#gale dekarios the mortal man that you are

[sitboi]

Me:*stands in my room surrounded by art of Gale of Waterdeep*

Someone, jokingly: "haha wonder who your favorite companion is, lol?"

Me, forlornly, truthfully, from the most bottom depths of my tortured soul: Halsin

[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?

[scarletttries]

When Baldur's Gate 3 Companions Fall in Love...(Baldur's Gate 3 Request)

Pairings: Astarion x Reader, Wyll Ravengard x Reader, Gale Dekarios x Reader, Shadowheart x Reader, Karlach x Reader

Author's Note: It's been a while! I haven't posted in a while but I've got some time at the moment and I'm just finishing a first playthrough of BG3 so wanted to write some headcanons for our charming companions. Consider me open for any BG3 request too, let me know if you want to see more pieces like this :)

Astarion:

- Travelling with you makes Astarion feel grateful he's had hundreds of years to perfect his flirting technique. He knows exactly how to let you know what he's thinking without ever giving away too much of himself, how to flash his smile without ever lowering his guard. He thinks once again he knows exactly how to capture your attention, and possibly your body, without losing an ounce of control. That is until you say something that catches him completely off guard...

- "I'm really sorry to hear that." You should have laughed at his expense, his self-deprecating humour and haunted tales from his past worn like the toughest armour over silky open shirts. But you hadn't laughed, or scoffed, or replied with some equivalently sarcastic tone. Instead you'd offered empathy, a warm look and an extended hand that somehow didn't feel like pity to Astarion either.

"Well that's enough self-pity for tonight my dear." He quickly excused himself from the campfire, turning his back as he entered his tent to hide any visible blush his cheeks may muster from the way you said good night. Of course his blood didn't circulate that way any more, but he was almost sure he could feel his heart rising in his chest as it had when he was still a mortal man. No, this didn't feel right at all.

- It would be easy for Astarion to pretend he was only interested in a night of carnal pleasures with you because of all the beauty you possess, and he'll let everyone else think him a shallow man just the same. But when he lets his mind wander freely it's your kindness he finds himself dwelling on, or your firm but fair moral code that seems to carry you through these intrepid lands without doubt or tribulation. He almost wishes he had met you sooner, so sure that his life (and after-life) could have turned out quite different with you by his side at those strange early steps.

- Suddenly all his effortless flirting feels a lot more challenging and he can't decide if he should risk a small amount of sincerity to let you know how we feels, or just to double down on letting you know one night with him would ruin you for any other lover. Luckily both approaches are met with the affection he craves, and slowly but surely Astarion starts to feel like he might be able to have something real for once.

Wyll:

- Ever the hopeless romantic, Wyll was already a firm believer in love at first sight by the time he ran into you and experienced it firsthand. He fears he cannot be too bold, his staunch commitment to his duties governing his life in a way that does not leave much room for any other kind of commitment. He tries to let his feelings settle at the back of his mind, in the hopes that in time they will become nothing but a dull ache he can learn to live with.

- That could not be less of the case for poor Wyll though, your face filling his every nightly dream and your voice echoing through his mind in every moment of silence. His heart grows heavier and heavier with each passing day you travel together and soon it feels almost inevitable that he will be yours, even if he can't quite bring himself to admit it yet. Once he has accepted that thought he must wrestle with the possibility that you might not feel the same and you will be added to his list of those he cares for most that have rejected him with scorn.

- Still he lets the lighter thoughts carry him through the toughest of times; what it might be like to hear you offer your own feelings back, how it would feel to see you smile only for him, what kind of life the two of you might be able to build in a simpler times, what he could finally do if you agreed to a wedding night together. He lets himself ruminate on that more often that he'd like to admit, all gentlemanly efforts banished from his mind when he sees you walk around his camp.

- While he builds up the courage to make his feelings known, you might catch him practicing the steps of an intricate dance one night when he thinks everyone is fast asleep.

Gale:

- Gale has known love and loss before, the intensity of his past life making him consider keeping his heart closed off from others forevermore. But the gods have a funny way of keeping Gale on his toes, and introducing him to you certainly did that.

- At first you are just the warmest of friends to him: an ever-willing audience for his lifetime of tales and knowledge, a reliable companion for the throes of battle, a selfless treasure seeker who helps him fend off hunger. But over time he finds himself desperately scanning his mind for more and more facts that it would be worth waking you up to share, more tales to capture your attention, anything the two of you might do together to keep your focus on him and no one else.

