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He's rather pleased with Gale's answer, if he ignores the wizard's tone. In spite of his feigned annoyance, Gale isn't particularly adept at masking the truth of his intrigue. Astarion knows he's seized his interest, coaxing him with the promise of anticipation, the possibility of discovery. The kind that, frankly, didn't involve near death experiences!

❝ Sure, if you consider outrunning or fighting the next danger we cross paths with fun, then we've had plenty of that going for us so far! Likely, there will be more to come. ❞ The excitement in his voice is quick to diminish; the smile he wears replaced with a grimace as his lips pull back just enough to bare his teeth. The constant perils were… tiresome. The very nature of their tadpoles ensured that time was already unfavourable to them; their chances of survival became slimmer each day that passed, and if the tadpole didn't kill them, something else surely could…

As he waits for Gale to collect himself, his eyes drop to the book Gale tables, taking note of the cover with a quirk of his brow. He assumes the role of leader, though, guiding them both into the thick tree line that borders their camp. ❝ I hope I'm right, too. If nothing else though, you have another book to add to your collection. ❞ Astarion replies at last, stealing a glance over his shoulder, ❝ What was it you were reading before, Gale? It must have been enticing for you to scoff at me so... ❞

IDLE DOES HE REMAIN, book still open in the palm of his hands whilst brown eyes gazed upon his companion. in truth, getting out of camp would do him some good— especially in ways of not having to fight their way through goblins & what have you. though to say he was skeptical of what astarion had planned for their 'outing' was quite the understatement .. still. it beat being left on the board as one for their merry band of misfits to drag out on another quest to god knows where as they make their way for baldur's gate. fine. what harm would it bring just to go along?

it's with an exasperated sigh that he brings book to a close, neatly setting it aside atop his current stack before attention comes to settle 'pon him once more. ❝   i think our days are filled with plenty of excitement as is already, but fine— let's go before anyone else has the idea to join us, and then we'll never get anywhere.   ❞ & though tone comes across as blatant irritation, he can't deny that he's at least a little curious as to what lies in those ruins they'd spotted; reluctant as he may be to let it show in this moment ( though it'd surely seep through the cracks once they found themselves alone, no doubt ).

grabbing twin daggers ( one could never be too careful ), it's with a polite hand that he gestures outwards towards astarion; a signal for him to lead, & he would surely follow. ❝   i hope you're right about there being something in there other than a bunch of dusty old books.   ❞

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MATTEO MARTARI IN MEDICI S02

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“You are insistent, are you not?” / @weavrot

Whom else was he to insist to? ...Admittedly, Wyll was a close second. Heavens forbid, though, if they ran into some poor soul needing help, everything else would become secondary. No, it had to be Gale; stalling any longer would surely cause him to perish!

❝ Come now, Gale. A little walk through the woods is all I'm asking. ❞ The line had been thrown, but now, there needed to be something to lure the wizard in… Something exciting. ❝ We've traveled the same supply route how many times this tenday alone? A detour through some greenery — perhaps to that little ruin we spied earlier — and we'll be right on our merry way to filling our packs once more. There needs to be some excitement to our daily monotony, wouldn't you agree? ❞

Astarion is hopeful of Gale's answer; a feelingless smile spreading as wide as he can manage across his lips. From the time they've spent in one another's company, Astarion has come to understand that Gale's fascinations go beyond mere curiosity. It was deeper than that; intrinsic, even. Speaking to that part of Gale, the part he couldn't resist, would surely tempt him to agree. ❝ There might be something of value in there, beyond the musty books we may find to add our pitiful camp library. ❞

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love that astarion, in his epilogue, changes his sublclass, reaches lvl18, and learns fun lil vampire powers 🥰

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DISHONORED 2 ➤ Empress Emily Kaldwin's Chambers

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𝐁𝐆𝟑 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

a selection of lines from the various companions' banter quotes (not cut scene dialogues!) from baldur's gate 3. these are generally spoiler free and non context specific so they can apply to different settings and dynamics! feel free to change names and the like to customize the prompts.

