#if just for my benefit

[glitterandmoondustofficial]

And Onto Further Stillness

Chapter 26

Notes:

Characters: Gale, Yrelia Rating: Teen Warnings: Implied sex Notes: I know. I updated again so soon, but I'm recovering from surgery and have had nothing to do but lay on the couch and write. I really, really wanted to write something so sweet and warm between the two of them. Something nice and fluffy and no silly drama. Honestly, now that Yrelia's family plot is done for there will be so much more cute stuff. It's what they deserve.

Gale hummed as he woke up slowly. He smiled in the light from the window. It was comfortable, in this bed in the inn he had chosen. A warm hearth, comfortable feather bed, cozy quilts, and, the most important thing, Yrelia at his side.

“My love,” he said with a smile and closed eyes. “I must say that every day I wake up to you, is a blessing indeed.” He reached over for her, expecting to feel her wonderful body, but was left with an empty bed. “Lia?” He called and opened his eyes. She was gone. “Yrelia?” He called again. He sat up and looked around the room.

Deep down he knew it was ridiculous to get anxious over Yrelia not being in the room, but a very deep fear struck his heart. Just the tiniest bit of apprehension over his love not being there as he woke up. Rationally, he knew that Yrelia wouldn’t run off. He knew that she loved him and she enjoyed her life with him. Sometimes it was a bit hard to believe. Someone so special wanting a life with him? It seemed unreal.

He blinked when the door opened and then relaxed when he saw her walking into the room. She wore comfortable walking pants and a black long-sleeved shirt. Her hair was in a loose braid, lit up beautifully by the firelight. Her black hair that shone purple in the right light. She held two mugs of what Gale assumed was coffee.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did. Although, I was left somewhat lonely this morning.”

Yrelia chuckled. “Oh, I am very sorry for such a grievous offense, my love,” she said as she walked towards the bed. She set aside the mugs on the nightstand and smiled at him.

Gale leaned towards her and kissed her lips. “I suppose, I can forgive such an offense this time.” She grinned when he kissed her again. He stretched and rolled out of bed. He yawned and stood in front of her, wrapping his arms around her and burying his nose in her hair. 

She chuckled and hugged him. “You’re holding on tight this morning,” she commented. “Did you have a bad dream?” He sighed, because of course she noticed right away. “Gale?” She pulled away and looked up at his face.

“Forgive me, my love,” he mumbled, “I’m afraid I can’t stop myself from being…anxious at times.”

She smiled softly. She leaned in and kissed him. “I’m not going anywhere.” She kissed him again. “Now, why don’t you get dressed? That way you can drink some coffee, before we hit the road. We should be in Waterdeep by sundown if we leave soon.” She took his face in her hands and planted a loud kiss on his bruised nose.

“Of course, my lady. I will do whatever it is you desire. Whether it’s in the kitchen, on the road, or in our very comfortable bedroom.” He grinned when she laughed. “You are…” he kissed her lightly, “...the most stunning, smart, and alluring creature to have ever graced this realm. Why, I’d love nothing more than to pull you back into this bed and show you how much you mean to me.”

She laughed again. “Beloved, you can sweet talk me all you want, but you need to get dressed.”

He kissed her instead. He wrapped his arms around her back and kissed her sweetly. She giggled. “I love you,” he whispered to her lips. He kissed her again, savoring the taste of her lips. He palmed her back, pulling her against him. He deepened the kiss, tasting her the way he would a deep red wine. He was tipsy from the taste of her tongue that reminded him of coffee and cinnamon.

And it was all the sweeter when she responded enthusiastically. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his hair. He broke the kiss and buried his face in her neck, nipping just below her jaw. He grabbed her hips, pressing his fingers into the fabric of her dress. She breathed his name, and it was so melodic that Gale swore she had to have been an angel sent down from the heavens. 

“Gale,” she murmured with a tone so heavy with arousal. “Beloved.” She let out a pleased breath, as his lips brushed against her ear.

