he paces the room. Having sent out his apprentice to retrieve groceries from the inner city, he and his familiar are able to talk freely about the new development in his plan. Of course, Tara seems more keen on bragging about it than truly discussing it, only adding to the mountain of stress resting on the wizard’s shoulders.

“Is it too brash to say ‘I told you so’?” She taunts, splayed over a velvet lounge chair in the room. “I knew all along, if you can believe it. You never were the sort to give up. No matter what task you’re faced with. ‘Twas merely a phase, just as I originally predicted.”

“Save me the boasting. Gods, this discussion is useless. There’s no point in arguing fate. I cannot act out of selfishness.” He takes a deep breath, collapsing back in the chair at his desk, the upper half of his hair messily pulled into a bun, though it does little to contain a few spare strands hanging in front of his face. The orb burns, feeding off of his emotions as they slowly build to a frustrated rage – one he has nobody but himself to blame for. His breathing is heavy, fighting to wade through the thick ocean of thoughts in his head, and his leg bouncing as he tries to come up with any possible way around this ‘problem’ of his. 

But he’s tried to come up with solutions before, and everything his mind produced was a dead end. He was a hopeless case, he’d come to accept that, and he’d stopped wishing to be more – he’d lived with the fact for so long, he’d truly forgotten what it felt like to have a reason to want otherwise. Gale’s eyes close, his head tilting back as he attempts to steady himself, both physically and mentally. Of course, he does so to no avail, and only finds himself more irritated, despising the familiarity of his helplessness. He grips the arm of the chair, leg still bouncing rapidly, and even such firm contact with physicality leads to nothing.

With a groan, he shoves himself back onto his feet, quite nearly stomping towards one of his many bookshelves, though this one contains more scrolls than leatherbacks. He grabs several, maybe eight, all crumpling in his hands as he hauls them over to his desk, shoving the misc trinkets there out of the way. Two books fall off of the desk, hitting the rug below with a thud, but he pays them no mind. 

Now faced with a pile of spells contained in rolls of paper, he begins to sort through them, tossing some behind him, making a larger mess of the floor. In his rush, a few of the scrolls develop small tears and rips in the paper, but he hardly feels he has the time to check on them. All of them, spells he knows. All of them, as useless as his own mortal hands. 

Eventually, he reaches the bottom of the pile, grumbling to himself at the inadequacy of the scriptures, even forming a fist and nearly slamming it on the desk, but he forces some composure before he acts too quickly. Knowing he has more that he can look through, he whips around, only to be met with the presence of a brown and orange creature, forcing a startled gasp out of him as he presses a hand to his chest, and his back against the desk. 

“Whatever are you looking for? You’ve surely gone mad! You ought to pick those up, sir, especially seeing as how this room was just straightened,” Tara demands, her wings waving as she hovers in the air, perfectly eye-level with the man she was scolding. 

“I don’t have the time to worry about keeping up appearances. I need to find a solution. Sooner, rather than later – as I expect waiting too long will give the weave ample opportunity to strike.” Gale shakes his head, leaning off of his desk and moving back over to the shelf of scrolls. Tara finds a landing spot amongst the scrolls, sitting firmly on top of the wooden surface as she spectates Gale’s anxious search. 

He gathers up the remaining scrolls, though both of the study’s current inhabitants both know that they won’t offer any solutions. This isn’t the first, third, or even fifth time he’s combed through them, desperate for a way to repair his damaged body. 

Unfortunately, this may be his last. 

“Slow down, dear. You’re only going to stress yourself out more,” Tara sighs, her words met with a displeased frown from Gale, who now stands before her, scrolls stacked upon his arms. 

“Move. Please.”

“Put them back. Sit down – take a breath, Mr. Dekarios.” As stubborn as ever, Tara lays down on his desk, her wings extending on either side of her, taking up as much room as tressym-ly possible. Gale’s expression hardens, equally as stubborn, and he steps closer, threatening to bury her underneath the papers. Tara shakes her head. “What would your mother think?” 

