#astarion will cover the 30%

[nylilcosmos]

♱ 4. Bat Wings ♱ #vamptober

[jacqcrisis]

I really like when interesting narrative things happen in fights due to various game mechanics. Examples:

- against the Masks in Auntie Ethel's lair, Roman went down to death saves for the first time. Gale was the closest and got him back up. Ronan never even needs healing so I like to imagine there had to have been a moment of anxiety within the party over that along with the strengthening of comraderie between Gale and their cleric as he hands Ronan a few healing potions.

- along the monastary traul, there is a fight with some death shepherds. In that fight, Gale actually dies for a moment, down to death saves before a ghoul finishes him. Ronan has to use revivify for the first time before the rest of the party take out the last remaining undead. After, I like the idea of Ronan fretting, uncharacteristically shaken as he heals up the chunk missing out of Gale's neck.

- the party has a habit of singling out someone in a room and taking out that one person with no one else being the wiser. So I just really like the image of Ronan walking into a room silently, letting everyone in, and closing the door as he nods to Karlach and Astarion to take care of the very confused person watching all this happen.

- this happened in the prison under moonrise towers to the warden, along with the party just hanging out behind Gale in the warden's office as he had thunder wave prepared and aimed at the door to take out the scrying eyes that came through. This took several minutes so I imagine it the party is genuinely just chilling and chatting as they wait. Ronan's standing resolute with his hand on his mace, watching Astarion drink off the dead Warden while he and Karlach, whose perched on the desk, discuss next steps. Extremely chill, bloody, and funny scene to me.

- while protecting the portal for Halsin, Ronan was put in front of said portal, cast spirit guardians, guardian of faith, had lathanders mace, and was genuinely just a beacon of light as he blinded nearby enemies and took out anything that got past Gale casting fireball or the other two picking off larger targets. In game, he's being a cleric making full use of the capabilities I tend to ignore for most fights. Narratively, since Ronan usually stays back and focuses more on keeping everyone alive and well while picking off smaller targets so everyone else can do the impressive damage, I like the idea that it was a stark reminder of what Ronan is capable of. Especially to certain vampires looking to murder their old master.

- Astarion gets down to death saves A LOT. Just all the goddamn time. Most of Ronan's healing is going to keeping him going since he's specced to be in the face of opponents, his armor sucks, and also I forgor all the time he has a fucking bow. Narratively, I like to think Astarion is doing it somewhat on purpose as it gets him physically touched in a way that is intimate, yet not expectant of anything more. Fucked up way to get intimacy for the guy with intimacy issues.

- adding onto that, the second time Ronan had to had to use Revivify was during the fight with the Apostle of Myrkul. Astarion went down to death saves, and before Ronan could get him back up, he was knocked off the platform and dead. Immediately revivify him and a healing word to keep him going. I like to think Ronan ordered him to stay out of range and swap to his bow, but Astarion ignored that, ran up, and got the last hit on the big skeleton and then was EXTREMELY smug about it later when Ronan had to patch him up. Again.

- last one: at the circus, I sent Ronan up at Dribble's request. Obviously, clown man turned out to be evil and combat starts. By game mechanics, Astarion is most likely to be first in initiative and he does just that here. I didn't see the other guys closer by, so we send the rogue to go stab a clown, at which point I notice there's like 2 other dudes in the lineup. So game wise, I make a mistake because Ronan is a tank who can 1v1 a clown for days, but narratively: I think it's a cute idea that Astarion sees the large dragon man he's in a relationship with (and who he needs to help kill Cazador) get threatened by a dog and a clown and just snaps into action before anyone else has a chance. That's adorable to me.

[yutaan]

❄️ Holiday sale! ❄️

Hey there, my lovelies! Once again, the end of the year is fast approaching, which means we’re all looking for gifts for our loved ones (or to keep for ourselves - after all, you lovelies all deserve gifts too)! And what’s a wonderful present for a fandom-savvy giftee? That’s right, it’s ART!

Everything in my INPRNT shop is 10% off for the entire month of December with the code "WH53WI"! And below, we have a wide array of beautiful papercraft originals AND other fabulous fare, all pre-made, packaged, and ready to be shipped to YOU! (Please note that due to tumblr’s image resizing, the artworks are not necessarily displayed at an accurate size in comparison to each other.)

Note: IF YOU ARE PURCHASING A PIECE WITH MULTIPLE VARIATIONS (i.e. one of the mini papercraft/Harrow/Gideon/Howl/Haku), and would prefer a specific one, you may indicate in your email which one you prefer (i.e. "I would like the top right WangXian mini set, please!"), and I will do my best to accommodate you! HOWEVER, I cannot guarantee that the specific piece indicated will be available. If your most preferred variation has already been claimed/purchased but another variation of that piece is still available, you will receive that second choice instead. I apologize for any inconvenience, lovelies!

~

BUSTS & WAIST-UPS (approx. 4-5″ tall)

Marcille (Dungeon Meshi) - $75 [SOLD]

Haruhi (Ouran High School Host Club) - $70 [SOLD]

Gideon, Harrowhark (The Locked Tomb) - $85 each [ALL SOLD]

Liu Qingge (SVSSS) - $75 [SOLD]

Jiang Cheng (MDZS/The Untamed) - $85 [SOLD]

Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End) - $70 [SOLD]

Ed (Fullmetal Alchemist) - $80 [SOLD]

Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries) - $80 [SOLD]

Toph (Avatar: The Last Airbender) - $80 [SOLD]

Oscar (The Rose of Versailles) - $70 [SOLD]

Cherry (Sk8 the Infinity) - $75 [SOLD]

Jasmine (Aladdin) - $45

Meg (Hercules) - $40

Tohru, Yuki, Kyo (Fruits Basket) - 6" tall - $160 [SOLD]

Yugi & Yami Yugi (Yugioh) - 8" wide - $210

~

FULLBODIES (approx. 6″ tall)

Aerith (FFVII) - $80 [SOLD]

Wirt - $100, Greg - $75 (Over the Garden Wall) [SOLD]

Reigen (Mob Psycho 100) - $95 [SOLD]

Kagome (Inuyasha) - $75 [SOLD]

Anthy (Revolutionary Girl Utena) - $100 [SOLD]

Princess Tutu (Princess Tutu) - $100 [SOLD]

Howl (Howl's Moving Castle) - $120 each [ALL SOLD]

Haku (Spirited Away) - $120 each [ALL SOLD]

~

MINIS (approx. 3-3.5″ tall) - $30 each, three for $80, five for $125

Lan Wangji, [ALL SOLD] Wei Wuxian, [ALL SOLD] Lan Xichen, Jiang Cheng [ALL SOLD], Jin Ling (MDZS/The Untamed) [SOLD]

Yor (Spy x Family), Nezuko (Demon Slayer)

Ciel, Sebastian (Black Butler) [SOLD]

Batman (DC), Elphaba (Wicked) [SOLD]

Chat Blanc (Miraculous Ladybug) [SOLD], Hunk (Voltron), Astarion (BG3) [SOLD]

Bakugo (BNHA), 2B (Nier: Automata)

MINI SETS (approx. 3-3.5" tall) - set of two for $60, set of three for $80, set of four for $105

HuaLian, FengQing (TGCF)

BingQiu [ALL SOLD], QiJiu [SOLD], MoShang (SVSSS) [ALL SOLD]

WangXian [ALL SOLD], Twin Jades, Jin Ling + Jiujiu (MDZS/The Untamed) [CLAIMED]

Sebastian + Ciel (Black Butler)

WangXian + Sizhui (MDZS/The Untamed) [SOLD]

Yunmeng Siblings (MDZS/The Untamed) [SOLD]

Junior Quartet (MDZS/The Untamed) [SOLD]

~

SIMPLE PAPERCRAFT (approx. 5" tall) - $20 each

~

ZINES (5x7") - $15 each

Battle Damage - 28 pages, multiple artists, matte cover, rated T

Death & Decay - 28 pages, multiple artists, foil cover, rated T

~

KEYCHAINS

small size - 2" - $10 each, three for $25, five for $40

sparkle effect (JC) - 4" - $15 each [ALL SOLD]

sparkle effect (Usagi) - 2.5" - $13 each

large size/sparkle effect (Phos) - 2.5" - $8 each

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you are interested in purchasing any of these artworks, please email me at yutaanchan23@yahoo.com with the subject line “Holiday Sale.” In the body of the email, please include:

Which piece(s) you wish to purchase

Shipping address (please note that shipping outside the US may cost extra)

Preferred email address for Paypal invoice

If you have a tumblr username and would like to include it so I can recognize you, you can also do that! :D But it’s not a requirement.

~ 

Pieces are first-come, first-served, so please be quick! (Likewise, please note that I cannot reserve a piece for you indefinitely unless you are able to pay for it or place a down payment on it at the time you contact me. Thank you for your understanding!) This post will be updated throughout the month to show which pieces have been sold.

Happy gifting, lovelies! ❄️

[charmandabear]

Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy

Summary:

Just some nice little smut inspired by Noctis’ Rockstarion render as well as Purple Danger Noodle’s incredible art. (Seen above, and I have permission to post this!)

Pairing: Astarion/Halsin Rating: Explicit Word Count: 2k Tags/Warnings: modern au, rock band au, band manager halsin, rockstarion, anal fingering, hand job, anal sex, desk sex, soft daddy dom Halsin, brat Astarion, blood drinking

I’d been meaning to post this for a while, but I figured today is a good day because tonight I’ll be streaming my Astarion origin run, right in time for Halsin’s romance scene! Check me out on Twitch, I’ll be streaming at 7:30 Central time. Hope to see you there!

Read it on AO3

Astarion swaggers offstage, covered in sweat and glitter, endorphins running high. He bursts into Halsin’s office only to find his manager bent over some papers with a serious expression on his face. Well, this simply won’t do at all. He pops himself onto the corner of Halsin’s desk, leather pants squeaking as he crosses his legs. Halsin glances up at him over his glasses, unamused by the rock star’s antics.

“Astarion,” he says in a low voice, a warning. A cheeky grin slides onto Astarion’s face as he nudges Halsin’s thigh with the toe of his boot. Halsin sighs, takes off his glasses, and stands to tower over Astarion.

“Another charge from the hotel. What on God’s green earth possessed you to steal the hair dryer? Did you need to rip it out of the wall?” He folds his beefy arms and fixes Astarion with a reproachful stare. Astarion uncrosses his legs and leans back on his hands, returning Halsin’s stern look with an impish one. Halsin steps between Astarion’s legs and slides a hand into his long silvery locks, giving a quick little tug. Astarion’s mouth pops open as a satisfied groan escapes his painted lips, his hips tipping forward to try to close the distance between them.

Halsin pulls him into a hard kiss, pressing his groin against the growing bulge in Astarion’s pants. He slips his tongue past the musician’s lips, the acrid taste of menthol cigarettes and tequila lingering in his mouth. He breaks the kiss, keeping their faces in close proximity.