- It's about when he wonders if the two of you might just camp in one tent together, that he realises he no longer views you as simply his closest friend. No, you have long passed that threshold into an entirely new realm of love. It feels so different to anything he has felt before, like your company is the warmest summer breeze after decades of stormy lightning in his heart. It feels safe and easy to be with you, like he could be content with almost nothing as long as you were by his side, looking at him with your near endless appreciation. Gale can't be sure exactly what to do about it, but he hopes the next time you draw back the opening on your tent and usher him in for another night of exchanging tales, that you might permit him to never leave.

Shadowheart:

- It's hard to know love when you barely know yourself. That's what Shadowheart tells herself when she finds her mind wandering back to you after your memorable first impression. She has so much to learn about herself, and while she's grateful for the reliable company and kind sounding-board you provide, there's simply no room in her life for anything more.

- And yet the more she uncovers about herself, the more important it seems to have you by her side. It's like she cannot exist in this new fully realised version of herself if she doesn't know you. If she doesn't get to see herself through your eyes, to hear what you think, to have your presence beside her as he continues to take more and more steps forward down this path home.

- Without ever trying you have become the other half of Shadowheart, and by the time she realises it, she knows you must have the same awareness. There could be no way that you aren't as in tune to the depth of your bond as she is, leaving her only one question. Not if to address it. But when.

Karlach:

- Though Karlach may not have a traditional heart anymore, she is more than capable of falling for the travelling companion that seems to bring out the best in her at every step. After years spent working for the devil and his underlings, having someone in her life that strives to make the world better and put her strength to good use is like the first sip of water after countless nights in the arid desert of the hells.

- Karlach knows she's as strong as they come, so she finds her eyes frantically searching you out in battle, pushing herself on and raging forwards to always keep you safe, to get you behind her, to make sure you go on to keep her company another day.

- Her time in this plane of existence may be more limited than some of the other characters, but that only means Karlach knows how important it is to truly 'live.' While the other companions may bide their time and carefully deliberate how best to inform you of their inconvenient feelings, when Karlach knows your heart is true, she's going to let you know she is all yours at the earliest, and steamiest, opportunity.

[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.

[positivejamwriting]

Fic Masterlist

Baldur's Gate 3

Ongoing

En Prise (86k, E, Astarion/Gale)

“Together, then.” Gale says, eyes flicking down to the dagger. “As a show of good faith. We sate our damned appetites together.”

“Shall we toast to it too? Drink of each other’s cups like smitten newlyweds?” Astarion finds his charms again as he licks a brazen stripe up his neck. It’s a worthy distraction for those nimble hands to press the dagger against his chest. Not threatening, not yet at least. No– with the flat of the blade against his mark, Gale sees it as the offering it’s meant to be.

A semi canon-compliant fic in which a deal to keep each other fed leads Gale and Astarion to dark curiosity, codependence, and romantic evenings of scheming and murder.

Read if you like: Consensual but not safe or sane, a "this better not awaken anything in me" taglist, unabashed and gleeful toxic yaoi, making each other WAY WORSE.

---

ingi ferroque (20k, M, Astarion/Gale)

Two eyes, dark and shiny as sea glass, bulge and blink as Gale brings the knife to the offering’s throat. The battle rages on and the babe bleeds upon Athena’s boots. Let it take, he prays. Let her hear.

“My. What do we have here?" Gale hears a soldier’s voice in place of his Goddess. "Two little lambs left upon the altar?”

A Greco-Roman AU that follows famed Legate Astarion, Priest of Athena Gale, and a Nero-esque Emperor Cazador as Gale is hauled off from exile to Rome to for reasons unknown...

Read if you like: Enemies to lovers, the inherent sexual tension of historical banter, HBO's Rome, loving descriptions of man thighs under historically inaccurate toga hemlines.

---

Semperservus (17k, E, Minthara/Gale)

The Seduction of Dekarios. The maiden in the river, bathed in holy light across underdark waters. The God whispering promises in her ear. The forging of new love, in fires of the only mortal left on this plane with ambitions as great as his once were.

Post-Game, God!Gale fixated on making Minthara his new Chosen.

