i think my favorite thing about essek's backstory is the sheer arrogance baked in to everything he's doing. it's not just, i need to save my mother, it's I need to be the one to save my mother.
even acknowledging that hiding his mother's illness is treason and therefore asking anyone for help would be asking them to commit a crime at best and risking getting turned in at worse, AND acknowledging that he's probably tried to appeal to the bright queen+kryn dynasty to let him study the beacon (if he wasn't too paranoid to do so) and they said no, essek DOES still have people he could've turned to.
they added verrat for a reason*, they showed us that essek isn't actually alone, and that there are high-ranking figures that don't agree unilaterally with the dynasty's rules. essek could have confided in verrat or others, hell he could have tried to petition the crown to let him at least research typhros and try to find a cure. surely the dynasty would support trying to cure the one thing that kills them forever, no? idk maybe it's a stretch but i'm just saying essek had options
but essek decided that not only could he not trust anyone in the dynasty (effectively saying everyone in the dynasty is too blindly religious to entertain anything he has to say, looking down on them for their, in his opinion, ridiculous devotion) but he also decided that he will be the one to unearth the secrets of the beacon when centuries (millennia?) of people before him could not.
essek thinks he can crack the code while deceiving the dynasty right under their nose and working with a foreign, antagonistic power with unknown motivations. he thinks he can control this situation he's created and he thinks this so resolutely that he is willingly, knowingly, risking the lives and souls of himself, his family, and his country.
essek's arrogance comes through in so many of his choices and interactions (sneering to trent about how it would take centuries to teach trent the basics of dunamancy despite only being a century and change old himself, his snide comment to his mother about her faith, the fact that he LITERALLY floats above others) and it's one of my favorite things about his character because he is smart. objectively, he is smart. and yet his belief in his own intelligence makes him do such stupid things. not only is this realistic, but it's FUN
it's so fun to me how he disdains the dynasty for its "blind" belief in the luxon but doesn't recognize his own blind faith in his own abilities. and (putting this below the cut bc spoilers for campaign 2 and essek's story)
and i love it because it's so important that later when essek realizes the error of his ways he is forced to directly grapple with the fact that he was wrong. he was wrong. the essek towards the end of the campaign was still arrogant ofc but in so many of his interactions with the mighty nein he is almost humble because he knows he was wrong, and he's deferring to them because he believes they know better than he does when it comes to morality and choices about it. it's the acknowledgement of his own fallibility that allows him (requires him) to trust others and stop isolating himself.
and bc my shadowgast heart can't help but point it out, this arrogance is yet another similarity between caleb and essek's stories. I was so sure...so sure, until I wasn't. i can't wait to see essek's "until i wasn't" moment.
*(spoilers/speculation) i suspect this reason is to make the effect of essek's actions tangible to him by making him lose verrat forever from the war, but that's just my guess, and even if it's true, he can serve multiple functions in the narrative
Dropping by to say that I absolutely live for your Phainon/Mydei X reader stories!!
IDk if youll be interested in this idea but hear me out.. Since reader is so oblivious, what do you think would be our reaction to Mydei trying to flirt with reader in a Kreamnoan way? Sparring, Gifting weapons, ect. And would Phainon pass out from laughing at his attempts or actually try to be a wingman in this situation?
I love this idea, phainon would enjoy this. He would definitely tease Mydei, but he would help him, too.
Mydei x (fem)reader
The sun hung high over the training grounds, its golden light reflecting off the polished steel of the weapons scattered around. The air was thick with the scent of metal and sand, the rhythmic clash of blades ringing through the open space as Mydei and Y/N sparred.
Mydei’s golden eyes were sharp, focused entirely on Y/N as she lunged toward him, her form precise but still just a little off-balance. He deflected her strike with ease, the weight of their swords meeting with a satisfying clang.
“That all you got?” he teased, stepping back smoothly, effortlessly avoiding her next swing.
Y/N huffed, rolling her shoulders before gripping her sword tighter. “I’m just getting warmed up.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Mydei’s lips. Good. He liked a challenge. More importantly, he liked watching her fight—it showed her determination, her will. And in Kremnoan tradition, strength was everything.
Any other Kremnoan would have immediately understood the significance of his actions But Y/N?
She just thought he was a good friend.
So now he had to resort to a different method.
His grip tightened on his own blade as he surged forward, his movements deliberate—not aiming to overpower her, but to guide her into a rhythm, a dance of steel and instinct. Y/N met him head-on, eyes bright with determination, and for a moment, Mydei nearly forgot his original goal.
