Bec | 26 | any pronouns |MDNI, 18+| Just another bg3 blog, mostly OC-focused I sometimes post fic and art when I feel like it :3| main: @becfromthedead
Hi, I'm Bec, just another bg3 player on Tumblr dot com. Made a sideblog so I don't flood my main with bg3 reblogs. This blog is mainly oc-posting. I will also be posting more general dnd stuff from time to time, especially since some of my bg3 ocs are either based on characters I played in campaigns, or went from bg3 to being played in a campaign.
I do art and write some fic, but I don't share a whole lot.
You can see my art here
You can find my writing here
You can find my OCs' cc specs here
Ask box is open. I'd love to answer questions about bg3, dnd in general, my ocs- pretty much anything, really.
Basics about my ocs:
Izzrhys Illith'vir (my main Tav, subject of a majority of art/fic stuff, I'm playing him in a dnd campaign as well)- he/him, drow, oath of devotion paladin (sometimes with 2 levels in life cleric), neutral good. Romancing Gale. Posts tagged oc: izzrhys illith'vir
Aesir Corvus (an actual dnd character I used, used them for my first tactician level bg3 campaign)- they/them, half high elf thief subclass rogue, chaotic good, romancing Wyll. They and Xarek are half-siblings. Posts tagged oc: aesir corvus
Xarek Do'rahel (originally a dnd character I played in a short campaign with my in-laws, turned the Tav for my second attempt at an honor mode playthrough. He won :3)- he/him, half drow fiend patron warlock, chaotic neutral, romancing Karlach. He and Aesir are half-siblings. Posts tagged oc: xarek do'rahel
Tiresias (technically my Curse of Strahd character in a campaign we're never finishing, although I did start a bg3 playthrough with him that I'll maybe see through, especially because he feels very morally different from my other ocs.) he/him, grave domain cleric of Loviatar, lawful evil, no romance selected, if I do pick one at all. Posts tagged oc: tiresias styggr
(Also, side note: I could not find anything that really fit him in cc, so this is as close as I'm getting. I have sketches that I'll post separately.)
Aratris of Thunder Peaks (my first Tav, made for a multi-player campaign), they/them, half-wood elf circle of the moon druid (though they probably spend more time in owlbear form than in humanoid form lmao), true neutral. Halsin romancer, although they did have a thing with Lae'zel. As of right now, it doesn't look like their campaign is ever actually getting finished sadly. Posts tagged oc: aratris of thunder peaks
Leoryn Reysharrana (obligatory bard playthrough???) they/she, high elf lore college bard, chaotic good, romancing Astarion Posts tagged oc: Leoryn Reysharrana
Galatea (My newest oc, a Durge that I would love to flesh out more) she/her, Asmodeus tiefling bladesinger wizard, neutral evil with a shift to chaotic good over time, romance tbd. Posts tagged oc: galatea
Then a couple of other characters who I created, but never really fleshed out:
Talaak (My one and only Dark Urge who is not fleshed out very much oops)- she/her, silver dragonborn storm sorcerer, neutral evil romancing Minthara
Roszira- she/her, a strongheart halfling who I lovingly refer to as the "world's worst Tav". She's multiclassed in everything. Yes, everything. Needless to say, she's incredibly indecisive. I made her to do one of the Steam achievements (multiclass into all classes without using withers) and I know there are a million easier ways to do it, but this has just become my fuck around and get achievements playthrough. Chaotic good. Romancing Shadowheart.
Update: I got so many achievements with Roszira's save file, and after hers, I only had two left, one of which was completing honor mode. Thank you for your service, Roszira. Sorry I turned you into a squid.
Thank you @riddlerosehearts for the tag! Gently tagging @enemiesabound, @litsenn, and @spillingteanotpermitted if you're interested.
Whatâs an idea, dynamic, or trope in your current work that feels naughty or self-indulgent? (Spicy answers 100% encouraged.)
Honestly? No spicy answer here. I just like putting my OCs through the wringer. It's cathartic.
Also any amount of found family/characters building close relationships after being alone so long always feels a little self-indulgent.
As for the actual smut I write, I don't think there's anything that's not on some level self-indulgent, considering I so rarely share anything. If it's not something I find hot, I at least find it interesting from a character/story standpoint.
