#Istg if that link doesn't work I'm gonna throw hands

[froggyinfear]

thank you to the lovely @jonathankentstuff for collabing with me :3

[aimoplaysbg3]

Got the Act 2 Astarionmance scene...and it was perfect.

ISTG if Neil Newbon doesn't get all the awards for his Astarion performance, imma gonna have to throw hands. And all the chocolates and flowers for Stephen Rooney for writing Neil this fantastic sequence of cinematic feels.

The way Astarion's performative mask slips even as he tried to bring it up again at 1:11...and giving up altogether when he realizes he can't keep up the act anymore because he fell in love for real...auuughhhh ;w;

I mean, compare it with the scene I got earlier in Act 1 during the Tiefling party (Link to Youtube vid). It was a little unnerving for me to watch, if I'm honest, because even without the full context I could feel from his expressions and enunciation that he was saying all those sweet nothings through gritted teeth.

So when he finally comes clean on his own terms? The calm resignation and hopeful surprise in his voice?

*screams into the night sky*

I also love how the animators gave Dagmar very clear expressions/body language in response to his words, from bracing in anticipation at 1:08 to hurt at 1:25 to the surprise at 1:35 when he pretty much admitted his affection for her.

As for the hug scene itself, Larian are champions for making it work with shortstack races with adjusted camera angles and wider shots; I delight at the fact that we get to see his face while he was unsure of how to respond back. It feels like the scene was not a consolation prize for not playing a regular height humanoid, but one that was crafted with care for the player's experience.

Also, dorf hands are so big! The better to cuddle this little meow meow with, I say :)