Then she grinned, dodging one of his strikes with surprising agility.
“You almost got me there,” she teased.
Mydei exhaled sharply through his nose, willing down the warmth creeping up his neck. Focus.
He moved fast, catching her sword with his own and stepping in closer, their faces mere inches apart. “You fight well,” he murmured, voice lower than usual. “But you still have much to learn.”
Y/N blinked up at him, momentarily caught off guard. But before she could register anything, he took a step back, lowering his sword slightly.
“You should learn from me,” Mydei continued, his tone calm, almost… inviting. “I can teach you properly.”
Y/N brightened, nodding eagerly. “Really? You’d do that?”
Mydei barely resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. Yes. Obviously. That’s the whole point. Instead, he simply nodded, expression unreadable.
On the sidelines, Phainon leaned lazily against a wooden post, watching the scene unfold with an amused glint in his blue eyes. He took a slow sip of his drink, barely holding in his laughter.
Y/N had no idea what was happening.
And Mydei was suffering.
Their blades clashed again, the force of the impact sending a small vibration up Y/N’s arm. She was getting better, Mydei noted—not as easy to push back, more sure-footed with each step.
But she was still a step behind him.
He decided to test something. Instead of countering her next strike, he let her sword glance off his, shifting his weight so she overextended just a little—just enough for him to use her momentum against her.
In a swift, precise motion, he hooked his foot behind her ankle, pivoted, and swept her legs out from under her.
Y/N let out a startled oof as she hit the ground, blinking up at him in shock.
Before she could move, Mydei was already on her, one knee pressing lightly against her thigh, one arm braced against the dirt beside her head. His other hand grasped her wrist, pinning it to the ground in a firm but careful hold. His golden eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unwavering.
For a beat, there was only silence between them, the weight of his presence pressing down like an unspoken challenge.
Then, Y/N grinned.
“That was awesome!” she exclaimed.
Mydei’s eye twitched.
She wriggled her wrist slightly. “Okay, so how do I get out of this position?”
By Nikador, give me strength.
He exhaled sharply through his nose, tightening his grip just slightly as he leaned in closer. “That depends,” he murmured, his voice lower than usual. “Do you want to get out of it?”
Y/N tilted her head, considering his words. “Well, yeah? I mean, what if someone else does this in a fight? I need to know how to counter it, right?”
There was a very long pause.
Somewhere off to the side, Phainon let out a choked sound that was definitely not a cough.
Mydei’s jaw clenched. He didn’t need to look to know Phainon was watching this disaster unfold with way too much amusement.
Still hovering over Y/N, he inhaled slowly, trying to push down his growing frustration. “It’s not just about the fight,” he said carefully, watching her expression for any sign of recognition. “It’s about…” He searched for the right words, ones that she would understand.
Y/N blinked up at him, expectant, curious—completely and utterly unaware of what he was trying to say.
Phainon made another barely contained sound from the sidelines.
Mydei’s eye twitched again.
He closed his eyes briefly, exhaling a slow breath before finally pushing himself off her. “Forget it,” he muttered.
Y/N sat up quickly, dusting herself off. “Wait, did I miss something?”
“Yes.”
“…What was it?”
“Nothing.”
Y/N frowned but shrugged it off, already stretching her arms, completely unaware of Mydei’s silent suffering.
Meanwhile, Phainon was practically vibrating with barely suppressed laughter, his blue eyes gleaming with pure schadenfreude.
Mydei shot him a murderous glare.
Phainon smirked.
Oh, this was too good.
Y/N stretched her arms over her head, rolling out her shoulders as she caught her breath. “Man, I really need to work on counters,” she mused. “You keep knocking me on my ass.”
Mydei ran a hand through his hair, barely restraining a sigh. “You’ll improve,” he said, though his tone was a little strained.
Not at this rate, he thought to himself.
Phainon, still perched nearby, was doing his best to smother his smirk behind one hand. He was failing miserably.
“No need.” Mydei stepped in front of her, reaching down to pick up her sword instead. He turned it over in his hands, the blade catching the light.
Y/N tilted her head. “What?”
He exhaled slowly. Fine. If words don’t work, maybe actions will.
“This isn’t good enough for you,” he said, inspecting the sword with mild disdain before looking back at her. “It’s too light. Not balanced properly. You need something better.”