Is your OC a virgin, blushing maiden, or sexual fiend? or aro/ace? or something in between?
"Sexual fiend" seems a little bit much, but to put it bluntly, he fucks. A lot. He's a very stressed guy with a high libido and finds that it's one of the best ways to blow off steam without hurting anyone or bothering anyone with his problems.
As far as calculations go, he has been on the surface for roughly 20 years, and was recovering from severe injuries for a bit, then had a couple of more long-term, monogamous relationships up to about year 2 (iirc it may have been a little more and I don't feel like checking, so let's stick with 20 for the sake of calculations). Let's give a conservative estimate and say he slept with 2 new people a month for 20 years. That's already 480 different people, not counting repeat encounters. He also had several different partners back in Menzoberranzan aside from his mistresses, and basically slept around the barracks a good bit while he was a soldier.
And yet, he does tend to put on a very straight-laced front when he's got shit to do. He has a lot of people fooled.
Whatâs your OCâs âI shouldnât be turned on by thisâ trigger?
Certain types of physical pain. There's a reason he's kind of hung out around Loviatans more that he probably should, considering their gods are enemies. He also tends to get a bit worked up after battles, which he finds embarassing, but luckily Gale shares the sentiment.
Whatâs your OCâs hard NO?
He's got a few, but unfortunately if they're done to him, he will just shut down and not talk about it instead of telling someone to not do it. His hard no's are mainly verbal degradation (ie being called a slut, useless, etc), ANYTHING involving daddy kink, and body modification of any sort. Those all kind of dredge up his past in a way he's triggered by. He also pretty much refuses to top with a brand new partner and will almost never allow a new partner to perform oral on him.
What is the most debauched VP/Art you have ever created?
Haven't really made any art. Honestly I struggle with posing and facial expressions enough.
My VP isn't great either. I don't have any photos of any couples that I like enough to share but I was maybe going to try my hand with some new poses soon. In the meantime though, have a couple of solo pinups/tasteful nudes of Iz. It's all I've got ;-;
What is the wildest NSFW smut you have ever thought up? Did you write it?
Well⊠I mean. Who hasn't thought about their drow oc getting it on with a drider? Except I don't know that's something I'd be comfortable writing. Monsterfucking is all good and fun, but I think it's probably too far for me to write about Iz in such a situation, considering his arachnophobia and trauma surrounding Lolth. I can't think of any situation in which he would willingly fuck a drider.
And then I've also done some research on drugs in the Forgotten Realms
From the FR Wiki entry on vornduir:
The primary effect of vornduir was a lack of physiological response to the effects of cold, even in extreme cases. Many users felt warm, content, and alert, even in near-freezing rain or snow. While they wouldn't go into shock or suffer lower internal body temperature, it was still possible for them to outright freeze solid in extreme cold.
Some of the side-effects caused were:
No effect whatsoever,
Mild itching and rashes, and
Pain and pleasure stimuli being reversed for an hour (a cut gave pleasure where a tender caress brought agony).
ALL I'm saying is that the pain-pleasure swap would be something he would seek out. And maybe, just maybe he would let someone hurt him pretty badly to chase that high. He's got a very "don't worry, I can heal myself" attitude that has scared more than a few people off, I'm sure.
Do you have any crazy projects for the future?
Not really. I'm already really shy about sharing my writing in general, and sharing smut is even more intimidating. I would be THRILLED if I could even work up the courage to post some tame shieldweave smut.
I would, however, maybe like to work on some vp. I downloaded a couple of nsfw pose packs that are compatible with bt2/bt4, including poses that have the bt4 character bottoming. We'll see if I actually post anything, but I was at least going to play dolls for a bit.
Thank you @riddlerosehearts for tagging me for this! I'd love to possibly drop another romance chart or two (at least for Aesir, bc they're interesting and very opposite to Iz in terms of love/sex/romance), but my drawing tablet, which was making things a lot easier has maybe shit itself ;-; No pressure tags for @spillingteanotpermitted, @enemiesabound, and of course leaving an open tag as well.
