Chapter Text
Gale stares at the wooden door, its tiny window panes plastered with various pride flags, including some even he doesn’t recognise. This is a safe space, he reads, before he repeats it in his head, taking a big breath and opening the door.
The café is warm inside and his glasses steam up immediately. He quickly folds them and tucks them into the neck of his woollen jumper, running his other hand through his hair in what he’s convinced himself is not a nervous habit, thank you very much. He’s fine. This is all fine.
“A new face,” a deep voice says as he enters. Gale looks up from the worn floorboards to a large, broad elf smiling at him from behind the counter. A t-shirt with the words GRIN AND BEAR IT is stretched across his chest. Gale forcibly moves his eyes back up to his face. “Newcomers are always welcome here at The Bear’s Den.”
Someone scoffs nearby, hidden by shelves stuffed with board games. “I wanted to call it Big Dice Energy,” a high, whining voice says from that same direction. “On account of Halsin’s big–”
“Don’t mind Astarion,” Halsin laughs. It’s such a warm sound that Gale relaxes infinitesimally. “Though I am indeed Halsin. Can I get you a drink? Some tea, perhaps? I have many blends available.”
“Oh, actually, I–” Gale stumbles over his words before he clears his throat. He’s seen exceptionally handsome men before, damn it, he can retain his composure in front of this one too. He speaks the line he’s been rehearsing to himself on the walk over from his new flat. “I’m new to Baldur’s Gate, and saw on the Baldurdash socials page that you run Papers and Paychecks here?”
There’s an unseen exasperated sigh from who Gale supposes must be Astarion - another customer perhaps? Or some kind of games café critic? - before Halsin’s grin grows even larger. Gale didn't realise that was possible; it lights up his whole face. “We do! Though we’ve not been hosting them too recently. Wyll, our resident Office Manager, has just had another baby, so we’re running a waitlist for now until–”
“I’m an Office Manager!” Gale says, his own face splitting into a grin of its own accord. He’s so warm under this sunbeam of Halsin’s undivided attention, but he keeps rambling on anyway. “Quite frankly, I was prepared to even play an intern just to join a group, but I do prefer running the game compared to being one of the workers,” he laughs. He’s relaxing, as he always does when he talks about his special interest, and the smile stays on his face. “I’d be delighted to start a new career if you’ve got some other workers ready to go?”
Halsin grabs a notepad next to the till and begins scribbling. Gale takes a second to look up - he’d barely even glanced away from Halsin while they’d been talking. The café is all on one floor and filled with sunlight from large windows along the front wall, soaking into the wooden tables and chairs, the shabby-chic sofas and coffee tables. There are plants on every possible surface, and though it’s quiet on a Monday lunchtime, the smell of good coffee is thick in the air. Gale’s stomach rumbles as his eyes dart across the fridge full of homemade sandwiches and cakes.
“Perfect,” Halsin says, and Gale fights a blush. “And your name was…”
“Oh! I’m so sorry. Where are my manners?” Gale hitches his satchel higher on one shoulder and thrusts a hand out towards Halsin. When Halsin takes it, his hand is enveloped, and the blush he was fighting loses its battle. “I’m Gale. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure’s all mine,” Halsin smirks, holding his hand for a second too long. He writes Gale’s name in a looping script on his pad before putting his pen down. “We’ve kept the Friday evening slot open for Papers and Paychecks, if that works for you? If you’ve got other plans, it’s not a problem, I can see if Rolan and Minthara can switch to another night, but we can start this week if you’re ready.”
“Fridays are perfect for me.” Gale does not need to explain to this kind man, who is ultimately still a (kind and very attractive) stranger, that Mystra took everything in the divorce and that his new flat contains himself, Tara, and what remains of his precious library. “This week is good, too. I can run a session zero, have everyone roll up their workers? I’d suggest starting with the Festive Office Party one-off just to get back into the swing of things, if they haven’t played that before?”
“We haven’t, no,” Halsin says, his smile slipping into a smirk. “Of course, if you’re running our sessions, you’ll get free drinks on the night, and if you stick with us for a few months you might even convince my husband to join, too.”
“Husband?” Gale parrots. His brain is doing mental gymnastics, running analysis at record speed but turning out the dumbest of results. Halsin’s not straight, just like Gale, good, excellent, but he’s also taken.
What did Gale expect? To walk into a random café and find the love of his life?
Gale puts on his glasses again to pull out his phone, distracting his stupid brain. “Can we exchange numbers?” He pauses. “For organising the sessions, I mean.”
As Gale writes down Halsin’s number, he swears he can hear laughter from behind the shelves.