#adoptive Dadstarion

[pursuitseternal]

“Take My Milk for Gall:” an upcoming WIP from PursuitsEternal 🔥 UA Astarion x Fem!OC

UA Spawn Astarion x Delilah | Explicit | TBD

Summary: “I’ve taken a turn as a hero and adventurer” Astarion may not have found the slavers he’s contracted to hunt this time, but he has found one fiercely determined and mysterious female. Her tenacity is only outmatched by her secrets. But she might be just what he needs, for this quest and for more reasons than that alone.

CW: Tired, jaded hero Spawn, no Tav assumed, fem!OC is new mother, stretch marks, blood, and breast milk included, tragic past hopeful future, found family, future adoptive Dadstarion…

Tease below the cut…

Against her obviously better judgment, she tried to strike up a conversation a few times, but a terse response and a glare was enough to quiet her meager attempts. Perhaps it was the reflection of his own past, his own scars and abuse and self-loathing that made him avoid looking at her much. It wasn’t until he could hear actual tears in her voice that he stopped to listen to her pleas.

“I hear water ahead, a river. Once it’s dawn, could we stop please, I need to bathe and rest…” She looked exhausted, tired, and now pathetic.

But it did pique his conscience enough to reply. “We do need to make camp before sunrise, same as our quarry, and I do think we’ve gained on them.” He nodded to an outcrop of rocks in the hills, “I’ll make camp in this cover. Head east. The river isn’t far.” He could almost feel her relief in her bones as he directed her to find the rest she had been whining for.

Decades of repetition, some with companions, some all alone, his body made camp without a single thought about it: fire made, bedroll laid out, weapons cleaned and sharpened, tent pitched in the darkest parts of the rocky crag to keep the sun off his flesh. Supper would be dry fare for her, just some things he had scrounged from the village stores that weren’t tainted with soot. As for him, he sniffed the air looking for something warm and soon-to-be-prey, when another scent caught his nose.

Fresh blood. Female blood. The kind that came monthly, the kind he hadn’t been so exposed to since his days on the road to fight the Absolute. Yet, there was something off. “Delilah?” he called, heading towards the riverbank. He pushed through massive ferns, that scent growing stronger, now edged with something sweeter, something he had never scented before. Hurrying, his arms brushed back the thick leaves, calling her name one more time.

Her body stood in the waters, the tops of her thighs still above the surface. Dark brown and red stains covered the insides of her legs, a sight he knew. Old blood and fresh dripped down. The curves of her hips, the crest of her belly was covered in stretch lines, her skin slightly loose but no less supple. Voluptuous even. Slowly she rounded to face him, her figure in the moonlight bright against the rippling water. Her breasts, two full mounds glistening with droplets of water, achingly full, nipples hard and ripened pink. It made his mouth water against his better judgment. Her hands worked at her breast, and there was that other sweeter, strange scent.

A cup in one fist, thick streams of milk spurted into it. His eyes went wide, the shock of seeing something foreign, intimate, and… confusing. Her dark eyes sparked, almost like two nebulous voids as she locked into his gaze, but even that mysterious darkness couldn’t mask her determination.

It was a clear picture, a young mother, recent from labour and absent a babe. A long inhale is what he took as he drew towards the river’s edge. “Where’s your child?” he asked, bile and gall rising in his throat to think of the possibilities.

“She’s safe with a friend, another whore who got too ripe for business,” came the casual reply, her hand tossed the full cup of milk into the water around her naked body. Then her hands began to work the other breast. The sound of expressing milk rang against the side of the little metal cup. “I know my lass is fed and safe, but little good it does me on the road. Gotta keep myself relieved or I fear I’ll burst,” she smiled, but grin and laugh both rippled with the dark reality of their circumstances.

Astarion turned his back, apologizing. “I’m sorry… I…”

“Well, now, my hero knows why I am so desperate for my brother, and why I despair so at my… misfortune. I was to bring my babe once I had settled a bit with my brother. But with Cainan enslaved, I have no one. I have nothing.” She tossed the cup of milk into the running water again. “I don’t even have a babe to give this milk to feed,” she couldn’t hide the sigh in her throat. “What a waste.”