Explanations below the cut:
The preferences listed are more for a long-term romantic partner over, say, a fwb. God knows he loves having short flings with people who are bad for him
Challenge rating: I'd say Izzrhys is easy to bed, hard to form a real relationship with. He can be a good friend and good in bed, but he's not ideal as a lover. As mentioned in red flags, he is absolutely garbage at setting boundaries, doesn't like the fact that he has emotional needs, and fears that while people can like him, and people can like having sex with him, that he is, at his core, unlovable. At the very least, he feels like he's loved conditionally and beloved for his usefulness. Then there's the matter of his one really good, long-term relationship before Gale, where he had something beautiful and LEFT IT because he thought that his partner would only get hurt. He's got a very bad habit of believing people are too good for him. I would also like to note that he is intense. Third date, and he's ready to move literal mountains for his partner, while they aren't even ready for him to meet their parents. It's a surprise he hasn't been married before tbh. Then there's the matter of The Trauma, which he doesn't talk about, even though there's a lot of stuff he could absolutely work through if he got it off his chest. It just makes him feel like a burden.
Green flags: He will do ANYTHING for someone he loves, and he's probably one of the least judgmental people out there.
Love language: Izzrhys is a very physically affectionate lover, and he's the type to want to do anything for his partner, whether that's small favors or helping with daunting tasks. It also makes him really happy when someone spends time with him by choice.
Iz has a preference for either sentimental or practical gifts. He loves anything handmade and will literally keep it forever, and practical items make him feel fully listened to. He also does enjoy flowers/other very small gifts that are romantic in nature. Anything too expensive makes him feel bad.
Izzrhys is down for almost whatever when it comes to dates, but I'd say he prefers a night in, or if they're going out, something very lowkey and low pressure like a picnic or stargazing. He's easy to please and just happy to be there.
He is dead center when it comes to polyamory. Izzrhys has had threesomes (and honestly more-somes) before, but when with a long-term partner, he doesn't have a strong preference either way and will do whatever they're comfortable with. Just with the caveat that if they're monogamous, they have to be pretty compatible/meet each other's needs well.
Izzrhys is a very kinky sub in most cases, but he tends to relax more in a long-term situation, and is more likely to experiment with different roles and is perfectly happy with more vanilla encounters (although he does like to be able to indulge more kinky preferences from time to time. Completely vanilla partner would be incompatible, as would a completely submissive one.)
The "ideal partner" list is for a more long-term relationship. Like I said, he loves having short flings with people who will hurt him. In a happy relationship, he's best off with someone who will balance him out. Playful, but not completely without a care. A little sassy to kind of ease up his own stiffness. More elegant than him (who else is going to pick out the decor and also look pretty for him?), but they don't need to be a whole entire noble- in fact, he'd prefer they weren't.
As for how well Gale fits? Fairly. Obviously the ambition slider is too low for Gale, but that's also not a trait Iz has strong opinions on (although the Crown of Karsus was a tad too far). I do also perceive Gale as very switchy instead of more dom, like Iz would generally prefer. However, once they're together for a while, they've tried a bit of everything. Even Iz domming on occasion. While he has his preferences, it's really a matter of trust to get him to leave that comfort zone. Also worth noting that Iz secretly loves having a jealous partner. It makes him feel desired like nothing else. I'm still kind of on the fence about Halsin propositioning him (I'm leaning towards yes, just because I love me some jealous Gale....)
Aura: Red. Passion, energy, and sexuality.
Song: Sirens by Pearl Jam. To very briefly summarize, it's about love and trying to hold onto it despite fear of what the future may bring and knowing that nothing lasts forever. I thought about his previous relationships- all the long-term ones have been with shorter-lived races. So yeah.
Flower: Purple hyacinth. I actually had a post about this during Tavtober, and it reads: "[Purple hyacinth] is associated with deep regret and sorrow, and also a desire for forgiveness/reconciliation. The mythology behind the Hyacinth flower is also about Apollo and a Spartan prince, Hyacinthus, who was the god's lover until he died tragically. It is said that Apollo created a hyacinth flower from his spilled blood. So queer love and Greek tragedy. Fitting for Iz, I think." I also toyed with picking red roses (same reason his aura is red, more or less), but I think the hyacinth is more interesting.
And here is that blank, for anyone interested in participating:
Thank you @riddlerosehearts @starlit-serpent @optimisticgrey for tagging me! I loved reading about your OCs đ€đ€
I did the chart for Act 1 Ellith, as if they were a companion and Tav wanted to woo them (Seriously, why would you do that?)