Read if you like: Dunking on delusional God!Gale, Minthara's 'aura of a third son' banter, not breaking the cycle, comeuppance for Gale leaving you on the docks for the goddamn crown

---

Spinneret Sour (26K, E, Astarion/Gale/Shadowheart/Jaheira)

The elfsong hookah is grossly underutilized in fic. Our attempt to fix that with a giggly, thank-god-we're-alive foursome.

Read if you like: Gale getting bullied by hot elves (plural!), fluff and smut, sexualizing that old man/woman, smoking is hot when it's fictional characters

---

Completed

Last Glimpse of the Topsail (8.8k, E, Gale/Shadowheart)

She can feel it– the ebb and flow. The thread that joins them is a braided harbour rope going taut and slack with the tide. Shadowheart breathes it in and can feel Gale take her exhale in turn.

Or: Inappropriate use of Zone of Truth, cast by one lovesick cleric upon one terribly lovesick wizard.

Read if you like: Friends to lovers, resolved sexual tension, matching each others freak, ASMR: goth gf hypnotizes you to confess all your slutty secrets (romantic)

---

Four of Swords (3.6k, E, Astarion/Gale + Gale/Shadowheart + Minthara/Gale)

Kept, a rational voice in Gale's mind would remind him when they pressed gifts into his hands. You are a kept man in a devil's tower, nothing more.

But it’s Shadowheart that helps him dredge the Chionthar. It’s Minthara who pulls the crown from the deepwater muck. And it’s Astarion who places it upon his head.

Another gift. No. A reward.

A corruption arc in 3k words, Gale finds himself less of an ally and more of a kept pet wizard to Ascended Astarion, Dark Justiciar Shadowheart, and...lbh just regular Minthara.

Read if you like: Corruption via praise, fancy robes, and unlimited spell scrolls, magic collars, calling dibs on the wizard.

---

Eclipse (3.2k, E, Gale/Shadowheart)

There will always be the dark of Shadowheart, lurking just beneath the waterfall of his wife’s soft white curls. Gale sees her in the firm hand of the wolf tamer at the edge of the forest and in the quiet whispers of 'is this too much' when she sees him in pain.

But on occasion– when the animals are fed, the roses tended, and some kinder deities than the echoes of their pasts smiles upon them– there is an eclipse.

Gale and Shadowheart partaking in some simulacrum shenanigans (a threesome with both versions of his wife)

Read if you like: The world's most romantic painplay, bratting so your wife's alter ego steps on you, married life between two people with 9th level spells.

---

Netherese Duality Series (9.2k, E, Gale/Gale's Netherese Orb)

Gale is used to catching the eyes of the otherworldly. Whatever follows him now offers no such comforts.

There are nights he feels eyes heavy on his back in the dark of his study, only to turn and find himself alone. And there are mornings, still, when shadows pass over the candle by his bed the moment he wakes– as if some presence had been watching him from his bedside.

Isolated in his tower, Gale is less alone than he thinks.

Read if: You think Jekyll & Hyde takes could be a whole lot more horny, "that man got 1000 times hotter when his life fell apart", the idea of an interdimensional being talking Gale through it.

---

Game Theory (19.5k, Astarion/Gale/Enver Gortash)

To Gale, working with Gortash is a bitter pill he must swallow, but one he can chase with the sweetness of the Crown in his capable hands.

To Astarion, it’s pure hedonism and power. It’s a section of the city in the palm of a pair of new gauntlets. It’s blood from a populace who will never tell him no again, and it's Gale at his feet.

But the aloof housecat often thinks itself a ruler on high over the loyal pup, even when they both wear the master's collar and eat his of scraps. Enver has come to enjoy their meals together.

Read if you like: the evil throuple from hell, Gale 'rip to everyone who died of hubris but I'm better' Dekarios, kept pet wizards, psychosexual 4D chess

---

Perfect Bound (4.5k, E, Astarion/Gale)

“Whatever happened here?” Astarion teases, coming face to face with Gale. He makes a show of looking him up and down, one slender finger against his own lips in faux concern.

Gale makes a growl of annoyance around his gag. He gives one pointed tug to his bound wrists and flicks his eyes upwards as if to say is it not obvious?

“Trapped? Oh, but that can’t be it. Astarion says, mouth dropping open as if he’s just noticed the binds. “I seem to recall you saying you had everything quite in hand.”

My first Bloodweave 1 shot! A classic dangerkink Dekarios take in which Gale gets a little tied up and Astarion is there to help.