“Death can't have me. Not yet…”

“Calm yourself. There is plenty of me to go around.”

“Realmspace is vast. Countless worlds to be mapped, kingdoms to be conquered.”

“I have missed this. The adventure. The danger. The kicking of butts!

“Let me guess - you need something.”

“Such attention.. I never realised I was so popular.”

“Let's cook with fire, baby.”

“Do you intend to vocalise every thought?. Or just the most obvious ones?”

“Wherever we go, ye gods let there be something green.”

“Careful, or I will take your toy away from you.”

“Watch your elders and learn.”

“Perhaps try attacking the enemy?”

“So much we don't know, lingering in the furthest reaches of existence.”

“All the world's my stage and you're just a player in it.”

“The shadows are my friend.”

“Yes, yes, have your fun. It isn't you they're trying to kill.”

“Feet planted firmly on Faerûn, please.”

“Admirable stamina, yet terrible priorities.”

“Well you certainly have the 'omnipresent' part down, don't you?”

“I am ready, whatever may come.”

“My faith protects me.”

“Need a throat slitting?”

“Death greets us all - but not today.”

“You need my expertise?”

“Can you feel death's cold grip?”

“So many stars, so many mysteries yet to be discovered.”

“Death comes quietly.”

“And I thought we were going to be friends.”

“Locked tight, but there must be some way to open it.”

“No, you can't die. Get up, damn you!

“You had my attention, now you have my fury.”

“From silence to suffering.”

“So many worlds out there. You'd need a thousand lifetimes to see them all - more.”

“I hope this is important. For your sake.”

“Let them gaze deep into their own abyss, and wonder just what it is they are trying to achieve.”

“I ought to just burn this whole thing down.”

“We have slightly more pressing matters to attend to.”

“You have still have time to surrender.”

“Every kicked buttock, another step on the path.”

“Weave save me. I can't take much more…

“You are right to fear me.”

“Let me look around. Might be something that'll help me crack this thing.”

“Incredible, to think how many worlds exist beyond this tiny speck within a speck I call home.”

“I really wish I could cast a Hold spell on you.”

“I can fawn over my face later.”

“Ready for another round?”

“Keep your blade close.”

“I can't unlock it from here, but there must be a switch or a button somewhere…”

“No, that's not moving. There must be a way to open it somewhere.”

“Battle favours the fearless.”

“Sleep with one eye open, evil. Maybe both.”

“Gotta be something around here to unlock this thing.”

“Why do beautiful people taste better?. It hardly seems fair on the ugly - they have such wonderful personalities.”

“Oh, calm down. I'm happy to see you too.”

“Just go for the Magic Missile and fire away. Never fails.”

“Still standing, no matter what you heard.”

“Enough waiting. I crave blood.”

“Hang on - I won't allow this. You aren't dead, go it?”

“GODS, it's HOT in here!”

“No rest for the wicked, I see.”

“Better to hide than fight, sometimes.”

“Would that I could hide from you, too.”

“Are you feeling lonely, perhaps?”

“There is no right or wrong, only truth.”

“Battle is afoot - you can poke me once we are safe.”

“What good all this ethereal eladrin blood if I can still get pimples?”

“I should've been a drow. They have such stylish armour.”

“I am armed! Armoured! And entirely sick of your foolishness.”

“Let's have some fun.”

“War is an old woman's game.”

“No rest, be you wicked or wise.”

“I'm getting too old for this nonsense.”

“I would poke you back, but I fear that's what you want.”

“You have my attention - now do something with it.”

“You are insistent, are you not?”

“Do what must be done.”

“Your suffering will be spectacular.”

“Lest I sit down for a rest and not rise again.”

“Better to look evil in the eye. Even if it be very small.”

“I'm not built to crouch.”

“I think I could go another round.”

“Always the same old song.”

“Is perfection too much to ask?”