“I thought I told you to stop smoking those awful things,” he says gruffly. “They’ll ruin your voice and then I’ll be out of a job.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy Halsin, with a talent like yours you’ll never be out of a job,” he says with a breathy chuckle, and reaches forward to palm his manager’s cock, earning a low grumble in return. Halsin tightens his hand in Astarion’s hair, who gasps and pulls his lips back into a smile, his fangs glinting in the low light of the office.

“I’ve told you not to call me that.” Halsin’s tone is threatening, but his rutting hips give him away. Astarion hooks his thigh high boots around Halsin’s waist and pulls him closer.

“So do something about it, daddy,” Astarion taunts, and with a single motion Halsin tears through Astarion’s pants, the leather ripping easily at the seams. The rock star isn’t wearing any underwear, most likely because he knew he was going to get lucky one way or another. His cock springs forth, pink bulbous tip already leaking with a drop of precum. Halsin takes it in his hand and swipes his thumb over the slit, gathering the liquid onto his finger.

“Open,” he commands and Astarion obeys instinctively, taking his thumb into his mouth and sucking ferociously. The taste of himself dances over his tongue and he looks up at Halsin with round coquettish eyes. Halsin returns the look, heavy lidded, his breath stuttering as Astarion’s tongue swirls around his thumb. With his other hand, he quickly undoes his belt, pulling out his own girthy cock and letting it land with a thump on the desk. When Astarion sees it, his moan vibrates through Halsin’s hand.

Halsin curls his fingers around Astarion’s jaw and pulls him forward so his lips can press against the pale elf’s ear. 

“Little one, how much of my cock do you think you’ll be able to take tonight? A third? Half?” he hums in a low tone, and Astarion shudders.

“All of it, please,” he whimpers as he pops Halsin’s thumb out of his mouth, a trail of saliva still connected to his lips. Halsin utters a low and dangerous chuckle, taking his slick thumb and pressing it to Astarion’s puckering rim. 

“Will you let me take the time to stretch you out properly? You have not been known for your patience, historically.” He pushes his thumb past his entrance and Astarion rewards him with a needy whine.

“Yes, please, I’ll be patient,” he says through gasping breaths, “just please don’t stop.” He lets his vinyl jacket slide off his arms and latches his hands onto the back of Halsin’s neck to brace himself.

Continuing to work his thumb inside Astarion, Halsin’s hand fumbles with his desk drawer, pulling out a jar of coconut oil. He yanks one of Astarion’s hands from his neck and presses the jar into his palm.

“Be good and open it for me, would you, love?” He grunts, focusing his energy on twisting and pumping his thumb. Astarion opens the jar eagerly, holding it out for Halsin to scoop it with his unoccupied hand. The sweet smell he now associates with fucking his manager wafts up to his nose and his cock twitches in response.

“Coming around on the coconut oil, are you?” Halsin laughs, and Astarion makes a failed attempt to pout.

“You fucking hippie,” he gasps, his voice completely overtaken by desire. Halsin takes a generous chunk of the white substance and it quickly melts on his warm fingers. He pulls out his thumb and replaces it with two oiled digits and Astarion drops the jar somewhere on the carpeted floor.

“That better not have broken, my Star,” Halsin warns as Astarion pushes himself further down onto his thick fingers. He roughly grabs the vampire’s pointed chin, holding it tight between his forefingers and the thumb that had just been inside him. “Understood? I’d rather not have to punish you for something so trivial.” A wide grin breaks out across Astarion’s lips.

“I promise, Daddy Halsin, when you punish me it will be for a very good reason,” he replies wickedly, running his tongue across the tip of his fangs. Halsin let out a primal growl before silencing him with another fierce kiss. He roughly thrusts his fingers into Astarion, putting the weight of his hips behind it. Halsin’s throbbing cock skids across the glossy surface of the desk, aching to be inside his obstinate charge. He scissors his fingers hastily and Astarion cries into his lips, hooking his heels into the soft flesh of Halsin’s ass.

“Well then why don’t you put those pretty little lips to good use before you give me one?” Halsin growls, pulling his fingers out and replacing them with the tip of his cock. He bares his neck to Astarion whose tongue darts over his lips hungrily. “Kissing and licking only, you must earn the right to bite,” he clarifies and Astarion lets out an exasperated whine that gets quickly cut off by Halsin pushing into him.

“Fuck, Astarion,” he groans as the musician licks the sweat from his neck. “You’re so tight, are you sure you can take it?”

“Yes, please,” he says on a breathy moan, his fingers coiling into Halsin’s auburn hair. “I need to feel you, I need to taste you, please, I can take it, I promise, I’ll be so good for you.” 

Halsin laughs quietly; he has such a way with lyrics, and yet it’s still so easy to reduce him to a babbling mess. He slides in a little deeper, Astarion panting and squeezing his eyes shut. Halsin grabs his chin again and brings the musician’s gaze to him.

“Look at me, my Star, look at me and breathe,” he coos gently and Astarion’s wet eyes lock onto Halsin’s face. He kisses him again, languid and slow this time, and pushes in a little further. “That’s my good boy, taking me so well.” Halsin strokes Astarion’s neglected cock, earning a stuttered whimper in response. His hips cant into Halsin’s hand, desire and need driving him forward.

“You’re almost there,” Halsin continues his tender coaxing, “and you feel so good, my Star.” His forehead falls onto Astarion’s shoulder, the spice from his cologne overtaking his senses. He’s trying to control his speed, but his head grows cloudy with the rocker’s heady scent and he pushes a little too fast. Astarion cries out in response and Halsin instinctively pulls out slightly.

“No, please don’t stop,” Astarion mewls pathetically, “I can take it, I need you inside me, please Halsin.”

“So hungry,” Halsin laughs, “but for my cock or my blood, I wonder?” Astarion clings to his hair and tightens his legs, pulling Halsin in completely until he bottoms out. They both groan loudly, their voices mixing together in a symphony of hedonistic desire. 

“Hnng, such a good boy,” Halsin wheezes and tilts his head, exposing his neck. “My good boy has earned his reward.” Astarion sinks his fangs into Halsin’s thick jugular and drinks deeply, his sweet blood flooding his mouth and rushing directly to his cock. He grabs onto the collar of Halsin’s button down, his breaths coming in short stuttered puffs with each thrust of Halsin’s cock. Halsin growls wordlessly into Astarion’s ear, his lips brushing against the tip. Astarion unlatches from Halsin’s neck, blood dripping down his front and splashing onto his chest, seeping easily through his mesh shirt.

“Must you always leave a mess wherever you go?” Halsin grumbles and Astarion lasciviously licks blood off his fingers.

“But you’ll put up with it for this tight little hole,” he responds with a cheeky grin, the recent blood he drank making him bold. Halsin roughly pulls out of him and grabs the leather collar around his neck, pulling him closer.

“What was that about me punishing you for a good reason?” he hisses, and before Astarion can respond the burly elf has him flipped around and bent over the desk, his rock hard cock caught between the smooth mahogany and the leather strap across his stomach. Halsin grabs hold of Astarion’s silver locks and pulls his head up as he continues fucking him from behind. 

“You’ll clean up after yourself, won’t you little Star? Say ‘Yes, Daddy Halsin.’” Halsin’s voice is gruff and stuttered, and Astarion can tell he’s getting close. The friction from Halsin’s thrusts pushing his cock into the desk is bringing Astarion to the precipice as well.

“I thought you didn’t like it when I called you that,” Astarion rasps, his words losing some of their sharp edge given how strangled they are. Halsin pulls harder on Astarion’s hair and the rock star gasps out a laugh.

“Yes, Daddy Halsin,” he huffs, and his compliance earns him Halsin’s hand on his cock. He groans with relief, pushing his hips back into his manager’s while also thrusting into his hand. 

“My beautiful Star,” he grunts into Astarion's shoulder, his thrusts losing pace and growing erratic. Astarion lets his head fall back, breathing heavy, losing himself in the sensations. Halsin pumps his hand vigorously and moans loudly when Astarion comes, his seed spilling over his fingers and dripping down onto the desk. A few more rough thrusts and Halsin's coming too, groaning and feeling Astarion clench around his pulsing cock.

The two of them still, panting and coming down off their sex-induced high. Halsin kisses Astarion’s shoulder and pulls out, stepping back to survey the damage. He has blood splattered across his collar and down his arm, sweat and semen mix together in the crumpled mess of papers on the desk. Astarion leans forward on his hands, giggling.

Halsin tucks his softening cock back into his pants and straightens his bloodied shirt. 

“Well now,” he says in a much more genial tone, “you can get started on cleaning up all of this, and I think I'll go take a shower.” Astarion whips around, fixing Halsin with a shocked glare.

“There is no way in hell am I cleaning up this mess,” he pouts, and Halsin hooks a finger through the o-ring on Astarion's collar, a dangerous smile playing on his lips.

“You will, little Star, if you don't want the hotel damages to come out of your bottom line,” he murmurs, reaching around and giving Astarion’s bare ass cheek a tight squeeze. “But I suppose you've earned the right to clean yourself up first.” He tugs on Astarion's collar and the musician stumbles forward, his lips curling into a smile as Halsin leads him to the shower in the adjacent room.

[sae1549]

More very random head cannons. -SFW—NSWF-

Characters mentioned: Astarion, Gale, shadowheart, laezel, Wyll, Karlach, Minthara and Halsin +1

Content warning: hair pulling, oral f/recieving & m/recieving, knife play, size kink, predator/ pray kink.

Word count: 3.2k

Astarion

-SFW-

- He has a very gravelly voice in the morning that lasts around 25 minutes.

- He absolutely loves cats. And later you end up moving to the underdark, you both adopt a cat that is able to travel alone to get the things that they need. He sees it as your baby and treats it as such.

- He is the person you go to if you want any gossip. When you both get to the underdark I could see him becoming a bartender or something like that. Where he can swindle people of their money while having fun doing it.

- He can cook. Contrary to him not eating normal food anymore he was once human. But he will look over cookbooks for a while if you tell him that you would like to try his cooking.

- He dislikes flowers, of course he thinks that they are beautiful but they do not live long. He gets sad because he links that thought to losing you. So he tries to keep those thoughts away from him.

- He absolutely loves shoes, he can rant and rave about them, when everyone was in camp he would like to go up to gale the most. He really liked his shoes, even going as far as stealing them. Only to have a grumpy gale walking through camp with his arms crossed pushing Astarion over and taking his shoes back.

- Astarion has to clean himself in his bat form as well as his normal form. So he takes extra long in the shower. But he gets so fluffy!

- He starts seeing a therapist after everything is settled in the underdark.

- He loves to give forehead kisses.

- Astarion loves to be called beautiful!! Call him beautiful often!!!!!

- When you ask him what his natural eye color is he thinks about it for a while getting back to you telling you that they were a steel blue.