That tone, that despite and spite… It was too familiar, too haunting. “We won’t let it be a waste. We won’t let those slavers win,” his voice growled, an edge of ice that hadn’t lined it since Cazador’s death by his hand. “You’ll get your freedom for you and your child,” he added. And whether or not he meant it to be a vow, something settled with determination in his heart.

[indimiart]

Once Yenna grew up and moved out they thought about adopting and then,,, well.

dadstarion has me in a chokehold, here’s a doodle dump

[papastarion]

I’m very brave because not only do I support Dadstarion, I’m also a Boy Dad Astarion Truther.

[cinnamontails-ff]

"Like Two Dragons in the Rain" for Apprecimaytion

I have several people in my corner who have really kept me going this year. And while their support of my writing and me as a person has been invaluable, what has probably impacted me the most is that two of my lovely readers have found the courage to try their hand at creative writing themselves. Like, for the first time.

The stories they have created are absolutely delightful, cute and original and completely different takes on the "Dadstarion, except he adopts a dragon" premise: "Fool's Copper" by @vyjuarts and "Small Crystal" by Xen.

Here's my take on their beautiful dragon ladies meeting for the first time, as part of the "Rain" prompt of the @bg3-apprecimaytion event: "Like Two Dragons in the Rain".

Teaser:

“What’s your name, little one?”

“Papa!”

Torimgetih frowned. “Your name is Papa?”

There was a moment in which the tiny dragon seemed to extricate itself from just a fraction of the overwhelming misery it was currently experiencing. It drew itself up a little bit, pushing out its chest and thrusting its tail into the air, taking up about as much space as a creature of this size could possibly manage.

“Crystal,” she declared, radiating pride at either the name or her ability to remember it.

Only, her voice was awfully underdeveloped, so it came out more like Cryphtal.

“Crystal,” Torimgetih said, just to make sure she’d gotten it right. “What a pretty name.”

The little one nodded enthusiastically. “Papa!” she said, looking almost happy for a few seconds before fresh tears welled up in her eyes. “Paaaaapaaaaa,” she repeated miserably.

Read on AO3

[pearlofthesirens]

Domestic Astarion headcanons???

brb I NEED TO WRITE SOME DOMESTIC STARI HEADCANONS:

loves to lie on Tav's chest just so he can receive head scratches, genuinely whines if they stops

will royally fuck up whatever he was doing if Tav gives him a back hug with neck kisses

if Tav has a tail or horns, will pull onto them simply out of fun and then give Tav a mischievous smirk when they glare at him

will not indulge in cooking since he only needs to feed on Tav's blood, but does not pass by without giving any advice on how to elevate the flavors

sews Tav's clothes before they can even mention that it's torn, that's kind of his love language

let's Tav lay on him with his chest to their back as he's leaning against the armrest of the couch while reading a book, occasionally pecks the top of their head

cannot contain himself and smiles pretty hard when he finds Tav asleep in his arms, it almost causes his undead heart to beat

loves to nuzzle his face in Tav's neck if he's the little spoon, their warmth always feels toasty on his cold skin

will take some time out of his day to remind Tav how much he loves them, even if it means kissing them till both of their lips and red and swollen

takes pride in his skills while pampering Tav with lots of oils, perfumes and soaps

loves compliments which aren't only about his looks, appreciates occasional gifts

thinking about his new life at his lovely home with his love always makes him tear up a little, how far he had come from being a slave to a terrible master to having the life he didn't think he deserved. Tav always reminds him that he held on long enough to free himself from the miserable life he led.

if him and Tav ever decide to have/adopt children, he would do his best job in being a father even though he didn't think he would ever be one

dadstarion headcanons coming soon?

[myheartismadeofstars]

Dadstarion fic where Astarion adopts a dhampir baby that he found abandoned after she was believed stillborn.

He impulse rescues her and brings her back to camp hoping one of the others would help with her.

He has no parental instincts. He can figure out that he needs to feed her blood from time to time, but he knows nothing else. Other party members need to be the one to teach him.

Also all the other party members also adopt her lol

Astarion learns to be a dad by watching the others bond with her.

Wyll hums and dances with her, Gale straps her to his back and reads to her and cooks with her, Halsin makes her toys she's too young for and sleeps with her on his chest. Pretty much everyone takes turns feeding her blood too (Astarion is baffled by the fact that Gale's blood doesn't make her sick)

Astarion has unique parental struggles as well, not just referring to his trauma and the issues that causes, but he tries to copy Halsin by letting her sleep on his chest...and she screams because he doesn't have a heartbeat and so she feels abandoned. He can't keep her warm the way everyone else can, either.