“Eyes on victory, tummy on dinner.”

“So many places to be.. and I chose Baldur's Gate.”

“I'm not opening that. Not from here, at any rate.”

“What is the point, if not victory?”

“Won't last much longer like this.”

“Let's hope the locals are friendly.”

“Let us show them how it's done.”

“Weapons high. Standards higher.”

“Must everyone be so exhausting?”

“What I would not give for a chunk of fresh honeycomb…”

“Which way to the nearest library?”

“Now this is my happy place.”

“Who shall I silence?”

“Stop, or die.”

“Wear your scars proudly.”

[alcriti]

IT IS DECIDED.

astarion is from berdusk <3

also just being called berduskan is heinous and i love it

i really enjoy developing astarion's backstory to fit my needs and frankly, i am obsessed with the fact he was a lawyer, and then a magistrate.

he's wealthy; he's influential; he's charismatic; he's driven... how can this dude not go to a prestigious university? toiling with the idea also that astarion and his family are elturgardian. (bc i've never cared for the idea he was born/raised in the gate), BUT ANYWAYS...

elturgard, as a whole, stands by the principles and virtues of torm, who is also one of the three deities of the triad.... basically, i'm trying to say there would be institutions of law dedicated to these principles bc as a theocracy, serving your fellow man in the name of torm sounds like a just calling?? it's a theocracy, but it's is also very classist; paladins and judges are venerated and hold a level of influence most occupations do not.

astarion, at least back then, had no desire to fight, wear armour, trudge around outside... the bench was much more suitable to his tastes and having the power to change the peoples' lives, for better or worse, tickled his ego

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VAMPIRE VIDYA GAME.

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Fyodor Dostoevsky, from "The Karamazov Brothers," originally publ. in November 1880

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𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑛 ; giving his two gold pieces 🙄

[alcriti]

i really enjoy developing astarion's backstory to fit my needs and frankly, i am obsessed with the fact he was a lawyer, and then a magistrate.

he's wealthy; he's influential; he's charismatic; he's driven... how can this dude not go to a prestigious university? toiling with the idea also that astarion and his family are elturgardian. (bc i've never cared for the idea he was born/raised in the gate), BUT ANYWAYS...

elturgard, as a whole, stands by the principles and virtues of torm, who is also one of the three deities of the triad.... basically, i'm trying to say there would be institutions of law dedicated to these principles bc as a theocracy, serving your fellow man in the name of torm sounds like a just calling?? it's a theocracy, but it's is also very classist; paladins and judges are venerated and hold a level of influence most occupations do not.

astarion, at least back then, had no desire to fight, wear armour, trudge around outside... the bench was much more suitable to his tastes and having the power to change the peoples' lives, for better or worse, tickled his ego

[alcriti]

unsurprising to no one, astarion and laera do stay together and make the decision to leave baldur's gate a few days after the final battle. lae'zel ( @chmarva ) also accompanies them!

anyways, it's an adjustment for all of them. laera is essentially forced to be nocturnal for astarion's sake, and while they do take up a fair bit of 'swords-and-daggers-for-hire', it's inconsistent. they struggle for a bit until they hit their stride, and an added necessity in all of this is seeing that astarion feeds.

preference is still given towards humanoids, with animals being an absolute last resort, but it gets tricky when they stay in cities without a job to keep them there, and when astarion begins to feel unsated is when the real difficulties start. but! he always tries to avoid getting to that point bc being found out as a vampire in any town is a safety risk for them both!

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♦ 𝐀𝐋𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈 — astarion in camp

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Anna de Noailles, translated by Norman R. Shapiro, from Poems; “Dazzled, Precise,”

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Baldur’s Gate 3:ActII (x)

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𝑙𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑛 —

"astarion, i can't do this by myself."

"say no more, sweetest. how can i help?"

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𝑙𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑛 —

"you'll be fine; i know you'll be."

"yes, but a send-off kiss from the hero's beloved wouldn't hurt, would it?"

"heh, you're impossible."