- He does not have many things, but he wants to some day. So without him noticing you slowly start to give him little things here and there. Like an extra bedroll that you had, a blanket. Some new pillows, candles, anything that you can find that you think he would like to make him more comfortable.

- He loves horror movie nights!!!!!!!!!

-NSFW-

Ascension ver.

- When he is ascended he does not care as much if you get off first.

- He would be a lot more rough, biting much more feverishly and more often.

- He would give you head, but he would not do it for long.

- He knows exactly how good you are feeling, but will make you tell him.

- He is the dominant one.

- He will take up multiple partners as he expects you to do the same. He would go out of his way to ask if you would want to add another partner into your nightly activities.

- His sex drive would increase greatly.

- He sets a brutal pace.

- He likes to tease.

- He would not fall asleep after doing it, but he would ask you about what you liked and how he did.

- He lets you rest your head on his lap to fall asleep after.

Gale

-SFW-

- Man can sing. But mostly does it when he is bathing or concentrating. Quite interesting to hear for the first time when you are in battle together. Singing in a tired gravely voice before shooting off another spell.

- He tried to convince Tara to let him dress her up in a cute little outfit one time. He left around 30 minutes later covered in scratches. That is to say he does not make those comments anymore.

- He likes painting from memory, yes he can control the weave but he would like to have some sort of proof if there was ever a day when he could no longer handle the weave any longer.

- When coming back from a particularly hard day, if you massage his shoulders a bit he will melt into a puddle and fall asleep.

- His favorite juice is apple juice.

- Always likes books more than movies. Does not matter if it is actually a good movie.

- He keeps photos of you on hand so he can show his students. And they know so much about you and he wants to ask if you would visit his class to shed some light on recent events. Totally not an excuse for him to see you more.

- He likes his food hot, even his salads. All food needs to be hot.

- Loves silver jewelry, his wedding ring is silver with purple stones embedded into the ring. You have the matching version obviously but it is a wide band with white and purple stones honored on the ring.

-NSFW-

- He is into pulling hair, if things are getting a bit more rough. You are sitting on his lap. Getting into a very heated makeout session, in a heated kiss his hand snakes up onto the back of your head, seating itself into your hair. The other hand softly rocking you back and forth. He breaks away from the kiss. “You are quite breathtaking my love.” He says through slightly labored breaths, he grips and gently pulls on the hair at the back of your head. Swiftly latching his lips onto your neck.

- He does like when there is a bit of lightheartedness while making love, but it is serious so he will always go back to being more serious.

- He likes to lay in the sun after finishing, watching as you also bask in the light, he thinks it makes you look ethereal.

- He would go at a moderate pace, and would not have very good rhythm when he first starts.

- He thinks it is a bit romantic to have music playing while enjoying eachothers company. So there will be soft piano playing in the background.

- He definitely uses magic, mage hand would come in handy, being able to bind your hands for a little rougher session.

- He does not own any toys, but would be okay with owning some if it helped you get off better. He would end up enjoying it immensely.

- Public sex is something that he could be talked into. As long as it is somewhere where less people are. But there is still the thrill of possibly being caught.

- He masterbates from time to time, it is not often. But if you are not around and he is fully alone then he would enjoy himself.

- His stamina is not very high, but he can fully please you and a little more if he is asked.

Lae’zel

-SFW-

- She would keep a collection of rusted or busted knives to fix while at camp. It helps her calm down plus it gives her something to look forward to.

- She would eat dinner at either 5 pm or 10 pm no in between.

- Talks to herself all the time. Saying she is the best therapist she knows.

- Her favorite color is Silver.

- She likes to read before she goes to bed.

- She also likes to sit on a high point at the camp to look at the stars.

- She would be an astrology girl. And would believe it completely.

-NSFW-

- She is the top.

- She is a biter, lightly gliding her teeth across your skin. She loves to feel you shiver from the touch she is giving you.

- She is not loud, and does not want you to be loud either.

- She would be 100% serious in bed. No laughing, no jokes.

- She has a moderate sex drive.

- She is a C cup.

- She would not fall asleep directly after having sex. She would wait until you fell asleep before she would sleep.

- She would have a small collection of toys that she would bring into your sex life.

- She has a lot of stamina, she would want to go more than one round if you are up for it.

Wyll

-SFW-

- He liked bugs when he was a kid.

- He really likes spicy food, and will go out with Karlach to find it.

- Has a very big sweet tooth, and loves to share it with everyone in camp. He has a whole pocket in his pack dedicated to sweets. Giving them away to children you may meet. It makes him feel extra happy if there is a group that he can give it to. But he has a special place for candy that you specifically like, which he gives to you when you feel down.

- He loves Halsin, and goes to him for advice about his father.

-NSFW-

- He loves sensual romantic sex.

- He could get off to kissing. You don’t even have to fully have sex to get him all riled up.

- Man is cheesy, he will set this up when you are living together. Setting out roses leading from the front door to your bedroom. When you walk into the bedroom it is enveloped in a warm soft glow of candlelight dancing over the horned man laying across your bed that is also covered in flower petals in the shape of a heart. “Welcome home my sweet.” He would say in a sultry voice, getting off the bed to meet you. Taking a rose off the table and handing it to you.

- He would be really good at praising you.

- “Tell me how good I make you feel.”

- He is not very experienced, but that is okay, he is very willing to learn.

- He likes things to be more serious in the bedroom, but a soft giggle or smile would not go missed.

- He would have a slow pace, he would want to take his time and enjoy every moment.

Shadowheart

-SFW-

- She loves yoga. And will do it every chance that she has downtime to do it. But it is mostly just her stretching.

- She would be a Hello kitty girl, and would own so many of the stuffed animals.

- She hates classical and post- disco music. But would love R&B and jazz music. Shadow heart in the garden with soft music playing in the background. She hums along while you are on the opposite side of the garden. This was an activity that you both loved to do. She would be dressed comfortably in a shin length skirt that was covered in loose soil. She turned the music on a little louder, swaying from side to side as you both worked together, sharing in kisses here and there. It was quite an eventful afternoon.

- she hates orange juice. Like genuinely hates it and will get upset if you give it to her.

- Likes a good cup of tea. With very little sugar. But if she were to have coffee she would want a lot of sugar but no cream.

- She wants a flower garden.

- She would end up being a plant girlie.

-NSFW-

-She is somewhat experienced. Having done it with a handful of people at most.

- She would get her nipples pierced. I think it would make her even more confident than she already is.

- She is very confident in bed, she is fully okay with taking charge or letting you take control.

- She would try almost anything once. Outside of things that would hurt her too bad.

- When you are in the comforts of your own home she is really into bondage. Being bound really excites her.

- She is serious while doing it, you can laugh during it. But she does want it to be a more serious moment shared between the two of you.

- She would prefer a faster pace, it would drive her wild.

-She is a B cup.

Karlach

-SFW-

- She gets very protective of scratch, he lays near her when going to sleep for a very long time.

- She loves going swimming since it cools her down. But will refuse anyone to go with her since the water around her would get way too hot. And possibly boil anyone going in there with her. But that is in fact how she has gotten you dinner before. When everyone was literally starving and going off wine and grape soup for the 4th day in a row. Karlach brings back fish. And sets them on the table. She announced that we will be having something different for dinner than the normal everyone was so excited that they forgot to ask. Later on that night she told everyone. And was met with a still silence. Before someone cleared their throat and everyone went right back to conversation.

- She would drink a lot of water to try and cool herself down.

- Her favorite color is Blue.

- She likes doing yoga to stay limber.

- She smells like Vanilla and Amber.

-NSFW-

- She is the top, no questions asked.

- She would have nipple piercings if she could. But her heat would have them melting to her skin. So she just settles for real and natural.

- She is not very experienced. Since she was always fighting for others she never got to find much pleasures of the flesh. But don’t worry she is a quick learner.

- She would definitely be goofy in bed, joking here and there. But does know when to be more serious.

- She would enjoy slow and steady pace, she would also enjoy taking her time. But also loves a brutal pace from time to time.

- She is a D cup

Minthara

-SFW-

- She would jump out and scare children if she could.

- I feel like she eats the crust first on pizza.

- Despises ranch.

- She ends up wearing glasses later in life.

- She would only eat while standing.

- She likes red wine, and will always ask if you would like to join her in a drink.

- She becomes softer and a bit nicer when you start to get close to her.

- She could fall asleep standing up. She is also a really light sleeper.

-NSFW-

- Scary in a hot way.

- She would be into knife play. Holding a knife to yours not the other way around.

- Top.

Her favorite part of her partner's body would be the neck. Thinking that it could be the quickest way to kill you in case you threaten her. But also that it is so sensitive and gives wonderful responses when kissed.

- Gives absolutely amazing head.

- She likes the predator prey dynamic, finding it quite thrilling to chase before taking what is hers.

- loves to see you in skirts (if you wear them) Or really tight fitting pants. And will tell you all about it in confidence later.

- She is quiet, she does not moan too much.

- She is very experienced, she has enjoyed many pleasures of the flesh. And is ready and willing to show you everything she has learned.

- She is very serious during the deed, there would be no laughing.

- Brutal pace or nothing. She wants to go hard and fast bringing herself and you to a high quickly before doing it again.

- She is a D cup.

Halsin

-SFW-

- He walks around barefoot. You question how his feet are still intact from all the rough places that you have traveled together.

- He literally sleeps on the ground for more than half of the time he is in your camp. I think he just didn’t know how to bring up that he didn’t have a bed roll and just waited till he could buy one. He will never tell you that though.

- He cannot handle spicy food in the slightest.

Likes plum juice, and would drink it all the time if he could.

- He has joint pain, so he sits on the ground to relieve a bit of the pain and stress off them. He will often ask if you would like to join him for a walk. When you say yes you both walk together for a few minutes before he sits on a rock in the woods. You sit down next to him and continue your conversation. For a long while. You knew why you had stopped, This had become a favorite spot to stop for him while you are in this area. Before he got up and continued walking. He would give you a soft warm smile as you walked holding hands.

- He will carve you small gifts and sneak them into your pack as long as you have the room.

- he would partake in the grass. But would be away from anyone else so they are not bothered by him.

- He likes fruit and vegetables over meat.

-NSFW-

- He is quite fluid, anything you want to do or try he would be down to do it.

- He loves when you kiss his neck, the tenderness will make him melt.

- His ideal place to do it is in a field of flowers, or a forest area where there is a soft patch of moss.

- He likes to bite, gently of course. But he gives soft nips and bites any part of their body. Loves leaving hickeys.

- We all know this man is experienced, he is ready and willing to give you all of that experience.

- He can be goofy during, he likes when things are lighthearted but sensual.

- Animalistic pace, or soft and sensual no inbetween.

- High sex drive.

- He only masterbates when he has not gotten action in a long time. But would find a very secluded area to do so.