But just the same his heart melts when she smiles at him for the first time. He talks to her in Elvish and in Common and she mimics him as best she can, the first time she says an actual word he can't contain his joy and kisses her face.

I think the only one who has as hard a time adjusting to having a baby at camp is Lae'zel. The Githyanki don't really have families the way many other races do. And this is a tiny half vampire half elf baby who can't do anything and depends entirely on others. It's really not in her nature to care for a baby.

Also yes Astarion's little one is determined to be a half elf. Certain party members tease him about actually being her father (but it's not possible for Spawn to father dhampir, and even if it were, they have to be well fed and Astarion wasn't. Also what's the likelihood of Astarion sleeping with a human woman within the last year who escaped and got pregnant? Pretty freaking slim especially how rare dhampir are)

[meanbossart]

Hi, just a warning for the following unhinged question. (I'm getting baby rabies.) I love seeing Dadstarion and Famstarionnstuff all over tumblr- AND of course that lil thing you drew with Drow and Astarion and fucking little Bhaalings into his belly sparked the question-

DOES DROW WANT KIDS SOMEDAY? UNCONSCIOUSLY? SUBCONSCIOUSLY? Like with the whole Sarevok, epilogue reveal, is it spoilers to ask how your Drow would deal with the new sudden urge to procreate? (Sorry if this is actually a spoiler for ANE future chapters) BUT If so, how does it manifest? Does he start nesting? Hoarding even more shiny crap and dirty rags than usual? Does he start adopting every mangy orphaned cub they come across? Does his dirty talk in bed just get progressively more and more disturbing and natally oriented that even he starts thinking "wtf" post encounter? Does he ever think about putting a round bundle under his shirt and pretending it's his and Astarions dhamphir love-child?

Also IF yes to any of the above, What would Astarion's reaction be?

TYVM

Unhinged fan of yours

First of all I love unhinged questions. Those are my favorite questions. This is an unhinged couple and It's what they deserve, so thank you for this LOL

This topic, at least in this context, never comes up in ANE so I think i can answer it without anything being considered a spoiler.

"Currently" I definitely don't think either of them consider the idea of children in the slightest, while both probably get on with kids relatively well, in their own weird ways (kids love weird people) they're strongly in the "don't want kids and never will" frame of mind despite any joking and uh thematic dirty talking.

THAT BEING SAID, they are both bound to exist for a long time. Depending on how things turn out for him, Astarion's lifespan is either a good 700 years or a big Ol Forever. Drows also live for up to seven centuries and I don't even know whether or not DU Drow's particular kind of Bhaalspawn-ness doesn't affect that, as you could argue he's some type of demigod. The idea that they may change their mind at some point is not out of the question.

In regards to DU drow getting a baby fever in the future, I do think it will be something they have to deal with. Obviously, him and Astarion can't procreate as they are, and even if magical options exist DU drow is still aware that it would be a bad idea to follow through with it. I have honestly no clue how a desire like that would externalize, but - and I hate to be a downer but I assume you want my sincere answer here - based on Sarevok's letter I don't actually think it would be as fun as the bedroom talk or the cracks he makes - it sounds like it would be a spiraling depression and state of unfulfillment that they would simply have to learn to cope with if he is to remain childless, peppered with a profound yearning for a More he can't quite pin down. Luckily I think Astarion's character has demonstrated time and time again that he has the ability to be extremely sensible towards that type of thing, and he would be pretty much the ideal partner in those circumstances (especially if we're talking an older, more mature Astarion). An adoptive child could sate that, or it could not, I have no idea, but I don't think he would ever just say "yeah fuck it lets have/get a kid" in response to it.

Either way, as I mentioned above I believe it's not out of the question (if not inevitable?) that they could come to become someone's guardians someday regardless, especially if they ever become more firmly settled in life and the people they are. I doubt it's something they will ever actively seek out (I don't really see them ever completely retiring from a dangerous lifestyle of their own will) but maybe they stumble upon an orphan or, more likely, kill some kid's actual parents and out of guilt keep it for long enough to develop a bond. Lets say this happens out on the road - maybe they want to at least drop it off at a city somewhere where the thing would have a better chance, but ultimately decide against it for whatever reason... Yeah I could see something like that happening lol It's a cute thought, and funny enough I don't think they would make the Worst parents, assuming their character developments continues in a generally positive direction.