Read if: You like your bloodweave with a thread of pred/prey or you like seeing wizard hubris punished (in a sexy way)

---

Typecasting (19k, E, Gale/Shadowheart/Tav)

"You see, the problem about writing on drow society is one often does not make it up from the Underdark to hand pages to publisher. Of course there are many…less researched volumes. Of hapless men and leather-clad matrons. But I told Shadowheart I would be a gentleman, so that is all I will say on the more sordid parts of my education. You’ve nothing to fear.”

Stuck in the underdark with a drow city before them and freedom, Shadowheart & Tav keep Gale as a fake prisoner to keep their cover.

Read if: You're a 'Gale has an erotica collection' truther, you like strong ladies and puppy-eyed men, the dynamic of 'dom teaching dom with one eager to please sub, slightly convoluted reasons to !!leash and collar that wizard!!

[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.

[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."

[ohwolfling]

Hello again!

Ok so in sexual relationships there’s a concept of spontaneous desire vs responsive desire. The former means someone gets going sexually pretty instantly while the latter means someone needs physically cuddling, kissing, etc before they can be turned on. Where on the scale do you think Gale sits? I kinda pin him as a responsive desire kinda guy

I love this question, omg.

I think Gale has responsive desire in a way that hovers... just before demisexuality? If there is a term or identifier for anything I discuss, feel free to let me know, y'all!

By this I mean, he needs an initial moment where he feels awe or kinship or even just has a catalyst of, "wow, I respect this person on a deep level," and even then it's a very internalized thing. He doesn't crush outward. He crushes inward. I think this is supported by his tangle of emotions in the Weave scene... he's embarrassed and distressed and ashamed before he's stoked. I think Gale assumes he's revealed something before he realizes, wait, no, this is something Tav wants and thinks about.

Once he's in an established relationship, I think his desire can be offset by anything from "this outfit shows more thigh than they usually show" to "look at that idiot losing a fight with oven [affectionate]" to "wow, they really live here with me, they're right there right now, incredible." But whether he initiates or someone else initiates, I think he needs gentle touch, a few kisses, a moment of connection- eye contact, emotional honesty, a blatant request- before he can move forward.

I'm not saying Gale wouldn't bend you over a kitchen counter but he'd ask you about your day first, brush your hair back, kiss your forehead, hug you from behind before doing so.

This also reaches into another head canon I have that expands on Gale's trauma around these things, around not being good enough, needing to be more, and him saying that none have ever loved him so deeply and simply as the man Gale Dekarios no matter what that means. I think that Gale's liaisons with mortals were likely encouraged and controlled and maybe sometimes ended by Mystra as a means of controlling or even punishing Gale. I haven't meta'd on that one a ton but it's a bit of a load bearing headcanon in my fic "you're spring to me, all things to me."

[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.

[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. 

[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.

[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.

[ancuninbrainrot]

My lonely nights are through, dear Since you said you were mine

Just under the wire for the Galemancer NYE event.

What a difference a year made, Gale of Waterdeep thought, his eyes on the City of Splendors below. The festive decorations hung jauntily in the light breeze, chilly enough to encourage most people indoors, but some hardy souls still strolled the streets, presumably drunk enough not to feel the cold. Where had he been last year? The Gods didn't reckon time like mortals; Mystra didn't seem to notice the passing of days or months. Her mind was on the eternal, he thought when she ignored him. He was blessed to have so much of her divine attention, he would say to himself when she turned her starry gaze on him. He must try to be worthy of her, to build something truly remarkable. 

The Orb in his chest ached fiercely in the icy wind from the open balcony door, but he couldn’t stand to look at the well-furnished home that had become his prison. For a moment he let himself imagine having friends instead of colleagues and rivals, imagined being one of the tipsy revellers in the streets, lamenting the upcoming hangover in the morning, laughing at a joke, teasing someone about flirting with a pretty barmaid. Maybe being flirted with himself; he was sure he'd been charming enough, once upon a time.