“Yes, my love?” He breathed in her ear. She pressed her fingernails into the back of his neck and a soft hum sounded from her throat. He kissed her lips and then took her bottom lip in his teeth. She let out a breath and pulled her lips away from his. She stared at him through half lidded eyes, her fingers pressing into his skin, as he began to pull the shirt off of her body. She sighed, a moment of clarity in her eyes, going through every argument and protest that she had, and then threw them all out of the window and pushed him onto the bed.

“Don’t look too pleased with yourself.”

“Lia, you should know me better than that by now,” Gale said with an accomplished grin. He held her hand as they walked towards Waterdeep. He could see it in the distance, they were so close to home. “Of all the numerous subjects I am adept in, I think pleasuring you is within my top five greatest accomplishments.”

She let out a loud snort. “You’re shameless.”

“And you don’t even have a counter argument! I believe my point has been made, my beautiful love. Alas, we were confined to a bedroom that was not our own, so perhaps, when we are home and alone, I can properly take care of your needs.”

“Gods above, Gale.” She giggled when he let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her. He kissed the side of her head and she giggled again. “I love you,” she said right as he kissed her lips.

He hummed against her lips. “I love you, too.”

She grinned at him and kissed his nose. “Your nose looks better today. Does it still hurt?”

“It is mildly painful,” he said and pulled away from her. He grabbed her hand and held it firmly. “However, your kisses have been just the balm I’ve needed to carry on with the injury.” He smiled at her giggle. “I am happy that I was the recipient, rather than you.”

Her brows knitted together with a worried smile. “I would have been fine, Gale. They targeted you because they wanted to hurt me.” She sighed. “They knew hurting someone I love would do far more than simple physical violence towards me.” She squeezed his hand. “When Cyr was growing up, they would try to hurt him because they knew it would upset me. They didn’t care about Cyr, but they hated me.” Gale frowned at her. “Oh, don’t give me that look,” she said and smiled at him. “I’m alright now, and we never have to see them again. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to Baldur’s Gate.”

Gale sighed. “Baldur’s Gate is important,” he reasoned and she looked at him curiously. “It is where we met.” She blinked. “I will always hold the city dear to me, despite the trauma surrounding it. I will, however, do whatever it is you wish. If you say you no longer wish to return to the city, then we will never step foot into the city limits again.”

She smiled. “You’re a good husband, you know that?”

“It is nice to see my efforts recognized.” Yrelia laughed.

“I don’t want to return. My home is with you, in Waterdeep. There’s nowhere else I want to be.”

Gale smiled. “And you are certain?”

“Well,” she stopped walking and let go of his hand. He turned and watched her. “I suppose that all depends.”

“And what does that depend on, my love?”

She grinned. She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Do you love me?”

He blinked. “Of course, I love you! I love you more than anything.”

Her grin grew. “And do you want me with you in Waterdeep?”

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure, my love, but-”

“And,” she interrupted, “would you like it if we were to live together for the foreseeable future?”

“With certainty! And for the unforeseeable future, as well. But, Lia-”

“And,” she interrupted again, “do you want to marry me and spend this life and the next by each other’s sides?”

“I want that more than absolutely anything in all of the realms.”

She grinned and leaned in to kiss his lips. “Then I’m certain.” She kissed him. “ You are my home, Gale. I will go wherever you go.” She hugged him tightly. “But for now, let’s return to the city we love.”

Gale smiled and hugged her. He closed his eyes and fought off his tears of joy. “I love you,” he whispered. 

Yrelia pulled away and took his face in his hands. “I love you, too.” She brought him in and kissed his forehead. “Now, let’s go home. My feet and ankles are in desperate need of a soak.” She grabbed his hand and started to lead him along.

“I concur,” he agreed, “my knees have been aching awfully during our trip. I believe that we will need some sort of extravagant relaxation day for the two of us before we return to our delightful daily routine.”

Yrelia watched him with a soft smile as he spoke to her about home. About home cooked meals, spiced wine, comfortable blankets, and fuzzy socks. He mentioned sleeping in until after sunrise, and then teased her about rolling around in bed until late morning.

Oh, he loved her. He unapologetically, inexplicably loved Yrelia Rosewood and her freckles, her smiles, and her wrinkles. The grey strands of hair that he wrapped around his fingers and her hips that were so fun to grab while she straddled him. He loved her voice, her mind, her stunning blue eyes. Her courage, her hope, her resilience. 

