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downdownbytheriver · 6 days ago

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It had been another day of travelling and fighting. All in the process of trying to rid ourselves of the tadpoles and discovering more about this Absolute figure. It was becoming far more complex than anticipated, and with each thing we learned, ten more questions seemed to arise in my mind. And with each passing day, I learn more about my companions. Each of us seems to have our own goings on, and I wonder if they'll interfere or somehow tie into the great task that lay before us. Shadowheart and her strange contraption. Lae'zel and her creche. Astarion's past with Cazador Szarr. Gale and his...weird eating habit. There are others of course, and they are equally as intriguing.

Astarion. Oh, that vampire spawn. That...charming, mysterious, delicious, vampire.

I would be lying if I said that I didn't like his feeding on me. It's just a heady, hedonistic experience. I was woozy the first time he did it, but I have grown accustomed to it and our relationship seems to be growing. I mean...after the party at our camp last week, he bid me to slip away with him.

I confess...I didn't know if it was because he genuinely liked me, or because he wanted something, but my guard had been lowered enough to just go along with it.

As I lay on my bedroll, my mind was far too alert to settle. My eyes darted over to my companions, all of whom were sleeping peacefully. I envied them that. Sitting up quietly, I stretched and moved toward my tent. Taking up some fresh clothes and a fur to dry myself with, I moved toward the lake nearby quietly as possible. Everyone else had bathed earlier, but it had been my turn to make supper, so I hadn't had the opportunity. But with the moon at its fullest, I decided to go now. The light from above bathed everything in an ethereal beauty and I couldn't help but feel some peace from it.

Stripping off my clothes, I folded them neatly and set them on the log near the shore. Drawing my hair down, I took a moment to just stand beneath the moon, bathing in its light. I'd always felt like my energy and spirit were renewed when I took a moment to appreciate it. When I'd said such in front of Shadowheart, she'd looked at me in disgust and accused me of being a follower of Selune, her Lady Shar's sister and mortal enemy. I don't really follow any of the gods, nor do I have any intention of doing so. I've tried and found most are deaf when you call for them in times of need.

Moving toward the water, I shivered as I stepped in, but despite the slight chill, I pushed ahead until I was submerged. I used my bar of soap, washing myself thoroughly, taking the time to enjoy myself. I laughed quietly as I could feel small fish darting around my ankles and nibbling at my toes as if they were bait. I missed hot baths, but this wasn't entirely bad. I made a promise to myself that if we came upon an inn, I'd use my little bit of gold to get a bath. I hummed to myself, grousing when the tadpole twitched behind my eye. Sometimes it was easy to forget it was there. Others, not so much. For now, I opted to ignore it as I continued to clean. No one was around, it was just shifting, I supposed. Stretching out, I sighed contented. It was amazing how much better one felt after removing days' worth of grime from their frame.

As I began to exit the lake, I was startled by a voice. "Hello, darling." "Hells! Astarion!" I gasped, looking up at him, covering myself by draping my arm across my breasts, and my free hand covering my mound. As if he hadn't seen it all before. "No need to cover up on my behalf," he replied casually, his crimson eyes drinking me in. "I enjoyed the view the first time. Do feel free to move your hands so I can enjoy a second." I felt a flush fill me from my head to my toes and I bit on my lip. I appreciated the compliment, but I hadn't been looking for company. Or was I? I wasn't turning it down now. I also silently praised him for his unending smoothness. The way he could deliver a line was an art. I lowered my hands slowly and he smirked. "Good girl." "I aim to please," I laughed awkwardly, a poor attempt to hold back the moan I wanted to expel at his words, which damn near sounded like a purr. "You ought to tell someone when you're going to slip away from camp, my darling. It's worrisome to wake and not see you at your bedroll." I raised a brow. Worrisome? He was worried about me? I wondered if he was worried about me or was more concerned that his free meal was gone. I wanted to believe the former. "You were all asleep, I figured my taking a bath wouldn't be noticed," I replied, blushing further when he moved to the pile of my clothes and lifted the fur, draping it around my shoulders. Our fingers brushed when I raised my hands to close it in the front. If he felt some way about it, it didn't show on his face. He was a master of masking his emotions, to be sure. Astarion also seemed unbothered by the chill in the air. Were vampires unaffected by the weather, I wondered. I had so many questions, but at the same time, I didn't want to be a nuisance.

"Sit with me a bit?" I asked, taking my brush from my small pile. Astarion considered it for a moment before nodding. "Here." He extended his hand, motioning for my brush. I arched a brow but then considered it. This man spent the better part of an hour brushing his hair a day. If he wanted to play with mine, I wasn't going to deny him. I handed it to him before settling down on the log, letting him work my brush through my long hair. His strokes were gentle and he worked through whatever tangles he came across as gently as possible. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation. No one had brushed my hair like this since my mother when I was a child. "May I ask you something, my dear?" Astarion's voice broke the silence and I nodded. "Of course." "Saphielle?" "Oh, you're not going to let that go, are you?" "I'm just curious why you don't use that. Tav is so...bland," he replied with his usual flair, and I couldn't help the laugh that fell from my lips.