He pictured getting up tomorrow, free from work (did he take breaks before? His work was his joy, his passion, but surely even he couldn't have kept it up indefinitely), and visiting his mother. She always had a houseful of guests coming and going, wishing them well for the upcoming year, talking politics and history, making ludicrous claims while trying not to spill cider. He was more comfortable around her friends than other wizards most of the time. Her friends respected him as a fellow scholar if nothing else, and enjoyed pulling him into obscure points of contention. “You see, even Morena's boy thinks you're full of shit…”

She’d sent a message this morning, asking if he would join her tomorrow. He’d been affectionate but firm that no, he couldn't step away just now, though he hoped she was keeping well. He wasn't used to lying to her. Truth be told, he wasn’t particularly good at lying to anyone, which made his decision to try and hide the Netherese magic from Mystra baffling, even to him. That it had worked may have been a miracle, a curse, or just more of her indifference. 

I suppose it depends on who records this sordid tale. And how many other souls I'm likely to condemn by lingering here. A clever bard could spin the story of Gale’s Folly into a tragedy of his own making or the machinations of a man steeped in hubris, and honestly either would be correct. The Orb wasn't something that could be ignored or appeased forever; sooner or later his time would run out. 

“Mr. Dekarios, it's freezing outside, you should close that door and come in off the balcony.”

“Of course Tara, how thoughtless of me. Just because I'm feeling maudlin, doesn't mean you should have to suffer for my preoccupation.” The tressym batted a paw at his ankle reprovingly. “Nonsense, you should take care of yourself as well. We've kept you going so far, we won't give up now.”

He bent to rub her behind her ear, and she jumped up onto his shoulder and started rumbling. He recalled that both cats and tressym purportedly had healing properties to their purrs. He would need something more potent than Tara could provide to heal his malady. He might find something still, but he was reasonably sure he wouldn't find it tonight.

***

Gale Dekarios sat in a shabby chair next to a pile of books, apparently dozing. Tav passed by him, and brushed a kiss onto his forehead. “If you're that tired, thiramen, go to bed. We pay for the whole room.”

“Point of fact, we don't pay for this room, since we saved the city and by extension this inn from being destroyed. It is generously given to us gratis, as would most establishments within the city walls.” He sat up straighter and held a hand out to his betrothed. “A most fetching ensemble you have on, my love. What is the occasion?” 

She swatted playfully at his hand and swung the towel from around her hips, hanging it to dry. “The august occasion of bathtime, celebrated locally every day we can manage,” Tav said. “I wanted to be clean for when we head out tomorrow.”

“The teleportation circle will only take a moment, my love. We’re hardly setting out on an arduous journey. We could have been there today except that it’s Wintershield, and everything would be closed.” Tav frowned thoughtfully as she pulled a chemise on over her head. Gale continued, “Is Astarion ready?”

“As he can be. He actually said he was looking forward to settling into your home.”

Gale quirked an eyebrow at her. “I highly doubt he said that.”

“It might have been more like, ‘I’m going to charm the pants off his mother and become his new stepfather just to irritate him,’ but the sentiment was there. It’s practically a, ‘thank you for inviting me,’ from him.” She settled onto the bed, and patted the mattress beside her.

He chuckled as he joined her, snuggling into her arms. “He’d have to work for it; my mother isn’t easily wooed, though many have tried. The two of them will be entertaining to say the least. I begin to think I should have married you here, before you could get a full dose of Astarion, my mother, and Tara all underfoot. You will love them, I’m sure, but you may well leave me after a few days of such chaos.”

“Not a chance, lover; where you go, I go.” She smoothed a hand over his shoulder, and he breathed in the smell of her clean skin. Every time she touched him, he wanted to get closer to her, to burrow into her, to be surrounded by kindness and warmth and love. Tav kept her fingers moving on his arm and said, “I’ve never celebrated Wintershield; we’re not usually this far north in the winter. We do the Solstice, of course, but your Solstice is a star thing, yes?”

“Oh I look forward to your first year in Waterdeep, my love. I want to show you everything! May we travel the world and still have a home to return to, that’s what I want for us.” Gale grew quieter and sat up to catch Tav’s eyes. “Last year, I was alone in my tower with nothing but a tressym and a ticking clock in my chest for company. I knew that I had no future and that it had been my own doing that had led me there. In my wildest dreams I didn’t think I’d find someone like you.”

She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. “I’m glad we ended up here, together, even though the way here wasn’t one I would have chosen. I love you, but I can do without brain parasites as a cute, ‘how did you meet?’ story.” Tav pulled him closer and said, “Now, you are right that the journey tomorrow won’t take long, so I suppose we could stay up for a bit longer. Unless you’re too tired?”

He was not.