[astarionconsort]

A!Astarion as a dad? Ascendant Dadstarion?

I think both spawn and ascendant Astarion are not dad material, Astarion is a man who is not equipped to be a parent and has far too many issues to begin with. So it has to be his consort who wanted/demanded that they should have children, and not random people that Astarion will turn to be his minions but real children that they'll raise together

Well I suppose his children will be vampire as well, either they were turned into spawns from early age, or they were his biological child, or maybe he has both adopted and biological children

My general thought about A!Astarion as a father (because this is ascended focused blog)

Astarion will be the type of a busy dad who placate his children with toys and money. He's too busy plotting and expanding his influence in Faerun to be an attentive father, so he'll spoil his children as a compensation. He will be confused when his children are upset because their father doesn't give them enough attention, because he did give them everything a child could ever asked, right? They should be happy!

Nope, he's not going to deal with the matter of changing diapers and his children will have an army of vampire spawns nannies to tend to their needs. Although he's struggling with being a father, he won't trust outsiders that he cannot control to be near his kids. Too much risk

He would be more than happy to teach his children about vampirism and how to fight. Astarion would drilled the rule of vampire hierarchy and the importance of power into their heads. Insisting that power and loyalty to the family are the only thing that matters

Although he's a parent who encouraged ambition and he will be proud of his children achievements, they must remember that father will always be the stronger vampire and they shouldn't ever dreamed of overthrowing him

His children won't suffer from hunger and none of them shall ever know the taste of animal blood. ESPECIALLY NOT RAT. Rat is banned in the Ancunin household. Only premium quality blood for little Ancunins, and he doesn't care if his children murdered fiends or innocent people. After all a lion doesn't concern themselves with the opinions of the sheep

Tav/durge must be the attentive parent here because Astarion has 0 idea wtf he's doing

He's the cool dad who enabled the kids' impulses so long it won't ruin his plan

He'll throw the best birthday parties for his kids! A grand masquerade, fancy garden soirees, renting the circus for the whole day, you name it. Anything to make the kids happy and to show off the Ancunin family's wealth

Astarion is not an ideal father and he has difficulty forming genuine emotional bond. But he's trying. Taking them to an awkward 'fishing with dad' (it can be any activity, it doesn't have to be fishing) where he'll try to relate with his offspring (insert how do you do fellow kids moment) but he's trying guys... He's trying

[vyjuarts]

"Sharing is caring"

- says Crystal, while eating the biggest piece of a whole cheese roll

As a belated Apprecimaytion entry for @bg3-apprecimaytion's amazing event, I would like to bring you the sweet little dragon ladies having a snack for prompt 31: cheese, with a guest star, the squirrel plushie!

(All related fics are linked below 💙)

Adorable little white-blue glistening girl, Crystal is from "Small Crystal" by Gothic_Bloodstain and the bigger faded copper-red lady, Torimgetih is from my fic "Fool's Copper". This is a bit after their canon stories, thus Tori and little Crystal('s horns) are bigger now. Both fics are different takes on "what if Astarion adopts a tiny dragon?" idea we had on our discord server.

I always have an immensly huge sweet spot for Crystal's story, which is the wholesomest dadstarion take, but with a twist of it not being a child, but a tiny dragon. She is adorable, little baby of a dragon with an appetite of an ancient dragon, and I love her for it! Astarion does take good care of her. 💙 You can definitely say she is spoiled rotten with her sweet play room, full of toys and food, that needs restrictions due to her weight consideration.

Torimgetih is my (usually) sophisticated young, teenager aged dragon lady with some issues. But in case of her as well, her version of Astarion will need to slowly warm up to the mute, strangely small dragon.

Since @cinnamontails-ff 's "Like Two Dragons in The Rain" fic for Apprecimaytion event, they live rent free in my mind! Tori would be the protective big sister of her tiny protectee and her squirrel plushie. As Cin's fic predicts, they would get together from time to time, having their Astarions cause havoc in the city while they are having flight and Draconic speech training. 💙

I would like to show my appreciation for Xen's wholesome fic and Cin's Apprecimaytion of said fic with this tiny drawing. 💙 Thank you for your amazing writes!