There’s a switch in his eyes, and Tara instantly knows that she’s won. With a sigh of defeat, he drops the scrolls to the floor and sits back down in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. The tressym relaxes, sitting up once more, unable to help but feel ashamed of the state the study now resides in. She hopes that they’re able to pick up the mess before his apprentice returns. 

Gale’s eyes close, and his thumb crosses over the creases under his left eye, touching faint purple lines that are nothing but visual – yet he swears he can feel them under his finger. Artificial Netherese arteries nestled comfortably alongside his real veins, as though they have any right to belong under his skin. 

Even with as handsome of a face as he knew he had, he wonders if they take away from the appeal. If they make him appear sickly – or perhaps cursed. Cursed, he is, but even a cursed man can be an attractive one. Maybe his priorities are amiss, to desire vanity when his survival is on the line, but maybe it’s the minor inconveniences that keep him sane. 

He’s lost, mentally, and it’s such a strange occurrence to simultaneously be so physically comfortable, surrounded by stark familiarity. His apprentice was right; he is still Gale Dekarios. A blighted, wrecked, mess of a man – but a man nonetheless. His face, however doctored by the weave, is still his own. It’s grounding in a way; knowing that no matter the perils, he is still the man, the prodigy, he always has been. 

And, just as well, he knows that Gale Dekarios has never been a quitter. Giving up is a shame that would be wrought upon his family, his goddess, himself – and now his apprentice. Once, had he not been everything he’d worked to become, to surrender to fate would be meaningless. Of course, if he wasn’t the prodigy he’d trained and studied to become, fate would never be such a dire threat. Tara has as much of a point as his apprentice; people will suffer from his actions. He’s doomed either way, really – abandoning his allegiant alongside his ancestors to chase an idealized suicide. 

He cringes at the thought; his own death is his best-case-scenario. Wherever did things go so terribly wrong? The entire situation is nothing short of convoluted, and while he’s never been the type to shy away from complex subjects in pursuit of higher understanding, he feels that there is no end goal, no reason, to keep fighting. To risk the lives of those around him just to engage in a wild goose chase of potential solutions is strikingly dangerous and quite impossibly, arrogantly selfish. 

Is turning his back on the ones he loves an even worse fate? 

Gale sits up, eyes wide with a sharp realization. At last, an idea; “I must seek Elminster. If anyone, he’d be the man capable of an answer. Since Mystra has so fervently refused me any assistance, I’ll pursue my next best chance. My only chance,” he informs his familiar, and she tilts her chin up, tail flicking proudly. 

“An ingenious plan, Mr. Dekarios. Make the most of these remaining days – secure yourself the promise of more dawns. Save me the trouble of informing your mother of your death. How sadistic you must’ve been to believe a letter would do the trick!” She scolds, though her tone is brimming with enthusiasm, pleased that he was able to come up with a resolution. Or, at the very least, a potential resolution. 

“Twelve days. Perhaps eleven – even ten, if I cut through the Far Hills. I’ll require artifacts to settle any cravings on the journey. And gold for the necessary rations.” Gale rises to his feet, making his way over to a long roll of paper. He grabs it, returns to his desk, pushing the remaining scrolls away, and lays out a map showcasing the mid-section of Faerûn. His finger follows a path towards Shadowdale – a long trek, but one that will be entirely worth its perils and time if it guarantees him a longer life. “I could secure a mount at Daggerford, then proceed to…” His index travels down, and he rests on a new location. “Boareskyr bridge.”

“Even with as powerful as you are, it would still be safest to remain on the trade way,” Tara advises, and Gale shrugs in a begrudging agreement. He continues to trace his planned path, traveling down to Scornubel, and then east to the Far Hills, directly towards Arabel, and eventually he stops his finger on Archwood in the Dalelands. 

“Four artifacts should be plenty to keep me – to keep it happy. And I’m quite sure Elminster will be willing to spare extras for my trip back. As gluttonous as he often is, I believe he’ll understand and aid the mission to quell my own appetite.” Assuring himself, he nods along with his own words, only turning his attention to his familiar once he’s burned the path into his mind. What he finds staring back at him is a gratified smirk – or at least the closest thing to a smirk that a muzzle can manage – as Tara tilts her chin up, giving him a nod. 

