*vine kid who doesn't care that you broke your elbow voice* I'm about to say it. I am TIRED of the "Gale is awkward" NONSENSE!
Is Gale sometimes nervous with Tav? Yes. But when did the word nervous change to have the same meaning as awkward??
Let's take his act 1 romance scene. The only time we see Gale at a loss for words 😂. Bc he's SHOCKED. He genuinely had NO idea Tav felt that way about him and he can't believe it. Is shocked the same as awkward tho? No. And notice he recovers IMMEDIATELY once the shock wears off "It is a pleasant image, to be sure. Most pleasant. Most welcome" he says, with that fucking 😏 face. And even after the shock of the weave connection disappearing, he recovers: "Good night. I enjoyed sharing a moment of magic with you" he says, with confidence, no stumbling, and again with that fucking 😏 face
Let's take his insane act 2 flirting. How tf can you say a man who gets so turned on fighting disturbing shadow monsters at Tav's side, who cannot help but notice how hot Tav is despite their cursed surroundings, and then TELLS TAV THAT VERY THING right then and there in the middle of the shadow curse, is awkward 😂?
He starts off with "especially being at your side" sounding a little breathless, almost awed. Not the least bit nervous or awkward bc tell me he's not STRUGGLING to stop from getting hard rn 😂
Now, he does CLEARLY sound nervous when he goes onto say "I, um, once read a book..." Bc now he's really about to ask it, he's actually about to ASK TAV if they're as turned on as he is rn. I think I'd be a little nervous too; even if I was quite sure this person liked me, maybe I was wrong, and I am now opening myself up for rejection.
But once Tav returns his feelings, he recovers IMMEDIATELY:
If Tav says you're drawn to me even here?: "I can't imagine anywhere that would turn my heart from you, cursed or otherwise. You'd always be as beautiful, and as impressive 😏"
If Tav says they've seen some informative diagrams: "You have? Oh 😏 Then I might suggest we pool our knowledge. No sense in letting valuable firsthand experience go to waste, after all." He is LITERALLY telling Tav that he wants them to fuck.
And he ends all responses with: "It only makes me want you more 😏" Telling Tav a second time he wants to fuck lol.
WOULD AN AWKWARD PERSON BE THIS FUCKING SMOOTH??? I ASK YOU.
Now let's take his act 2 romance scene, when Tav says they're in love with him too. He says "that's a relief" and SOUNDS relieved. Despite ALL the signs from Tav that they're so into him, he WAS nervous about his love being returned. He took a huge leap by admitting it, and recognized this meant making himself vulnerable to rejection. Of course he's nervous! Wouldn't any of us be, admitting to someone for the first time that we are in LOVE with them?
But this nervousness vanishes upon Tav returning his feelings, and he then takes Tav to his home, puts on a fucking show of it like the confident, handsome peacock he is. He says he's many things, but coy is not one of them; he says straight up "why confine ourselves to the pleasures of mortal flesh? It's but one stich in a vast tapestry. Let me show you more." He asks for you two to bear your souls to each other, and doesn't stumble once in that asking.
And finally, not for nothing, but Gale even SAYS when going to face Mystra "I always wondered what being nervous felt like. I hate it." Are these things an awkward person says lol. (Now I think he's a little bit full of shit there if you're romancing him bc bruh you HAVE been nervous at least once in every act when it came to Tav, but I digress)
Does that fit the definition of awkward? Of someone who is ungraceful, clumsy, or unskilled? Does the man with a PRACTICED TONGUE fit the definition of awkward?
LIKE????? ARE WE PLAYING THE SAME GAME????
Tl;dr yes, Gale is sometimes nervous, (namely during the dating phase as he's unsure if Tav returns his feelings), but NO he is NOT an awkward person!
(If ANYONE'S awkward it's ASTARION and his entire act 2 confession okay lmao)