- It takes him a long time before he falls asleep after. But when he does he sleeps like a rock.

- he thinks you being smaller than him is very hot. Definitely has a size kink.

A little extra…

Rolan

-SFW-

- He thinks it is funny when people try to cast magic and it fails.

- He ends up taking on an apprentice.

- When he has down time he would read all the books that were in the tower.

- When he would go back to his tower after the events of the game he would be sad seeing many of the books, but went in to look for survivors that may have been inside.

- He was a spoiled child, but he grew out of the spoiled attitude.

- He is only sweet in private.

- He would not be into PDA. But does kiss you when no one is looking.

- He wants to be able to teach people magic. But, would treat them all wonderfully. He would be a great teacher.

- He would smell like cedar and old books.

- When he blushes the blush spreads over his face and up to his ears.

-NSFW-

- His favorite part of his partner's body would be their hands.

- He thinks that it is so hot to cum on your face and chest. The thought alone would make him cream his pants.

- He is not experienced. He has not been able to experiment while on his travels.

- He is loud, his moans can be heard from a fair distance away.

- He loves to degrade.

- Power bottom on a good day. Bottom.

- He can get really shy when asking for alone time.

- He loves when you take charge and tell him what to do.

- He has moderate stamina. But will only want to go for one round.

- He will fall asleep soon after finishing the deed.

————————————————————————

I'm sorry for any of them being shorter than others. I have not been able to do all of their story lines yet. I am slowly working towards finishing them all. So if any of my head cannons are very off from the characters I am very sorry! Thank you!!

[rielzero]

Original by for-tymora's blog, altering this slightly and removing some bits to prevent overly spoiling my oc.

30 Questions for Your Tav! [ Ask Meme ]

Your Tav as a Companion

1. What would your Tav’s greetings be (at different levels of approval)?

Negative (<0):

He stares just at you, Clicking his tongue in an annoyed tone.

"Got nobody else?"

"I would prefer if you'd find a better source of entertainment."

Neutral (0 - 19):

"Seems like you've got something to say."

He stares at you, just raising a brow and cocking his head sideways.

“This better be important.”

Medium and up (20+):

"Hmm? Sorry, you caught me off guard."

"Feeling chatty? I don't mind."

"I'm all ears." Gestures to his ears.

When spoken to by someone other than the player character:

"I'd prefer to be in touch with someone better suited for important conversations. No small talk."

Flirting:

Pretends he wasn't intensely eyeballing your back earlier, winks.

"Something wrong, love?"

"Hey, caught you staring.''

"I was hoping you'd talk to me."

"You're looking dreamy today."

"Hello, love."

"..Hmm? Hmm.." He seems happy.

"I was wondering when you'd need me again."

Partnered:

"Hello, partner in crime." Mischief on his face.

"Say what you need, I'm here to listen."

Act 3 Vampire - Partnered:

"You look hungry, or maybe I'm... Heh."

"Ask me anything, anything, anything.."

"I'd kill if it'd make you happy."

"My love, we are so close to victory, I can almost touch it." (To Astarion Origin)

''You're looking splendid and magical today.'' (To Gale Origin)

"Yes, my sun?" (To Astarion Origin)

''Yes, my love?''

Broken up:

He Just looks at you emptily, and disappointed. Dead eyed.

2. Describe their tent setup! What’s on the outside? The inside?

It's the most put-together you've even seen. Stitched to the brim, looks like it can collapse and barely covers the bedroll. Has a bunch of bags surrounding it and crates to support the rest, kind of like a pillow-fort situation.

3. What would their character quest be titled? Why?

I personally haven't decided on this yet. Rat-themed perhaps, or something to do with him looking sickly.

4. What would your Tav’s romance scenes look like? How many would they have?

Probably depends on the Origin character, I can't picture him being romanced by anyone other than Gale or Astarion at this time. There would be romance and bonding scenes.

5. Describe their idle animations!

Cracking neck, cracking bones, stretching uncomfortably.

Pondering, tapping his foot on the ground with arms folded.

Wiping his face and looking at his hand for a moment before wiping it off his pants.

Tightening his arm wraps (would look like he's rubbing his lower arms.)

Casting Shocking Grasp, just to look at the sparks in his hands, then waves it off.

Pulling out his journal and browsing through it or jotting something down.

Sitting down and drawing (Stops upon approach.)

Act 3 idle Animations would be conditional adittions.

Poking his teeth, then stare at his finger..

Observe his wrist scars, turning it around and stroking it.

Scratch his neck scars, stretch.

Looks like he's smelling something, clearly bothered by it.

Pull out a bottle of blood and sip from it excessively.

Sitting down and drawing (doesn't stop when approached.)

6. How would the player go about meeting them in Act 1? What is their introduction?

I've done a post on this before I think, but it would be in the location near the intellect devourers, hunched over and trying to keep himself from hurling.

8. After Act 3, What are they talking about at the reunion party?

Probably about the change of appearance and hairstyle, and how he's doing better than he was after the defeat of the netherbrain. He's still settling down and getting used to things, 6 months wasn't enough.

Back to Basics

9. What’s the significance behind your Tav’s name?

Locke misspells his name, because he came up with it when he was sixteen. In his mind, Loki is written Locke at first because it sounds like ''Lock-i'' to him, he was the lockpicker in a gang of orphans.

10. Does your Tav have a last name? Is there a meaning behind it?

He comes up with it on the spot, it means ''Trick'' and its very much meant to be a trick.

12. Does your Tav have any tattoos or scars? Why?

Locke's facial tattoo is magic ink, its a protective ward of sorts. Won't elaborate. His scars are all from abuse, different people.

13. What is your Tav’s main color palette? Why do they choose those colors?

Has a strong attachment to purple because of his dead childhood friend, who was a purple tiefling.

14. Where are they from? What was home like?

Baldurian sewers. Not much of a home, more like a nightmare.

15. Is your Tav more likely to fight/flight/freeze/fawn?

He fights in most cases.

17. Do they have any enemies outside of the main plot? Any friends?

He has acquaintances, his closest being a fatherly figure, The Undertaker, Jermaine.

Deep Dives

20. What is their relationship to touch? Do they shy away from it? Do they need it to feel present?

Very much touch-starved, but dislikes casual friendly touch because he's afraid of affection at first.

21. Describe a defining moment from their past, which makes them who they are today!

He has CPTSD, it wouldn't be a singularity, though I'd say the moment he became a warlock is pretty big.

22. How is your Tav’s relationship with their family? Their parents?

The woman who raised him thoroughly abused him, so did the other orphans he was raised with. As adults, their relationship is strained and reduced to just being familiar with one another. He doesn't view them as family. He simply can't.

24. What does your Tav consider to be their own biggest character flaw?

He desires to have something of his own, but fails to give it a place. He feels like everything that he does have will never be completely his own, at times. (I'm being vague on purpose.)

25. What is something they would die on a hill over?

Wizards being prone to explosiveness. He will not accept the reality that some wizards never blow themselves up in any capacity. They're all one wrong step away from exploding themselves.

27. What is the worst thing they think they’ve ever done/said to someone they loved?

Say no to his ex-boyfriend.

28. Describe a smell that reminds your Tav of childhood.

..Cooked Dwarf roast.

29. What fears keep them up at night?

Sleeping in the dark.

30. What does your Tav want more than anything?

Power, or to feel like he's worth something.

[dodorimo]

something old, something new - part 2

continuation to this. Raphtav. 1.6k

Raphael actually appears here. Car sex ensues.

AO3 link

· · ──────  ❊  ────── · ·

“Can we expect little ones soon?”

The coffee spews out of her mouth in a perfect arch. For an instant, she must’ve looked like one of those tacky, fish-like water fountains you often see in gardens.

Did Astarion wait until she took a big sip so she would make an even bigger mess? The bastard.

Tav quickly assesses the damage. Her new clothes have been spared, thankfully. The same couldn’t be said for the restaurant's table.

Their shopping spree had been a success. Somewhere along the way, Astarion convinced her she was in dire need of new jewelry, which brought up the matter of her complete lack of proper beachwear, and so on. There were almost too many bags to carry, all of them were from different brands: Hermès, Tiffany, Dior, Sephora (that last one was a little self-indulgence of hers).

“We’ve too much on our plate to worry about kids,” she said, grabbing a napkin to clean up her mess.

Raphael as a father? Hell would first freeze over.

“When you say ‘we’ do you mean ‘we both individually’ or ‘we’ as in ‘I don’t want it’?” He emphasizes his point by making quotation marks with his fingers. “With how quickly he put a ring on it, you’d think he’s plugging you full every night.”

And there goes the last sip of her coffee. Out of her mouth.

The lewd picture he conjured aside, she had to disagree that it was really that fast. Four months of dating is a perfectly reasonable amount of time for people over 30. Right? … Right?

“‘We’ as in ‘we’ have no vocation to be parents.”

“Hm. A shame.” Astarion makes a face. “Some would argue you two are too pretty for your union not to bear fruit,” he says and takes a bite off his ice cream… A bite. With his teeth. She’s pretty sure this is the first time she’s seen anyone do that.

“What’s your excuse?” she deflected. “You should’ve an army of nose-pickers by now.”

That managed to shut him up.

She seizes the opportunity to lazily scroll through her social media feed. All afternoon, she and Astarion joked about all the ways Raphael would get back on her for her (presumably) dress transgression. They had plenty of ideas: he would send her a text (signed with his initials, as he usually does), then come pick her up in his limo to give her a ‘stern talking to’. All meaningless jest, of course. With no basis in reality. None.

That's why when the notification pops up on her screen, she thinks it's her mind playing tricks on her. But the more she stares at it, the less likely it is to go away.

[17h14]  ❤︎ Million Dollar Man ❤︎ said: I’m outside - R

“Guess you're going to have to hitch a ride on your own now.” She tilts her phone so Astarion can read the message too. “Mine just arrived.”

Astarion sends her a look over his silver-rimmed sunglasses. He doesn’t seem fazed. “Oh my. Speak of the devil.”

They say their goodbyes (and in his case, good luck) and then she’s off to search for her fiancée. It doesn’t take long. In fact, it doesn’t take time at all. Parked at the front of the street and taking up most of the space is a black limousine.

Why the limousine today and not one of his many sports cars? She would’ve more luck making sense of a physics problem.

The car takes off the moment she gets in. She holds on to her seat to keep from tipping over. Gods, she forgot how fast those things were.

She remembers her first ride. The giddy smile on her face. Do you see me now, mother? It seems almost banal now.

Sitting across from her, Raphael is a sight worthy of a magazine cover. He’s dressed in a three-piece black suit today, with a burgundy tie and a golden watch on his wrist.

In other words, he’s looking every inch the filthy rich man he is.

Tav almost feels bad about her waist-high jeans and loose ponytail. Almost.

“You have coffee on your shirt,” are his first words to her.