đA few notes about this below đ
Romantic identity: Ellith doesn't exactly behave the same way with their crush/SO - if they have romantic feelings for someone, that means they trust them, therefore they'll tend to be less dominant, and allow themself to be more impulsive and generous in this relationship. Likewise, El is generally very confident, but when it comes to love, they tend to lose their assurance precisely because they're not sure they were "made for love".
Besides, as a grey/demi-romantic individual, it takes an awful lot of time, trust, reassurance to get to their heart. That being said, you can quite easily get in their bed if that's what you're looking for.
They don't really care for dates and gifts, but if you offer them a dagger or severed limbs, they'll take is a token of understanding: You accept who they are, no matter how disturbing and cruel they can be. You also lowkey tell them that you can be a freak as well, and they would appreciate it. But winning their complete trust and help them opening up and accepting their own feelings will be a real challenge.
That said, if you manage to set their heart racing, they'll be yours in the most absolute ways: loyal, caring, devoted to your happiness and well-being, overprotective sometimes, on the verge of obsession and utter adoration, but just enough to not lose their own agency and independence on the way.
Honestly, the "ideal partner" chart was complicated for me to fill, because Ellith doesn't have an "ideal" - basically they never looked for love or for a partner, so they never even tried to imagine the kind of person they'd want to be with. So my answers rely more or less on Astarion's personality because he's the only standard that I have for that.
As for the songs, I chose one of those I always ultimately associates with Ellith's romantic feelings: Devoted to You by Spiritual Front
My blood wonât run, corpses donât bleed
But mine does, it bleeds for you
That's the helpless confession that
Love is not enough
We are the same endless desire, devotion like emptiness
Iâm so in love with you, desperately in love with you
Devoted to you as I
No pressure tags: @scoldingdarjeeling @wasteful-sam @missfortunetherogue @archduchessgortash @liubovricci @yennefer-of-vengerbergs @alliskit @spillingteanotpermitted @lilhumanoid @immren @carnivaley @unovafarm @theya-art @andromedaancunin @quinthebard @judasiskariot @cursed-nyxan @lucretiouswept @gortashsrighthand (I'm sorry if you friends already did it, please tag me so I can see it!)
(a mini-fic for day 1 of top gale week, pleasure dom/practiced tongue. ty to @topgaleweek for hosting this event and giving me the inspo to write a quick smutty snippet đ)
Summary: "Tell me when you're close," Gale said. "I'd rather hear it than guess."
Elenion knows how to make everything he does look and sound beautiful. Gale, unfortunately for him, is far more interested in what he sounds like when he stops trying.
Word Count: 673
Notes: Pairing is Gale and my male half-elf tav, Elenion. This is basically just porn with little to no plot. If explicit M/M smut is outside the comfort zone or interest of anyone on my fic taglist, feel free to skip this one. Check ao3 for the tags, but it's probably pretty obvious what's gonna happen hereâonly thing I'll add is that there's a bit of light bondage.
AO3 Link â If you read this and happen to enjoy it, I really appreciate getting kudos/comments over there!
(If anyone ever wants to be added to or removed from my fic taglist please just let me know!)
Elenion had always admired Gale's command of language.
Tonight, unfortunately, Gale seemed determined to prove his tongue was just as persuasive without words.
It started after the show at the Yawning Portal, when Elenion swept into the bedroom still wearing thigh-high boots, silver jewels at his throat, and a black silk stage outfit made of more suggestion than fabric.
"Well?" he murmured, brushing his fingers lightly along Galeâs jaw. "Did you enjoy the show?"
Galeâs gaze moved over him slowly.
"Sit down, dearest," he said softly. "You're done performing for the night."
A smirk tugged at Elenion's lips. "Is that a request or a command, babe?"
"A command," Gale said with a calm that made Elenionâs knees go weak.
He obeyed, and almost immediately, Gale began tying his wrists to the chair arms with soft ribbon.
"Tonight," Gale murmured, "you're going to let me have the part of you the audience didn't earn."
Elenion glanced down at the ribbons, then back at Gale. "Well, this is certainly one way to applaud."
Gale's mouth curved. "I thought you might appreciate a more intimate ovation."
Elenion opened his mouth. At that exact moment, Gale pressed a kiss to his thigh, just above the boot.
Whatever he was about to say vanished.
"Oh," he breathed.