“I’m pleased to find that your intellect has not yet slipped away from you,” she praises, lifting a paw and running her tongue over the back of it, smoothing the brown hairs there. “I do believe Elminster would be quite honored to meet your apprentice.”

“Oh, no – the two of you will remain here.”

Tara continues to groom herself for a few seconds, and then she freezes, throwing her paws to the desk and standing up, her wings jutting out as she takes a defensive pose, paws stationed in a wide square, coming close to hissing. “How wrong I am! Have you lost all sense?” She cries out, dramatic and hurt. “Tell me you mean to fool me!” 

“Hush now, Tara, I’m being entirely rational. It isn’t too long of a journey, I should be darkening this doorstep before a third week comes to pass, you’ll barely even–”

“Preposterous! First, you dare threaten the loss of an acute mind such as your own, and now you gloat a newfound arrogance! To leave us behind is entirely for the birds – a madman, you must be. Whatever have you done with my darling wizard?” Tara lets out a mawkish yowl, her tail straightening, wings extending more thoroughly, flaunting feathers usually hidden in the folds. 

“Someone must look after the tower, no? I don’t wish to keep them from the opportunity to study, and by extension, you’ll need to remain here to keep them company. Mentor them in my place.” Gale reaches forward, fingers curled and ready to provide a reassuring scratch, but Tara ducks out of the way, hopping to the side with a certain kitten-like playfulness. The reaction draws a chuckle from Gale, having not seen such energy from her in many years. 

“A wise sage once said ‘books can only get one so far’. Lest you truly be an impostor, I do assume you recall your own words?” She huffs, taking an extra step as she puts another inch of distance between the two of them, wary of his plans. 

“Yes, I recall. There’s hardly much room for practice when confined to a saddle for a tenday or two. Anyhow, I reckon Elminster might just scare them off the path of magic dare I let them accompany me. A tragic tale, he spins – quite overbearing for such an elderly man. I’d much rather my trip be quick and concise,” Gale explains, his hands waving as he speaks, his animated mannerisms being just enough to reassure Tara that she was, indeed, speaking to the Dekarios she trusted. 

“You may as well turn this tower into a prison! Oh, how you bruise me. You mean to reduce them to an arrant worrywart, do you? Mr. Dekarios, you only just informed them that your body will soon waste away; the sole matter on their mind right now is your approaching demise. As well-meaning as you may very well be, I can only predict that they will fall quite short in any attempt to understand your intentions.” Tara finally relaxes, her feathered appendages closing in on her sides as she sits. Her whiskers twitch, and a soft, defeated sigh escapes her. “Come now, out with it – I can smell your scheming from miles away.” 

Gale nods, splitting a smile, proud of his ability to problem-solve so quickly. “Right, yes, I expected as much. Should every section of this journey go off without a hitch, the entire trip will take twenty-one days. More realistically – as I am nothing if not rational – it will be closer to twenty-four,” he explains, and Tara squints, finding his rambling completely unnecessary.

“I am plenty capable of mathematics, sir. Spare me the technicalities. I ask again, dear – What is your plan?”

[recitedemise]

When people remain so hard on Gale for 'still talking' about Mystra, it's just.....ohhh boy. Of all the main cast, Gale's definitely one (alongside Wyll) whose relationship with their authority figure, abuser, manipulator, keeper, however you want to call them, is routinely discredited. Their abuses aren't digestible enough. Isn't 'sympathetic' enough. Shadowheart and Astarion have clear overbearing abusers with exceedingly evil personalities. It's apparently 'easier' for some people to show compassion to a victim's hurts if they've the physical scars to prove it, if their abuser fits every bill of a sadist without any effort to hide said sadism. But show Gale, a man who looks older than essentially the whole party, who was with Mystra who appears younger, speaks in a polite/levelled tone, who was 'simply upset' with Gale for 'disrespecting her boundaries', and Gale just becomes...the hung up ex who fumbled a baddie. Y'know, barring the fact that she knew of him and very likely kept eyes on him as a boy, had never actually told Gale the book he was looking for was Karsite in nature, left him to die alone, then came back and said, 'hey, I'll forgive you if you literally blow yourself up by SINKING A DAGGER STRAIGHT INTO YOUR CHEST when I have every ability to remove the orb myself.' Barring, too, that beyond his lover, she was his GODDESS, a goddess who controlled his fealty and commanded his utmost devotion, he being Gale Dekarios, a mortal, human man who was undoubtedly manipulated. Being with someone like that will destroy anyone's reality. He scrabbled for any sort of approval from a far more powerful figure. Many victims of abuse do.