How did he become so lucky that someone like her, someone so incredible that she saved the Sword Coast, would come to love him? He was some once powerful wizard, who offended the goddess he loved by his insecurities and hubris. By his need to gain more knowledge, gain more power, and finally gain the love he so desperately wanted. 

But she took his hand and kissed it. She told him that she had never been as happy as she was when she was with him. She promised him a future, she promised him love, happiness, and arms to enter when he was tired. 

And all she wanted was to be loved in return. 

“Ah, my love!” A broad grin grew on Gale’s face as Yrelia approached him. She smiled at him as he took her hips in his hands, pulling her in and kissing her forehead. It earned them a disgusted scoff from beside them. He went to argue, to say anything about the annoying teasing that some of his companions threw at him, but Yrelia kissed him softly instead. She smiled at him and nuzzled his nose.

“Beloved,” she said so sweetly and he instantly melted in her embrace. He liked that pet name for him. She said it so confidently, leaving no room for doubt that he was hers. 

“My love,” he murmured, desperately wishing to taste her lips again. Moreso her skin. Perhaps even that sweet spot between her thighs that made her shake and pull his hair. 

“Come with me,” she said with that same sweet smile. She released him from their embrace and took his hand. He dutifully followed her.

“What adventure are you taking me on this time?” He teased.

“Nowhere extravagant, I assure you.” 

He followed her to the roof of the tavern. She sat down, her feet dangling off the roof as she watched the dying sunlight in the distance. He sighed with a small smile. He sat next to her, their hips and shoulders touching. He breathed a very calm breath, staring at the purple and pink sky, watching the blackness of night and the sea of stars start to fill what was left behind.

Yrelia wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder. He began the faintest of blushes. It was all a bit ridiculous. Thirty five and blushing like a school boy would in front of his crush. He had been with others, he had been with an incredibly significant other, but those others weren’t Yrelia. 

Yrelia, with her black hair and pretty blue eyes. With her freckles that were on her skin like stars in the sky. Her sweet voice that said his name so softly, so full of adoration that Gale could hardly comprehend it. It was as if it was a different language; his own name foreign to him when it came from such satin lips.

She was breathtaking. She had a dazzling smile and a precious heart. One that he would be beside himself if he ever broke. He loved her. He had never loved anyone with the intensity in which he loved her. Looking upon Mystra, and then seeing Yrelia afterwards, it was clear who truly made his heart skip a beat.

“It’s hard to believe,” Yrelia said softly, breaking his thoughts, “that there’s impending doom as we watch the sunset.”

Gale sighed, leaning his cheek against the top of her head. “It is,” he agreed. “Although, there have been plenty of events that have been hard to believe these past months.” 

A soft chuckle came from her throat. “Seems like you have something specific on your mind.” He hummed. “Oh? Well, share with the class.” She pulled away from his shoulder and looked up at him with her dazzling blue eyes.

He stared down at her soft face. Her scar on her jaw. Her pretty, long eyelashes. He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers before kissing her delicate lips. He took her waist in his hands, squeezing gently, pressing his fingers into the fabric of her shirt. She smiled against his lips, kissing him with as much gentle enthusiasm as he was. 

She tasted of wine. Of a deep cherry red, that stained her tongue and lips. He could get drunk off of the taste of her tongue, he could lose himself to her touch. He had done so. Over and over he would so willingly get lost in her. Is this what true love felt like? Such genuine affection meant only for him?

She pulled away slowly, pressing her lips against his bottom lip before smiling at him. “I love you,” she said and he wanted to kiss her again.

“I love you, too,” he murmured instead, still high on her kiss. It felt right to kiss her. It felt like he was supposed to be in her arms. He had spoken to his goddess, to his ex-lover, earlier that day, and he had been so nervous to do so. He looked upon what he once thought was the epitome of beauty, the answer to all of his questions, every one of his desires, and he found her…lacking.