Gale looked very pleased with himself.
"Tell me when you're close. I'd rather hear it than guess."
Elenion laughed, though it came out thinner than intended. "And if I donât?"
Gale's thumb traced the inside of his thigh, slow enough to make him shiver.
"If you don't," he said slowly, "or if you try to make yourself sound pretty for me⊠then Iâll stop until you remember I already want you."
Elenionâs breath caught.
"That hardly seems fair," he managed.
"No," Gale agreed, hands sliding to the fastening of his shorts. "It seems necessary."
He tugged the shorts down Elenion's thighs, leaving only the boots, the jewels, and the obscene vulnerability of being spread open in a chair while Gale knelt between his legs.
Elenion tried to smirk. "Enjoying the view?"
"Yes." Gale wrapped a hand around him, thumb brushing over the slick head of his cock. "But Iâm more interested in the sound."
Then he lowered his mouth.
Elenionâs head tipped back with a gasp.
Gale didn't give him time to make it elegant. He licked Elenionâs cock slowly, deliberately, as if he had all the time in the world to ruin him. When his tongue circled the head, Elenionâs hips jerked before he could stop them. Gale hummed, and the vibration made his wrists strain against the ribbons.
"Fuck, Gale," he said, his voice trembling.
Gale pulled back just enough to say, "That sounded very real."
Then his mouth was on him again, deeper this time, one hand holding Elenionâs hip firmly against the chair.
Elenion bit down on the next sound before it could escape him.
Gale stopped at once.
The loss was so sudden Elenion actually whimpered. He lifted his head, flushed and furious. "Gale."
Galeâs thumb stroked him once, maddeningly gentle. "No."
"I was justâŠ"
"You were making it pretty."
Heat rushed to Elenionâs face.
"Try again."
This time, when Gale took him back into his mouth, Elenion didn't try to stop the moan that broke out of him. It was rougher than he meant it to be, less polished, more desperate. Galeâs hand tightened on his shaking thigh, holding him still while his tongue took him apart with infuriatingly slow, practiced pressure.
"Gale," he gasped. "Iâm close."
Gale looked up, mouth still warm around him. The triumph in his eyes nearly finished Elenion on its own.
He drew back and murmured, "Good."
Then he took him deeper again, tongue dragging firmly along his cock.
Elenion came with a broken cry, hips jerking against Galeâs hold, every polished instinct falling apart at once.
For once, he had nothing clever to say.
Gale rose, untied the ribbons with careful fingers, and kissed each wrist.
This might get a bit boring since I am asexual and do not write NSFW stuff at all, the best I have to offer is double entendres, morning afters and suggestive pining, but I will do my best.
Gentlest of tags for @missfortunetherogue, @lottavilja, @luna-struck, @lilhumanoid and @et-augury.
1. Whatâs an idea, dynamic, or trope in your current work that feels naughty or self-indulgent? (Spicy answers 100% encouraged.)
Writing out a continuation of @lottavilja's setup for an ideal AU dream vision regarding our Tavs, specifically my boy Imrae going on a cute first date with Mas (Zhah if not cursed into a drider).
It might get suggestive, but not exactly spicy.
2. Is your oc a virgin, blushing maiden, or sexual fiend? or aro/ace? or something in between?
Imrae is demiromantic and a sex-positive asexual. He is a curious person and he does enjoy getting intimate now and then, but a partner with a high libido would overwhelm him with their needs.
He is uncertain if there is someone out there who is compatible with him sexually and in terms of personality.
At the time of the plot of BG3, he can count his sexual experiences of the past 80 years of freedom on one hand.
3. Whatâs your OCâs âI shouldnât be this turned on by thisâ trigger?
Imrae hates how much he likes words of affirmation, sweet pet names and praise. He has conditioned himself to not want and need it. Words are cheap. Deeds are what counts.
Another thing is being tied up and blindfolded. His freedom is his most treasured good, yet a trusted partner doing it to him is oddly pleasurable.
4. What is your OC's hard NO?
Degradation/punishment. To close to home.
Consensual non-consent. Imrae does understand the concept of roleplay and safe words, but he still could not go on if his partner asks or begs him to stop (or his partner doing that to him).
Oral sex. Imrae does not care for someone's groin in his face and vice-versa.