Y/N blinked. “I mean, I like it—”
“It’s not good enough.” His voice was firm, brooking no argument. “Come with me.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and started walking toward the armory.
Y/N hesitated for only a second before following.
Behind them, Phainon slow-blinked before standing as well. “Oh, I have to see this.”
The moment they stepped inside, Y/N’s eyes lit up. The rows of polished weapons, the gleaming suits of armor, the scent of oiled leather and sharpened steel—it was beautiful.
Mydei didn’t waste time. He led her straight to a display of swords, scanning them with a critical eye.
“This one.” He reached for a blade and held it out to her.
Y/N took it carefully, her fingers curling around the hilt. It was heavier than her old one, the craftsmanship finer. The weight felt solid in her grip. “Whoa… This is nice.”
Mydei nodded in satisfaction. “It’ll suit you better.”
She grinned. “Thanks! I’ll make sure to train hard with it.”
Mydei’s expression remained unreadable as he stepped slightly closer, lowering his voice. “It’s not just about training.”
Y/N blinked up at him. “Huh?”
Mydei exhaled slowly, as if willing her to understand. “Weapons are important in Kremnos. They’re an extension of yourself. You don’t just use them—you rely on them, trust them.” He paused, his gold eyes steady on hers. “Giving someone a weapon is a sign of trust. Of something deeper.”
For a moment, the air between them shifted.
Then—
“Ohhh, this is fantastic,” Phainon’s voice cut in, absolutely thrilled.
Mydei tensed visibly as Y/N turned to look at him.
Phainon leaned against a nearby rack, arms crossed, grinning like he had just found his new favorite thing in the world.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to do this,” Phainon continued. “And yet—” he gestured vaguely at Y/N, who was still just smiling in appreciation, utterly unaware “—she still doesn’t get it.”
Y/N frowned. “Get what?”
Mydei gritted his teeth.
Phainon snickered. “Nothing, sweetheart. Nothing at all.”
Y/N huffed and turned back to Mydei, giving the sword a few practice swings. “Anyway, this really is amazing. I love it. Thank you, Mydei.”
For a fraction of a second, Mydei felt his composure slip. Her words—simple as they were—settled deep in his chest.
“…Good,” he muttered, looking away.
Phainon grinned wider. Oh, this was never going to get old.
The streets of Okhema bustled with life, filled with merchants calling out their wares, the scent of fresh bread and spices filling the air. Y/N strolled ahead, glancing at the different stalls with interest, occasionally stopping to admire something or chat with a vendor.
Phainon and Mydei trailed behind her, the latter watching her carefully, as if contemplating his next move.
“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” Phainon asked, smirking.
Mydei barely spared him a glance. “Thinking about what?”
“Your next attempt.” Phainon stretched his arms behind his head. “It’s honestly fascinating watching you try.”
Mydei ignored him. This time, he had a new approach. If direct gifts and sparring didn’t work, perhaps a more… personal experience would.
Ahead of them, Y/N had stopped at a fruit stall, eyes lighting up at the sight of some unfamiliar fruit. “Oh, these look amazing.”
The vendor grinned. “A rare specialty! Grown only in the far southern regions.”
Y/N hummed in thought. “I wonder what they taste like.”
Before she could reach for one, Mydei had already stepped forward. With a single sharp glance, he picked out the best-looking fruit, tossed a few coins onto the counter, and turned to her.
“Here.” He held it out, his expression unreadable.
Y/N blinked. “Oh, wow! Thanks, Mydei!” She accepted it without hesitation and took a bite. “Ohhh, this is so good.”
Mydei watched her reaction carefully, the smallest bit of satisfaction creeping in. Finally, progress.
Then—
“So, this is your next strategy?” Phainon’s voice practically purred from beside him.
Mydei’s eye twitched.
Y/N, still savoring the fruit, turned to them. “Strategy? What are you talking about?”
Phainon casually leaned against a nearby stall, his smirk widening. “Oh, nothing. Just admiring Mydei’s… tactics.”
Mydei clenched his jaw, barely restraining the urge to throw Phainon into the nearest crate of cabbages.
Y/N, still blissfully unaware, happily chewed. “You should try one too, Mydei! Here.”
Without hesitation, she grabbed his wrist and pressed the fruit to his lips.
For half a second, Mydei froze. His gold eyes locked onto hers, and the world tilted just slightly.
She had no idea. None at all.
And then, as if to torture him further, Phainon let out the most obnoxiously loud snort of laughter Mydei had ever heard.
