New dad Astarion who is about to see his newborn child for the first time.
Of course, he expects his child to be the personification of serene beauty and divine grace. Them to have their father’s silken silvern locks, his immaculately chiselled features—the artwork perfected by Tav’s wonderful watercolour eyes…
And then he actually sees the child and—well—everybody assures him that, yes, Astarion, all babies look like that barely a half hour after birth…
He kind of has to take that at face value because he hasn’t seen an awful lot of newborns in his lifetime.
But it would’ve been nice if someone had told him that newborns happen to look like shrivelled potatoes, because he’s really, really trying to not let his bewilderment show.
Astarion swallows.
Tav’s beautiful eyes are watching him, waiting for a reaction—an enthusiastic one, no less.
Maybe Tav will believe that he’s overcome with emotions at seeing his firstborn child?
“Oh my, darling, I’m…speechless,” is all he can choke out, though, being rather proud that it’s at least not a lie.
To his luck, Tav only nods dreamily, her full attention back on the odd little bundle in her arms.
“Isn’t she perfect?”
Yes, perfectly hideous.
Astarion only hums in a way of reply.
That—his daughter, he supposes—is with no doubt one of the ugliest things he’s ever seen, but he has a feeling that his honesty wouldn’t be appreciated after Tav laboured for hours to give birth to this…potato-baby.
“Come, hold her, Astarion,” Tav says, then, bidding him to sit next to her on the bed.
The mattress shifts under Astarion’s weight and he obediently holds his arms out so that Tav can gently place the sleeping child against his chest.
Now that Astarion can take a better look, he can confirm that his daughter’s hair is of an indefinable colour and that her features are neither his nor Tav’s, plain as can be. Surely it won’t stay like that?
He and Tav are so ridiculously beautiful, their child can only be drop-dead gorgeous, right?
Astarion’s stomach drops indeed when, suddenly, something occurs to him.
Oh dear, what if it’s his fault? He has no recollection of his family whatsoever; it’s very much possible that he and his immaculate looks are the exception in his lineage, and that he’s passed on only those mysterious less-than-perfect genes…Tav, as per usual, can’t be the issue!
Astarion is still catastrophizing when the bundle in his arms begins to stir.
All of a sudden, gold-speckled pale green eyes are looking up at him as if to ask what the fuck this weirdo’s problem might be.
“Oh,” the weirdo in question exclaims at once. “Darling, look, she has your eyes!”
Tav, hugging him from behind, rests her chin on his shoulder, so she can watch as Astarion’s finger tenderly strokes their baby’s chubby cheek.
Their daughter also has, as it turns out, ten fingers and toes, a cute little nose and a hungry mouth—everything that’s supposed to be there is there, and it seems to be working fine, too—which is a huge relief.
And aren’t those the tiniest pointy ears Astarion has ever seen? Let alone the unexpectedly strong fingers grasping at his!
Astarion, worries forgotten in a heartbeat, can’t help but smile at the baby in his arms.
She is perfect, after all.
Tav, face hidden in the crook of his neck, begins to tremble against his back.
For a second, Astarion thinks she’s crying but then her laughter fills the chamber. It takes her a good moment to articulate whatever it is she finds so very funny.
“She'll grow out of it, you know?” Tav giggles in between her fits of laughter.
Astarion stiffens. “Of what?”
“The turnip look. That’s what you’ve been worrying about the whole time, haven't you?”
“I was leaning more towards potatoes—but yes, I might’ve been a little worried about that,” Astarion admits sheepishly, although a grin is already tugging at his lips.
Regaining her composure, Tav reaches over Astarion’s shoulder, her hand joining his as they get to know their child.
“Give it a couple of days and she will look like your proper little elf—beautiful just like her father.”
A content sigh leaves Astarion’s lips, right before he presses them against Tav’s temple.
“That’s the second best news I’ve heard today, my heart, truly.”
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Hosea and Arthur's relationship is very dear to me. So so so father son coded. They are literally father and son. A funny, theatrical and charismatic father and his grumpy strong and equally theatrical son. I'm sure Hosea deserves a lot of the credit for how Arthur turned out in the end. They're alike. Like damn, they are so much alike. Not in looks, but they don't have to be. Because you don't have to be bound by blood to see the world the same way.
It will always warm my heart that Arthur himself admits that he always liked Hosea much more. When I first found out about it, I had no thoughts other than, yeah, it just feels right. It's the way it should be. It couldn't be otherwise. He was Hosea's son from the start and he continued to be Hosea's son until the very end.
Dutch van der Linde you don't belong here.
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The first few weeks Din had the little green womp rat on his ship, the little bugger kept waking him up in the middle of the night
Din was a bounty hunter, a Mandalorian, he was no stranger to his ship being raided or having to be a light sleeper in anticipation of sneak attacks during the night.
In was in their blood.
What he wasn't prepared for was the little green monster the size of a porg to be body slamming him in the middle of the night.
Din slept with his blaster, there could've been serious casualties.
After the ninth time his sleep had been disturbed, Din grabbed the creature. "What? Why do you keep doing this, you little womp rat?"
It's ears lowered to the sides of his head, making a keening sound unlike a young foundling in need of attention.
Din observed him quietly, setting him down on his lap. "Don't tell me you're scared of sleeping up there?" he glanced at the overhanging cot, confused.
It was made of durable leather and skins, it had enough space for the little green monster, so why was it so scared?
The green porg whimpered again and his small hands wrapped around Din's shirt, trembling slightly.
He didn't understand its language, but Din did understand its intentions.
It was scared.
With a heavy defeated sigh, Din fell back on his bed, if one could call the slab of collapsible ship wall covered by a blanket a bed, and closed his eyes.
He felt tiny hands grab at him and push a little body upward, until the creature nestled itself into the crook of his arm and chest.
With a gesture Din convinced himself was either instinctual or accidental, his free hand rested protectively over the boy, feeling its body relax under his weight.
Din settled back into a light sleep, mildly aware of the tiny face nuzzling deeper into his chest.
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