5. What is the most debauched VP/Art you have ever created?
Behold. A married couple in a river. The depth of my depravity. đ
6. What is the wildest NSFW smut you have ever thought up? Did you write it?
My brain is very cut-to-black, I'm afraid. It blanks when it gets to the spicy parts. I am the useless kind of asexual who does not write good smut. Sorry. đ€Ł
7. Do you have any crazy projects for the future?
I think my craziest idea was (and is, since I do try to motivate myself to keep writing it) to make The Barrister's Bargain (my Baldur's Gate meets Bridgerton entry) a story that while suggestive, depicts no actual spice or smut when that is exactly what people like about Bridgerton, that it is Jane Austen, but sexy.
Thanks for tagging me @riddlerosehearts. You made yours look so good.
I know some folks have already done this but also maybe didn't post it on Tumblr. Some no pressure tags. @susann-noir @beebookmagic @starlit-serpent @dykestelmane @dastabby @mystxmomo @ratchsellsfornax @sadpsionicist @cursed-nyxan @wasteful-sam @optimisticgrey @f-ernace @fastsquirrel977
and ofc an open tag! I really need to make one of those lists 'cause I always forget to tag people. So I'm just tagging a subset and hoping it gets around to the circle of mutuals.
Some brief comments on this, assuming I can remember my choices.
Challenge Rating: He falls in love rather easily actually. The problem is he has a rather confused vision of what that means exactly.
In Summary: He's upbeat, confident and playful, needs someone who is more or less the same and able keep up with his very active nature. Verbal and physical intimacy are equally very important to him as a way of expressing that, both giving and receiving.
Song: A Little Death - The Neighbourhood (youtube)
Flower: Larkspur - associations with it are levity, haughtiness, health and protection
fionn @springofstarlight sent me this romance chart they did for their OCs and i wanted to try it out, so i'm posting it here and turning it into a tag game!
template here, but it's from twitter and the OP doesn't include a transparent versionâso i'll put the transparent version fionn sent me under a cut.
no pressure tagging: @starlightweave @mogruith @elceewunjo @litsenn @heartcrystal2000 @dr4gonwriter @saylofwaterdeep @taras-toe-beans @missfortunetherogue @lilhumanoid @pavusprince @spillingteanotpermitted @fireflyeyes @selunitejeanne and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it! i really need to update/redo my taglist, so i seriously mean anyone.
Some notes on this:
I decided to do this as if Elenion were a romanceable companion, meaning their character development has not happened yet and they're a contradictory mess of a person. They're "difficult" because it's easy to sleep with them, easy enough to get them to like you, and much harder to make them understand that you genuinely love them and want to stay with them. So their "ideal partner" is the kind of person who would be most likely to get past their defenses and make them feel safe.
I'm pretty sure the love languages section is supposed to say "physical touch", not "visible" lol.
I don't love that the chart has "asexual vs deviant" and "vanilla vs kinky" on one side, but "vanilla vs deviant" on the other. That's confusing to me. I'm just assuming "asexual vs deviant" was meant as "not interested in sex vs sexually adventurous".
The "delusional vs rational" slider is also a bit confusing to me tbh, but he does delude himself into believing he doesn't want or need love while actually being a ridiculous hopeless romantic. So I think the placement I have is fine.
The song is Venus by Sleeping at Last! It's the main song I associate with him and Gale but if Elenion were a companion, it could fit any healthy/successful romance with him.
I am currently resisting the urge to explain my thoughts/reasoning for about half the other things on this chart LOL
Aaaand I'll shut up and just drop the transparent version now.
(a mini-fic for bg3 pride month day 19: "turquoise - magic & art")
again, this is very late... but it's the last of the 8 fics + matching VP i planned to post for the rainbow flag days, which means they're finally all done, yay!
it's 1k words and can be read below the cut. or on ao3 here if you'd like to leave a kudos or comment, which i always really appreciate! and as usual ty to @worfs-glorious-hair for hosting this event.
this one has a flashback scene, like "beneath the blue" didâonly, to act 2 of the game's story instead of act 1. so i originally wanted to do 2 VP shots but it wasn't working out, and to be completely honest my brain wasn't working well enough for it. so i just made one shot that kinda matches the vibe of the ending, haha.
tagging for my pride month stuff: @perpetualmaladaptivedaydream
(if anyone ever wants to be on or off that list, just let me know!)