“You—” Mydei turned his head just slightly, glaring.
Phainon held up both hands, but his shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Oh, please continue. This is beautiful.”
Meanwhile, Y/N was still waiting. “What’s wrong?”
Nothing. Everything.
Slowly, Mydei leaned forward, taking a small bite from the fruit she still held up for him. The sweet taste lingered on his tongue, but the warmth of her fingers against his was far more distracting.
“Good,” he murmured.
Y/N beamed. “Right?! We should buy more!”
She turned back to the vendor, already discussing how many she wanted, completely missing the way Mydei exhaled sharply, reining himself back in.
Beside him, Phainon wiped a tear from his eye. “You are so down bad, it’s actually painful.”
Mydei didn’t even respond. He simply took another slow breath, clenched his fists, and prepared for his next attempt.
Because he would succeed. Eventually.
Maybe.
The evening air in Okhema had cooled, the market’s liveliness gradually settling into a more relaxed hum. People wandered at a slower pace, street lamps flickering to life, casting a warm glow over the cobbled paths.
Mydei sat alone on a bench near the marketplace, arms crossed, his golden eyes narrowed in deep thought. The interaction from earlier still lingered in his mind—the way she had unknowingly flustered him, the way Phainon had nearly died laughing at his expense.
This isn’t working.
He had given her a sword. He had sparred with her, tested her strength, tried to offer her food—all of which were clear, meaningful signs of courting in Kremnos. And yet, she remained completely, utterly oblivious.
He exhaled sharply, his frustration barely contained.
Then came the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps.
Phainon.
Mydei didn’t even have to look up to know it was him.
“Sulking already?” Phainon drawled, dropping down onto the bench beside him, stretching his arms behind his head. “Didn’t think I’d see the great Mydei looking so defeated.”
Mydei scowled. “I’m not defeated.”
“Oh?” Phainon smirked, turning his blue eyes toward him. “Because from where I’m sitting, it sure looks like it.”
Mydei exhaled, dragging a hand down his face. He hated this. Not the challenge—he lived for challenges—but the sheer absurdity of this one.
“What else am I supposed to do?” he muttered, more to himself than to Phainon. “She doesn’t understand what any of it means.”
Phainon’s smirk widened. “Well, yeah. That’s the best part.”
Mydei turned to glare at him, and Phainon held up his hands in mock surrender.
“Look,” Phainon continued, clearly enjoying himself. “If she doesn’t understand Kremnoan courting, then maybe it’s time you try something… else.”
“…Else?”
Phainon nodded, shifting to lean forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “You’ve been treating this like a battle—strategizing, making moves, all that. But Y/N’s not Kremnoan, Mydei. She doesn’t think like one.”
Mydei frowned, considering this.
“So.” Phainon grinned. “Lucky for you, I happen to have a very brilliant idea.”
Mydei arched a brow. “You?”
Phainon placed a hand over his chest, feigning offense. “I’ll ignore that. Because this idea? Foolproof.”
Mydei sighed. “Let’s hear it, then.”
Phainon’s grin widened.
“We make her fall for you,” he said smoothly. “The way she’d understand.”
Mydei narrowed his eyes. “And how, exactly, do you propose we do that?”
Phainon leaned in slightly. “Simple. We play by her rules.”
Mydei remained skeptical, but Phainon only laughed.
“Oh, trust me,” Phainon said, clapping a hand on Mydei’s shoulder. “This is going to be fun.”
Phainon’s grin had only grown wider as he observed the skepticism on Mydei’s face. The Kremnoan warrior looked utterly unconvinced, his golden eyes scrutinizing him as if trying to gauge whether this was another one of his ridiculous ideas.
Spoiler: It was.
But that didn’t mean it wouldn’t work.
“Alright,” Mydei said at last, arms still crossed. “I’ll bite. What’s your plan?”
Phainon leaned back, tapping a finger against his chin. “Well, first of all, let’s establish something—you’ve been trying to court Y/N your way, right? Sparring, weapons, food, all that.”
“Yes.”
“And she has no idea what’s happening.”
“…Yes.”
Phainon clapped his hands together. “Which means it’s time for a new approach. One that makes sense to her.”
Mydei gave him a flat stare. “You keep saying that. What does it mean?”
Phainon grinned. “It means we’re going to romance her the way she understands.”
Silence.
Mydei stared at him as if he’d just suggested storming a fortress alone and unarmed.
“…What?”
