#similar to how I threw every smut book into gales

[piipaw]

4, 6, and 26 for the Tav Questions! Give us more Gum!!

4. What hobbies does your Tav have? How did they acquire these interests

Pre game crèche life gave for no hobbies, minus just reading in the library after his change to being a healer. During the game I don't think he'd have time outside of surviving to pick up a hobby, minus reading (now in a group!)

Post game I think he'd want to try everything, but also be hesitant because of a small fear of failure.

Gale takes him on a museum date to look at art, gets Gum some paints and pastels afterwards to see if he likes that stuff (it's very abstract, gum is one of those can't visualize what he wants to draw types)

I'd imagine they'd sometimes cook/bake together but it's mostly Gum helping cut/mix things and not actually realizing there's a method to it and not just gale knowing what to do by gut instinct. (Gum is the 'I tried your recipe but I swapped all the eggs for apple sauce and I took the carrots out for onions and now it tastes bad' only he's not a dick he doesn't know enough about things not-meat that he doesn't know any better)

He does learn a few instruments and is.... okay!!! But nothing he really sticks with long, mostly just playing a few notes on the piano in Gale's tower or his flue/lute when idle. (Gale crying and clapping at alfira's music school concert and gum knocks hot cross buns outta the park)

6. What is your Tav’s favourite childhood memory?

LOADED QUESTION I don't even know if there are any fond memories Gum has of his crèche. Coming from such a military environment I guess at one point he would have answered like "I remember the first time I held my sword/the first time I took down one of my peers" but that's not a happy thing for him now. He looks back at a lot of his upbringing with sadness, feeling robbed of life's many experiences and also sad that the others he knew wouldn't see things the same as him and is almost jealous that they're content to be so.... simple.

26. Does your Tav have a treasured item with them? If yes, what is it and why is it special? If no, how do they feel about item sentimentality in general?

Pre-game he has no treasured item, mostly bc of reasons from above ask. But mid game I equip Gum with the Blood of Lathander and I think for him it would be really meaningful and symbolic. But I wouldn't go so far to say treasured.

Additionally postgame, I think he'd still carry it, but he'd try to not look at it as something so important bc it's a weapon, and they'd probably also have to keep it locked up when not in use since they wouldn't want it to hurt astarion.

Post game tho one of his treasures 100% would be his wedding band. Both the metals used to craft it would be really symbolic and meaningful for him, but like a little physical object he can hold and squeeze to remind him no matter how bad things were he made it this far and has people who love him unconditionally would be important to him.