But hey. And don't get me started on Wyll. Man literally made a pact to save others, sacrificed his freedom for the benefit of all, and ended up hard leashed by a literal devil. A devil! Goddddd. Also iffy that Wyll had no agency to make his decision with his pact in act 3 while barely having any lines to speak of, and how Gale is encouraged to apologize and make amends with Mystra for his character arc. Hmm.

[mightymizora]

I love your Gale headcanons so much! They feel so very realistic and descriptive of what Gale could be like outside of the scenes that we see in the game. Do you have any more headcanons about Gale as a young man, this wizard known for his "abject and incorrigible self-delusion"? And perhaps something on his previous lovers pre-Mystra, if you're willing.

Oooh so I have a few and thank you for asking and for that lovely compliment! So my headcanons around his study:

He was a prodigy and definitely ended up studying at a higher level and hanging out with older students. I can imagine a very cocky 18 year old being led by some 22 year olds that should have known better.

He did some of the work where he was interested and coasted for a while where he wasn’t (I love the line in game about him sleeping through his Calishite lessons.) At some point he got the talk from his tutors about what he could be if he applied himself and he absolutely took it to heart, because he knows he could be THE wizard of the age.

I think he was easily led by charismatic people and fell into a crowd of prominent spellcasters who LOVED to egg him on. It was well known that you could dare Dekarios to do ANYTHING because he loved a challenge. These friendships were pretty superficial, and I don’t think his mother or Tara approved.

Part of him ditching the Dekarios part of his name was distancing himself from that side of him. The other part is trying to be the next Elminster.

He wasn’t on benders all the time, unlike some of his peers who really partied hard. He also loved study and loved time reading. He was the sort of person to disappear into the library for two weeks, emerge having had a complete breakthrough and wanting to celebrate and boast about his successes. When he was out, you know he was OUT and was going to have a good time.

Oh, and he’s a real Irish Goodbye sort of person when drunk enough.

As far as relationships, I like his very measured tone when he talks about other mortal lovers and I headcanon that he is very much a demisexual sort of guy. He needs connection to really feel attraction. So even if he could be out all night, he was as like to watch the sunset alone at the end of the party as to go home with anybody. He was definitely pursued though, and was very flattered by the attention. I don’t think he’s had a wealth of experience outside of Mystra, though he definitely strikes me as the sort of person who might have fallen in love with his mate’s long term partner and done some quality pining. He was as likely to fall for somebody’s mind and their curiosity as anything else.

I also think that when the orb event happened, he was dropped like a stone by EVERYBODY except his mentors like Elminster. His social circle crumbled, and he was devastated by that.

[melkyt]

Tara rests on Astarions' shoulder, having switched somewhere halfway through their walk through this forest that can be best described as dark and spooky. Vampires and their dramatic attention to aesthetics make this place feel like less of a threat to Gale. It is just objectively funny.

They notice a shed, or maybe a small house to the side. It's hard to make it out in the haze. Gale, with a gentle tap, points it out "Let's take a break. I am getting mighty peckish"

Astarion takes a breath, forced and stilted from dead lungs, which is just a further hint at how nervous he is, the closer they get to Cazadar's 'lair' or secondary lair. It was a lot of semantics covered in a short time, and with everything else going on, Gale can't say he was listening.