“Oh, you heard me,” Phainon said, far too pleased with himself. “If she doesn’t understand Kremnoan courting, then we do it her way. Flirting, compliments, maybe even gasp—” he feigned a dramatic pause “—a date.”
Mydei visibly stiffened. “That’s—”
“Not your style? Obviously,” Phainon cut in, waving a hand. “But that’s the point. You need to do something different.”
Mydei looked like he was regretting every choice that had led him to this conversation. “…A date.”
“A casual one,” Phainon said, nodding sagely. “Something low pressure. You don’t have to call it a date if that makes you want to run into battle instead.”
Mydei still didn’t look convinced.
Phainon sighed. “Listen, Mydei. Do you want her to see you as more than a sparring partner, or do you want to keep swinging swords at each other forever?”
Silence again.
Then, Mydei exhaled sharply through his nose, golden eyes dark with reluctant acceptance.
“…Fine.”
Phainon smirked. “Great. Step one: You’re going to ask her to spend time with you—outside of training.”
Mydei narrowed his eyes. “Like…?”
Phainon shrugged. “A walk. A festival. Even something as simple as grabbing food together.” He smirked. “You do eat, don’t you?”
Mydei rolled his eyes. “Obviously.”
“Good,” Phainon said. “Now for step two—compliments.”
Mydei looked even more reluctant at that.
Phainon grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you out.” He cleared his throat, adopting a dramatic pose. “Y/N, your strength in battle is admirable, but it’s your presence that truly sets the battlefield ablaze—”
Mydei promptly shoved him off the bench.
Phainon howled with laughter as he hit the ground.
“You deserved that,” Mydei muttered.
“I absolutely did,” Phainon wheezed, sitting up. “But you get my point.”
Mydei exhaled, rubbing his temple. “…Fine. I’ll try.”
Phainon beamed. “That’s the spirit.”
Now, he just had to see how Mydei would pull this off.
It took Mydei two full days to actually work up the nerve to put Phainon’s ridiculous plan into action.
It wasn’t that he was scared—he was a warrior, after all. He had faced countless battles, endured rigorous training, and held his own against some of the strongest fighters in Okhema.
But this?
This was an entirely different kind of battlefield.
Phainon, of course, was enjoying every moment of it. He was leaning against a nearby wall, arms crossed, watching Mydei with way too much amusement as he approached Y/N.
Mydei shot him a warning glare before he turned his focus on her.
She was standing in the courtyard, stretching her arms after finishing some light training. The late afternoon sun caught in her hair, making her look…
…Tch. He wasn’t going to let himself get distracted.
“Y/N.” His voice came out sharper than intended.
She blinked and looked over at him, smiling. “Oh, hey, Mydei. What’s up?”
Mydei cleared his throat. Okay. Casual. Just ask her to spend time with you.
“…Would you like to join me?”
Y/N tilted her head. “For what?”
Damn it, Mydei, specify.
He clenched his jaw. “To—” He barely stopped himself from saying train. “…For food.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh! Sure! I’m starving.”
Phainon, from the sidelines, gave Mydei a double thumbs-up.
Mydei ignored him.
It wasn’t a date.
At least, Mydei wasn’t calling it that.
But sitting across from Y/N at the bustling market eatery, watching her happily pick at the food, he couldn’t ignore the… different feeling settling in his chest.
This wasn’t sparring. There were no weapons, no battle strategies.
Just… her.
“This place has really good food,” Y/N said between bites. “I’m surprised you suggested it.”
“…Why?” Mydei asked.
She shrugged. “I dunno, I figured if we were hanging out outside of training, it’d be something warrior-like.” She grinned. “Like arm wrestling or hunting a beast or something.”
Mydei’s grip on his drink tightened. “I can do things other than fight.”
“I know, I just—” She laughed. “It’s just funny seeing you in a setting like this.”
“…Is it?”
“A little.” She smiled. “But I like it.”
Mydei’s brain shut down for a second.
Phainon, who was conveniently sitting at a table nearby (acting as the world’s worst ‘subtle observer’), nearly choked on his drink.
To Y/N, it was just a casual statement.
To Mydei?
It felt like a damn victory.
…Tch. Focus.
“Your form has improved,” he said suddenly, the words coming out before he could stop them.
Y/N blinked. “Huh?”
Mydei set his cup down. “Your footwork. I noticed it earlier. More controlled.”
Y/N perked up. “Oh! Thanks! I’ve been working on it.”