[savs-sims98]

Tav & Dadstarion

Ok, so in my playthrough Yenna got kidnapped. My Tav is a redhead with heterochromia and Yenna has this as well. I felt like my Tav would want to adopt her. Astarion is her lover and I just have this vision of them adopting her and caring for her. Someday she even calls him dad :')

[fangswbenefits]

im doing an astarion romance run in my and my friends multiplayer campaign and i got to a part in act 2 where you meet arabella from act 1 and he goes “you’re our little idol thief from the grove!” and “i guess our little idol stealer has had another stroke of bad luck…” and for some reason all i can think of is he and my tiefling tav adopting arabella because my tiefling tav lost her parents young too 🥺😭

- lavendergarnet (using my ficblr url on anon cuz it wont let me switch from my main for some reason)

Yes! I CAN SEE THIS HAPPENING 🫂��� Astarion being reluctant about it at first, but then growing fonder and super protective of her! YES! Dadstarion 🗣

[justporo]

I have multiple Astarion hot takes but I will mention two here.

I don't think he wants child because he is not a responsible person. I think either him and Tav/Durge will worry the risk of giving birth or not good in take care of child. However, adopting child is sweet to them.

The other is about few people prefer Astarion in mlm relationship than hetero relationship. I don't see the actual post but I heard they dislike hetero relationship fanart with Astarion. Most of the fans are cool but it is too unhinged to me especially Neil explicitly mentioned he is pansexual. Both relationships are good for me but fans insult the other for preferred sexuality is so baffling to me.

Hey Anon! Thanks for dropping in!

I'll say this upfront: both of these aren't even hot takes to me personally! (I know others would disagree vwbjnboew)

I've said that before: I also - personally - don't vibe too much with Astarion being a dad. Not that I'm saying that I can't see it at all and also: people hating on others who like to headcanon Dadstarion should respectfully shut their godsdamned piehole. I, personally, agree that Astarion would probably want to just live life to the fullest without the responsibility of a child - I'm not at all saying that you can't enjoy life when you have a kid but it is definitely different and raising children is a commitment. And I don't see Astarion making this type of commitment. Personally, I'd like him to just vibe, explore who he is and what he wants, indulge himself. And please also: this man needs to do some healing first in any case, imho.

Yea, I've also seen this fly around quite a lot and I have repeatedly posted about the fact that Astarion is pan. I will die on this fucking hill. (Might be because this character also helped me come to terms with my own pansexuality) Yes, in game we hear him talk a lot more about relationships with men, but he is - and might I repeat CANONICALLY - pansexual. Maybe he does have an inclination towards one side but that doesn't erase the fact. It's sad and potentially hurtful to see people willingly erase this fact because identities like e.g. pan/bi/ace are already having a hard time to justify themselves existing sometimes. You don't need to make it harder, hm 'kay?

So about all that once more: Think before you post?! This character is fictional but the people you hate on are real and so is the potential impact of hate or insults.

Personally, I see it like this: writers, artists, probably every fan has their own version of Astarion in their mind - that's fine and also cool to explore. Creatively building on a character or story essentially means you take it and make a bit of your own, right? That's legit and cool, but it is not the only version, others have different ones that are legitimate too, just as your own. You don't need to like another one's version, ideas or headcanons - but you should respect it!

That being said there are things imho, like in this case Astarion's sexual identity, that should not be glossed over or changed because it might be problematically impact stuff beyond the fictional realm.

Basically: live and let live. But keep in mind behind characters and blogs are real people.

Alright, this was a bit of a ramble - sowwy!

[cinnamontails-ff]

When people ask me what's my greatest accomplishment in life, I'm going to say it's the fact that I (& the wonderful people on my server) have inspired a fellow reader who's never done any creative writing in English whatsoever to write the cutest little "Astarion adopts a dragon and turns into the Rosa from Brooklyn 99 meme" fic.

Seriously, this alone is worth all the hours I've sunk into my fics this past year. Everyone read it, it's adorable.