The door creaks, warped from the damp fog. Inside is a foyer that is as fine as one in Waterdeep. Does not fit the muck outside. Gale has half a mind to take his shoes off. His mother did teach him well but that would be too much respect to show Cazador. Whose portrait, almost larger than the room hangs in the center between two curling staircases.

Astarion freezes, unsteady shaking eyes looking at his old master's face. His hands shake, and he clasps them just not to show the pulsing fear. Gale has seen him in a worse state before, but it is a habit. One must never show fear.

Tara curls tighter around him, nuzzling his cheek. Since they met, she has taken to the young vampire. "Is that the bastard?" She casts a gaze at the painting, less than impressed. "Is that current?"

Astarion swallows, nodding. He is trying with every fiber to regain his composure. It is not working. Gale is back at his side, tilting his head as he reaches a handout. Astarion nods once again to show that he is okay with touch and that he needs it even. Gale wraps the man into a hug. Astarion hides his face in the folds of the purple tunic, its fabric travel-worn and rough to the skin, but he is past the point of caring. Low sniffles escaping his throat are muffled, and Astarion is glad for it.

"Pishposh. That's a vampire lord?" She snorts, stepping from Astarion's shoulders to Gale, spreading her wings to cover the ghastly portrait. "Don't even have his wings yet. That's just a weak little brat playing at Lord,"

Astarion chokes back a sniffle, looking up, a brow raised.

"Quite so Mr. Anacuin." Tara does not need him to voice his disbelief. "See with age every self-respecting vampire leaves behind their mortal form and changes accordingly" She looks over at the painting. "This boy isn't even a millennia, please." Tara huffs, settling down, her wings all ruffled.

Astarion laughs, it's weak at first but then turns genuine. The idea of *Cazador* being called a boy in the way a mother would chide her toddler is the best thing he has heard in his two hundred years of life.

"It's good to see you laugh" Gale reassuringly squeezes the man's shoulders. "Thanks, Tara." He nods at the Tressym

"My pleasure. Mr. Dekarios" Her fur bristles and a purr builds. "Now, you two head upstairs while I do much-needed redecorating." There is a glint of mischief in her eye, and claws sink into Gale's tunic, pulling strands loose.

"Are you good with staying here?" Gale brushes strands of hair away from those red tear-stained eyes.

"Yes, of course, darling" He still shoots an uneasy glance at the large portrait. "It very much beats *camping*"

Gale chuckles, turning so that one arm is still around Astarion, and his body is blocking Cazador's smug face. That is how they walk upstairs of this much too fancy house.

(Little scene I wanted to jot down that will go in my fic here eventually :3)

[heliqnthus]

blasphemous rumors; g. dekarios.

pairing: gale dekarios x gn!reader

warning(s): post-game, angst, fluff, implied smut and voyeurism (but honestly, no real smut because i have no idea how to write one)

word count: ~1100

a/n: i had this idea, that also could be read as a gale version of that astarion graveyard scene, and i really wanted to write a fic about it. i have close to 0 of experience in writing fanfiction, as well as english is not my first language, so i apologize for any mistakes. if someone will enjoy this as well i will be more than happy :)

have a nice day, evening or a night!

(italic = part of a flashback)

after gale’s proposal, and not so long before departure to waterdeep, gale offered you one last stroll through the baldur’s gate, and as you were walking around the basilisk gate one building reminded you both of those times when he really considered the idea of using the orb against the absolute. as you were passing the stormshore tabernacle, gale couldn’t not stop to look at it one last time. place, where he spoke with mystra last time, demanding to bring the karsus’s crown to her.