Encouraged by the way her face lit up, Mydei pushed forward.
“Your speed, too. Faster than before.”
She grinned. “You are paying attention.”
“Of course I am.”
Y/N laughed. “Wow, Mydei. That was almost a compliment.”
“…It was a compliment.”
She giggled. “I know, I know, I just like teasing you.”
From across the room, Phainon wiped a fake tear from his eye. He’s learning.
After their not-a-date, Mydei realized something.
Compliments actually worked.
And so, he tried again.
The next day, they were walking through the city streets when he noticed Y/N adjusting her outfit, fixing the loose fabric.
It was a simple gesture. Nothing unusual.
But Mydei—remembering Phainon’s words about flirting in a way she understands—decided to speak.
“That suits you.”
Y/N blinked up at him. “Huh?”
“The color,” he said, a little gruffly. “It looks good on you.”
Y/N looked down at herself, then back up at him with a surprised smile.
“Oh… thanks!”
She was happy.
Which meant he was satisfied.
But just as he was about to move on, Phainon—who had been lurking (again)—whistled.
Mydei turned sharply to see him leaning against a stall, watching with barely contained laughter.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” Phainon said, waving a hand. “I’m just so proud.”
Mydei clenched his jaw. Ignore him. Ignore him.
But Phainon wasn’t done.
“You’re really improving, Mydei. Soon you’ll be a natural at this!”
Mydei grabbed the nearest fruit off a vendor’s stall and chucked it at him.
Phainon dodged (barely) and ran off, laughing his ass off.
Y/N, completely oblivious to all of it, just smiled at Mydei again.
“…You’re being really nice today.”
I am always nice, Mydei wanted to say, but that would be a blatant lie.
Instead, he muttered, “Tch. Don’t get used to it.”
And somehow, that made her laugh.
Mydei had never taken Phainon’s advice before.
Mostly because Phainon was an idiot.
But after their last conversation—where Phainon insisted that “small, casual touches” were an effective way to fluster someone—Mydei found himself considering it.
Ridiculous, he had thought at first. Pointless.
And yet…
Here he was.
They were walking back through the marketplace again. The setting sun cast warm orange hues across the stone streets, and the air buzzed with the chatter of vendors closing up for the day.
Y/N walked beside him, talking animatedly about something—he wasn’t even sure what. He was distracted.
Because a strand of her hair had come loose, falling in front of her face.
This is it, Mydei thought.
Phainon’s voice echoed in his head: Just brush her hair back. It’s a smooth move. Works every time.
Dumb.
But effective?
There was only one way to find out.
So he did it.
Mid-conversation, he reached out, fingers brushing lightly against her cheek as he tucked the stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Simple. Quick. Just as Phainon suggested.
But the reaction?
He hadn’t expected that.
Y/N froze. Mid-step, mid-sentence.
Her words died in her throat as her eyes widened slightly.
For once, she was flustered.
She blinked up at him, a little stunned, her mouth opening like she wanted to say something—but nothing came out.
Mydei stared back at her, and for a brief moment, he felt a rush of satisfaction.
Then it hit him.
Oh.
Oh no.
What if she realizes? What if she figures it out?
He hadn’t thought that far ahead.
So, naturally, he did what he always did in unfamiliar situations—he defaulted to stoicism.
“…Your hair was in your face,” he said gruffly, looking away as if it was nothing.
Y/N blinked again. “Oh. Uh—right. Thanks.”
She laughed, a little awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.
Mission success?
Mydei wasn’t sure. But he was sure of one thing—
Phainon, who had been watching from a nearby rooftop (because of course he was), was howling with laughter.
Mydei shot him a glare so deadly it could’ve killed a god.
Phainon just wiped a tear from his eye and gave him a dramatic thumbs-up.
Later that evening, when Y/N had gone off on her own, Mydei found himself regretting everything.
Because Phainon was never going to let this go.
“Oh Mydei,” Phainon sang, throwing an arm around his shoulder as they walked. “You absolute natural. Did you see her face? She froze. I almost fell off the roof trying not to scream.”
“Shut up.”
Phainon ignored him. “The hair move was perfect. Subtle. Smooth. I’m so proud.”
Mydei exhaled sharply, shrugging him off. “It was nothing.”
“It was everything,” Phainon countered. “You’re actually getting somewhere! Now you just need to—”
“I don’t need your advice.”
“Sure you do,” Phainon grinned. “Because I know you’re going to try again.”