Read "Small Crystal" by "Gothic_Bloodstain" on AO3

[eff-plays]

SO i'm not actually a dadstarion truther (i am however an uncle astarion truther. i think he'd teach wyll's daughter how to pick locks (and wyll would act like he's mad but would secretly be impressed by it (sorry i'm always on my dad!wyll shit))) but i could see it in like, a significant amount of time post canon after he's had like several more character arcs to be slightly less of a shitty person + if some of the other companions had children. either as "i want to bring something good into this world too to counteract all the bad" or "my kid would be better than yours"

I'm also an Uncle Astarion truther. Or like an unaware stepdad Astarion truther. Hira's 100% adopting any orphan, esp orphan tieflings, in an unofficial capacity (providing Mol a safe place to run her crime empire, sending Arabella to school etc etc) and I think he'd be down to care about those kids even if he doesn't care for them, in a semi-parental way, as long as you don't point out to him that he's almost the dad that stepped up. Because then he'll get the ick and stop doing whatever he's doing.

I actually imagine Wyll and Phoebus either adopting or getting a surrogate, and it's a Cool Well-Adjusted Tiefling Son they have. And him and Critter go on monster-hunting adventures. And kiss each other on the mouth.

[dhampling]

Can I still be into Dadstarion if I want him and my current Durge to adopt all of their kids to avoid a potential dhampir, bhaalspawn crisis?

i will allow you as an honorary dadstarion fan. this once.

(OF COURSE YOU CAN!!! now i’m thinking about him adopting and how it’s genuinely such a labour of love to do so!!! love this!)

[andauril]

this. so much this. I never wanted to have children or marry, that's sth I've known about myself from a VERY early age. It's so NICE to see the romance arc end with neither of these.

Like, I don't have anything personally against dadstarion headcanons, some of that shit is so comedic gold, please continue vibing, and don't let me spoil it for you ...

But it's so important to have it represented that you can be happy without marriage and children, that you can have a serious and fulfilling relationship with someone that doesn't involve either.

And like prev, as a durgestarion shipper, children are just not something I see anywhere in my durgestarion couple's future. They both need the space to just ... figure out who they are and what they want now and in the meantime they are making new experiences as they travel all over Faerûn. Like eventually they might settle down? But likely not forever.

And like, you have already companions where marriage/parenthood is a part of their romance ending or at least can be. Gale proposes to you. Wyll proposes to you. If Wyll becomes a duke, you adopt a kid together. Lae'zel and Tav can potentially raise a gith kid together if Lae'zel kept the egg and doesn't head off to fight Vlaakith. And that's great. But it's so nice to also have romances that don't end like that.

Thinking thoughts. In a lot of popular books, usually YA, I’ve noticed that when the mc (usually a girl) goes through Some Shit, at the end of the series or whatever to show healing and growth, the authors often have her married off and possibly with a kid. The ~normal ideal~ and all.

But for me, that don’t resonate. I appreciate to hell that Animorphs author K. A. Applegate said, “Sometimes the wounds left really fuck you up” and, like, spoilers for a 30 year old book series:Jake’s life collapses, Rachel fucking DIES, Tobias fucks off from society completely, Marco is sitting pretty on fame and fortune but that boy had a 50/50 chance of completely cracking and collapsing his own life, and Ax went back to his militaristic, authoritarian by the sound of it war-mongering society of holier-than-thou xenophobes. Cassie is the ONLY one who got out and stayed out, and she had major issues about the whole thing from the start.

I’m so glad that was one of my formative media obsessions. I didn’t really grow up with, in my very personal opinion, was this idea of “A bad thing happened but you just need to get married and have a baby or two and all better!”

And expanding on this (insert Tom Cardy as JRR Tolkien ripping off his sweater), “I’m not even HALFWAY started!”

Astarion. Some of y’all really love papastarion and you go, Glenn Coco. I ain’t trying to shame you or say you’re doing it wrong. Y’all seem really happy and that’s genuinely awesome. I love some of y’all’s work myself.

But for me, I LOVE the idea that, even romanced, Astarion doesn’t “settle down” in the aforementioned traditional context. That man has been through A Lot, and after the events of the game, so has his LI. I am feral over the idea that he alone, or with LI if he has one, just fuck off. Never married. No kids. Just spending decades and decades figuring out who he even is and what he wants to do with that. That’s comforting in the extreme, to me. You don’t have to be married and with kids to be happy and fulfilled, and I just really appreciate that.

(For those of you creating absolute gremlin children of his, I do salute you, that shit is amazing and hysterical).