And, just like that, all her goodwill goes out the window. She tactfully adjusts her hair so it covers the offending stain. “Hello to you too,” she mumbles.

Something is plaguing him today. His fingers drum on his thigh in a frantic staccato. Whatever he wanted to say to her, he didn’t like it at all. Thankfully, she finds out soon enough.

“I need a plus one for today’s inauguration party.”

“But I thought that was…”

“Taken care of?” He waves a dismissive hand. “So did I. Change of plans. Out of my control.” Annoyance reduced his usual flowery language to a series of short sentences. That bad, huh.

Today is her day off. He’s in big trouble.

“You’ll be thoroughly rewarded.” This is the closest he’d come to pleading with her.

The effort is good enough. She nods, a small smile playing on her lips.

Raphael lets out a sigh and it's as if the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders. She’s still staring at him expectantly, though. Was that really all?

“So… you didn’t come for the dress?”

For some reason, he found this hilarious. “Why? Is there something you wish to tell me, my dear?”

She doesn’t have to answer. The car slows down; they’ve arrived at their destination. His penthouse, by the looks of it. The one on the main street, to be more specific.

“Daniella will brief you on the details when you get there.” The mirth he showed earlier is gone. He’s all business now.

“You’re not staying?”

“I have other matters to attend to before the party. I’ll meet you there.” He moves to open the door.

“Wait.” She holds his wrist and looks at him in the eye, hoping her pouty lips and pleading gaze would convey her meaning.

Fortunately for her, it does.

Raphael tastes like whiskey and freshly picked cherries. The kiss starts slowly, a mere touch of lips, before evolving into something more intense, passionate. She gets lost in him, in the feeling of his body pressing against hers and his hand cupping her breast.

He pulls away suddenly. He almost seems angry at her, with his ragged breath and furrowed brow. She hears the door closing with a soft click.

“Ten minutes.”

Then he kisses her again.

Tav smiles against his lips. This is a lot more than she was going for.

Raphael parts from her just long enough to check if the privacy screen that separates the car from the driver’s seat is closed. It is.

As with most things where he was concerned, she struggled to wrap her head around his bed habits. He had all the pomp of a man who wanted to be in control, while sparing none of the effort.

But there is an appeal in the challenge, in the idea of bending him to her wishes. Just as she knows he would be doing the same to her.

With practiced ease, she pulls out his cock from his trousers and kneels in front of him. The car is big enough for her to do so without issue.

Tav knows by now just how much he enjoys a show. Almost as much as he enjoys the feeling itself. So she gives him what he wants.

She starts by teasing the sensitive skin at the base of his cock, her hand fondling his balls. He sucks in a breath. He doesn’t want to let her know how eager he is already. As if she couldn’t tell.

He's not idle, in the sense that he talks her through it. Praises her at every move, telling her how good her tongue feels on him, how pretty she looks with his cock down her throat, what a naughty little whore she is who couldn’t wait until they’re out of the public eye.

Tav wasn't completely honest with Astarion. Raphael is good at this. At telling her what to do. On most days, his voice alone is enough to get her off.

He commands her to pull up her shirt, move faster, put her little fingers between her legs. Where are the manners he showed her just now?

She kisses him and takes him whole and makes that little wet noise halfway between a kiss and a suck that he likes so much. She even gives her tongue a few taps with his cock. In a matter of minutes, he’s close to the edge.

“Get up.” Sweat runs down his temples as he struggles to keep hold of himself. “I’m finishing inside you.”

“I…it’s that time of the month.” She swears she told him.

For a frightening moment, he seems to be weighing his options, before deciding on sinking his fingers into her hair, pulling her to him. “Finish what you started.”

Gladly.

The hand at the back of her neck gives her little choice. She swallows everything he has to give, little tears pricking her eyes and, when it’s done, she sticks out her tongue for his perusal. Not a drop to be seen.

His smile is wide as he gives her cheek a playful slap. She is being dismissed.

She watches him as he fixes his clothes. His hair is disheveled in all the places her fingers touched. There’s a hint of pride in knowing she was the cause, in knowing she was the one to make a dent in his perfectly manicured facade.

It is only for the sake of her rebellious womb that she doesn’t guide his fingers to her wet cunt so he can finish what he started. Disgust be damned.

“Later then.” 

She gives him one last look before the door closes. His voice is husky when he finally answers, evoking a pet name coined long ago.

“Until later, little mouse.”

[imagineitdearies]

Thank you for indulging me if you’ve already answered this, but, I’ve been re-reading PS and a question came up:

What would a healing potion have done in addition to the rat (chapter 20)?

Hi friend 😊 I don’t believe I have ever shared what was behind Astarion’s question, “Did he give you a healing potion after the rat?” and why he was relieved when Tyrus answered, “Just rats”!

And I’m very happy to do so—this fic consumed my life for a whole eight months, I am definitely not ready to let go of or stop talking about it, so ask away friends 🥰

To no one’s surprise I’m sure, given this is the direct aftermath of chapter 19, warning for potentially triggering talk of sexual assault and physical abuse from here on out that I’ll put below the cut:

Tyrus inwardly concludes from seeing Astarion’s relief, “So it could always get worse, then” (a mini theme of this story lol), and that’s a simple explanation in and of itself: he just needed rats to restore his blood, not healing to his body. Chapter 30 can give some more specific context—Astarion is not only being raped by Cazador when Tyrus walks in, he’s covered in bleeding claw marks, and later in the chapter his leg is gouged open, he’s stabbed multiple times, etc.

So Cazador using healing potions implies not just a sexual violence, but an extra brutish physical violence on top of it that even vampiric regeneration would take a while to heal. Rape with extra punishment, basically, instead of rape as a transaction or whim on Cazador’s end.

Needless to say Astarion has experienced both many times in the PS-verse, and hates both. But not the same amount. His relief goes back to his personal threshold for certain kinds of trauma—he has a much lower pain tolerance than he does a tolerance for forced sexual encounters (that’s just another day in his life, isn’t it). So it was a question he asked Tyrus because he feared terrible physical torture had also taken place that he just couldn’t see.

What kind of physical torture? Well, I’ll leave the *super* specifics of this to people’s imagination. There are plenty of horrors Astarion experienced that Tyrus has no idea about, and I think readers can fill in those gaps without my help….though chapter 25 & 30 were a little taste of it, I suppose.

Thanks for the question 🩵 I hope you enjoy your reread!!

[mon-ange-only]

Perfection.

HIII!!! This is like my first ever posted story so I hope anyone who reads it likes it.

Content Warnings- None! Sweetie pie story.

Summary-Astarion struggles with his feelings for you and tries to think of a way to confess to you but is interrupted when you come to his door.

QUICK NOTE!- Theres Not a lot of dialogue. It’s a lot of inner thought and action description I suppose.

Astarion. Confident and romantic with expressions sharp enough to cut through the strongest of tough guy personas. Though his face may not show it, he’s sweet, protective even.

Sometimes it’s a tad obvious that his over protective nature comes from a place of love. The deep undeniable love that he holds for you. The love that has had him pacing for the past 30 minutes while trying to come up with a perfect confession.

To Astarion you were the most perfect thing on the planet. Nothing could compare to your perfection. He needed a confession that matched that. A picture perfect confession that’ll have you head over heels in love with him by the end of his…speech? Dinner date? Picnic under the stars? Poem? Astarion cursed under his breath and sat on the large bed behind where he had been pacing. Out of ideas and motivation, Astarion sat and held his head in his hands.

The tapping of boots on hardwood floors broke his concentration. Gentle footsteps quickly approached his door. Astarion stood up and walked to the door, swinging it open. Standing before him was the very vision of beauty he was trying to make things so perfect for. You. He made direct eye contact with you as a heavy blush covered his pale cheeks. The vampire stuttered out a greeting and invited you into his room, mentally cursing himself for not being as smooth as he would’ve liked.

He watched as you came right in and made yourself at home, falling back onto the bed and stretching with a gentle sweet whine passing your lips from how tired you were. He watched and listened and savored the view of perfection lying in his bed. You. You were in his bed. ‘Why can’t it always be like this?’ He thought.

Astarion walked back to the bed slowly, taking his time as though walking quickly would scare you away. He laid beside you on his side, head propped up on his arm. He listened as you rambled about your day, eyes darting quickly from your lips to your nose to your eyes, a pattern he had enjoyed following while still tying to figure out his feelings for you.

Too busy staring at you, Astarion failed to notice that you had asked him a question. He tripped over his words and managed to get an apology out but his nervous behavior worried you.

“Are you alright, Astarion?” You asked.

His name on your lips was heaven on earth. A beautiful song sung by an Angel.

“I’m fine, darling. Just listening. Enjoying my time with you. It’s not every day I get to be in the company of such a beauty.”

He watched as a blush crept up on your cheeks and he clung to every word of your stuttered thanks for his listening and his compliments.

This is perfect. Lying there with you was everything to him. Listening to every word you spoke and watching as your mouth moved to perfectly articulate your feelings.

Maybe this is fine for now. Maybe he can deal with lending a pointed ear if that means he can listen to perfection without fear of rejection.

….

—————

ERM! I’m scared. This is my first post and my first public piece and it’s kinda scary. Fun fact I never actually played this game I just like Astarion and I wanted to write for him so that’s how I got here. Idk what’s going on anymore man.

[karlachismylife]

Juju's Thirty Frames a Second celebration

title from a song by Simple Minds

So, the results for my 30 subscribers celebration are here! And we landed on the fluffy prompts with BG3 and COD characters and reader/Tav, yay! I live for fluff. So, I decided to try and make it a bit more interesting :3 Also, I invite any other writers to join if you guys find this set of rules fun!

Celebration requests rules:

Choose any character from Baldur's Gate 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (reboot trilogy). Keep in mind that I'm most comfortable/familiar with the main companions (Karlach, Wyll, Astarion, Gale, Shadowheart, Lae'zel), also Halsin and Dammon, from BG3 and the task force 141 men (Soap, Ghost, Gaz, Price). You can request any other character, but it might take me longer to write your request since I need to get a feel for the character before writing for them. You can choose more than one character for one prompt, you can choose characters from both games for one prompt.

If you choose more than one character, please, add if you want me to write separate pieces for each one or make it poly.

If you choose characters from both games, please, do the same, and if you want it poly, add what setting (Faerûn, modern/COD setting, AU) you want them to be put in.

Choose a fluff prompt from this list. You can choose several prompts for one text.

(Optional) Choose a colour from this list I randomized. You can choose by the name or look the colours up (I'm sorry, I didn't figure out how to put them into the post in a nice way). I will incorporate it in some way, be it literal or metaphorical! You can choose several colours for one text.

(Optional) Specify if you want reader/Tav to have particular traits (gender, body type, race, occupation, anything!). If not specified, I will try my best to keep it as neutral as possible, but I might slip into one or the other. If I do, feel free to send me corrections, I will write a new one for you! Or edit the existing one, if you'd like.