Lacking in beauty, lacking in comfort, lacking in the soft intimacy of a nervous and warm first kiss. She was his goddess, she would always be there, but…she was just that. A goddess. Someone he would invoke for his skill, but she wouldn’t have his love nor his lover’s devotion. Mystra had gone from an unequal beauty that Gale could never hope to compare to just…a distant god. Someone in the astral plane watching him invoke the weave to fight this evil. 

And Yrelia…

Yrelia was magnificent. She was tender, she was gentle. She smiled at him with enough warmth that Gale was certain he would be comfortable when winter arrived. He had decided earlier that day, when he returned from Mystra’s domain and saw Yrelia waiting for him, that he would ask her to return to Waterdeep with him. 

He would need to…work out the logistics and wording on how he would ask her. He was good with words, good at talking. He could easily write a poem and present it to her; sweet words of love and devotion. Then again, he had the tendency to put his foot in his mouth. She excited him so easily, that he just spoke until he realized that perhaps he had spoken too much.

“You have something on your mind,” Yrelia said with a knowing smile. “You’re usually not so silent.”

“Ah. Perhaps I’ve realized that I have spoken far too much recently, instead of listening to the voice of reason.” 

Her brows twitched in confusion before relaxing. A comforting smile graced her lips and she leaned in and kissed his nose. “You did listen, though, and I think that’s what matters.” She kissed his forehead. “And I’m grateful that you did. I…” her lips twitched, clearly trying to find the right way to say he didn’t disappoint her, “...I’m happy with what we are,” she continued, “and I’m happy with you, as you are.” She smiled. “I love you, Gale. Thank you for loving me.”

His eyebrows rose before relaxing. “I hardly need gratitude for doing something as easy as loving you,” he said and she grinned. “Between you and me, I fell rather quickly. It’s almost embarrassing how easily I fell into your arms.”

She laughed. “Oh, don’t be silly. I think it’s wonderful how earnest you are.”

He grinned and kissed her. She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him with fervor. Gale’s heart leapt in joy and he realized that he truly wanted to live. He wanted nothing more than a life with her.

And he swore to whatever god that listened he would make sure that happened.

Gale smiled at the sunset, blinking out of his memory. He held Yrelia’s hand as they walked in silence. They were both exhausted from their trip. They were ready to go home and collapse in their bed. Gale looked up above him, the dark blue of night with its shining stars. He turned his gaze to his tired partner and smiled.

“My love,” he called her softly.

She looked at him and smiled. “Yes?”

“I’m quite curious.” Her brows rose and her smile grew. “I know exactly when I had decided that I would do my best to convince you to make the journey home to Waterdeep with myself.” She hummed. “Did you…ever have a moment as such?”

“I did.”

He waited for her to continue, staring at her so full of curiosity and eagerness. She didn’t continue and that curiosity started to buzz in his head. “My lady, it’s not kind to tease me like this.”

Yrelia laughed. “But it is fun!” She laughed again when he sighed. “Beloved, it’s embarrassing how early I wanted to be whisked off to wherever you would be.” She sighed when he stopped. “I remember,” she said and wrapped her arms around his neck, “after our first night together, when we were laying with each other, I had realized I never wanted to be apart from you.” She kissed them. “So, there’s your answer. Satisfied?”

“I am.” She smiled at him. “For now.” 

She scoffed playfully. “My darling, I fear you are slipping into your old habits!” She teased and grabbed his hand. 

She started to walk forward and he happily followed her. “Well, my love, there is something you could do that would easily remedy my insatiable personality. Now that we are close to our lovely and comfortable home, I can practically see your incomparable bare body in the serene, picturesque moonlight. Hm. I really should take up painting.”

Yrelia snorted loudly. “Gale, I don’t think Tara would appreciate a naked portrait of myself in her home.” She sighed. “Nor would my brother or your mother.” He hummed in protest. “You also see me naked every day. It’s not as if you’ll forget what I look like.”

“Ah, you see, my love. There are times where you have left me alone in our tower where I desperately miss the feel of your bare skin against mine. Only a perfect portrait would ever suffice. For example: you enjoy, for some reason or another, camping in the wilderness while on hunts! Shall I suffer withdrawal then? Would you truly put me through such torture?”

