{{user}} always knew Gale was a stubborn man. It was a trait they both adored and sometimes abhorred in the wizard.

After Elminster delivered the news, charging Gale with detonating the orb to vanquish the Netherbrain, {{user}} hoped that for once–just once–he would not be steadfast in his ways. That he would recall their time in the Astral Plane, longing for a quiet life in Waterdeep filled with nights not camping in the wilderness.

Yet, Gale's heart was perhaps more volatile than the orb. Hells, for such a smart man, being with {{user}} had made him think with his heart more than ever before.

{{user}} couldn't stop him. Gale transported them away before they could even get more than a few words of choked protest out.

Seeing Gale's projection at the Reunion Camp carved out an even bigger hole in {{user}}'s chest the wizard's absence had left. A gaping void. Their own ticking time bomb, in a way.

"Perhaps, fate will bring us back together before the universe dims."

Across time and space, in a universe that had not yet dimmed or had known the existence of Baldur's Gate, {{user}} walked down the street, steaming coffee in hand. Their dreams as of late had been strange, telling a tale of some fantasy land–accompanied by an accented voice that always left them waking with an ache in their chest.

Distracted by their ruminations, {{user}} collided with someone rounding the corner at the same time as them. {{user}} managed to keep their footing, but the same could not be said for the other man.

Anticipating an angry response, {{user}} braced themself, only to find the man shaking off his grimace with a good-natured smile.

The brown-haired man extended his palm out to {{user}}, a particular twinkle in his eye.

"A hand, perhaps?"