Behind the old sailorâs lute, a miniature turquoise sea rolled beneath reflected stars.
It was beautiful. It was also wrong.
Elenion stood in what would soon become the Starlit Galleryâs music hall, watching the illusion Gale had woven through the display case. The rest of the Gallery was nearly ready for its preview gala, lit by enchanted lanterns and scattered with waiting relics.
Yet tonight, the sea refused to behave.
He played the opening chords again.
The little waves rose and fell with the music. They caught the starlight exactly as intended, shimmered exactly as planned, and somehow still felt nothing like the sea.
Gale frowned thoughtfully. "The spell is responding exactly as designed."
"I know."
"Then what is it doing incorrectly?"
Elenion looked at the waves for a moment. "Nothing I can explain."
Gale studied the illusion. "One more time, perhaps?"
"You say that as if I havenât played it six times already," Elenion said, huffing a quiet laugh.
"Seven may yet prove revelatory."
"It had better."
They tried again.
By the third attempt, Elenion had stopped listening for the sea entirely. His fingers wandered from the arrangement, finding quieter notes until the melody slipped into something older than the song he had chosen for the exhibit.
The little sea trembled.
One wave broke out of time with the others, rolling slowly across the surface.
Elenion went still.
The ripple widened, carrying starlight across the turquoise surface exactly as another impossible little sea had once done, in a land where no stars should have shone at all.
Back then, the darkness of the shadow curse pressed close around the camp.
Elenion had woken curled on their side beneath borrowed blankets, with Galeâs breathing soft and even at their back. For the past four nightsâever since Gale had walked in on one of Elenion's nightmaresâthey'd been sharing a tent with the careful politeness of two people pretending there was nothing dangerous about waking in each other's arms.
They slipped out carefully, not wanting to wake him. Nothing was wrong, exactly. No nightmare had dragged them awake. No phantom smoke clung to their throat. It was strangely, almost irritatingly easy to rest beside Gale.
Still, sleep wouldn't come back.
They had barely settled outside with their lute before footsteps rustled through the dead leaves behind them.
"Len?"
They looked over their shoulder.
Gale stood a few paces away, hair hopelessly tousled from sleep. His shoulders relaxed almost immediately when he saw them sitting quietly instead of doubled over from a nightmare.
"Sorry," Elenion said. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Gale smiled faintly as he came to sit beside them. "You didn't. I merely noticed your side of the bed had become... conspicuously unoccupied."
Elenion huffed a quiet laugh, brushing their fingers lightly over the lute strings. "You make it sound terribly scandalous."
âI was wondering where youâd gone,â Gale said, his voice softening.
He glanced at their lute. âCouldnât sleep?â
Elenion looked up at the sky he couldn't see. "Gods, I miss the stars."
The words slipped out before he could stop them. Ridiculousâof course Gale already knew that.
Gale followed his gaze. For a moment, he said nothing.
Elenion moved his fingers without thinking, letting a few soft notes drift into the silence.
"I miss Waterdeep," Gale said quietly. "The sea. The stars over the harbor."
He smiled just a little. "The way the moonlight catches on the water at night. You can see it perfectly from my tower when the sky is clear."
Elenion's fingers tightened on the strings. He could almost picture it: the harbor lit in silver, the sky reflected in the water. Gale standing on the balcony he'd told him about, watching like it truly meant something to him.
"Yeah," he said at last. "I miss it too."
He paused.
"The sea, I mean."
Galeâs gaze lingered briefly on Elenion's lute with its celestial markings, then lifted toward the darkness again.
"Well," he murmured, lifting one hand. "We can hardly allow that to stand unchallenged, can we?"
Suddenly, turquoise light spilled across the ground, pushing back the darkness.
The illusion deepened into water shimmering at their feet, thin as glass and bright as memory. Above it, a clear night sky opened in miniature, its stars twinkling softly across the surface below.
Elenion's throat tightened.
For a moment, the darkness fell away.
The air felt lighter above the fragile glow of water and stars, the silence no longer endless.
It wasn't really the sea, of course. But that didn't matter now.
His fingers brushed the strings, and a single note slipped into the air, quiet as a whisper.
The surface of the water stirred slightly, as though something beneath it had turned to listen.
He blinked.
He played again.