Yrelia threw her head back and laughed. “Oh my gods, you are incredible.”

“Oh, I am aware.” Yrelia snorted.

In just two and half hours, after the sun had long dipped below the horizon and the sky was dark with the winter stars in the sky, they arrived in the city of Waterdeep. Gale took a deep, satisfied breath as he looked around. The stone streets, the magic flames in the lanterns, the beautiful drift globes throughout the city. There was the scent of the weave in the air, the scent of home. He felt so vigorous, despite the long trek home from Baldur’s Gate. 

Yrelia smiled in the drift globe light, her face was soft with comfort and intimacy. She looked so happy to be back home, in their city. She sighed softly and then let out a short laugh as Gale practically leapt forward, pulling her along towards their tower. She laughed behind him, as they ran home. The stars, the fires, the drift globes lit their way, practically racing down the street to the Sea Ward. 

Snow softly fell from the sky. Quiet, white snowflakes drifting onto the ground, falling into their hair and his beard. The chill of night didn’t even seem to bother the two of them, too busy with the thrill of being home. They did get some curious stares, but they didn’t care. They were so thrilled, so damn happy, that they had made it safely home. They would be able to see their family again. Tara would lecture them about being inappropriate. Morena would ask them about grandchildren. Lillian would steal Yrelia away for gossip. Even Cyr would be welcomed back with open arms if an apology was on his tongue.

They reached their home and stood in the entryway. Their neighbor looked out the window and called to them with a wave. They grinned at him and waved back before looking at each other. 

Gale chuckled and turned to Yrelia. She smiled up at him, looking at him as if he really was the amazing wizard he thought himself to be. Her soft gaze was only matched by the breaths coming from her soft lips. He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. Their breaths, that were coming out in little clouds, mingled together. He slowly brushed his lips against hers. A soft and slow kiss as the snow fell onto the street.

Yrelia wrapped her arms around his neck and Gale pulled her in closer. He kissed her with everything he was, everything he had. He loved her. He loved her more than he ever thought possible. They pulled away from each other slowly, resting their foreheads against one another’s again. They breathed deeply, catching their breaths after such a slow kiss. Yrelia rubbed her nose against his and he smiled, staring at the woman he couldn’t possibly live without.

He let out a hot breath and released her body. He took her hands in his and then kissed her forehead. She giggled softly and squeezed his hands, following him into their home as he walked through the front door.

[mythicalcoolkid]

You don't wish your disability was worse or more visible, you wish your disability was taken seriously. Please stop confusing the two, I guarantee you would not get the support you need JUST by being more severe or more visible. Please listen to visibly disabled people when we tell you it isn't better on our side

[keylimeart]

Erik, his husband and his husband's cat

[disabled-femme]

labor psa: a scab is somebody who does struck work. a scab may be a union member or not—usually not, in many industries. if you are doing work that would ordinarily be done by a person on strike, you are a scab, even if you yourself are not part of a union whose members are striking

for example, an influencer who starts doing promo work for struck companies that would ordinarily be done by actors: that is a scab

regular person going to see a movie: not a scab

annoyed addition: customer going to coffee shop whose baristas are on strike to get a coffee made by a scab: not scabbing, but crossing the picket line

[hannikin-grahamkin]

He's not my enemy. He is my homoerotic rival and if anybody but me ever tries to hurt him I will promptly kill them.

[uncanny-tranny]

I recently had to do a project in one of my psych classes, and man, I knew that CBT was used for every little thing, but seeing over and over, "do CBT! CBT is the best for every mental illness!" was so jarring. I'm absolutely biased because of my own experiences, but I just don't think it's as universal a treatment model as it's touted.

If you didn't benefit from CBT, it's not because you're lazy or didn't try hard enough or lacked intelligence or foresight into your own needs. Frankly, it's a therapy model that (I think) shouldn't be the only readily-accessible model and among the only therapy models covered by insurance. Some of us should not be treated in a CBT model and that's okay. It's not a sign of poor character or unreasonable demands, and if you don't think it's a model that works for you, then it's your right to express that!