(Optional) You can choose any non-fandom AU if you'd like! You can also try fandom AUs, but there's a high chance I won't be familiar with the fandom, so.

Send the request to my ask box! Anon or not, doesn't matter. I will look into each one.

You can add any other things to your request if you want something more specific.

You can send in more than one request.

I think that covers everything? I'm a bit nervous that this will flop terribly and no one will send anything, haha, so please, don't hesitate 😅

I will try to keep it drabble-sized. The celebration will go on until we hit another milestone (like 50 subscribers f.e.), I will edit this post once it ends, so until then it's still active and you can send in your requests!

Thank you all once again for coming here, I can't stress enough how much this means to me. I don't think I felt this happy and accepted on the internet for years (or ever).

Also, reblogs of this post and upcoming works (also past ones, hehe) are very appreciated! The more people see this, the bigger chance to get at least one request...

[delta-lethonomia]

Deleted Scene

Thanks for the tag @atsadi-shenanigans! I already did a WIP post yesterday so I think instead I'll post a little deleted scene. There's some lines I really liked in it but it just doesn't fit anymore so 🤷‍♀️

For context, this was originally in Chapter 30/31 of For All the Wrong Reasons. After finding Yenna in the basement and realizing Tav might have sold a child to Sharess' Caress, Astarion confronts her. In the fic, Tav brushes him off and catches up with Amira & Karlach+Jaheira immediately, but initially I wrote a conversation between them. I ended up cutting this scene because it's a bit too sweet and ruined the tension that's been building since we met Petras and Dalyria.

Scene below, not indented because tumblr is being stupid

[She] tugged him along, and pushed him back onto the only empty barstool at the bar, slipping herself close between his legs with rote practice as she scanned the room. There, near the front—Mamzell Amira was chatting away, speaking with—Jaheira, followed closely by Karlach, who was similarly scanning the room, a bored yet mildly interested look upon her face—

They had only moments. Gods, she’d hoped to avoid this—had wanted to avoid Sharess’ Caress entirely, the disconcerting blend of familiar yet different, stocked with a fresh crop of girls who didn’t know her and the lifers that did—the new fancy rugs but the same polished bar top, where she’d drunk and danced and fucked and tugged Sylvar over the bar, pulling him close so he could kiss her while he waited for her shift to end, on nights when she stepped in to bartend instead of working the floor.

“Tav?” Astarion said quietly. His hand was on her waist, touching the skin, for she’d chosen to wear a short skirt today, and a top that bared her waist. She probably looked like them. She knew she looked like them, the girls that were working. There was no difference.

Karlach had yet to see them, so Tav pivoted around, moving just so that she could cover Astarion’s distinctive hair with her own body, nudging between his thighs with her own—and dipped down to kiss him, pouring every anxiety, every sick feeling that burned inside of her into it—into him—hoping, praying, that he understood some of it, any of it, because she couldn’t speak.

But Astarion understood. He always did.

He held her lightly, chastely, whatever anger he held put to the side for the moment as he kissed her, tilting in perfect unison to meet her step by step. His mouth was soft, his tongue, cool; she wanted to warm him from the inside, and taste herself upon him; drop to her knees and taste him again, and do a better job this time, but Sharess’s Caress wasn’t that type of establishment anymore. They kept the whoring behind closed doors these days.

Amira, Tav thought absentmindedly, lightheaded with pleasure and a building need for air, would be upset with her, even more so than she likely already was considering she’d dropped a child in her lap.

But it was the man behind her bumping into her back that finally made her pull herself away, his slurred apology unworthy of acknowledgement as Astarion peered up at her, his lips wet and shining in the light. “I—sorry,” she whispered, and immediately regretted it, for embarrassment singed in her spine at her outburst of emotion as she tried in vain to straighten his curls.

“This is difficult for you,” he murmured, his red, red eyes too bewitching to look away from as she nodded, quiet and still. Mercifully, it wasn’t too loud just yet, a reasonable chatter just after the afternoon rush, yet loud enough to drown out their conversation. They looked like any other couple, she was sure; whore and client.

His hands were still around her waist. He’d taken his gloves off and left them in the storeroom; his hands were divinely cool along her waist, grounding her to this plane of existence. “You don’t want to be here,” he continued softly, pausing only to glare at the bartender as she remained standing near them, moving away only once it became clear they weren’t going to order until their conversation was good and finished.

But the interruption gave her time: by the time Astarion turned to look at her once more, Tav had regained most of her composure, emboldened by the faint memory of his scorn. “The girl will be fine. Amira cares, unlike the last Madam. She’s the reason the place has changed so much, why all the truly nasty work has moved to the flophouse. She’ll look after her, at least for a while.”

The corner of his mouth twisted. “Yes, until she hits menarche, and then she’ll have to pay her dues. Is that the plan?” His eyes were accusing, vivid red against the pale white of his face, until he glanced away with a nonchalance that could only be faked, his mouth pressed taunt and tight, his voice a bitter thing. “Then again, I don’t know why I’m surprised. We both know there’s only one way to pay your way through the world—why shouldn’t children learn that as well? Why—” he barked a high, quick laugh, “—she’ll have a leg up over her peers, in more ways than one, darling.”

And then—Tav understood, why she liked him, why she liked his sweetness and cruelty in equal measure; because the sting of it hurt, burning her with the same icy fire of his bite, the same crystalline calmness descending over her mind like a perfect, frozen cloud. “She’ll have a choice, Astarion,” Tav replied. “That’s more than most.”

His hands flexed against her waist as if he didn’t know if he wanted to pull her close or push her away, as her fingers trailed down the sharp edge of his jawline, playing with the collar of his new armor. “I grew up in that very stockroom,” she could feel him swallow beneath her fingers, drifting over the deep puncture wounds of his neck, “I’d sleep in there while my mother worked upstairs. I went to school and worked other jobs—and if I’d picked a better wizard than Master Vothrias, I’d probably have my own tower by now. She’ll have a choice, sweetheart,” she murmured to him, softened by the way he softened beneath her, warmed by how he cared, somehow, despite it all and everything.

Astarion closed his eyes, leaning into her touch as she cupped his cheek. It felt good to touch him, to feel him as curled as close to her as she was to him. “Is there a reason you’re so against handing a random orphan off to the temple? I thought that’s what they were good for.”

“The temple that’s turning away starving refugees in the street?” Tav asked. “Running around like headless chickens, their cleric murdered in his own sanctum? We found Dribbles the Clown’s torso in the drinking well, Astarion. Pretty girls like her get snatched up and locked in basements.” Her voice dropped lower, quieter. “It’s a marvel that hasn’t happened already.”

Behind her, the drunken man laughed, gregarious and loud, nearly drowning out the quiet tones of Astarion’s reply. “Or they get rounded up by starving vampires,” he whispered, low and soft, a delicate flutter of his lashes as he looked up at her briefly—before his hands dropped from her waist, his back straightening, whatever softness remained within him sealed away once more. “We’ve wasted enough time. Karlach’s seen us—best not keep her waiting lest she burn this place down as well.”

She nodded. Her waist felt cold and bare, bereft of his touch.

----

Anyway I really liked the "leg up over her peers" line because it's such a shitty thing to say and so very Astarion lmao.

[adharaphoenix]

after much procrastinating I actually did a sort of lore drop for Awbonee in bsky/twitter, so putting it (under the cut) here too

1. Awbonee Mossmantle, she/her half-elf ranger, in her early 30s when tadpoled. Neutral good by nature, tried hard to be lawful good in her adolescence/early adulthood, tried even harder to become neutral-neutral later on. Mum's family are upper city elves, dad is a Gur who settled down in Rivington

2. she was part of a small group of bounty hunters stalking a troll in the south wood and had separated from the group to look for food

3. she was aware Astarion was manipulating her because why else would a guy like that be interested in her, felt reeeal disappointed in herself when she started caring but was OK with enjoying it while it lasted. she stayed convinced he was going to leave any minute now for a long while after act 2

4. BFFs with wyll and karlach, they are a similar age and share similar cultural backgrounds. friends with Shadowheart and Lae'zel, idolises Halsin and Jaheira, doesn't get on with Minthara, friendly acquaintance with the rest

5. her elven grandmother dies right before the netherbrain battle. Awbonee's mother was disowned before she was born to all practical effects (name, inheritance, etc) but they did have a relationship, even if a bit strained/odd, so she takes it pretty hard (goes more nonverbal)

6. she goes to the underdark with Astarion so he can help the other spawn settle and establish a colony in an abandoned keep. she spends quite a lot of time looking for the way to get Karlach and Wyll out of Avernus because OBVIOUSLY

7. her parents and grandmother all live in the gate but they are used to her disappearing for months at a time, so they are not really waiting for her. her ex best friend Anaia however is W A I T I N G (has been for a while. it's complicated)

8. she is very agile and quite fast in melee, and with a crossbow/longbow. she is not particularly good at magic, and only has access to a couple of basic spells, mostly survival-related, and some rituals she learned as a child

9. she had been kicked out of her Gur grandmother's group of monster hunters when she was younger and she tried hard not to care but actually cared a whole lot, so getting back in the Gur's good graces was surprisingly nice

10. she is very frugal and has lived under the poverty line for chunks of her adult life so she will wear whatever is available, usually focused on freedom of movement. she likes drow armour. she runs hot so she sleeps in light shirts/vests

11. rosymorn. lots of places to climb, chill place, nice wine, even found some candied chestnuts to go with it in the wine cellar, a+++ would visit again

12.

13. Selûne by upbringing, but she prays to Mielikki

14. she travelled and struggled around taking odd jobs as monster hunter, either solo or with temporary crews

15. had a brief "sign me the fuck up" temporary moment of madness when nine-finger's lady court was talking about what nicknames they'd give her. she becomes close with chessa in the underdark, and with hope when they go back to avernus to get Karlach and Wyll back

16. nope, just a rando

17. her parents have an inn in Rivington and were busy trying to keep it afloat, so she spent a lot of time at her grandparents' in the upper city, or travelling with her grandmother and learning to hunt. she had a pretty happy childhood

18. not finding a way to help karlach on time. she also feels horrible about not going with her to avernus, but knows she would still choose to stay with Astarion if she had to go through that decision again, it was just a very shitty decision to have to make

19. "if it covers your ass it's good enough"

20. I have a bunch of favourites so this will do

21. she tries to make people's lives easier, so I guess acts of service mainly. she's severely touch starved but struggles a lot with being the one to initiate contact because she's 75% fear of rejection 25% water

22. it used to be disappointing her role models but then she went and disappointed all of them in semi rapid succession so nowadays it's not being in control of herself

23. felt a bit sorry for ketheric but orin and gortash had it coming

24. no, she rarely gets attached to things because they can be lost or if they are valuable they can be sold. she keeps a few emotional value mementos at her parents' but nothing she carries around permanently

25. she has a complicated relationship with Baldur's Gate and is not thrilled to have to go back. before the game when she visited she stayed with her parents in Rivington and only went to the city proper once in a while to visit her grandma, but was usually in and out as quick as possible.