-are you alright? – you asked gale, with a hint of concern. you were for more than hundred percent sure in him and his affections, just like was sure in you, however you more than any other person knew what mystra meant to him and what kind of person did she turn him into. right now, both of you are just glad that everything came to an end – including the whole story with mystra and orb, but still just her name makes you feel fury. what kind of goddess you have to be to not only ruin young man’s life, but also later on demanding on exploding himself for so-called “commonweal”.

as you were looking at tall statue of mother of all magic, you couldn’t feel anything but pure anger.

it is a late night, and all your companions were asleep, but insomnia gave you no rest, so you decided to take a midnight stroll in your hometown, trying to reminisce everything that has happened to you for the last days. fight with ketherick thorn and absolute cultists, rescue of night song, as well as shadowheart’s unexpected choice to abandon the idea of becoming the dark justiciar. but you couldn’t stop thinking about gale - as your and his feelings were blooming stronger than ever, you got to know more of his past, and as you were standing in front of tall, fine statue of mystra, you couldn’t feel anything but pure anger, fury. not because she is a former lover of gale’s, no. creatures meet and fall in love, and just like that creatures can fall out of love and break up, realising they’re not meant for each other. you were furious because you knew how mystra manipulated gale in this kind of relationship and what did she left him with. she used him, just like she did, and she will with other mages.

-i truly hope you hear me, o mother of all magic. i really wish i wasn’t standing here, in front of your statue, not even knowing whether i am speaking to you or the soulless statue of yours. – you felt your nails digging into palms, due to your anger, - not going to lie, obviously, i would come here with one intention only, to speak about gale, and… - here you stuttered, thinking what you could say. by the end of the day, you were no one to her right now, in some near future maybe a person who saved the sword coast. but why would she care about someone that small and mortal?

then why would you care about what she thinks?

-absolutely. – gale turned to you, smiling, - i just thought we might pay a visit to this shrine one last time, if you don’t mind, obviously.

-well- sure, why not. – you agreed with a bit of doubt, following gale into the shrine. you two were just observing the statues of gods and architecture of place, but deep inside you both knew why you came here. you could feel his anxiety, despite what he said a few days ago, just before to propose to you. yes, his orb “fell asleep”, he can finally restore his peace and can live the life he deserves – to love and being loved. but he knew this was also mystra’s doing, so he caught himself thinking that he shoud say some “thank yous”, or “goodbyes” to her.

however, as you and gale approached mystra’s statue, holding your hands, you could see in his eyes some kind of emotion you never saw, when it came to mystra. it was not hatred, sorrow or fright. it indiffrence, at last. indiffrence towards her and what she might think about him.

-while you are going to look at how mortal lives are being born, and then eventually how these exact mortal lives are facing death, and use other people like toys, i hope you will eventually find yourself thinking that gale dekarios owe you nothing, and never did.

for a mere second, you could swear that you felt weave from the statue, a feeling like she wanted to respond something. but then you felt nothing. perhaps you misunderstood weave for your own. or perhaps you were right, like always.

gale dekarios owe mystra nothing, and never did. you felt a true happiness for your fiancé, for finally letting go this part of his past.

-what’s on your mind? – you asked him, taking his second hand in yours, making him turn towards you. you meet with his eyes, that sparkled especially bright, as he was studying your face once more.

-you.

as you felt true happiness for him, letting go this part of his past, gale felt thrilled for realising that he got to meet his future with you.

-cheesy, - you smiled, feeling some blush appearing on your cheeks. you felt his hand slip on your hip, while the other was placed on your cheek, making you meet with his gaze. you could definetly see how his eyes (and maybe even hands) had an intention to undress you, but even for you it was a bit too much. the key word is “a bit”. as your mind was processing on what is going on, gale placed a tender, yet an unexpected kiss on your lips, as you tried to keep yourself on earth, holding the hem of his robes. as he parted from your lips, you tried to be indignant, but only managed to whisper since you two were still in the shrine:

-gale! what on earth are you doing? – you chuckle, while gale had gazed at you with love, stroking your hair.

-admiring my future wife, nothing special... – wizard murmured, - although i do have some idea. – he added, giving a mischief smile. you did not answer, just raised an eyebrow, awaiting what else he wants to say. – i am not insisting, just say no if you don’t want to do it.

you couldn’t hold yourself from smiling while being in gale’s embrace.

-i never said “no”, you know.

gladly, there were not a single soul in the house of worship at this time of night, so gale just had to spell an arcane lock on door, just in case. finished with surroundings, he quickly came back to his the centre of his world, locking up with you lips in much more passionate kiss than the previous one.

oh, but the night is still young.