This time the stars broke apart, scattering across the surface before slowly gathering into patterns he hadn't meant to make.
He hadn't done that. Not alone, at least.
He looked at Gale, and saw his hand move to adjust the spellânot to correct it, but to follow. His fingers were steady and sure.
Elenion's breath caught.
It felt as if neither of them was controlling the spell. They were answering each other.
The light softened Gale's expression, turning the sharp focus in his eyes gentler.
"I don't believe," he said softly, "that it was meant to do that."
There was something like quiet fascination in his voice.
I need to remember this, Elenion thought.
Not just the illusion.
Gale, beside him, like this.
The memory faded away, leaving the music hall quiet around them.
Behind the glass, the sea moved as it had beforeâperfect, controlled, unchanging.
Wrong.
Elenion almost laughed as they lifted their hand to the strings.
"Gale."
"Yes, my love?"
"âŠDon't try to fix it this time."
There was a pause.
"Of course," Gale said, warm and certain.
Elenion exhaled slowly and played again. The melody slipped almost immediately, falling out of the careful shape they had been forcing it into.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then the illusion shifted. The stars broke apart, scattering unevenly across the surface.
Galeâs hand moved, adjusting the weave of the spellânot to correct it.
To follow.
So, this fic references an exhibit in Elenion's museum that's shown in chapter 5 of "Held in Orbit". And more importantly, the flashback references the events of "(to the moon) the stars pleaded: stay"âwhich is where Gale walks in on Len having a nightmare, offers to stay with him and sleep beside him for comfort, and then these two idiots just keep doing that while pretending it's completely platonic.
And in the present day, they're engaged but not yet married... which makes this the only one of my pride month fics where that's the case, lol. I originally wanted all the pride month fics to show a different piece of their married life, but for this one, I felt like I should set it a little earlier even if it messed with the timeline!
I hope it was enjoyable enough to read. I had fun with my pride month fics but am also glad to finally be done with them... halfway through July, whoops!
Here's my VP for day 19 of BG3 pride month! As usual, these were made to go with the fic I wrote for the prompt, but I wanted to have the VP in its own post as well, and I also wanted to add a closeup! Ty to @worfs-glorious-hair for hosting the event.
Might not seem obvious what this has to do with the theme, but hey, Gale is a wizard and Elenion is a bardâthey already are magic and art!
...Also, tbh, my brain is totally checked out on pride month stuff by now. I was already having trouble with my VP for the day 15 fic, and then for this one I originally wanted to do two photos because the fic takes place partly in the Shadow-Cursed Lands and partly in the present day, but I just... did not have the energy to do it. This shot doesn't even fully match what happens in the fic, but idk, I liked it enough to use it anyway.
The very pretty dividers in this post are by @uzmacchiato. And the pose is from this lovely pack by Maryposes that works with several different body type combos!
Ty to @mogruith @taras-toe-beans @heartcrystal2000 and @lilhumanoid for tagging me to do this, I loved all of yours!
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This has been going around for a bit and I'm not sure who's already done it, but I'll tag... @starlightweave @ignistigator @elceewunjo @selunitejeanne @missfortunetherogue @pavusprince and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it.
Some notes:
I considered doing this for Briala as well, but it already took me a bit to just do for Elenion because I am such a perfectionist đ So I only had the energy to do it for him right now.
He changes quite a lot over the course of BG3, so I decided to just do post-game Len for this (though I used his age at the start of the game)... which is why praise/fame/wealth/others' opinions under "priorities" aren't all cranked up to 5, haha. Believe it or not, confidence at 3.5 and anxiety at 4 are improvements from how he was before. Pre-BG3 Len also probably would've put "home" at 1, "soulmates" at 0 and "love" also very low because he's a liar, and happiness at like... 5 if he's lying to himself and 2.5 if he's being honest.
I considered putting "Elenion Silverdew-Dekarios" since that is his married name. Also, Karlach calls him "Sparkles" but she's the only person who's allowed to do that. Gale has about 900 sappy nicknames for him.
He's technically 5'9" but usually looks closer to 6 feet or more because he is always wearing heels.
He would not like that I half-filled in "cute". Unfortunately for him, he's very very cute. đ
The lute underneath his photo was designed and drawn by @ranger-jahen, who I'm also tagging to do this if you haven't!