26. being restrained, charmed or stunned taps directly into some bad trauma so any enemy with related magic or attacks was a mental struggle on top of, you know, it being a fight already

27. yes, but they're both headcanon, not game scenes: physically, she took a really bad tumble when leaving rosymorn. mentally, shortly after arriving in Baldur's Gate the people who burned her face find out she's back and turn up at the Blushing Mermaid one night

28. she was considered reliable and cheap as a minor league monster hunter in some small circles, she got some repeat jobs from it. after the game she is considered painfully boring by a big chunk of the underdark spawn and the coolest person alive by a smaller chunk

29. she sleeps very little so she usually gets up before dawn, spends a lot of down time checking out the surroundings, keeping watch, or foraging. she's good at camping logistics in general, and can play some music for entertainment

30. after defeating the netherbrain she went to the underdark with spawn!Astarion. the only decision she struggled with was going with Karlach or staying, everything else was pretty cut and dry from her side, she's not interested in power at all

[shewhowas39]

wip whenever

i was tagged by both @andauril and @khywren this week! thank you both!

this is a tiny fragment from chapter 30 of Juniper & Starlight which will be titled "A Smaller God"

cw: discussion of character death

***

They find Rolan, Cal, and Lia’s bodies on the road outside of Moonhaven, just as June had seen in her vision a tenday ago.

Their corpses are riddled with arrow and spear wounds, and they’ve clearly been dead several days. A couple of dead goblins lie nearby, showing signs of being killed by a Thunderwave spell, if June’s instincts are correct. Rolan, it seems, had defended his siblings to the last breath. 

“You warned them,” Astarion says with a shrug when tears begin to roll down June’s cheeks, once again running the eye makeup Shadowheart had insisted on doing for her despite this being a recurring situation now. “It’s not your fault that they were too stupid to listen.”

“I concur,” Lae’zel says. “They were not skilled enough to defend themselves. Their deaths are on no one’s hands but their own.”

June glares at them both. Though some of that anger is at herself. Because much as she wants to deny it, a dark part of her looked upon the bodies with disgust. Because these kills were so sloppy. With no artistry. No deftness. 

She could have done it better.

She tries to smother that horrible thought as she turns and walks away from Astarion and Lae’zel, instead going to assist Wyll and Karlach with the burial. 

“While I disagree with the crassness of their words,” Wyll says, “I do agree with part of Astarion and Lae’zel’s sentiment. You tried to warn them. You did all you could. This isn’t your fault, June.”

“But maybe I could’ve done more,” she says as they cover Cal’s body. “I could’ve argued harder.”

“It would’ve only driven them away faster, mate,” Karlach says. “You can’t blame yourself for their decisions. It’s a tragic loss. But you didn’t do anything wrong. Best thing we can do for them is to get rid of these goblins so they can’t do this to anyone else.”

But June has a hard time accepting their consolation. Because in her mind, Rolan, Cal, and Lia have been added to the list, along with Alfira, of lives lost. She may not have been wielding the knife this time, but she could have saved them.

What’s the point in these awful visions if not to prevent tragedies like these? 

***

no pressure tagging @wilteddreamsofbaldursgate @dungeonsdragonsandlawyers @ghost-of-a-dream-girl

[smallnico]

Asks are back on the menus boys!

Hopefully I'm not repeating any of these but I think I might be, sorry. I'm on mobile and trying to memorize numbers which is something I'm not good at 5,6,13,26

asks are ALWAYS on the menu!! >:3 thank u for giving me an excuse to feast!!

and no, you're good! none of these are repeated. i also feel you on the memorizing numbers thing, i'm awful at it too, i literally need to repeat them aloud to myself on a constant loop so i don't forget them while i'm on mobile. :p

5. Describe their idle animations!

at camp, esper is usually either doing ballet drills to practice their form and flexibility, polishing their weapons, playing their lyre idly (doing the magic scanning thing i mentioned), or doing maintenance on their training dummy full of swords. sometimes you'll see them shielding their eyes from the sun like minthara does. if you're paying attention you can also catch them twitching or clenching their fist or rubbing their wrists -- that's the urge. you'll also hear them humming a little lullaby to themself, which is their main mindfulness tool when they're feeling agitated.

on the road, if you're standing still, esper will start stretching and loosening up so they're ready for a fight if one happens, or they'll be visibly listening to their surroundings and gathering information, especially if there are people around.

6. How would the player go about meeting them in Act 1? What is their introduction?

you run into esper near the crash site, already covered in blood and standing over a body that they've clearly taken clothes off of. they flag you down and ask if you're another survivor from the ship. they're cagey with information, admit that they have something squirming behind their eye and that they don't remember anything from before the ship. you can do the usual introductions and invitations to tag along, to which they'll be pleasantly surprised and introduce themself as "... sper. esper. i think."

but of course, if you pass a passive perception check, you'll notice that the body you found them with is looking a lot more Lacerated than the others you've seen near the crash site, and you can examine it using medicine or investigation. you can figure out that this person didn't die in the crash, they Were Killed, and you can point this out somewhere before esper explains their situation. they'll be straightforward and say that yes, they think they killed this person, but they don't remember doing it -- and an insight check reveals that they're actually Not Lying. to which other party members or you can nominate the tadpole as an explanation or tell them you'll be keeping an eye on them, which they'll meet with a little bow and say thank you, before introducing themself properly.

13. What is your Tav’s main color palette? Why do they choose those colors?

mostly black, lmao. i stylize a bit in my art so it looks more purple, but 90% of what esper wears is black fabric or leather and grey metal (and cobra-toned and earth toned yuan-ti scale mail!). for this one i'll explain using some party banter i wrote:

Esper: Astarion, do you know a good way to get viscera out of clothes? Astarion: Good table manners certainly help. Esper: But half the fun of spilling blood and tearing into flesh is the reckless carnality of it, the warmth of it dripping down your neck, into your -- Esper: (coughs) Um. Sorry. Astarion: ... Congratulations, I'm speechless. Do go on, dear. Shadowheart: You're both so disgusting. Astarion: To answer your question from before, salt in cold water does wonders, if you can't use magic. Astarion: Dare I ask what you've been doing instead? Esper: Wearing dark colours. Astarion: Mhm... that would explain the smell.

... all this to say, esper likes dark colours because they hide bloodstains better. very practical. they also feel silly and self-conscious in brighter colours. they don't like drawing too much undue attention to themself, and since they already stand out so much visually, they don't like to double down on that.

26. Give us one of your Tav’s secrets!

oh, where to start? apart from the obvious -- murder urges, bhaalist history, etc., all that is a pretty big secret. but i want to share some bonus esper trivia instead, so here you go, have many secrets:

esper is claustrophobic, especially when they're by themself. they don't know why, but it's because they spent a portion of their childhood locked in a dungeon alone except for people who occasionally came in to try and kill them. the brain forgets, but the body remembers.

they're also afraid of mirrors. they don't like looking at their own reflection outside of themself, it makes them feel dissociative, and they swear they can see Someone Else staring back through their eyes.

esper really relaxes if someone they trust is grooming them -- brushing their hair, cleaning their nails, that kind of thing. they really like having their hair tugged in a specific spot as an extension of this, because they used to have long hair they needed someone else to braid and maintain for them.

they have pointy teeth but they also have naturally tough and pointed nails. they start clipping them short after alfira.

they're fully nose-blind to the smell of death and gore. they do not notice it.

esper can literally hear lies and emotions. one of the things they were trained to do from childhood was tune into the passive magic in the world around them to listen for and interpret the "ripples" caused by people going about their business. they can also use this skill to hone in on where people are directing their attentions. this is the main tool they use to tailor their people-pleasing approach, but they also use it to be nosy. it's how they navigate the world without memories or morals or empathy.

they can also use this ability to manipulate people's emotions or redirect their attentions using very subtle magic, it just takes a bit of practice for them to remember how.

esper is missing some organs and bits of organs after their necromancer adventure. kressa took a kidney and a big chunk out of their liver in particular, since they're totally fucked from a lifetime of drinking poison (drow move), and now esper is a lightweight who gets sick from a small amount of alcohol or poison, and their constitution is kind of a hit or a miss lmao.

they're also missing some ribs for the same reason -- kressa took those as a souvenir. part of why i almost always draw esper wearing a corset or brace around their waist is because they're trying to compensate for an imbalance they feel in their muscle memory and to take some of the structural support strain off of their abs.

(yes, they've tried it. they didn't like it.)

[aloha-solar]

Chapter: 25/30 Pairings: Astarion/Gale, background relationships (Tav/Halsin, Wyll/Karlach, Shadowheart/Lae'zel) Rating: Explicit Chose not to use archive warnings Was a fill for this kink meme prompt

***

The first couple of days after Gale’s return are peaceful. Gale spends most of those days sleeping, only stirring when his bandages are changed or when he feels Astarion shifting. Astarion, in turn, spends them sitting or laying next to Gale, breathing in his scent and running his fingers over Gale’s skin just to confirm he’s real. He only leaves Gale’s side when he’s being examined by Shadowheart, Halsin, and Jaheira—not because he wants to, but because they need the space to examine Gale without Astarion getting in the way.

Truthfully, Astarion’s gotten so used to Gale sleeping the day away that it comes as a shock when he wakes in the middle of the night and hears Gale retching and sobbing. In the dark, he can see Gale hanging over the edge of the bed and reaching for a wastebasket that’s just out of reach. Astarion lights a candle and then darts to the other side of the bed, holding the basket to Gale’s mouth with one hand and then cradling Gale’s neck with the other.

Gale’s been on a diet of broth, water, and healing potions for the past several days, so those all come out first, leaving Gale heaving and struggling to get out a few drops of bile. Astarion can’t do more than mumble, “It’s all right love, I’m here,” while Gale gags and cries.

Eventually, the heaving stops but the whimpers remain. Astarion slides the wastebasket away with his foot and then tenderly cups Gale’s face, wiping away tears with his thumbs. “Are you in pain?” Astarion murmurs. “Do you need me to get Halsin or Shadowheart?”

“No. No.” Gale gulps, his right hand reaching out and covering Astarion’s left. “Just a silly nightmare, that’s all. There was no reason for me to wake you up.” Astarion raises an eyebrow. “All right, there was some reason, as I couldn’t reach an appropriate place to vomit in.” Gale gives Astarion a watery smile. “But I’m fine now, truly.”

Read the rest on Ao3

[incorrect-baldurs-gate-3]

(Just a bit I might put later on in Night Falls, my childhood friends to lovers au spawn!Astarion x Elf bard/storm sorcerer!tav fic...)

