He's So Fkn Smart - Tumblr Posts

One of my favourite Gale moments so far is a tiny one. It's when he helps Mol win the lanceboard game against Raphael. Partly, it's the delivery - that fond and conspiratorial tone, the feel of 'adult getting on the kid's level and on their side' that's in his voice- but it's also exactly how he does it.

Gale is clearly capable of seeing how to win in a glance - even if you fail the check to work out a strategy, you can still help Mol win just by having Gale in the party. But for all Gale makes self-deprecating comments about how he flaunts his own knowledge and shows off... he doesn't do that. He doesn't announce the winning strategy or tell Mol what to do. He points out which piece is vulnerable, but leaves the moves up to her.

And for Mol, specifically, that's exactly the right approach, because she is so fiercely self-reliant, so prickly about accepting help. Gale helps her in a way that won't make her feel patronised, that still makes her feel in control and smart and capable, makes her feel like the person she presents herself to be. It's so sensitive to this specific kid's feelings! It's so gentle and respectful and so totally confident in Mol's own intelligence!

I sometimes need to remind myself that yes, obviously the charming nerd has Arcana and Persuasion proficiency, but he's also proficient in Insight. He's good at reading people! He's attentive! He's thoughtful and he pays attention! Now if only he could turn that same understanding of people's needs on himself sometimes...