Mydei said nothing.
Because, damn it, he wasn’t wrong.
After Phainon had finally stopped laughing, Mydei swore to himself that he wouldn’t take his advice again. Ever.
And yet, here he was.
Again.
Y/N walked beside him, completely oblivious to his internal struggle. The sun had set, and lanterns flickered along the streets, casting a soft glow over the marketplace. She hummed quietly as she admired some trinkets on display, utterly at ease.
Meanwhile, Mydei was not at ease.
Phainon’s words still echoed in his head: You need to build tension, Mydei. Do something that’ll make her think about you when you’re not around.
Mydei had no idea what the hell that even meant. But after the small success earlier, he figured a slightly bolder approach wouldn’t hurt.
Probably.
As they walked, Y/N turned to say something—he barely even heard what. He just saw an opportunity.
So he reached out and—without thinking—lightly brushed his knuckles under her chin, tilting her face up to his for just a second.
The second their eyes met, he let go.
And kept walking like nothing happened.
Y/N stood frozen in place. Again.
Mouth slightly open. Completely, utterly stunned.
Then—
Did her face just turn red?
For a brief, glorious moment, Mydei almost smirked.
And then—
A very, very loud choking sound came from behind them.
Phainon.
Mydei didn’t have to turn around to know his so-called friend was probably on the ground from laughing too hard.
Y/N, still dazed, finally snapped out of it. “Uh—what was—”
“Nothing,” Mydei said quickly.
Y/N frowned, confused, but didn’t push it. “Right. Okay…”
And just like that, she kept walking, muttering something under her breath.
Mydei exhaled slowly.
Was it perfect? No.
Did he get some kind of reaction? Yes.
And that? That was a victory.
Phainon finally caught up to him, barely holding himself together. “I—I can’t—I can’t breathe—”
Mydei shot him a sharp look. “Say another word and I will throw you off this bridge.”
Phainon wiped away a tear, gasping between laughs. “Worth it.”
Mydei sighed. He’d deal with Phainon later.
For now…
He just glanced at Y/N ahead of him—still slightly pink in the face.
Maybe, just maybe, he was finally getting somewhere.
I like Dr. Ratio's mask a lot for several reasons.
1. It kind of plays with breaking the fourth wall.
I mean, you can't have a mask that's more realistic than your actual face. Unless you are a character in a stylized game, and only the player can see the mask this way.
2. Just the inherent silliness of it.
How does he put it on and off? Is this marble bust made of rubber?
It's about the size of his actual head. Does it mean is it a couple of milimiters thick?
Why does he pretend to read a book (he also writes down some equation and plays chess) while wearing the mask in his trailer? If he supposedly wears it to not see people?
How does he breathe? And talk?
Is it just a mask or a super complex piece of advanced technology made to look like something primitive, like his chalk? With an inner screen, a ventilation system, and so on?
How did he even come up with this idea? Doctor, sweetie, who hurt you? who told you it's a good idea?
Imagine putting a blindfold on because you don't want to see somebody. Even that would be super weird. But a whole marble bust?
And I like how everybody just accepts it. Like, yeah, he's a little weird like this.
3. I just like the face. The soft, androgynous features, the feminine hairdo and the little, gentle smile. Why would he choose that?
4. From what I understand, he wasn't even supposed to wear this thing at the beginning. I saw an earlier concept of him wearing an owl mask. They probably decided against it because there is a separate game faction known for wearing masks. So "wearing it to not see 'fools'" must have been a late addition to his personality.
It's also interesting that we only see him wearing it on Herta's station full of scientists, and Herta herself even comments that she doesn't remember how his actual face looks, showing how little he actually values knowledge, education, and being smart in an academic sense in and of itself.
Honestly? We brought this list back out of our own need to know whether Astarion or Gale would come out on top.
Astarion | Baldur's Gate 3
Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog
Simon "Ghost" Riley | the Call of Duty franchise
Shadow the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog
Gale Dekarios | Baldur's Gate 3
Shadowheart | Baldur's Gate 3
John "Soap" MacTavish | the Call of Duty franchise
Karlach Cliffgate | Baldur's Gate 3
Lae'zel | Baldur's Gate 3
Lamb | Cult of the Lamb
Narinder | Cult of the Lamb
Wyll Ravengard | Baldur's Gate 3
Phoenix Wright | Ace Attorney
Sans | Undertale
Miles Edgeworth | Ace Attorney
Halsin | Baldur's Gate 3
William Afton | Five Nights at Freddy's
Link | The Legend of Zelda
Tav | Baldur's Gate 3
John Price | the Call of Duty franchise
Kim Kitsuragi | Disco Elysium
Harrier "Harry" Du Bois | Disco Elysium
Kyle "Gaz" Garrick | the Call of Duty franchise
Daycare Attendant | Five Nights at Freddy's
Mario | Super Mario Bros.
