the most beautiful of fantasies

I‘ve been thinking back and forth about this moment because I find it hard to put a finger on what exactly I am seeing here but you paved the path here. It’s shame! (No wonder I haven’t recognised it when it is what looks me in the eyes each time I look at myself in a mirror – I am not projecting here of course, let’s move on)

And it’s (surprise, surprise) Mystra’s fault (as usual). I believe/ my headcanon is that Gale was ridiculed (to a degree) for his affections, care and love by Mystra, even when his affections were for her. “I was an amusement to her […] and eventually discarded”

Gale wanted a connection, a real bond, a decision for eachother, something that a goddess could and want not give him, obviously.

And we know how Gale describes Mystra and we see glimpses of her behaviour towards him in the different versions of the audience in act 3 and I would call neither of them affectionate.

I don’t think that there was any room allowed for Gale to express human emotions, human needs and wants.

All his life was it about Gale the wizard prodigy, his prowess and his talent by nature. It was never about Gale Dekarios, the boy, the man, the human. So much so that Gale himself defined himself by these traits, its all he has ever known, it’s all he was ever praised for.

But the shame remains, it lingers in his soul next to his human needs and wants and wishes and dreams. And it breaks through again, no matter how deep it was buried, when he gathers the courage to confess Tav his feelings. Only when he thinks he has nothing to loose anymore (they will soon find the heart of the Absolute anyways and then he will be gone) is he braving his shame and gets it out. I think he is prepared for a rejection in this moment but the shame sits deeply within him and so it’s an even braver act for him to even confess in the first place than considering a possible rejection.

...i'd no choice but to love you

The need I sometimes feel to see him.

To draw the filaments of fantasy into existence.

No sculpture or painting could ever do him justice.

A young gith and her dragonling

(Available as a print here)

Gale in particular seems to be a great example of this. When talking to female companions, he's very kind to them.

Despite his jest with the "You can read?" line to Karlach when she asked for book recs, he tells her he'd happily find her the perfect book suited to her tastes from his tower in Waterdeep.

With Lae'zel, he's curious about her culture and often asks about it.

Him and Shadowheart seem to have an understanding, as both of them are people of faith who were manipulated by their respective goddesses.

Same, anon! Also with buffing, I always have them buff each other with Mage Armor, etc, instead of just doing themselves...making sure they're outside of range so they have to run to position and I get to hear the dialogues.

My best is yours... UGH. 🥹💜

And I wonder why it takes me so long to get anything done in-game. All role, no play. And you know what?