"I was born in a tavern's taproom. My father jokingly called me 'Tav', and it's been what people have called me for most of my life. I'm so used to it that I, occasionally, have forgotten my actual name. So hearing you say it, after the tadpole revealed it, it's a bit strange." "I...think it's nice," Astarion spoke, his voice soft. "I'll call you that, when we're alone, of course." Once again, my cheeks flushed but as he was still working through my hair, he couldn't see it. The way he spoke my name sounded like what his caresses felt like. I took immense pleasure in it and so, I didn't object. I rather looked forward to hearing him utter it. I smiled as I felt him plaiting my hair. This was something else my mother had done for me in my youth. It was strange how Astarion could bring me back to my happiest, most innocent moments....but also bring me to the heights of pleasure and have me squirming in pleasure beneath him.

"Did you have sisters? You're quite good at this." "I...." Astarion's voice trailed off for a moment, a rare moment of awkwardness. I stayed quiet, not presuming anything, nor asking anything further. "I don't remember, to be quite honest."

There was no 'darling' or any other term of endearment added, which led me to believe that he was being genuine in this moment. My heart ached for him. Had he been tortured enough that he had holes in his memory now? Or had he just simply forgotten? I didn't venture to ask or press him further. Moments like this with Astarion were rare, where he allowed his guard down at all.

"There you go, darling. You're the prettiest little half-elf in all of camp." "I think Shadowheart might have something to say about that," I countered, turning to look at him as he handed me my brush back. Setting it down with my things, I watched as Astarion sat beside me on the log. I liked it when he was close to me. My eyes focused on his lips for a moment. His mouth had a tendency to always be sensual, no matter his mood. I turned away quickly before he noticed, but I was certainly recalling the way he kissed me that night. Goosepimples formed as I recalled how his mouth had me writhing as he'd moved along my body, kissing, biting, tasting. Predator and prey, master and submissive, lovers...our roles had switched continuously until we'd lain exhausted and sated...and I wanted more. Gods, did I want more. My breath caught in my throat as I recalled him pushing apart my thighs and sinking his fangs into the tender flesh. I'd arched my back and moaned loudly enough that I feared people in the camp would hear me. Those crimson eyes had met mine and he'd watched my reactions as he drank of me. And then he'd...

"Oh!" I was surprised as he brought his arm around me, tugging me closer, but I didn't object. Especially since it brought me out of my present line of thinking.

"I don't really give a damn," he murmured, pressing a chaste kiss to my temple before turning his attention out toward the horizon. My gaze followed his and I leaned my head on his shoulder.

There was magic in the air that night, but not something like The Weave. Just the type of magic that happens when you realise you have feelings for someone and that maybe, just maybe, they have them for you too. The sort when everything feels right and like everything else doesn't matter for a short time. With all the chaos surrounding us, I was immensely glad I'd decided to take that bath.

#{ tavstarion }#{ tav x astarion }#{ baldur's gate }#astarion #fanfic #fan fiction #bg3

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downdownbytheriver · 28 days ago

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It's peaceful at night for the most part.

The only sounds I can hear are the crickets, the occasional rustle of leaves, and the fire crackling. Oh, and Gale murmuring about magic in his sleep. Wyll snores, which amuses me. Astarion wandered off into the woods, his finger raised to his lips. I'm the only one who knows his secret thus far. Perhaps tomorrow I'll offer him my neck because I see what he means. The first time after he fed on me, he was alert. Sharp. There was an edge to him that was lacking after he fed on a boar, for example. I never thought that I'd be comfortable with a vampire, but maybe it's because it's Astarion. There's something deeply intriguing about him. He deflects if you want to learn more about him, but I'm slowly chipping the ice around his heart away.

Godsdamnit, I sound like I'm falling in love with him. I'm certainly not.

Above, the stars twinkle like diamonds on a sheet of velvet. It seems so odd that the world should be so peaceful when we have these tadpoles in our heads. Ghaik, as Lae'zel calls them.

My folks don't know about this and I hope to never have to tell them. I hope when we get to the Githyanki Creche, they can remove them and we can carry on. It's funny. I never thought twice about travelling alone previously. Now, I'm surrounded by these vastly different individuals and though it's only been a short while, I can't imagine travelling alone ever again. The company is nice. Except for the moments where Shadowheart and Lae'zel want to murder one another. Then...not so much.

But to their credit, they've worked it out mostly. I don't want to pick sides and I try not to, but I feel at some point, if their tempers rise again, I'll have to. Gods above, let it never come to that.

---

Where was I?

Astarion just returned and is keeping watch now. I'm in my tent for the moment. It's nice to have someone take care of me. Of us. I would have sat up all night keeping guard. But he came back, silent as a mouse and sat beside me. I think he scared ten years off of my life span. (I am certain the bastard enjoyed that.)

I presently don't have ten years. I don't even know if I've a tenday left in me as me. I could become a mindflayer at anytime. A prospect that brings me no joy. I don't know what God or why fate saw fit to deign me 'worthy' of this. This isn't something I'd wish on anyone.

The only advantage is that I have this ragtag group of peculiarities to share it with.

I should sleep. But we'll be patrolling the woods for goblins and trying to find their camp, so we can clear it out of them and their leadership. Perhaps we'll learn more of this 'Absolute' they prattle on about. I should sleep. But nerves and adrenaline... they're always there. What if things go wrong? I have questions that require answers and I feel that every answer, there will be ten more questions and paths to take.

You see why sleep eludes me? But I must try. My weapons are ready, I am ready. I am an adventurer. I will get through this and with me, I will ensure my companions do too.

By the grace of whatever God's and by my own will. We will endure.

#tav bg3 #tav oc #bg3 fanfiction #bg3 fic #baldur's gate rp #baldur's gate roleplay

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