Aventurine | Honkai: Star Rail
Malleus Draconia | Twisted Wonderland
Belphegor | Obey Me! Shall We Date?
Kirby | Kirby
Leon S. Kennedy | Resident Evil
Papyrus | Undertale
Amy Rose | Sonic the Hedgehog
Sundrop | Five Nights at Freddy's
Medic | Team Fortress 2
Springtrap | Five Nights at Freddy's
Siffrin | In Stars and Time
Moondrop | Five Nights at Freddy's
Michael Afton | Five Nights at Freddy's
Dr. Ratio | Honkai: Star Rail
Scout | Team Fortress 2
Kris Dreemurr | Deltarune
Boothill | Honkai: Star Rail
DogDay | Poppy Playtime
Neuvillette | Genshin Impact
Akechi Goro | Persona 5
Frisk | Undertale
Enver Gortash | Baldur's Gate 3
Gabriel | ULTRAKILL
Arthur Morgan | Red Dead Redemption 2
Kurusu Akira | Persona 5
Sniper | Team Fortress 2
Spy | Team Fortress 2
CatNap | Poppy Playtime
Rouge the Bat | Sonic the Hedgehog
Minthara | Baldur's Gate 3
Princess Zelda | The Legend of Zelda
Furina | Genshin Impact
Azul Ashengrotto | Twisted Wonderland
Leona Kingscholar | Twisted Wonderland
Yuu | Twisted Wonderland
Knuckles the Echidna | Sonic the Hedgehog
Scaramouche | Genshin Impact
Ignis | Final Fantasy XV
Kaveh | Genshin Impact
Flowey | Undertale
Spamton | Deltarune
The Dark Urge | Baldur's Gate 3
Lilia Vanrouge | Twisted Wonderland
Heavy | Team Fortress 2
Alhaitham | Genshin Impact
Wriothesley | Genshin Impact
Jamil Viper | Twisted Wonderland
Idia Shroud | Twisted Wonderland
Jade Leech | Twisted Wonderland
Floyd Leech | Twisted Wonderland
Pearl Houzuki | Splatoon
Marina Ida | Splatoon
Luigi | Super Mario Bros.
Noelle Holiday | Deltarune
Maya Fey | Ace Attorney
Chara | Undertale
Soldier | Team Fortress 2
Vil Schoenheit | Twisted Wonderland
Lucifer | Obey Me! Shall We Date?
Leshy | Cult of the Lamb
Mammon | Obey Me! Shall We Date?
Melinoë | Hades II
Silver the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog
Tails the Fox | Sonic the Hedgehog
Cloud Strife | Final Fantasy VII
Sylus | Love and Deepspace
Goat | Cult of the Lamb
Sebek Zigvolt | Twisted Wonderland
Sephiroth | Final Fantasy VII
Ace Trappola | Twisted Wonderland
Zagreus | Hades
Klavier Gavin | Ace Attorney
Maria Robotnik | Sonic the Hedgehog
Metal Sonic | Sonic the Hedgehog
Riddle Rosehearts | Twisted Wonderland
Tada! This is a returning list!
Want to discuss the finer points of your Tav? Or swap Astarion fanfic with fellow readers? Here are some Baldur's Gate 3 Communities to get you started. Not a BG3 fan? Find a Community for your fave, or create one yourself. The sky's the limit.
Wriothesley's birthday is the perfect excuse to finally share the finished series of kisses of these two 🎂✨
Their story and almost awkward but strong chemistry awakened in me the sweetest tooth and the roughest freak xD
I'll be sharing the colored versions soon before opening POs for their polaroids sometime in mid December and I have plans to try something new for them... But we'll see if I can manage @_@;;
Meanwhile I hope you can enjoy these sketches and I'd love to hear what's your fave kiss shared by these two? I love the kiss on the lips, I think it captures their feelings and character perfectly on how envision them in my mind 🥺
yousharknotpass
ellievsbear
dailybridgerton
jbbartram-illu
prguitarman
baratheonpilled
