Hiii can you please share some facts about Gael + Xal’s dynamic? They’re my two favs and I just think it’s so sweet that they’re close with each other 🥹
Gael and Xal understand each other pretty well because their personalities are similar. As the older brother, Gael knows Xal is an introverted soul that needs space and someone who respects his boundaries even if he hasn't explicitly stated them. They both struggle doing that so they know when the other doesn't want something even if they don't say it out loud.
Even if they have good intentions, Amon and Ara try to break Xal out of his shell way too eagerly sometimes without stopping to consider his needs and wants. Xal needs time to socially recharge and Gael is just there for him, happy to let Xal set the pace. Not asking "why" or "why not", not judging—inviting him to parties just in case he wants to attend, as a way of showing Gael thinks of him, but respecting that Xal may want to just stay in his workshop and encouraging him to remember he can say no, at least to him.
Both are also very artistic and crafty and understand how much the time they spend on that means to them. Gael always asks Xal about his projects and gives him room to speak if he wants to. He also knows that Xal not reaching out doesn't mean he loves him any less; not talking every day doesn't mean he doesn't think about him.
On the other hand, Xal admires how Gael can put up with everything thrown at him and still remain kind and cherish his own softness that some people think of as a weakness. He feels safe in his company and the calmness Gael radiates is comforting and makes him feel like everything's gonna be okay. He's also less noisy than Ara and Amon and has no problem hanging out with Xal in silence, each doing their own thing, sharing the moment without the need to be actively interacting with one another.
You could say Gael and Xal are each other's safe place. That doesn't mean they like everything about each other! Xal's frequently bothered by how much Gael cares about hair and clothes being absolutely perfect, and Gael has trouble restraining from fixing Xal's attire and hair every two seconds and thinks he could care a little more about his looks. Even so, Gael is the one who designed Xal's clothes for him, using the references Xal had of the human world and the techwear aesthetic!
Ara is Xal's best friend, the one who would fight a bear for him, but Gael is the one who would ask him if he wants to fight the bear or just run away.