[wiihtigo]

cant trust anyone these days

[s0fter-sin]

everyone makes fun of soap when they find out how many hair and skin products he keeps on hand. the cabinet in his bathroom is filled to bursting and he always keeps travel sized bottles on him on missions

when soldiers outside the 141 find out, they call him precious and self-obsessed, a vain pretty boy too preoccupied with his reflection to focus on the enemy. no wonder how he got his callsign. price has given up telling him to leave them on base and just teaches him to individually wrap them so they don’t rattle against each other and give himself away

what they don’t know is that each product contains an ingredient that when mixed with any number of the others, creates potent chemical bombs. he was caught unarmed once, he won’t let it happen again

[ffcrazy15]

There's this way of doing female-ness in Christianity that I call "pastel flower journal Christianity." I've got nothing against pastel flower journals per se, but for some reason people believe it's the end all and be all of female spirituality, and I think it's a real disservice towards young Christian women.

One of these days I'd like to start a prayer-and-reading group or something for young women, but there would be no floral themes or over-focus on how "God thinks you're beautiful even if the world doesn't" (a true statement, but it's wayyyyy too often the focus in women's spiritual reading). Instead we would be reading:

Seneca's Letters from a Stoic

Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning

Sheed's A Map of Life

Portions of Pieper's book on leisure

Kreeft's Three Philosophies of Life

Guardini's The Lord (or something similar)

Therese's Story of a Soul

and some select portions of the Nicomachean Ethics.

(Also they're all getting the porn talk. I don't know why we give the porn talk to young men but not young women. There's this idea that women don't use porn and they only need the talk about "guarding their heart." Bullshit. There's porn on the YA shelves of Barnes and Nobles and before that there were bodice rippers. Young women need the porn talk too.)

Every young woman needs to be getting a basic grounding in virtue ethics, logic, natural law, scholastic philosophy and Biblical hermeneutics if they're going to get by in today's spiritual landscape. Enough faffery and emotionalism in young women's spiritual education! Give them real food to chew on, not pasty sentimentalism!

[lilianade-comics]

@thesoulspulse suggested in this post a while back that Vlad should have become Casper High's principal instead of Amity Park's mayor, and I completely agree. Would have been waaaaaay funnier and better preserved his status as a very personal threat/potential ally to Danny specifically. Plus, we could have gotten a really dramatic students vs faculty dodgeball game with Vlad vs Danny as the inciting force!!

[danielnelsen]

while i get where this comes from and it’s true to an extent, i reeeaaaally don’t like how people try to explain “trans men don’t [necessarily] have male privilege” with things like “some trans men don’t pass”.

like sure that’s the most obvious example (someone who is seen as a woman won’t have the privilege that comes with being seen a man) but you’re still acting like being a passing trans man is just a free opt-in to male privilege which is………kinda the issue.

[captainkirkk]

I will never get over extremely powerful youkai (or GODS) coming to Natsume's rescue because he was nice to them or formed a genuine friendship with them, while exorcists watch on horrified and confused and very jealous all at once

[hellogoodbyeitsme]

Damian walking past Tim's room to get water in the middle of the night hearing, "yes, I know. I know. You're excited to get to the bottom of this problem. I'm aware. I hear you, really I do. You make a good case. I would really love to work on it, too." and wondering who he's speaking to, only for him to continue, "but you're trying to be GOOD about your silly little human body right now. So get up. Go to bed. You need to sleep. Don't be an idiot. Come on. It's bedtime. For real. Let's go." so Dami peeks in, and it's just Tim talking to himself, growing more frustrated by the moment (though his tone suggests nonchalance). He's still firmly planted in the chair. He tried his best.

[tizeline]

Heuheeuhe turtlssss 🐢

[florallylly]

less steve harrington "i try to be a good guy despite my past" and more steve harrington "i've always been a good person (albeit probs annoying asf), you just stereotyped me based on my interest in sports"

[calware]

i wish people would stop arguing and saying "AI art isn't real art" and instead focus on the actual issue, which is that it's currently based on wide-scale art theft and unethically built by using other people's work without their knowledge or consent. you can't define what "is and isn't" art, it's an abstract concept and a complete non-issue. the real issue is the stolen artwork it was built on!!