The whole evening after Astarion finally rid himself of Cazador once and for all, Iardi wasn't sure what to even say to her old childhood friend... the boy she knew was still there deep down inside, but he couldn't see it himself... he couldn't even really remember much of his life before the bastard found him. And it hurt... seeing him torn to pieces like this over what he went through, what he chose, and what he gave up...

It just about ripped her heart out, and she could barely hold back the tears to put on a brave face for her new friends... but mostly for his sake.

But around 2:30 in the morning, she couldn't take it anymore... she couldn't sleep she was so worried.

But she couldn't find him at camp... and at first she panicked, and started looking in the woods around the campsite for him... not having much luck.

And then she heard the faint sounds of sniffling... and her heart nearly shattered into a million tiny pieces like glass.

She rushed towards the sound, he couldn't have been far if she was able to hear it.

And she found him sitting in a clearing, face in his hands...

If he wasn't so distraught she would have thought him beautiful... the moon hitting him, making him look almost ethereal... like that first night they spent alone together.

But she shook that thought from her mind, and eased her way over to him, quietly so she wouldn't startle him.

She reached for him, putting a hand on his shoulder,

"Star...?"

And he flinched. He had a couple of empty wine bottles scattered around him, having tried and failed to wipe away the memories... the pain.

"What...?" he muttered, the sound muffled slightly by his hands that covered his face.

"I... uhhm... Astarion... sweetheart... are you... are you all right?"

He sighed,

"I was just... lost in thought I suppose..."

She frowned, she knew he probably didn't want to show weakness... that monster basically carved that into his very soul even... like those awful runes he had carved into his back... that he had to live with now... the permanent reminder of him... and everything he did to him.

But she knew that it wasn't good for him to be alone like this...

To dwell on the dark thoughts. To let them go round and round in his mind forever...

He needed someone to talk to... to get him through this...

so, he could start to finally heal properly.

After losing him for two centuries, thinking he was dead and buried long ago, and that she'd lost him forever...

She needed him to see he was not alone in this...

And as long as she lived... he never would be.

She moved his hands from his face, and he kind of frowned at her... but he wasn't angry or annoyed... just... numb... because of how broken he felt.

She raised a hand to his face, to stroke his cheek...

"Look... I know what you must be thinking... how you must be feeling right now... and I understand-"

His eyes glared at her now, his mood instantly turning from numb to just... frustration and rage... from the suffering he went through... and nothing to take it out on.

"You have no idea- you don't KNOW what it was like!!!" He took a shaky breath and shook his head,

"and you never will..."

Iardi shook her head,

"Star... that's not what I meant it's not like that I- I'm just worried about you... I don't wanna lose you again I just got you back finally and I-"

He groaned in frustration at her rambling and felt like she was staring at him like she pitied him...

He didn't want anyone's pity.

"what are you staring at me like that for damn it?!"

"Astarion I-"

She tried to put a hand on his back to soothe him, but it just brought back the painful memories of Cazador carving those damn runes for the ritual on his back, and His frustration started to boil over at that moment, and he lashed out, screaming at her-

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!! GO!!!!" He started to push himself up off the ground to leave, but he accidentally broke one of the wine bottles with the force of him slamming his hands to the ground, and Iardi flinched, as flashbacks of her alcoholic father who used to scream at her and beat her, especially when she tried to protect her little sister from his ire, flooded her mind. Her eyes welled up with tears and she sniffled, and started to leave, and he realized his mistake, as he remembered something... she had never told him outright... but the signs were there. Even in the few memories he had of her in his life before he was taken by Cazador.

He cried out, reaching for her-

"No wait! Don't leave me!!! I'm sorry!!!" and he sighed in defeat, his voice shaking with unshed tears, as he said...

"Please...?"

She froze, her back facing away from him, tears threatening to fall.

But instead of her breaking down in tears... he beat her to the punch, and started sobbing himself, his arms wrapped around himself, sitting with his legs crossed, rocking gently, trying to stop crying because he felt like a baby... and that she didn't deserve to have to deal with him... especially after what she went through... all for his sake.

And even before that... he could tell from her reactions to certain things that she was abused by someone close to her...

Including her flinch when he screamed at her and accidentally smashed a bottle on the ground trying to hurry and get up and leave before she could see him going through a mental breakdown right in front of her.

She deserved better...

But instead of her leaving, like he expected her to, and he wouldn't have blamed her if she did, she turned around, face flooded with tears of her own... and she rushed to sit down on the ground beside him, shoving the empty glass bottles aside and hugging him, her arms wrapping around his neck, instead of his back, thinking it was her touching the markings on his back that triggered the reaction. And Iardi took all her years of experience soothing her little sister after she and their father got into a fight, and started trying to ground Astarion. Flashbacks of Astarion crying on the floor of Cazador's dungeon, covered in the bastard's blood, creeped back into her mind, and it almost shattered her heart again seeing him like this again, she would get him through this... she'd be the person to him that she needed when her dad would drink, scream at her and her little sister, and beat her... because nobody deserved to go through things like she and Astarion did alone.

"Shh... shh shh shh shh... deep breaths... deep breaths my love... you're having a panic attack."

He sobbed,

"I'm sorry!!! I'm so sorry!!!!! You deserve so much better than me!!! PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!!!!"

"No no no no no of course not... it's not your fault... you did nothing wrong."

"Bullshit. I saw how you reacted... I should have seen it sooner someone hurt you didn't they the signs were there all along WHO WAS IT I'LL KILL THEM WITH MY BARE HANDS!!!!!"

She shook her head,

"No no no it's fine... I'm fine... let's just get you grounded first then we can talk okay?"

He nodded, sniffling, and Iardi sighed, hugging him again, this time around his waist like she did once before, but with her head on his shoulder. It seemed to help a little,

"breathe... it's going to be all right... I'm here... I'm helping... I'm here... you'll never lose me again... you can't get rid of me now I promise."

He took a shaky breath as his sobs subsided, and she sighed, it was a good sign at least...

"I'm here now... it's okay... I'm not leaving you... I'm helping..."

"I'm so sorry you deserve so much better I-"

"no... never say that... I love you... and you are not getting rid of me that easy okay? It's alright...just... breathe slowly for me okay...? Deep breaths for me."

He shuddered, and did as she asked. And it seemed to help a lot. She lowered her hands and backed up a little, looking into his eyes.

"Now... I'm gonna teach you something I learned to do years ago to deal with panic attacks okay? It'll be our little secret..."

His eyes widened in curiosity,

"Okay.. the trick is... to name one thing you can see around you... then one you can feel... then one you can hear... then one you can smell... and finally one thing you can taste..."

His eyebrow shot up in confusion and skepticism.

"Come on try it! It really works! been doing it since I was little."

He frowned,

"Sweetheart... the fact that you've had to do this multiple times since you were just a little girl is kind of concerning-"

She shushed him,

"Please... for me?"

He sighed looking around,

"let me see... uhhm..."

He looked up and smiled weakly,

"The moon..."

Iardi smiled,

"good good!!! now one you can feel!"

Astarion hesitated, seeing her in her pajamas and wanting to hug her so badly but not trusting himself to break down again from being touched just yet, so he stroked the back of her hand instead,

"Your hand..."

She smiled,

"one you can hear... it's starting to work now right? Just a little?"

Astarion nodded,

"A little... hm... I hear crickets..."

Iardi beamed,

"Okay good keep going! Now move on to smell!"

He sniffed, and sighed, a delectable feather light floral smell seeming to float through the air like a cloud,

"your soap..."

She smiled,

"okay... last one... one you can taste, you think you can think of something you can-"

But she's startled by his lips slamming to hers, his fingers carding through her hair, and she squeaks in surprise at first, then he gently pulled away,

"Thank you... so much for that... I needed that."

She turned pink,

"N-no problem... heh... so what was up with the-"

"I just... I was so... overwhelmed with gratefulness and love for you... for sticking with me through all this bullshit... for trying to see in me the boy you befriended all those years ago even though I'm pretty sure he's long been dead and buried... but despite that you believed in me... and I..." He sighed, shaking his head, "T-thank you."

Iardi frowned,

"He's still there deep down inside... I've seen him... it'll just take time to get him back enough to where you can see it too... but you've gotta heal first for that to happen."

He nodded,

"You did nothing wrong Star..."

"He looked at her with wild panicked eyes,

"I'm glad YOU think so... because I'm still not sure! I just feel... I feel... ill... cold... broken... numb."

She wasn't sure what to say, she started to reach for his shoulder to comfort him but then he said something that caused her heart to crumble for the hundredth time tonight.

"Repaying what he did to me... is impossible... as much as I wish I could fix it... to be who you want to see in me... the boy you fell for all those years ago... to pick up where we left off and to help YOU heal from those who hurt you for so long... I don't think I could possibly come back from this the same person that I was back then... and for that I am so sorry... it isn't fair. And you deserve better... because that boy you cared for all those years ago... is gone forever I fear. So it'd be better for you if you just moved on..."

Iardi shook her head,

"No... never. I'm not gonna leave you... I'm not losing you again."

He took a shaky breath... relieved that he didn't have to deal with that monster ever again, and happy, despite how selfish it seemed to him, that she wasn't going to leave him... so he didn't have to deal with these memories that haunted him alone.

"It's over... it's finally... over. I'm free from him... forever..." He sighed, "a bit of a novel concept... so strange... knowing he'll never be able to hurt me... control me... rule over my life... ever again." he shook his head, "I'm sorry... I need to process this... I think... what it means now that he's finally gone."

Iardi nodded, understanding,

"all right... I guess I'll turn in for the night then... see you in the morning."

He grabbed her wrist in a panic,

"Wait!"

And she paused, confused, worried.

"Don't leave me... please... take me with you." he pleaded, on the verge of tears again, and she sighed, and nodded,

"all right... let's get you on your feet then shall we?"

She helped him up off the ground, taking his hand and squeezing lightly, then she pulled him in for a gentle hug, and he sighed in relief.

"Thank you... for not giving up on me... for everything really..."

Iardi nodded, and then he tilted her face up to look at him, his index finger under her cheek, looking over her face, staring for a moment, then he kissed her.

She sighed contently, and he gently pulled away,

"I... I love you... so... so much... never forget that." he whispered, and Iardi's heart melted and she nodded,

"I love you too... always and forever." He smiled gently at her response, kissing her again under the moonlight, and for the first time all night... he almost felt... happy.

Iardi sighed as he held her,

"I don't know what the future holds for us now... but... if you'll have me... I'd like to pick up where we left off all those years ago... if that's all right that is... because a life without you... I don't know what I'd do without you now..."

Astarion smiled, relieved, burying his face in her soft ebony locks, inhaling the smell of her... committing everything to memory at last.

"Life... is what you make of it my love... and... I'd like to spend it with you..." he whispered against her hair before leaning in to kiss her.

His time of freedom and healing... had finally begun.

And as he cuddled with Iardi, spooning her tiny figure, her back against his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist as they rested for the night... for the first time in 200 years... he felt... at peace.